Being Alive

I displace the skittish bluebird from her nesting box on the grape arbor. Today, I put my hands in dirt once more. I once dug my little garden plots all in one day. This year, just days away from 74, I have dug them one small section at a time, a little each day, until I get the dirt turned bottoms up. Today it is ready for planting my seven tomatoes and a few Zinnia seeds.

I love digging in the dirt, feeling the dirt with my fingers, breaking up the clods into workable soil. It is now that I know why I bother each year to keep planting a garden. It is that connection with my farming roots of years gone by that draws me to continue. For, as long as I can feel the soil, watch the plants grow, and eat the fruits of my labor, that I know I am truly alive.

Green tomato plants

Roots in composted soil

Taste of life is sweet

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

Today at d’Verse, Frank asked to write a Haibun about living in them moment. Join us at: https://dversepoets.com

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.

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com

 

 

Time Slippin’

As time slips by I find joy in moments
Beauty of yellow wildflowers swaying
Song of bright red Cardinal singing sweetly
The world around me struggles with rebirth
The same weeds come up from long hidden roots
Pulled so plump red tomatoes can grow

This is Quadrille Monday at d’Verse Poets Pub. Linda asked us to write a Quadrille of exactly 44 words using the prompt slip. My poem today deals with the passage of time; living one day at a time, and being in the moment of awareness of all that is going on around me.

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com

Last Taste of Summer

Cool air creeps in along with shortening days
The sun is still warm but the nights are cold
Tastes of fall manifest themselves
The grape vines are almost bare
Garden tomatoes still hang on to the very end
No statement of an early demise signed here
Zinnias and Cosmos feed the last of the monarchs
Honey bees collect pollen in the early morning sunshine
To my surprise I see a remaining orange jewel
Hanging on the vines
The last ripe tomato just waiting for me
I picked it today and had it for lunch
Last but not least it still had the flavor
Of earlier brothers and sisters already eaten
What a wonderful way to bring closure
That one last taste of summer makes it all worthwhile
All the work and toil ending in one last jewel of flavor
As fall closes in with colors of every hue
I enjoy this one last offering
Thankful for the simple blessings of life

Photo:  Dwight L. Roth

 

 

Taste This

As days grow shorter and hot weather cools
A few light rains help revive struggling tomatoes
Amazing what a little extra water can do
A few cool days allows blooms to form tomatoes
Now, those old vines that seemed half dead
Are putting out new growth climbing the wire
Ripe Fall tomatoes are a nice treat
Can’t wait to slice and bite into them
*
Now that days are shortening and I am growing old
A resurgence of energy surges forth in the form of poetry
Amazing what a little encouragement can do
Blogging seems to bring out the best inspiration in me
Sharing my experiences and photos with all of you
Followers from all over the world are climbing each week
New poems continue to flow like ripe juicy tomatoes
To be shared with those who dare to bite into them
Tasting the inspiration // passing on feelings and ideas

Today at d”Verse, we are looking at waiting and anticipation. Nothing peaks my anticipation like seeing the green tomatoes getting bigger and bigger as they turned rosy red orange. Waiting for them to ripen is wonderful anticipation.

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com

Jewels of Summer (Haiku)

My favorite garden vegetable each summer is the tomato. Although it is technically a fruit, I will take it either way.  Nothing beats a great tomato sandwich.  As they ripen in my tiny garden, I think, how beautiful they are and am thankful for these jewels of summer!

Bright reddish orange gems

Tasty summer jewels shining

Waiting to be lunch

Green to red they grow

Tanning in the summer sun

Ripe for the picking

The Last Taste of Summer

The Last Taste of Summer

Cool air creeps in on the back of shortening days

The sun’s still warm but nights are cold

Nips of fall manifest themselves in the garden

The grape vines are almost bare

Garden tomatoes still hang on to the very end

No statement of an early demise signed here

Fallen Zinnias and Cosmos feed the last of the Monarchs

Honey bees still collect pollen in the early morning sunshine

To my surprise I see a remaining orange jewel

Hanging on the aging vines

The last ripe tomato just waiting for me

I picked it today and had it for lunch

Last but not least it still had the flavor

Of earlier brothers and sisters already eaten

What a wonderful way to bring closure

That one last taste of summer makes it all worthwhile

All the work and toil ending in one last jewel of flavor

As fall closes in with colors of every hue

I enjoy this one last offering

Thankful for the simple blessings of life

*********************************************************

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

*********************************************************

This is a great blog you might want to check out:   https://uplandweb.wordpress.com/.

Poems From My Garden

Poetry without words:

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

Fall Poetry Without Words

The poetry of fall needs no words only pictures.  This is a collection of photos I took this past week, as the colors reached their peak here in North Carolina. The last one is the beautiful full moon that came over the horizon this evening.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Photos: Dwight L. Roth