Ocean Millipedes

Ocean piers are such interesting objects. They stretch out into the water beyond the breakers standing on fragile piling of wood.  Wonderful for fishing, they draw lots of people to their ends.  Casting line in the water men and women sit there waiting patiently for a bite. As I walk under the pier, I see the planks and bolts holding it together. It is strong but the next hurricane has the potential to twist it out of shape or tear it out of the water.

Ocean Millipedes

Pier stands strong // feet in the sand

Fall Storm // twists backbone

 

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

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Invisible Feelings of Loss

What do you say to one who has lost
A spouse… a child… or a loved one dear…
When ceremony has passed and flowers have faded?
How do we handle those feelings of loss

For a week or two we might inquire…
Wondering how they are doing; in their quiet solitude
Of grief and pain; in the empty spaces of the heart.
But time goes on, those questions retire.

Pain and loss become invisible feelings
That friends have talked about long enough…
Lest repetition stir up more than they can handle.
It’s time to pass over those invisible feelings!

No time for the crying heart; only a mask of smiles // “I’m fine”;
But, if you look closely, invisible feelings are glistening in their eyes.

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Merril, at d/Verse, asked us to think about things around us that we miss or have made invisible. She asked us to be creative in our responses, so I decided to write about invisible feelings. It is often hard to know what to say to someone who has had a great loss in their family. Perhaps it is just better to be there for them. Talking some times gets in the way.

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com

Sweet Solitude

What is it about the ocean’s ebb and flow that brings healing to the soul? Is it the sound of the surf rolling in; or the breakers crashing one the sand? The rhythm of the ocean  draws many to seek solitude at waters edge.

As you sit feeling the water tickle your ankles and soft sand squishing between your toes, the cares of the world seem to flow away with the receding tide. The ocean’s mantra soothes the soul and brings rejuvenation and renewed strength.

Ocean works magic

Soul’s sandcastles wash away.

Summer solitude

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Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Today Kim, at dverse, asked us to write a Haibun about solitude.  I chose to write about the healing qualities of solitude that many find at the ocean.

Come join us at: https://dversepoets.com

 

Memories of Summer

Fragile wings glowing

Butterflies sucking nectar

Summer memories

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

Still Cold

Grumpy old ground hog
Winter sleep interrupted
Still cold // spring will come
No dark shadow to scare him
Who would believe such a tale?

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Frank Tassone asked us to write a Haikai poem for this ground hog’s day. Even though he did not see his shadow, it is still very cold in many parts of the country. So our prompt is “still cold”!

Come join us at: https://frankjtassone.com/2019/02/02/haikai-challenge-71-2-2-19-still-cold-yokan-haiku-senryu-haibun-tanka-haiga-renga/

Bing Photo: heavy.com

Cookies Anyone?

Some photos don’t need an explanation. These sweet little girls and their moms were outside our restaurant this evening selling Girl Scout Cookies!  It doesn’t get any better than this… Poetry Without Words!

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

When I Hear Birds Sing

I sit amazed that each one knows their tune
Always on pitch they sing from morn till noon.
Perhaps birds love singing only one song;
Unending melody //making her swoon.

But how does a bird hatched out of an egg?
Know what tune to sing on their tiny legs?
And why don’t they try another’s sweet song?
Getting mixed up //and from another beg

I think bird melodies are meant to blend.
Like flutes in a symphony // all join in;
With harmonized beauty they sing their song.
Each plays a part // sweet symphony begins

Today we are experimenting with writing rubaiyats with our d’Verse group. Frank is our host and asked us to write one using the one of the forms suggested.
A single ruba’i is a quatrain, a poem of four lines. If there is a collection of more than one quatrain, it is called a rubaiyat, This is what Edward FitzGerald titled his 1859 translation of Omar Khayyam’s quatrains. The pattern can be AABA or AAAA.
I am using the first pattern in my poem.
Come join us at: https://dversepoets.com

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

Relics of the Past

Covered bridges, built to last, covered may streams and rivers in past generations. Now they are just relics of the past, preserved to be admired by future generations.  The construction of the bridges was amazing. Planks and timbers were cut with precision and fitted together creating both beauty and strength.

I painted this bridge a few years ago to illustrate these great landmarks of the past.

Enduring all kinds

of weather // lasting beauty

Wooden covered bridge

 

Harbinger of Things to Come

 

There she was // big as life standing before us;
Pasted smile stretch under bright red lipstick.
What she said next was a clear harbinger
Of pending storms coming in with a rush.

“I know something about each one of you!”
“I plan to be around for a long time;
I don’t know about all the rest of you!”
Three bombshell statements from her and we knew…

Life under this school principal brought chains.
Vindictive // demanding //she made life hard;
We complained and fussed with no success;
Nothing remained the same // everything changed.

Half of us left // the rest weathered the storm;
She stayed a few years and then she was gone.

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Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Mind Games

I’m climbing steep grades
Gets steeper as I go up
No way to go down

Head off back of pillow…

My mind floated through
Struggles from the past // long gone
Woke to a new day

Glad dreams aren’t reality
Reruns seem real while asleep

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Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Today is Quadrille Monday once again and Mish, at d’Verse, asked us to use the word steep as a prompt. That got me dreaming and this poem evolved in my mind! A quadrille of exactly 44 words.
Join us at d’Verse: https://dversepoets.com