An Anaphora

Gone!

Gone were the days

Of fun and laughter

Of tumbles and trauma

Gone were the feelings

Of wanting to be an adult

To do adult things

And get rewarded

Gone  were the backyard

That witnessed the tears

Of the childhood experience

And the triumph of

Boyhood strength

Gone were the neighborhood

Whose kids have grown

And flew to new nests

Gone were the houses

Close to your heart

To make way for developers

To enrich themselves

But we still witness

The antics of those vying

For higher office where

Gone were the players of old

Replaced by new ones

Where the game is still the same

Only the players have changed!

Note: In Poetry Jam one is encouraged to create an Anaphora Poem where there is a repetition of a word throughtout. I've chosen the word 'Gone"

Submitted for Poetry Jam's Anaphora Poem and d'Verse's OpenLinkNight Week#33

Soups

                                                                            Photo: Bob Adelman 1965

Image:1 Warhol at the Grocery's

(Picture Credit from Tess' Magpie)

Image:2 What Warhol came off with one of his Pop Art designs
(Picture Credit from Google images)

Soups  galore!

Campbell’s canned stuff

Can you beat that?

It's Amazing What Soup Can Do!

Soup of the Day

Help me make a choice!

Mushroom, tomato, vegetable, onion, Minestrone

Rich taste for the taste buds

Warhol and his Pop Art

Familiar half maroon

You can never go wrong

To hold on its own

Collectibles?

The whole gamut

Of choices

Got to go on-line

To spy on these!

Submitted for Tess' Magpie 106 and  Real Toads OpenLinkMonday#27

Life's Challenge

                                                               Robert W Service

Robert William Service (1874 – 1958) was a poet and writer who has often been called "the Bard of the Yukon". Service is best known for his poems "The Shooting of Dan McGrew" and "The Cremation of Sam McGee", from his first book, Songs of a Sourdough (1907; also published as The Spell of the Yukon and Other Verses) - Wikipedia

Thy life is thine to make or mar, 
To flicker feebly, or to soar, a star
One is never too old to bear
Neither too young to leave the lair
When is it ideal to venture out
Must it be with lots of shouts
Nary the thought of making noises
Just listen to the inner voices
You are one to decide
Does not require great might
Flick your head and make a toss
The world will bear and it's all yours

Note: One is to create a poem with a prompt from the first two lines of a known poet. I had chosen Kay's prompt for mine (with your kind permission,Ma'am!). It is from Robert W Service, a Scottish Canadian poet. It provides a challenge and I thought it is a good start! Thanks Kay!

Submitted to Mary's Mixed Bag at Real Toad's

Brastagi

I was at Brastagi a few days ago.It is a district further inland just after Medan in Indonesia. It is in the highlands part of a hill station that stretched to cover the scenic Lake Toba area further up the hills. This part of the country comprised the Bataks who in the main are Christians. It was a proliferation of dainty little churches, many of them amidst the sweet corn, strawberry and cabbage patches.

Back from Brastagi

Lake Toba in the distance

Undisturbed beauty

Image:1 Driving up the secondary jungle off road

Image:2 Checking the coordinates and the GPS readings

Image:3 Taking a look at the GPS again from another strategic location

Image:4  LakeToba. Apparently it is the remnants of a volcanic crater

Image:5 Lake Toba from another angle

Image:6 A typical row of dwellings that dotted the road along the way

Image:7  A lucky snap of a group of ladies on their way to a wedding

Submitted for Poet United's Poetry Pantry #88 and d'Verse OpenLinkNights week #32

Desire

Photo Credit: Google Images

Extending the hand

Create a relationship

A yearning unleashed

Quaint but it is true

Stuck-up immaturity

Creates obstacles

Estranged from the group

A Desire unfulfilled

An ostracized soul

Submitted for Haiku Heights #106 with prompt 'Desire' and d'Verse OpenLinkNight week 31

Entangled

Picture Credit; courtesy of Tess' Magpie

Entangled love

Entrapped

Can I make it my business to endure

Agony

Oddity

Can I make it my defence

Secure

Stronger

Can I make it through?
Enchanted
Engrossed
But then again all is not lost!

Just wild imaginations!


Submitted to Tess' Magpie#104

A Jungle Trek

Note: Last Saturday night I had time to make a reply to Brian's comments and off we went to Banda Acheh again the next morning. We had gone to the interior of the highlands south of Banda Acheh. I was in a party comprising the head of the group Pak Teuku, geologist, Mr Rama and a number of helpers. I just came back this afternoon all the richer in some jungle bashing experience.
Apologies: Will be responding to all comments in the previous posting. Brian, I will respond with an email also. In the meantime a simple haiku to accompany the pics.

On the road again
Greetings from BANDA ACHEH
Some fishes to fry

Image:1 A scenic and placid lake greeted us before we ventured in. The nearer hills in the distance were where we were headed

Image:2 The geologist, working out the coordinates and programming his GPS before we set out.

Image:3 Some of the rough dirt tracks we had to move through

Image:4 Here was a narrow passage-way cut through the hills

Image:5 At some points Juna had to go down to guide Kiki at dangerous points

Image:6 Suddenly a river crossed our path. A 4WD could ford it during normal days but it apparently rained in the upper reaches earlier. The river was a bit swollen and the currents were fast.

Image:7 Scenic yes, but we would rather not

Image:8 We managed to get across. Satia waded in first following one of the locals who showed the way. We then went across in groups. Here Mr Rama with some sampling at the initial stage with Satia helping out with a hammer to break the stones

Image:9 Hank being helped by Gito handling a 'pot of gold'

Image:10 Satia breaking more stones watched intently by Mr Rama and Pak Teuku

Image:11 Walking back on completion of the tasks

Image: 12 The grassy vegetation nearer to the lowlands

Image:13 The testing river crossing again. This time Mr Rama stripped off his pants to ensure a dry journey back

Image:14 Mr Rama being gingerly assisted across the fast currents

Image:15 Pak Teuku seems overly confident in facing the ordeal

Image:16 The group made it across

Image:17 A well deserved rest and refreshments all round

Submitted to d'Verse OpenLinkNights

Inspiring Writer I

Image:1 My quickie pencil sketch done this morning. In portraits, likeness is often frustrating. Can you recognize the writer? I may have to do another one!

Leader of the pack

Helmed  d’Verse with a great team

Remembered too well

A little announcement

Made it known no more blogging

Shocked for a moment

Was greatly relieved

When Waystation One remained

Next  d’Verse was born

Now they are vying

To be the first to comment

When you are the first

Music to the ears

But the Cat gleefully taunts

When he gets being first

Say,something’s brewing

Watch it Logan is coming

Chip of the old blog

Fine wine brings good cheer

Two zero twelve a good year

Enhanced all the fun

Submitted for Haiku Heights prompt 'Music' no.105

A Martian Came to Town

Picture Credit: Courtesy of d'Verse

They were busy connecting with like-minded souls

Each engrossed at the screen checking, unnerving

They poke and they register like and of those 

Friends bandied about generously sharing, farming
Images of stills or of movements , anything goes

In virtual serenity of activities devoid of reality

Let’s have a chat one to one
but if  they’re afar all the more fun

It’s not a bother that we are brought together

In a social network bound by its own conventions

Suddenly it happened in quick succession

A blinding flash and a broken sonic boom 

A circle and a tumble of shiny armor in the blazing sun

A few more quick dips emitting from below a shrill sound

It slowly descended buzzing with staccato bursts

Reaching ground with a nasty jolt in a cloud of dust

Saucer like vehicle with extending long legs made a landing

A door swung open a creature emerged weird looking
Bulging eyes, bright red lips and shiny skin and pointed ears

In hues of greenish blue hideously smiling

That would make a mom-in-law cringe 

It slowly stepped gingerly down some steps

Other doors all around the vehicle swung open

Other green Martians stepped down to follow their leader.
The town folks had by now gathered gawking in awe

Creatures from outer reaches of space

Can this be for real? 

A brave lad ventured out and extended his hand

In friendship the Martian leader accepted as a human

Hugging and laughing to no end as old friends 

He stopped composed himself and looked around

Then in a booming voice he brashly demanded

‘Bring me to your leader!’

With a twinkle in his eyes the brave lad added

‘You mean Mark?’

‘I don’t know who is your leader’ the Martian countered

The towns people were curious and one asked

'What the Martian wants?'

The brave lad retorted, ‘Zuckerberg’!

Inspired by d'Verse: Meeting the Bar, A Martian Sharpens his Knife

Yes!

Picture Credit: Google images

We're all caged we’re  dazed

Yes! Got no place

Thoughts engaged just debased

Yes! What a blaze

We're muzzled I'm puzzled

Yes! For this tussle

Leave us alone begs no bones

Yes! I’m just stoned

Merrily sedated just fated

Yes! Thoughts outdated

That’s the least, blessed to forgive

Yes! Now at peace

Smile a little the least possible

Yes! Seeks no trouble

Fate is sealed there’s no appeal

Yes! Must you squeal ?

With such relish not squeamish

Yes! Yes! Yes! A strange finish! 

Inspired by Thursday Think Tank #83 with prompt 'Yes'