Tuesday, November 14, 2023

Gives a kick at lunch

                                                                                  Author: Hank
Image: Hank's pastel sketch 
on an A4 dark drawing paper

Note: This is a revamp of an earlier poem

Glistening with pride of varied colours 
A show of green orange red and yellow 
A spread of capsicum 
For fondness of chili peppers

Amidst bunched with other greens
With cut-up cilantro onions and avocado
A hot and spicy stance taken raw
Gives a kick at lunch

Hotplate with servings
Spicing up the chow
Fitting for the hungry
With a big appetite

Melissa at d'Verse -  holy-guacamole

Tuesday, November 7, 2023

Gloomy scene for all

                                                                                             Author:  Gabriel Santiago
Image: Snowy Tree Tops  (here)

‘Snow would be the easy way out'  -  Rita Dove
in ‘November for Beginners’.  

What a sight! White on the tree tops. Cold weather 
outside and it has not even received the full impact 
of Winter. Warmth blankets the family and loved 
ones together. They are within the domain of safety 
in front of the idiot box.

Looking at the destructive power unleashed they 
could clearly see mayhem of explosions, black smoke 
and broken blocks in front of their eyes in real-time 

The injured were carried helter-skelter amidst the
rubbles, Praying for peace. Expecting a breakthrough?
Not likely.

Despairing thoughts though
Rough times for business ahead
Gloomy scene for all
Snow would be the easy way out
Perhaps as a likely excuse

Kim at d'Verse Prosery - november-for-beginners/

Sunday, October 29, 2023

On buttoning the suit

                                                           Author:  Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga 
Image: Army Brass buttons (here)

the 10 of 12 given words:
seeker relic tell air fly running 
yearn calm through resonate 

On buttoning the suit it looks 
good when done proper by the dude
a seeker of good looks

Not entirely a relic of the past
but it tells of good fashion sense

Etiquette demands that it
should remain buttoned
until one sits and fastens
on standing again
it gives an air of being informed
more of being practical though

With three buttons just
button the top two or just
the centre button

Some bothered by conformity 
in their haste, have been 
known to inadvertently 
leave their fly open

Some do not conform
Unbuttoned, flailing, it looks
more macho it seems
Running away from tradition
they yearn to be accepted

Calm and alluring ladies
may leave unbuttoned top of cleavage
Is it fashionable!
more perhaps through a playful
desire of being naughty
It resonates with the idea of 
being a good strategist

Brenda's at Sunday Whirl wordle-626/

Thursday, October 26, 2023

An extension of one's imagination

                                                                                   Author: David S. Soriano
Image: Sweet Dreams (here)

An extension of one's imagination
Registers its presence in the nights
Not wanting to show its true colours
But rather flashes of staccato bites
Emerging for a split second or longer
Then disappears into Davy Jone's locker

Can one believe dreams that appear
Foretelling of what’s coming in the future
But why must the images emerge
And then wrecking, inflicting damage
Causing havoc in the minds of the lost
Playing tricks to test the human resolve!

A good dream is a bonus for good living
Bad dreams are the aftermath of bad intentions
Getting mixed up juxtaposed in lots of misgivings
Prodding the human self in torrid simulations
In classic fashion and in myriads of colours
In the realms of the subconscious 

Grace at d'Verse   Open Link Night-349/ 

Tuesday, October 24, 2023

sense of responsibility blurs with excuses

                                                                                         Author: L E X commons
Image:  Tug of War is acceptable (here)

when they take a defensive stance
they go into fancy footwork as in a dance
trying hard to convince all

blame liberally assigned to others
finger-pointing with a smirk
sense of responsibility blurs with excuses
refusal to admit, a cause so lame

in the hand combat of old those targeted 
were fair game uniformed fighters but
wars now are fought from the safety of
the general's domain behind the lines

now civilian targets are not spared 
the weak the children and the aged
are now termed as collateral  damage

conflicts must be resolved at the
negotiation table, period!

Punam at d'Verse poetics-why-war/

Monday, October 23, 2023

greenery galore, picturesque and colourful.

                                                                                              Author: Curdles70
Image:  Calmness of a Spring morning
with blue sky and lush greenery (here)

It has been a blistering hot Autumn 
and outdoor activities are restrained
though stragglers are still on the beach
Some misty mornings may appear with
the low chirping of restless birds. 
Bathed in copper tones changing 
colours set the mood

Following the cold months down 
south Spring is known to sneak in 
early with greenery galore, picturesque 
and colourful. A respite hopefully from 
all the crying shame politically 
taking centre stage now.

Covid 19 just 
left but we are at real war
with great loss of life

Frank's at d"Verse  : Haibun-Monday-
fall-foliage-or-spring-blossoms/

Friday, October 20, 2023

Why so unforgiving!

                   Author:  why don't we
Image: Yes! Why shouldn't we!

He searched his conscience
He thought he had it made
Sweetie Pie, he even gave a name
But she would rather have him dead

What did he do wrong?
Whispering sweet nothings?
Choice of words 
was a culprit all along

But why so unforgiving
Not compromising so intriguing
Nothing promising? 

But he was not about to give up
Faint heart be given a nudge
Plodding on would be smart
Time would be the judge

friday-writings-99-why.

Thursday, October 19, 2023

We love the good news

                          
                                                                                Author:  Vyacheslav Argenberg
Image: A glacial field covered with snow. 
Nepal, Himalayas (here) A peaceful scene naturally true

Not wanting to make light
of rumours garnered through
the grape-vine nothing is
more frustrating than to
hear tell it was the truth

That bad news is what it is - bad news!
Tell it even when it hurts

We do love the good news
No one disputes that
What is the need to be told lies
What value do they put into it

We want to know the good
We want to rejoice together
Ours is the desire that we are together
We laugh together
It is group therapy so it seems
We cry together if need be
We do not fancy laughing 
When some others are crying
but tell the truth

The might of the mighty
could be seared at the seams
just through a sliver-thin
confirmation of unsolicited
information

The truth hurts
but tell it as it is

Nothing desirous 
to be taken for a ride
Credibility is a potent ally

Bjorn at d'Verse  meet-the-bar-
by-writing-from-a-collective-point-of-view/

Tuesday, October 17, 2023

He bade farewell to the good life

                                                                                                    Author: Vincent van Gogh
Image: Seeing the Goodness outside (here)

He stood there holding out for his own
Not the slightest bother on others around
His mind wandered far but he stood his grounds
Seemingly confident without a sound

Wrinkles lined his pock-marked face
Had seen better days before in his heyday
He reflected on the twist of fate
It could not be any other way

It was a good lesson
He should have stood up for his rights
He was innocent
But he let his guard down without a fight

He shouldn’t have trusted others
They looked after their own
They disappeared when  it mattered
And left him holding the baby alone

He bade farewell to the good life
Fugitive from himself knocking off troubles
now depended on his wiles to survive
To stamp his strength later when able

Melissa at d'Verse - haunted/

Monday, October 16, 2023

only the sphere is perfect

Author: Darkdadaah
Image: A Perfect Sphere  (here)

one meets life’s challenges
attaining success and recognition
but not always
many others fold up in different ways
only the sphere is perfect

human failings, greed, dishonesty
amongst others ensure 
the downfall  of 
good intentions of muddled priorities 
but somehow that makes life interesting
(44 words)

De Jackson at d'Verse quadrille-186-fold/

Monday, October 9, 2023

a basket of bare nerves

                                                                                  Author: George Chernilevsky
Image: Picked edible fungi in basket  (here)

10 of 12 given words:
wrapped bare slack gather grief 
hostage heights pockets veiled sigh

Wrapped in a basket of bare nerves
Love slackened down on a wild run
Gathering the strength of manly verve
The grieving could start with some fun

Held hostage by the innocence of the young
Given to heights of enjoying high emotions
Raised to a higher level of satisfying wants
Complete with pockets of outright devotion

Falling in love a measure of veiled desires
Feelings of being in love and rushing in blindly
Falling out of love reflecting unwanted failures
Sighs of a second chance crying out for sympathy

Brenda's the Sunday Whirl.wordle-623/
Sanaa at d'Verse OLN-348-join-us-live/


Friday, October 6, 2023

the month of October

                                                                                           Author:  大久保藍
Image: Autumn Leaves (here)

the month of October is there
to usher in the impending 
winter months blanketing 
the earth’s surface with 
Heaven’s goodness of brown
colours of maple leaves
among others and  the coolness 
of the Autumn breeze that 
sustains romances and dreams

Rommy's at Poets Storytellers United
Friday-writings-97-October.

Monday, October 2, 2023

Brushing it Off

                                                                            Author: Pedro Ribeiro Simões 
Image: Making out (here)

A loving couple in all innocence. 
Making it together taking the risks 
inherent in all permutations. But 
some few rudely discover an 
unworthy partner 

Brushing off the bad from the 
good twirling the wheel of fortune.
For  two hearts to elucidate 
their eloquence
(44 words)

Jade Lisa at d'Verse  Quadrille#185-brushing-the-dust-off/

Saturday, September 30, 2023

that’s the orangutan!

                                                                                                    Author: Sabar Minsyah
Image: An Orangutan with Junior (here)

slow in movements but like magic
it can be expected to cover
much grounds roaming
the whole expanse
this is home!

they thrive on their own prowess
to survive
They swarm upon each other
in friendly banter without words 
maintaining passions
as a human in all mannerisms
for this is home!

much can be revealed
in body language, storming,
shrieking or lying lazily
A creature of the forest
It jumps hangs and swings
this is home
and enjoying every minute
of it all
and that’s the orangutan
threatened with extinction
in his beloved home

Rosemary at Poets and Storytellers United.friday-writings-96

Thursday, September 28, 2023

Being Duly Prepared

                                                                                  Author: Holly Booth
Image:  The Tools of Trade (here)

Having the right kind of tools at hand
Just simple housewife kinds easy to find
True to form, like wearing other's shoes
Easy to use to knock off the blues

We should not choose to restrain
It'll be an education if we can feel the pain
The universe is there to garner the facts
Hold on to it yet, and give it a check

The whole world to see where it leads
Go for a  wholesome thrust till it bleeds
No holds barred, no wisdom marred.
Give it all you’ve got, give it a shot.

When you’re done, reflect on your wants
If it’s tough give it a laugh
Venture out and push for a long ride
You never know until you've tried

Sarah's at MLMM's Photo Challenge-483/
Mish at d'Verse OLN open-link-night-347/

Wednesday, September 27, 2023

There were ways to bridge the gap

                                                         Author/Artist: Pauline Auzou  (1775–1835)  
Image: Portrait of a Young Man  (here)

He stood there thinking 
with an empty smile
In his young mind
Untested with ways of the world
He was weighing his options
He should work fast

There were ways to bridge the gap
and get what he desired 
What could be wandering
in his mind

Thinking of one so dear
He was lucky to get away
from his latest find
It would have been a big struggle
There would have to be short-cuts he reckoned

Perhaps he should win 
the sympathies of a rich widow
A bridge too far for now

Myriads of possibilities
A young mind so free

‘What Me Worry’
No one to care
A lucky break could 
come rolling his way 
bridging the expectations

Punam at d'Verse poetics-building-bridges/

Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Autumn Folds

                                                                                               Author: Johann Jaritz
Image: Autumn Lakeside (here)

Autumn days camouflaged lakeside
Gliding in calm waters and mysterious
Paradise was knocked senseless outright
Rustic abode with idyllic tranquility
Unspoiled hideaway camouflaged lakeside
Golden brown season's exotic shades
Swept by cool winds forcing nature’s right
Falling leaves with gravity exerted power
Clinging into the emptiness of free flight
Racing to piles of crowded groundswell
Shadowing sights of a camouflaged lakeside

Melissa's at d'Verse with Gillena's folding-into-autumn/

Smashing Strategy

                                                                                                                             Author:  Adrian S Pye 
Image: Push Me Pull You (here)

a force contending 
to  accord him protection
imposing its will

smack going against his wishes
such is the push and pull-peril

but being pulled back by forces
must he smash his way through then
for it can be viewed as a 
hindrance to progress
(44 words}

De Jackson at d'Verse Quadrille-184-smashing-poems/ 

Thursday, September 14, 2023

A portrait of one!

                                                                                                          Author: Vincent Van Gogh
Image: Self-Portrait (here)

It’s all about face
An image so sacred

A portrait of one
Where there are 
No takers to others on earth
Even identical twins are different

In physical looks
A person is one and only
No two persons resemble another
How so unique
How so sublime

The wonder of nature
Providence has a hand
But let nature take its course
The individual
Is unto himself
It’s his domain
It’s him to savour
It’s him to take cognizance
A look in the mirror

The portrait of a mother’s pride
And no one to dispute!

Bjorn at d'Verse  OLN Live September

Monday, September 4, 2023

What's of a best friend?


Image: 1 The Beak - An Acrylic abstract

Image: 2 An Okra - A Pastel sketch

Images;  Hank's creations done sometime ago

What is going on? 
What about it of having 
a best friend

Not all the time by your side
Though ever willing 
To give a helping hand
To extend empathy 
with a shoulder to cry on
Feisty little darling in good times
Meddlesome sometimes 
invariably an irritant
but a joy to be around with

What is it of the worst 
kind of best friend
Sneaking with a  Brutus’ ploy
To stab in the back
Or a Cassius’ stance
Of every suspicious character

But one of my best friends 
who is more than all that!
Extending inspiration
Stroke by stroke in richness
Colourful in softness
Fulfillment of gaps and emptiness

Just waiting 
Of various types and stature
not answering back
nor biting when angered
to be dipped and splashed freely

Ever willing to capture my imagination
In hues rich in colour
Though often times
I was guilty of leaving them alone
seething with neglect

But a best friend always by my side!
My faithful paint brushes

Sherry's at What's Going On.

Thursday, August 31, 2023

living the fast lane that of a stuntman

          
                                                                                                                                   Author: Yannick Croissant
Image: A Stunt Show (here)

Taking cautionary steps on a lazy afternoon
To avoid daring acts dangerous to perform
Just easy, nothing wild and not to take to heart
No negative comments that might likely disrupt

Wanting an assurance of an impression
Would  not be lighting fires without reasons
Rather living the fast lane that of a stuntman
To rest awhile if caught in tight situations

'Fasten the seat belts' a good escape clause
A good reason to feel reassured to a cause
Nothing untoward would likely to appear
If carefully nurtured to care for any fear

Grace at d'Verse  openlinknight-345/

Tuesday, August 29, 2023

siblings faithfully all in single file

                                                                                                                               Author: Oxyman 
Image: Highly tutored to reduce frictions (here)

siblings faithfully all in a single file
mother's insistence to be six in a row
seemed inclined to test the waters
but rooted along their narrow domains

not moving neither were they spent
breaking rules were strictly not tolerated
tattered in thoughts a swan's dilemma
no sibling rivalry overtaking to snatch victory
nor throw a sly spin to make one to retreat

A curved passage could offer alternatives
but caught in the middle of a problem
avoiding any nerve-wracking intrusion
freedom to choose was no free holiday 

Paean's at d'Verse Poetics
siblings-the-ties-that-bind-and-gag/

Friday, August 25, 2023

Autumn begging to be appreciated

                                                                                                                           Author: Mostafameraji
Image: Autumn at Vake Park, Tbilisi City, Georgia (here)

Autumn begging to be appreciated
Did well as a transition from warm to cold
To accord succulent fruits to be harvested
With perhaps a whole turkey into the fold

Chill of winter waving, blue of sky greyish
Many resigned to less hectic of activities
Halloween invented to liven up as a wish
Perceived melancholy seemed unhealthy

Holidays ended back to school for young ones
Lively sporting season built up to a crescendo
Major league games wrapped up within the months
To be mentally prepared for 'hibernation' woes

Magaly at Poets and Storytellers United 
Friday Writings #91:  - muscle memory

Thursday, August 24, 2023

Holding hands, pitching a wish

                                                                                                                                        Author: Crew crew
Image: Such Bliss  (here)

The world whirled slowly by
Medley of forms and activities
Some accepted some on the sly
And many others of mediocrity

Many who planned to procure
Executed them with perfection
But some just failed to endure
Unashamedly await for salvation

Oblivious to what transpired
The outside world was no bother
Adhering to whims and desires
Young couples aligned their rudder

In a world of their own venture
Holding hands, pitching a wish
Time stood still pristine in nature
Have we elders not savoured such bliss?

Lillian at d'Verse  OLN-live-again/

Tuesday, August 22, 2023

where are we heading?

                                                                            Author:  George Hodan 
Image: Bottled up choices (here)
License: CC0 Public Domain

what was the drift?
his mind declined to answer
sadly it had happened
he let slip the opportunity
a sure sign of misjudgment

he tried to keep his chin up
in vain efforts of maintaining
some form of authority

we anticipate good decisions
to welcome a new beginning
- that he realised

but where are we heading?
silence is not really an option
all bottled up reduced the choices

Grace at d'Verse - poetics-bottled-poetry/

Monday, August 21, 2023

blight on its conscience

                                                                                                                  Author: Henry Söderlund
Image:  A Hungry Squirrel (here)

looking for a bite
and bothered by the cold 

without a stocked larder
it was a grave misjudgment
worsening of the weather
meant an empty stomach 
in hibernation
 
blight on its conscience
now pining for food
utter regret often 
the wages of blunder
(44 words)

De at d'Verse : Quadrille-181
-are-you-pining-for-poems/

Friday, August 18, 2023

Japanese food was much fun


                       
                                           The tapenyaki which I thought was less filling 

                                         The Tempura that followed. This was after the opening sushi that I had earlier
My elder son Hafidz 
and his charming wife Qhaty 
invited us for lunch again

‘We’re going Japanese 
It’ll be at the same venue 
that we had before’ they said. 
This is an ‘eat as much 
as you can joint’.

I remember what happened 
the last time. 
I was naughty  

I ate as much as I could then
and was breathless with a 
full tummy when we left
I told myself  I would 
be less naughty today 
and would exercise 
utmost care not to overeat.

Japanese buffet, yes!
How nice?
Eat as much as you can eat
It’s a tall order

Would I be naughty again?
Tendency is to do so
Must control myself
No sushi with rice
Other offerings would do
They are less filling

How did it go?
I was still naughty
Japanese food was much fun
I could not help it

Rosemary at Poets and Storytellers United - 
friday-wrings-90-food-andor-eating.html

Tuesday, August 15, 2023

Broadway for one's bidding!

                                                                               Author/Artist: Childe Hassam
Image: Fifth Ave NYC - Nocturne (here)

Music, when soft voices die, 
Vibrates in the memory - Percy Bysshe Shelley

Typical of a small city street
Very unlike those one sees
Old fashioned cobblestones

NYC  is not that sane and quiet
Big Apple is what Times Square is
The sophistication of Broadway

But barely half a block away
The third rate movie theatres
Reeking of weed smokers
And sudden blurting of curses
Interspersed with the F-word
Makes one sick to the bones
The one and only experience
Was just about enough to know

Instead in stark contrast
Just nip over nearby to any of Broadway’s
Overcoats at the cloak-room
Upon arrival and once inside
Not a whisper or a pin drop
Silence observed except
The music and voice from the stage
Music, when soft voices die, 
Vibrates in the memory 

Zorba the Greek
Anthony Quinn himself
playing the lead in person
on stage in 1984
Just as in the film of 1964
but the run was for weeks
on Broadway

At Intermission half-way
For light refreshments
All in all a most satisfying
evening with formal trappings
But informal in all instances

These are the NYC theatres
Broadway for one's bidding!

Note: Revamp of an old poem 
recounting Hank's sojourn at the
Big Apple.

Merril at d'Verse : poetics-august-transitions/

Thursday, August 3, 2023

It was most breath-taking

                                                                                                            Author: Khoshhat
Image: Mountain top View (here)

the 12 given Wordle Words:
bones trouble  
hearth (the floor of a fireplace)
weeping wilderness cry bread 
withered grass, come answer
reproach (the expression of disapproval). 

What a relief now that 
we are at the bottom
It was most breath-taking 
up there
make no bones about it
it was a mountain-top 
viewing phenomena
A sight to behold

Nature-lovers were however 
troubled seeing the hearth 
of rubbish on the ground 
the weeping wilderness
a far cry of the scenic scene 
above

stale bread upon withered grass
empty bottles and torn boxes
among them 

Despite the love for 
conservation come a look 
of reproach was no answer 
they were losing out 
to anti-social elements

These people found it 
convenient to have the
environment dressed up 
with all sorts of remnants
upon leaving the scene

Jadeli at d'Verse OLN-343-august/
MMT at The Whirligig.-434

Monday, July 31, 2023

A Rare Movement Activity in the Flesh

                                                                               Author: Sarah Marie Jones 
Image: A Man Streaking! (here)

Done with my streaking. You should have seen their eyes
How they popped out more of surprise than anger. They 
did not expect anything like this and it was also a stroke 
of good luck. I did not anticipate the large crowd. Tonight 
it was somehow unusual and they were all very sporting.

Did you see the guy with the red hat? The burly menacing 
looking. I thought he was trying to stop me. I started with 
a slow run further down. The ladies were already screaming
when I reached him.

He came at me. I thought he was swinging a punch. Lo and 
behold! He cleared the path for me. He was making it easier 
for me. In fact he followed slowly to make sure I had a clear 
passage. I owed him one!

It was pretty tiring. That was a long run. I had better get back 
to my bike. Hey! What happened to my clothes?

I was lucky I hid my wallet and bike keys under the stone in 
the bush. I’ll better go get them

Lesson learnt! Next time for a streaking stint. No more bikes!
Bring the car!
Minimise the risks.

Am having fun! Phew!
Never felt that good. Very
so refreshing! Yes!

Note: Hank in a lighter mood. Writing an imaginative
account (this is not a personal experience ) on a one-time 
movement activity popular a long time ago. 

Frank at d'Verse Haibun Monday  -  moving

Friday, July 28, 2023

what pleases me?

                                                                       Author: Dominicus Johannes Bergsma
Image: If only we occupy our
own given domain (here)

what pleases me?
a shine that lights up the morning shadows  
to a gasp of delight of divine assertion

what dotes on me?
to breathe a sigh of relief that follows
never to show true feelings of dejection

what eased off my wandering heart?
a lovely lady dignified of regal stature
open to critique friendly in attitude
progressive in outlook tolerant by nature
a valuable find to keep in all gratitude

how so simple that life can be good,
if only no complications intrude!

Rosemary at Poets and Storytellers United - friday-writings-87
what-pleases-you

What I desire is what I aspire

                                                                                      Author: Charles J. Sharp
Image: Enough to come by!
Hummingbird hawk moth feeding (here)

What I desire is what I aspire   
But then would I need more than before?    

No, I have enough no need to have more     
Though there were occasions I would cry    

I may really need more and I would cry     
My wants might be limited I do realise     

With limited stipend enough to survive 
It would come a long way to be comfortable

Being comfortable is something luxurious
Having more resources but not hilarious

To return what is due to society
Not to the point of pockets being empty

Not an option for having empty pockets 
What I desire is what I aspire   

Merril at d'Verse MTB - Critique and Craft
the-duplex/

Wednesday, July 26, 2023

Visit long awaited

                                    
                                                         Artiat: María Berrío, Closed Geometry, 2022

Image:: Neglected  (here)

Sighs of dismay permeated her confused thinking
Lying on her back a mess prodding her mind
Furtively through her heart slowly but prancing
With the slow music an accompaniment to dine

But alone  facing up the sky just quietly blinking
Dressed but chained in her mind searingly disabled
Anxious her system inside beginning to scream
Visit long awaited but nowhere seemed probable

Kicked up a fuss earlier preparing a hot meal
To a level beyond that she was used to do
Trying to trump a good impression to seal
A relationship well nurtured and way overdue

Heat of romance seemingly like a hot summer day
Overwhelmed with a cloak of floating snow flakes
Was it going to be a bust his presence a long delay
She was stood up again by yet another of the fakes

Grace at d'Verse poetics-
ekphrastic-poetry/

Tuesday, July 25, 2023

Saying sorry to water it down

                                                                                                Author: Ahmed Anfal
Image:  Eventually Made up  (here)

A gathering storm
starts rather innocently
but lashed with fury

Provoked and enraged
stormy union knows no bounds
unwittingly worsened

Both not giving in
Saying sorry to water it down
hardest to do

Endearment tormented 
Rantings eventually pacified,
but was normal and laughed off
(44 words)

De Jackson at d'Verse quadrille-180-
pouring-out-our-poems/

Sunday, July 23, 2023

The one eye is all that I need

                                                                                                Author: Kakoula10
Image:   One-eyed Cat (here)

The one eye is all that I need
To focus attention for a meal
To hear the echo softly retreat

All the niceties I can well read
In anticipation clearly in view
Of a meal is all that I bid

Memories I recollect for a lead
Wonderful instances none so few
To gather courage for a feed

Passing cars relent slowing speed
Letting we the hunters to pass through
A fair consideration truly indeed

Gone are days when we used to meet
To share food with a caring tom cat
To hear the purring to softly greet

If only we can now together sit
To drown the sorrows and the blues
A glimmer of hope for a lead

Rommy at Poets and Storytellers United 
friday-writings86-glimmers

Tuesday, July 18, 2023

while we were on vacation

                                                                                                   Author: Rbalmonia
Image: A Civet cat  (here)

I wish to recall an episode while we were on vacation 
a long time ago. It seemed hilarious now but not when 
it happened. 

We decided on a week's vacation at a small resort with
sea-side sports activities but with the bonus of jungle
trekking and fishing thrown in.

My loving wife Shadah had reservations initially as 
a jungle environment would be fraught with danger. 
I just brushed it off as wild imagination. It was a 
mother's natural tendency of added caution, an 
unnecessary worry.
.
We arrived in the late afternoon enough to have a glimpse
of the sea and the accompanying sea breeze tugging at
wisps of our hair. A wonderful time on the morrow was
eagerly awaited. But what a surprise, for the excitement
did not wait for morning. It happened that very night itself!

We had retired for the night and snugly in bed snoring
away. Suddenly there was a din in the kitchen, a lot of
banging, knocking and sounds of pans falling. 

We were housed in a 3-room chalet and the kitchen was
the back portion. My son Hafidz decided to investigate but
was held back by Shadah. It could be robbers and probably
armed, she cautioned. It could not be as robbers would not
give themselves away I countered.

We called security and a young man, John came by
sneering made a show of bravery and walked confidently
into the kitchen. Things were strewn about dented or
broken. By this time a few of the neighbouring chalets
had awakened and stood around wondering what happened

John looked around and declared things were under  control
They would do a clean-up in the morning and all would back
to normal. Shadah then asked John whether it was safe to
pull back the curtains to let air in as a pot of spilled curry
was emitting some kind of odour.

The kitchen window had wire-mesh so John said it was safe.
He made a move to the window and was just about to pull
back the thick curtains - then it happened!

It jumped out from behind the curtains on to John's face.
John cried out and rushed for the door. He missed a step
and his face smashed against the door itself. 

The honorable thing for the management to do for which we
we were grateful was to have our family transferred to one of their
suites at the main building. We were there for the whole week.

John was given a few days off but he met us before we left
There were still old scars on his face and when he smiled
there was a toothy grin - on account of two missing teeth
in the front.

He explained it was a civet cat that got trapped behind
the curtain because of the wire-mesh. 

A nocturnal creature it was more frightened of John 
than we had imagined. It was not a dangerous animal 
but it was an unexpected visitor which managed to get 
in but not able to get out on its own!

Punam's at d'Verse Tuesday Poetics - vacation-reminiscences/

Monday, July 17, 2023

Beauty is a blessing

                                                                                        Artist: L da Vinci 
Image:  The Beauty of Mona Lisa (here)

For beauty is nothing but the beginning of terrorRainer Maria Rilke

Beauty is a blessing unto those who are privileged. It is not
a monopoly of the chosen few but extended to a few by divine
choice. Many vie for it knowing of the benefits of being admired
which may come from suitors attracted to it.

This will create a demand and a tendency to possess what 
the many others can only wish for. Invariably it will plant feelings
of envy which may translate into innocent jealousy or to reactions
more violent in nature for beauty is nothing but the beginning 
of terror. Beauty is there to be seen but those not having it would
have designs of wanting to destroy or cause likely damage.

It can be the beauty of a Cinderella or an object like Mona Lisa 
which endured envy and acts of violence contrary to expectations
Thus terror is preceded by beauty.
(144 words)

Hank's Reading of the Quote:
Beauty is not terror, but the beginning to a  terror: it is terror which 
does not threaten yet nor is there an immediate danger 

Mish at d'Verse - Prosery-rainer-maria-rilke/

Saturday, July 15, 2023

to shine and settle it bravely

                                                                     Author: Stefan Brending (2eight)
Image: Dancing and Swaying (here)

the 12 given Wordle words:
stay trapped cry shine settle run 
stray drain brave pain trim crafty

the tree swayed like a dancer 
moving her hips to the music
to stay trapped in such a stance 
may impose certain limits
It is a far cry from having to 
shine and settle it bravely
 
how then to relieve the 
pain and trim the score

a clever way to respond is
never to run down the whole 
show nor to stray away from 
the intended direction
for it may drain the resources 
thus limiting the choices

man is a brave animal quick 
to adjust never to accept defeat 
for any eventualities
without extending a fair fight

man's ingenuity knows no bounds

never to fall from grace 
with empty hands
give it a shot and see what gives

that's the whole point 
of having a crafty mind   

Note: to include the first line:
the tree swayed like a dancer 
moving her hips to the music

Brenda's Sunday Whirl Wordle-613/

Friday, July 14, 2023

Life's Like That!

                                                                          Artist: Pieter Brueghel the Elder  
Image: An Armed Four-Master 
Putting Out to Sea (here)

Friday Writings #85: First Line
"Ships at a distance have every man’s wish on board.” 
Zora Neale Hurston

Ships at a distance have every man’s wish on board
This implies life is open to all sorts of experiences of 
gains or losses. What man conceives or desires are not 
readily or easily to be at his disposal. At any one time 
a big question mark hovers over his head

What man dreams can be felt or even can be seen 
developing and progressing but there are difficulties 
or hardships that frustrate the dreams along the way

However not all suffer the same fate for some kind
elements may favour certain individuals who find it
easy to have achieved some semblance of success

Unfortunately it conforms to the luck of the draw and
life takes its own course. Many would resign to accept
the inevitable if they choose not to create opportunities
for themselves. 

Note: Ships at a distance have every man’s wish on board
-  a metaphor for the dreams that men have and what they do
to pursue them. While some dreams come in with the tide and 
may come true, but some keep sailing until time runs out

Magaly's at Poets and Storytellers United at 
friday-writings-85-first-lines