Curious encounters with nature

This is an old smudgy pencil sketch of mine. Not sure an actual horse would react as calmly to the half-man half-butterfly thingie in its meadow - which probably, being self-aware of its halves is having doubts of its own. Once the wings were moving I think there would be a hasty, slightly hysterical horse retreat....




I'm kind of low energy these days as you can see by this kind of sad poem.

Doldrums

A tickle really, a night breeze passes, barely touching
In darkness I orbit the neighborhood's circle,
pass the same facades repeatedly.
Anchored by the hum of the highway,
maybe a celestial dipper or two rising
or a flock of little porch lights 
where a few someones live, 
I appreciate their seeming elemental persistence.
Even now I point a bobbling flashlight to ward away shadows, 
though I have nothing to say to shadows these days.
No one minds my silence.

I originally put his up at https://april30poems.blogspot.com/2016/08/unusual-encounters-with-nature.html?showComment=1472256583013#c7537839509355428630 and added it here also...

Hug them close whoever they are....

This is oil pastel on card stock. It's rather old. It's also cut out and ready to collage into something else. I do like it all by itself as well.

Had a scare today. Something about a large pickup blocking the view of a crosswalk. Not using that location again, neither for walking or driving.....  Things could have gone differently. Tragically. So glad the outcome was the status quo. 

The Angry Surprise.....

Didn't make this ink drawing for BREXIT but my oh my, we have seen some similar expressions in the news on Brits expressing their dismay!!!!

Tail of two cats.....

Just can't seem to be content without a cat. Right now I have two for the first time in years. Both are antique - one 15 years old, and one 16 years old. Both are fairly spry considering.

I'm waiting until they know each other better & hoping for a photo of them together which is not possible as yet. So instead here is a stylized pencil kitty I recently tweeted:

Can't get there from here....

This is what the future looks like to me. Too early to say if that is good or bad.

Poem A Week 3 - Waking up fast

Waking up fast

I don't remember how I got there
or why I was flying a plane over a road
a big plane, an airliner kind of plane
.
and I was just noticing how low to the ground we were
Noticing the telephone polls below, cars busy on the road,
treetops brushing the plane's belly, a hillside in the distance.
.
I was thinking why is the plane flying so low,
moving so blindingly fast, and why am I the pilot?
And someone was screaming at me
.
Pull up Mar Pull up now!!! as the ground got closer.
I woke up right then shaking. Not sure why I was flying
or where I was going, or who left me in charge, or
.
if I had changed course or crashed in the ether of the dream.
But it was time to get up time to get up out of bed
and into the new day. So I did.

Poem A Week No. 2 - Unexpected Attic Access

Unexpected Attic Access

"I need to get into the attic"
the AC tech said matter of factly
.
"Not sure you can get there from here"
I said. As he darted out to his truck
.
I opened the hall closet
empty but for its pile of boxes,
.
Pushed up on the hat shelf,
found it folded back easily.
.
Pushed up on the cloths pole,
found that popped right out of its caps.
.
as I slide box after box out and into the hall
here comes Mr tech with his folding ladder
.
He props, climbs, pushes up the lid
and disappears. "Nice Space up here" he says
.
from out of sight, and a sudden light
shines through the square opening.
.
I have to see, I climb up the ladder, look around
suddenly I;m sitting on the edge of the unfamiliar
.
it's totally clean and empty, but for fiberglass bats
I make mental notes, location of the light switch
.
Kinda odd how you can live for years unaware
under this unknown, unimagined spaciousness...
.

Poem A Week No 1 - At your funeral mass

At your funeral mass
Poem for Peter S. & for Elaine, Sharon, Dan & Nate

.
I am not listening to the priest
not looking towards the altar.
Not saying the words.
I stand up, sit down
when told, but no
song no words come forth at all,
no call and response.
I listen to the resonant soprano singing,
the echo of it in the empty space above.
I look sidelong, avoid the casket in the center isle
hidden under a white cloth and a symbol
that means nothing to me now.
I try to look right through the
vivid stained glass scenes.
I notice the intense blue
red, green, not the figures
or the stories they portray.
I wish instead I could see the sky
or a river, the sea or a mountain
a tree bright in the daylight
beyond those windows.
Or you on the lake in your sail boat
with your boys, family, friends
and your ready nonchalant smile.

This poem is for the exhusband of a good friend who's unexpected death caused a lot of stock taking. First of the group to fall as they say. It's not that we were particularly close - it's that he is my age I guess and I remember him from his hey day. The photo is from someone else's facebook post. I hope they don't mind. 

April 2016 Poem A Day #30

The prompt was write a dead end poem. I hate that.

No absolutely not

No endings, dead or otherwise
are permitted in this poem
this is a living cascade
it will not stop this day
or any day to come
this life will
go on with or without me
with or without another poem
the little one celled things
will stretch and divide
and the little wavy armed things
will reach out and grab a meal
somewhere in the miniature
a future of spinning orbs
until a black hole grabs
it all, and then who knows
what happens in there?

ReplyDelete

April 2016 Poem A Day #29 Grief Hazard

Grief Hazard

Boxes neatly packed
stacked in closets
under tables
stowed in odd spots
boxes unlabeled but for
a single word: Mom.
.
I packed them last year
numb not knowing
what to do
I packed for days, hid
this and that away
carefully wrapped,
and now
.
I wonder
what memories hide
in each, if I look....

maybe not right now.

April 2016 Poem A Day #28 Let the memos begin

Let the memos begin:

trivial outcomes * noticeable chaos * important resolutions

riotous beginnings * interesting research * calm procedures

mournful happenstance * breathable equilibrium * celebratory fireworks

calamitous collapse * undetermined consequences * fortunate coordination

ambitious manipulation * opportunistic flaw * low energy

virtuous approach * flexible consideration * spiteful divergence

love *  hate
indifference 

April 2016 Poem A Day # 27 Relief Sculpture

Relief Sculpture

Remove a little here
scoop out some more
deep enough to accentuate,
to undercut, the line of something or other.
Smooth the center, or rough it wildly up.
Remove more, take off the edge itself
so the world curves into concavity.
Take away the center.
See clear through
to the other side.

April 2016 Poem A Day #26 Law of Emotivity

The Great Law of Emotivity

Everyone knows
love and anti-love
cannot coexist
in the same space
as they readily ironically
annihilate each other.

April 2016 Poem A Day #25 - Planting

Planting
the spring exercise

  Position the shovel.
  Place your full weight
  on the shovel by standing
  on its top rim so the shovel
  sinks into the earth.
  Rock the shovel back and
  forth to loosen the earth.
  Leverage it down
  and swing up
  this small load of earth
  out of a brand new hole.
  Empty the shovel to the side
  Do over. Do over. Do over. Do over.
  Remove the container and wrappings
  from the plant and set it in the hole.
  With a trowel ease the dirt around the plant.
  Gently tamp with a thumb or a toe.
  Keep filling in with rich loose earth.
  Water liberally.

April 2016 Poem A Day #24 Lost // Not Lost

Lost // Not Lost

The scale
like history
repeats itself
damn it.

April 2016 Poem a Day #23 Sole Entanglements

For this prompt (to write a poem about footware) I am posting a poem I wrote many (MANY) years ago - because it is my definitive footware poem.

Sole Entanglements

Old shoelaces unravel
unruly as love
as likely to trip you.
Untied, each lace dances
frayed and flaccid
reluctant to knot again.
.
Velcro closures lock
and cling too willing to grip
but Velcro can't let go
There's rip and uproar
when suddenly undone.
.
Old loafers are the best.
So easy to slip
in or out of at a
moment's whim, they
shelter your pennies
never ask for socks.

April 2016 Poem A Day #22 Conditions for Constancy

Am getting silly here. The prompt was use the word star____


Conditions for Constancy

Human beings
require a certain stability. Therefore
it would be best if the constellations
held steady on, not wobbling about
or shooting off into another paradigm
skipping into another multiverse
or tripping oversubtle event horizons
lurking at every bend of light waving,
or every twist of history's winking
or twinkling. Yes, to  remain
would be best so always
use starch when laundering
an inhabited universe.

April 2016 Poem A Day #21 Not going anywhere

The prompt today was to write a poem to another poem.  So, growing up there was a picture in hall of a little boy sitting under a tree on a hilltop, fishing pole near, schoolhouse in the far distance. Under the picture was a poem expressing a wish not to be bothered doing so much but to rest a thousand years. I read it over and over, through many years. I thought of it whenever I was stressed. But all in all it was a bad direction to take!

Not going anywhere
.

He wished to be
a little rock
not off to work
not deep in hock
.
He wished to sit so very still
in wind and sun
on crest of hill
beneath a tree
without a thrill
.
I think he rested
far too long
his influence on me
far too strong
.
I dreamed and dreamed
without a peep
I sat too long
whilst thinking deep
.
I spent my life
all half asleep.

April 2016 Poem A Day #20 - How I learned to say no

Prompt is write a poem about something not said

HOW I LEARNED TO SAY NO
.

Will you do x
Will you do Y
Will you do z
She never said yes
but never said no
and did all three....

April 2016 Poem A Day #19 Heaven and Hell explained

Heaven and Hell explained

Considering the sea, it may be, life and time
must brew themselves in boiling brine
near some star 'splosion or volcanic vent
Melt the immobile start the drip
set off the ticking universe
for a hot, rotational trip.
But for timeless or eternal
an absolute zero temperature is best.
As any motion
would be a timeline,
cancel out eternal rest.

April 2016 Poem A Day - #18 Restless

the prompt was to write an office poem

Restless.

The day Jim said
"You could retire from here,
head of a department."
"Just give it time." he said
That same day I went into the big boss
and gave my two weeks notice.
I feared it would be true
that Jim was right
and I couldn't let that happen.
"What can we do to keep you," they asked me.
And so from then on
I had Wednesdays off
every Wednesday.
Monday, Tuesday, Day off.
Thursday, Friday, Two days off.
It wasn't enough.
I lasted another year
then moved on.

April 2016 Poem A Day # 17 - a Haiku

Haiku day
.
For fifteen years now
warming my life, chair, lap, bed:
small bread-colored cat

April 2016 Poem A Day #16 - My Order

The prompt was go to a restaurant and write a poem there - or write a poem about eating out....


My order

I want a small order
not a plateful big enough for ten
I don't want butter or salt
Forget the meat, not today
I don't want a lot of sugar
or while flour or grease
Don't bring me green vegetables
cooked into a grey green blob
no wilted lettuce no
clump of white rice
Don't bring any soda
no creamer either
Wait.
.
I'm going home for lunch.

April 2016 Poem A Day #15 In The Gallery

For this prompt a set of words were given, an instructions were to pick four to use in the poem:

flat ring lavish gaudy vessel paper tooth blacklist 

In the Gallery

the statue wore a flat gold ring of gaudy teeth
around its marble neck, a lavish emblem
of artistic excess or social extreme
.
each tooth covered in scrimshaw
ceremonial pictures
for a biting afternoon
.
A critic in the paper said
the show should be blacklisted
or delisted or at the least recycled.
.
No one
read the review.

April 2016 Poem A Day #14 Avoidance Syndrome

Temporary Avoidance Syndrome

Decades ago I sang in noisy bars
a couple times a month
four forty-minute sets
songs of my own construction.
Between sets, for
15 minutes, I'd hide
outside in the car
or in the restroom stall
to think or read a book
too shy too introverted
needing to gather
my strength
to navigate the next set
and during each song
break the social contract
take off the daily mask

April 2016 Poem A Day #13 The Last Rain

The Last Rain

trickled off over hardened parched earth
didn't stop to water a plant
fled down hill but
in the terrible heat
shrank into vapor
failed to reach the streambed
didn't say goodbye
or write a note
to the mysterious properties
of a lovely storm.
Maybe next season.

April 2016 Poem A Day #12 Cafe Faux Pas

The prompt was write a silly or a serious poem. Obviously I went silly today.


Cafe Faux Pas

Coffee with cocoa
Coffee with loco
and a side of sly
caffeine
to keep up
the dream of busy
days.
While I'm scratching my head
they bring decafe instead.
Now I's ready for bed. :(

April 2016 Poem A Day #11 Defensive

Defensive

Little crab has backed into a corner.
The backwards days are over.
Side-to-side is not an option.
.
Little crab waggles eye stalks,
blinks, raises claws,
ready to go forward.
Go forward or bust.

April 2016 Poem A Day #10 Hopeful Signs

Hopeful Signs

Peek out of the cloud
eyes right, eyes left
sniff the air for clues
If I begin, when I begin
what to do.
.
The paperwork is mostly done
a mountain of it
and now hope like
clarity beginning to form
as the clouds part a little
the rain lets up
a few green shoots emerge

April 2016 Poem A Day #9 Hiding Out For A While

Hiding Out For A While

Home is where you are safe
where you can be alone
without despair
.
Where you know
which windows will let in the sun
what cabinet holds the tea
.
Home where the familiar hides
you from change
at least for now

April 2016 Poem A Day #8 Scribbling

Scribbling

A curvy thingy here
a figure eight there
a thin line a thick line
some wavy stuff crossing a page
little dots underneath
dots and xs
switch pens
 another envelope
the cover of a magazine
next to the comics in the daily paper
make transparent boxes 3D
climb out of them
with flowers
with shooting stars

April 2016 Poem A Day #7 Urban Whatever

Part time Urban

I like the idea of cities,
walkup neighborhoods, museums, coffee shops
the mix of culture and habit
.
I need busy and humming sometimes
bumping up against the world
in a subway or a pub
.
More often though I like quiet
equilibrium, siting in a swing
on a porch listening to rain fall
.
I like the bright lights,
then I like going home
walking in the quiet dark

April 2016 Poem A Day #6 - Painting a LIfe Unfinished

Painting a life

Unfinished for decades,
a women in jeans sits in a chair
naturally with a black cat on the sill nearby.
Behind her through big windows are
the city and the sea, with a path to each.
On her right a guitar in a stand,
on her left a table full of writings.
She sits in the chair
faceless, eyes cast down
uncertain, even as the painter is not certain
how this will play out, what happens next.

                           --Mar (Mistryel) Walker




The prompt today is to write a poem from a work of art  The work choose is one of my own.

"For today’s prompt, write an ekphrastic poem. An ekphrastic poem is a poem inspired by art. You can pick your own favorite piece of art if you wish. Or you can use one of the examples [provided in Robert Lee Brewer's original post.]"

April 2016 Poem A Day #5 - The Novice Orphan

The Novice Orphan

I'd lost at love
at money
I'd lost at friendship
and achievement of all sorts
I'd lost bets,
keys, cups of coffee
by the dozens
Lost my place in books
lost my way in travels
lost my breath while running.
But when it came to
losing you Mom
last of my parents
I had nothing to go by,
When we lost Dad
it was you and I
WE lost him.
And now I have
lost you as well.
No sisters. No brothers
to share it with.
No preconceptions
No idea what to expect.
no experience
no armor.

                    ------ Mar (Mistryel) Walker

April 2016 Poem A Day #4 - Distance

Far

Everything is blurry
and far away now.
Things recede daily
as I run towards them.
.
The universe expands
faster and faster yet
my world seems to
contract like a spasm
.
or a fist raised
against grief.

                      -- Mar (Mistryel) Walker

April 2016 Poem A Day #3 - Three minutes

Three Minutes to Midnight

Water's rising, clock ticking
while we fight about everything.
Consider sneaker brands
change TV channels.
Meanwhile nature plots against us
Zika nature's way
of giving us the diminished
capacity we already
act like we have.

                         
                           -- Mar (Mistryel) Walker

April 2016 Poem A Day #2 - Consequences

Consequences

She said
"I'm going to march and get arrested." 

I said
"Oh Really,"
 "And what will that prove?" 

She said
"Corporations have too much power,
  "we'll show them people count." 

I said
"Did you vote in the midterm elections?" 

"No" she said.
"It's a free country I don't have too." 

I smiled sadly, donated her bail
to the League of Women Voters.

                         --- Mar (Mistryel) Walker




                       

April 2016 Poem A Day #1 - Broken

Broken

glasses, plates, mirrors,
ashtrays, mugs, bottles, bowls,
candle holders, coffee carafes,
every item of glass
in small pieces on the floor,
three inches deep
everywhere here
in this studio apartment,
testament to anger
pent up
from love
unexpressed,
and fearing
abandonment,
she sweeps it all
takes out the bags,
buys paper plates
before he gets
home.

                  - Mar (Mistryel) Walker

This was written using Robert Brewer's April 1st prompt for the April 2016 Poem A Day Challenge on the Writer's Digest web site which directed participants to write a foolish poem where the writer was foolish or where there was a prank of some kind.    This is not so much a prank but a crisis in a one party's perception of a relationship, and a decision by that person not to bring it up - yet.
 http://www.writersdigest.com/whats-new/2016-april-pad-challenge-day-1

Dia Beacon then Hudson River gawking

This is a view of one of the giant sculptures on view at Dia in the lower level. A friend invted me on this excursion, and rather than wait around all day for primary results I thought, why not a day trip.  You can walk inside these metal pieces and if you sing a little the echo is stunning.  Later we stumbled into the parking lot of the Beacon train station which is right on the Hudson River. On this balmy Feb. day I needed no coat, hat or gloves - but ice was still in the river from last weeks -9 temps. Weird. We later had an early dinner at Max's on Main in Beacon. Great day.

Women of the World Poet Saroya Marsh

Bang! by Saroya Marsh in surprise February feature before the White Plains Library's slam.

Wednesday at the spur of the moment I decided to go to the White Plains Library to see Zork and Sweetie. Hadn't seen them in a while. For the first time in a long time, I read a poem in an open mic. On this night, that was after falling flat on my face getting on the stage. Really. Literally. Nose to carpet. Oh well. 

The format at the White Plains Library is, open mic, FEATURED POET, then last the SLAM. And on this night, another poet had cancelled and  Saroya Marsh  - an educator, poet, personable activist, "voice for the voiceless," and high power performer was the feature!  See the Split Journal Interview  Check out her Poets & Writers page  

Later at the diner, big smiles

Zork and Sweetie, slam veterans. Zork runs the White Plains Slam. They are also known for a crazy vlog, BedVlogs - recorded fully clothed in bed. (yes you read that right)