S is for SMILING BACK #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

 

***   ***   ***

 

 S is for Smiling Back and Sunflowers

 

Smiling Back

From shadows,

smiling back at me,

clear memories

of frothy rapids

while tubing down

an apple-scented river. 

Company softball games,

cheering on my teammates

win or lose, celebrating

El Torito style. 

All too soon, highways

move me state to state,

major life changes

blinding me to loss. 

Above the clouds

endless open skies

ease me from the past; with

lazy eagerness, promises appear

of another new beginning.

 

***   ***   *** 
 

Do you need to understand everything the poet is saying to appreciate a poem? Or is sailing off in whatever direction a specific phrase sends you, like a word-association excursion, more to your liking?

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?

 

 

Each Day, Each Year is ANOTHER NEW BEGINNING

My desire to write poetry sparked years ago when I penned a few rhyming poems. Eventually, I drifted to other forms, Haiku at one time being a favorite. With each new discovery, I enjoy developing my own poetic style. For Haiku, it was easy to shift toward Hawaiian Haiku.

When introduced to the Japanese form of linking poetry, Renshi, I quickly fell in love with the idea of composing my own compilation. An enthusiasm for "romancing the poem" resulted in the collected works entitled ANOTHER NEW BEGINNING 70 Poems for 70 days. After writing and publishing the 70 poems, I gifted the book to 70 family members and friends. A favorable reception encouraged me to continue my journey of discovery in a world filled with delights.

Along the way, I continue to acquire knowledge from generous poets willing to discuss the writing process and compare thoughts evoked from written phrases. In appreciation, I am posting articles about and excerpts from my first and subsequent collections. Also, I will be "Paying It Forward" with author interviews, and reviews of inspirational and poetry-themed books.

And another blog site is born!

 

The first book in my poetry series

ANOTHER NEW BEGINNING

70 POEMS FOR 70 DAYS

is now available in e-book format

 

My original design for ANOTHER NEW BEGINNING

displayed the title on the spine. Because of the page count,

no title appears on the published edition

 

ANOTHER NEW BEGINNING 70 Poems for 70 Days available at Amazon
available in trade book and soon coming in e-book format.