Poetics – A Spatial Convergence

Photo by Alex Andrews on Pexels.com

Laura is our host for dVerse poetics this week asking us for a poem based on paintings, or the titles of paintings. Do visit the pub for all the fascinating details.

I must say this was fun and challenging. I chose “Convergence” by Jackson Pollock and started with a painterly poem based on the title, an attempt to paint for you the vision I see when I think about “convergence.” Then, when I looked up the actual artwork, the words came out much different even though (for me) the feeling was the same. I should have expected the unexpected from Pollock’s work. I must say, I see much stargazing in my future because of this prompt so thank you ever so much Laura.

 

Convergence Part 1 — a painterly poem

convergence of planets
align on a starry night
leaning back on my elbows
watching the indigo sky
devolve into the stars of Orion
the new moon rises in Gemini
your lips graze my throat
draws a shuddering breath
you point out Betelgeuse,
a red star burning bright,
and Rigel steadfast and true
your arm wraps around me
as I shiver, stealing
warmth from your body
against the night air
expectantly, I breathe you in
and exhale into your kiss
let the convergence begin

Convergence Part 2 an ekphrastic poem

Lines converge
in distant galaxies
harsh black and white
splashes of red and gold
Orion Nebula filled
with gaseous debris,
vapors and mist
kiss of the heavens
strength of the eons
womb of the stars

Til next time ~Stay Wild Moonchild ~JP

dVerse Poetics – The Humanity of Trees

Digital art from my polyvore collection

Kim is our host for Poetics at dVerse Poets Pub, “the challenge is to write a metaphor poem that starts with the words ‘This being human is…’ You can compare being human to anything you want: a building or place, an object, something natural or something manufactured, a ritual or an everyday act. It is up to you to explore whatever it is in your poem.”

Humanity of Trees

This being human is a tree
rooted deep within the earth
yet reaching toward the sky
drinking in the sunshine and
pondering the eternal mystery
of the moon and stars
and our own humanity
one tree with many branches
each with thousands of leaves
that sway and dance with the wind
offering shade and shelter
to all who seek respite,
a quantum of solace and renewal
always growing, always changing
the wisdom of the seasons
leaves that fade and fall
in a flurry of color
breathtaking reminders
of the beauty of letting go
this being human is… beautiful

Til next time ~Stay wild moon child ~JP

Tuesday Poetics A question of Color

Sunset on Waikiki

For Tuesday’s Poetics where Mish is hosting, asks us. “Writing from a perspective other than our own is a great challenge. We’ve had some very interesting prompts over the years where we have climbed out of our comfort zones to look through a new lens. That has usually involved looking through the eyes of another person. I’d like to float a little further into the unknown and suggest we take the perspective of a color. (or “colour’ as we spell it in Canada)”

Amber Hues

Cattle in stark relief exposed
black silhouettes juxtaposed
against my gentle winter hue
would you notice if I were blue
perhaps shade of summer green
but all unnoticed I remain unseen

Wait for the waxing pink moon
as amber buds begin to bloom
I am not some lifeless tone
but fragile glass and precious stone,
like the shine in lovers’ eyes
I am fading sunset’s golden prize

Til next time ~stay wild moon child ~JP

Poetics – Pearls of Wisdom

Image by RitaE on Pixabay

For dVerse Poetics, Mish asks us for an “object poem” beginning with “this is not a ____”

Pearls of Wisdom

This is not a necklace
but a strand of memories
each more precious than the last

Layer upon shimmering layer
each covering the tiny seed
of discontent, making it more bearable

beauty in the layers, truth in the grit
pearls of a mother’s wisdom
wrapped in layers of love and life

Til next time ~Stay trippy hippies ~JP

Poetics – South Wind

Salt Flats Death Valley

SarahSouthwest is our host at dVerse Poetics this week. She has asked us to write a poem based on a chosen title HERE.

They Say that Only the South Wind Flattens Grass

The South Wind flattened grass that day
we watched as they filed past
skies billowing noxious clouds of grey
with putrid remains of toxic gas

No mercy left within their eyes
bodies bent with pain and sorrow
the harbingers of death and lies
hold no hope for tomorrow

The South Wind flattens more than grass
where verdant crops once grew
sorrow’s seed will now trespass
grief take wing where sparrows flew

Nowhere left to hide, we fled
while broken dreams around us lay
on fallow ground now stained bright red
the South Wind flattened grass that day

Til next time  ~Peace ~JP

Normal Magic

Lillian is the host of Open Link Night on dVerse Poets Pub and one of her sayings is “Normal” is a setting on a dryer.(lillian) Which got me to thinking about my own sayings that I use a LOT right now. One of which is: “Average is a mathematical equation; normal is an illusion.” (JPP). So in honor of all the times people have said to me “this is the new normal” only to hear “normal is an illusion” I give you …

Normal Magic

They call it the new normal
for me it’s another day
of masks and social distance
and, really, that’s Okay

Normal never did mean
all that much to me
it’s just a grand illusion
whose source I cannot see

So I walk my path alone
isolation’s not so tough
for I have magic in my veins
and for me that’s quite enough

Secret Garden – Nocturne (Lyric Video) ft. Anne Takle

Til next time ~Peace ~JPP

dVerse Poetics — Flight of Fancy/Dance of Death

Image by Alexas_Fotos from Pixabay

Our host a dVerse Poets Pub Tuesday Poetics is Laura Bloomsbury, who asks us for our flights of fancy. The following is based on a real life observation of a nesting pair of Great Horned Owls who were being tormented by a scold of very noisy jays. One of the adult owls defiantly lured the jays away and suddenly turned on them, snatching one unwitting fellow right out of the air.

Flight of Fancy/Dance of Death

Whump, whump, whump the air throbs
under the assault of massive wings
three powerful strokes and he is aloft
master of the thermals

He dips one wing in silent condolence
to the pitiful flightless things below
while defiantly flying straight
into the scold of jays, and through

He climbs ever higher, taunting
inconsequential forms of lesser birds
that fall behind in the chase
still jeering they cluster … until

Pivoting on one wing, he falls
with sharp talons and flared wings
like an avenging angel set to smite
their relentless taunting

A silent cloud of black feathers
announces his success

Fly Like an Eagle — Steve Miller Band

Til next time ~Peace ~JP

dVerse Poetics — Seeing Red

Rose buds after a frost

Sarahsouthwest is our host for poetics and asks us for something red.

Anger

She was pale, like the waning crescent moon
stark against the black of night
lips painted a shocking garnet
like a vampiress fresh from a feed

Her aura was a blazing shade,
not the cool magenta of sunrise
nor the deep claret of late sunset
but the bright crimson of blood

She wore her anger like a second skin
so tight it seemed ready to split
staining the world a sooty brick
with the blemish of her hatred

Every Rose Has It’s Thorn — Poison

Til next time ~Peace ~JPP

DVerse Poetics – I Rise

Super moon over Bryce Canyon

Mish brings us this week’s dVerse Poetics and bids us contemplate what we have gained through personal (or global) crisis.

Like the Moon I Rise

Like the moon, I rise
from the darkness
to brighten the very sky
like the moon, I rise

Like the pheonix, I rise
from fire and ash
I spread my wings and fly
like the pheonix, I rise

Sorrow cannot keep me down
when in pools of darkness
I fear to drown
like the sun, I rise

Every day, warm or cold
night may bring good-bye
but, every morning,
like the sun I rise

At Last I See the Light — from Tangled

Til next time ~Peace ~JPP

dVerse Poetics — Constancy of Change

photo by Jeremy Thomas on Unsplash

Merildsmith is hosting Poetics at dVerse and bids us “I’d like you to think about impermanence, things that are transient, or things that have passed their time. If you want to stick to the seasons, nature, or the weather, that’s fine, but I’d like to challenge you to try to come up with something different or unusual.”

Constancy of Change

What do we hold on to
in a world where the only constant
is change

Words that spoke of love
passed and slipped away
with the impermanence of Spring

In a universe where
even brightest stars burn out
and skies remain empty at the loss

Who is to say what is eternal
and what is transient
hope still beats strong within my heart

For in this universe of transience
and temporal impermanence
only one thing remains sure

You and Me. Always.

The Best Thing that Ever Happened To Me ~ Gladys Knight

My Wabi Sabi Heart

Til next time ~Peace ~JPP