PAD 1

When Jesus was born

Light, life and love manifested

God introduced Himself

Poetic Asides hiatus, Poetic Bloomings Byron's Sonnet

Away at the Lake

Hills hid the tiny fishing town from view.

Early fall, I took a much-needed break.

The sky glowed blue over a rippled lake.

Wood paddles dipped and moved the red canoe.

Hemlocks huddled on shore as if they knew

the mountain would not block the coming storm.

The sky darkened, whitecaps began to form

as the air chilled and a whistling wind blew.

The canoe sidled up to the long dock.

My nephew lent his strong and friendly hand.

Friends had clam chowder cooking in the crock.

The tinkling chimes and thunder formed a band,

the sound of rain more pleasant than a clock.

We chatted as we waited in the stand.

Fishing at Dawn in Ketchikan 

In dim morning light

pink wisps touch
mountain silhouette.

Hills huddle the bay.

Rocks laze along shore
in stream’s spray

I fish,

breathing in beauty
and peace.

limerick

There once was girl scout named Kat

Who often encountered a bat

At first she’d be beaming

Then run away screaming

So what is as silly as that?

Poetic Bloomings little things

Keys

K eys start machines. Keys allow

E ntrance. A full key chain shows

Y our authority or that you’re a janitor.

S piritual keys open up the unseen. 

one minute poem

Massive to-do list

Whirling about in my head

Lord, help me focus

Competition

Sometimes it seems

demons of hell

kick people in the head

to get them out of bed

and keep on kicking

throughout the day

with loud noises, snubs,

discredits, caustic rubs,

harsh comments.

But angels retaliate

with compliments,

encouragements,

gifts and prayers.

May the angels

in your life

 win over strife.

Poetic Asides Circus

Cotton Candy Sticks

Forty-five years ago

our fourth grade field trip—

Barnum and Bailey Circus

What do I remember?

A lion tamer,

a performing elephant,

a clown or two.

But mostly

my friend and I

finding and winding our way

through the Pittsburgh Coliseum

to buy souvenirs and

cotton candy.

Poetic Bloomings Pensee

Making Memories

Visit

Long awaited

Shopping, playing games, touring

Grand southwestern Colorado

It goes by all too fast.

haiku

We’re all abustle

Alone at last, breathe in grace

Stillness heals, strengthens

243 aba

Childhood

Small house

Big family

Country mouse

Healthy

Fun outdoor play

Not wealthy

All trees

Distinct seasons

Memories

Poetic Bloomings Clown

A Clown Slipped

In a shady park,

I took my two kids

to see Ronald McDonald

do corny tricks.

Obnoxious children

on the front row

(not mine this time)

began heckling.

Ronald continued his routine

he must have practiced

many times in clown school

or other performances.

But that look flitted in his eyes

unmasked by white makeup,

(I knew it well)

Let me throttle those brats!

tanka

Day Dawns

The clock ticks

The room lightens as I type

Getting organized

Like a track runner stretching

Getting ready to take off at the shot

Poetic Asides Somonka

Divine Romance

Good morning, Lord

My spirit—alert—listens

Sensitive

A silky curtain in a breeze

Longing to be ruffled

I Am attentive

Joyous to caress you

A loving wind

Enabling your spirit to soar

Yet, be tethered to earth 

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.” Acts 2:38

In My Hand

If I listed all I don’t have,

it would go on and on

like a child’s Christmas wish list.

But God doesn't look at that.

“What’s in your hand?”

He asked Moses.

Lord, all that’s in my hand

I commit to You.

And if ever I grip something too tightly,

please, gently pry my fingers loose,

or, better yet, show me

what You want me to grab on to. 

Poetic Bloomings - Tetractys Poetic Asides Fish

Fish

Blank eyes

Kissy lips

Slippery skin

Dad and me in a rowboat casting lines

with these silly creatures and lunch in mind

Oh, I got one!

Reel it in

Laughter

Fish

Bref Double

Cleaning Day

The boxes piled along the wall,

The papers stacked just anywhere,

Thick dust can serve to write a note.

The furniture sits side by side.

A cleaning is past overdue.

You get a sense that things will fall.

So tiptoe in with gloves on hand.

You must resist the urge to hide.

Now line the boxes down the hall.

Get every scrap of paper out.

Ignore those folks who text or call.

 “Come over and help,” you can quote.

So keep on going. Do not stall.

And when you’re done you can smile wide.

Poem based on The Highway Man by Alfred Noyes

Sisters Reading The Highwayman

They tiptoed back to the closet and grasped the red book where

They searched for page 123 and sat on the floor right there.

They pointed to Alfred’s Highwayman a poem they could not ignore,

And the sisters all sat reading—reading—reading—

The sisters all sat reading, there on the hallway floor.

They soaked in vibrant details, the velvet and the lace.

They closed their eyes and imagined sneers on the ostler’s face.

They sighed for the dark-haired daughter and the man whom she adored,

And the sisters all sat reading—reading—reading—

The sisters all sat reading, there on the hallway floor.

When soldiers bound the daughter, the sisters held their breath,

Spellbound they sat motionless when she warned her love by death.

And tears formed within their eyes when he died on the lonely moor,

And the sisters all sat reading—reading—reading—

The sisters all sat reading, there on the hallway floor.

They pictured his ghost in the darkness whistling his tune.

And she’d step out to meet him in the light of the silvery moon.

They shivered with sad delight and read the poem once more,

And the sisters all sat reading—reading—reading—

The sisters all sat reading, there on the hallway floor.

They often heard friends’ voices, “Can they come out to play?”

“They’re back there reading poetry.” They heard their mother say.

Their silly friends sniffed and hollered, “Poetry! What a bore!”

And the sisters all sat reading—reading—reading—

The sisters all sat reading, there on the hallway floor. 

Poetic Bloomings Ekphrastic

                                                                                 Photo: Sheryl Kay Oder

Sevenling

Cooking, cleaning, writing

Responsible, determined, industrious

Productive

Hiking, biking, kayaking

Adventurous, enthusiastic, fun-loving

Vibrant 

Indoor me and outdoor me 

Autumn poem

Autumn leaves

Chilly air, excited thrill

Colors bursting on the hill

Of this scene, I take my fill

Breathing in the autumn scent

Vanished is my discontent 

Saraband

Hope

Do not get under circumstance

But climb on top with thoughtful prayer

You do not live by luck or chance

Don’t minimize your value here

With vision, navigate your walk

Yes, venture forth in faith not fear

The days are numbered for the clock

Saraband

Nocturnal

Moon light flows through shivering leaves

Owls fly low in search of fast food

Mice scamper and hide in barn eaves

Bat wings flap, form Vs overhead

Raccoons scarf their scavengers’ yield

The farmer and wife snore in bed

Crops grow quietly in the field

Poetic Bloomings Saraband

A Lame Praise Song

I praise You because You are great

You are wonderful, good and kind

You make sad, glad and bent paths straight

You forgive people when they do wrong

You are faithful, patient and sweet

I cannot find good words for this song

So I thank You and then repeat…

Poetic Asides If You...

If You Skipped Like a Child

If you skipped like a child,

you’d smile more.

If you chirped like a bird,

your mood would lighten.

If you slithered like a snake,

you’d wriggle till you’d giggle.

If you purred like a cat,

you’d take a restful nap.

If you’d bark like a dog,

you’d feel bold.

If you were thankful, even in trials,
your heart would catch up. 

More stars

Midnight Walk in the Forest

Straight trees

stretched into a night
alight with stars.

Shadows shivered,

slithered, scampered
took flight.

Twigs snapped.

Owls called out
their lonely warnings.

You and I

wandered and wondered,
a world unto ourselves.

Poetic Bloomings stars

Mountain Night

The giant full moon rested

on the rippled lake

spreading out a speckled path

like a comforter.

Pines in silhouette

tilted toward each other

saying their bedtime prayers.

Aged rounded mountains

snored with logging trucks.

Stars lilted their silent lullabies. 

Halloween Party

The children bob for apples

Like chickens pecking grain.

The room is filled with laughter

Like cackles from the hens.

They dry their soggy heads

And eat just what they choose,

Then go home to cozy beds

And snuggle down to roost. 

Poetic Bloomings Stars

Camping

Dome tent glows like UFO

Inky, diamond night

Crackling fire

Friendly solitude

Cricket choir
Tension takes flight

Poetic Bloomings Amphigouri

The Amphigouri

The amphigouri is wonderful

Whenever you have happulite  

Simply breathe in bundergul

The amphigouri is wonderful

Rhyming is no longer plunderwool

Just pop in a mapusite

The amphigouri is wonderful

Whenever you have happulite

Poetic Asides Normal

A normal man named Muzzy

Ate bugs for lunch cuz he

Was cheap as could be.

Insects were for free.

Muzzy wasn’t normal, was he?

Nove Otto

I’ll Pray

The clouds hang low and gray today.

The morning has begun. I’ll pray

as family begins to stir.

The baby sips upon her milk.

The kitty licks her fur of silk

as she begins to softly purr.

My hubby’s busy at his tasks.  

 “Are you ready?” the Spirit asks.

With him I eagerly concur.