red napped nobbled berries
plucked from thorns and
regrown canes
fall gently into toweled
coffee cans, string hung
equal portions meted out
for waiting eager mouths
rich cream drizzled
white sugar grains
my spoon holds bliss
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for Day 12. a favorite place, memory, food.
my mind cuts loose from
fettered forms and uptight prompts
needing to fly free
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not to make the note longer than the haiku, but the Day 11 NaPoWriMo prompt made my brain hurt.
another zooming bird
yawping canny xenophobic
dipping wings eager
voyager flying unfettered
gliding the heather
sky in random
joyous quoits kitelike
over lambent ponds
nimble marvel
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for Day 10 of NaPoWriMo 2015: an alphabetic poem using words starting with the 26 letters of the alphabet. instead of going straight through the letters start at the ends and meet in the middle by the finish.
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a calligram (a visual poem)for day 9 of NaPoWriMo 2015.
cabaret’s repeated chant,
is this the root of all things bad?
if craving more, reptilian greed
is celebrated everywhere I turn,
then yes, I have to say it is.
when a day’s reward
for honest work
is not enough to live on
yes, I say!
when few of those
who have the lion’s share
will say I am enough,
I have enough,
and feel compelled to fill
their lives with excess that
the Romans would have loved,
oh yes, I shout.
when children wander
aimless in a wasteland
made of silicon and noise,
lacking book, or brush, or song,
no love of life or hope,
I can only weep, this is the harvest
of that root.
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For Day 7 of NaPoWriMo, prompted for a poem about the dollar.
daylight prompts a kiss,
waking up my foggy
heart and brain
to sunrise clarity of thought
and know an echo cannot
keep me, having heard
and felt full throated love
if only for a time
flypaper’s hold, that ersatz
grace, lacks true regard,
whereas the fearless know
that reins kept loose hold tight
now looking out toward the sun
and craving freedom’s light,
I wave and turn away from here,
whispering goodbye to night
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For day 6 of NaPoWriMo, the prompt being for an Aubade, or lovers’ morning farewell.
goldfinch masks return
red wing songs are heard again
spring’s first robin lands
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NaPoWriMo day 5
halting steps along this path,
roughened slate set into
soft cocooning moss,
lead me out to healing sun,
air charged with anger fading fast,
dancing more with every stone,
why would my heart remain
when peace and light
live somewhere else
and it is time to
place the love we had
upon my sleeve
and let it go,
a badge to honor
early days and honest hopes,
frozen ponds in moonlight,
rich wetland life observed,
owls calling from our pines,
rock duets, slow dances,
sleeping in the curve
of loving arms,
voices raised in song,
poetry discovered.
some will remain,
those roots dug deep
that have become my own,
a life outdoors embraced.
mistrust and blame will not
be my companions,
though sadness and regret are
with me for a time,
I have no expectation that perfection
lies ahead, nor would it be
a welcome thing, but look for
an authentic life,
taken as it comes,
owning my reflection
without flinching,
clear eyed, eager (still),
open to creative joy,
grateful for rich moments
added to the flow
of every day
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for day 4 of NaPoWriMo. the prompt was for a love poem sans cliches, and could be taken in any direction.
the night’s first star
has always drawn my wish,
a bit of time connected
rite passed down to me,
hopes for others only
was the rule.
I learned of stars
eyes looking up
to summer brilliance
thrown across the sky
searching out the simple shape
of seated vanity, of bear,
or clutch of distant sisters.
now, when summer lushness
fades to cold black night,
my champion comes,
a hunter standing winter watch
the brightest stars his prize,
and knowing that he sees
and guards my far flung clan,
I have no need to wish
for more
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for day 2 (a day late) of NaPoWriMo 2015. The prompt was to write about the stars, no hardship there.
Is it ever too late?
To see what matters most,
for light to lift my mood,
to wish for joy
in spring’s caress,
sing without restraint,
twirl beneath white petals
drinking in their smell,
see a brilliant feathered pink
across the morning sky
to feel a lover’s glance
and see our spirits touch,
to know the pure love
of a child and smile,
to feel a dog’s smooth head
beneath my hand and sigh,
not while I breathe
and can remember
to give thanks
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for day 1 of NaPoWriMo 2015, National Poetry Month.
Life With Horace 