Freedom Cancelled #poetry #alzheimers

rose bud bloom

decided on its own colour

catching random raindrops

she danced each spring

a calla lily

ivory  water cup

opens like a scroll

makes my heart sing

dry dusty petals

always winter

a ballerina once

no longer remembering

****

a swan song

the seasons changed her dance

robbed of her wings

 

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Water #poetry #drought #Uganda

one blue cup each

flows easily through her hands

dry river beds

laughter’s pure reflection

sing song they learn A B Cs

*

so young to be old

internal Acholi’s strength

Nile clouds my vision

*

If I share a handful of their giggles, would you share a handful of precious water?

This week’s  Word Press photo challenge is Reflections

and Reflections at Weekly Tanka Prompt

Let Your Song Be… #poetry #music

Deep within my soul

there flows a faithful song

it started as a child

like a friend it tagged along

Whispers in the leaves

and echoes in my head

lingers in heart’s dreams

where daily it was fed

Growing like the falls

music’s river rushes on

deep within my soul

there flows a faithful song

“Without music, life would be a mistake.”
― Friedrich Nietzsche,

“Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent”
― Victor Hugo

“Let your song be delicate.”  Is today’s Poets United  (or not)  Prompt

I wonder what song your poetry  might sing…

Kayla’s Song #devotion #poetry #kaylamueller

“The part of me that pains the most

also gets me out of bed…”

The memory of all He’s done

so little I have to dread

without your hope there is nothing left

no sky, no hills, no sea

But with the loving knowledge I hold

None can break the will in me

Look up behold His nail pierced hands

no longer on that tree

the Lord sent on  a servant’s deed

He came and rescued me

You men of terror

I shed a tear

You score your life with death

my savior rules with love divine

you are lost eternally bereft

“The part of me that pains the most

also gets me out of bed…”

The victory in all He’s done

I am not afraid of death

 

 

“I find God in the suffering eyes reflected in mine.  If this is how You (God) are revealed to me, this is how I will forever seek You.” Kayla Jean Mueller (a martyr at the hands of ISIS)

You have probably heard of the senseless death of Kayla Jean Mueller- be inspired by her faith and her victory.

This poem is inspired by the last letter that her parents received from women that were released who shared a cell with Kayla. The italicized words are her own.

You can read her letter here.

Kayla is not the only martyr in this reign of terror. Be strong and courageous for the days are filled with evil…

 

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”

John 10:10

 

 

“When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; He brought me into a spacious place.
The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.  What can mere mortals do to me?
The Lord is with me; he is my helper.  I look in triumph on my enemies.”

Psalm 118:5-7

 

“If God is for us who can be against us?”

Romans 8:31

 

Waiting for the Moon #haiku #moon #art

Both grasses and trees
waiting for the moon
dewy evening

© Iio Sogi

 

 

Dewy lashes

open to the sky

watery feathers

Dewy lashes                                                                                     close to the sun

close to the sun                                                                             no heat to borrow

lips greet the moon                                                                             last of day

(central haiku)

 

lips greet the moon

lovers reunite

silent song

 

Today  Carpe Diem Haiku Kai  is inspired by Sogi’s Dewy Eve, we are prompted to write a haiku or better yet a troiku (three haiku built off a main haiku) the form created by Kristjaan.

Winter Dreams in Color #haiku #holiday #poem

This week I love to challenge you all a bit more to write a short chained poem with a maximum of eight stanza following the classical rules (5-7-5; 7-7; 5-7-5; 7-7; 5-7-5; 7-7; 5-7-5; 7-7) and your last stanza (classically called “ageku”) has to close the chain by associating on the first stanza. Of course you don’t need to use the classical syllables count, but that’s up to you.
Not an easy task I think, but therefore I give you all 24 hours instead of 18 hours … So you have to write a chained poem (Renga) of maximum eight (8) stanza inspired on the image and the prompt WINTER WONDERLAND within 24 hours.

My eyes open

crystals lace eyelashes

the world is white

I fold back winter’s blanket

I am warmed by the sight

*

Reaching in a dream

entranced by small set of prints

walking on sugar

ballerina takes my hand

I am dressed like a swan

*

Effortless we sail

glassy waters before us

I drop a feather

red beauty falls to earth

contrast against my white world

*

Light is the breeze

feather and red petal dance

nature’s pas de deux

my eyes flutter closed

echos long a wonderland song

The Red Ballet Shoes are from Deviant Art

Today’s prompt from Kristjaan at Chevrefeuille’s Carpe Diem is a complicated but fun one for the season.

I also celebrate this my 1700th post at Word Press!!!

 

 

 

 

 

In Tune #poetry #kindness #devotion

There’s a star in the sky

 one you’ll never quite see

but it shines all the same

perfect voice tuned to “C”

*

you can’t hear what she sings

but the song is her own

she calls the disheartened

to draw near home

*

I met this fair one

not long ago in a dream

she called in the dark

I was lost so it seems

*

Radiance poured on a path

one that I’d never used

and I stumbled in the dirt

over unlaced running shoes

*

on my knees I looked up

and I saw a bright light

it came with a song

what a beautiful sight

*

“you will make it

I can see

not too far now

past those trees

take a left

then a right

you will find hope

past the night”

*

Then I saw it in a smile

someone waving all the while

open arms rescued me

finally safe, darkness free

***

“It is always darkest just before the day dawneth.” –  Thomas Fuller

Have you ever stumbled in the dark? It seems most of us do.  Have you ever been picked up out of the dirt? I have and am grateful for those gentle smiles that graciously moved me on my way.  If you have ever stumbled and been helped back up, remember to look for others who can use a simple act of kindness to help them continue on their way.

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. ² Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Hebrews 13:1-2

Sharing with the Poet’s United  Poetry Pantry because they are such a welcoming bunch and Godinterest cuz it’s a place I share thoughts.

To be Inspired #spiritual #poetry #song

You are strong and beautiful in rites and in the shining of the altar,

mounting like the smoke of perfumes to the column of praise.

Where you intercede for the people who stretch towards the mirror of light

to whom there is praise on high.

(Excerpt from”Columba Aspexit”  by Hildegarde von Bingen at All poetry)

Can you carry  this song to parched nations?

offering silver hope in the sight of none

whispered echo of your victory

in chanted prayers of the nuns

Our trodden spirits long to be revived

as our souls are seered and desert dry

bathe our feet in holy libations

tears caught when the heavens cry

Give us cause to upward lift our praise

 gathered in one choral sacrament

to raise notes in pleasing offering

let ours be a welcome instrument

Lord in humility we prostate lay

what we place on the altar meek

make change in our hearts be true

let it be your precious love we seek

like the winged white symbol

let us with one spirit rise

lifted unto the radiant son

upon righteous wings we fly

***

“Then will I go to the altar of God, to God my exceeding joy:

yes, on the harp will I praise you, O God my God.”

~Psalms 43:4

Poets United Midweek Motif  has asked us to write a poem based on the work of Hildegard von Bingen a nun in the tenth century. I was not familiar this woman but am inspired by her poetry and music. There is much to be learned from a humble heart whose only intent is pleasing her God.

Without A Song #music #poetry #haiku

If I could write a song for you it would go something like this:

Without fingers to stroke

without a voice to sing

these instruments stand

with little meaning

***

but there was a day

that we’d  dance

and we’d play

long into the midnight hours

***

memories alone

warm these keys

of practice and concerts

in the center we would be

***

and  there was a day

that we’d  dance

and we’d play

long into the midnight hours

****

the guitar stands aloof

the keyboard gathers dust

the flute didn’t make it

in the last minute moving rush

***

but there was a day

that we’d  dance

and we’d play

long into the midnight hours

***

someone in another land

still plays the CDs

where our band came together

in a festive jubilee

***

yes there was a day

when we would dance

and we’d play

long into the midnight hours

*******

Endless the hours spent

For you alone I would sing

Rusty keys and voice

This week’s Poets United prompt is Melody. What melody plays in the background of your world?

A short back story: I have come to realize that the creative soul dabbles and soars in the pursuit of art. As a child, I had the hours to spend singing, writing, drawing (painting) and playing numerous instruments (at my peak 5). As an adult with children to raise, I had to relegate myself to one. Music was my soul mate and my dearest friend as I raised my family ( I did get the opportunity to travel and perform.) When the opportunities to sing subsided, I once again took up my pen and began to write and now I am drawing again. Though my voice is rusty,  I still have a song  to sing…

New as the Moon #haiku #poem #photgraphy

Dust beneath my feet

hoot owl chants a new song

Old as the hills

The prompt for Carpe Diem is New Moon. A favorite topic.

What do you love about the moon???