Bittersweet

Bittersweet

Life moves forward
curses and blessings
not always in balance

I am sad today
think of the state of things
avoid thinking deeply
for self preservation

so

I read books
go to movies
keep my mind off
the state of things

life moves forward
curses and blessings

granddaughter turns 10
Thanksgiving with family
walk the ice age trail
Amazon Prime movies
cuddle with dogs

but yet

I follow twitter feed
am embarrassed for this country
feel fear
hopeless and helpless

life is bittersweet with
the state of things.

For Poets United Midweek Motif....Susan's theme "Bittersweet."

Contemplation (a haibun)

Contemplation (a haibun)

The ducks swim on the pond in autumn the same way they swam all summer.   They take no heed of yesterday or tomorrow.  If they find food, all is well.  They will fly south soon.  Their journey will be long and hard, but they do not worry.  Their life is today, only today. Tomorrow will bring what it will.

I think about future as if I have unlimited years ahead.  I think life will remain as it is today for years to come.  I will always be with people I love. Illness and death and sadness will not touch me. I will see my grandchildren grow up, go to college, begin a career, have lives of their own. But if I am realistic I realize this may not be true.  Tomorrow will bring what it will.

Life moves as it does

I hope for a long time to come

but life is in the now.

This is a haibun I wrote for Poets United Poetry Pantry.  We took a walk around a small pond today.  I never saw so many ducks in one place before.  I know they will fly south soon.  It got me thinking about life -- today and tomorrow.  

My granddaughter and grandson.  Today is
my granddaughter's 10th birthday.  My
grandson is 14 years old.

A Turkey Tale

A Turkey Tale

This time of year I think
it would be nice to read
about the Thanksgiving turkey
who escaped certain death
and became an aristocrat
who  began his own kingdom
where turkeys were the nobles
and men had to hide or run
to escape the sharp blade
wielded by the executioner
turning the tables so to speak

or should I say so to cluck!


Just a little playfulness. And happy Thanksgiving to all who are celebrating this week;
and may each of you escape the blade.  Smiles.  This is a repeat from 2014, but I read it again today....and I like its sentiments!!  For Poetry Pantry.

Meteor Shower

Meteor Shower

I have never seen a meteor shower
I think it would be magical to behold
but then again there are many things
I haven't seen in this world.

and some of the things I have seen,
not that I've witnessed them first hand,
I wish I had not....let's say these are
very difficult days for this world.

I do wish I would see a meteor shower
I think it would be magical to behold
I would like to be able to dream again
perhaps I just need to look up.

Written for Midweek Motif - "Meteor Showers."

At Flanders Field

At Flanders Field

I'm here but no one knows my name
God knows my life was not in vain
I died alone when evil held sway
I'll rest unnamed til Judgment Day.

I came with dreams to help the cause
but found the enemy would not pause
we forged ahead, made little gain
the prayers we prayed were all in vain.

I never thought it would be like this
I wanted to make a difference
but there was no relief from my nightmare
as screams of my comrades filled the air.

The smell of death was all around
trenches were wet, rats did abound
I realized early I may not survive
it was foolish to hope help would arrive.

There was no relief from lice or rain
I writhed in agony from mustard gas pain
And now I rest beneath foreign ground
my identity disk was never found.

I wrote this in 2014 after having visited Flanders Field Military Cemetery in Belgium.  It is the smallest American military cemetery.  411 American servicemen are buried or commemorated there.  Many of them fell at Spitaals, Bosschen, an action of the Ypres-Lys Campaign by the 91st Infantry Division in the closing days of World War I.  The photos above are mine.  

I am sharing it once again today in honor of Veterans' Day / Armistice Day.  World War I / The Great War was supposed to be the "war to end all wars."  Sadly, it was not.

Submitted to Poets United Poetry Pantry.

Micropoetry

Micropoetry

               I.

I wonder what they wait for
the spineless so speechless
as candles burn short
soon the world will be dark.

             II.

I hear boots marching
louder ever louder
was it only yesterday
we could dream?

            III.

The children play outside
such innocent bliss with hope
as a dragon breathes fire
just outside the gate.


Micro-poetry in the "naani" form for Poetry Pantry.

In Sumana's post for Poetry Pantry, she shared micropoetry written in the "naani" form.  This is what inspired me.  According to Sumana, a "naani" is a four-line poem containing 20 - 25 syllables.  For more information about this form, please visit Sumana's poem:  here.

Saints

Saints

We will look back
at some later time
as we read names of saints
yet undetermined

they will be recorded
in future history books

but for now saints wait
for the courage to rise
and do what they can
to save a nation's soul

we are not there yet
we are not yet there
for now they wait
when will they rise?

when will they rise?


For Midweek Motif theme - Saints