Wednesday's Child Is Full Of Woe

What better place to flaunt this old saying, than on One Shot Poetry Wednesday?
Instead of being a lie-abed, I opted for starting the day by letting my sleep deprived mind do a little daydreaming, instead. Which may explain  this peculiar result...

No News Blues

Before a sign of sun signals
sensible souls to stir,
a four-in-the-morning moment 
dies a dull doldrums, slack tide death.

Will Wednesday
be a walk on the wild side
or a flash-in-the-pan panjandrum
of mid-week melancholy?

Too early to tell; toll the knell
and let who will be merry...
 
I hope to be back to normal in time for Two In Tandem tomorrow, when I shall endeavour to include a Linky List to tempt people to join in our Thursday frolics, the first of which you may find by clicking on the Tandem link above.

Take Notice

Jumping bean letters imprint images,
but no ink-stained fingers for them
only a tapping key tarantella
danced on a keyboard.

"Free board and lodging
for hard working words.
Must earn their keep."

So reads a notice in the window
of a mind in search of free verse.


See One Stop Poetry and Fireblossom for an explanation of this departure from my usual course!

And while it's still Monday, Magpie Tales nudged me to play with this other kind of framed image, and I decided to put them together, although a shadorma is not exactly free verse...

Set in stone,
this gem of beauty
has facets
carved in light.
Across untold centuries
its gaze will haunt us.

Maffick Monday # 1

I've met some terrible dancers
in the far off days of my youth.
Some were handsome and sprightly,
but others were brash and uncouth.

My toes got the bruises to prove it,
and patience would wear a bit thin,
but I never gave up on researching
the best bloke to lead me in a spin.

Too tall, and my nose hit the buttons
on their blazer or jacket, you see...
too short and their nose was the problem
because of where it reached on me...

I'd feel their hot breath down my cleavage,
and if their feet then lost the beat,
my toes would recoil in mock horror,
and I'd beat a hasty retreat!

Alicia's new Maffick Monday blog chose 'a terrible dancer' theme for her first prompt. Although the picture came via Google Images, I do actually have three ancient medals of my own - two for Ballroom and one for Latin American - all from the same ISTD examiners, so personally, I can be excused from the 'terrible' label, I think !

School's Out!

On a sunny, blustery afternoon last Monday, I'd finished my shopping, and decided to sit and watch the world go by before I came back to cook my meal.
The 'baby school' had just finished for the day, and I saw a tiny tot in her blue and white checked dress, pony tail swinging, trot past holding Dad's hand, looking very earnest.
A few moments later, she passed by again in the other direction, but this time holding a huge, chocolate topped ring doughnut from which she'd already taken a few bites. They had left her with brown striped cheeks, which made her look like The Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland.... I smiled...and I hope you do too! :)

This is a just a little snippet for I Saw Sunday , where you can find more things seen, heard or created this week...

Two In Tandem # 6

graphic by jinksy

Crystal Cave
of childhood
imagination
sparks memory
of long ago sense
of wonder,
safety
never to be found
again.


Elizabeth Crawford
12/6/2011

 Here is the latest collaboration - Elizabeth's words and my 'painting', which you are welcome to use on your blog if you you'd like to join in...but do leave us a link, so we can visit. Otherwise, if your  muse strikes, you can always give her free rein in a comment here!
At Unraveling each Tuesday,  the roles are reversed, for Elizabeth posts my poems inspired by her artwork. Do feel free to play along. Susannah, at Panopticulated has already decided to do so, and
I couldn't resist linking to Poets United Thursday Think Tank, as they have  a seaside theme today. Although I had no subject in my conscious mind when I  began painting, the end result did feel as though it encompassed land and water - i.e. some Neverland beach... 

Disillusion

graphic by jinksy

His dimples dented my heartstrings. Eighteen
to his twenty, we had plenty in common;
shared an uncommon view of the world...

and pig sties...

"Look, Pigloos!" he christened them,
eyes laughing. To his achitectural mind,
a toadstool ring turned into a town centre
from plans drawn up by a pixie council...

Like fools, we built fantasies.

But fate's hard hat could not prevent
demolition of our dreams. Too late
to alter direction, the next roundabout
forced us to take different lanes...

Half a life later, we met at a junction,
rode a dual carriageway, cruising...

until we crashed in a final pile up
when a danger sign said 'Road Closed'.


I've linked to One Shot Wednesday, even though I wrote this on Monday!

Meditation For Monday

Are these whorls
a shell's fingerprints?
Or only 
signs of time
spiralling beyond knowing
of either man or mollusc?

Which life force
teaches them to grow
according
to numbers
whose elegant mastery

creates their fragile beauty?

With thanks to Tess at Magpie Tales.

Street Art

Graffiti
takes on a new life
as colours
are altered,
backgrounds eliminated.
A work of art is revealed.

One Stop Poetry has a selection of pictures of this genre, but this one cries out for recognition...I apologise to the original artist for tinkering with his creation!

Two In Tandem # 5

By Elizabeth

In deep purple cave of remembering

ideas, like dust motes, float and drift

seeking niche where they might cling,

bringing inspiration of creation

to ever changing blue/green shadows

eager to receive them.

By Susannah

Ideas...like seeds,
hang, expectant
in the charged air,
seeking receptive soil
into which to sink
their eager roots,
nothing in mind
but to become,
to actualise.

Primed and ready
pure potential
waits...

By Jinksy

A doorway
beckons us with light;
it welcomes,
entices,
offers possibility
of change to all who enter.

This week, two has become three, as Elizabeth  of Unraveling and Susannah of Panopticulated have both written their own words to my graphics - the first I've created with my new Bamboo Tablet & Pen. And to complete the trio, I've written a shadorma as my contribution.
If you feel inspired to join in, please help yourself to either picture. You can write your own words, either in the comments section here, or post them on your blog and leave a link so we may visit!

Aliens beware!

The craft hovered above the blue planet, beams of light connecting to the surface like tendrils of a giant jelly fish. A circular tracking device on top of its outer shell  followed the homing signal that would guarantee their safe return to base when the assignment ended. Exploration Alien was about to begin in earnest.

These words were inspired by Tess for her latest Mag #68, and will eventually fit G-man's Friday Flash 55 into the bargain!

Monday's Child #48

Illustration by Vincent Mathy

Down on the allotments trouble was brewing.
The vegetables wondered what this plant was doing!
Was it a flower, or some kind of food?
They chattered and stared - in fact they were rude.

"Look at its colours! My, what a sight!"
muttered the aubergine, "I don't think it's right!"
"Yes", squeaked the leek, "It's too big and round,
and somehow its feet aren't tucked in the ground.

I bet it will disappear when the wind blows!"
"Humph!" said the potato wrinkling his nose,
"I wish I could join it, I'd be off like a shot,
whether you stay-at-homes liked it or not!"



Thanks to bkm at  Monday's Child for this colourful prompt.

Hands, Feet, & Boompsadaisy?

photograph by Rob Hanson

Supple leather bends
beneath the boot-maker's hands.
Feet enjoy comfort.

Thanks to One Shoot Sunday Challenge  which features the work of Rob Hanson today.


And over on Napple Notes, is another post, of a childhood memory it brought to mind, and for a triple whammy, here's a Sunday 160 character offering for Monkey Man.

A higgledy-piggledy workshop is a must. How else can creation work hand in hand with inspiration? Fingers use materials close by, when brain births a new idea.

Two In Tandem # 4 - Shy Violets

by jinksy

No matter where or how
they grow, draw the eye
away from everything else.

Stand up to speak language
of purple, always saying,
“This, this is personal power.”

Elizabeth Crawford   

This is another collaborative post for our Thursday twosome. If you'd like to join Elizabeth and I, please feel free to write your own words to this image, either in comments here, or on your own blog - in which case, please leave a link, so we can come and visit. Thanks!

On With The Dance!

made by Juliet Wilson

Whirling of petticoats,
flashing of eyes,
as couples gyrate.
See? Girls with their guys
flaunting bright cummerbunds-
colours galore
on softly draped neckerchiefs.
None can ignore
the traditional folk tunes
whose rhythmical beat
encourages dancers
to stamp their feet!

Thanks to Juliet for this creation,  for which I supplied words. It's on her blog today, as well as here, but as we'll have different people dropping by, I thought I'd go for the double! Now I'm going to link it to One Stop, as I believe in making the most from the least...

Two In Tandem #3

by Jinksy

Illusive Paradise    
                                                            by Elizabeth Crawford 5/20/11
Deserted island wrapped
in protective bubble
forever floating through
faraway sea. Exotic perfumes
drifting on air, gifts given
by blooms of delicate flair
yet to be seen or even created.

Ceaseless soft sigh of surrounding 
waves that lull all senses to sleep,
keeping danger at far reach.
Breathing embrace erasing
any trace of possible intrusion,
covered by fragile mist of clouds
like some fairytale illusion.

Infused with vague jealousy,
water shades creep toward
shore, longing to steal mountain 
shadows, but are repelled
by ring of magic spell intended
to keep this tranquil face, always
and ever, safest space. 


This is another collaborative post between Elizabeth and I. If you would like to play along in a similar fashion, please let either of us know. Her words for my pictures will appear here on Thursdays, and my words for her pictures will be on her Unraveling blog on Tuesdays for the foreseeable future, until we work out a better plan for including others in our experiment! 

One Shot Wednesday # 47

by Paul Christopher

Remember,
after night's darkness,
at sunrise
hope returns.
May it warm all souls on Earth,
and bless them with light.

One Shot Wednesday gave us 'Darkness' as their prompt this week., but I chose to focus on the light, with this Shadorma - a syllabic form. of 3/5/3/3/7/5.

Magpie Tales # 67

Reverie

The lady dreamed about her love
no appetite had she;
a meal, untouched upon her plate,
lay there for all to see.

Her reverie had brought to mind
an earlier, far off day
when Nicholas had brought a lute
and Father told him "Play!"

Sweet music touched her maiden-heart,
she fell beneath its spell,
but she'd been promised to a lord -
Nick was a ne'er do well.

"But father dear, I beg, I pray!
I do not love this man.
Lord Jasper's not the one I want!
Forgive me, if you can?"

Her Father, being wise and kind,
was minded to relent.
"If this be true, young  Nicholas
must prove his good intent."

"I'll give to him a bag of gold
and if, in one year hence,
his efforts have increased its worth,
I'll grant he must have sense

enough to work for what he wants,
and you and he shall marry."
"Oh, Father dear, I'll gladly wait.
But ask him not to tarry!"

For the full picture, you need to go to Magpie Tales! Thanks, Tess.

Winds Of Chance

With seed heads blown by winds of chance,
bold dandelions spring up fast.
Though each has little time to last,

their parachuting fairies prance
supremely free, one must agree.
Upset, we glower, all askance.

Until their season's span has passed,
curse seed heads blown by winds of chance!

Small seed heads blown by winds of chance
think on their future days, not past,
and taunt us while we look aghast,

at thriving, golden, parent plants
so tall and proud, no living shroud,
but full of life's own joyful dance.

Unbounded vigour will outlast
us; seed heads blown by winds of chance.


Go and see Luke Prater at One Stop Poetry's Form Monday, if you want to know what is going on here! 
N.B. I keep editing the original, for I started with the intention of ignoring meter, instead going for a syllabic count, but old habits die hard, and the rhythm is gradually winning with each new edit! I think this is a work in progress...

Set In Stone?

Inside its block of stone, a latent being communicates with the sculptor, imprints its image and gives him no rest. It wills him to wield hammer and chisel to work towards its release. Driven by creative urges, the stonemason sets about rescuing embryonic beauty, like a surgeon performing a Caesarean section to save a life.

One Stop Poetry  has given us this picture prompt challenge, featuring the work of Walter Parada, and I've chosen to write 55 words for it.

Thursday Think Tank # 49

Untitled

Some things cannot be explained;
awareness creeps closer, on tiptoe,
while realization flows and flowers
from points beyond any conscious realm.

Elusive shapes pattern dream time paths
until route-march days, tramping along
unknown roads, lead to a destination
unplanned, but recognised on arrival
as the only possible, preordained end.

The Think Tank asked that we merely wrote down words that came to mind, no forward planning, simply let what happens, happen. These were my words... And then I added a picture.