These are a little shadowy in places because they are in a sketch book, and I can’t close the scanner lid all the way when I scan them into the computer. Sorry about that. But I sketched them for today, and I’m posting them as my Valentine cards for all my readers.
HAPPY VALENTINE’S DAY!
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I’ve wondered round this earth for years,
And known my share of joys and tears.
I’ve laughed with love and cried for loss,
And broken dreams like rubbish tossed.
I’ve seen sights soaked in splendid sun
And bathed by moon when day was done.
But ’til today I’d not seen such
A sight that stirred my heart this much:
A giant, handsome, stately tree
Bedecked with ribbons midst the leaves.
Such gorgeous bows of silk, blood-red,
Tied as if on maiden’s head.
I stood and pondered what it meant:
This work of art to nature lent.
Who ties these bows, and why, I asked.
Who set himself this tedious task?
Some lover dreaming of soul-mate,
Who joyous love anticipates?
But there was none who, passing by,
Could tell me who, or how, or why.
And though I stood ’till set of sun
I found no answer; no, not one.
So on I trudged my weary way,
To reach my post by end of day.
But as I went, I sang a song:
Though much in this old world is wrong,
Still someone with a heart of love,
Took time and, with care, beauty wove –
Amidst the branches of old tree –
A gift of ribbons for all to see:
To lift the heart and light’n the load
Of each soul passing ‘long this road.
When I saw this week’s DP photo challenge, with the subject of ‘liquid,’ I immediately thought about a little poem I wrote some time back concerning the color green and how it strikes me as being rather liquid. Now a lot of readers may consider that idea weird, but no matter. It’s a concept that seems at home in my psyche. So I decided to share that poem here and, since I don’t have an actual photo that matches the poem, I created a fun green graphic to go with it. Hope that’s okay.
April’s the epitome of spring.
It’s fitted neatly between March and May.
It’s warmth and breezes sweet caress the soul,
And throughout April we see lengthened days.
April’s known for showers so soft and warm,
That bring the flowers from bud to blossoming.
And for the grasses surging up in earnest,
So that we hear the law mowers buzz and sing.
But this year, April’s played a dirty trick
And turned her back on pleasant-scented days.
She’s hit us with snowstorms and frigid air.
And quite forgot her nicer, springly ways.
Flowers are freezing; frogs are shivering;
Bees and butterflies still hibernate;
I think it’s time we have a talk with April –
Convince her that our Spring is past due date.
When I stand on the edge of eternity,
All I see is God.
And my imagination rushes out into infinity
To embrace all that I can be
In Him.
Daily post Prompt: Imagination
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“And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overpower it.”
(John 1:5)
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I first discovered cinquain a few years ago, and I experimented with it for a poetry challenge online. I enjoyed the form so much that I found myself going back to it and writing cinquain about many different subjects. It’s a form of poetry that has no rhyme, but has a strict number of lines and a specified number of syllables per line. It is considered the only truly American poetic form in literature, having been created by a young New York poet, Adalaide Crapsey. You’ll find cinquain on this site quite frequently in the future, and I’ve even published a book devoted only to cinquain poetry. But I’ll tell you more about that another time. Right now, I’m composing ciquain to match this amazing photographic artwork by my great friend and professional photographer Terry Valley.
Moonrise
Over night pond.
Lonely swan at midnight
Confused by gliding ‘cross the moon:
Night flight.
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I looked
Into the night,
And to my great delight,
I saw a thousand stars begin
To dance.
I heard
No music played,
But could feel the rhythm
Of their pirouetting ‘cross the
Night sky.
Angels
No doubt did sing
And tap their feet in time:
The universe in harmony —
What joy!
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POETRY BY AHYOKA 