Q is for QUESTIONING SOULS #AtoZChallenge Poetry

April #AtoZChallenge and #PoetryMonth

 

Three goals I had in mind while writing my collection of linked poetry:

1. To celebrate my appreciation of life

2. To experience the process of writing linked poetry, a form of Japanese renshi

3. To give thanks for and better appreciate a life well-lived.

 

The flowers are a colorful bonus for the #AtoZChallenge

 

***   ***   ***

 

Q is for Questioning Souls and Queen Victoria Century Plant 

 

QUESTIONING SOULS

No! My education

is too lacking.

The words all

come out wrong.

Why would anybody

even care? 

Marathons are

not for weak,

questioning souls

but for

strong minds,

solid knees,

and muscular hearts 

Yes. I can

believe in myself. I can

stop braiding negativity

into disbelief. I can

start spinning confidence

into success. 

***   ***   ***

 

Questioning your worth - whether you do it to yourself or someone else feels it is their duty to do it to you - is non-productive for everyone. Better to believe in yourself and to help others to do the same.

 

M is for MOLDING DESTINY #PoetryMonth

April #AtoZChallenge and #PoetryMonth

 

Three goals I had in mind while writing my collection of linked poetry:

1. To celebrate my appreciation of life

2. To experience the process of writing linked poetry, a form of Japanese renshi

3. To give thanks for and better appreciate a life well-lived.

 

The flowers are a colorful bonus for the #AtoZChallenge

 

***   ***   ***

 

 M is for Molding Destiny and Morning Glory

 

 

Molding Destiny

 

A fallacy,

both the molding

and the destiny

 

The master plan

includes free will,

without restriction

 

No ending

is pre-arranged

by calendar date:

 

Play here

Marry over there

Die on schedule

 

Rather: follow

what your heart

beats in time.

 ***   ***   ***

 

This is my favorite poem in the entire collection. I've given myself such wonderful advice: follow what your heart beats in time.
Live at your own pace. Is that a goal worth setting?

 

 

 

 

J is for JOIE DE VIVRE #PoetryMonth

April #AtoZChallenge and #PoetryMonth

 

Three goals I had in mind while writing my collection of linked poetry:

1. To celebrate my appreciation of life

2. To experience the process of writing linked poetry, a form of Japanese renshi

3. To give thanks for and better appreciate a life well-lived.

 

The flowers are a colorful bonus for the #AtoZChallenge

 

***   ***   ***

 

 J is for Joie de vivre and Jasmine

 

 

 

Facing forward

with expectant wonder,

she counts crystals in each

purple drop

of rain. 

Thunderous silence

fills her mind with lightning,

trapping future visions in

the pulsing beat

of time. 

Joie de vivre is coursing

through her bloodstream,

soothing rhythms

casting yet

another fate. 

While moonlight

focuses on wave-tossed
beaches, and trade winds

circle ever-changing,

near horizons. 

 

***   ***   ***

 

Life moves forward whether we keep up with it or not. Some days it is difficult to match "wants" with ability. On those days, I've found that it is better to sit back and let some things pass me by.

Have you ever been left with more plans then energy at the end of your day?

 

 

 

I is for IMAGINE #AtoZChallenge Poetry

April #AtoZChallenge and #PoetryMonth

 

Three goals I had in mind while writing my collection of linked poetry:

1. To celebrate my appreciation of life

2. To experience the process of writing linked poetry, a form of Japanese renshi

3. To give thanks for and better appreciate a life well-lived.

 

The flowers are a colorful bonus for the #AtoZChallenge

 

***   ***   ***

I is for Imagine and Iris

 

 

IMAGINE

Imagine

sinking

into steaming water.

So relaxed you cannot move. 

Egrets

turn the air white

with swirling feathers.

Ever moving, while you remain still. 

Fearful

of sprouting roots,

you ask forgiveness.

And vow to stop the madness.* 

*Within this context, the madness represents society’s expectation that one must always be actively productive (or could it be your expectation of yourself?)

 

 

D is for DREAMLESS #PoetryMonth #AtoZ

April #AtoZChallenge and #PoetryMonth

 

Three goals I had in mind while writing my collection of linked poetry:

1. To celebrate my appreciation of life

2. To experience the process of writing linked poetry, a form of Japanese renshi

3. To give thanks for and better appreciate a life well-lived.

 

The flowers are a colorful bonus for the #AtoZChallenge

 

***   ***   ***

D is for Dreamless and Dandelion

 

 

 

DREAMLESS

The effort leaves her spent

filled with joy

Breathless.

She leans back

takes inventory, reveals

Satisfaction.

Dreamless, she sleeps,

gaining strength

Healing.

Preparing for what comes next

Already knowing, this child also

Will give her no rest.

 

***   ***   ***

 

Were you expecting this poem to take you in a different direction?

 

C is for CHILDHOOD #Poetry Month and #AtoZChallenge

April #AtoZChallenge and #PoetryMonth

 

Three goals I had in mind while writing my collection of linked poetry:

1. To celebrate my appreciation of life

2. To experience the process of writing linked poetry, a form of Japanese renshi

3. To give thanks for and better appreciate a life well-lived.

 

The flowers are a colorful bonus for the #AtoZChallenge

 

***   ***   ***

C is for Childhood and Camilla

 

Childhood

A Magical Adventure

 

Gramma Anna shuffles the deck

for another round of five-card Rummy.

I am four years old.

The crystal candy dish visible

in the glass-front dining room hutch

holds round white mints with xxx on top.

My mouth waters at the thought of

those sugary xxx marks on my tongue,

melting. 

Deep purple plums, tangy

in their under-ripe bitterness.

At age six, a secret treasure mined

From Gramma Julia’s garden.

Kitchen fragrance,

dough rising beneath a clean

flour-sack towel.

Fillings of poppyseed, raspberry, and prune

crowned with sweet whipped cream.

Childhood

in retrospect

outshines the brightest star.

 

 ***   ***   *** 

 

Visits with my grandmothers, Anna on my mother’s side, Julia on my dad’s side, are recalled in the context of food. Both baked excellent pies, cakes, breads, and biscuits. Their candy dishes were always full.

Why do you suppose this poem might offer either a feeling of contentment or wash over someone like a wave of sorrow?

Z is for ZIG-ZAG of RED #AtoZ #PoetryMonth

April #AtoZChallenge and #PoetryMonth

 

Three goals I had in mind while writing my collection of linked poetry:

1. To celebrate my appreciation of life

2. To experience the process of writing linked poetry, a form of Japanese renshi

3. To give thanks for and better appreciate a life well-lived.

 

The flowers are a colorful bonus for the #AtoZChallenge

 

***   ***   ***

 

Z is for Zig-Zag of Red and Zinnea

 

 

 

A ZIG-ZAG OF RED, STARS

A white-washed canvas,

still life with fireworks,

promises of an exciting display. 

Colors intended only for dreamers

burst before her eyes,

lighting up the blackness left by

a long forgotten sunset. 

A zig-zag of red, stars

too bright to track

spiral down.

She hears the sizzle as

they strike the ocean’s surface

like lava streaming from a cliff

to cool and form new land. 

Thoughts spew forth.

A mind once fallow

now overflows.

A rocket launch

of crackling practicality

explodes to reveal stunning possibilities.

 

***   ***   ***

 

Where do you get your best ideas, while lying in bed ready for sleep or watching the celebration of fireworks on a warm summer's eve? Mine seem to burst forth at the exact time I am without pencil and paper.

 

For your visits to my site in April and your many interesting comments,

Mahalo and Aloha,

Gail

 

 

 

Y is for YOUR GOOD LIFE AHEAD #PoetryMonth #AtoZ

April #AtoZChallenge and #PoetryMonth

 

Three goals I had in mind while writing my collection of linked poetry:

1. To celebrate my appreciation of life

2. To experience the process of writing linked poetry, a form of Japanese renshi

3. To give thanks for and better appreciate a life well-lived.

 

The flowers are a colorful bonus for the #AtoZChallenge

 

***   ***   *** 

 

  

Y is for 

Your Good Life Ahead

and

Yellow Flowers:
Hibiscus

 and

Orchid

 

YOUR GOOD LIFE AHEAD

Unpaid leave; hospital stay

then home; empty-handed, again.

Cupboards lacking

Wallet bare. 

Part-time work, nights

at the old folks home.

Salted crackers and loose tea bags

From the commissary cart. 

One day you will be

rich as Midas, with golden

sunshine gracing the lanai and

mangoes ripening on the shelf. 

Every day, another holiday.

***   ***   ***

If you never give up, the ups and downs of life begin to form a pattern where soon the gullies and mountains begin to look more like potholes and molehills. . . with 'lots of plateau' in between.

That's a good thing, right? 

 

V is for VELVET AIR #PoetryMonth #AtoZ

 April #AtoZChallenge and #PoetryMonth

 

Three goals I had in mind while writing my collection of linked poetry:

1. To celebrate my appreciation of life

2. To experience the process of writing linked poetry, a form of Japanese renshi

3. To give thanks for and better appreciate a life well-lived.

 

The flowers are a colorful bonus for the #AtoZChallenge

 

***   ***   ***

 

 V is for Velvet Air and Volcan Phlox

 

 

VELVET AIR

 

With bloated hopes, you share

ideas. Each word a chosen

pearl. On velvet air,

great thoughts pour

forth. Your mind a dervish

whirl. Can greatness be so far

behind, with wisdom such

as this? Step back

enjoy

oh, wizened one, a most creative

bliss. One day, you say, a smile

in play, awards will all

be won. Your confidence wrapped

up in silk,

Blue Ribbon dreams are

Fun. 

To me, writing rhyming poetry is as much fun as
dreaming about winning a blue ribbon.
What would you compare to the art of writing poetry?
 

***   ***   ***

 

R is for RIOTS AND REBELLION #AlohaFriday #AtoZ

April #AtoZChallenge and #PoetryMonth

 

Three goals I had in mind while writing my collection of linked poetry:

1. To celebrate my appreciation of life

2. To experience the process of writing linked poetry, a form of Japanese renshi

3. To give thanks for and better appreciate a life well-lived.

 

The flowers are a colorful bonus for the #AtoZChallenge

 

***   ***   ***

 

 R is for Riots and Rebellions (and incongruously . . .for this beautiful Rose)

Photo by Gail M Baugniet
Taken in the village where my father's great grandparents settled.

 

RIOTS AND REBELLION

 

Riots

Society on the edge

Politics, redefining lives 

Anger

Mankind engaged in war

Family structure, realigned 

Rebellion

Control in flux

Freedom, the goal 

Question not

what you see, but

the lack of change

 

***   ***   *** 

 

What emotions surface when one has no control over circumstances?