Wind Blown

Laundry on the line

For all the world to see

Basking in sunlight

Fresh sheets blowing in the wind

A fresh smell like no other

*

Clothes from the washer

Suds squeezed out through the ringer

Woman’s work back then

Monday morning wash day

Life’s simple routine repeated

*

Wicker basket filled

Undies just hung on the line

Wooden clothes pins tight

No one then gave it a thought

Whether the neighbors saw them

*

Phosphate soap bubbles

Tide will always get them clean

Good fresh smells linger

Dry clothes pressed on ironing board

Folded put up by supper

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

At d’Verse this evening, De asked us to write a poem about laundry! I grew up in the days when clothes were washed in a ringer washer and washtubs, hung on the line outside with wooden clothes pins, and ironed on an ironing board in the kitchen! No need for fabric softener back then the clothes always smelled wonderful. I decided to do a series of tankas.

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From There to Here

How swiftly time flies from there to here

Ten lifetimes rolled into one sweet moment

Today I’ll sit, in cool warming sunshine

Watch hawks soaring overhead

Listen to wrens and cardinals sing

And watch my drying little creek

Slowly turn into curdled algae yogurt

Today at d’Verse we are to write a Quadrille of exactly 44 words, using the word swift or a form of the word. I was immediately drawn to how fast time has passed in my lifetime. These are my reflections.

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com …then click on Mr. Linkey and read more.

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

First Bloom

Daffodil’s first bloom

Basking in bright warm sunshine

Buds waiting their turn

*

Dark clouds brought cold rain today

Chilled blooms wait another day

*

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Meaning in the Meaningless

Old in age, I am young at heart

Seeing my way through an uncharted maze

I look for light in the winter dark of night

Racing slowly toward the finish line

*

Days creep by, as redundant weeks roll on

Attempting to find meaning in the meaningless

Believing in that unbelievable Spirit of all Creation

Experiencing grace and comfort in not knowing

*

In this winter of freezing joints and pushing buds

I defy the waiting cold earth with warm sunshine

I write my simple poems from inspired words unknown

As night closes in, each new day dawns

“I am the bud and the blossom, I am the late-falling leaf” – from The Paradox by Paul Dunbar

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Today at d’Verse, Laura asked us to consider writing from the perspective of paradox. She gave us some lines from different poems to choose from for inspiration. I chose the one from Paul Dunbar’s, The Paradox.

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com then click Mr. Linkey to read more.

Winter Rain

Gray blanket shrouds sun

Cold rain tumbles over roots

Gloomy days hug me

*

Daffodil shoots announce Spring

proving groundhog’s shadow wrong

*

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Hibernation Melting

Pure white melts into

puddles of thawed memories

Only flaws remain

Hibernation’s leaves show through

Bared for all the world to see

*****

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Recycled Sunshine

Volunteer grows tall

near my kitchen window.

Recycled sunshine

peaks out from behind green pods;

Bright silky petals smiling…

Enjoy the summer heat.

***

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

 

 

Seduction

Springtime smiling green
Tomatoes heavy on the vine
Shining in the sun

Swollen flesh pumped full
Rainwater fills every space
Face tanned by the sun

Chameleon turns
Green to blushing red cheeks
Smiling in the sun

Seduction draws me
Sinking my teeth in your flesh
Juice drips off my chin

My tomato photo taken this morning: Dwight L. Roth

Today at d’Verse, Frank Tassone discussed the Imaginism style of writing poetry, where the subject is described with detailed imagery.  He asked us to write in Free Verse or a series of Haiku. I love writing Haiku so I chose that format.

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Where Earth Meets the Sky

Today I sat beside a stream

Watched a Titmouse take a bath

Listened to the birds that sing

While ants crawled on the path

Flowers bloomed in warm sunlight

Tall and strong with heads of yellow

Swaying there with smiles so bright

Nature’s garden is waving hello

The air was cool // the sun was hot

Above my head the willows sigh

In the shade’s my chosen spot

‘Tis a perfect place I sighed

So there I sat the morning out

While bees buzzed round close by

Thought to myself // no need to pout

Where earth meet the sky

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

Happiness and Joy

In this time of uncertainty we soon find out who we really are as people. Some go into a tail spin and become fearful of every little thing. Others try in vain to stock up hoards of stuff to satisfy their manic tendencies. Some believe God is in control and all will work out in time for our good.  For many, happiness is gone; replaced with anxiety. I am sure we all experience some of these tendencies. How we approach a crisis is much the same as we approach our every day life. Happiness is like the weather; sunny one day and raining the next. Joy goes to the core of our being and sustains us through the bad weather that will come in our lives. Remember what is important in life.

Happiness and Joy
Happiness is a little bird
Perched on the rail
Right within my grasp
Only to fly away
The moment
I reach out to take hold of it.

Joy is the blood
Pumping through my veins
A constant rhythm of rejuvenation
Not something to be possessed
Rather something to be
Joy is what keeps my soul alive

 

I posted this back in December, but feel it might be helpful to post it again.

Photo: Dwight L. Roth