Building on the Sand

Growing up in a Pastor’s family, I heard many Bible stories that told of the follies of men who put their trust in things that won’t sustain them. Proverbs talks of the fool and his folly. Jesus told parables of trusting in riches only to lose it all. He also told of the wise man who built his house on the rock while the foolish man built on the sand. Every time I go the the beach I am reminded of that story. Houses sit behind dunes, some up on stilts, and some right on the surf as this one does. It is just a matter of time before a hurricane comes and washes it all away.

Beach house on the edge

Fall hurricanes come roaring

Foolish man’s folly

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Today at d’Verse, Lisa asked us to write a poem of folly. This has so many ways it could be interpreted. I went back to my roots and my childhood stories in Sunday School for this one. Do you remember the song? How about the motions!? What fun memories!!

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com click on the Mr. Linkey box to read more…

Beware the Troll

Beware of the long-haired Old Troll who lives under the bridge, and frightens Trick or Treaters as they cross on Halloween night. Still feeling sore from Big Billy Goat’s but in the butt, he hides away picking on little children when their candy bags are full. As they trip trap across his bridge on the their way home, he rises from the shadows and snatches their candy. He does not care that they run off crying all the way home. Being an old mumble grumble troll, it will take more than candy to sweeten him up. So warn your children on Halloween night to stay away from Sleep Hollow, and the Old Trolls bridge, if they want to keep their sweets!

Hunter’s full moon shines

Ghosts and Goblins come knocking

Watch out for the Troll

Frank at d’Verse told us to write a Halloween Haibun. He said we could even write a fiction prose to go with it. So that is what I did. One for the Kiddos young and old. Enjoy!

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com Click on the Mr. Linkey box to read more…

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Fall Flowers and Butterflies

On need not travel far to see the wonders of nature. I find them all around me, as Summer comes to an end and Fall begins. Butterflies and bees are still enjoying what is left of my flowers. Wildflowers that were blooming a few days ago are now just seed heads. My Zinnias have stretched all the way over my head to over eight feet and are still putting out blooms. They like we are not giving up.

Nature’s beauty shines

All around flowers still bloom

Butterflies’ delight

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

The Sleeping Giant

A Sleeping Giant

Lies breathing between continents

In and out its chest rises and falls

A Shrek of a guy most of the time

Children and adults float

Bouncing on his crest

Squealing with delight

On bubbles of air

But beware

Of the Ides of October

When tossing and turning

Nightmares return

Thrashing coughing

Scaring all who once played on his chest

Fear and trepidation

Waters rise

Winds howl

Floods come up

Big Blow AKA Delta

Brings Halloween early

All Tricks

No Treats

Wide awake

Nightmare passes

Giant sleeps once more

Fans have nowhere to lay their heads

*****

Photos Dwight L. Roth

Awaiting Resurrection

October skies Covid-blue / clear as a bell

call for an end to summer’s heat

time for one last shinning / one last gasp.

Leaves present their colorful eulogy

leaving marks on flat smooth stones

lacking summer’s warmth.

As days close in, winter’s chilling bony finger

beckons us enter her icy sepulchral interment.

White snow blankets eulogies soon forgotten

as we rest / tucked in peaceful compost slumber,

awaiting life’s resurrection / sure to come.

Photos; Dwight L. Roth

The Woodland Symphony

Music pours out from shadow and tree

Calling us all to enjoy a reprieve

A melodious symphony straight from the heart

Each tiny instrument playing its part

Miniature voices in perfect pitch

Unwritten scores of notes that are rich

Filled with a beauty beyond man or pen

A symphony of music that will never end

Mocking birds solo sopranos and basses

Finding their notes in so many spaces

Piccolo warblers and wren solos start

Antiphonal melodies straight from the heart

The bassoon bull frog comes in now and then

Cicadas’ strings play background blends

Crickets and blue jays fill the air

The snare of the trees adds depth to the pair

Woodpeckers drumming on old hollow trees

A staccato rhythm that floats on the breeze

Suddenly right out of the blue

The feline conductor brings all in on cue

With a growing crescendo from blue jay and friend

Celloed instruments calling, “This is the end!”

The squirrel plays percussion with his raspy scolding

As the woods fills with music the finale’s unfolding

A thunderous applause from the balcony on high

Brings all to their feet flashes crossing the sky

The concert is over the conductor’s gone home

Performers take bows the music is gone

*****

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Today at d’Verse, Peter asked us to think about sounds that come alive in our poetry. This poem was written quite awhile ago and seems to fit prompt well. I could just picture and hear all the actions going on as I sat under the trees one morning listening to the birds above me. The cat caused quite a stir as he came wondering around.

Peter asked us to upload a reading of our poem. Since my free blog won’t allow me to upload a recording you will have to use your imagination on this one.

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com Click the Mr. Linky link to read and listen to other poets.

Changing Focus

When life overwhelms

Focus on what’s important

Nature’s beauty calls

This has been great painting weather. Today I found an old painting I did back in 2013. It was a black swallowtail from my garden on a 4′ x 5′ canvas. I liked the painting but it was too big for anyone to be interested in, so I cut it down to 31″ x 48,” leaving just he butterfly, and used the top half for another painting I did last year. I had the canvas stored rolled up and it had a couple of places that were damaged, so i decided to remount what was left and touch it up. It turned into a greater restoration than I expected, but I like the end results.

Butterfly Painting – Dwight L. Roth

Daddy’s Girl

Consumed moon disappears on a sunlit ocean

Yellow dreams of mermaids singing in the surf

Solitude’s wish of winter past… walking with daddy

Painted mirth merged in gouged footprints in the sand

Skulls of saints crushed and ground into nature’s delight

Today at d’Verse, Linda introduced us to Samuel Greenberg, American Poet.

“Samuel Greenberg died of tuberculosis in 1917, at age 23. His childhood was spent in poverty on the Lower East Side of New York City. After leaving school at 14 to begin working, he became ill and spent his final years as a patient in several charity hospitals where he did most of his writing.” https://logopoeia.com/greenberg/index.html

Linda gave us a list of descriptive words from “The pale Impromptu” and asked us to pick five of them and write a poem in any form. The photo was my muse. I took it a couple of summers ago and it has been waiting for this poem! The five I chose start each line of the poem and are in italics.

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com Click on the Mr. Linkey box to read more poems.

Scottie Dogs

Two little dogs / one white and one black

Childhood entertainment when the service went too long

Carried in my mother’s purse

with Juicy Fruit gum and a silk handkerchief

A magnetic pair in a little white box

Imaginative fun for one little boy

Today is Quadrille Monday (only 44 words) at d’Verse. De asked us to write about magnetism in any way we chose. I was taken back to pre-school days when my mom would carry the magnetic Tricky Dogs in her purse to entertain me at church. I loved playing with them. If you put the like poles together they would spin around and connect from opposite poles. They were great entertainment for me.

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com Then click on the Mr. Linkey box to read other poets’ work.

Photo from bing images.

Because You’re My Sister

I saw this sign in an old cabin when we visited friends in the mountains a few years ago. It made me smile. It could also apply to our parents. We can’t pick our family members, but we can learn to respect and love them.

My sister was five years older than me. I always looked up to her because she was smart and well liked by all of her teachers. She took time to read to me some of the stories she was reading, and brought me left over pizza from her dates. I am sure I was an aggravation to her from time to time, but we have always maintained a good relationship, even when we disagreed over the years.

Sisters are special

One of a kind friends for life

Smile / she’s stuck with me

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Photo: Family Album

Me and my sister and little brother.