Category: Attempts At Poetry

Quadrille #160: Poems that Pack a Punch

~ Lauren ~ 18 Comments

De Jackson (aka whimsygizmo) is today’s host for dVerse’ Quadrille Monday.  De says: …make sure your piece contains some form of the word punch and comes in at exactly 44 words total.

I wait in the office
anxiously pacing the floor
I get weighed and
then answer questions
I stay in the little room
cold and alone
I hear muffled voices
outside the door
I listen to the doctor’s
words that leave me
feeling gut punched

Gratitude – Grandkids

~ Lauren ~ 7 Comments

I listened to Louise Hay’s Morning Gratitude Meditation this morning. It was a gentle reminder to keep looking at the good things in my life.

Then I read Di and David’s poem on The Skeptic’s Kaddish this morning. They completed a  ‘Reverse Abecedarium‘, which I had never heard of. Out of nowhere, I was reminded of a terrific day with the grandkids. I am not  the poet that either David or Di are, but I have fun.

Z grandkids and 1 R
Yawping with glee out back
Xenacious as they explore the stations
With numerous activities to enjoy
Voices filled with excitement
Unabashed glee
Tumbling from place to place
Sharing the experience
Requiring little restraint
Quite a unique summer
Party
Out of the ordinary
No clothing required
Managing to stay cool
Laughing at themselves
Kindness to each other
Jumping into the little pool
Impressed with their interactions
Happy to see all the smiles
Going to remember these moments
Family together
Enjoying a special
Day outside
Counting my
Blessings
And hoping for more days like this

   



   

dVerse Haibun Monday – Shelter

~ Lauren ~ 18 Comments

dVerse

I’ve been cleaning out my garage for seems like an eternity. Typically, I start in one part and lose interest before continuing. I used to keep the doggie door in the garage open so my dog could enter and exit at will. I stopped doing that because too many times critters had taken shelter in my garage. One time I was going through a box of beanie babies stored in the garage only to find a mouse had taken up residence in the soft surroundings. I’m sure neighbors three streets away heard my scream. Another time, I went in the garage early to feed the dog.  I found a raccoon had entered and opened the food container. Its head was deep inside filling its tummy with dog food. More than once, skunks have entered the garage to seek shelter from the heat. I am fully willing to admit that I am not eager to provide shelter to any unwelcome critters.

A few days ago, I dumped out all the contents of the four large cabinets on the floor and started plowing through the mess. I had extra junk all around my garage. It all needed to be sorted.  I was very careful to examine each container before adding it to the pile.  Eight straight hours one day, six the next, and I was still not finished. Matching plastic bins and lids was a chore in itself. My goal was to make sure nothing important was exposed to a possible visit from intruders.
Eventually, the floor was clean. My cabinets were organized with some now empty shelves. Annie and I could move around without running into anything.  I filled a large trash bin as well as a recycle bin. I packed my car with a large load to take to the thrift store. Perhaps the cleaner and more organized my garage is, the less desire there will be for trespassers to take shelter.

Clean empty spaces
A peaceful environment
Realize less is more

Mish is today’s host of dVerse’ Haibun Monday.
Mish says: Today, I’d like you to incorporate the theme of “shelter” into your haibun. If you are new to the form, a haibun is made up of no more than three tight paragraphs that are non-fiction/auto- biographical and usually written in present tense. The prose is followed by a haiku that makes reference to a season with an image of nature. Often the haiku adds another depth or layer to the prose.