Ship sits anchored on mirrored lagoon
Not a breath of air to caress the sails
hanging limp
waiting for the November sun
to take its final curtain call
as Venice goes early to bed
and sailors drink a toast
to a red-sky night
***
Painting by Edward William Cook – 1859
Ekphrastic poetry prompt from Merril at d’Verse Poets Pub.
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Fall Warmth
The pear tree glows warm in the sunlight
with a mixture of yellow and rusty burnt umber.
It was first to put out flowers and green leaves,
Now, it is last to let leaves weep and stand naked
as cold winter shivers around it.
***
Photo: Dwight L. Roth
Today at d’Verse, Lisa asked us to write a 44 word Quadrille that includes the word Warm or Warmth. I was admiring the colors in the small pear tree today that I planted a few years ago, in honor of my wife’s father who passed away. It was glowing in the late sunlight and a warm Fall day.
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*
Photo: Dwight L. Roth
Reach for the Light
Trees reach for the light
Following the sun
As it reclines on the edge of the world
Knowing that without light
There is no life
In a world filled with darkness
My soul rises toward the light
Evil presses in to overwhelm me
Terrors of darkness distract
Let your spirit rise with mine
Reach for the (sun)/son
An example for everyone to follow
Source of Light and Life
Always shining never hiding
Spirit touching spirit
Reflecting the Light of God’s Love
My escape
From the eternal darkness around me
A couple of years ago, I saw on the news that a little Saw-whet Owl got trapped in the Rockerfeller Christmas tree and was transported to New York City. The workers found him in the tree when they got ready to set it up at Rockerfeller Center. I thought it was a great story and decided to write a children’s book. Since many of you are from all over the world, I am offering a free copy of the book to you in e-form on a printable pdf. file. You are welcome to use it for your personal use or for classroom use if you are a teacher. It is about twenty pages long. Below are a few of the pages for you to see.
If you would like a free pdf. file, email me at: dwru27@aol.com and request one. (Some of you may have gotten this from an earlier post)
Happy Thanksgiving to those in the US and everyone around the world!
Story and illustrations by: Dwight L. Roth (c) 11-2020 all rights reserved.
Words better left unspoken
stain the mind with permanent
indelible ink
Remembered // played on repeat
over and over and over again
You can push the pause button
but you can never erase
Photos: Dwight L. Roth
In 2019 we celebrated our 50th Wedding Anniversary by taking a once in a lifetime cruse up the Rhine River. It was a memorable trip that we will treasure forever. When we arrived back on the ship after touring the Cologne Cathedral, we found our curtains decorated with red hearts and a bottle of sparkling wine left in honor of our anniversary. We decided to take it along to dinner on our last night on the ship and share it with some friends we learned to know.
Fifty Years
Spirits shared with friends
Several lifetimes of memories
Photos: Dwight L. Roth
Today at d’Verse, Punam asked us to write a poem about the way alcohol and spirits are used to celebrate.
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The large hotel across the street from ours had a beautiful patio filled with white tables and chairs. It appeared to be an ideal place for a wedding reception. When we visited Mackinac Island the end of September, the weather was clear and sunny, but the crisp morning air let us know Fall was already here. Although we saw two different wedding parties, none of them chose to have an outdoor reception. It was two weeks away from the shutdown that takes place over the winter with many of the local businesses.
Guests stay warm inside
Cold white tables sit empty
Waiting for snowfall
Photos: Dwight L. Roth
Haibun Monday at d’Verse Poets Pub. Linda asked us to write a Haibun that references Autumn.
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This sign was left on my worktable where I volunteer at the Habitat for Humanity Restore. The sentiments on it are great, so I hung it up. I have always loved to tinker and fix things. Sometimes people roll their eyes when they see me collecting things that look like they have no use, but when they need something, they come asking and I usually have it. It gives me great pleasure to fix things that others would throw out!
Years of collecting
Pop’s Fix-it Shop is open
No money required
***
Photo: Dwight L. Roth
How quickly time covers
structures once thought permanent
lost and forgotten
leaving them now crumbling
as nature swallows them up
***
Time and nature
having been here before us
will win in the end
***
As we foolishly
think our towers of babel
will be our answer
KONICA MINOLTA DIGITAL CAMERA
Photos: Dwight L. Roth
Roth Poetry 