Puddle on the Pavement

                                                                             Attribution: Roger McLassus
Image: An Oily Puddle (here)

Things we see or the things we miss seeing

What are those that hold our attention

Perhaps those that  personally affect our being

Or more precisely that we see more often

But there are those staring right in our face

Spied along the pathways at eye level

Still not readily ‘sighted’ and somewhat  displaced

Perhaps not stunningly pretty to be ogled

Only when a puddle is side-stepped on the pavement

Was it realized it being there as an obstacle to avoid

No one to do a Raleigh cape laying event

But reacted as a safety measure lest a slip occurred

An oily puddle can be fascinating to sketch

Needs finesse in separating the bubbly nature

An artist’s brush can depict easily a muddy patch

But not river streams or lake water features

Simple things in life

Have to be seen as a bother

To be realized

Or sorely missed as before

For Claudia's hosting at d'Verse MTB -  things we see

Was he a victim of violence?

                                                                                                  Attribution;  Aleser

Image: Bare Feet of Adult (here)

The Prompts:

3WW  -  blood  lurk cripple  

Red Wolf Poems: To include “I won’t ever come back”

Poetry Jam  -  broken

Dried blood caked his tattered shirt

Barefooted lying on his back

He must have lain there a few hours

Still warm he couldn’t have died that long

Still in one piece and hardly disturbed

Lurking in the dark a coyote

waiting to abuse his remains

Most fortunate it was discovered early

A cursory assessment told investigators

This was not self-inflicted

The injuries were rained from the rear

It looked to be a homicide

Crippled in their thinking

The post-mortem they reasoned should  help

Upon rummaging through his pockets

They found a crumpled letter

It could hardly be read

But what was clear was the last line

It said, “I won’t ever come back”
If he was the writer

He got his wish!

Was this a suicide note or one

innocently written in anger

Was he a victim of violence being

at the wrong place at the wrong time?

A broken man with a broken heart

Or simply an unlucky victim!

Thomg's hosting at 3WW shared with
Irene's at Red Wolf Poems and
Mary's at Poetry Jam

No surprise the ‘zing’ was piercing!

                                                                                   Attribution: John Warwick Brooke

Image: In the Trenches (here)

He crawled nearer watching forlornly

Barely a few hours ago they were reminding each other

They ought to be wary

Entering sniper territory

Meant extra risks and untold danger

It did not come too soon

‘Whoose’ silently did it come

The ‘zing’ barely 5 feet away

His squad buddy was there minutes ago

Leaning over next to him

He was still there but no more breathing

His helmet took the brunt

No surprise the ‘zing’ was piercing

It made it sound so close

The haversack with all his worldly possessions

In shreds like popcorns

His lanyard with the whistle at its end

Was still intact though

Blood still oozing from his temple

He could not look at his buddy

He was used to seeing blood

But when it was from one known to him

it made him nauseous

The medics  arrived finally

They did a leopard crawl for quite a distance

That took time but to no avail

A test of the pulse and the verdict was clear

His buddy was no more

He suddenly felt angry and weary
He felt sorry

He grew up an adult in a war zone

He felt lucky

He felt protected

By the angels above

He was!

For Gabriella's hosting at d'Verse: Poetics  -  war poetry

Polished stones glisten

                                                                              Attribution: Lejon Saarloos

Image: Polished River Stones (here)

Hazy afternoon

Ripples of stream water glides

Polished stones glisten

Workers wormed their way

Crowded highway jammed with cars

Back from the rat race

Extending its reach

A cicada needs only

sing sweet melody

Birds returned to roost

Sky darkened night life begins

Can the city sleep?

For Chev's CARPE DIEM GW #31 'One of a Kind' and
Magaly's hosting at Real Toad's Open Link Monday

A speedy solution was in order

                                                                                    Attribution: Joi Ito

Image: A Police Officer on his Rounds (here)

The given words:

inklings strange epilogue gnarled frivolous speedy

poppies literally audible blue roots thirteen apocalyptic

He had no inkling of what a strange epilogue it was

It gnarled at his conscience thinking how frivolous

A speedy solution was in order though he was furious

How they acquired the poppies plants he was curious

It was literally a bad assessment with objections heard

Not so loud but audible enough to cause real concern

He was blue in the face thinking of all the muck and dirt

He had to go to the roots of the matter after so long

Thirteen officers were implicated and that’s not small

He could anticipate the consequences and was not happy

It all happened in his watch that made him vulnerable

Apocalyptic he had to accept the ultimate responsibility

For Brenda's Sunday Whirl Wordle #184 and
Mary's at Poets United's Poetry Pantry #224

A Homecoming

                                                                                     Attribution: M Bednar

Image: Blue Ridge Parkway Farm (here)

The flight was uneventful and boring

Only fluffs of white clouds by the window

As though one is bedded where angels tread

Softly as babies on a luxurious lullaby

Mind occupied with events days ago

Of an impending Board Meeting he was to chair

More or less duplicating a similar event

Of a decade ago having arrived at the Big Apple

With visions of a being a successful trader

Acting on an e-mail from his elder sister

Hurrying him home to his roots in the country

For she is down from lots of elderly ailments

Wanting him back to see to the family property

Acres of land in the beautiful country-side

But left to the vagaries of weather these past years

Left word he should be back within days

Left everything to his deputy and off he went

He went back exactly the way he came

With lots of questions and anticipations

There he was now standing looking at old Joe’s

A cabin where he spent lots of long hours

Listening to old Joe’s yarn of his days as a farm-hand

On his family ranch tending to his grandad’s  livestock

                                                                               Attribution: M Bednar

Image: Blue Ridge Parkway Farm (here)

The poetry book is still on the table the larder undisturbed

Very unlike a well organized old Joe to leave in such a hurry

The woods behind the cabin where he used to chase rabbits

Laid bird-traps with old Joe’s insistence and skilled expertise

Reflected the same mystery as when he was a kid before

Why everyone left the ranch just a few months after him

Why no word except for a few letters in the beginning

Perhaps his sister should know and he needed to know

There’ll be lots of email to be relayed in days to come

Among the first is to his deputy who is waiting for his return

It’ll be a long wait for he decided to tend to the ranch first

He is not coming back! Not just yet!


For Margaret's hosting at Play it Again #10 at Real Toads and
my feeble attempt at trying to emulate Dylan Thomas the only choice
of the 3 offered that seems like a free verse and near enough.
Shared with Brian's hosting at d'Verse - homecoming

Fatigued through travels

                                                                                                   Attribution: Rama

Image: Metal Beggar's Bowl (here)

Fatigued through travels

Monks came back to rest for lots

of meditation

Food in beggar's bowl

Left-overs for strays but lone

bird chirps wanting some

Karma rewards monk

Good health there for his bidding

The rich begs for same

For Chev's CARPE DIEM #589

perilous journeys in life

                                                                                               Attribution: Geo-Loge
Image: Floods on River Elbe (here)

in a desert land

stones from rivers far away

muttering dark tales                 -  MMT 

sun above bears witness of      -  Hank's

perilous journeys in life

in a desert land

stones from rivers far away

muttering dark tales                 -   MMT

beware when skies open up     -   Hank's

karma rewards the blessed few

in a desert land

stones from rivers far away

muttering dark tales                 -   MMT

inciting snowfalls sadly            -   Hank's

floods scare excuse not to act

For Chev's CARPE DIEM # 55 -  To complete MMT's
5-7-5 'River Stones' haiku with a 7-7 for a Tan Renga

There are demons behind the wheels!

                                                                                                   Attribution: Morio
Image: F1 Racing on Proper Tracks (here)

The given words: fertile defensive needy

If one is to observe on the road
It's a game to some inconsiderate few
The law abiding who follow the rules
Contrary to what is expected
Are the ones most open to risks
The irony of it all

There are demons behind the wheels
Very much taken by the F1 driving mood
Who choose to show their prowess
Whose fertile minds are working overtime
Testing and experimenting with their skills
Nipping into and switching lanes
All at great speed

The danger is extreme provocation
This may invoke a negative reaction
The law abiding may refuse to budge
The tendency is to react in a like manner
of offending those who offended

There is nothing like defensive driving
The demons be left to their quirks
One is not to react but to give way
The demons are the 'needy' who need to learn
They will learn the hard way one day
That is, if they live long enough!

For 3WW #398

Granted they were just neighbors

                                                                                                   Attribution: Tess
Image: Courtesy of Tess' Mag (here)

MM Wordle #31 given words:

murder slope currency dismiss crunch 
lichen invisible neighbors recede enamel 

He cried murder when told of his mother

The slope of his mind gained currency

As they seemed unaware of his sentiments

And he had not dismissed them at all

His mother was the world of his life

He had not detracted from these thoughts

The crunch was the recent black out in the area

She was all alone and none came to her aid

Granted the lichen was thick around the house

How could his mother be invisible to them

Granted they were just neighbors

How could they recede to their private corners

Groping in the dark guided by enamel panels

She managed to make her way out of the house

Whisked to the hospital she made quick recovery

She was lucky some boys found her in the open

She was shivering and blue from the cold

He decided to stay and be directly responsible

He had the task of getting a job in the vicinity

For Tess' Magpie Tales #242
Mindlovemisery's Menagerie Wordle  #31 and
Kerry's hosting at Open Link Mondays at Real Toads

A Grain of Imagination

                                                                                    Artist: Vincent van Gogh

Image: Three Sunflowers (here)

It just takes a little time

Quiet moment of splendor

In some seconds sublime

To lovingly dream in wonder

Far away let it just wander

In likes of heaven’s expanse

Surfing timeless fervor

Akin to free falling sense

Creating pictures captured

Of one’s yearnings anew

Something better enraptured

Even of kaleidoscopic few

Let the imagination run wild

Little grain transforms into silos

A masterpiece easily profiled

Of reputation sans minnows

For Mary's hosting at Poets United's Poetry Pantry #223 and
Kerry's Sunday's Mini Challenge at Real Toads

With childhood friends one shares laughter

                                                                                     Author: Vincenzo Canuccinici
Image: The Death of Caesar (here)

Sunday Whirl words:
crazy shadow childhood laughter stranger
secret diamond shines prisoner steel

“A good friend will always stab you in
the front”  -  Oscar Wilde

What crazy thoughts shadow crazy ideas
With childhood friends one shares laughter
Not a real stranger or someone unknown
But betrays one’s trust in a way blatant

Nothing secretive but a diamond that shines
Sharing what is mine is yours and yours mine
Not a prisoner restricted in all of his dealings
Of steel in character and warmth in feelings

But mindful of the wise words of Oscar Wilde
For friends create trust easily devoid of wiles
Then without warning one gets the full brunt
 “A good friend will always stab you in the front”

For Mindlovemisery's Menagery  - to create
a verse inspired by quotes of Oscar Wilde and
Brenda's Sunday Whirl Wordle #183

Diana ever so sweet!

                                                                           'Diana'  by Hiram Powers
Image: Courtesy of Margaret Bednar (here)

Diana ever so sweet
With a Mona Lisa smile
Certainly a special treat
Fluttering heart awhile

So humanly realistic
Even in marble form
Caught in some mystics
Keeping rightly warm

Margaret's hosting at Real Toads with Poetic marbles

Perspective

                                                                                              Attribution: Florstein
Image: Kuznechny Market (here)

Perspective in art first
path to understanding
Pen or brush in hand with
paper to know basic
points of Depth of Field to
ponder reality
Perfecting the less known

Note: One of the first lessons in art
is to be aware of ' Perspective' which
shows the effects of Depth of Field
to make the sketch realistic

For Vandana's hosting at d'Verse
MTB on the form pleiades

Size had its advantages

                                                                                     Attribution: Algirdas Svid
Image: One of Oldest Oak Tree (here)

Imposing presence
Strong oak stood its grounds letting
little acorns sprout

Largely unhindered
Size had its advantages
Enlarged its enclave

Join them to beat them
Fun music among the leaves
Lively ensemble

Susan's hosting at Poets United's Midweek Motif  -  trees and
Chev's CARPE DIEM #112  -  oak deep in the woods

Providence that determined, we only proposed

                                                                                                Attribution: Jebulon
Image: The 24 hr Clock (here)

3WW the given words:
gifted intense rot

Intense yearnings provided the impetus
In spite of all the restrictions imposed
Targets set pushed his luck regardless
Providence that determined, we only proposed

Gifted in ways of life's expectations
Priorities recognized outwardly accepted
Failure pushed aside and not an option
Chances of success could be predicted

Mindful of the rot many had to contend
Hands-on management the rule of the day
Never to be distracted by over confidence
Blessed be good leadership held sway

For Thomg's hosting at 3WW week #397

Heavens above smiled

                                                                                 Attribution: Alexander Vujadinovic
Image: Cool and peaceful - Isfalls glaciers Sweden (here)

Magical moments
Of evenings shared with loved ones
Heavens above smiled

Eloquence of thoughts
Magic in changing seasons
Memories evoked

With nature's blessings
Man's intrusion cushioned with
softened interludes

For Chev's CARPE DIEM # 583 -  magic fields

Would they unashamedly accept infamy?

                                                                            Artist: John Alunan  -  'Crashing Cranes'
Image: Courtesy of Mindlovemisery (here)

Paper cranes crowding milling around
Floating clouding an antagonized mind
Fair proposition to a disturbed frown?
Rights to peaceful privacy was divine

Accord space to one tortured unfairly
Legacy of noble intentions in the open
How one yearned to bask in rare ecstasy
If only one dared to seek for assistance

Friends were there and ever willing
Would they unashamedly accept infamy
To be seen with those discarded beings
Down and out their unsolicited destiny

For Mindlovemisery's Menagerie
Photo Challenge #30

Trapped with his eloquence

                                                                                          Author: Eddie Green
Image: The Cover of Music Sheet

The given words:
maverick nimble march cadence 
eel turf waxen goad hew vise

Maverick of his own making
Nimble as a young gibbon
From tree to tree swinging
Marching on in confidence

Smooth talker in cadence
Slippery as an eel on turf
Waxen for quick appearance
Goaded for a kill for love

Irresistible to innocents
Who were hewed big time
Into a vise grip unopened
Trapped with his eloquence

Ladies won devoid of a ploy
Deserting their man willingly
Under the spell of a playboy
They succumbed unwittingly

For Mindlovemisery's Menagerie #30 and
Magaly's Open Link Mondays at Real Toads

We used to call it 'self portrait'

                                                                                       Self-Portrait by Vivian Maier
Image: Courtesy of Tess' Mag (here)

Selfie selfie selfie!
Sects sects sects!
sex sex sex!

Show and tell
Anything and everything are game

Everyone wants to have a say
Not enough to be heard
but also to be seen

It used to be 'have gun will travel'
Now it is the other way around

It is go 'travel and have a selfie'
Next minute splash it on FB
It is for the whole world to see!

We used to rightly call it 'self portrait'
Elegantly done with a reflect camera
Not even a modern day compact
With the flash gun at the ready
It was an 'ancient' selfie
Silently done but appreciated gratefully

No one cared and no one bothered
It was to be shown only
to family and friends
Taken with finesse
and proudly passed around

Why a selfie on FB?
One followed by another by the day
To show how one had aged gracefully?

Ok no talking of selfie!
Neither about 'sects' inviting controversy
Nor of sex best discussed privately

Care for a time-out?

For Tess' Magpie Tales #241

of a fat reduction endeavor

                                                                                      Attribution: Joseph Boomhower

Image: Gym Workout (here)

The given words:

brains gimmick hypnotizing liquor chickens flesh

lotion torture uniform machine tease trains

He was the brains behind the

gimmick of hypnotizing the liquor

store operator into making chicken

flesh into a thick lotion as a way

of a fat reduction endeavor

How the chubby and over-weight

freaks had been torturing themselves

through sophisticated weight reducing

machines but being frustrated in

their vain efforts to a uniform body-

builder figure

Just grease their bodies during gym

workouts to tease the fats to burn

the lust and crazed to a trim structure

This would be enough motivation

to push the market 
Not to talk of the manly 
and sweaty aroma of

chicken permeating when

they proudly present their he-man

muscle toned torsos for scrutiny

upon finishing training

Can be a great idea to complement

all the steroid based muscle enhancing

banned drugs that are flooding

the market which may bring early death

Successful business ventures had

been known to have beginnings

from crazy ideas!

Most likely though this chicken
lotion appears way too crazy and 
may not see the light of day!

For Brenda's hosting at Sunday Whirl Wordle 
#182 and  Mary's at Poetry Pantry #222

Kept the flames alight - Shadorma

                                                                Artist:  Van Gogh  - la Courtisane
Image: Courtesy of Bastet's Photo shadorma (here)


A Shadorma:
It’s a 6-line poem of 3/5/3/3/7/5
syllables per lines respectively

Courtesan
Dedication to
their calling
A future
sacrificed, time stood still but
kept the flames alight

For Mindlovemisery's Menagerie

walk across the deep lake waters

                                                                                          Attribution: Heino Ruiso
Image: Deep lake waters (here)

How lucky it was to have finally arrived

A long walk across the deep lake waters

Watched intensely by an elephant in the sky

Not given any quarters holding the diapers

But made good an escape from the moon

Thirst quenched drinking sands of the desert

Skipping over the sun in the still of the night

Observed crocodiles on the stage in a concert

Satisfied with all the snows on the pyramids

But made good an escape from the moon

Trailing behind the tortoise around the bend

A polar bear astride a camel under the sun’s heat

Lions turned vegetarian with gazelles as friends

Never a bother for pizza or any kind of meat

But made good an escape from the moon

Note: Not really sure whom am I kidding!
Hopefully this fits the bill

For Bjorn's hosting at d'Verse Verbal cubism - writing
nonsensical poems

A library is sacred!

                                                                                    Attribution: Gottscho-Schleisner

Image: The Brooklyn Public Library (here)

The given words from:

Red Wolf Poems: stranger mud-streaked

library illuminations October

3WW: arrogant supple crude

Poets United: exploring

Stranger than fiction

A mud-streaked library?

Mistaken illuminations

Seems somewhat funny

Or users who are arrogant

Insisting to be allowed in

Crude way of wanting to learn

Not the usual thing

Cannot be true

Not in October anyway

There’s so much to do

In many different ways

A library is sacred

‘ Net exploring and surfing

Pleasing and quiet

Not just book lending

Through the years

Supple and alert

Young library members

Had benefited

There’s no saying

That libraries are abused

The smart and hardworking

Have put them to good use!

For Irene's hosting at Red Wolf Poems Wordle #28
Thomg's at 3WW #396 and Susan's at Poets United
Midweek motif

threw a challenge in his mind

                                                                                          Attribution: Kenneth Allen
Image: Joggers on the Road  (here)

Feeling satiated having had his evening meal

There he was sitting pretty lounging on his chair

Contemplating life’s excesses affecting his zeal

To just rest and not stress himself silly in his lair

Had not noticed as he had done most evenings

The kitten pushing a rubber ball across the floor

But this time from the corner of his eyes seeing

It being chased and pushed that he missed before

Happenings revolve around him he mused quietly

Lots of fun if he had time to be rightly involved

Joggers outside passing along the road leisurely

If only he was young enough and had the resolve

Setting a target he told himself of his new plans

Being young at heart would be a good option

Fair to himself he threw a challenge in his mind

Emulating the joggers he should be in the open

For Marina's hosting at d'Verse Poetics:
in the corner of your eyes

not to be fooled by my smile

                                                                                       Attribution: Ianare
Image: A Smiling Fighting Machine(here)

No castle needed

Perhaps a moat and not to

be fooled by my smile

Sharp teeth not needed

Strong jaws good enough for vice

grip and you are dead

Ancient specie but

still can jump high to grab at

dead chickens at shows

For Chev's CARPE DIEM # 577 -  castle

should sustain this way but..

                                                            Attribution: Couple Riding Wassily Kandinsky

Image: Courtesy of Georgia's

A shadorma:
it’s a 6-line poem of 3/5/3/3/7/5
syllables per lines respectively

Cuddly in
his arms safe from all
How she wished
forever
it should sustain this way but
alas  -  just a dream

For Bastet's hosting at
Mindlovemisery's Menagerie
with above photo prompt shared
with Mary's at Poetry Pantry # 221

Just croaking all night

                                                                                  Attribution: Chef Sean Christopher

Image: French cuisine - fried frog legs (here)

Just croaking all night

Medley of sweet melody 

Fun in frog lingo

Out of old pond can

jump in but will stick around

rather for the kiss

Nice legs, pond your home?

Yes but rather curious you

are not French are you?

(42 words)
Note: Personifying a potential
prince in second stanza

For Chev's CARPE DIEM Little Creatures #7
Sokan's - reciting frogs and shared with
Mama Zen's hosting at Real Toads - personification
not exceeding 53 words

Braving the rough seas

                                                                                    Artist: Christoffer W Eckersberg
Image: The corvette Najaden in rough seas (here)

Walls of water, waves

lashing the sides of the ship

Braving the rough seas

Hidden sun dark clouds

and stormy seas all vying

to make presence felt

Far from shore, sailors

cowered in safety of bunks

Silent in prayers

For Chev's CARPE DIEM #573  -  rough seas

Not owing anyone for a living

                                                                                            Attribution: Ruta Badina
Image: Steadfastly Straight and Confident (here)

3WW -  the given words: 

barren intense worry
Poetry Jam: 
magic

Barren of ideas and intentions

Not wanting to appear deprived

Invoked an actor’s pretensions

To rightly appear to have arrived

Intense lobbying to gain acceptance

To impress but thick skinned to the core

Standing in line waiting for a response

Not one’s cup of tea to care nor bother

Since not owing anyone for a living

Not expecting handouts not a care

‘What Me Worry’magical of standing

One’s confidence is rightly laid bare

Who is there to make an issue

One’s own strength is a strong factor

Not anyone can knock one blue

Despite the fact one is a good actor

For Thomg's hosting at 3WW and
Sumana's at Poetry Jam -  magic