roses
rainbow colors
joy
A Poem for National Poetry Month
beauty
Poems
I started out thinking I would write a poem per day for National Poetry Month. Well, I’m a bit behind on that, but here are two of several I have written so far.
Spring
The mockingbird awakens me with his song.
A hummingbird, dressed in green with an iridescent
orange collar, flits by my head then sips nectar
from a scarlet bougainvillea blossom.
The neighborhood barn owl hoots at dawn and dusk.
A black and red/orange bird I’ve never seen before
lights on a palo verde limb.
A Western Bluebird dips its beak repeatedly in
the talavera birdbath.
Remember
In this world steeped in senseless violence remember
each day to find a piece of beauty:
-rosebuds opening
-the scent of jasmine
-a friend’s smile
-a bit of birdsong
In this world ravaged by wars remember
each day to find the jewels of joy:
-listen to a child’s laughter
-dance to a favorite song
-walk in the morning sunshine
-tell someone you love them
Eye Drama
Kohl
Kajal
Sormeh
Mebari
Ancient names for eyeliner
still in use today.
Kohl-Arabic
Kajal-South Asian
Ithmid-the purest kohl
made from galena
Surma-powered kohl in Urdu, Bengali
Sormeh-loose power preferred by Persians
Tiro-Nigerian
Mebari-red eyeliner, Japanese
Nefertiti used it.
Today the Worso and Wodaabe
African men use it.
Where women must veil themselves
the eyes are everything.
Bedouins use it for protection
from the desert sun.
In defiance find Cat Eyes
in Chola culture.
In Kerala Kathakali
dancers use it.
Geishas in Kyoto use red.
Find influencers on TikTok
Instragram, they will
teach you how.
Note: The above poem was inspired by my most recent read:
“Eyeliner A Cultural History”, Zahra Hankir. Hankir is a Lebanese journalist whose history of eyeliner throughout the world informs the reader about places and people and customs many never heard of or know about.
Mother’s Roses
roses, lush
pink, red, coral
roses floating in crystal bowls
remind me of my mother
her rose garden by the barn
summer roses on her kitchen table
September Snow
rain suprises
snow bursts. blooms
hints of autumn air
Snow on Mt. Baldy
Plowed snow piled high
Families throwing snow, sledding
Mt. Baldy looms above LA
As high as you can go now unless parking to ski.
Winter
Snow wonderland
Wind singing through pines
Walking in Bonelli
Snow on Mountains
warm sun
snow-capped mountains
heartwarming joy
Evening
Rose remnants float in my palm
the color
of fresh blood
of sunsets
cerise, burnt orange, gold.
A pale blue dragon
thunders
across a salmon sky.
Slowly indigo night
descends,
only the coyotes sing.
In Honor of Earth Day
In honor of Earth Day
I present you roses:
may they bring joy
feelings of renewal
a sense of beauty
value of our precious planet.
writingontherim 