Imaginary Garden

Open Link Monday is on view in the garden. I have been struggling writing poetry, for the past couple of months. A lot going on with Mom selling her home, a surgery and a lot of sinus issues(headaches). It has zapped my poetry and other creative endeavors.  The only way back is to leap in,frog like fashion of course and try, try again.  Here is one of my leaps:

semantic mood
erupts flow's focus
dolls, crayons and collected shells
once my Disneyworld

sea glass memories
toss n' turn
gently buffed
blurring the sharp points
shades of gray alluvium shake the ribbons
of red from my hair

Mica's sparks appear
loyal ripple remains
in modest nature
data bank walks through refracted light
down streets of tall oaks, ocean's breeze, and New England homes
blue logic jars muse
investigates n' collides with Sedimentary thought

red roses brighten mood
hot ash, flames flicker, igniting glowing dream
smoldering hope laps the picket fence
doll china plates encircle grand, massive Maple


paralyzing thoughts appear
like heavy stones
candles outline shadows of guests
music buffers the fortress
concrete thoughts set in time's quicksand


unkept roses, wilt and fade
clusters of purple dignity forced to bloom
tight budded dream still green
encouraging unfurled Starbursts
in lingering horizon to come into focus


death's door robbed edges of final youth
alcohol erupts families' dinner plates
words cut like knives at carnival's fun house
economic pulse like a drive-through window
expansion of dust billows
in lingered thought
fault line
scars fragile core

Imaginary Garden

Grace gave us a chance to shorten our sails, by writing a poetry format challenge, called a Rondelet. It is a lot harder than it looks~

snapping the view
pixelated fragments remain
snapping the view
lingering memories I accrue
captured facets in my brain
collective presents I can claim
snapping the view

Novel Challenge

The challenge was to come up with a poem regarding a famoussquare based on this novel, "Washington Square" by Henry James.

I chose Trafalgar Square in London; I have been there, when I was a teenager on a school trip. I paid my way. I saved all  my birthday, baby sitting money so I could go.  It was worth it. I blended the before n' now of this famous square~

Historic view
Transformed
Lion's pride
protects
London's eye
sees white chalk homes, red buses piled high, black cabs blur
vibrant space
plethora of art
soap box platform
Nelson's column, proud
battle's heart remembers
fountain gurgles news
pigeon's post
as life travels by.


Or

Student aboard
in a jumble of hub pub
soap box pride
announces view of news
pigeon's post
lovers linger
school girls giggle
Pigeon man feeds family
stale bread
art surrounds
the blur of chalk white homes, colorful people, and shops
traffic transformed
historic pride
Lion's roar of the crowd
plethora of people
weave about.

First Kiss

 * This is me at twelve; my brother is the in the bottom of the photo. He leaves and boyfriend gives me my first kiss. It was my birthday; I had a dance in our garage.

I love this prompt that Poets United #44 chose this week ;-D  a First~


birthday cake, streamers swirl
candles blown, made my wish
private moment, suddenly...
mouth preened with Peachy Keen gloss
boyfriend hands you a gift
a cedar treasure chest for tokens
you open your mouth to say thank you

when warm, moist lips arrive
heart flutters and head swoons
My first, real kiss
confetti cheer,
friends announce news
dance to remember,
cupid's bow pursed
now grown up

Novel Challenge

 

We were to select a quote from the  book "Never, Never Land" by J.M. Barrie

I found torn between 2 entries I had thought of. Then decided to blur the two together. 

Blurs of variegated green surround me throughout the moss covered forest

Forever forest where heaven kisses the sea n' hugs the shore

Ebb n' flow pulls one towards the sea 

a  magnetic compass luring you in

Stairway to a new heaven

leads to the rocky shore

My guide flitters n' flirts with me to follow

leading me to the edge of my dreams

A key hole appears with clusters of rose pink n' purple passion

The allure resides by the bay

Hope guides me to the gifts of seeing magic in the ordinary.

Think Tank Thursday

Poets United prompt #41 is Uniforms and Serivce. I'm married to an enlisted man; CMC=Command Master Chief. He is an E9, the highest rank of the enlisted. He can go higher, Fleet and Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy. I am not in the military, but have survived deployments while he took classes, went to sea, etc. There have been times with no communication, they have been moments of living where I could not discuss what I saw. One spouse did and was given a warning. The next time she called home and talked about the type of  planes she saw. She was removed from the island. The military police came to her door, told her to pack and took her to a plane. I lived closer to Russia than the U.S.; I was on an island in the Aleutian Chain called Adak.  There were long periods of time, I only had a vague idea what he did. I was better off not knowing, as he advanced the job changed to more pencil pushing, and now shrink. (no not really, but the CMC counsels people daily, among other duties.

This is a ceremony I witnessed, that touched me. I thought it would be poetic to share it.When I have gone to the Navy and/or Khaki Ball the ceremony of  "The POW/MIA Table". It is a table set for one, it symbolizes
members of the military missing from the Navy's midst. Prisoners of War or Missing in Action is what most call them; the Navy calls them brothers.


Dining room illuminated
Colors arrive
Ship's bell is rung
Attention on Deck

MC announces the mystery guest
Corner table for one
set for our missing brothers
remember their place
one small and frail prisoner against unfavorable odds
purity covers table
intention spreads to respond
duty call to arms
precious red rose in vase
lives in  faith
determined ribbon, reminiscent red accounted for
 bitter lemon fate on bread plate
salt sprinkled, tears as family waits
no toast, no cheer tonight
inverted glass, no one to partake
empty chair, no one there
Remember those brave souls have not forsaken you
Depend on their aid
Bear witness and remember
unyielding determination
for the Land of the Free

Challenge #2 The Little Prince

"Pure logic is the ruin of the spirit"  This is the quote I chose to highlight from the book, "The Little Prince"
~  I wanted to share, what one misses, when they don't follow the wisdom of the prince and let their inner child die.

Clouded sulfur clusters over puddles of grief
Pale boarders arrive in mourning cloaks
Molded scowls etch deep lines
Craggy, tired bones shuffle onward
Twinkle in mind's eye remembers
Youth's fountain, others jumping rope, skipping and baseball,
Passion's promise lost in limbo,
Tilted universe appears in
reversed dreams,
Soon arrival in deep, vast abyss
Hope for milky gate of pearls
Connect the stars
Secrets blooms with faded frost
Five keys allow entry
Fast forward
Journey in a photograph
of a life unlived~

Recalled Life

*photo:   http://www.alpenanow.com/

Kerry came up with the challenge of writing a poem, based on the Charles Dickens novel, "A Tale of Two Cities"~   I found this one difficult to do; It was during this time, life as I knew it, completely changed.


Termination dust sighted
Spawning bed disturbed
Poison leaves permanent toxic scar
Fragile seaweed tears flow
Bitter heart shivers
Barren thoughts appear, permafrost path
How do I go on?

Dreams of Sterling Highway
Turquoise blue water n' Fireweed pink
Promise of pitter patter, unearthed
Tarnished silver moon's kiss fades
Big Dipper netting, catches haunted nightmare
Bittersweet conditions, balance tilted
Ladder of faith, broke
Fragile glacier heart slowly melts
Second chance, shuffled dreams

Pristine ebony blue velvet sky
Thick ribbons of green n' gold flutter, flirt and dance
like butterfly wings

Celebrate second chance, second birthday
back to the drawing board
Paint new memories
rocking chair evenings
lightening bugs dance
near porch of seasoned golden years.

I was medivacced off Adak Island,Alaska,  in the Aleutian chain, during my lst pregnancy. I lost my first child and gave birth to Type 1 diabetes. My life was forever changed, I spent 3 weeks in a hospital in Anchorage, Alaska. The Navy wouldn't let me go back to the island to pack my stuff or say good-bye. I was kicked off the island.  They finally sent me home to live with my Mother, till my husband finished his orders on the island. I survived 1380 blood sugar and have two healthy children. It could have been prevented, there were signs that were dismissed.  I went to the ER every weekend. I was 5 months pregnant and weighed 106 lbs. My blood work was forever lost,it had been drawn 24hrs before.  I woke up to my Dr crying near my bedside.  He was going to go to Bethesda, the big Naval hospital (where the President goes for his check ups); He feared if I died it would ruin his career.

I tried to use words that described Alaska, Fireweed is a flower, Northern Lights, termination dust is the first snow appearance on the mountain peaks. A sign that winter will soon be here.

My Take on Wordle

Robb gave us a challenge; He scrambled up a poem in Wordle, gave us 30 words to rewrite a poem, with conditions. :-)
I still haven't figured out the poem yet, but my bet is it's a childhood favorite.



Here is my poem, I did add a few words; I put them in  (      ) so you will know.

Cool peppermint grass ends
(where) black asphalt begins
Children know winds blow
White chalk burns
dark smoke grows
Crimson sun (rises)
Measured arrows (take) flight~




My poem represents going back to school
Learning means winds of change
 A spark ignites a passion to learn,
When we graduate we point our arrows;
go in a new direction.

Synonym Roll

Try rewriting a poem using synonyms. The assignment is:

Print out a poem—yours or another writer’s—double spaced. Above each word write another word that is similar in spelling or meaning, until you have the makings of new lines above each existing line. Revise these into a finished poem.

I took my poem, based on Poets United prompt #33 Fire
Here is the original:

Green fertile mind grows,
Once a bit seasoned, the flame ignites.

Youth smolders, internal heat erupts
Blisters form, as passion roars.
Radiating warmth with fits of rage.

Scorched gifts, burn into furrowed brow,
Oppressive humidity, sucks oxygen out,
Slowly arrogant n' proud, dissipate.

Intensity sparks light of hope,
Enlightenment is kindled,
Passion's promise glows,
Best Wishes of future planted.

Oooh's and aahh's arrive,
as fiery rain dances,
Display breathtaking beauty,
Triumphant new birth
appears.

Now after assignment:

Lush bearing soul develops,
As an aromatic spark kindles,
Teen fumes, inner torrid flames,
Vesicle appears, desire bellows,
Emits white heat controlled tantrum explodes,
Parched favor scalds, ignites creased forehead,
Distressed heaviness engulfs air from within,
Languidly, high spirited ego scatters,
Force kindles illuminated dream,
Awareness glows,
Rapture's hope is brilliance,
Outstanding ambition, destiny implanted,
Pleasure enters,
as red hot torrent tango,
Exhibiting thrilling symmetry~
It is interesting to see how close you can come to the original thought or words. I think the intensity and heat is stronger in my 2nd poem. What do you think?