Remembering Paradise undisturbed

                                                                                             Author:Basharat Shah

Image:  Dal Lake, Srinagar (here)

Tucked away in the mountains far north. It is exhilarating. Hank was 

there for a week way back. The serenity of undisturbed nature was just 

overwhelming. It brought back fond memories to inspire this.

The Kashmiri landscape is to be seen to appreciate in awe. Rivulets of 

clear streams gushing down the mountainside snow-capped mountains, 

with overhanging clouds over most of them are all around us.

Hiking came in spurts. The taxi would leave us at a spot for the day and we
would be on our way on foot but not for long. There were as many lakes as 
mountains. Getting in and out of boats, for quite some distances and resting
for food in between. We were in Gulmarg and Pahalgam and cruised a fair
bit on the Dal Lake. It was all hiking in paradise with no endings until we were 
back in the house-boats in the evenings

the flowers blue skies 
with gushing streams picturesque 
virtually untouched

I remember thee 
Srinagar again beckons!

yearnings rekindled

Frank's at d'Verse Haibun Monday - take a hike

an essential tool that baffles the unaccustomed

                                                     Author: Quest4shots

Image:  Play of Shadows and Lights (here)

shadow shots, 

a fascination of many aspects of reality
a classic show of contrast very distinctly

of black and white of strict outlines or misty
steals the attention in depiction of photography  

a stake in painting accentuating realism in form

an essential tool that baffles the unaccustomed
shadows and light would give effects of  3-D 
for individuals naturally blessed with sensitivities 

for guidance of artists and those with the ability

it is classic but basic without a doubt, really!

MMTs at  Shadow Shots Sunday

dried up or fast asleep at daybreak

                                                                                              Attribution: MLMM
Image: Wilting Sunflowers (here)

The given words:

asleep, awake 

distant, near

in the distant seas across the oceans

peeking at life's  norm be it sunset

or sunrise much of an open season

to lie awake with awareness intact

nearness of location to set directions

all dried up or fast asleep at daybreak

guesswork is made out as a function

of some form of order to overcome fate

van Gogh is slighted feeling uneased

wilting sunflowers unlike his masterpiece

weejars at MLMM's  -  opposing forces

Chrissa at The Sunday Muse #123

very much hungered for human hands

                              

                                                                                                                           Author: jooleeah_stahkey

Image: Books well  arranged (here)

untouched books crowded his shelves

shiny leather spines and faded first editions, 

meticulously dusted and never read

he was at odds as to the eccentricity of course

questions erupted aggressively on his being

was he the odd man out blessed with knowledge

visibly well-arranged by Library of Congress

rules but very much hungered for human hands

failed miserably on his target setting prowess

tagged to one of his annual resolutions that

kept appearing without fail year by year

bandied about a number of 50 books by December

yet not one to claim success with barely a quarter

set aside with only half of it read as intended

something's ought to give whispered a voice!

Dylan's at MLMM's  - first line Friday

quite a job shadowing the embers

                                                                   Author: Dirk Beyer (GFDL and cc-by-sa-2.5)

Image: A Beauty of a Campfire (here)

the 10 of 12 given words:

bridge grace cinders fingers shadow 

frame sculpted water edge bone

to bridge the gap and grace the occasion

is to cinder and finger the flames gingerly

it is quite a job shadowing the embers 

framing the campfire sculpted into sections

is to water the fuel liberally to edge on the heat

to bone out the unburnt hardwood is a bother

but still, the flames dance merrily all night

to rekindle the fun of the young in yesteryears

MMT's the Whirligig Wordle #281

Michael at MLMM's Tale Weaver #290 - campfire

Bjorn at d'Verse MTB - verbing

a cat's domain a feed to the finish

                                                                             Photo credit: MLMM's #329

Image: This is Cat Country  (here)

the 10 of 12 given words:

feed finish fish follow forge 

flow freeze fringe fiber flirt

no dogs allowed the signage says so
this is a cat's domain a feed to the finish
no fishing here one needs to follow the show

we do it our own way waiting by the shore

fish galore on a good day  

as sacrificial lambs for us to pick and choose

a rich diet of protein sans rice or flour

we sit on grass no rice-fields or wheat-fields  
to forge a flow and freeze on fats and starch
fringe benefits accrue only to us cats
fibers of imagination are closed

just plain nutritious omega-3 rich 

to flirt with any idea of sharing 

with wayside mongrels is nil

this is cat country no two ways about it

Nekneeraj's at MLMM's  - photo challenge #329

Rosemarie at d'Verse Poetics - waiting on wheat

beach bum lazing and loafing

                                                                                                                                           Author:Karan Jain

Image: Boys on the Beach (here)

beach bum lazing and loafing

seeing colours of visitors

beautiful sunsets in evenings

no worry no jitters

no stressful traffic jams

experienced by those with envy

expertise traded often

surfing for money 

surviving with laughter

no deadlines

but not anymore

the pandemic, a disaster

(44 words)

De at d'Verse's Quadrille #110  - bum

stay up as a big-shot

                                                                                       Author Charles J Sharp

Image: Leo the Lion-hearted Big-shot (here)

The rhyming words are: 

spot knot rot pot trot

clot (foolish clumsy person)

all tied up in knots what a spot

must stop the rot boil it in a pot

leave it way hot that's the plot

just pull it taut to bring it to naught

stay up as a big-shot not a targetted buckshot

not to be distraught just stay out

nor overbought overshot or overwrought

stave off the clot face the onslaught

a juggernaut of sort a runaway hotshot

showcase a fox-trot and forget-me-not!

weejars at MLMM's Saturday Mix - rhyme time

to live the life of having someone to love

                          

                                          Author :Senthi Aathavan Senthilverl

Image: Love at its Finest Hour (here)

10 of 12 given words:

takes kitchen porch apple crisp 

live bucket, strips cover turns 

what it takes to brood at the kitchen sink

not at the porch to peel an apple in halves

crisp in all reality of oneness in feelings

to live the life of having someone to love

buckets with certainty of love to accord

given to chance in strips of ribbons at risk

never a dull moment of laughter but bored

why this is so as a cover to easily resist

love is made as such to cushion sacrifices

taking turns to drown sadness for the other

to turn a blind eye to some minor vices

to keep intact ties with a serious endeavour

Linda at d'Verse OLN

MMT's the Whirligig #280

Barren

                                                                                       Author Frank Schulenburg

Image: Yes she is! (here)

Don't you dare mess around with me
I've enough of your kind
Must I police you like a criminal?
Must you make me say it? 
You......criminal!

But..but  
No buts here!
You are either with me or you are not.

I know boss...but..
I'm not your boss, I'm your brother-in-law

You forgot you married my sister?

No, I mean yes...

I am to see to her welfare

Why it takes you so long

Say so, say it right!

We tried everything, many specialists..

And?

Come on, make it fast!

The best there are?

Yes the best!

I'll pummel your face

Yes, we did

You mean ...

Yes......

You mean she is barren?

Line chosen : Jumpy like a Mexican bean  -  Syivia Plath

Note: This is not about a clown pe se but

certainly about 'clowning around'. 

MSJadeLi's at d'Verse's Poetics - clowning around

check and balance not rightfully understood

                                                 Author: Superbass / CC-BY-SA-4.0

Image: Rather confusing! It's Turkish pastry with cream filling (here)

the 12 given words: 

rain sand glass seeds chain send 

spy well think deep stay net

When it is over said and done it was a time and there was never enough of it. 

It is a measure of check and balance not rightfully understood. It works that 

way. Human nature is akin to rain that disappears into the sand unlike one that 

runs when on glass which can still be seen Many would have discovered the 

advantage of seeing the direction of flow rather than wondering how to proceed.

Seeds of confusion often develop into a chain of events that send them running 

on a wild goose chase Spy on an action plan to stay well on the safe side. Think 

deep to stay focussed. A boon to patience net of savings in energy, time, efforts 

and costs

A cluttered mind brings out silly mistakes often laughable when given second 

thoughts. Let them laugh with you than at you!

(144 words)

Brenda's Sunday Whirl Wordle #469

Merril's at d'Verse's Prosey Monday

walking down the aisle to be given away

                                                                  Author: Jewish Historical Society of the Upper Midwest

Image: A Wedding in 1954 (here)

aisle – walkway   
I’ll – contraction of “I will”
isle – island
 
alter – to change
altar – raised centre of worship
 
walking down the aisle to be given away
dad's baby seemingly clinging on for protection
the sadness of losing his little girl has not registered
but the radiance of the moment instead is plainly evident
  
approach to the altar getting nearer with each step
‘I’ll be doing my last duty’ dad whispers quietly
audible to her and nodding agreeably with a smile
such is the drama enacted in both of their hearts
invisible to the guests gathered impatiently waiting
 
no man is an island the groom is just as impatient
a big moment not to be altered mindful what the future holds
he's destined to be head of the household in importance
but he's expected to accept the ultimate and eventual sacrifice
for love giveth as sure as the movement of the sun and tides
of the eventual loss of freedom of his boisterous bachelor days

such is the sacrifice which may seem not fully acknowledged by her
but instead is balanced by the love extended by his lady love

weejar's at MLMM's  Saturday Mix - double take

wriggling in unison

                                                                                        Photo:  Pierre79.

I’m bought and worn, but I ain’t no dupe
I'm still me, my own senses not deserting through 
my fingers, my mind's smiling
 
It is tempting to counter shifts suddenly in thoughts 
but again not blue enough to leave an impact on 
my toes still wriggling in unison with bubbles 
on my feet
 
Must be summer magic playing tricks with my 
ears in line with emerging thoughts deep in my 
belly to mirror a satisfaction
If both my hands are in braids close to my
nose then I know it is time to stop whining
 
Dylan's at MLMM's First Line Friday
Grace at d'Verse's MTB streams of conscious

MMT's The Whirligig #279

salvation within reach per utility

the gardens of hope and possibility

accords mankind a secession to wonder
salvation within reach per utility
lauded  as savior

move forward countless for sharing
given a jolt none too soon
threats impinged hard and glaring
lesson learned deflecting doom
never discarding reasonable pointers
(44 words)

Victoria's at d'Verse - Quadrille - gardens

the elements can be construed as assisting

                                                                                          Author: Damien Casals

Image: There is light in darkness (here)

Our words this week are:  

dark and light 

arrive and depart

the elements can be construed as assisting

leading by the hand in the absence of directions

to persist is to enhance chances of wanting

to rave at openings where opportunities are even

go through the darkness of nights to see the light

that mornings will surely follow with stabs of rays

the realisation of wanting shadows when bright

warmth of coldness intrudes and come into play

to arrive on the sly when hunches are set to depart

a man's presence is more felt when readily absent

pangs of loneliness crying encircling the heart

hugs and kisses lavishly extended to waiting arms

weejars at MLMM's Saturday Mix

 - opposing forces