Onery rodents
Squirreling their way to (my) feeder
Finches bullied away
Ferreting the feeder cage
Just can’t worm their way through wire
Makes my day!
Photo: Dwight L. Roth
Posting for d’Verse prompt using animal names as verbs!
Join us at: https://dversepoets.com
O
Grumpy little bird
Left its cozy nest too soon
Sits alone begging
***
Mama bird watches from tree
As we slowly pass on by
Sweat waters my brow
Working a growing garden
Letting it happen
*
Nature’s bending exercise
My personal weight loss program
Photos: Ruth and Dwight Roth
I am not a big fan of exercise, but I do love working in my garden. It is something I have done for many years. Although my garden is getting smaller as I get older, I still love getting my hands in the dirt and seeing the plants grow and produce. This is the kind of exercise I can get into.
I am posting this for Michele’s “What Moves You” challenge. We are to post a photo and a written response to show how we keep moving and stay healthy. You can read more about it at her Word Press site My Inspired Life.
check it out and join us:
https://myinspiredlife.org/2023/04/29/what-moves-you-blog-challenge/
Also posting for open link night at: https://dversepoets.com
This week we buried my sister. It was a beautiful blue-sky day as we gathered to honor her memory. As I looked across the gathering, I was impressed with the large number of people who made the effort to come to her funeral.
During her lifetime she and her husband had many varied experiences, from teaching English in the Congo and in the West Bank of Israel in the 1960’s to teaching ESL classes in Lancaster County Pennsylvania for many years. During that time, she made many lifelong friends, many of whom attended this occasion.
She had a way of making heart connections that drew others to her. She showed interest in their interests and encouraged them in their pursuits. Meaningful connections are what create bonds that last a lifetime and bring friends and family together to say goodbye. The bond of Love is stronger than life or death and will always be remembered.
Connections draw us
Building lifelong bonds of love
Sad blue-sky farewell
***
Traveling from far and near
We remember shared mem’ries
**
Photo: Dwight L. Roth
Today I received word that my sister Priscilla passed away. It is a very sad day for her family and for all of us. She was five years older than me and always looked out for me when I was young. She enjoyed reading her favorite books to me. Some were the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew Mysteries, and Sherlock Holmes. She was smart, energetic, and full of life. I always looked up to her. She had a very engaging personality and loved interacting with people, especially children who loved the attention she showed them. She will be greatly missed.
You always looked out
for me, making impressions.
Epitaphs on my soul
Free from sickness, free from pain
May your spirit find peaceful rest…
Today at d’Verse Poets Pub, Lisa asked us to write a poem about play. As many of you know, I love being creative. I enjoy trying new things such as building guitars out of old drill cases. Play for me is when I am in my garage working on these instruments and the radio is playing music in the background. What is even sweeter than that is when I can have my family come to visit and each one plays a different homemade instrument with me.
Play in making
Creating guitars from scratch
Musical magic
Family and friends play a tune
Satisfaction at its best
Photos: Dwight L. Roth and Chris Roth
Join us at: https://dversepoets.com
Creating Pearls
*
Inspiration:
Friction rubbed just the right way
Lights a fire
*
No match lights without friction
Unchallenged, the mind goes blank
*
Resistance:
Confrontation of life’s pain
Inspiration’s fuel
*
Words stream waiting to be heard
Verbal screams inked on a page
*
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)
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.
***
Photo: Dwight L. Roth
Temperatures dip low
Bitter windchill seeps through cracks
Dreaming of warm isles
Palm trees swaying in the breeze
Sunset paints ocean rainbows
Record low temperatures and windchill recorded this week in the Northeast US. For us in the Carolinas, the cold won’t stay long. Warm weather is on the way next week. Dipping our toes in warm tropical waters would feel really good about now!
Painting: Dwight L. Roth
Roth Poetry 