Imprompt Leaving

Aloha

Aloha means hello and goodbye

Affection, peace, compassion, mercy

Welcoming you as we meet

Bidding you farewell as we depart

The first aloha invigorates

As you anticipate new adventures

Luaus, hula dances, whale watching

Hiking to waterfalls and volcanoes

Gliding along in an outrigger canoe

Riding bikes down a mountainside

Relaxing on sunny beaches, snorkeling

Sampling macadamia nuts and poi

The second comes with sadness

and promises to return.

Imprompt praise

Praising God for Hawaii

I praise You, God, for clear aqua waters

And fine sand the color of dinner rolls

For the fragrances of sweet plumeria,

Heady ginger and lingering puakenikeni

I praise You, God, for warm balmy winds,

Refreshing rains and sun on my skin

For lapping waves, melting pot of languages

Chirping ukulele and slack key guitar

I praise You, God, for paste-like poi,

Lomi salmon and sweet haupia

Thank You, God, for the wonderful

Dance on my senses that Hawaii offers

Imprompt postcard

Greetings from Maui

The turquoise water,  

so clear,

the snorkeler appears

to be flying.

Her shadow follows along

on the bay’s sandy bottom.

A small rugged island

peaks up to a brilliant sky.

Imprompt Bug

Little Miss Muffet’s Spider

“I sat beside her,”

said the shocked spider.

“She shrieked and ran away.

I wanted a new friend

on whom I could depend.

Should I change my mouthwash today?”

Imprompt Didactic

Rainbow Trees

R ainbow Eucalyptus, Mindano gum or Rainbow gum.

A tree that looks like a variety of paints poured down the bark.

I t’s the only Eucalyptus species found naturally in the

N orthern Hemisphere. They originate from the Philippines.  Patches of outer

B ark shed annually at different times. The bright green inner bark darkens to

O range, blue, purple and maroon tones. A

W onder to behold!

T ropical and subtropicals climates are great for growing

R ainbow Eucalyptus.  They can be raised in Florida, Texas, California, Maui and

E ven in Southern Arizona. The trees are

E specially good for ornamental purposes. It’s also the main

S pecies grown in the Philippines for pulpwood used in making paper. 

Imprompt Too much of a good thing, a nonet

Too Much of a Good Thing

Chocolate macadamia nuts

Try them for breakfast, snack and lunch

And to stop the hunger pains

At three, eat them again

And at dinner, too

Still you’re not through

Till bedtime

And then

Barf

Imprompt Line from blitz

Cheer with Thanksgiving

We go all out at football games, wearing the team color,

painting our faces, roaring as a unit at a touchdown.

We raise our hands at concerts, swoon at rock stars.

We clap, cheer, and throw confetti for leading politicians.

So let’s unite hearts, souls and minds, raise our voices

and cheer for the lover of our souls, the giver of good things,

the creator of the universe, the all-powerful glorious one,

the alpha and omega, the beginning and the end. Yay God!

Imprompt Blitz

God of Now

Rejoice always

Rejoice in God

God is love

God is good

Good night

Good day

Day spring

Day time

Time to praise

Time to sing

Sing unto the Lord

Sing and laugh

Laugh with joy

Laugh out loud

Loud shouting

Loud cheering

Cheering with thanksgiving

Cheering with hope

Hope in God

Hope always

Always look up

Always pray

Pray without ceasing

Pray for peace

Peace that passes understanding

Peace like a river

River of joy

River of strength

Strength in joy

Strength in gentleness

Gentleness rules

Gentleness heals

Heals the inner man

Heals community

Community builds

Community accomplishes

Accomplishes great things

Accomplishes dreams

Dreams and visions

Dreams of happiness

Happiness of soul

Happiness of heart

Heart of passion

Heart of compassion

Compassion then

Compassion now

Now serve

Now live

Live

Serve

Imprompt fall

Pipiwai Trail Hike, Maui

Through the eerie bamboo forest

with its strange knocking sound,

past the thick spreading banyan tree

and the Makahiku overlook,

the four hundred foot tall

majestic Waimoku Falls

commands oohs and ahhs,

recharging your spirit

dimming any aches and pains

from the two hour uphill hike.

Imprompt Image

The Path

As a child,

how many times

did I run barefoot

down our grassy hill

across the gravely road

through Pappap’s yard

between the ponds

across the stout bridge,

the tiny bridge

and the high, long bridge

over the stony creek

to my cousins’ house

in the woods?

So many times

that if I close my eyes

I can feel

moss and soft grasses,

tarry gravel,

rough wood

and the beaten path

under my feet.

I can hear

Canada Geese honking

bobwhite quails calling,

peep frogs peeping

and crickets singing.

I can smell

freshly mown grass,

blossoms on apple trees

air washed clean after the rain.

I can see

familiar houses of relatives

and neighbors, willows, oaks,

maples, apple trees and pines,

tiger lilies, clover

touch-me-nots.

I can taste

the plums, grapes, elderberries,

and Siberian crabapples.

I can recall

all the games we played,

trouble we’d get into,

adventures we lived through,

laughter, arguments,

songs, make believe,

through the seasons and

padding back and forth

between our houses

never thinking someday

it would all be

just memories imprinted

on our souls.

Imprompt Image

Self Portrait

A woman who has lived over half a century

with precious little advice to offer anyone.

Chances are slim she’ll ever become

classy, exotic or sophisticated but

known for caring. And that’s enough. 

Imprompt Home

Home

My home’s supposed to be an empty nest;

our two birdies flew the coop,

but now we care for two nonverbal people,

a shuffler and a wheeler.

The house is clean enough

to keep away the health department

and dirty enough to know my time

is spent on other worthwhile things—

like writing, that shows an interesting

person hides in there somewhere,  

and exercising and praying enough

to keep body and soul together.

Paintings, from places I traveled,

hang with a picture from Hawaii,

the only state I haven’t visited,

calling to me, “Aloha!" Someday.

Home's also stocked with books, photos,

and knickknacks—memorabilia

of layer upon layer of people and events

which are the woven fiber of me.  

Imprompt Rose Colored glasses

Grist

Are you disturbed by disasters,

troubled by trials and temptations

flabbergasted by fiascoes and flops?

Cheer up!

They’ll make good poems someday. 

Imprompt Hawaii theme, wear your spirit, Poetic Asides hold blank, Creative Bloomings Septolet

Hold on to Your Dreams

Soul expression

Playful dolphins

Leaping high

Gracefully swimming

Body waves

Up, down

Gliding by

prompt sequels

Ukulele Acrostic 

Ultimately it sings the history

Keeping true to ancient mystery

Unusual in its tone

Letting loose with rhythmic moan

Entertaining folks with hula dance

Lulling listeners into a trance

Experience continuity!

Sequel to Stephen Nolan’s Acrostic Ukulele

http://allpoetry.com/poem/5190965-Acrostic-Ukulele-by-stephenthepoet

Imprompt Letter to Yourself

Dear Me Fifteen Summers Ago

Do not paint your gables purple.

They fade before the rest of the house does

and it looks like someone from

a third-world country lives there.

And then you’ll have to paint the whole house

while your children are home

 instead of relaxing and visiting.

And you’ll be up there high on the ladder

putting a coat of Kilz over the purple.

At the same time, you’ll have to

prepare for a writer’s conference.

So choose cream instead. 

imprompt mug shot

Such a kind looking fella for a gangster

His eyes shone warm

His smile, friendly

Even his ears stuck out and waved

Imprompt song and specific pov terminology

I Love to Sit and Write

Well, I love to sit and write
I love to sit and write
I love to hear the tapping of the keys

Watch the light from my gooseneck

Lighting up my fingers
You know it inspires me

Well, I love to sit and write
Touch typing without sight
I love to feel the warmth of my laptop
Taste my hot tea with cream and sugar
And have the cat on my lap

Similes and metaphors
I wake up my muse and say

I love to sit and write
Yeah, I love to sit and write
Well, I love to sit and write
Well, I love to sit and write
Ooh ooh

I love to sit and write
I love sit and write
I love to hear the tap of the keys
Watch the light from my gooseneck
Lighting up my fingers
You know it inspires me

Well, I love to sit and write
Touch typing without sight
I love to feel the warmth of my laptop
Taste my hot tea with cream and sugar
And have the cat on my lap

Let a poem come from this mind of mine
I crack myself up about every time

I love to sit and write
Yeah, I love to sit and write
Well, I love to sit and write
Well, I love to sit and write
Ooh ooh

Imagination runs rampant today
I happily write the morning away

'Cause I love to sit and write
Yeah, I love to sit and write
Well, I love to sit and write
I love to sit and write

Well, I love to sit and write
My eyes have that far away stare
Yeah, I love to sit and write
Well, it keeps me from my cares

Ooh, I love to sit and write
You know I do, yeah, yeah
I love to sit and write

I love to sit and write
My eyes have that far away stare
I love to sit and write
Yeah, I’m addicted
Well, I love to sit and write
And I love my cat, too

Well, I love to sit and write
Yeah, I love to sit and write
Well, I love to sit and write
I love to sit and write

From Eddy Rabbits I Love a Rainy Night

Imprompt Trickster

Friends

Willows offering shade.

Raindrops refreshing the earth.

Rainbows full of light, color and hope.

The moon gentle and soothing.

The sun giving warmth and clarity to the day.

Rocks unmoving and dependable.

Clouds coming and going.

Meteors leaving their mark.

Ripples in the pond touching many.

Or at Times Friends Can Be

Willows with roots destroying foundations.

Raindrops spoiling picnics.

Rainbows demanding attention.

The moon—the luna in lunatic.

The sun burning with fury.

Rocks hard and stubborn

Clouds dark and ominous

Meteors leaving a barren hole

Ripples in an otherwise smooth pond.

impromptu pov

What I Can Do

I look out over mountain tops

And watch the planting of the crops

Embracing planes as they fly through

I darken when I send the rain

And then with sun I’m light again

I always have a lovely view

I change my shape and make you guess

I paint the sky with fluffiness

‘Cause that is what a cloud can do 

imprompt monsters, PA messing around, CB Rondel

The Monsters

The monsters messed around with me

They leered and grinned and sang a song

The tune was off, the words were wrong

They danced about too clumsily

They stomped upon my self esteem

And shattered feelings like a gong

The monsters messed around with me

They leered and grinned and sang a song

They told me lies convincingly

They said the storms would last too long

I looked to whom I do belong

And in the end they had to flee

The monsters messed around with me

imprompt Art Deco

Communication

The rounded wooden radios

fit in with their décor.

Folks listened to the baseball games,

Fibber McGee and war.

And then came the television.

News from far off places,

The Honeymooners and Lucy

upstaged family faces.

Now, with the young people’s noses

stuck to Iphones like glue.

Pick their parents from a lineup,

would they be able to?

Imprompt Parse mutant

Camping in Delaware

A little pup tent strung between two trees

Pine needles thick upon the sandy ground

A dock with four small wooden boats attached

A shady lake inviting all around

A little pup tent strung between two trees

A picnic table and an open fire

A cooler full of thick steaks and the sides

A better set up one could not desire

Pine needles thick upon the sandy ground

Their scent will mingle with the ribs and steak

Friends strum guitars as we prepare our feast

And for dessert, strawberry angel cake

A dock, with four small wooden boats attached,

Awaits as we enjoy our scrumptious meal

The water laps upon the pebbled shore

We rest lazily when we had our fill

A shady lake inviting all around

At last, is more than any can resist

We talk and laugh to tunes of rhythmic oars

Until the sun sets in the evening mist

Imprompt About a Picture

Image of Creative Process

In my comfy chair, laptop on lap,

music playing on radio,

hubby putting groceries away,

our man shaking jingle bunny,

our lady’s TV blaring from the other room,

Kindle calling me, too.

My goal is to write,

at least, a bad poem,

so I know I’ll succeed.

At times,

I surpass my expectations

and write a good one.

But sometimes,

it’s hard to tell the difference

between the good and bad

because you know that phrase,

“’To each his own,’ said the old lady as she kissed the cow.”?

It goes double for poetry.

Imprompt Birds eye view

What a Crow Says

Hey you,

with those clumsy legs and useless wings!

Look at me!

I’m the king of the birds.

Those little pesky sparrows, chickadees 

even doves are not respectable examples of my kind.

We crows are the real thing!

Now, you never mind coming over by my tree,

unless you have food.

Then drop it right there and you won’t get hurt.

I have a notion to dive bomb your head!

Or maybe I’ll just make a deposit in your hair!

That’s it, get out of here! Ha, ha, ha!

You’re lucky I allowed you to pass.

imprompt part three responding to cento

Friends

Willows offering shade.

Raindrops refreshing the earth.

Rainbows full of light, color and hope.

The moon, gentle and soothing.

The sun, giving warmth and clarity to the day.

Rocks, unmoving and dependable.

Clouds coming and going.

Meteors leaving their mark.

Ripples in the pond touching many. 

imprompt part 2 play with cento lines

Starlight and Rain

I was there once, the perfect night.

It’s so hard to find one unflawed.

That day you passed through my life—

a star—quiet,  lost and alone.

Time and hurt pulled at our hearts.

Every friend you meet leaves their mark.

May sunshine and rainbows

kiss you upon your forehead.

I swear to God, I’ll become the rain.

Seize my words, I give the biggest hugs.

We will share of our reflections.

Beyond the ripples, listen well.

Michelle Newton, Dena Martin, Heather Stoop, Christine McClimans, Nicole George,

Peter Finlayson, Cynthia Kepp, Jordanna Tillinghast, Amanda Jenkins, Ron Carnell

Imprompt cento

Starlight and Rain

1.      Seize my words and listen well,

2.      Beyond the ripples of my reflections.

3.      I’ll become the rain, and upon your forehead kiss you.

4.      We will share sunshine and rainbows.

5.      I swear to God, I give the biggest hugs.

6.      I was there once, lost, all alone.

7.      You passed through my life that day and left your mark.

8.      And time and hurt pulled at our heart.

9.      Every friend you meet owns a star.

10.  It’s so hard to find the perfect night, one warm, quiet and unflawed.

1. Follow Me by Michelle Newton

2. Serenity by Dena Martin

3. Between the Miles by Heather Stoop

4. On the Wings of a Butterfly by Christine McClimans

5. I Will Be Here by Nicole George

6. You by Peter Finlayson

7. Moment in Time by Cynthia Kepp

8. The Story by Jordanna Tillinghast

9. Up in the Sky by Amanda Jenkins

10. Treasures by Ron Carnell

Imprompt two

Dynamic Duo

Here twelve years,

she smiles, likes to tease.

Shopping sprees.

Here six years,

he walks, hugs and plays with toys.

Beelines toward noise.

They’re both nonverbal, but say a lot.

Imprompt nouns with same letter

Writerly Diversion

Angry demons

desire to dump dreams,

cast them out

like stray dogs.

At my desk, my dreams

turn despair upside down—

death, disasters, disillusionment

to sparkling diamonds.