Nature’s Spice

The mighty oak spreads high overhead against the sky

Loaded with thousands of acorns turning from hues of basil

to crushed chili pepper topped with shades of anise and coriander.

Leaves turn to cinnamon and paprika as they fall to the ground

to be crushed in a mortar of earth and ground with pestle of feet

bringing richness and spice, nature’s seasoning, to the soil below.

Acorns carpet bomb overwhelming the ground like falling peppercorns

Seeds for the future guaranteeing new growth

Providing food for squirrels and deer throughout the cold winter.

Some put down roots for the future of us all.

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

Today at d’Verse, Merril asked us to spice up our poems today by choosing three or more of the spices from a list she gave us. She said it could be related to cooking or how ever we wished to use them. I decided to use the metaphorically in nature.

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Punched and Planted

Digging trenches in my yard

Making way for new technology

Holes dug by hand

Steel bullet pushed underground

Compressed air punches it through soft dirt

Two tubes pushed and pulled through

Carrying fiber-optic cables

Speeding up internet communications

Traveling at the speed of light

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

Today at d’Verse, De Jackson asked us to use any form of the word Punch in our Monday Quadrille! Last spring Open Fiber came through our community and laid tubes for running fiber optic cable. The put two of them through holes they punched under the driveways and yards. Competition in the cable world is good for us consumers. They are still working at installing the actual fiber which is as thin as a hair.

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After the Storm

Hurricane had past

Not a window left in place

Murmur of black birds

Floats quietly through the house

And not a soul left in sight

*****

Artwork by: leemadgwick.co.uk

Today at d’Verse, Sarah introduced to the artist Lee Madgwick. She gave us several of his pieces to choose from and asked us to pick one and write an ekphrastic poem about it. Lee gave her permission to use his works in our prompt.

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Tearing Up Nature’s Garden

“Hi Jim,” said George, when he saw him coming up the old wooden porch steps.

Old Blue woofed his welcome and licked Jim’s hand as he scratched the old dog under his chin.

“Did you hear about the new development they are building on the way to Windy Gap? It is going to have 200 houses and a swimming pool,” Jim said excitedly.

Old George had a sad look on his face as he nodded and rocked back and forth.

“You know, Jim, they are clear-cutting a lot of trees and wildflowers to make to make that happen.”

“Seems we humans are always busy tearing up Nature’s garden.”

“I guess I will just have to plant more flowers. And ‘I’d like, too, to plant the sweet alyssum that smells like honey and peace.’ It will be a haven for beautiful butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees.”

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Prosery today at d’Verse.  Sanaa asked us to write a story using this line, “I’d like, too, to plant the sweet alyssum that smells like honey and peace.” from the poem, “What I would like to grow in my Garden” – by Kathrine Reigel. Our story must be only 144 words.

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Unasked Questions

Seems we all remember things we wish we had asked our loved ones when they pass. Today Queen Elizabeth II died at the age of 96. I am sure that her grandchildren and great grandchildren will one day reflect and think about what they wish they could ask her about her life as Queen!

Both of my parents have passed on, and I still think of things I wish I had asked them. When we are young and active our thoughts are distracted with the cares of life. By the time we think about it they are gone, and our chance has passed.

Answers to questions not asked, get scattered with the ashes.

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Today at d’Verse, Bjorn asked us to create our own aphorism. An aphorism is a statement that presents a moral or philosophical idea in a metaphorical way. Aesop’s Fables are great examples.

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Gargantuan Words

I never understood the obsession with big words

calling it logolespy instead of just being a word freak.

Is bigger always better … more impressive?

Only in Texas, I believe.

To me it is just a lot of excited burbles

a gibberish of sorts much like a baby might speak

when playing with blocks on the floor.

I like laconic words… short and sweet…

chosen words that mean something to the reader.

Writing poetry is ikigai the reason for being

that can only be understood when speaking plainly.

Scintilla that sparks of inspiration takes us

down the yellow-brick road looking for the great OZ,

thinking his name should be twenty syllables long…

instead of just one.

No, gargantuan words don’t impress me much.

So… you know something none of the rest of us know

There has got to be a word for that…

Oh yes, that would be eniteo!

“I am distinguished most eminent … look at me shine!”

I say strikhedonia … it is all hog wash!

Simple words are susurrus to the soul…

light as a soft gently breeze.

The expression of belle-ame … my beautiful soul.

***

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Today at d’Verse, Mish shared some of the new words she has come across on social media. She gave us a long list of them with their definitions and asked us to write a poem using at least three or more of these new words in our poem. I am not a fan of using words that are meaningless to the reader in my poems, and almost skipped this prompt. But then I thought, why not illustrate what I dislike about them in a poem. This is what came out!

For the words and definitions, we were given, join us at: https://dversepoets.com

Labor Day

Labor Day

Every day is Labor Day for my little Downy Woodpecker

All day long he comes to my suet feeder eating his fill

Back and forth he goes and sometimes she comes too

Sinking their beaks into fat, they pull out seeds

Emptying cage

Since this is Labor Day in the US, Lisa from d’Verse has given us the word labor as our Quadrille prompt. I can see, from my recliner, my cute little birds coming and going all day long enjoying the birdseed and suet cakes I put out for them. They labor very hard until all the good seed is gone. They flutter around in dismay when it gets empty, waiting for the refill. Reminds me the way government and politics sometimes works.

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Shelter or Seed Pod

I am always amazed when I see mushrooms spring up in the grass. These three sisters look like they are made of porcelain, but they are so fragile. Under those sheltering domes are pockets full of spores that will be dropped at just the right time. As the mushrooms dry out the pods open and drop their spores. They will lie there in the dirt until once again the right temperature, moisture, and heat will make them grow and as the cycle of life continues.

Fragile domes shelter

new life after summer rain

Nature’s fancy art

***

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Today at d’verse Mish asked us to write a haibun using the word shelter. I decided to try something a bit different with this one. They look almost good enough to eat!

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Burning Fall

There was a time in the fall of the year when leaves were raked into a ditch and burned. The rising smoke snaked its way through the neighborhood burning eyes for some and tickling nostrils. For me, the sweet smell of burning leaves is synonymous with Fall.

Folks living in the country burned their leaves year after year. Sometimes those leaf piles burned into the evening shadows. They would take a ghostly stance and watch with a rake in hand as the pile got smaller and smaller. In time everything turned to ash. No one gave a thought about polluting the air. The evening wind carried the smoke away blending it into the other scents of Fall. It mixed with the smell of oak wood burning in woodstoves throughout the neighborhood.

Smoke from burning leaves

Mingles with the cool night air

Sweet smell of Autumn

***

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Today at d’Verse, guest host Jo asked us to write a poem of scents. They are those smells around us that tickle our senses and trigger memories and emotions. I chose to write about memories of fall leaf burning.

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Glorious Morning

Morning bursts forth in all its radiant glory,

peering through the sheltered woods,

highlighting trees, dancing on flowers.

Steppingstones draw me to

the damp creek.

Frogs bury themselves in mud keeping cool

Morning breezes will soon shift

But, for now, the glorious morning shimmers.

Backyard Painting: Dwight L. Roth

Today, at d’Verse. Linda asked us to write a 44 word Quadrille using the word morning.

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