Catching Up in the Garden

I have missed several challenges. I am trying to play catch up. The first was to write a poem about flowers, without using cliches. When I think of flowers, I think of the obvious: sweet, perfume, their beauty and how they offer lingering hope.  There were two challenge at the Imaginary Garden I wanted to try. I'm late, yes I had a very important date, but it is now time to catch up ;D.

Stars will blossom in the darkness, Violets bloom beneath the snow.”  

                                                                                                                 ~Julia C.R. Dorr
                                                                                                       

Snow’s pledge is fragile

eyes of gold nodding in day’s ease

violet sunset reflects a symphony of verdant hope

a pledge of eternal promise

ushered in by a clay colored robin’s first solo

This photos is one of many in my Etsy store; I hope to list more items soon.



We also were asked to write a tanaga,  a short poem originating from the Philippines. It is similar in nature to the Japanese short forms of haiku or tanka.     


The form goes like this:

XXXXXXA
XXXXXXA
XXXXXXB
XXXXXXB

All lines  have 7 syllables, 4 lines first 2 rhyme and last 2 rhyme.
Here is my take on the Tanaga:

 

Grayfulness swirls in a bone china cup

Citrus charm, from a Lord drink up

Black tea’s magic steeped oil 

Bergamot grows as one toils

I checked the syllable count here.

I remember the first time I tasted Earl Grey tea, yuck!  I wondered why any one would think swamp water tasted good.   Later, my friend Rikkie, she is from Japan, offered me some iced tea made with Earl Grey tea.  I liked her version.  I remember reading how the herb, Bergamot had a citrus like taste and is a calming herb. I bought another brand and liked it. I now love Earl Grey tea~

Poets United prompt  #81 this week is Good-byes. There are so many ways to spin this. I have said, good-bye, so many times. Being in a military family makes for an unique lifestyle.  Sometimes I have been ready to say good-bye and move on(Alaska and all that snow) and other times struggled with it.

I chose to write about my husband being away at sea. Our only constant was counting days down to his arrival back on shore.  I remember how amazed he was at seeing everything so green, when he drove home in April. It reminded me of a song my Dad use to play on the guitar, "The Green, green grass of Home".  My husband's view had been steel gray, endless blue skies, clouds, and the sea.  They pull in to port a few times, but we all know, "there is no place like home".

Hinged wagon wheel

set in earth’s dust

Spokes strong, stable

waiting against the shimmering rose

she waits in the moonlight

Center, echoes my heart

Empty vessel wide open like a forgotten window

Holding the heavens

Waiting for lightening to return

hum of electricity awakens me

ailment’s cure will arrive

once calendar turns

date circled in red

waves of tears

part heaven n’ hell

homecoming

feet on heart’s green path

 moral compass

remains constant

I know my poem is about both good-bye and hello.  He hasn't gone out to sea in awhile. Now, he flies to the west coast for the Navy, still saying good-bye~