Tuesday, May 31, 2022

The Unravelling

"(There are) many stories which are not on paper, they are written in the bodies and minds of women."

By Amrita Pritam



Unweave these threads across my face

They are bondages that muffles my voice

My word has weight, my name has grace


What you see with nary a shadow or trace 

Of question, interest or life, is a mirage

Unweave these threads across my face


You'll hear my sad songs welling from vase

Broken a long time ago, a bleak montage

My word has weight, my name has grace


I recall them, underneath this shame of lace 

Over my thin shoulders cowed low

Unweave these threads across my face


That you will see me truly, in a place

Worthy & joyful.  I'll let the words steep, stir-

My word has weight, my name has grace



Out of my belly & bosom, into your palms

To hold my face, bare, sun-warmed  

Unweave these threads across my face

My words have weight, my name has grace




Posted for dVerse Poets Pub, Poetics:  Women are people: invoking Amrita Pritam with guest host, Punam Sharma.  Join us when the pub doors open at 3pm EST.

Thursday, May 26, 2022

Snapshots of late May (early summer)

 



morning brings promises of peonies- 

sky mirrors an invitation-


tarry with the chores

and fold away the to-do-lists


i pause at half-planting the store-

bought vegetables in container pots-


i listen to birdsongs

& marvel the bees in the garden


the forget-me-nots dally

with blue iris & blossoming rose buds- 


the summer air is delicious

as freshly baked sourdough bread-


in a minute, wind blows white seed-

heads of a dying 


dandelion, puffy wispy clouds

beyond my grasp-




Posted for dVerse Poets Pub - Join us for OpenLinkNight when the pub doors open at 3pm EST.  Thanks for your visits and comments.



Tuesday, May 24, 2022

Watchers, A Murder of Crows


in the dusty streets

no one minds you


strutting with snarl

with mean spitted eyes

with greedy shoulders

with oversized ego 


but we watch you

every day 

perched from our steel power lines

high above, joustling at a slightest breeze

we watch your goings in & out

in this city marked with hot brown & red roofs


the sun does not touch us

though the night feeds us with weeds

the sky does not hide our hunger


we are on guard, black & bleak

bitching with clumps

of violent energy, waiting in wings  


we wait for your road-kill rage

of one dead squirrel

or your junk food garbage

just

toss out your coke can & burnt 

last fries


we will swoop down

waves of hysteria in doom

see, there's one big crow 


strutting with snarl

with mean spitted eyes

with greedy shoulders

with oversized ego 



Posted for dVerse Poets Pub - A Corvid Poetry, hosted by Ingrid. Thanks for your visits and comments.





Thursday, May 19, 2022

spring morning appointment

 

let's meet under the maple tree

the sky is periwinkle blue

the garden is rain-sprinkled, new,


greening & lush, i will bring tea

& you will bring your silence, soft

as dawn, nesting of spry pines, washed


warm amber, soothing our knees

will we mellow & flow into  

radiant spring morning?  i hope so 


there are birdsongs & rowdy bees

& wild dandelions to blow

& red daisies to string & stow


& blooming pink lilacs to see

& wind to chase.  this is no ploy

our pockets will be full of joy!


let's meet under the maple tree

greening & lush, i will bring tea

warm amber, soothing our knees

there are birdsongs & rowdy bees

& blooming pink lilacs to see




Posted for dVerse Poets Pub, Constanza Form,  hosted by Bjorn Rudberg.  Join us when the pub doors open at 3pm.  Thanks for the visit and comments.



Tuesday, May 17, 2022

because I can


i bloom as lilac

in mid-may, magenta-pink

lush & heady as honey

dew drops from mid-

night rain

lingers on clumps of pastel stems- 


i twine this bouquet

of pear & apple fruit flowers,

violet iris blooms-

all gifts from late spring & sunshine

on my hair


as seasons change

so do i 

an iteration, not perfect as star-

fish nor crazy as bouncing cart-

wheels, but moving forward


yellowing as wild dandelions-

greening as soft tendrils of vegetables-


because i can - 

dance <between words> under the moon-

light



Posted for dVerse Poets Pub - Poetics on Compound Words, hosted by Lillian.  Join us when the pub doors open at 3pm EST.  Thank you for your comments.


Tuesday, May 10, 2022

Ode to a breakfast (with mangoes)

 

they dressed you in cream

heavy fluffed in butter cake

drizzled in chocolate syrup


but i love you best

freshly plucked

from tree

my hands scooping your flowering-

green-eyed by rain

skin yellowed as papaya


with plump flesh

sliced flat across the seed-

a blend of tangy sweet as jasmine & citrus


halved, quartered & diced

you bring the sun's warm

belly within you


here's my young legs racing towards

the smell of unsweetened chocolate brew,

the steam of rolled sticky rice

mellowed in coconut milk

with a dash of salt


wrapped 

in slender palm leaves,


with ripe mangoes

my mornings are gifts from tropical land





Posted for dVerse Poets Pub - Bon Appetit Poetry with guest Misky.  Join us when the pub doors open at 3pm EST.

Thursday, April 28, 2022

thankful

 

i trace the moon's face with ink

darkness & starlight

- a stunning flower, a pearl-

thank you moon


i gather the blue from the sky,

the unburdened flights of gulls & 

serenity of murmuring tides-

thank you lake


i click & tap on black keyboards

my hands are busy bees

hopping & gliding along excel sheets-

thank you work colleagues


i read the words of dead poets

as yellow daffodils rise & bloom (again)                     

as birdsongs fill the air (again)     

thank you garden        



Posted for dVerse Poets Pub - OpenLinkNight - Thanks for joining us!                       

Monday, April 18, 2022

the night on chalkboard


let's red-chalk the sky

with celestial wings of dragonfire


let's stamp the trees

with blizzard of star lights


let's singe the garden air

with cumin and tumeric


the words roll-choke around my mouth

then spill

magical spells 


on flamingo legs,

rocketing to the moon



Posted for dVerse Poets Pub - Quadrille, hosted by De Jackson.  This is a 44 word with the chosen word, CHALK.  Thanks for your visits and comments.

Tuesday, April 12, 2022

one day


the sky will be a mushroom of blue butterfly wings

the ground will be tallowed with yellow pollen

the trees will be needled with green & pines


the streets will be lively with music

the buildings will be festooned with flags & kites

the church bells will peal with gladness


you will sing again with nightingales

dancing in your yellow skirts & teal hat

relish the family meal of beet soup with garlic bread


i will tally the days with light lamp

and jelly beans in my jar

keeping faith


the sun will keel the broken sails

and rise above the long shadows of grief, dust & dire


dappled light,

at the end of this tunnel, awaits you


Artist:   Vika Muse


“Freedom” – 
This artwork was made due to the hope, that we have the light at the end and the name of this light – is the Victory. That we will survive and rebuild our country.

Posted for dVerse Poets Pub - Poetics:  The Light of "Vika Muse", hosted by Mish.

We are getting inspiration for our words from Vika Muse.  Thanks for the comments and visits. 




Monday, April 4, 2022

the paradox of the changing clocks


minute hand moves 

forward, but escape wheel

is stuck


-tiny buds wilt in tail of winter's breath-

-leaves shiver-shrink from false

spring's embrace-


grip this season 

of becoming

as the blossoming earth

peels back


-dead skin-

-mourning dress coats-

we thirst for life

(deeply)



Posted for dVerse Poets Pub - Quadrille hosted by Lisa.  This is a 44 word post with the chosen word, SEASON.  Thanks for the your visit and comments.