Emotional insight into his frame of mind

                                                                                   Author Martin Falbisoner  (1978–)
Image: It is Beginning to Feel
Insurmountable (here)

Emotional insight into his frame of mind
Revealed a tendency to court disaster
Insisting to run the gauntlet out in the open
To rival the virus itself of a silent killer

Felt safe in numbers he sought to secure
A  part in the crowd he sought to  join in
Out on the highway wages of sin to endure
'Stay at home' advice gone to the winds

To realize at a later date of the ingratitude
A statistics added to the growing number
The world had not seen such magnitude
Where would it all end we frightfully wonder

Grace at d'Verse's OLN #262

never contending to be devoid of sounds

                                                                                             Author Philippe Alès
Image: A Singing Bird  (here)

the 10 of 12 given words:
top below hill station smoke-drenched
worn store bars polished stand

top of the table in line with a great speech
below down the hill gathered with the rest
to later run along the length of the beach

to bask in the sun out rightly set in a way
never contending to be devoid of sounds
staying put in the station sited at the bay

in smoke-drenched clothes without a word
worn in dire consequence with bated breath
not wanting to scare the wits that of a bird

stored in bars to rally around songs to be sung
with polished sounds softly from their lips
a stand-off to unruly blabber from their tongue

MMT's Sunday Whirligig #258
Laura's at d'Verse's Poetics: - three 
from the Welsh speaking sea

I could draw the sunlight to leverage my good intentions

                                                                                  Author: Rakicevic Nenad

Image: Patience is the Byword  (here)

the 10 of 12 given words:
intensity soft tongue 1980 
hypethral (adj. wholly or partly open to the sky,
especially of a classical building; having no roof)
realized shoulder draw sunlight leverage 

I don’t know why I was surprised every time love started or ended especially when
I was the one at the receiving end.

I checked my intensity of responses. Its gluttony overwhelmed my soft intentions.
My tongue was in its best of behavior. Wagging yes, but too unruly perhaps. Even
way back in 1980, younger in experience there hardly was any laughter

Somehow like a hypethral structure I was exposed. The malevolence of judgement
against my nature preceded my helpful spirits that I always had to apologize.

Invariably that would be the time I realized I needed a shoulder to cry on. A few
failures brought the penitence to the fore and enhanced my self-restraint into full gear.
Patience was the by-word coupled with some flattery.It worked as I could draw the
sunlight to leverage my good intentions to score a number of successes
(144 words)

Merril's at d'Verse  - Prosery - surprised or not
MLMM's Wordle #181-2
Nekneeraj's at MLMM's Photo Challence #307

a scramble to stock up

                                                                                                Courtesy of Sunday Muse
Image:  A Slice of Goodness (here)

a quarter sliced off
is not good enough a protection
used to be an apple a day
to keep the doctor away
not any more that holds sway
now that many doctors
have all gone bananas!

yes, bananas!
vitamin B6 laden
to boost the immune system

a scramble to stock up
the answer to the corona virus
in the absence of a potent serum
bananas to exert confidence
face masks not enough protection

mindful of a new-found insistence
a banana a day
to keep the pesky corona virus away

Fireblossom's at Sunday Muse #99

that faraway look

                                                                                                 Author Charles J Sharp
Image: To reflect on moments (here)

the 11 of 12 given words:
faraway important safe sleep
chardonnay (a type of white wine)
drink candlelight fine water 
rescue someone

that faraway look
not to deny the elements
important not to overlook
but to reflect on moments

on safe driving
deprived of sleep unwittingly
nor to have a chardonnay drink
preceding a journey

candlelight dinner is fine
in courtship or as seniors prefer
ideally the way to dine
even downed with plain water

not having to rescue someone
on the way home after a dine
in a mishap unwisely undone
by one too many at dinner time

Process Note: The list is provided by MMT as a prompt
Hank developed a poem based on them but with no
additional list to enhance the number of words
Does it count?

MMT's Sunday's Whirligig #257
Bjorn's at d'Verse MTB  -  listen to lists

having tried hard but failed tearfully

                                                                                                    Artist: Robin Isely
Image: Failed umpteen times to project
a true Mona Lisa smile (here)

so captivating to many for centuries
the fascination of a kind so sustained
extending it to the male species
the enigmatic smile so proclaimed

yearnings for all the pleasures to find
what could be so specific to accentuate
a hold on the natural inquisitive mind
that a Mona Lisa wannabe could equate

all the thoughts of times erstwhile
such was the magic of da Vinci
that one succumbed just to a smile
to showcase a mortal's sensuality

driven many to tears failing to emulate
wanting to stamp its mysterious simplicity
instead dubbed a sly and remote duplicate
having tried hard but failed tearfully

Carrie's Sunday Muse #98

sentiments expressed in light terms

                                                                   Anon, reproduction by Palauenc05
Image: Portrait of Paul Trappen,
the world's strongest man (c. 1915)  (here)

sentiments expressed in light terms

sought to share his happiness and laughter

his good upbringing evidently an attraction

sentiments expressed in light terms

invoked a buoyant self not easily learnt

a personality commanding respect with such wonder

sentiments expressed in light terms

sought to share his happiness and laughter

Frank's at d'Verse's MTB - almost a triolet

abundantly misty cloudy all in awe

 

                                                                                                           Author: Colin

Image: Peeled and Unfriendly to the Eyes (here)

is it clearing the cobwebs of time
abundantly misty cloudy all in awe
what is it that bothers the mind
best to get rid of them out the door

peeling them off the surface painstakingly
as onions do tell us to patiently care
(44 words)

Mish's at d'Verse   - quadrille #98 nothing more

I will give it a pass!

                                                                                                   Author:Sarolta Ban
Image:She stood her Ground (here)

the 11 of 12 given words:
child fine line lace green design 
relish bite chase mine  trace

now, what have we here?
she is no more a child
nor is there the familiar red hood
she looks to be too sophisticated
dressed in a fine line of clothing
lace with coverings of green
not red like before

complicated designs whet my appetite
it offers a challenge
for it reveals a highly strung
and a clever sort of person
unlike the innocent little girl
in the simple Riding Hood

she appears too confident though
I relish a bite and here
I can do it even without a chase

a pretty head is an attraction
but not a quick mind
a polished and intelligent
woman is unpalatable
it may not be a clean job

mine is more of a quick one
no arguments no quarrels
and ends without a trace

not likely with this lady
she'll struggle and shout
it'll be a din
for she'll make a scene

I'll be a gentleman
she is a lucky lady
I will give it a pass!

Carrie's Sunday Muse #96
Brenda's Sunday's Whirl Wordle #444

to turn a key on an event

                                                                                                   Author Daniel Fehr

Image: Nursing the Loneliness (here)

the 11 of 12 given words: 
feel for move left limit turn 
blood side lost air ease

a feel for a move
left on the outer limits
to turn a key on an event 
blood siblings separated
for a long while

but through sheer luck
they found themselves
sitting next to each other
side by side on a day to remember

very much unplanned
but good fortune played a hand
lost and flabbergasted
at an unlikely encounter
but there was an air of relief

they felt the ease in their favor                                           
divine intervention always forthcoming
when prompted with good intentions

Brenda's Sunday Whirl Wordle #443
Nekneeraj's at MLMM's Photo Challenge #303
Lillian's at d'Verse's OLN - from San Diego

a new DSLR daring for a challenge

                                                                          Author: Unknown (fair use)
Image: Using a DSLR camera near white smoke  (here)

enthusiast called upon for a tryout
a new DSLR daring for a challenge
spectacular surroundings sought
though used to capture conflagration

insisting on less of shock explosions
interspersed with a soft background
what better than billowing sections
snatched on grounds of innocence

rising white smoke on moving platform
made for slow belly dancing swirls
wrought with unending wild forms
still a picture of sexy twists and twirls

creations amidst changing blue lights
smoke screens pushed by a slight draft
reminiscent of skies with clouds in flight
migrating birds in formation flying pass

a chosen picture of poetry in motion

Fireblossom's's Sunday Muse #95
Smoke Background images

We went camping a long time ago...

                                                                                   Author Evan-Amos
Image:  A Big Mac - Very Unlike Ours  (here)

We went camping a long time ago
stocked with lots of raw and  tinned stuff
but none which we discovered
later had cooking skills
that prompted me to try my hand
seeing many male chefs who made good
and it seemed easy enough
but not so when the burger meat was crusted dark,
hard as a rock very unlike a real McDonnell's
that we civilized teens had to improvise
by soaking them then later topping them
with a generous mixture of ketchup
honey even vinegar
to gobble at them with eyes closed
pretending them to be a real Big Mac
after having burnt all that we brought along
after some two hours of cooking tryouts

Amaya at d'Verse's MTB  - the death sentence

Winter Yellow

                                                                                            Attribution: Archive Team
Image:  Winter yellow   (here)

winter chrysanthemum,
wearing nothing
but its own light                              Mizuhara Shūōshi

not too much in a hurry
to flaunt its sweet memories            Hank

Chevrefeuille's Carpe Diem  - tan renga

it works the opposite way when one tries too hard

                                                                                                    Author Isiwal
Image: She kept on Trying (here)

paradoxically it works the opposite
way when one tries too hard
to fill the gap

but as a natural reaction
it works itself to maintain
a semblance of balance

a strange phenomena that pulls back
to ensure matters may not be
beyond damage control
(44 words)

De Jackson's at d'Verse's  -
Quadrille #97 – filling the page

showered her with all loving care

                            Attribution: Pinterest

Image: Happiness on finding a partner (here)

10 of 12 given words:
demons breath murmurs scored 
shower fire future sigh smirk churn

the demons in him with bated breath
invoked the urging of the savage breast
no more murmurs but reality was supreme
scored a future partner what a scream

showered her with all loving care
all fired up to create a lineage of polar bears
with a sigh and a smirk to the eavesdropping moon
determined to churn out youngsters ever so soon

the cold North now blended with all warmth
with love in the air that could well happen

Brenda's Sunday Whirl Wordle #442
Carrie's Sunday Muse #94

Of happenings beyond reason

                                                                                                Author:Lara Zankoul
Image: A nightmare in daylight (here)

the 10 of 12 given words
arm sign rope cringe gawk  
mind mist chopped form across

What could have happened
Arms holding on tight at the window
Forces beyond comprehension
Being airborne and being pulled up
With no sign of a rope from above
One would cringe if a supernatural
power was involved
Of happenings beyond reason

A rage conniving
against the human kind
Behind closed doors
No one to gawk at the phenomena
But the human mind trudged through the mist
It chopped at imagined foes
of whatever form across the divide
It came and went but was still intact

Perhaps just the end of an era
of peace and quiet
So they rationalized, unperturbed
Being airborne seemed all right
It was not over yet!

Nekneeraj at MLMM's Photo Challenge #301

In all of its mysterious intentions insisting

                                                                            Attribution: Ben Heine Art Photography
Image: Impending Danger Appeared to be (here)

Strangely enough a key was offered to me
In all of its mysterious intentions insisting
Searched the heavens for what it meant to be
No clues nothing untoward and found wanting

Puffed up emotions filled her belly
To register a rationale and tone down the impact
Caught on the wrong foot a rebuff to her ability
So unsettling to her ego for a fact

In all goodness any intention to accept?
Not on her life it further enhanced her anger
Restrained of the pent-up feelings that she felt
But an honorable sidestep to avert untold danger

Carrie's Sunday Muse #93
Magaly's at Poets and Storyteller United
- writer's pantry #5

sweet nothings said softly

                                                                                                  Author:Alan Levine
Image: Calm waters unnerving  (here)

Whispers of sweet nothings softly
Knocked a little a time expecting
How awkward it was to act silly
Pushed in as much of the same trying

Love knew no bounds but still insisting
Mindful of being snubbed as before
Trudged on tired nerves but reckoning
Persisting and pulsating even more

A sly smile was all that he perceived
But just as well there was a response
Open your heart and not to deceive
Desires in calm waters faced resistance

Bjorn's at d'Verse's MTB
music of alliteration assonance and consonance

when come early summer

                                                                                                   Author: Eli Solidum
Image: A Colorful bird Chirping Away (here)

the 11 of 12 given words:
why come summer, lovely birds 
where tap lips vanished lads tonight

why, when come early summer
songs permeate the air so lovely
not the dawn chorus of spring any more
but solitary birds individually
in attracting a mate and making a show
in defense of its chosen territory

where feet are tapped and lips in noisy chatter
inhibitions vanished not unlike lads who boast
of their first success as a tea-dance dazzler
with a showy exhibition of their latest moves

great leg-work with graceful dancing
very much like a boxer in time to the tune
tonight is the night to dream big dreams!
like the wise owl crying for the moon

MMT's The Whirligig #251
Lillian's at d'Verse's Tuesday Poetics - dreams

...and the whole world at its mercy!

                                                                                                  Author: Cypp0847
Image: How Fast it had Spread out (here)
(the situation as of 25th Jan 2020)

A Quadrille:
was not of immediate concern
influenza-like the common cold

then death reared its ugly head
it erupted fast sudden and wild
attempts by the authorities
to play it down apparently
but the numbers quickly picked up
it overwhelmed the efforts
2020 a grave beginning!
(44 words)

A Free Verse:
10 of 12 given words:
lone lounge start check crystal blink
shimmer (shine with a soft, slightly wavering light)
still stone fix

a lone being in the lounge
making a start
to check her crystal ball

within a blink it came on strong
the shine shimmered
in the still of the morning
a discovery and clearly danger ahead
many lying on the streets and pavement
stoned and dying
reports of concern and despair
now in the limelight
it was racing fast from Wuhan
H1N1 and SARS were mild in comparison

and there are no fix-it vaccine
and no known cure at the moment
and the whole world at its mercy!

Apologies: Hank took the liberty
to pen an additional Free Verse to
emphasize the bad situation

Brenda's Sunday Whirl Wordle #440
Kim's at d'Verse - Quadrille #96 wild Monday

The strongest can then claim victory

                                                                                                  Author Charles J Sharp 
Image: The Leader Always on Alert (here)

bravo to the dominant male
the individual is a level above
not just the survival of the fittest
but much more being asked
it allows access to food and harem
the submissive ones eventually
disappear into oblivion

energy and vitality level at their zenith
bravery and sacrifice are not just buzz words
not lackadaisical none as a sloth do exist
and not a fickle attitude
against a contender without pity
but physically pitting strength and brawn
the strongest can then claim victory

the dominant male is still insisting
but now more of a show-off flaunting good looks
wealth or unwittingly their deficiencies
wanting to be in the limelight
revving a red Lamborghini incessantly
in rude efforts of success and foresight

those with nothing to show
are found at street corners combing
their Elvis hairstyle in fake attraction
the 'fighter syndrome' is kept alive though
with mild forms of territorial markings
where trees mailboxes and lampposts
continue to be fair game
'communicating' to other canines
their immediate sexual availability
and of their boundary confines

admittedly male ego can never be bruised!

Magaly's at Poets and Storytellers United pantry #4

a coming of age for a teenager

                                                                                                   Author Okras
Image: Young Adult (here)

a shift to adulthood to a higher order
a kind of a swap
a coming of age for a teenager
the stage is set, for being an adult

the brilliance providing a sparkle
the gloss of luster in a glass
isn't it fun to be with older people
a hard liquor bottle goes empty fast

fat chance! without doubt but a conjecture
hoping to mirror an adult is not just yet
for you this is a special birthday dinner
just turned 21, an adult legally you bet!

mindful though a parent is not to fail
you're still very much a child, my child.
no drinks for you, just Adam's ale
you're wondering why?

have tears in your eyes but do remember
you're showered with love in all sincerity
well, we do need someone sober
to drive us home safely

Linda's at d'Verse OLN #258

How he loved the sounds!

                                                                                         Author: Matt MacGillivray
Image: How they Swooped in!  (here)

How he loved the sounds
Never had he felt so excited
It was all by accident
It only happened
barely a week ago
Now he is here
Practically every waking hour
Sometimes three times in a day

They craved for him
The familiar engine sound
Of his old jalopy was enough
They swooped, they shrieked
To readily indicate their welcome

Seagulls have that uncanny
ability to recognize car sounds
And like Pavlov’s canine came
back again knowing
there was bread for the picking

He had profusely thanked
the bread-vendor
One who let it be known
of this secret rendezvous
when he had only desired
for a loaf of bread

Yes, that was barely a week ago
He had not looked back since

Merrildsmith at d'Verse': Poetics: want to know a secret?

Please do not hide your face!

                                                                 Attribution: Araki Photograph Studio

Image: Let's hear it out! (here)

The Rock cries out to us today, You may stand upon me, But do not hide your face. Granted, there has to be a beginning however nebulous the situation, and however complicated the circumstances. You, I and Jane make it three.

It tugs at my conscience. It is not my nature to create disruptions in our life. We have been that long together. That cannot be denied. I hate to say it. It twisted into our life. We've been through many things and lots of memorable episodes. Why can't we act normal, Why can't we be like others. Others seem to have it worked out beautifully. It seems like clock-work fashion. They do stuff just like we do. They have their own jobs, they socialize, but they seemed more organized

Please don't hide your face. I'm talking to you! Your lesbian partner is out!
(144 words)

Nekneeraj's at MLMM's - Photo Challenge #299
Frank's at d'Verse  - Prosery 1/20/20: “The Rock cries out…”

a wolf whistle with a swagger gave it a chill

                                                         Artist :George Wilhelm Wanderer (1804-1863)
Image: If Looks Can Kill (here)

10 of 12 given words:
slim chance wolf swagger chill
cloak flew merry owl sun 

was a slim chance of landing a conquest
a wolf whistle and a swagger gave it a chill
seeing him trudge slowly at his own behest
cloaked in mystery of his own free will

flew into a rage when asked of his motives
but they had just intended it to be merry
one need not be a wise owl to think positive
but just basking in the sun and be happy

Brenda's Sunday Whirl Wordle #439

She often delve into the unknown

                                                                                       Author Pedro Ribeiro Simões                                      Image: In Deep Thoughts (here)

The scroll of the screen continued 
Even after she closed her eyes.
You could detect them therein subdued
Spied elements of mercy gripped in vice

She often delve into the unknown
Dementia afflicted soliloquy but rekindled
Alone at the kitchen table in early morn
Nonchalantly sitting eloquently  puzzled

She wanted out but silently conformed
No use taking on the world in defiance
Better she thought to invoke more patience
So as not to miss the boat in the long run

Community at large was beyond her influence
But goodness in people helped maintain her relevance
Loads of blessings would drop in by the tonnes
As Providence would largely extend the convenience

Frank's at d'Verse's  - soliloquy
Dylan in MLMM's First Line Friday

charged with dark charms of mystery

                                                                                             Artist: John Peter Russell 
Image: Stormy seas (here)

the 11 of 12 given words:
splashed, house, moved, moments, harm 
dark, down, pleasure, cups, tea, aloud,

came on suddenly splashed on the rafters
could well imagine that height of a big wave
the house shook moved but then of no bother
but such moments struck of situations unsafe

a random pick of nature's choice of entry
laid bare to harm's way pending destruction
but charged with dark charms of mystery
deep down in bewildering shock of confusion

could it be the pleasure of cups of tea
to sink to levels of debilitating realization
where shouting aloud in a sense of urgency
anticipating a demise in watery acquiesce

resolute of his situation outwardly dazed
with strains of music that roared of oceans
He was soon borne away by the waves
and lost in darkness and distance  -  Frankenstein, Mary Shelley

MMT's Sunday's Whirligig  #249
Mish's at d'Verse, Poetics  - last lines

Reflecting on good fortune and walking on air

                                                                           Author :Stanislav Beloglazov
Image: Young and Lively (here)

The  rhyming words given:
air fair pair square bare flair  

Reflecting on good fortune and walking on air
When life was of problematic indications pulsating
Looking to the night sky at stars bidding to be fair
A tussle to recollect images of a pretty plaything

Like imaginations with mutual feelings of a pair
Boy and girl whispering sweet nothings manifold
Insisting on a sacrifice towards a future as a dare
Warm memories nostalgic in part but put on hold

Mindful of pegs in round holes not a square
Careful not to upset the blessed combination
That's the way to a fabric woven without a tear
Gingerly squaring off the common irritations

The winter of their life together laid bare
Meant for each other a relationship so wonderful
What kept alive little anecdotes of blissful flair
Two hearts locked in place exquisitely beautiful

weejars at MLMM's -  Saturday Mix – Rhyme Time
Magaly's at PSU #2  - storms and stories

why so careless as to leave it here alone

                                                                                   Attribution: WallpaperFlare.com

Image: Abandoned in the Open  (here)

10 of 12 given words:

careless matters egg hope family
chart takers stay pie flat  

why so careless as to leave it here alone
were matters so bad to egg them on to flee
to hope that someone would stop to take it home
to provide it with a family?

perhaps to let it chart out ways to survive
reminiscent of kittens with no takers abandoned
within their tiny paws scavenging to stay alive
faceless and living a life of deprivation

no pie in the sky flat out with with stomachs empty
were the drunks and the homeless in a stupor
in backstreets and back lanes lacking dignity
phenomena of the economic downturn around the corner

Brenda's Sunday Whirl Wordle #437
Nekneeraj's at MLMM's Photo Challenge #297
Grace's at d'Verse OLN #257

darkness bedeviled bright as day

                                                                                               Author Charles J Sharp
Image: Co-existence a rare commodity (here)

the 12 given words:
ring darkness mournful dying, bells 
spire feud peace false hand wild wars

ring of fire
conflagration of red and orange
eruptions bursting into flames
all within the doorsteps
darkness bedeviled bright as day

mournful of the dying
nothing more than collateral damage
nameless lives strewn
left for dead silent
just as the bells
from the highest spire

feuds among nations
embroiled in the pursuit of peace
false hope given a hand
in wild adventures
wars a convenient plaything

MMT's Sunday's Whirligig #247
Magaly's at Poets and Storytellers