They are to dazzle on the rostrum

                                                                        Author: Lance Cpl. Jackeline Perez Rivera
Image: Actively Involved (here)

A for Active and Lively in the Quest to be Healthy

11 given words:
tongue throat, claw cry shred crawling
swallow, spirit  erase sing stay 

3WW given words:
flimsy erupt dazzle

No flimsy excuses but to excel
They do not deserve a tongue-lashing
They are to dazzle on the rostrum
Must not catch them by the throat
Nor to claw at them

They may cry but not shredded into pieces
They may come crawling in a way
but just so they can swallow their pride

It has to be in the spirit of dignified oneness
to erase all fears in competition
to sing victory songs and to stay high
on the pedestal of honor

to erupt out of the doldrums
they should remain a champion

A to Z Challenge  4-1-2017
MMT at Sunday's Whirligig #105
Thomg's 3WW #525

Spring a playground of exuberance

                                                                                               Author: 4028mdk09
Image: Colors of Spring (here)

Nature's child in pure innocence
Emerging eagerly from the shadows
Protected from the cold in recent months
Anticipating greenery sans the snows

Spring a playground of exuberance
Shrieks of laughter playfully among colors
Chasing little creatures out of hibernation
Never a dull moment exploring forest floors

Rejuvenation of recently bare branches
Gushing streams of crystal clear waters
Off their shackles cheery young lovers
To discover the wonders life has to offer

Mish's at d'Verse's Poetics:
from nature's point of view

overwhelmed by emotions

                                                                   Author: Luis Miguel Bugallo Sánchez 
Image: A Sad Young Lady (here)

misgivings of a
broken heart was it for real
wretched morose like?

not to negotiate
overwhelmed by emotions
starved of good reasons

vicious warped feelings
wickedly drained but the strong
would remain triumphant

Chev's Carpe Diem #1181-  broken heart
Kerry's at Real Toad's #28 - the tuesday platform

ballooning to enormous proportions

                                                                                         Attribution: Anonymous
Image: A Mega Big Mac (here)

ballooning to enormous proportions
not a difficult proposition
eating between meals
getting best deals
of eating pleasure
while engrossed at the computer

clutching big beef burgers
for inspiration but ended in clutter

fastest way for accomplishment
was to do one thing at a time
(44 words)

De's at d'Verse's Quadrille #29
and to include the word - balloon

Grappling with conscience vainly

                                                                                  Attribution:Tomas Castelazo,
                                                                                         www.tomascastelazo.com/CC BY-SA 4.0
Image: Surreptitiously does it (here)

Arise to counter
Struggle in thoughts to reveal
Winds of change squirming
Grappling with conscience vainly
Squinting a lie sheepishly

Realization that
honesty riled to be thought
a good policy

Chev's Carpe Diem #1179  -  arise

Fair weather is playing truant to yearnings of an idyllic springtime

                                                                                       Attribution: Bastet
Image: Edgewood Garden, Washington State (here)

the 12 given words: 

long months foothills velvety sunshine 
adds smoke sweet touch red stew

cask (A large barrel-like container used for storing liquids)

It is strange after the long cold months.The foothills
are enveloped by a velvety mist where sunshine within
is overwhelmingly absent. It adds to an overcast of a
grainy smoke screen where a sweet touch is most
desired. Ingredients of a beautiful morning are now
presented like a desired hot red stew. Unfortunately
however it is but trussed in a cask, a drab treacherous
start to a vigorous sunny day.Fair weather is playing
truant to yearnings of an idyllic springtime.

Is there a karmic backlash to the ills of mankind
imposed (on the deprived and downtrodden)
elsewhere on this wonderful planet?
(100 words)

Note: To write a prose of not exceeding 100 
words inspired by the spring-time pic  -  Bastet

Brenda's Sunday Whirl's Wordle #292
Bastet's at MLMM's Saturday's Mix
Mary's at PU's Poetry Pantry #346

As I stood there alone...

                                                                                         Attribution: Bekkie Sanchez
Image:  A sunset through trees

Note: Highlighting Bekkie's artistic
animation skills. Take a peek. (here) 

As I stood there all alone
At the very edge of the forest
Feeling all sad and forlorn
But glad not under undue duress

Contemplating what it had been
Now having seen it all in my mind
There were elements lurking
In the trees contending to bind

The day had been less menacing
Obscure but peaceful and gracious
The sun-setting rays intruding
To steal through the branches

An uneventful day for all to be aware
Perhaps for the better but still obscure
But not for many others elsewhere
Who grapple with conflicts and war

Bekkie's Saturday's Image Write #8

to shore up his depressed state

                                           Author Iain Whyte (Iainwhyte)

                                                                                                    Creative Commons CC-BY-SA-2.5
Image: The Devils' Marvels (here)

the 12 given words:
shore beating blind console classic flame 
exhausted outcry name surf sandals boulders

to shore up his depressed state he took a beating
for he was blind to the furor but he was consoled

the idea was to invoke the classic ways of his
forefathers to throw the flames of shame at them
until he had exhausted the barrage of his outcry

only then his name was cleared of any stigma

surfing would then be a breeze without having the
likes of sandals thrown at them which had the effect
of big boulders struck in the face of ignorance

MMT's Sunday's Whirligig #104
Grace's at d'Verse's OLN #192

forbearance of a leisurely journey

                                                                                    Attribution: Ujjwal Kumar
Image1: Canadian Horseshoe Falls
with Buffalo in background (here)

Image2: Hank below the Niagara Falls
garbed in their supplied raincoats.

forbearance of a leisurely journey from way upstream
with a flourish in midstream over rapids and boulders
meandering through cities foraging over plains bringing
much-needed life's redemption or ravages of flood waters

such is the economic rapport or ravenous recriminations
before it reconciles at the estuaries sweltering under a burden
to narrate a spartan journey in a spirit of splendor or spasm
unsparingly in its wake to trespass and to spawn civilizations

in a balance of yin and yang permutations of perfunctory
ways in its fervor to provide an oasis in a desert of human needs
one can only marvel at how well humanity made it obligatory
to harness strengths of inundation with hungry mouths to feed

Paul Dear's at d'Verse's Poetics - rivers

morning of softness

                                                                                          Author: Martin Falbisoner
Image: Rolling sea-water (here)

lazy ocean waves
right from where it emanates
trancends emotions

startlingly cool mist
caressing soft rosy cheeks
morning of softness
light breeze trespass alongside
but never a dull moment

setting a warm mood
rustling leaves bidding a share
love is in the air

For Chev's Carpe Diem #1177-
Hafiz's morning breeze

One natural treat - a Haibun

                                                                                     Photo:  Josh Hayes
Image: Beating the Traffic Snarl (here)

I remember it all not too long ago when I was a bloating slob as contemptuously
condemned by one of my good friends. How I hated myself for not being able to
control the desire to gobble everything. Winter withering (fuyuzare) playing on
my conscience, a disdain to my person then. I'm glad through sheer grit and
determination and through dieting and early morning jogs to effectively bring
my frame down to a cute little self.

I go easy on the 'carbs' and pasta, treating myself to non-naughty non-fatty grubs.
I need not have to watch the calorie intake nor bothered with cholesterol 'unfriendly'
choices but pile in on the greens and leafy.

One of my best meals if I do spoil myself is a rich dessert like cherry soufflé done
with de-seeded chopped cherries, eggs, whipped cream and toasted nuts to decorate
as a measure of 'cosmetics'. Very rarely though. A safe bet is a Mediterranean diet
of vege, fruits, Omega-3 cuts and 'olive oil if you must', my doctor used to quip.
I now dream of floating on air all the time!

One natural treat
Flavor to an aging frame
Youngish self so true

Note: The season word  -
Winter withering (fuyuzare)

Nekneeraj's at MLMM's 
Photo Challenge #157
Toni's at d'Verse's - Haibun Monday Yummy

Balance and harmony of an inseparable pair

                                                                                             Author: Lambtron
                                                             Credit: Jim Lamberson | Wikimedia Commons
Image:Daria L and Jeff perform Snow Pas de Deux
in a version of the The Nutcracker, a well-known
classical ballet (here)

11 of 12 given words:
ballet harmony inseparable latch legs heat passion
levitate (to rise and hover in the air by means of supposed magical powers)
iridescence (luminous colors that seem to change when seen from different angles)
heliotrope (a light tint of purple; reddish lavender).
flashover (the moment of conflagration caused by super heated air or combustibles)

Fascination with ballet's graceful movements
Balance and harmony of an inseparable pair
Latched one to the other legs entwined as one

In the heat of a moment in one clear twist
The lady was made to levitate high up over
Her dress a spectacular iridescent purple shine

Out of this world bending sliding jumping twirling
With a passion reminiscent of a gold medal effort
In bright heliotrope dashes to cover the icy hall

One could not fathom hours spent to acquire skills
Which were subject to a flashover many a time
What dedication could bring to a committed pair

Yves' MLMM's Wordle #147
Marian's at Real Toad's 
 -  the tuesday platform

Blessed be a home for all the reckonings

                                                                                                 Attribution: Gary Lo
Image: 'Painted Ladies' (here)
(courtesy of Bekkie's)

Note:
This famous neighborhood is known for the 
'Painted Ladies', historic homes in San Francisco 
painted in many bright colors. This iconic area of 
the city is used in movies and TV shows  -  Bekkie

Blessed be a home for all the reckonings
Set in an ambiance ideally happy and gracious
Couples starting out longed in their yearnings
Nice homes with thoughts on the upsurge

Raising a family pandering to success envisaged
Not ever volatile or stormy but tacitly peaceful
Devoid of carnage or some other kinds of spillage
Heaven or hell often hard to tell but still blissful

Mindful though modern living with added pressure
Would impinge on society's thinly veiled sacrilege
Peace and quiet often neglected by those bent on leisure
A homeless' rantings reflected on the ills of the privileged

Bekkie's Saturday's Image Write #7
Brendan's at Real Toad's  Weekend Mini
Challenge -  homes
Mary's at PU's Poetry Pantry #345

Is it a bias bickering in the subconscious?

                                                                                                   Author :squirrelist
Image: Hemingway's writing desk in his
Key West Home, taken on December 24, 2002 (here)

inspired by Sanaa's  - We write to rekindle the inner spirit 

Is it that sloppy not to be inspiring
Is it a bias bickering in the subconscious?
Lots of times the inner feel is prancing
What seems to be outrightly obvious

Ensnare the dim and outrageous overcast
To make it palatable to the inner self
Touch a segment of one's seismic blast
To be supportive not shoved on the shelf

Put it on paper not left off a shabby mind
Never to shoot down a bright little spark
Not to force but replenish a little a time
Some perspiration will endure not plain luck

So it is, tickle the playful inner spirit
To rekindle an old glory where deems fit

For Sanaa's monthly
On Popular Demand

Juxtaposed at their exact positions

                                                                                        Artist: Vincent van Gogh 1889
Image: 'Starry night' - oil on canvas,
New York, Museum of Modern Art
(fair use of image)

Note: One of van Gogh's most brilliant and famous 
works, commonly associated to his increasing madness, 
and that actually was the result of his interest for astronomy 
Vincent represented the Moon, Venus, and several stars 
in the exact position they occupied that clear night. 

On a moonlit and starry night
Juxtaposed at their exact positions
Who is there to say I am mad
For that was how I had learned

That was how I had observed them
Circular and concentric movements above
I had made them into reality with science
Bathing the city below in a stupor of colors

Citizens in awe animals prancing in delight
Not perception but as a result of palette mixture
The stars may splutter into sporadic little fights
To take their rightful place without blunder

You'll hear of me generations hence
As an artist not having lunacy as a friend

For Bjorn's at d'Verse's MTB
 - with impressionism

Blessed were the angels

                                                                            Author: DFID - UK Department
                                                                            for International Development
Image: Refugee camp population
queuing for assistance and food (here)

3WW given words:
taut underestimate vigorous

Poets United Midweek Motif
 ~ The Kindness of Strangers

The kindness of strangers
Never to underestimate the
hallmark of human goodness
where one least expected it

Blessed were the angels that
recognized such distressed souls
to direct help to the displaced
caught in taut situations

Volunteers, strangers to the scene
were the first to be led by Providence
to areas of conflicts to extend those
caught in a harrowing cross-fire
with some semblance of hope

It was expected that their vigorous
experiences were made more bearable

Thomg's 3WW #523
Susan's at PU's Midweek Motif

a boon to detractors

                                                                                            Author: Joe Shlabotnik
Image: A Distinctive back View (here)

11 of 12 given words:

delusion (removed them reality)
relish revenge bruise beast brims blanks
boon (something beneficial to a specific cause)
peeling story flash

with delusions of grandeur
to relish against 'friends' and foes
slick and slippery
more of a revenge stance
expounded at hastily mustered
press conference
bruised ego brought out
the beasts in the human mind

lately a twitter war ensued
skimmed the brims of the surface
and shooting blanks unwittingly

a boon to detractors
who thrived in making fun
peeling off  layers upon layers
of unkind stories
laughing off even absurd episodes
of a displaced mop of toupee

Would it ever be a flash in the pan
A temporary occupier or what?

Brenda's Sunday Whirl Wordle #290
Kerry's at Real Toad's -  the tuesday platform

to recoil back on life's woes

                                                                     Authors: London, Jack, 1876-1916 
                                                                                      Frank Tirro Collection
Image: Under Extreme threat (here)

The Shadorma a stanza of six lines
(sestet) with syllabic count of  3/5/3/3/7/5.
with no set rhyme scheme.

stunned red-eyed
horror of horrors
never had
been long while
through the senses when it came
stuck in memory

seemed unreal
dripping bloodstained teeth
scary bit
no shuteye
imagine having such dreams
for full-grown adults

what went wrong
were spirits disturbed?
warning signs
bad feng shui
to recoil back on life's woes
make amends and reap rewards

Bastet at MLMM's Saturday's Mix
-  horror 
Mary's at PU's Poetry Pantry #344

Dorian Gray was he?

                                                                                            Author: Ericxpenner
Image: The Book (here)

Pursued by many
Grabbing wildly unperturbed
Dorian Gray was he?
Let portrait age by itself
For him the fountain of youth

For Chev's Carpe Diem #1170  -  fountain

the jailer in him cringed at the slightest noise

                 Author:Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Inc.

                                                                                       Reproduction Number: LC-USZ6-2067

Image:  Elvis in Jailhouse Rock (here)

MLMM's 11 of 12 given words:
exotic ledge crescent jailer 
cringe noise filter emerald stew
longanimity ((n.) patient endurance of hardship, injuries, or offense)
afflatus ((n.) inspiration; a mental force acting from within.)

3WW given words
painful
raspy (hoarse or harsh)
shifty (devious, evasive)

Shifty elements were out to
inflict painful endeavors on
their unsuspecting victims

Those 'exotic beings' lodged on a
ledge of hope in the crescent of
mercy felt restless and threatened
They were used to harassment
from time to time and resented it

With raspy sounding voices
of reason they were staging on
a fight back mindful though of
frightful consequences

The jailer in him cringed at  the
slightest noise reminiscent of
how the last jail-break started

Providence was generous
this time around
The longanimity of purpose
for the day diffused the
afflatus of attitude
It helped in deflecting
the stalemate

It conveniently formed a filter
to prevent the 'emeralds' from getting
embedded in a stew of troubles
It saved the day!

Amber at MLMM's Wordle #145
Thomg's 3WW #522
Marian's at Real Toad's - the tuesday platform

immersion of melody

                                                                            Photo: Tore Sætre / Wikimedia
Image: Billy Meier at the Oslo Jazz Festival
in Norway on August 19, 2016 (here)

whiff on the flute as
a slight rustle of leaves in
idyllic setting
immersion of melody
impetuously unique sounds

For Chev's Carpe Diem #1168 - flute

There was no sense of purpose

                                                                                       Author: 2Lt Stan Paregien

Image: The Running Track (here)

the 12 given words

bits eye flat sense miss smoke leaks 
swing temple track saw words

In bits and pieces
At eye level flat unto streaks
of utter destruction

There was no sense of purpose
One would not miss the
mushrooming of smoke and flames
further away arising from leaks
of gas on flammable materials

The temple was miraculously spared
The line followed by the twister
was way off a little
It somehow missed the densely
populated areas by a chance
though the running tracks
saw the full impact
It took the brunt of the disaster

The swing of fortunes for the
community would have
been devastating
It would have been beyond
words otherwise!

Brenda's Sunday's Whirl Wordle #289

Waiting on transit

                             
                                                                                                  Artist: Samy Charnine
Image: On Transit to Nowhere (here)

At stroke of midnight
Dreams sets had a re-thinking
Waiting on transit
For a new  place to call home
Unsettling and confused

Bekkie's Saturday's Image Write #5
Mary's at PU's Poetry Pantry #342

It reeked of cheap whiskey and breathing heavily

                                                                                                  Attribution: ©Lorraine
Image: Quaint Little Station (here)

Clementine anxiously waited for the 5:40 out of the city, 
wondering if he would be on board.

Fear gripped her imagination.
For the past week.
Someone was shadowing her
Stalkers could be violent she reasoned
Yes, was he on board?
She stepped in gingerly.
The coach was empty.
She seated herself, still wondering.

Suddenly there was a rush from behind her.
They passed by her.
Half a dozen or so.
Whew! It was the uniformed teenagers
They were so well-behaved
at the end of the platform earlier.
It further bothered her.
A calming situation or a quiet person could
turn out to be the opposite the next minute!

A jolt, and the train started to move on slowly.
'This is going to be a pleasant journey,"
she smiled to herself
No sooner had she felt easy,
when she heard faint steps from
behind advancing slowly,
then seated directly behind her.
It reeked of cheap whiskey and
breathing heavily - she dared not look back.
she said a silent prayer....
(150 words - not including the 
given opening lines in italics)

MLMM's Finish off Fridays #9
Frank's at d'Verse MTB - prose poetry

Fighting shy to go beyond

                                                                                            Author:Bob Peterson
Image: A Moonflower (here)
(Moonflower is one of the larger native morning glory species
They bloom at night and tend to wilt with the first direct morning
sunlight  - Jacopo Werther)

Like young innocents
They do make an appearance
But are rarely seen
Fighting shy to go beyond
Night angels abhor daylight

Chev's Carpe Diem #1166 Nightflower