Road Not Taken

 

                                                                                                      Author: Ijlal2278

Image:  The Lone Traveller

(Wlkimedia Commons)

Never had it occurred to me that I
went the far distance that took

me off the mark. To my consternation the

decision belittled my travel experiences though not one

on a high pedestal but much less 

inclined to those who had travelled

and found opportunities easy to come by

The Road Not Taken 
By Robert Frost 

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference

Grace: at d'Verse Poetry Form: Golden Shovel

Dreaming Big

                       
                                                                                                    Photographer : Node

Image: Picking in Silence (here)

(Wikimedia Commons)

The 12 given words

smoke ring distant wish silky
spill list fit key still limits bill - 754
 
blowing smoke rings upwards
sitting alone without a sound

thinking in silence into the 

distant future 

his wish is the silky handkerchief 

in his hands can spill out untold riches

he has a whole list of goodies 

he likes to see fall onto his lap 

it will fit into his scheme of things

he bears it all in silence
 
key to his problem is the fact
that he still has limits then
which does not fit the bill

silence is a convenient companion

to keep him company

Brenda: Sunday Whirl 754

Just Desserts

 

                                                                                             Author: Fran Hogan

Image: Strawberry cheesecake 

and two glasses of wine.

(Wikimedia Commons)

What follows a hefty meal

given the choice I would

rather have none

 

Sweet dishes and pastries

‘Desserts’ the bad word

I would rather have them alone

without the main meal

 

Not worth the amount of workouts

and Mediterranean dishes

to contend with thereafter

The girth needs the respect

it deserves  

Rommy Cortez-Drriks

Friday Writing #224 - Poets and Storytellers United

A Spent Force

                        
                                                                                             Artist :Andreas Bohnenstengel 

Image: It Says it All!

(Wikimedia Commons)

not a ghost of a  chance
he trembled he was on edge
it left him uneasy

much more to settle 

than he initially thought 

he sought shelter before

he rose to the occasion

he took it upon himself

to progress step by step

it seemingly looked simple

but it burnt out his efforts 

even before he ventured in

not this time now 

a different era 

he felt weak 

a limiting factor

that he left out

- age!

Lisa at d'Verse OLN # 406

Sweetness of Nature

                                                                                                 Author: Dietmar Rabich
Image: Golden Autumn Leaves

Sunday Whirl :The 10 of 12 given words:

taste summer sweetness rush snap resin 

passion turn luck half - 749

the taste of Autumn is creeping in

hot Summer is slowly giving way

the sweetness of season's change

gets on its logical course 

no rush nor snapping of falling 

leaves that follow 

floating slowly down

the resin takes its time

the passion of golden maple leaves

take its turn to appear on cue

not prompted by luck

that is nature playing its annual

game and we humans are not

even aware nor bothered of

the clockwork transition

half the time

Mary at "What's Going On"

Brenda's Sunday Whirl Wordle - 749

A Lighted Candle

                                    

 Image: Sekoto: Boy and the Candle (1943)                     

The Sunday Whirl: the 10 of 12 given words:

swaying drifted steam grass radiance flushed 

perfume hypnotic skin hiss - 753

The lighted candle its flame swaying

drifted upwards its sterile aroma of steam 

and smoke permeated the air

A feel of freshly cut grass gripped his 

imagination 

Its radiance flushed his mind with 

a perfumed hold that enveloped

him in a hypnotic trance 

He shivered in his skin as though 

a hissing snake had left

its venom all over 

He regretted having abandoned 

his wife with a young son recently

Now perhaps having to face 

divine correction for his mistake

Brenda Warren's https://Sunday Whirl Wordle #753

Melissa Lemay in Poetics at d'Verse: The Art of G.Sekoto

Eating Out

                                                                                                                Author:,Tomo

Image: Japanese Dinner - source P8293005

I dig the senses  
My appetite is no worry
My girth keeps increasing 
Weight loss is a lost cause
New year resolutions
and dieting are no help

The grandies have quaint ideas
when eating out
The more peppers and hot chili 

the better 

Punam at d'Verse - Quadrille #246: Let’s get digging

Fun And Games

                                                                        Author: Marlin Dominguez

          Image: Kid's Fun Times

Yesterday’s been an experience  

Not asked for nor expected

If shared with an audience

Fun galore to be appreciated

 

Today’s real time happenings

Tug at the purse strings mostly

Adjustments of the day being

Possible and effected readily

 

Tomorrow’s events yet to be seen

With few surprises good or bad

Whenever with one close and loving

Anticipating good fun to be shared

Love in Moments of Joy

                                                                                                              Author: Rangana Abeyrathne
Image: The Male (red beak) feeding

the Female (here)

love seeks moments most 

opportune

stalk the sky painted in colours

bring to school

luck may have a hand 

for likes of a fair lady 

a jewel of a find

a grandmother comes with

lots of snacks 

to thwart a desire in business 
resolute with serious reasoning

a boy armed 

with a sling-shot

in moments of despair 

a splash of brilliance 

down the elephant's pit hole 

 

peppering thoughts 

of a mouse

insistence clutter the mind

pick a ribbon of hope 

for divine intervention 
uncles with a mop of shiny white hair

Merrill Smith at d'Verse MTB Zuihitsu

Simplicity in Writing

                                                                                                   Author: Leonid Pasternak 
Image: The Writer's Block (here) 

Emily Dickinson’s phrase "Publication - is the Auction Of the Mind "
She argues that publishing creative work is a "foul" act that degrades intimate thoughts 

into commercial commodities. She believed ideas are divine gifts, not for sale, and that 

selling one's writing is equivalent to prostituting the soul.

Prompt: to include ‘publication is the auction of the mind’

He has been writing well since school days. He enjoyed the teacher’s
good comments of his works.  He was plainly one-up against his other 

friends. They freeze when tasked with writing an essay.

They lacked reading which were reflected in bombastic displays of 

writing skills. His simplicity of works produced were frowned upon by 

them. 

He is now a successful writer with his own set-up. Simplicity is his 

forte. He just could not understand why his works were selling like 

hot-cakes. Simplicity sells and he was happy. 

Basking in the limelight with a few bestsellers others just could not 

comprehend. Priced relatively higher and selling well, he was often 

labelled unfairly as being lured by money. Why should there be any

objections?

He agreed that ‘publication is the auction of the mind’ Pricing was 

irrelevant. Arguments rightly expressed with substance would win 

the day!

Melissa Lemay at d'Verse's Prosery Publication

Eyes for You

                                                                                                   Author: Lillian
Image: Sitting Together - Street Art 

The 12 given words:

 joy sit place oddly sharp human full 

sense instead lingering felt point - 737

a joy to sit in place

oddly enough transforming

bland walls with creative risks

of vibrant street art  

sharp human forms

to infuse a culture of freedom

 in the full sense of the word

instead it could likewise project

a lingering resilience felt

to the point of culture shifts

in the happiness of young hearts

Lillian at d'verse OLN

For just a Flicker

                                                                                 Author: cuatrok 77 hernandez
Image: Peacocks 777 jpg 

11 of 12 given words:
flicker glass lurked shame slip red
rattled hollow ravenous found space - 751

for just a flicker he spied
through the glass window
where she always lurked
 
what a shame he let it slip
yet again the colourful mix

of blue red purple and green

it rattled him to miss a privilege
leaving a hollow image of
a ravenous creation in his mind

he just found empty space staring
at him in the distance an opportunity
desired but left him lame and cold
 
it is a bother to get her readily
on my handphone that my buddies
can see of such a beautiful

specimen of a peacock

Brenda's at Sunday Whirl Wordle 751

Split Personality

                              
                                                                                                     Author:  Rene Magritte

Image: The Double Secret

the 11 of 12 given words:

flesh drifted veiled rose gem pearl 

scarce page sand clay split 

a chunk of flesh

separated from the image

chosen and drifted out 

moved to the side 

not veiled or covered

but rose menacingly

a gem of a personality

a pearl of nature

a scarce item 

a page picked out

not to be placed in the sand

or entombed in clay

such is the idea

of a split personality

waiting for a bid

on its being

Melissa's at d'Verse - Everything we see

Gloaming Lightly

                                                                                        Author: Gloaming Lightly by van Gogh

Image: By the Window with Receding 

Rays of the Afternoon Sun (here)

the 12 given words:

wonder smudge conjuring

gloaming (the time of day when it is becoming dark but is not yet fully dark)

seeds emerge hours prayers chances

grateful whispered stained

to wonder at the strained images that often

smudged his mind conjuring a complex mixture

of colours and shapes that surprisingly blended

well within the gloaming rays that unashamedly 

intruded from the outside through the window panes

grateful for all the seeds of imagined stories

that emerged from hours of  prayers in creating masterpieces 

where chances were gratefully acknowledged  

to painstakingly provide relief whispered 

for his brilliant but stained and tragic life

Brenda at Sunday Whirl Wordle 645

Lillian at dVerse OLN

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

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/

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/

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/ 

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/

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/

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

Rosemary at PoetsandStorytellersUnited. 

friday-writings-99-why.

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/

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/

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/

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/

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.

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/

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

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/

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/