Simple Fables

                             
                                                                                             Author: Malene Thyssen
Image: The Wily Fox
(courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under its Creative 

Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license)

It is fun and simple
Often relates to some things
familiar and at hand
It’ll catch immediate attention

Who has not heard of the Hare
and the Tortoise!

Fables have always been around
to instill awareness and
wonder in young minds

Explained simply 

yet effectively
Elements of fairy tales
yet with credibility

Never trust a flatterer
in the Fox and the Crow
Familiarity breeds contempt
in the Fox and the Lion

Why must it always be

the wily Fox, anyway!

Grace at d'Verse Poets Pub - OpenLinkNight #414

Flowers Galore

                                                                         Egon Schiele, Field of Flowers (1910)

Image: The Beauty of Spring

(courtesy of Melissa's Poetics at d'Verse)

Comes the time nature’s
swing moods clamouring towards
beauty of spring-time

Riding high buoyant
circle of life about to
accord fresh upsurge

Steadfast in splendour
greenery and flowers rule

drab cold forgotten

Melissa's at d'Verse : Poetics -Pulling poetry from the landscape

All is Not Lost!

                                                                                                           Author: Kody8958
Image; Youngsters at Play

(courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under the Creative 

Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license)

Mark of innocence

Reckless show of defiance

Protesting for no good reason

Youngsters seen as indifferent

A process of growing up

Dare make an attempt

To accord due respect to elders

Prolonged process of awareness

Rough diamonds need polishing

But all is not lost!

Punam at d'Verse - Quadrille #354: I Protest

Modern China

                                                                                                      Author: ermell

Image: Chinese High Speed trains in Shanghai-
(courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under the 

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 

3.0 Unported license)

Looking at the illusion and to be able to 
breeze through a scattered gaze is plain 
to the eye but difficult  to fathom

Won the Korean currency is bent to gain 
international splendour upon a gathering
of strength befitting the hardy and hard-
working fervour of its people

It is beginning to rattle other growing 
economies through its ability to harness
and harvest the benefits of international 
commerce.They penetrate right through
the skin to lodge in to the secular and
jugular core of business acumen and ethics. 

They got over the stigma of inferior quality 
of products and are now worthy  successors 
to the Japanese who have lately sagged and 
lagged behind in their competitive advantage 
and are instead trailing from the rear.

Hank had written the above on Nov 30, 2014
With a little more than a decade we are 
privileged, and astounded to witness 
the change attributed to China.

An Epilogue
China has been blessed with the dedication
and foresight of its leadership. Deng Xiaoping
bravely emerged after Mao but not without 

challenges to his personal self. Nonetheless 

things changed variously and tremendously,

which is an understatement.

Barely a few years ago the change was felt
and expected but only until very recently it
thrived without a known ending

The AI 'revolution' brought it out in the open
and DeepSeek became known particularly.
The world is now basking in the exponential
development of things AL and no one can 
tell what's brewing!

Rosemary's at PSU Friday Writings #241: Change

In the Failing Lights

                                                                                                      Author Mariusz Guć

Image: Visions and Shadows

(courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under the 

Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license)

to include the following lines in the prose:

." . . and the iridescent image swims through a mirror that flows.” 
 -  Stanley Kunitz from his  poem King of the River.

Iridescent means: showing bright colours that seem 

to change when you move or look from a different angle.

Failing lights follow the rocking of the boat. 

It reserves a thought for what is in store in the morning. 

One feels the concern for the guilt for not coming 

back with a decent decision and looks like the 

iridescent image swims through a mirror that flows.

It appears better from the other side and then the 

other, depending on the movement of the sun earlier

Is it with full abandon to just raise both hands 

and prepare to give up.

Many have walked this path. Many are familiar with the

underlying frustrations of not being satisfied with the ones

done lately. Time constraints may not be the reason. 

It is perhaps to throw everything to the winds and to see 

what is giving way. Building walls around one's options 

may not get the desired results. It stifles growth and that 

is not good at all!

Dora at d'Verse's Prosery—Luminous Accounting

But dreams lingered on...!

                                                                                                   Author: Chris Downer
Image: Lady in the Distance

(Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons given under the Creative 

Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license)

Rue to the one who thought

The eyes were seeing things
What apparition, playing tricks

Someone familiar out there?
Ruefully..
Check !

Someone beckoning in the distance

So he thought
An uncanny resemblance
How she had transformed
Sultry in the failing light

He asked, was it for real?
Stagnant in thoughts
Check again!

Undaunted he surged forward
He called out her name and waited….

There was no response
Just the cool of the day
There was nothingness
His stomach squirmed
His mind numbed
He yearned for her

His senses malfunctioned
Lost in thoughts…
She had been long gone
Reality was not easy to accept
But dreams lingered on...

Ruefully…
A quiet prayer….solace in silence!

There would be someone…!

Sanaa in d'Verse Open Link Night #413 

with Live Edition

Belimbing

 

Image:1 A bunch of belimbing on the tree in our backyard

Image:2 Taken from another angle of the same tree. The flowers are seen on the right side, red in colour

Note: A distant cousin of the star-fruit, smaller in size but rounded not star-shaped. Measures about 6cm (2.5 inch) The tree in our backyard sprouted a generous offering. Very sour, can be taken raw but not munched as a fruit. It is taken as an appetizer.. 

Pounded with chillies

Whets the appetite with meals

In place of chutney

As a curry dish

With fish and coconut milk

Fun with rice for lunch

Dried out in the sun

Thrown in as one of items

To make mixed pickles

Sumana's Open Link at 'What's Going On?' 

This is an old posting.

Kissing in the Rain

                                                                            Author ClickFlashPhotos / Nicki Varkevisser

Image: Wonders of the Weather
(Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons given under the

Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license)

Letting the rain to run down in rivulets
There they are oblivious of the wet
Resolute in not wanting to regret
 A panacea of pain failing to observe
Clasped in the entanglements of love

 

Sweetness belies feelings less of trivia 

Turbulent in thoughts but standing on air

Tugging in the cold they don’t deserve

Let loose emotions that are hazardous

A couple in throes of falling in love

Exudes warmness in having to let
Can man continue without feelings of guilt? 
Obliquely avoiding words of despair
Headstrong pushing seemingly unfair
 
Twinkling eyes of the lady a respite
Not revealing the dumbness of the plight
Softening the savage breast of the ardour 

Kissing in the rain is an obvious splendour

Lisa in dVerse Poetics — Have You Ever Seen the Rain?

Island of Beauty

 

                                            Author:Honey 

Image: A Beautiful Lady

(courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under the Creative 

Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license) 

Untouched 
Exuding bright rays of hope 
Island of beauty

Adored by many
Pristine serene and misty 
Far from prying eyes

Not readily seen
Rare glimpse at the window 
Smiles are luxuries

A forbidden fruit 
A courtship of old
Jumping for joy

Uppermost, Mom’s approval 

De Jackson at d'Verse Quadrille #353: 

Jumpstart your Poem

The Anaheim's Disneyland

                                                                                                       Author: Hank's
Image: Entrance to Anaheim's Disneyland

Process note: 

This is a revamp of an old posting of our journeying over to Anaheim many years ago  The original prompt calls for an Other Voice. I had it made out from my daughter's voice of her reminiscences of the wonderful sojourn. 

The Happiest Place on Earth

It was a dream that I had dreamt of. We were here now, Mom and Dad  and my younger brother Hafidz. I just couldn’t believe it. Barely a few weeks ago on TV, we were then watching a program tagged the Happiest Place on Earth.

Apparently Dad had long before decided and saved. A flurry of events followed which we later realised. Dad had made preparations but cooking up a surprise. Everything were ready, passports, luggage, light attire. And now we were all here!

Disneyland here we come. Wow, this was going to be fun!

Main Street  USA we gave it a pass. We went over to Fantasyland just as fast. Then it was What a Small World, Peter Pan and Space Mountain in Tomorowland. It was alive! Beware The Haunted House. The subsequent Adventureland and Jungle Cruise then  followed with later the Frontierland and Thunder Mountain Railroad. They were all full of surprises. We kids just wanted more!

Hafidz and I were in the ‘thrill’ mode. Taking snapshots Dad kept himself busy
Showing  them in class they would be green with envy

The 3-day Passport was not quite enough. But being here itself was heavenly, thank our lucky stars. Since we were in the vicinity, we had a peek at Las Vegas. Free meals in the casinos were widely advertised. Then into the Nevada desert in the morning a leisurely ride to arrive at another spectacle, the Hoover Dam, what a sight!

The next day we ventured south to San Diego Sea World with a stopover at Capistrano to sight the swallows. Awaiting at Sea World a sight of fantasy of illustrious performances. Man and sea animals all in unison, a  scenic spectacle, a marvel to see 

I’ll always love my Daddy, for giving us this marvelous opportunity

Dreams of youngsters here

Adventure rolled into one

Fulfilled in Disney

Frank's at d'Verse's a Haibun Monday 8-3-26: Journeying out!

Lying by the Sea-shore

                                                                                           Author: Hasanblaze
Image: A Coconut on the Beach

(courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under the Creative 

Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license)

MLMM Monday Wordle 

The 10 of 12 given words:

cast, lightly street, sensitive, cool, view, 

tickle attract, evening, glow, attract 

Basking in the evening sun

Lying by the sea-shore
Not a worry anymore

The sea breeze seeks to brush by

The constant lashings of the waves 

Slow sounds in low octaves

Unlike the din on busy streets

Free to laze at ease 

With nothing sensitive
Filling in the time to feel easy

Cool view of moments of solitude
Feelings of gratitude 

No one to tickle or intrude

Heightened the  mood 

Later in the evening glow

Easiness held sway 

Attracting in a good way 

None that I’m seeing 

Engulfed all my being
Not a bother in the world

Picture Prompt: A lone coconut on the beach

Mindlovemisery Managerie's: MLMM 

Monday Wordle #488    

in their own world

 =

                                                                                                             Author: LN9267

Image: In A Subway

(courtesy of Wikimedia Commons under the Creative 

Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license)

People sitting in the Subway train
Whether Subway, Metro or Underground
Nonchalantly in their own world

'Please let me be' a picture of relief
Able to steal a moment of peace

despite all the rush and confusion

A shuteye for a few of them
Tiredness impacting on tired souls
A good place to be having a rest

The alert brushing through the daily
Irrespective of the news but just reading

Others holding onto the strap
Staring in mid-air or at someone
With a stern face or unwittingly smiling

No matter what on their minds
until the next stop

A sudden opening a mad rush
Pandemonium in a split second
Going out or rushing in

and it was all over just as fast

Grace at OpenLinkNight #412

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

The inclination for an illustration

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 off 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