Henri Rousseau

                                                                                        Artist: Henri Rousseau

Image: Rousseau's The Walk in the Forest

(c. 1886), oil on canvas

The singer not the song

The creator not the creation

He chose art as a medium of expression
There had to be a start so he believed

He provoked his mind with no hesitation
Despite having reached his early forties

"Nothing makes me so happy 

to observe nature and to paint what I see so said he"

He picked a theme to have it done
It would trigger off the process
Otherwise he would be stumped

If not aware of the progress

There had to be a likely starting point
It just could not be explained
Once it got off the ground
It went smoothly insane 

Great masterpiece creations revealed

What of fronting a waterfall some deer

Woman's walk in the forest as billed

What of it of a crouching tiger

And a rabbit nearby stayed so still

It was wriggling in his head
Brilliance of something psychedelic
All colourful a kaleidoscopic spread
Once the cobwebs cleared and a good pick
Enveloped over, it was plain to see 

Amidst lots of jungle greenery 

It could be so hopelessly an excuse

Being self-taught what it did to his mind
Would have dampened his creative juices

But all naturally expounded as designed 

He took it within his stride 

It had happened many times like this

Through the hazardous hazards 

Of a Post- impressionist artist

Melissa Lemay in d'Verse Poetics

Launch: light and truth of painting

Nostalgic playground

                                                                                                           Author:Nick Smith
Image: Neighbourhood  

Backyard Where Boys Roam

(Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under the Creative 

Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license)

Nostalgic playground
Boyhood arena for
countless excitements

Catapult in the back pocket. 
Without a care of danger
They roam the large
expanse of wasteland

Light undergrowth rich
with little creatures hiding
to be discovered

Hedges and bushes 
a treasure trove lined 

with childhood abundance

Sanaarizvi at d'Verse in Quadrille Q. 252

Quadrilling without a care in the world

Chances of Possibilities

                                      Author: Shixart1985

Image: Reliving the Good Old Times

(courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under the

Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.)

Sunday Whirl Wordle

The 10 of 12 given words:

wild cross space left grind 

room land last split hood

Longing for the myriads of possibilities.

Wild colours and lights full of promise

Cross its space brightly and wanting

To bid its time left to grind and hover

Here we are wishing for room 

to land a last call

To ward off the restlessness of being alone
Facing time without you as company

Serve me the garnish that I may devour
For I’ve never been through such a bore

Can we just hit it off ?

For even a split second
You and your wonderful ways
Ever so thoughtful of my feelings
To lift off the hood of quietness 

Having me rash and brash ever so loving.
Young hearts we are but not anymore.

Can it happen again, I just wonder 

Brenda at Sunday Whirl Wordle 767

Regret struck home

 

                                                                              Artist George Romney (1734–1802)

Image: Sad Lady

(Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons 

licensed under Public Domain)

The Sunday Whirl Wordle 
The  10 of 12 given words

home wonder denied fallow pleas 

bees forgotten sky world sigh  

  

Friday Writings #185: 

Friday, July 11, 2025

Don’t be Afraid to Start Over

Regret struck home her conscience

She wondered petrified of her shadows

Pangs of loneliness denied

Her health unduly affected 

Hair disheveled dress crumpled

Her memory fallowed deep

Struck a vital chord with pleas

Like marauding bees thoughts ran wild

Beau revered now forgotten

Guilt pervaded her mind sky high

If only she had brought herself

Out of the abyss to contact him

No, she would overcome the world

Her own resolve was determined

No more self pity she sighed

She would get on without him

Note; I had a few days ago written this for Brenda. 

I had later adjusted it to allow for Rosemary's prompt

Brenda's Sunday Whirl Wordle 766

Rosemary's PSU Optional Prompt

Friday Writings #237

Favourites Revisited

An Impending Downpour

                             
                                                                                                 Author: Kenneth Allen 
Image: Heavy Rain Building Up

(Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under the Creative 

Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license)

Incorporating a line from

A Thunderstorm” by Archibald Lampman

Just got through, lucky enough
A drizzle initially and cloudy skies
Folks hurriedly fending for themselves

A shelter beckoning to offer what little
Rushed across just made it!
All to oneself bidding one’s time
Still tolerable people scurrying
Trying their best to beat

In the dying minutes an impending downpour
Briskly walking or trotting in tandem
With the light rain now more menacing

Over bleared fields and gardens disarrayed,

Some heading for the bus shelter
Sheepishly brushing off the tiny drops
Their faces, their arms upon reaching
Relief written all over, some kind words
Shared with those in a similar predicament

Exasperation building up 

with every increasing number
The shelter offering whatever little space
Wet body heat, emitting strange odors

Still acceptable rather than drenched

to the skin!

The downpour at its angriest was no friend
It lashed right through, no let up!

Mish at d'Verse Open Link Night #411

Beautiful Nights

                                                                                                                                                   Author:Minhal Hanif

Image: Moonlight
(Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under the 

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license)

Sweltering heat that beats down hard
Rivulets of sweat profusely racing downwards
Justifying notions of cooling off hot on the cards
A moonlight swim is a likely option considered

Or let us just walk together in the moonlight
As darkness beckons the two young lovers
On sultry evenings of holding hands so tight
Ostensibly afraid but confidence being together

Lunar shines may not rightly be that romantic
Some may go berserk at some point in the night
That's why they are fondly referred to as lunatics

Forces unexplained but lots to do with moonlight

Dora at d"Verse , Poetics

“My God, It’s Full of Stars”

Happy Shoppers

                                                                                                                      Author: Aleposta
Image: Shoppers Seen Busy

(Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under the

4.0 International, 3.0 Unported, 2.5 Generic, 

2.0 Generic and 1.0 Generic license)

current affairs on fringes of madness 

consequence of chain of events

puffed up news of Hormuz

made one confused and tensed

disorganised scenario of today

of the old order and pleasure

for ordinary folks utterly out of play 

with inflated costs and less leisure

Lisa at d'Verse with Quadrille Q 251

Light Burst of Air

Nature Undisturbed

                         
                                                                                     Hank's: one of nature's scenic secrets

Hank was in Bandar Acheh, Indonesia sometime

ago. We went inland and it left a lasting memory

of the beauty of nature much undisturbed

This is not about a body of water but rather in the 

upper reaches of one of the many rivers we came across

Serene and unblemished undisturbed, untouched 
A fervent hope of being discovered in its natural state
Feigning a virgin in all of its modesty 
Hidden from marauders in stony silence
 
Only a cool breeze to keep it company
Or pebbles-laden river blissfully gleaming 
Sensuously flowing in the upper reaches 
Virtually untouched and not a soul in sight

Uncharitable to likely intruders, undeterred 
Perceived home of spirits mysteriously felt
But meagre in all others menacingly quiet 
Distraught and neglected only ripples gurgling
In the morning sun and perhaps an occasional deluge  

Rommy's at PSU Friday Writings #235: 

Water Water Everywhere

Mothers Do Care

                        
                                                                                                          Attribution: Stefan Xp

Image: A Mother Tending to her Young

(Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under the

Creative Commons Attribution-Share 

Alike 3.0 Unported license)

Great in the open with good cloud cover
The horizon seems unblemished but inviting
Sleepy young rehearsing their acts of hunger
The brood is waiting and expecting anything

Mother bird exercising acts of  responsibility
Exemplary host as mothers do really care
A measure of love in earnest and sincerity
Distributing ensuring all have a fair share

All are aware she is back home with tidbits 
Each very much wanting a piece of the fun

A scramble favours the stronger to benefit
Mother ensures fairness for weaker ones

There is that lone voice of moderation
Always there when we needed them

Mothers to the rescue in all instances 

A patron saint of a great invention

Sherry at What's Going On with an Open Link

A Mystifying Episode

                                                                                                                                                  Author; Rhea Ball

Image: Driving Slowly

(Courtesy of Wikimedia commons under the 

Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license)

.

Sunday Whirl Wordle: 

The 10 of 12 given words:

resurgence fight God shot dark 

bright hot prairie grass foot

Motley of questions clouding her mind

She is seeking for answers as to why 

he comes back.

Perhaps to make up, or a resurgence to a fight

God forbid! A shot in the dark is time wasting

She still has clear recollections of the 

last encounter

It was a bright sunny day hot in the prairie grass

There she was on the bench in the shade
Teary eyed spurned and reduced to 

a wreck sobbing.
Gritting her teeth she laments her hopelessness.
He left without as much as a  glance 

over his shoulders. 

That was not too long ago about five years 
He has the audacity now to make amends 

causing her to shudder.

What he had in mind she just could not fathom.
She is heading towards the designated 

rendezvous keeping to the appointed time.

Not on foot but driving cautiously

prepared for a quick getaway 

Why she is complying is mystifying but she has to. 

She could not say no as he could move mountains.
Her heart is still within his grips that is beyond explaining!  

Brenda;s at the Sunday Whirl Wordle764

Love is Just a Memory

                             
                                                                                             Artist: John White Alexander

Image: Open Access Collection at the Met 

(Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York). 

Public Domain

lost times devoid of a fragrance
when feelings evaporated to dust
was there a way to enhance
in as much as to make things last

love neglected would react
energy waned in unsettled bids
buoyed in situations of neglect
far from an ability to succeed

there was a fighting chance
that love could be rightly recalled
it spoke of light in the gardens
but its apparent strengths had stalled

young lovers had better learn
light shone bright in the beginning
sincerity and trust had to be earned

not taken for granted nett of feelings

Rosemary's at PSU Friday Writings #234: Words for Images

Being Considerate

                                                                                        Author Eva Rinaldi
Image: Looking and Feeling Good

(Wikimedia Commons under the

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license)

Sunday Whirl Wordle 

10 of 12 given words:

judge tinker bounce heaven brutal 

end stream drive track welcome 

Some few things in being fair

To judge objectively not insisting

To tinker awhile when occupied

Bouncing back with good intentions

Being aware in heaven's name

Is therapeutic in a meaningful way

Brutal in thoughts may end up fighting

A stream of good suggestions do matter

Driving home the point with confidence

It has to do with the forgiving heart

The mind has a way of being smart

Keeping track not to get out of hand

Sitting above with pride unperturbed

Extending a welcome to clear hiccups

Brenda's Sunday's Whirl Wordle763

Writing Poetry

                                                                         Author L. Frank Baum (1856–1919) 
Image: Thinking on How to Start

(Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

the ideas come all at once

greasy it may seem swirling in the mind
fears of the unknown in shadows 

less defined

how to start getting poetry organised

perhaps a knock at the knuckles

not the way as creative writing 

cannot be intruded upon

from wanting ideas for helping to unravel
and curb those that impinges 

on a cluttered brain
just note it down and not 

to be unduly concerned as yet

it comes and go and often overwhelms

start to note down on something familiar

it helps when the lines are made to rhyme

there is then a semblance of poetry

it progresses fast thereafter 

and are made easy

they fall into place when 

broken into stanzas

there you have it overly surprised 

you went this far

Happy Summer Break to Everyone!

Grace at d'Verse - MTB: Ars Poetica Revisited

Chasing a Dream

                                                                                                         Author: Otivr Global
Image: Aspiring Achievers

(Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

under the Creative Commons 

Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license)

 “You are never too old to set another goal 

 or to dream a new dream" -  C. S. Lewis,

to set a trail towards a target

of new possibilities previously set

to plant its balloon at various spots

each having arrived at a few stops 

say it is not too late into thinking

to chase new dreams prevailing

to achieve new forms of wisdom

at the age of an older person

reaching out dreams along the way

to throw some light at end of day

to resolve life's mood in good form

of responses with good returns

Magaly's at PSU's Friday Writings #233: 

“set another goal … dream a new dream”

Re-writing History - Prior to Coming of the Drones

 

                                                                                          Attribution: RAF official photographer
Image: RAF Bombings 
(Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

This work created by the United Kingdom 

Government is in the public domain)

Imagine
What could have happened
Forces beyond comprehension
Of happenings beyond reason
The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand
Then Pearl Harbour
Perhaps not the end of the world
Perhaps just the end of an era

So they rationalized, unperturbed
It came and went many times
Collateral damage of hardware
dwellings and human lives
But it's still intact

That's a fact

Imagine
If someone made a miscalculation
Or worst a misinterpretation
And of pressing the Red Button
Not end of an era anymore
But end of the world
And in our lifetime
It shudders the imagination!

It's not over yet!
Not to be too happy

Lest we forget!

Susan's at What's Going On: Rewriting History

Abandoned and Vying for Freedom

                          
                                                                                                  Images: pixabay.com

Image: To Fend for Oneself

lost in the woods
ditched in the middle
of nowhere
not wanting to make light
of rumours garnered through
the grape-vine 

what happened?

 

nothing was
more frustrating than to
hear tell the truth

                                                                                                Images: pixabay.com
Image: Looking Down on Others

the might of the flight hungry

free to scour the Universe
not to be seared at the seams

but still rarely being held back 

from roaming up high

knowing one's freedom is a potent ally

not to anticipate but gathering

one's strength through the storm

Mish at d'Verse - Poetics, a Tale of Two Images                                                                                                     

The Summer Solstice

                                                                                                    Author: Bob Jagendorf

Image: A New Year Lion Dance
A Universally Known Festival, the Gong

Hee Fa Chai, the Chinese New Year

(Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under

the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license)

Summer Solstice is barely felt. There are no seasonal changes as Malaysia is close to the Equator. The Chinese community did traditionally observe it before. Hank was called once when we had a rich Chinese towkay in the neighbourhood. His son, a friend gathered six of us boys one day and we had a noodles tuck-in among ourselves. Barely in our teens we were not aware of its significance. That’s the nearest I had to it.

Apparently, the December Solstice is a bigger event but confined to the community. However, we had not seen it as a festival in recent years.

Barely much changes

Just hot and wet as usual

We long for some flakes

Frank's at d'Verse Haibun Monday 6-22-26: First Solstice

Success with Brilliance

 

                                                                                          Artist Nicholas Hilliard

Image: A Polished Gentleman 

(Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under

the GNU Free Documentation License)

The Sunday Whirl Wordle 762
- 10 0f the 12 given words
wave rise lost twists lips turning 

swagger unholy edges feast 

Posturing to indicate a polished personality

Extending a wave of different accents softly

Not turning ambiguous but to progress freely

Insisting to maintain some form of dignity

To rise to the occasion not lost in his bid

Ever confident twists coming from his lips

Not to swagger to numb the thinking process

Not an unholy swan-song deserted at the edges

 

But maintaining a feast of ideas in discussions

A brilliant mind is projected in all situations

Smart ones like him exploited the opportunity

Sanctuary within seen less dependent on charity

Sumana's Sanctuary Within in What's Going On

Brenda's Sunday Whirl Wordle 762

Waiting and Waiting

                                                                                                  Author: Vyacheslav Argenberg

Image: Waiting in Bed

(Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under the

Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license)

Alone facing the side of the bed quietly waiting

Anxious with her system inside as yet to scream
Feeling chained in her mind seemingly disabled
Appearance long awaited but not seemed probable

Questions hammer hard into her mind as in a race

Must he just vanish into space without a trace 

Sighs of dismay permeated her confused thinking

Furtively through her heart slowly but wondering
Lying quietly in a mess prodding deeply aligned 
To a slow music bidding her to come over to dine

Kicked up a fuss earlier preparing a hot meal

Hoping to trump a good impression trying to seal

Memories of old when they gnashed their teeth 

Into the warm steak enjoying them with relish

Heat of romance similar to a late Spring day
Overwhelmed with colourful blooms in every way

Was it going to be the same episode as of late

She was stood up again by yet another of the fakes

Rommy's at PSU's Friday Writings #232: 

A Few of Her Favorite Things

Student Days Happenings

                                                                                                  Author Punker1999
Image: Half Eaten Plate

(Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under

the Creative Commons Attribution-Share 

Alike 4.0 International license)

.

To the kitchen he headed
To chase a drifting thought
But it broke his little heart
He spied a visual he dreaded
The flow of the draft 
That lingered slowly pass 
brought him into the fray
He could only muse in dismay

A bad sign, it spelled trouble
A room-mate had just left
An empty plate on the table
Brought home to consume
None left of the earlier edibles

He lost, it was one down
A fatal mistake he quipped
Should have tucked in earlier he frowned
His buddy rifled the goodies indeed

when he inadvertently dozed off 

Note: A true story during student days

Bjorn's at d'Vesrse - Open Link Night 410 – Live edition

Colours of the Seasons

                                                                                   Author Homer Edward Price
Image: Striped Maple Leaves
(Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under the Creative 

Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license) (here)

End of the branch ending in green

Waving and swaying in the Spring

Lining highways and the surroundings
The gentleness of peace existing

Then Summer's Green Yellow and Orange
Reminder of Autumn’s brown forthcoming
Such is the varied beauty of face of nature
Sustaining on its own not to just disappear

With the subsequent whites all around
Frozen locality from the mysterious brown
An insistence of a constant reminder

Nature with colours can feign anger

Lillian's Poetics at d'Verse - Come Color with Me!

Sailing at Leisure

 

                                                                                           Attribution: anon

Image: A Sailing Boat at Sea

In the realm of aquatic sense to create,
Only words woven with care and grace,
Yearnings for white sails through the haze

From the wide window towards the granite shore

The white sails still fly seaward, seaward flying

Unbroken wings not causing concern unlike before

Surrounded by mysteries, within the mist,
Each boat a guiding star lighting our way,
With submissive heat where secrets held sway.

Calmness offering solace we shall never forget
Let the parched misty chill be away in the desert

Like in the unending past not bothering the way

Rosemary's at PSU's Friday Writings #231: White Sails Flying

To include the following lines:

From the wide window towards the granite shore

The white sails still fly seaward, seaward flying

Unbroken wings

Along The Way

                                                                                                    Author: Peter Facey
Image: Corners and Bends

(Wikimedia Commons Creative Commons Attribution

-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license)

taking cautionary child steps with an eye 

to anticipate vicious corners and sharp bends 

expecting nothing wild or untoward that lie

along the way of unexpected surprises 

wanting an assurance of a gentle journey

with an opening of not starting light fires 

rather living the fast lane in orderly manner

and closing it easy if caught in tight situations

music to the ears in confidence to a cause

no worry but a brave front to stifle opposition

lest good upbringing and manners are forgotten 

spared from shooting stars likely to appear

carefully nurtured to face up against fears

Mary's at What's Going On with 

Opening and Closing

Spring a Surprise

                                                                                                Author:rachel CALAMUSA
Image: Sleeping and Dreaming

Wikimedia Commons https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/

File:Sleeping-girl.jpg

An extension of one's imagination
In the nights it registers its presence 
Not wanting to show its true colours

But enough to cause sweet bothers
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

Rare occasions may spring a surprise 

Uncanny similarity etched in memory survive

The morning after a good dream to remember

 A bonus for good living to relive thereafter

Good dreams the aftermath of good intentions
Prodding the human self in pleasurable simulations
In classic fashion and in myriads of mixed colours

With realms of the human spirit in the subconscious 

Rommy's at PSU Friday Writings #230: Surprise Me!

What is the Destination?

                                                                                                                Author habiloid 
Image: Branching Out

unwittingly endured brutal in consequence
nothing gained except greenery on the sides
hard to imagine mother nature's vehemence
help cried to work its way as of right

was it confusion beyond the reach for a spell
go, make a decision to arrive at any destination
directions plain to see road signs displayed well
being lost is a step towards a chance solution 

a challenge to invoke beneficially good returns
to slash the field  to regain stature from before
life is a gamble in all of its contending spectrum

gambler's luck may unfold as a happy rejoinder

Punam's at d'Verse Open Link Night #409

She Has To Change

                                                                                            Author Stano Novak
Elegance in Dancing

Wikimedia Commons (here)

she tried her best to stay cool
moving her hips to the music
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 through the whole 
routine nor to stray away from 
the intended direction
for it may drain the resources 
thus limiting the choices

she is a brave being  quick 
to adjust never to accept defeat 
for any eventualities

her 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 

Magaly's at PSU's Friday Writings #229: 

Wonderful! Which No Longer Fits…

A Bride's Dilemma

                                                                                             Artist: Marc Chagall

Image: Marc Chagall, Bride with a Fan (1911), 

oil on canvas, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

(courtesy of d'Verse, Poets Pub)

Many may not realize it
We anticipate just as much
To welcome a new beginning
All dressed up but with reservations

Where are we heading?
A bride with myriads of questions
Wanting answers but utterly helpless
All matters had been touched on
Many months preceding today
Arising from many sources
All came with good intentions
 
There was a lot of excitement
Among friends and relatives
There was a lot of teasing
There were a lot of questions
There were a lot of answers
 
Suddenly she finds herself alone
All the answers she received before
Come flooding in now all at once
Overwhelmed her being all confusing
 
In such a mystifying moment
Her recollections of one person
Stood the grounds affording her 

 The confidence – her mother’s

Melissa Lemay at d'Verse, Poets Pub - Don’t box me in: Chagall                                         

Youngters Dancing

                                                                                                                    Author Yann

Image: Dancing for Fun

MLMM Wordle 

wrong, end barrel softly pain, nostalgia ,

tea, dance. only radio, ring fell never

wrong end of the barrel
softly pains the heart
a nostalgia of a tea dance
followed only on the radio 
but it  rings the bell 
on some old favourites
it fell in a familiar swoop
of a teenager's young days

never to come back again

Rosetta  at MLMM Wordle 477

https://mindlovemisery.wordpress.com/2026/05/18/mlmm-monday-wordle-477/

Workers and Staff

                                                                                                                     Author John Vachon 
Image: Workers leaving for home after work (here)

Sunday Whirl - 10 of the 12 given words:

lifetime share relax connect home

last will place years last class 

a lifetime to share our privilege of
not to relax but to connect with those 

unfortunate souls to bring home 

the act of sacrifice and cooperation

It is to extend a helping hand readily 

to those unfortunate beings who will 

be made redundant in their jobs 

displaced despite years of loyal service 

It is with the advent of AI development

which progressed exponentially fast and 

until recently in the last few months 

in the aftermath of  the Middle East crisis 

with the creation of a class of unemployed 

but experienced good workers and staff

across the board

Brenda's Sunday Whirl World 757

Having A Crafty Mind

                                                                              Author Charles J. Sharp 
Image: Australian Brush Turkey

(courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

under the Creative Commons Attribution-

Share Alike 4.0 International license)

Mostly Dead is Slightly Alive.
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 easily

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

Rommy Cortez-Driks at  PSU

As You Wish