Tag: Jane Doughetry challenge

»

It was a cloud arrow,
low on the horizon,
spun of wispy fluff,
enough to awaken,
forsaken heart searching,
lurching for a window. 
Pillow song,
long unheard, hovering, 
floating in sunset sky.
Fly this way it said, 
fed by the last glow of orange light, 
bright orb sun sinking, 
thinking only of its bed, 
tended by billows, 
haloes of grey blanket. 
It was a cloud arrow.

»

This was my first circular poem attempt, prompted by Jane Dougherty’s Poetry Challenge #7 and the cloud arrow seen out my back door. A circular poem is an interesting form, though challenging without practice. ( I assume it gets easier.)  As described by Jane Dougherty, “The last word of the first line rhymes with the first word of the following line and so on until you end up back at your first line”.  Please visit the above link to read Jane Dougherty’s example and other submissions to the challenge.

©2015, all rights reserved by ontheland.wordpress.com

The theme for Jane Dougherty’s Poetry Challenge #5 is ‘War’; the form is a ‘Nonet’: 9 lines starting with 9 syllables in line 1, and counting down with each line (9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1).  

I was putting final touches on my nonets on the evening of  Friday, November 13, 2015, as the world reeled from terror attacks in the City of Paris.  The unfolding tragic events filled me with immense sadness and, I am sorry to say,  I was reminded that we could destroy ourselves with violence before uncurbed global warming does us in.  Dark thoughts indeed, and not ones that I allow much space.  Clearly it is not helpful to contemplate apocalypse; we must imagine and act on solutions.  I wrote three poems.   I wrote the third one when I woke up today, November 14.

Why remember?

Why remember on remembrance day?
Let's remember to reflect on 
war, our tragic addiction
to deadly weapon fire,
and bold young heroes'
sacrifices,
squandered on
tainted
peace.


Peace

Resounding to the heavens, joyous
dove songs mark terror's overthrow
bombs and guns are obsolete
dictators have no sway
confused violence
has stepped aside 
for reason
love and
peace.


Terror

What glass shards pierced their murderous hearts?
What dark horrors tangled their minds?
Who schemes murder in God's name?
Resisting fear's poison,
I grasp for answers,
How to oppose
madness with
peaceful
heart.

©2015, All rights reserved by Ontheland.wordpress.com