Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Time's Grand Door


The dawn unfolds with buoyant tune
But now its trill reposes
With vesture of late afternoon
Upon a door that closes
Across what never more will be
Nor threatens its returning
Of this days joy or misery
Its pleasure or its yearning

A wisp of thought expands, a sea
Retreating to the reaches
Of mystery and history
Of love and what it teaches
Of how our moments in the sun
Or perhaps in the shadow
Must be relinquished; one by one
To past’s vespertine meadows

The clock upon Time’s fated wall
Someday will cease its order
And every man, both great and small
Must cross earth’s transient border
But on life’s little avenue
And for a little season
We bear our little grief or two
And do not ask God’s reason

The Dawn awaits, its buoyant tune
With ballad unrecorded
Whispers beyond the sallow moon
In versicle un-worded
With humble plea and gratitude
We gather thorns and roses
For years are swift and hours few
Before Time’s grand Door closes

© Janet Martin



A Tri-fall for my friend, Viv...Word Vertigo



Poetic Bloomings asks us to write a Tri-fall.

The Tri-fall, created by Jan Turner, consists of three 6-line stanzas, for a total of 18 lines.  The rhyme scheme per stanza is a,b,c,a,b,c.  The syllable count for each stanza is 6/3/8/6/3/8.    This form has no specific meter, requires little-to-no punctuation,  and may be written on any subject matter.

 
I have my best money
on the bet
that you will return soon because
words have a way, honey
they won't let
us rest without justified cause

What seems vapid tonight
or too dull
may regain charm beneath fresh eyes
wait until morning light
when wakeful
thought rages, rampant with surprise

Such is the poet’s curse
Or blessing
Victims are we of vexing Muse
Keened to sudden whispers
Caressing
The silence where we wept the blues

Janet~

Hope you are feeling better, Viv.

Gardening Haiku



Digging and dreaming,
Peas, beans, squash, greens, tomatoes
Perfect spring garden

Weeding and hoeing
Pruning, staking, gathering
Summer sweat-drops pour

Rustling after-math
Trial and error complete
Autumn’s garden sighs

Pure, pristine canvas
Buried dreams begin to nudge
Winter’s garden sleeps

Digging and dreaming,
Peas, beans, squash, greens, tomatoes
Perfect spring garden…

© Janet Martin~

Yes, that’s pretty much it!
Yet, it is the best therapy I know!

Favourite Foods Haiku



Poetics Aside Prompt: For today’s prompt, think of a favorite regional cuisine, make that the title of your poem, and then, write the poem. For instance, you may title your poem something like “Brunswick Stew,” “Deep Dish Pizza,” or “Jambalaya,” though the poem doesn’t exactly have to be about food.

 Favorite Foods Haiku

Oatmeal and wheat germ
Add ground flax and honey
Favorite breakfast

***

Fresh greens, red onion
Kidney beans and sharp cheddar
Simple salad bliss

Janet~

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

A Little Thinkin'...

What a gift is
This weariness
Not merely oppressing
Dreariness
But simply the effect
Of toil and duty
A tired Mother
Love’s hard-earned beauty

***

To have much to do
Is God’s gift of love
I bow humbly in thanks
To the Giver above

***

There are many words
Whispering; oh, how they beseech
Detained on a fringe; lingering
Just beyond my reach

***

If the flip-side of joy is sorrow
Come what may…
Is the flip-side of today, tomorrow
Or yesterday?

***

Leave your worry and care
and do not despair
at the unknown that murmurs dark warning
My mother always said
Just go to bed
Things will look brighter in the morning

(I find myself repeating those words to my kids…and I have lived to see they are true!)

Janet~

Dreamland Unbarred

( I commented to the kids tonight how tired and ragged that pine tree appears after yesterday's tempest)

When April’s smile
Has nestled awhile
On this blue puddle
Referred to as Earth
When she has spun
From threads of sun
A garment of green-leaf
To warm its girth
When the slighted stance
Of winter’s romance
Melts in defeat
Beneath her caress
When skeletal limbs
Are feathered with grins
And every tree
Is a graceful princess
When robin-lay
And break of day
Unite to greet
The morning star
The gardener sings
As the Gate-keeper swings
The door to digging
And dreamland ajar


© Janet Martin
I think the gardener and the farmer sing...
(I'm watching the dust fly in neighboring fields as a few of the farmers are seeding)
...as they enter a new season of dreams aka. Hope:)




Fantasy Poem



Poetics Aside Prompt: Write a science fiction or fantasy poem


It seems entirely
Out-of-character
For this logical
And practical mother
To don glass slippers
And an evening gown
As her pumpkin chariot
Draws her to town

It does not seem
Like her at all
To attend
a midnight ball
With the rest of her kind
Parental royalty
Dressed up like they were
Twenty-three

We had forgotten
Until given a chance
That we were weightless air
As we danced and danced
Until the tolling clock
In the old church tower
Reminded us primly
Of the waning night-hour

We tipped the door-man
Or was it a lion?
Climbing onto the bare back
Of a prancing white stallion
With a flourish we departed
Sailing over the trees
Oh Pegasus, tell me kindly
What they put in the punch…please?

© Janet Martin

National Haiku Day

Prayer transports man's hope
on lucid wings of wee faith
to God's loving care

***

Buds soften in rain
Petals push against dark odds
Coloring our world

***

The absence of you
Bittersweet moment of bliss
Waiting for your kiss

***