Friends: Ebb and Flow

“One must live by the sea to understand…”

the importance of friendship in one’s life

Friends like the sea bring constancy to life

Whether it be ebb or flow they are there

sometimes like a storm // other times like a calming surf

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When one lives by the sea they understand

the peaceful respite knowing there is one to call

to help wash away the stresses of the day

Most true friends can be counted on one hand

Always in your heart whether near or far

Standing with you like a lighthouse in a storm

sending you a beacon of trust in your time of need

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Friends are with you through thick or thin

“One must live by the sea to understand…”

Today at d’Verse, Punam asked us to choose a first line from a blogger friend’s poem and write a poem about friendship. I chose my line from my good friend, Elizabeth Gauffreau, who has been a most encouraging support to me. She never misses a post I put up and always comments in helpful and affirming ways. To me she is like the ocean tide flowing through my blog every day. My thanks to her for letting me use her line from the post, “To Live By The Sea.”

Click on the site below to read her post:

Publication in DASH Literary Journal – Elizabeth Gauffreau (lizgauffreau.com)

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Mezza Moon

When I was young, we always referred to the Quarter Moon or Mezza Luna as the Toenail Moon since it looked like a clipped toenail. Sometimes it was just a sliver and other times as much as a quarter.

My earliest recollections are of the nursery rhyme, “Hey Diddle, Diddle,” which was a silly poem about the cow jumping over the moon. Apparently, the silliness made it stick in my head for the past seventy years. Can you still quote it word for word? I am sure you can!

Quarter moon waxing

jumping over Winter’s moon.

Cows stay in the barn

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Illustration book cover from bing images!

Today at d’Verse, Frank Tassone asked us to write a Monday Haibun with reference to the Mezza Luna or Quarter Moon. This one took me back to my childhood and the Nursery Rhymes read to me back then.

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com

Creating Pearls

Creating Pearls

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Inspiration:

Friction rubbed just the right way

Lights a fire

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No match lights without friction

Unchallenged, the mind goes blank

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Resistance:

Confrontation of life’s pain

Inspiration’s fuel

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Words stream waiting to be heard

Verbal screams inked on a page

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Friction:

Lights a painful fire

When rubbed the right way

*

Creating a lovely flame

No true pleasure without pain

*

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

When I read Bartholomew Barker’s post “Last Match” it immediately triggered my thoughts of a spinoff that describes how we create great poetry. I decided to use a chain of Tankas.

Check out his post at:

Fraiku: Last Match | Bartholomew Barker, Poet (bartbarkerpoet.com)

We Can’t Help Ourselves

Perhaps we should be more like the pear tree

Eager to show itself in first taste of winter warmth

Enduring the cold dark days knowing in time…

The exact time, we will open joyfully for all to see

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Or maybe like the daffodils impatient for winter’s end

Emerging in the cold dark light of a translucent sun

Pushing up through the dead of winter with bold confidence

Overcoming the fear of the dark and of cold frosty fingers

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Exuding yellow sunshine while pear blossoms shine overhead

Rising in unmatched splendor reminding everyone to come out

Join together with us in choking off winter’s last raspy gasp…

in a glorious symphony of red buds, forsythias, and cherry blossoms

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Our time is coming // to shine with unstoppable blooms of inspiration

Always filled with love waiting to burst forth when our time is right

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

 

Painting the Canadian Rockies

Painting memories

Family trips to the mountains

Parents gone / children grown

***

Camping together in tents

Watching trains wind through canyons

Maligne Lake – Alberta Canada

Painting and Photos: Dwight L. Roth

This painting is on a recycled canvas from the Habitat Restore where I volunteer. I cut the canvas off the frame and turned it over to get a smooth canvas to work on. I staple it back on and soak it to shrink it tight.

This will probably be the last very large canvas I will paint. It takes a lot of work and a lot of standing to get it done. It is hard on my muscles and joints.

Acapella Music

 

Acapella Music

Music was sweet and pure when I was a child

No “worldly” instruments with our Sunday Songs

Just sweet voices singing four-part harmony.

Now times have changed accompaniment abounds

But memories of four-part harmony still bring chills

To those of us us who were there.

Today at d’Verse, Linda asked us to write a 44 word Quadrille using any form or the word music. When I was a child, back in the 1950s, I grew up in a conservative Mennonite church. In our church musical accompaniment was not permitted. It was great sitting in a church full of people singing four-part harmony. I still find it very soothing to my soul when I hear it. The song above was one that became a favorite in later years. It is known simply as 606, the number of the hymn book page where it was found.

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com

 

 

Losing Cruz

This is Cruz, my niece’s dog. She had him for many years, but he developed some health issues that could not be treated. As his health declined, she realized she needed to let him go. So, with her permission I have created this post in his memory.

Losing Cruz

Through thick and thin

My loyal friend protector and companion

Shadowing me at every turn

I always find you there

When I am gone you wait patiently

Anticipating my return

Barking your greeting excitedly

When I walk through the door

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Our walks and hikes we shared together

Seeking new adventures

Whether Vancouver streets or mountain climbs

I loved every minute being with you

*

But your time has come / I let you go

Through heartbreak, pain, and tears

Memories of you are always with me

And more love than you’ll know

Photos: Jen Townsend

Potential/Possibilities

 Young boys full of life

Now grown men with grown children

How quickly time flies

While memories remain clear

Of two young boys’ early years

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Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Perfect Pose

Bluejay poses 

Enjoying my seedy buffet

Flashing his colors

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

Posting for d’Verse open link night.

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com

Love and Cherry Delight

“The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach!”

“The way to keep a man’s heart is through his stomach!”

Love and Cherry Delight

I know she loves me…

She made me a cherry cheesecake for Valentine’s Day!

Red is the color of love, and for me it is cherries.

Made it for me against her better judgment…

because she loves me and knows it is my favorite.

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Love is like that you know…

Makes one do things you wouldn’t ordinarily do.

When you get to be my age love sometimes comes

in unusual ways… such as cherry cheesecake.

Though she cringes at the thought of all those calories

she knows it won’t last long.

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So, as she enjoys squares of dark chocolate,

I savor each bite

of that delectable cream cheese and cherries…

and love her dearly as the sweet taste of love

lingers on my tongue and in my heart.

I am a lucky man!

Photo: Dwight L.Roth

Today at d’Verse, Sanaa asked us to write a love poem for Valentine’s Day.

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com