Tag: nature

NaPoWriMo #6 – The Cast / The Rise

Rhiannon had suggested in the day 6 NaPoWriMo prompt at Read Write Poem that we sort through a collection of our pictures as inspiration for this day’s poem. Although I veered a bit from her precise suggestion, the process of sorting brought me to the pictures I have of my fishing adventures, and that inspired this — so thanks Rhiannon!



This is my sixth post for National Poetry Month 2010
• one free verse poem
• one haiku
____________________________________




 

The Cast

•

cliff-climbing conifers
stir in the brisk dawn
as breezes swoop the gorge
rustle my jacket
nip my cheeks

across the casual rapids
near the stony shore
rainbows surface in slack water
hungrily gulping morning hatch

my most recent offering undulates past
in the glinting chatter of spring flow
unacknowledged

chuckling
I turn

elbow steady
I begin to rotate my lengthy bamboo
behind to two PM.
silently stripping the slender thread
from current’s surface
leaving a razor crease
disappearing quick as it comes

the lacquered rod bends forward as I lift
then slowly flexes back
the line arcs behind in flight
trailing silvery spray

backward pressure builds
as line nears full unfurling
but just before
a smooth return
slowly brings the shaft
again to ten AM

now
I feel the forward pull of the soaring mass
as overhead the line recoils
midair

the glass-green fiber
rolls out ahead
over azure ripples

the singing strand painting an “S”
in the cloudless sky

quick
smooth
and quiet
the line is re-wed to stream

the feathered morsel at the tip
offered yet again
coaxing a ready trout
to rise
and strike

• • •





________________________




 

 

The Rise

•

fly reel freshly oiled

new tippets cut and tied firm

spring trout on the rise

• • •

poem and haiku by: rob kistner © 2010

• photorendering at top of this post is entitled “The Cast” – by: rob kistner © 2010
____________________________________

…for more NaPoWriMo 2010 poems: readwritepoem…

NaPoWriMo #3 – The Leap / New Life

This is my third post for National Poetry Month 2010
• one free verse poem
• one haiku

____________________________________


…facing one’s fear…

 

The Leap

•

she need not be frightened
she knows the moves
sees the steps
clearly in her mind

she knows the stride
the position of her body
just before elevation

she understands the speed
the run up
the lead foot
the plant angle
the knee bend
the thrust

she has done this
literally thousands of repetitions
no need for trepidation

she knows the energy of the moment
of the crowd
as they anticipate
as she anticipates
the lift off
the rise

the glorious weightlessness
the thrill of flying
the feel of returning to earth
to her toes
her feet
how to offset the momentum

to snap to a graceful stop
come to point
straight and strong
arms raised and extended

the applause
that exhilaration

she knows this all
to her bones

she can do this
in her sleep

she has this mastered
she is a master dancer

but

that flash of doubt
and again
she fails

there is now one leap
she fears she cannot master

the leap
back through time
to her youth
to her glory
her invincibility

still
she leaps

she will always
leap

• • •

________________________

 

 

New Life

•

wife in her mud shoes

clatter in the potting shed

soon will come new life

• • •

poem and haiku by: rob kistner © 2010

____________________________________

…for more fearless NaPoWriMo 2010 poems: readwritepoem…

NaPoWriMo #2 – The Willow / Spring

This is my second post for National Poetry Month 2010
• one free verse poem
• one haiku

____________________________________


…Remembering Willow Pond…

 

The Willow

•

the old man sat quietly
day after day
hands resting on his knees
day after day
hardly moving

save to raise his hand
to brush his brow
or adjust his cap

day after day
quietly
on the same park bench
at the pond
near the same tree
same willow

you could watch him come
mid-morning

see him leave
at dinner time

day after day
sitting there
hands on his knees
quietly
same bench
same tree

one morning
as he sat there
I left my office
walked across the street
into the park
approached him
smiled
and sat down beside him
quietly

he said nothing
so we sat together
for a while
quietly
on the bench
by the tree

finally
I spoke up

why do you sit here
old man
sit here
everyday
day after day
here on this bench
watching the pond
so quietly

he tilts his head
speaks softly
I’ve come here for years
he says

but how can that be
I say
these office buildings
this park
they’re all new
how could you have come
to this park
for years

not to this park
he says
not to this park
to this tree
me
and all my friends
came to willow pond
to this tree
this old willow
for years
day after day

why
I ask
why to this tree

quiet smile
we played cards
in its shade
he explains
we talked
laughed
we listened
at the pond
in its wonderful shade
day after day
this wonderful willow

where are your friends
I ask
why are they not here
with you
on the bench

because
he hesitates
they are gone
he says finally
quietly

gone
gone where
I ask

gone
is all he says
quietly
unmoving
hands on his knees
all gone

oh
I say
I see

do you
is all he says

so why do you sit here
day after day
I ask

he stares straight ahead
and after a bit
he says
I’m listening

listening
I say
listening for what

he sits quietly
for a while
then
without changing his gaze
without raising his hands
from his knees
he says
for anything
anything familiar

a small tear
glistens
in the corner of his eye

• • •

________________________

 

 

Spring

•

purple finch sings out

budding trees are plentiful

spring is upon us

• • •

poem and haiku by: rob kistner © 2010

____________________________________

…for more NaPoWriMo 2010: readwritepoem…

NaPoWriMo #1 – This Journey / Birds

This is my first post for National Poetry Month 2010
• one free verse poem
• one haiku

____________________________________

…written in the spirit of the wonderful journey that is NaPoWriMo 2010…

 

This Journey

•

this journey has been one of wonder
joy, sadness, awe, and tears

it’s carried me ‘cross boundaries
borders
mass of lands
‘cross time and space

it’s shown me magic
marvels
the mystery of love

the best
the least
the good
the evil

it’s brought me pleasures
fame
and fortune
to claim them back
with no remorse

I’ve known satisfaction
adulation
a woman’s love
a child’s passing

it’s been true and faithful
genuine
just to turn away
and break my heart

it’s been fantasy
fact
and fiction
clear as light
then contradiction

I’ve been ignored
I’ve been betrayed
honored as a man of standing
then left behind
to cry alone

I’ve traveled light
I’ve traveled fast
I’ve stumbled
burdened
weighed with grief

I’ve lead and followed
lost my way
regained direction
just to go astray

I’ve walked hand in hand
with fear and death
stared down depression
to be consumed

then arose
to again go forth
without a clue my destination
with no regard for the fated outcome
and to my plight
no consideration

long ago I abandoned worry
having learned it’s of no use

I’ve realized despite our difference
at the core we’re all the same
this realm we enter all alone
from here we’ll leave alone again

but all of this is of no matter
foolish so to dwell upon
of no concern
of no regard
most certainly not worth the measure

because in reflection
one sees too late
it is this journey
that is the treasure

• • •

________________________

 

Birds

•

no wind at feeders

suet and the black seeds swing

evidence of birds

• • •

poem and haiku by: rob kistner © 2010

____________________________________

• five shuffle titles used to create the poem “This Journey”

Digable Planets – Time And Space
Marianne Faithfull – The Mystery Of Love
Bad Company – Fame and Fortune
Metallica – No Remorse
Finger Eleven – Lost My Way

NOTE: shuffle courtesy of my son’s iPod — me, I’m a jazz man…

____________________________________

…get shuffled further into NaPoMo 2010 at readwritepoem…

Alchemy

“Went digging through some of my older poetry to find this piece I wrote 9 years ago, March 2010. I remember being inspired to write it watching Hermione’s love potion scene in ‘Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Price.’ I had just purchased the DVD at the time. My grandson was watching the DVD last night, which put me in mind of this poem. Wanted to share it here for dVerse OLN #252. It contains very minimal revision and a slight upgrade in graphic embellishment”

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Alchemy

~

you cannot change
a heart of iron
into a heart of gold

no precious warmth
will manifest
from something hard and cold

a love that’s locked
and set in cast
can never be set free

there is no hope
nor magic spell
not even alchemy

51A71700-37A0-46A2-8732-6ED479833CDF

you cannot stop
the hands of time
from spinning ever on

when the sand
is through the hourglass
those days are ever gone

you cannot bring summer back
when the leaves
are off the tree

there is no hope
nor magic spell
not even alchemy

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~ ~ ~

rob kistner © 2010
revision © 2019

 

  • Click below to check out some fine poetry at dVerse:

    OpenLinkNight #252

    • Flower

     

     

    Flower

    •

    young flower fresh-bloomed
    engorged with succulence
    bursting with life’s urgency
    vibrantly seductive

    dewy lips of supple petal
    lay open in offered sweet delight
    velvet pistil of gentle blush
    enwrapped in throat of golden hue

    this vision of tender ecstasy
    entices with a lilting sway
    a fragrance to intoxicate
    wafting from the luscious folds

    breathing in the rich bouquet
    all senses stirred and tantalized
    my eyes embrace this visage rare
    pleasured in the heady moment

    captive by such vital beauty
    consumed, one savors slowly
    exquisitely delicious
    this tender bud, full bloomed

    • • •

     

    Flower

    (minimalist version)

    •

    young flower
    fresh-bloomed
    engorged
    bursting
    seductive

    supple petals lay open
    velvet pistil
    soft in golden throat

    lilting fragrant folds
    stir the senses

    consumed
    one savors slowly

    exquisite
    this tender bud
    full bloomed

    • • •

    rob kistner © 2010

    …come see what else is blooming at Magpie Tales…

    A’tremble

     

     

    A’tremble

    •

    lilting golden
    ‘long an autumn lane
    carried gentle
    on the winds

    the rustle of aspens
    lush and hush

    like the murmur
    of whispered passion
    from a lover’s lips
    a’tremble with desire

    • • •

    rob kistner © 2010

    • photo by: fred hanselmann ©
    _______________________________

    …to hear more murmurs go to One Single Impression…

    The Sculptor

    Silver Falls, Oregon, USA
    The Canyon Trail system leads hikers along the banks of the north and south forks of Silver Creek, to 10 majestic waterfalls, including the grand South Falls (177 feet) pictured below.

     


    •


    • magnified section of photo to show scale

     

    The Sculptor

    •

    gazing upon this magnificent canyon
    cut by time and current in the great rock of the earth
    I marvel at the power
    at the beauty
    at the determination of the relentless river
    sculpting this majestic work
    tumbling timelessly in crystal clarity
    over boulder and falls
    ever onward

    • • •

    photo & poem by: rob kistner © 2010

    …here is another artist’s view of these falls…

    …for more eye-candy check out this site: Scenic Sunday…

    Duet

    Duet
    •

    rounding a bend
    brushing through waist-high fern
    I crest a knoll and stop

    mesmerized

    awash in the warm brushstrokes of evening
    filtered through this woodland realm
    as the waning sun paints the world golden

    below me
    a pristine ribbon of silver-blue water
    flecked with sunlight
    sparkles like a strand of gems

    transfixed
    I marvel at the beauty
    at the power
    of this mighty river

    as it tumbles in timeless clarity
    over boulder and falls
    ever onward

    its lyric voice
    beckons me

    I come
    entranced
    stand immersed in its energy
    captivated by its duet with the wind
    that plays the boughs of the towering pines
    singing down the lofty climbs
    to gently brush my face
    toss my hair
    and dance past me round a bend
    in perfect harmony

    serenaded in this evensong
    sunset has melted into moonrise
    the waters ripple sterling in soft applause

    the moon sets aglow this splendid concert
    so I listen
    spellbound

    • • •

    rob kistner © 2010

    _____________________

    • photographs taken near my home in the Cascade Mountain foothills

    top photo entitled: “Sunlight on the Clackamas”
    bottom photo entitled: “Moon over the Santiam”

    _____________________

    …this edited rewrite of an older work of mine was inspired by sunday scribblings…

    So Many Gifts

    NaPoMo poem #29

    This is the twenty ninth and the penultimate of the poems I will write this April, in honor of National Poetry Month, as proclaimed by the Academy of American Poets.

    This poem is a tongue-in-cheek, but well intentioned look at life’s many gifts, inspired by prompt #29 at read write poem.

    • NOTE: these poems will all essentially be early drafts, so edits may occur after their initial posting.

     

    So Many Gifts

    •

    we were granted
    many gifts
    when we arrived
    here in this life

    perhaps the most precious
    is the gift of family

    to endure
    the gift of family
    and any other calamity
    we were bestowed
    the gift of courage
    the gift of patience
    is a part of this

    now when we require
    more reinforcement
    we have the useful
    gift of friends

    should all these gifts
    prove just too much
    there is the gift
    of nature’s beauty

    if we overdose
    on all things tranquil
    the fallback gift
    is our creative spark

    to prevent this gift
    from being wasted
    we have literature
    music and art

    and to preserve
    dark karmic balance
    we’ve been blessed
    with the critique clique

    finally we come
    to this the greatest
    of all the gifts
    that we possess
    and that gift being
    the gift of love

    though we enjoy
    all of these gifts
    life still can be
    quite tough at times

    but don’t despair
    no
    don’t lose hope

    some secret gifts
    have we been granted
    to give us strength
    and keep us going

    the first of these
    our sense of wonder
    and hand in hand
    our sense of awe

    and should all else falter
    there is the failsafe
    the secret weapon
    our sense of humor

    but please take heed
    keep careful watch
    if you lose this latter
    my friend
    you’re screwed

    • • •

    rob kistner © 2009

    ___________________________

    • you can find other NaPoMo offerings at read write poem

     

    Seven Red

    NaPoMo poem-set #28

    This is the twenty eighth day of poems I will write this April, in honor of National Poetry Month, as proclaimed by the Academy of American Poets.

    This set of seven haiku were inspired by the read write poem NaPoWriMo prompt #28, “Seeing Red”.

    • NOTE: these poems will all essentially be early drafts, so edits may occur after their initial posting.

     

    Seven Red

    •

    inquiries of heart
    from summer red lover’s lips
    float like butterflies

    •

    green leaves on blue pond
    float in golden summer sun
    red bird softly sings

    •

    golden sun burns bright
    scorching the red rock canyon
    Sedona summer

    •

    eyes red from crying
    words cannot be taken back
    she will leave today

    •

    a ruby droplet
    the yellow rose bears sharp thorns
    we will share red wine

    •

    path forked this spring morne
    white-tails chose tall trees instead
    redwoods are safety

    •

    spring snow-pack’s melting
    fresh mountain stream tumbles clear
    under red maples

    • • •

    rob kistner © 2009

    ___________________________

    • you can find other NaPoMo offerings at read write poem

     

    Dissonance

    NaPoMo poem #24-A

    This is poem twenty-four-A of the poems I will write this April, in honor of National Poetry Month, as proclaimed by the Academy of American Poets.

    This, like poem #24, is also about a poet struggling with inspiration, trying to block out the night noises and cacophony that surrounds him on a hot sticky night.

    • NOTE: these poems will all essentially be early drafts, so edits may occur after their initial posting.

     

    Dissonance

    •

    relentless whir
    in cycled pulse
    drones overhead

    coarse whisper from above
    promises relief
    in vain

    blades disturb page edges
    at rest before me

    in irregular rustle they taunt

    impatient
    untouched

    no burden of remorse
    no weight of mystery
    do they bear

    no sting of anger
    no wink of mirth
    with which to be dispatched

    no coin of phrase to spend

    dissonance
    spills through the open window
    the buzz, chirr, and leggy rasp
    muffled keens
    distant yelps

    the edgy din of crawling
    prowling night

    intrudes in damp insistence
    to fill my head
    and leave not one small space
    for wit or insight

    all in vain
    there is no relief

    nothing clever
    or profound
    in the air this night

    hot, sticky, thick

    uninspired

    • • •

    rob kistner © 2009

    ___________________________

    • you can find other NaPoMo offerings at read write poem

     

    For Granted

    NaPoMo poem #22

    This is twenty second of the poems I will write this April, in honor of National Poetry Month, as proclaimed by the Academy of American Poets.

    This poem is an homage to Gaia, our mother earth, in celebration of Earth Day 2009. Embedded within this free verse poem are a trio of haiku, each focused at our earth.

    • NOTE: these poems will all essentially be early drafts, so edits may occur after their initial posting.

     

    Earth Day 2009

    For Granted

    •

    you prepare for sleep
    each night

    consciously
    or unconsciously

    confident of gravity

    that it will keep you
    anchored
    in your bed

    snug in your bed

    that you won’t wake
    to find yourself
    having floated off

    now entangled
    in the sweeping branches
    of the willow
    in the backyard

    that wonderful weeping willow
    always bending
    and swaying

    like some sinewy
    sap-laden
    great elephant

    trundling
    great elephant

    trundling
    and swaying

    on the lookout
    for water
    in the arid
    african bush

    such majestic
    mysterious
    beautifully dangerous bush

    in africa
    the amazing dark continent

    with zebras
    and giraffes
    and lions

    and of course
    elephants

    in africa
    in the earth’s
    southern hemisphere

    and all of this
    kept firmly aground
    by earth’s gravity

    pretty astounding
    when you consider

    earth hurtles through space
    eighty times the speed of sound
    racing toward hope

    our frail earth needs hope
    desperately it needs help
    it is in trouble

    our earth’s crying out
    it’s balance has been disturbed
    we humans don’t hear

    all we ever think about
    is bed

    money and bed

    and gravity

    and then
    often only in passing

    when we’re not
    simply
    taking it for granted

    the earth
    and all these incredible things
    for granted

    • • •

    rob kistner © 2009

    ___________________________

    • you can find other NaPoMo offerings at read write poem

     

    Two Views

    NaPoMo poem #15

    This is the fifteenth of the poems I will be writing each day here in April, in honor of National Poetry Month, as proclaimed by the Academy of American Poets.

    I interpreted today’s read write poem NaPoMo prompt a bit differently from Christine’s example. This is still a response to “instead of”, but I wrote two poems, each from the perspective of an ancient old-growth tree. One looks at our world from a ‘glass half empty’ perspective, the other from ‘a glass half full’ point of view.

    • NOTE: these poems will all essentially be early drafts, so edits may occur after their initial posting.

     

    Two Views

    •

    (pessimism)

    I watch

    as generations recede
    as empires crumble
    as wisdom ebbs

    I’ve observed
    millenniums of human folly
    as they stumble
    to a cold isolated existence

    disconnected from each other
    from everything
    serving the machine

    perfecting violence
    as they race to ruination

    aliens in eden

    I see the natural world
    reshaped
    scarred
    diminished

    but still I stand
    thrusting skyward
    closer to heaven
    than any living thing

    a perpetual survivor
    rooted in perpetuity

    the constant sentinel

    a witness to tragedy

    •

    (optimism)

    I watch

    as generations move forward
    as civilization painstakingly progresses
    as knowledge slowly unfolds

    I’ve observed
    millenniums of human endeavor
    as they awaken
    to self-sufficiency

    less dependent on conformity
    on hive mentality
    mastering the machine

    enduring strife
    as they strive for the light

    evolving beings

    I see the natural world
    reshaped
    tempered
    resilient

    and still I stand
    reaching skyward
    closer to heaven
    than any living thing

    a perpetual presence
    rooted in perpetuity

    the constant sentinel

    a witness to triumph

    • • •

    rob kistner © 2009

    ___________________________

    • you can find other NaPoMo offerings at read write poem

     

    Otherworldy

    NaPoMo poem #15-A

    This is fifteen-A of the poems I will be writing each day here in April, in honor of National Poetry Month, as proclaimed by the Academy of American Poets.

    This is a bit of sci-fi poetry, inspired by a flash fiction fantasy story I wrote a while ago.

    • NOTE: these poems will all essentially be early drafts, so edits may occur after their initial posting.

     

    Otherworldly

    •

    I’ve watched
    golden Fire Clouds
    hanging in pale green skies
    over the azure seas of Toluras

    heard the haunting call
    of the coral-winged Lellurt
    soaring Droon’s violet skies
    over teal Darpin Bay

    seen the copper leaves
    of Parmus fronds
    flashing from indigo mountains
    in the crystal mists of Gemin

    been seduced by saffron Remmors
    a’swim with siren song
    translucent in the amber waters
    of emerald Topiarus

    I have beheld exquisite beauty
    of otherworldly delight
    but nothing to please my eyes and ears
    as you, here, tonight

    • • •

    rob kistner © 2009

    ___________________________

    • you can find other NaPoMo offerings at read write poem