The city by the Great River's mouth

I am yellow 
sparkling lights &
scribbling daring words

on turrets, 
walls and bridges,
bar stools and shiny mirrors 

But tonight,
instead of wine 
& trying out exotic food
& beating to samba beat

I look up
to inhale the sky's deep
mystery-  

the full moon
eclipsing my city neon signs,
car lights, highways, borders 
to one giant canvas 

unblemished as black
stones and wild wheat field
running the river's mouth 
with tide's harmony  

I wear 
the night with simple
reverence
unadorned but for the moonlight
just as it was  
with my Native Fathers

Overlooking Mississauga City, Ontario, Canada during the Supermoon October 2016

The name "Mississauga" comes from the Anishinaabe word Misi-zaagiing, meaning "[Those at the] Great River-mouth."

Posted for D'verse Poets Pub - Night time City Panorama ~ Hosted by Kim Russell

Caught in a dream

She hovers light as bird in a nest.  Yet her feet are lead, tangled in history of hurts and twigs of betrayals.  It has been 3 years now, but tonight when the moon glints coppery red, the past recoils like black tide shrouding  her vision.   She can hear the whiplash of his words, like a storm circling overhead.  The hard fist of his hands, gnawing fear in her chest.

Slowly, she wipes her mouth with the back of her hand as if to rid of acid-laced memories.    Outside, the wind rattles crushed soda cans on the streets, sweeping them like lost feathers.   She thinks of leaving the city and starting a new life somewhere. A place to call her own with a small garden.   Sinking deep into sleep, she hears the ticking of the clock.  Every second reverberates, as echoes of gunshots.  As heartbeats of runaway prey.

red maple leaves

blanket rose-less garden,

night is tinderbox

                                                                  By Brooke Shaden

"Yesterday is but today's memory, and tomorrow is today's dream." - Quote from Kahil Gibran

Posted for D'verse Poets Pub - Haibun Monday - The prompt is open all week, so come and join us!    Thanks for the visit ~

Night's beauty

Solar Eclipse
Photographer:  Amy Shore

Turn off the city lights
When the sun's belly sinks into the lake
Look skyward to drink the darkest of night

The moon is stitching a mantilla
Each thread emerald-grey, caught in aurora's spray
Turn off the city lights

The black velvet rose among the roses
Blooms, its single eye drowning every starlight
Look skyward to drink the darkest of night

Let the lone black bird
Spin-climb the clouds on south wind's tail
Turn off the city lights

Imagine celestial heaven baring
its purple womb, its milky strands
Look skyward to drink darkest of night

Let it descend, clear as spring
Water, rushing symphony of reverence
Turn off the city lights
Look skyward to drink darkest of night


Posted for D'verse Poets Pub - Hosted by Mary ~  Free verse Villanelle ~