Not to bow to seemingly little irritations

                                                                                      Author: Massimilianogalardi
Image: A Farm in the Countryside (here)

11 of 12 given words:
press farmer ravaged palms, flows bow   
songbirds butterflies munching tomatoes fox  

To press his luck a farmer reaffirmed to set his sights
Ravaged beyond contention a land deluged
His face buried in his palms somewhat in fright
Not giving up he steadfastly refused

The flows of ideas accentuated to his woes
Not to bow to seemingly little irritations
The songbirds would reappear in droves
Butterflies and little creatures would certainly return

Munching tomatoes and cooking all the other edibles
He would be back where he started he reminisced
To outfox nature was not to oppose but to respect and dribble
The ball would find its target and that would be nice

MMT's Sunday's Whirligig #127
Susan's ae PU's Midweek Motif  - respect

Invariably stifled by the rainy bleakness

                                                                                         Attribution: Barbara Florczyk
Image: A Little Discomfort (here)

Had been through this before
Assertiveness prompted by stubbornness
As true as the sun's appearance to the fore
Invariably stifled by the rainy bleakness

Positive thinking had been known to be good
The sky was a little drowsy but worth a risk
On stepping out of the house into the neighborhood
All wet and cold but still walking brisk

A little discomfort could be expected
When luck did not favor had to be tolerated

Nekneeraj's at MLMM's Photo Challenge #178
Kerry's at Real Toad's  -  the tuesday platform

Wise and talented stood to gain - a Quadrille

                                                                                            Author Michael Coghla
Image: Leisurely (here)

Blessed be the young hearts
In blissful wonders of innocence
Time and opportunities would intrude
Presented but in fleeting moments

To exploit fully lest left behind
Wise and talented stood to gain
Never a dull moment the chosen ones
Side-lined the evil, the unconcerned
(44 words)

Apologies: Bjorn, Hank finds it difficult to access WPress

Bjorn's at d'Verse's   -  a Quadrille#39

A real fight to the finish

                                                                     Artist: Anton von Werner(1843–1915)
Image: A Cavalry General in battle (here)

10 of 12 given words:
retreating saber one-eyed hair 
clothes cut lined mud waving road

A real fight to the finish

It represented a rare opportunity

Retreating hordes to be vanquished

A rattling saber at the ready

The Cavalry General had the upper hand

But there was one unfinished business

The one-eyed leader of the gang

To be done in first in all absoluteness

His hair, clothes a cut above the rest

To engage the enemy in personal combat

He lined up his personal being at his best

Immaculately dressed to drag him in the mud

Waving and ranting in wild derision

The one-eyed leader not to be outdone

Road to victory not easy with good reasons

The duel on the cards due to be a long one

MMT's Sunday's Whirligig #126
Gayle's at d'Verse's OLN #202

beginnings of precious life

                                                                                      Artist: Paul Klee

Image: Spiralling Energy Emerging (here)

rising up softly

eternal light emerging

push of energy

beginnings of precious life

Providence’s power intact

Chev's at Carpe Diem #1243

 - in-the-beginning
Sumana's at PU's Midweek Motif - nature

Who were there to fight on their behalf

                                                                                         Attribution: Robert Stansfield
Image: Refugee camp for Displaced Persons (here)

12 given words:

left evil hood right sad torches march 

stability statues facts orange lies

Surreptitiously left abandoned
Aftermath of disagreements and clashes
of warlords and mercenaries
whose evil intentions were masked under a hood
Right under the very eyes of authorities

Sad sight seemingly as though torches

were run all over their meager huts

They were made to march aimlessly
Away from the stability of their homes

They remained statues-like in camps

How they suffered alone

Where facts were jumbled with fiction

Regarded as bothersome 

Who were there to fight on their behalf

They having shouted themselves hoarse
were orange with rage
While the world stood by

Waiting and waiting

What lies ahead no one knows
and no one cares

Brenda's Sunday's Whirl Wordle #313
Mary's at PU's Poetry Pantry #367

uncomplicated things present lots of opportunities

                                                                                                        Author: NASA
Image: Very Unlike Uncomplicated things (here)

uncomplicated things present lots of opportunities
one allowed a free way not restricted by priorities
take a plunge do your own thing and see what gives
just take a respite with nothing specific to achieve

it is necessary to lay back once a while to reflect
creates a non-taxing situation allowing one to relax
dividends forthcoming to a fertile mind quite easily
if it can be broken up into simple terms of A-B-C

beware though not to be too luxuriously anticipating
expect a damper to the leisurely pace when reality sets in

Kerry's at Real Toad's  -  micro poetry 
uncomplicated things

Happy Birthday Sara Ayesha!

                                      
Image:1 Setting up the Birthday
Goodies from the Chef's Galley

Image:2 There you are! I've Turned 10, hooray!

Image:3 Norman took time off to
sketch as he normally does

Image:5 Norman's 'The Defenders" in just a jiffy!

“And I think to myself what a wonderful world.”  ~ Louis Armstrong

And I think to myself 
what a wonderful world
Now that my dear self
is seen to transcend the divide
From the innocence
of a baby to a young lady
Where age is just a number
but more than that
A double digit
Can you imagine that?
Mum says it comes too fast
But I thought it was dragging its feet!
Achieved in all of its wisdom
Yes, I've now turned 10

Biologically there are changes
I am all prepared
I have to!
It's so inspiring
Have to keep on dancing
into my teens!

Next, a Driving Licence!

Susie's at Real Toad's
-  bits-of-inspiration-keep-dancing
Mish's at d'Verse's -  Poetics (apologies,
too late in posting this!)

looking lost pressing for a respite

                                                                                                          Author: Epop

Image: Gulping on the Bait! (here)

11 of 12 given words:
malformed torn left embed look 
press feign natural gait gritty
dead-reckoning (a process of calculating one’s current
position by using a previously determined position)

malformed in body and mind
dead-reckoning malfunctioned
torn to pieces all in a bind
left embedded in utter confusion

looking lost pressing for a respite
feigned fully alert pushing for a bid
his natural talent took control despite
a gait a model was proud to exhibit

a gritty soul no less likely to endure
gulping on the bait even without a lure

MLMM's Wordle #168

Be aware of the clue-bearing Magi signs

                                                                                             Author: Begumrubina0786
Image: Present Day Astrologer (here)

“Why does the mind compose this 
music well before the words occur?”  ~  Jim Harrison

Is there an urgency to unravel the plot
Or perhaps to be prepared in case it gets hot
The mind moves fast in the blink of an eye
Waiting for the words to form at the lay-by

Be aware of the clue-bearing Magi signs
Sneaking in to tickle the inquisitive minds
Grab at its throat to ward off the blows
Then triumphantly walk away in the shadows

To duly acknowledge why the mind works
earlier before the words blurt out their quirks

Magi: an astrologer, sorcerer, 
or magician of ancient times

Jilly's 28-day Prompts Day28 -  the-magi
Mary's at PU's Poetry Pantry #366

Flutter in the wet

                                                                                           Author:[Duncan]
Image: Sharing an Umbrella (here)

“The river can’t heal everything”  ~ Jim Harrison

Cinquain - a five-line poetic form from Adelaide
Crapsey comprising 2 syllables in the first line, 4
in the second, 6 in the third,8 in the fourth,
and 2 in the fifth.

Young hearts
Flutter in the
wet but so forgiving
Never a dull moment learning
the ropes

Better
believe in it
Water a survival
factor, yes, but not to expect
wonders

Jilly's Day 27 – Cinquain for My Love

Heavenly in the heavens

                                                                                     Attribution: ESO/A. Fitzsimmons
Image: Admiring Starry Nights Alone (here)

“On some clear nights in the country, the stars can exhaust us”  ~ Jim Harrison

Emotions enhanced
Memories took center-stage
Longings inwardly

Expanse of twinkles
Heavenly in the heavens
But warm nights turn cold

Jilly's Day 26 – Haiku ~ longing for stealth

An array of classics

                                                                                                Artist: Leonardo da Vinci
Image: The Head of Leda (c. 1505 - 1507) (here)

12 given words from "Brown Penny" by W B Yeats:
young brown stars loops, hair thinking
shadows, wise begin enough crooked penny

A glimpse into history
An array of classics
Of a likely young beauty
Round brown eyes frolic

Like current stars of fame
Loops in the hair
Entangled hearts gain
In picking out a dare

Thinking of shadows of success
Wisely to begin early in life
Enough to give access
To crooked agents who thrive

On those unsuspecting lasses
Handing out pennies around
Rather than what they are worth
Measured in diamonds

MMT's Sunday's Whirligig #124
Grace's at d'Verse's OLN # 201

Be more specific to allay suspicions

                                                                                              Attribution: Sam Droege
Image: Little tiny Sweat Bees (here)

Rivulets of sweat trailing slowly down
Facials moments ago now some big groans
Parking-lot heat-wave
Triggered stifled rage
Shady spots none but open to loud moans

Shades of impression written on her face
Not quite embarrassed she was in a daze
He was taking liberties
Her anxieties not appeased
Chances compromised with such forays

Shades of grey not quite apparent
Be more specific to allay suspicions
Let them be aware
Being seen as fair
To maintain credibility of positions

Lillian at d'Verse's  -  seeking some shades
Jilly's  -  war in a parking lot

A Host par Excellence

                                                                                       Attribution:  Stephen P. Weaver
Image: The Perfect Host (here)

the 11 of 12 given words:
finery hidden gain reactive 
puissant (powerful, mighty, potent)
feelings layers figment naughty imitation
gnossienne (n. a moment of awareness that someone you’ve known
for years still has a private and mysterious inner life)

Colorful finery formal attire
Nothing hidden everything to gain
Reactive to puissant feelings to aspire
To myriads of layers of fame

Without any figment of imagination
Nor naughty imitations of responsibility
There may be reflections of a gnossienne
Contending to exhibit the ability

Drawing on all of his experiences
Extending likes of a nobility
A host par excellence, preeminent
As expected of one with dignity

Marian's at Real Toad's - the tuesday platform
Jilly's Day 23 - Host

the inner self not insisting to be seen

                                                                                       Artist: Pedro Lira  (1845–1912)

Image: Frustrations and Boredom (here)

the 12 given words:

burst chains color surface simmered 

throat matter won label mixed nut punch

the inner self not insisting

to be seen or heard but may
burst into view unwittingly
to give itself away in chains
of color which on the surface
appeared innocent enough

Rage simmered lurking within 

smirking waiting to unleash

its ugly head on the vulnerable
to seize it by the throat in a
matter of seconds

By itself having won a label 

of a mixed nut throwing a wild

punch on all fronts all because

of the frustrations emanating

from a writer's block

Brenda's Sunday Whirl's
Wordle #311
Mary's at PU's Poetry Pantry #365

Why were adults not talking?

                                                                                            Artist : Erte
Image:  Doves with Aphrodite
-  the ancient Greek goddess of
love and beauty   (here)

Stale bread staring back
Brackish water in a half broken cup
The best on offer
All his worldly possessions
and he was hungry

Child with a blank look
Why were adults not talking?

Much maligned
never given a chance
though opportunities recurred

An olive branch
Doves kept appearing

The absence of political will
but why?
(55 words)

Kerry's at Real Toad's  -  flash 55

Forgotten better days - A Bop

                                                                    Attribution: ŇÄĵŵÅ Ă. Мǻŗǻƒįę from KUWAIT
Image: Hot Cup of Coffee (here)

Smoke gathers round the rim of my coffee cup
remnants of the skirmish in my untouched bowl of cereal
your suitcase sits by the door, the new leather one
not the weary worn green canvas with tags from our trip
to Paris last summer
leaving me with a million
Forgotten better days and a badly written play

Blurred words seep through the wall
you on the phone with some unknown
Being aware of the intrusion where walls have ears
A scary bit rearing its ugly head nonchalantly
You ought to be in firm control you decide
You hang up the line to go on a hunting spree
Gathering dark rain clouds above a tell-tale sign
Stifle the distraction to nip it in the bud
Forgotten better days and a badly written play

You catch it by the throat to hold it tight
No way it is easy for it to take flight
Stultify the attempt by drowning its efforts
To tickle the memories of the good old days
and review the play to fluff the mistake
To triumphantly walk a victory lap with pride
Forgotten better days and a badly written play

Note:1 The given lines in italics
Note: 2 This is a Bop comprising 3 stanzas with 6 lines, 8 lines,
and 6 lines, with a refrain line repeated after each stanza. Given
are the refrain line “Forgotten better days and a badly written play”
and the first two lines of stanza two.
The development of the poem is to present a problem in stanza #1,
expand or explore it in stanza #2, and then either resolve or reveal
a failed attempt as resolution in the last stanza.

Note3 Could not post this for Day 15
Jilly's Day 15 – Bathing in Art
(eccentricity clouds the artist's creation - Saturday July 29) (here)

Jilly's Half-Poem
- forgotten-better-days-august-challenge

Peaceful and mysterious

                                                                            Attribution: Joan Fullerton
Image: Peaceful encounter (here)

Autumn days
Lakeside camouflage
Undisturbed

Sunglasses adorned
Gliding in calm waters
Up periscope
Quietly set and mysterious
Paradise was knocked senseless

Chev's at Carpe Diem #1231 - Serenity
(Mystical Threshold by intuitive artist Joan Fullerton)

its days were numbered

                                                                                          Attribution: R Loy
Image: Dinosaurs in throes of love (here) 

mooching (to borrow without intending to return)
smooch (to kiss)

1. baby dinosaur
then lost in the wilderness
its days were numbered

2. mooching for love
just a little smooch
beating the odds

Note: #1.Is a traditional 5-7-5 haiku 
while #2 as suggested by Chev is to 
be a bit of a progressive, in this case 
a 4-5-4 haiku

Chev's at Carpe Diem  - #1230 glass sculpture