This World

This world is a heart
fed from the nuzzle of a mother’s breast.
Its murmur is a father’s gentle song,
one whose arms reach out before a fallen
tear can bury itself in the sand.

Its arteries are our highways, as
opaque as they are to the earth beneath,
without them, are we not pigeons without wings,
moths without a moon?

The blood is love. But blood isn’t love.
No, if we take in one as our own,
it does the same. The world took us in
so long ago.

 

Join us at dVerse Poets Pub as we imagine our own world.

The sky’s the limit..or is it? It’s my pleasure to be hosting this week’s Poetics.

Doors open at 3 p.m.

Image: pixabay.com

Ecocide

 

 

“I am doing this because you adults are shitting on my future.”

“I don’t want you to be hopeful. I want you to panic. I want you to feel the fear I feel every day. And then I want you to act.”

– Greta Thunberg –

( Youth Climate Activist)

 

 

Does it take a child to save the world?

Or do we just wait for the big miracle

While earth stands stoic

In a silent sob of glacier tears?

Oceans choke on the overflow

Poli-puppeticians choke on their lies

We could die!

Yet we leave the mission to our young

While we sip the last grape

Feel sorry for the last polar bear

Stranded on the last slice of sea ice

 

 

In response to Anmol’s very thoughtful poetic prompt, “On Climate Crisis”.

You may be interested in more information about

  Greta Thunberg.  

Join us at

dVerse Poets Pub.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Return

 

 

Follow me, child

Phoneless and free

Where earth sings

Songs of your roots

Ancient and pure

Pluck stars from indigo skies

Put them back into your eyes

Decorate your pale skin

In leaf shadows and sunlight

Relish in the riches

And blessings of nature

 

 

 

It’s Quadrille Monday and Kim is our host. She has offered us the word “rich” to incorporate into a 44 word poem, not including the title. Join in the fun!

dVerse Poets Pub

Captured

 

And now she waits on corners, sold

Purity pilfered and pried apart

Silenced by the sting of biting cold

Slapping hands and tainted hearts

 

Purity pilfered and pried apart

Stone clouds creep over indigo skies

Slapping hands and tainted hearts

Repeat – she thinks she’d rather die

 

Stone clouds creep over indigo skies

Bentley slows, and window rolls

Repeat – she thinks she’d rather die

Desperate dreams of an undercover mole

 

Bentley slows, tinted window rolls

Hollow eyes attached to scum

Desperate dreams of an undercover mole

To save her soul, to take her home

 

 

Written for Poetry Forms at dVerse. This is an imperfect pantoum, which has the following pattern of repeated lines….ABCD, BEDF, EGFH, GIHJ.

The statistics for human trafficking are astounding…an issue not limited to particular countries or to females. It breaks my heart that humanity still struggles to evolve.

https://humantraffickinghotline.org/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ruba’i

 

 

Morning breaks my slumber in splatters of freezing rain

Delicate coatings of glass mimic my window pane

If only the world would pause, feel this moment contained

But our thoughts run wild like the tainted river unchained

 

 

For Poetry Forms at dVerse, featuring The Rubaiyet. Fellow pubtender, Frank Hubeny brings us the history and characteristics of the form.

Notes: My first dabbling into this particular form so I’ve begun with one quatrain, known as a “ruba’i . I chose the option of the AAAA rhyme scheme and the original meter of 13 syllables per line. The pattern of accented syllables varies between lines.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Human Equation ~ A Sonnet

 

 

 

 

“Where there is righteousness in the heart, there is beauty in the character. When there is beauty in the character, there is harmony in the home. When there is harmony in the home, there is order in the nation. When there is order in the nation, there is peace in the world.”  ~A. P. J. Abdul Kalam ~

 

 

Has God given up on us? Does he weep?

I listen for him in the moon shadows

Dew droplets at dawn, in earth’s gentle sleep

 

Where is the light we were born to embrace?

I sift through the compost of dreams rotted

In darkest alleys, I search for His face

 

Why do we build our own prisons of fear?

Humanity’s keys we hold in our hands

Intentions perish with the silt of tears

 

Do we have the right to ignore our own hearts?

Were they not the gifts of the righteous souls?

Far be it for us to tear them apart

 

Stir gently the pot of evolution

Ignite the flame of a resolution

 

 

Written for a special Poetry Form prompt at dVerse. Bjorn starts us off with some helpful information on sonnets and some exciting news! Doors open at 3 p.m.EST.

  I decided to use the structure of a Terza Rima with 4 tercets and a couplet , but I wandered from the rhyme scheme. Mine is  ABA CDC EFE GHG II.  Oh my, perhaps I shall stick to free verse?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

RAMblings on Faith

 

I’ve lost faith. Not in myself or any one person…but in society as a whole. We’ve truly outdone ourselves, haven’t we? Our power is devouring us. Self-destruction disguised as bits and bytes of betterment. Perhaps once we’ve surrendered the rest of our intelligence to a robotic regime, we’ll cycle back to playing with sticks and rocks. Building our own fires out of boredom ….just to see if we can. History repeats itself. We’ll sharpen our knives again instead of our minds. But will we ever sharpen our awareness? We have only scratched the surface of our abilities to evolve into humanity. On the contrary, we’ve regressed. We’ve even lost faith in friendships, walking on eggshells around social behaviours we’ve already mastered. Texting conversations that freeze, then flow again, with license to ignore as if the norm.

I have faith in potential. Before I allowed video games to sweep my children into a “Call of Duty”, we collected shells on the beach until the sun nestled on the horizon. Clouds were clouds. Facial recognition meant nothing more than counting freckles. Collecting precious smiles that burst into laughter over almost nothing. We traced the shape of the moon as the grass tickled our skin. I remember. They remember.

I have faith in possibilities. I see starving children no longer starving. I see the end of violence. I see lonely people surrounded by love. I see it all because it’s all there waiting for us to create. Much more rewarding, I would think , than superimposing fictional characters into a digital environment. You don’t need goggles. Just a good heart. I do have unwavering faith in God, but I fear he has lost faith in us.

 

lone seagull sets sail

sun waits patiently for more

waters uncharted

 

 

It’s Haibun Monday at dVerse Poets Pub and the topic is “faith”.  You are all welcome to join in. I am pleased to be your host. Doors open at 3 p.m. EST and this poetic prompt is open all week.

Image credit: pixabay.com

Trajectories

 

 

I have twinkled all day long

Tales of stars and toddler songs

Nurturing in many ways

Setting neuron paths ablaze

 

How I wonder if they’ll see

The ocean, sky and maple trees

Swiping, clicking from afar

Before they wonder who they are

 

Diamonds they are in my hands

I will show them earth and sand

Up above their world so high

I will give them wings to fly

 

 

 

Sharing this with you and dVerse Poet’s Pub for Frank’s Meeting the Bar prompt, “Tanaga”. 

Image credit: pixabay.com

 

untitled

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the murmur of an ice cold heart

beats to the rhythm of decay

dehydrated dreams die

withered in February’s wind

tears will never nourish

 

 

 

For Frank Hubeny’s “Meeting the Bar” prompt. The theme is brevity, specifically to write a poem with no more than 5 lines.  There’s still time to join in over at dVerse Poets Pub.

Image credit: pixabay.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Til(l) Now

we toil in toxic soil

planting intentions,

nurturing our contemplated

marinated seedlings of hope

and it feels righteous

downright righteous

is this not the path to peace?

when hope dies in the eyes of

the oppressed and forgotten

how many prayers are enough

for the darkness to fade,

for light to be cascaded

over hate so barbaric?

oh but we sing and we say

we are the world

We are compassionate

you…and me

aren’t we?

we must step off of our

overturned garden crates

weed out our own fears

and act

 

Amaya Cranston Engleking has joined our team over at dVerse.  Her poetic prompt for us today is to “write an epigraph poem (not an official form) in which a quote about global peace, social justice, or human rights is embedded”.  I chose the following quote…..

It is not enough to be compassionate – you must act.”- His Holiness The Dalai Lama

 

Image credit: pixabay.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You Go First

 

I feel you tugging on the mask

Your grip equals my resistance

To concealing my existence

Don’t listen to my eyes

They lie

 

I feel you dredging up the past

Sifting fallacies from honesty

My blunders are your pleasure

Troubles I do treasure

Don’t look into my soul

It’s old

 

I feel your tiny shovel words

Digging deeply and discreetly

I see your mask is custom fit

Perhaps you truly will outwit

Take it off, go ahead

You go first

 

 

Come join us for Poetics at dVerse Poets Pub 3 p.m. EST.

We are exploring the idea of masks, psychological or metaphorical.

Image credit: pixabay.com

 

 

Shipwrecked

 

 

 

We bobble like iron bubbles

Anchored to docks of despair

Waving flags, still bragging

About love of country

Humble hearts whisper

In feathers, doves

But hope does not float

Intentions are stuck in

Stagnant sea scum

Blood flows and God knows

We are tired

 

 

Written for this week’s Quadrille prompt over at dVerse Poets Pub

Image credit: pixabay.com

 

 

E-volving

 

 

“We are all just prisoners here

of our own device.”

Well isn’t that nice….

Robotic, hypnotic little

Sheep grinning, grazing

On bits and bytes of

Techno trash and hashtags

Phubbing our friends

There’s a word for that?

Doesn’t deserve one

We sulk like fools

In our own game

Propagating our own pain

Immunized, mesmerized

Publicized, then wondering why

Our hearts hurt

And our heads are spinning

This is the fork in the road

My friends

The end

Or the beginning

 

 

Hope you enjoyed “Musical Muse”, my offering as a poetic prompt this week at dVerse Poets Pub. Choose some lyrics, preferably one line from a favorite song and grow your own poem from it. You are not limited to the original theme of the song. Instead, forge your own poetic path.

**Quote is from the lyrics of “Hotel California”, The Eagles

Image credit: pixabay.com

 

 

Fawns and Simpler Things

 

 

I am your Spring

Spindly, unspoken

Mending your dreams

Faded and broken

 

Sweet woodland grasses

Kissed by the sun

Nurture my soul

Teach me to run

 

Delve in my eyes

Of nature’s unknown

I hold your heart

I am your home

 

We are writing “From Nature’s Point of View”.

at dVerse Poets Pub.

 3 p.m. EST.

 

 

 

 

Windbag

 

 

From your lips

Word balloons drift

A speech bubble blitz

Of braggadocio

Oh Pinocchio

Clouds do not part

For your presence

 

You are marshmallowed

Hollowed

A fairy tale twaddle

Floating on folly

And horse feathers

Oh Romeo

Thy swelled head

Will soften your landing

 

For De’s quadrille prompt over at dVerse.

Write a 44 word poem including the word “balloon”.

 

Image credit: pixabay.com

Collaboration for Peace – 52 – Pass it On!

We did it!! We set out, 52 poems and photos ago, to collaborate in bringing peace to this cyber-village of poets. In the process we each found a kindred soul and a shared passion that was not bound by borders. Now that we have reached our goal, we are asking you to continue this journey of peace. Reach out to a fellow poet or photographer (amateur or otherwise). Combine your talents to express your thoughts about peace and inspire others to do the same. At the very least, you will challenge each other, and make a meaningful connection from across the miles. Let us know in the comments if you have decided to take on the challenge. We would love to hear from you and follow your collaboration.

For our last post for “Collaboration for Peace”, Candy and I decided to share our answers to some questions about PEACE. Feel free to add your own thoughts in the comments.

Photo: Candace Kubinec

What does peace look like to you?

Candy: Peace is a moment (or two) of calmness in a busy life. A time without fear or worry.

Mish: It’s not about rainbows and butterflies, peace signs and such. For me, peace looks like a world united, with non judgemental faces and open minds.

 

Photo: Mish

How do you experience inner peace?

Candy: Being outdoors is where I find peace to quiet my inner self, to prioritize. As an introvert, I need those moments to recharge.

Mish: When I feel turmoil in my life, I try to remind myself of my priorities, what truly matters in my life and eliminate the “small stuff” that gets in the way. I find inner peace when I am in nature, examining a wildflower in the woods or watching a hawk soaring above me. I think the simplicity of nature has many lessons for discovering inner peace.

Photo: Mish

What do you believe needs to happen for peace to happen?

Candy: We need to learn to respect others and appreciate our differences. And then follow up with actions that demonstrate that respect. A genuine smile goes a long way to promoting peace.

Mish: We have to break free from societal walls. We need to build bridges instead of walls. Respect and embrace our differences. Become part of the melting pot. Let go of our fears. Stop celebrating any country as the strongest or the best. No country is better than another. These arrogant personas do not support the goals of peace.

 

Photo: Candace Kubinec

What can we do as individuals to promote peace in the world?

Candy: Don’t give in to what is popular but do what you know is right. If you want to promote peace in the world it must start in your own neighborhood – a ripple of peace that will spread outward.

Mish: Reach out. Speak to others who look nothing like you. Learn first hand about their culture and beliefs. Give up the stereotypes. Become educated before you speak. Make connections. You will be enriched and enlightened.

 

Thank you to all of you who have “liked”, commented and supported our Collaboration for Peace project. We hope you continue our journey of peace.

We leave you now with our final collaboration, a poem written by Candy and a photo taken from one of my most peaceful places.

Photo: Mish

Peace Enough

 

I wish you peace enough

to last not just for tomorrow

but until we no longer

need to wish

 

I wish you peace enough

to share with those you love

and those you fear

so you may fear less

 

I wish you peace enough

to carry you through

turbulence and pain

so your heart may smile again

 

I wish you peace enough

to calm your inner self

then ripple out from you

to calm your world

 

© Candace Kubinec

 

You can follow Candy’s blog at rhymeswithbug.com

Thank you, Candace Kubinec for sharing this experience with me, for your amazing way with words, your lovely photography and especially for your friendship.

 

 

Collaboration for Peace – 51

Photo: Candace Kubinec

 

Sol

Shadows still play

On the path to peace

Veins of the vicious

Testing our strength

To reach for the light

 

Dodge the darkness

Stretch your arms

To the sun

Embrace the heart

Of humanity

 

Stay tuned next Sunday for our final post for Collaboration for Peace. This has been an amazing experience. We hope to pass on the torch of peace to you, that you will join in the power of creativity and kindness to inspire others.

 

 

 

 

 

Collaboration for Peace – 49

Photo: Candace Kubinec

 

Betterment

 

Let the past remind us

Not rewind us

Peace will bloom in

Soils of change

Winds of wisdom

Hearts enlightened

Let us not forget

That we are the rain

 

 

 

Collaboration for Peace – 48

Photo: Mish

 

Proliferation

 

Plant me some peace

Sow me some unity

Let it rise up out of the

Darkness of discord

Let it spread seeds of

Understanding and tolerance

Until the weediness of fighting

Is overrun with reconciliation

 

© Candace Kubinec

Collaboration for Peace – 47

Image credit: Candace Kubinec

 

Forward

 

Why are we backpedaling

While currents of clarity

Still flow at our feet?

How does one drop of impurity

Poison our possibilities?

When are we accountable

For the inevitable,

Witnesses to the destruction?

 

We are the ripples of hope

On waters, stagnant

The ancient sunlight shimmer

Dancing over shadows

We are the reflections

Of persistent hands of change

And this world did not evolve

Without us

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collaboration for Peace – 45

Photo: mishunderstood.wordpress.com

 

Stones from a Glass House

It was just one pebble
Thrown in jest
No harm intended
And then one more
Hidden in soft words
Another disguised by
A smile
More and more were
Piled on top until
At last
Peace was smothered

© Candace Kubinec

Collaboration for Peace – 44

 

 

Reach Up, Reach Out

 

I reach up
Spread my arms
To embrace the sky
 
The sky that looks
Down on every person –
Like and unlike me
 
Every person receives
Equal share of the day
And the night
 
The sun and stars
The moon lights the
Corners of darkness
 
Regardless of color or shape
Weeping or joyful
We’re all the same
 
I reach out
To embrace the world
That the sky looks
Down upon in peace
 

 

© Candace Kubinec

 

We’re back! Candy and I bring you a few more weeks of uniting photography with poetry, all in the name of PEACE.

Knock, Knock….Peace, are you there?

 

 

We create our own castles

Brick by brick

We build walls

High enough to obscure faces

And far away places

Pain and anguish muffled

By our own missions

 

We wonder but don’t worry

Slow down from our hurry

Only to throw a few pennies

Or thoughts without physically

Touching a soul

 

We wait for peace like we’re

Waiting for the sun to

Burn holes through mortar

Did we forget how to open a door?

Poem written by Mish

Photo credit: Candace Kubinec

Sharing with Open Link Night at dVerse Poets Pub.

Candy and I have worked together for over a year on a project we call “Collaboration for Peace”. We have been inspired by each others photos, writing poems that ponder and promote peace in our world or within ourselves. It has been an amazing experience and I am blessed to have shared it with such a wonderful person and poet.

This post was “Collaboration for Peace – 29” posted back in July. We only have a few more to go as we’re determined to reach our goal of 52. We post every Sunday and will return after the holidays.

PEACE!

Collaboration for Peace – 42

 

 

Barriers

we build walls trying
to define our space
outline the boundaries of

what belongs to us
construct tangled barriers to
keep others at a distance

so no one will know us too well
we assume a prickly air
attempting to protect our hearts

alone inside our armor of safety
we long for the touch of another
the understanding of a neighbor

the love of a friend
yet we are afraid to reach out
take a risk

seek peace

 

© Candace Kubinec

Collaboration for Peace – 41

 

Let Peace Flow

When you see sorrow
of another
Let joy flow from
Your soul
To cover the dark in light

When you hear hatred
toward a neighbor
Let love flow from
Your heart
To cover the hard in softness

When you feel the anguish
of humanity
Let peace flow from
Your mind
To cover the shattered in healing

© Candace Kubinec

If He is the Homeless

Then we are the heartless
His eyes, cimmerian pools
Conscious waters we dare not tread
His words, rendered null and void
And so he holds the sign
Of failure, defined
As if guilty of existence
Beaten by this steel wool system
Of surface scratchers
Mirrored and jagged
Buffing them up
To send them back out

Dead people live on this street
Like the gray of pigeons, pecking
For rations of sweet sanity
Between dagger eyes
And swift kicks
Tears siphoned back from the edge
Hold more truth than sorrow
Tiny little diamonds
Of the highest clarity

Squinting, scanning for prospects
The sun exposes his lines
A tally of  tragedies
His glance, as empty as pockets
Races past the la-de-da
Seeking one heart, unbiased
One heart that drops the dollar
Without assuming it’s next exchange
And as it free falls to the pavement
He struggles to remember
How it felt to not be treated
Like a modern day leper

 

 

 

Sharing this with dVerse ~ Open Link Night

Image credit: pixabay.com

Collaboration for Peace – 38

Photo: Candace Kubinec

 

We Wait

For ashen skies to

Drift and greet the sun

For time to turn this

Turmoil to tranquility

As gifted abilities

Go to waste

We wait for walls to

Fall but they will stand

Unbroken as long as

Goals remain unspoken

We wait for peace

To magically evolve

Like childhood dreams

And it clearly seems

That we have lost our way

 

 

Photo by Candy

rhymeswithbug.com

Collaboration for Peace – 36

Photo: Candace Kubinec

 

It may be narrow

Obscured by our own

Selfish shadows we

So carelessly cast

We may trip

Fall

Stumble

Or stray aimlessly

From the path

But there is always

A gateway to peace

Collaboration for Peace – 32

Photo: Mish

Build Up

Let’s learn from
the past
spite and envy
slowly crumble our
foundations
we gradually collapse
under their burden
Let’s build each other up
bit by bit
word by word
creating a future
of peace

© candace kubinec

I Wish

 

I wish love grew as ivy

Boundless, disencumbered

Sprouting across spaces

Rainbows of faces

As we sway hand in hand

 

I wish for seas

Of selfish hearts to crash

Against rocky reefs

Dissolve and dilute

In harbors of integrity

 

I wish for all clichéd

World peace, homemade

Stirred, simmered, seasoned

With the very gifts

That God gave us

 

I wish for stars

To forever befuddle me

Amaze me, allude me

Remain unreachable

So I never stop reaching

 …and wishing

 

As your host today at dVerse Poets Pub, I am asking you to leave your worries at the door. Make a wish and write a poem about it. It may be a personal longing or a global vision. Your poem can be serious, humorous or whimsical.

Join us for some “Wishful Thinking”. Doors open at 3 p.m. EST.

 

Collaboration for Peace – 29

 

Knock, Knock….Peace, are you there?

 

We create our own castles

Brick by brick

We build walls

High enough to obscure faces

And far away places

Pain and anguish muffled

By our own missions

 

We wonder but don’t worry

Slow down from our hurry

Only to throw a few pennies

Or thoughts without physically

Touching a soul

 

We wait for peace like we’re

Waiting for the sun to

Burn holes through mortar

Did we forget how to open a door?

Poem written by Mish

Photo credit: Candace Kubinec

Collaboration for Peace – 28

Have the courage to listen to the poems of your heart.

Candy and Mish

 

Heart Song

          ♥

Sing your own song

fling it into the air

be bold

uncontrolled

shout your own words

devout words

or somber

words of joyfulness

let your heart speak

its unique language

in poems of hopefulness

and peace

 

© Candace Kubinec

Collaboration for Peace – 27

 

Find peace in the shadows and joy in the sun.

 Mish and Candy

Image credit: Mish

 
 

In Sun and Shadow

 

sometimes we sit

in the

shadows

content to be

a quiet observer

– champion of

others

 

sometimes we shine

like jewels

in the sun

bringing joy

to all who pass

our way

 

© Candace Kubinec

Collaboration for Peace – 22

 

speak words of peace

among the swirling

darkness of deceit

and fear

listen for the humble

echo

of

hope

 

© Candace Kubinec

Collaboration for Peace – 21

Photo by Candy who writes at rhymeswithbug.com

 

 

I Choose Tolerance

 

Because hate has

No substance

Nothing to offer

I wouldn’t hire hate

I wouldn’t marry hate

I wouldn’t even hang out

With hate

Hate is hollow

What would I do with hollow?

Dear American Newscaster

 

 

 

My country is so vast, and yet for some

reason you neglect our provinces, you say

“Fort McMurray, Canada” as if Alberta, the

size of Texas,  does not exist in this world

I can name nearly all of your fifty states, will

you please return the favo(u)r  and kindly end

this geography gap, look at a map, come on in

Identity is relevant, even for a wicked raging fire

 

For Open Link Night at dVerse, originally written for -“Meeting the Bar: The Golden Shovel Form”- where you choose a line from another poem and use each word in the line as an end word in your own poem. I used the following line “Some say the world will end in fire” from a poem called “Fire and Ice” by Robert Frost. My thoughts have been with the 90,000 people in the Fort McMurray area evacuated from their homes and especially those who have no home to return to.

 

**Note: This poem is a “letter” to one particular news reporter although it is not the first time I have experienced this frustration.  It is only intended to be a gentle nudge to explore Canada, it’s distinct provinces and territories and not intended to offend my American friends, family or fellow poets.

 

Related Articles:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2016_Fort_McMurray_wildfire

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/alberta/the-fort-mcmurray-disaster-read-the-latest-friday/article29930041/

 

 

 

 

 

 

Collaboration for Peace – 18

Another collaboration brought to you by Candy and I. Have a peaceful day!

 

Image: Candace Kubinec

 

Out on a Limb

 

Hearts begin beating

With innocence

Untainted and pure

Helpless they long to be

Loved and nourished

Expecting nothing more

Than other hearts

To improvise

Join in, synchronized

To their sweet song

 

Collaboration for Peace – 17

 This week Candy and I are hoping you find peace amid the storms of life…

 

 

Safe Harbor

 

I sailed my little ship

through unknown seas

navigating through storms

and doldrums letting

the stars guide my

passage

I sailed my little ship

without fear of

rocky shores

until I found peace

 
© Candace Kubinec

Collaboration for Peace – 15

 

Candy and I would like to challenge you to leave a trail of peace this week…

 

 

Contrails

 

We leave a trail

as we pass through

the atmosphere

of each day

The vapors of each

word and action

follow us –

heavy, dark lines

of unkindness

airy stripes of

peace and love

that show our

true direction

 ~

© Candace Kubinec

Collaboration for Peace – 14

201672094

  Candy and I are hoping your days are filled with peace and poetry…

 

Covered in Poems

 

The world is covered in an ocean of poems
That ride in and out with the current(affairs)
They are a tsunami of emotion

A tidal wave of rebellion
We splash and play in the surf of words
And picnic on beaches of smooth syllables

We wiggle our toes in trickles of rhyme
And bathe ourselves in cool rhythms
We are tugged by the undertow of language

Until we’re drowned in a wave of love letters

 

© Candace Kubinec

Collaboration for Peace – 13

Thanks for joining Candy and me in this effort to spread peace and goodwill through our Collaboration for Peace.

 

 

 

Spin Me

 

I have lost all sense of direction

East is moving west

The world is upside down

Spin me around

And point me towards peace

 

© Candace Kubinec

Seeds of the Milkweed

 

 

I have to know

Mysteries make me mad

And wondering seems

A waste of time

When I was young I pried apart

Nature’s precious plants

To see, to feel, to know

 

I have to know

What’s inside and why?

What made you do

The things that you do?

Why do we follow as if

We are hollow?

What is the point

Of selfishness?

 

I have to know

Not why I am here

But why I don’t quite fit

Into this purposeless puzzle

We are now calling life

Children still cry

People still die

And so many watch

I have to know

Why

 

A first person narrative poem is the prompt today at dVerse. Victoria has given us the freedom to write from our own point of view or that of another.

Collaboration for Peace – 9

 

Candy and I are happy to bring you another collaboration.

 

 

Photo: Candace Kubinec

 

Universal

 

We may not see

Scars and bruises

Heartaches hidden deep

Or know the twisted roots

Of troubled minds

Understanding takes time

But we can feel the rain

Of a thousand fears

Streaming down faces

In faraway places

We have never been

We can start here because

Tears are universal

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rain Gauge

Image Credit: Gabriella

 

He wandered west from the financial district destined for relief from the squirrel cage they called success. Grey skies merged with the concrete below his feet. Tiny droplets remained stoic for an instant before rolling like tears from his navy blue pea coat. The clouds erupted. Looking up, his forehead caught a colossal drop that had dared to dangle from the coffee shop overhang. He ran his index finger along the glossy storefront just for the sound or perhaps to startle the young girl sitting on the other side of the distorted glass. He pondered the vanilla latte and moved on.

No eye contact was made with the unshaven man huddled under wet cardboard on the corner. His conscience took hold of him as one Gucci oxford failed to miss a puddle. Turning around he knew his small gesture would be more about him than the one who was destitute. He handed him a twenty. The sky lit up suddenly exposing the contrast between his smooth, manicured hands and the grimy palms of the homeless man. He glanced quickly at the man’s face. Somewhere in one short gaze, he found himself.

 

Yesterday’s downpours

Today a soft shoe tap dance

Weathering the storm

 

Inspired by one of Gabriella’s beautiful photos for Haibun Monday at dVerse.

Collaboration for Peace-6

It’s Sunday which means another Collaboration For Peace! Candy posted yesterday as she is busy traveling today. We are happy to share our creations and hope that they can inspire you in some small way.

 

 

Peace Comes

peace comes not from inky
words on paper
or notes sung by choirs of angels
it comes instead when two souls
reach across the gap of
their differences
to find commonality

 

© candace kubinec

The Fence

White pickets pose

Tapered in alternate angles

Once stately, now weathered

Rain soaked

Naturally white washed

Time and sun chip away

Leaving peelable flakes

For someone’s obsession

Or therapy

 

A precarious division

Unstable, still standing

Warped, still grounded

Surrounded by the green

Of unruly blades, wind-bent

Identical meadow grasses

On either side

 

 

Today at dVerse Poets Pub, Victoria has asked us to write a poem using imagism. This highly descriptive style originated in the early 1900’s and focuses intensely on a single image. Metaphors are usually not included although an underlying meaning may be interpreted.

 

Collaboration for Peace-4

It has been fun to collaborate with Candy from rhymeswithbug and we hope that you are enjoying our Sunday posts. So far, I have been providing the photos and Candy has been inspired to write.

Hope you are having a peaceful day…

 

 

 

clouds kiss the face

of the eternal ocean

in silent communion

~

© candace kubinec

Collaboration for Peace-3

Hope you’ve been finding inspiration in our Collaboration for Peace project.

Here is our third post.

You can find more about Candy at rhymeswithbug.com.

While you’re at it stop over and visit Aritists4Peace.

 

 

 

i found a friend when

i wasn’t looking

when i was in need

there was nothing

we had in common

except a love of the sea

and we sailed on

© candace kubinec

Related posts:

Collaboration for Peace (1)

Collaboration for Peace (2)

 

 

 

In Flanders Fields – 100 Years

 

Image credit: cbc.ca

Today in Canada, we remember those who risked their lives and lost their lives at war. A few weeks before “Remembrance Day”, coinciding with the U.S. “Veterans Day” , we donate spare change (or hopefully more) to purchase a bright red, felt- like poppy. These are worn to signify that we have not forgotten the sacrifices of those who have served in the military.

The custom of wearing poppies evolved from the  poem, “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae, May 1915. The poem which was published after his death, was recited every year in classrooms across Canada as we approached Nov.11th.

This year marks the 100th anniversary of this famous war poem.

Who was John McCrae?

Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD was a Canadian poet. He was also a physician and soldier during World War I.  He served as a surgeon during the Second Battle of Ypres. (WW I)

He was moved by the sight of a million poppies growing on the battlefields and cemeteries of Ypres, Belgium during the First World War. His words were penned as he sat in the back of an ambulance just north of Ypres, where he had recently buried his friend, Lieutenant Alex Helmer.

I have come to realize that some Americans are not familiar with this famous war poem or the symbolism of the poppy. Ironically, the idea of adorning poppies on our lapels originated from an American woman. Inspired by John McCrae’s poem, Moina Michael wore a silk poppy to symbolize remembrance of those who served in WW I.  She advocated the idea for two years in hopes of the poppy becoming a national commemorative symbol. Her efforts were not in vain and the poppy is worn proudly in many countries around the world.

The last surviving WW I veteran died in 2012. Her name was Florence Green from the U.K.

Many of our WW II veterans are still with us.

Today and always, let us honour their strength, survival and sacrifices.

 

 

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

by John McCrae, May 1915

 

 

 

Related Articles:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_McCrae

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/history/the-history-of-the-remembrance-poppy-9852348.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_last_surviving_World_War_I_veterans_by_country

 

This is an edited version of my post on Nov.11, 2014.

Halloween Freaks

The hooligans gather
In small hours of night
Scanning and planning
To feast on our fright

Slithering, withering
Varmints and trolls
Creatures of habit
Hiding in holes

Ghastly ogres
Of lineage and dole
Peering and peeping
With eyes of gall

Insides on outsides
Slinking and stinking
Halloween freaks
What are you thinking?

~

We are writing about anything Halloween for dVerse. Toni is our host tonight. She is a talented poet and you can find her at kanzensakura . We share a fear for the Wizard of Oz!  So….uh…yeah…I am not a fan of the quivery, shivery stuff, but I have to admit that this was fun to write.

Image credit: Wikipedia commons

Writing 201 – Day 4

 

 

No ideal life can be attained

The sun will shine above the rain

Let’s not be critical

Flaws are mystical

Perfection can be mundane

 

 

Imperfection is our prompt for this assignment that involved writing a limerick.It also gave me the opportunity to use this photo I took at a beautiful park in Ontario.

Writing 201- Day 2

Hands out, eyes closed

Ugliness tied with a bow

Saccharin sweet and simulated

Here lie the ashes of integrity

Mincing words and morals

Over coffee and character

Never did you think

Ethics would be worth

Your weight in gold

 

Written for Writing 201 at The Daily Post. The word prompt was “gift” although this is a darker interpretation. I also accepted the challenge of writing it as an “acrostic” poem.

Linking this up for Open Link Night at dVerse.

All We’ve Forgotten

We forget the essentials
As we pretend that gratitude
Is a new way to live our life
We forget substance
We forget joy
We forget how it feels
To feel
We numb our minds from the pain
Of a thousand knives and bullets
Aimed at someone else
Our hearts forget to beat
For those we’ve forgotten

We forget the land
We forget the land can heal us
We forget authenticity
We forget to worry about
Monsters under the bed
They reside in our head
We forget to imagine
We forget to look…
For anything
We wait for it…
To load, begin the show
As we deprive ourselves from accomplishment

We forget possibilities
Woven, sewn or whittled
From nothing but a dream
We forget how to knock on a door
We forget what friends are for
We forget that hope is not just a word
Or a bird or another tattoo
For some it is all there is
We forget why we’re here
We forget to care
We forget how it feels to care
About all we’ve forgotten

---

Grace is hosting at dVerse Poet’s Pub. She introduced us to the work of Loyce Gayo, Slam Champ of the UT Spitshine Poetry Slam team. Her performance poem, “How We Forget” was my inspiration for this piece.

http://dversepoets.com/2015/09/08/poetics-how-we-forget/

Seeing the Light

 

We eat intentions for breakfast
Blaming our half done deeds
On calendars and clocks
We are the watchmen

 

We look to the skies and heavens
Waiting for God to repair
The gifts we’ve destroyed
We are the watchmen

 

We find faults between layers
Of good will and grace
Wipe tears from blind eyes
We are the watchmen

 

 

Lynn is hosting Poetics at dVerse Poets Pub! She asks, “Who or what acts as our personal or social watchman?  Do we choose to believe or ignore this watchman?” In my opinion, if society has failed, then we have failed…yes…you and I.

 

The Philosophy of Every Breath

 

We tread in the turbulence
Only to save ourselves
Creating our own human condition
We set our own foolish fires
As we direct our demise
Blindfolded
Do you ask why?
Do you feel each wispy breath as it
Leaves your tired lungs, wondering
Why we are here?

Listen to the faintest crackle
Of leaves on the forest floor
This is the voice of truth
Feel the soft skin on your lips
As you kiss a baby’s cheek
This is the canvass of innocence
Follow the red lines in the eyes
Of the man begging on the street
This is the road map to justice
And we have lost our way

~

Brian Miller is hosting at dVerse! He asked us to write about philosophy.

 

50 Things I’ve Learned in 50 Years…#27

“Even though we are all different, we are all the same.  We all want to be loved and accepted for who we are.”

 

One of the greatest challenges in life is cooperative interaction with others. We hit walls we don’t want to climb and cross bridges we don’t want to meet…half…way. We guard our personalities and beliefs with our life.

Why? It took a long time to figure out who we are and no one is going to mess with that…right?

However, sometimes we have to step out of our deep rooted convictions and venture into neutral territories. It is in this place that we will find one thing in common. When we look underneath egos and actions, we will find the vulnerability that makes all of us human….the need to be validated and loved.

This is where hearts will align.. in spite of ourselves.

3 Days 3 Quotes Challenge: Day Two

 

“It’s not our job to toughen our children up to face a cruel and heartless world. It’s our job to raise children who will make the world a little less cruel and heartless.”

~L.R. Knost~

     ______________________________________________________________________

This is something I hold close to my heart. Whether we are parents or educators, I believe it is our responsibility to nurture, be empathetic and model kindness for the mental health of our children and for the future of our society.

A big thank you to unexpectedincommonhours for nominating me for the “3 Days 3 Quotes Challenge”. Check out her blog!

Here are the rules:

1. Thank the person who nominated you.
2. Post a quote each day for 3 days.
3. Each day, nominate 3 new bloggers to take part in the challenge.

Today’s three nominees:

1. The 2015 Chronicles

2. Butterfly Sand

3. Zimmerbitch: age is just a (biggish) number

~

Speaking of Peace

 

We are but one decibel in the scream

One whisper of insight, unspoken

Tongues too frozen to speak

Or are we tone deaf to the sound of

Fingers running along wind chimes?

Glass, bamboo, shells, stones, porcelain, metal, wood

All different

Dangling in the same sweet sea breeze

Tapping on each others hearts

To find perfect harmony

~

“Truth, peace, harmony, love” are part of the poetic prompt at dVerse this week.

Also written for Artists4Peace.

Dearest Self

 

So I’ll let you know now

Not that it matters

‘Cuz there’s no stopping this time train

But I just thought you might

Appreciate some tips

Put away these 5 things

Paper money, photographs, a map

Sensitivity and creativity

I suppose I could have 3D projected

This info but I didn’t want to freak you out

Holograms are in these days

Soon you’ll be scanning yourself for disease

They’ll send you the results via…

Yep, you guessed it

Dr. Hologram

And as we battle over nothing in space

I’ll picture you

Sitting by your retro gas fireplace

Natural, of course

Sipping on green tea

We don’t do natural anymore

Take trees for example…

Yes, take a tree

Maybe a small bonsai you can hide

Because you’ll be charged extra just for having one

Advice from the heart…

Don’t let them implant anything in your head

Life was better before becoming an Android

“Look above you- it’s raining
Look around- there’s a flood
Who can say when it started,
but now the ghost is in our blood”

 

~

Grace at dVerse has asked us to imagine the future and write a poem or letter to ourselves in the here and now. The last stanza is from a poem by Ben Burke.

http://ideas.ted.com/a-poem-from-the-future/

 

Weekly Photo Challenge: Depth III

 

They call it “The Joe”

Home of the Detroit Red Wings

Diamond in the rough

~

https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/depth/