A Poem in Eight lines, . Practice Here

[Tinker]

Today's prompt   twinkle or corode   Use one or both words within the poem.  

In Gratitude

Both eyes don't twinkle anymore,
It seems with age the glimmer fades,
slowly coroding to dim sight
but, corrective lenses fixed that
until a clot blew in one eye.
A grey cloud now obscures vision.
A stroke of sorts, who ever knew?
Gatefully the other still sparks.
                    ~~Judi Van Gorder

[Tinker]

      I Remember When

A time before the dry winds blew,
the cool quenching rains stopped falling,
and the baren earth split open,
we walked barefoot on a soft green
carpet dampened by morning mist
with disregard for waste we dumped
on shores and seas and the toxins
we spewed to the hallowed heavens.
                    ~~Judi Van Gorder

photo found at Writing.com
Genre: Ekphrastic

[Tinker]

Divided We Fall

Once the Tan Oak stood together
with the stronger, thirsty Redwoods.
Now depleted by ruthless drought
and bitten by greedy beatles,
riddled, brittle, and suffering,
denied life's healing elixsors
its sturdy limbs wither and crack,
crashing to the grieved forest floor.
                    ~~Judi Van Gorder

Prompt: United we stand, divided we fall.

[Tinker]

Nirvana

The afternoon sun stings my nose
while a cooling clear pond splashes
around me in my rubber sphere.
I bob dreamily in a pool
surrounded by the Sierras.
The slick surface of the black tube
moans against my skin when I move.
Laughter echoes off the water.
                   ~~Judi Van Gorder

Prompt:  Joyful scene from your childhood.

[Tinker]

Single and Free

I was 21 and single
in 62, thriving and free.
I lived my life only for me.
No bills, just adventure and thrills.
Having no care, settling nowhere.
Lots of folderol, fun, and friends.
Then this cute cowboy came my way.
Married in 1963,
haven't understood a thing since.
                   ~~Judi Van Gorder

Notes: ▼

8 lines
8 syllables each
Prompt: Book Title: Haven't Understood Anything Since 1962 by Lewis Grizzard

[Tinker]

Fall's Flaw

Every Fall I face this fact
and dread "the whiskey stink of rot",
the end of homegrown tomatoes.
There simply is no substitute,
certainly not those tasteless orbs
found on most grocery store shelves.
They may look like a tomato
and smell like a tomato but,
they don't taste like a tomato.
                   ~~Judi Van Gorder

Notes: ▼

8 lines
8 syllables each
Genre: Ekphrastic
Inspiration: Use 4 Words from:  A Much better poem than mine.  

September Tomatoes
                    by Karina Borowicz

The whiskey stink of rot has settled
in the garden, and a burst of fruit flies rises
when I touch the dying tomato plants.

Still, the claws of tiny yellow blossoms
flail in the air as I pull the vines up by the roots
and toss them in the compost.

It feels cruel. Something in me isn’t ready
to let go of summer so easily. To destroy
what I’ve carefully cultivated all these months.
Those pale flowers might still have time to fruit.

My great-grandmother sang with the girls of her village
as they pulled the flax. Songs so old
and so tied to the season that the very sound
seemed to turn the weather.

[Tinker]

 

            They Emerged 
  
            Out of the dark, from deep 
            inside the mountain,
            they emerged,   
                              one by one
            engulfed in clouds of dust
            as rock, earth, and timber caved 
                     in behind them. 
            A single lantern led the way.
                                   ~~Judi Van Gorder

            Ekphrastic

[Tinker]

Work To Be Done

Every year we recognize
April 22 as a reminder, 
Respect and care for the earth
Time to get our hands dirty
Hoe the ground, pull the weeds.

Dig in the dirt, plant seeds 
Align ourselves with our planet 
Yesterday is done, work for tomorrow.
                 ~~Judi Van Gorder

Prompt: Grit
Today is
 

[Tinker]

 

 

Heaven’s Chaos

The heavens crackle
electric sparks of confusion
while the mighty wind spins
in a destructive cycle.
Sucked up into the vortex
land creatures contort
in the vermillion chaos,
soon to plummet to the earth.
               ~~Judi Van Gorder

Ekphrastic

[Tinker]

Off Baja's Coast

Trolling with rod and reel in dash,
the show is on, jump and a splash.
Six-foot Tuna duels five-ten man
equals fight as hard as they can
I cheer on during the battle,
stamina, stealth, and strength grapple..
Once Blue Fin succumbs to his plight,
Sashimi will be served tonight.
                    ~~Judi Van Gorder

prompt: Bigger fish to fry

[Tinker]

The Aftermath 

So you say you wanna party,
do you need a venue hardy?
Ever been in back of a cop car?
A perfect spot to rock and roll,
you can thrill and spill all night long
and upchuck your guts on the spot.
When the revelry is done, they'll just frown,
and hose the hard plastic seats down.
                ~~Judi Van Gorder
 
8 Lines, 8 syllables each, with one small exception

Prompted by "worst place to party in either a sink hole or a police car"

[Tinker]

 

The Elephant Tree

As old as the dirt
springing new life,
the legend grows rife
within the Elephant Tree.

Some say wisdom waits
rooted, straight, and strong
and you can live long,
just ask the Elephant Tree.
                  ~~Judi Van Gorder

Ekphrastic

[Tinker]

A Place to Rest and Nest

Never seen a yellow kite
birds of prey are not so bright
soaring high by day, some night
with extraordinary sight.
Tagalog prehistory
tells us those birds caused the sea
to war with the sky, chiefly
to make earth, creatively.
                   ~~Judi Van Gorder


Notes ▼

Prompt I Dream of Yellow Kites  
Verse Form:  Ambahan is a Tagolog verse form from the Philippines. 
         Tagolog Verse Form
                   1. Written in any number of lines
                   2. Syllabic, 7 syllable lines,
                   3. Rhymed, end rhyme as far as you can go.
Mythical Tagalog story of creativity. Kites cause a war between the sky and the sea which created the earth where the kite had a place to rest and nest.

[Tinker]

Fishhead Beach

Beyond the salty sea
and shifting sand the scree
covered slopes rise out of reach
to cliffs above the Nor Cal coast.
Below, sea lions bask and boast 
while sardonic seagulls screech
their scornful, signature cry
across the cloud-screened sky.
                   ~~Judi Van Gorder

Prompt:  scree, screen, screech

[Tinker]

Icebergs

Diamond mountains
rise above the sea
luring onlookers,
like you and me.

Beware of treachery
below and beyond the flat,
Titanic proportions sink
paupers and aristocrats.
                   ~~Judi Van Gorder
Today is the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic in 1912

[Tinker]

Discover Jar

On a shelf in my laundry room
sits a small, globe-like jar
with a blue bow and a white cap.
Displayed from within, several coins,
a button, two dollar bills,
and recently, a twenty. All,
discovered in various pockets
on the way to be washed.
                   ~~Judi Van Gorder

prompt:   a jar

[Tinker]

Romance the Dance Put your shoes on Sally, put your shoes on and join the dance. Put your shoes on Sally might even find romance. Put your shoes on Sally put your shoes on and give love a chance.                     ~~Judi Van Gorder

[Tinker]

Keeping Up

It's been said, over and over,
"don't worry about what they say.".
Isn't this an oxymoron?

I have a brilliant idea
I'll only listen to my gut
in tune with tried and true values.

I will seek to grow and improve,
at last, I've realized, I am.
                   ~~Judi Van Gorder

Prompt:  Use one of these phrases to begin the 8 line poem and one to end the 8 line poem
* its been said
* a brilliant idea
* at last, I realize

[Tinker]

Quinten's Quintessential Quest

Yesterday he turned 13
and hit his first home run.
Wish I'd been on the scene,
they won, 3 to 1, what fun!

For now his path is set,
the game will be his quest.
With focus and work he'll vet
his quintessential best.
                   ~~Judi Van Gorder

Prompt:  quintessential

[Tinker]

Firefly

Far below the starlit night,
above sweet grasses,
sparks that flicker
                   and take flight.

A balmy evening of delight
children's laughter ushers
quest to net
                 nature's fire light.
                       ~Judi Van Gorder

Ekphrastic

[Tinker]

The Climb

I will follow you up
but never down.
I can fall all
on my very own.

Point heavenward
that's the goal
and if you travel
beside me, even better.
                   ~~Judi Van Gorder

[Tinker]

Just Do It

Everyday tasks.
Cool ideas dreamt.
Plans, plans,
and more plans.

When to start?
Where to start?
"Begin anywhere"*
Just begin!
          ~~Judi Van Gorder

*John Cage

[Tinker]

 I Need Color

A blank white face in a grey box? Paint me red, paint me brown, or purple and pink, any colors, as long as you add freckles and a great big smile.                    ~~Judi Van Gorder

[Tinker]

Zzyzx, Here I Come

Today I went down the rabbit hole
seeking strange-named towns
here in Cali. First, Death Valley,
not odd to me, yet found on Bing's search.
I've visited Skidoo, a ghost town
and now I must see Zzyzx, CA.
Just off the I-15, on the Mojave Rez,
no longer a town but on the list.
                   ~~Judi Van Gorder

Prompt: Odd named towns

[Tinker]

Poem in My Pocket 

With a whoop and a yowl
I print and fold the document,
my favorite poem read today.
The current mission,
to share my love of poetry
with those who pass my way.
No harsh words, only delight,
please enjoy Frost's, 
Nothing Gold Can Stay.
                   ~~Judi Van Gorder

Today April 27, 2023 is Poem in Your Pocket Day
Prompt:  yowl - harsh - document

 

[Tinker]

Majestic

The flora and fauna 
found in my home 
mountains, all acquiesce
to the majestic redwoods.
Straight and tall
with boughs that spread 
out and up 
like the eagle in flight.
         ~~Judi Van Gorder

prompt: Happy National Arbor Day

[Tinker]

Civilization

Man's taming of nature,
torturing and trimming,
paving and prinking
with an artist's
imitation of a dancer's
creative energy,
is sophisticated serenity
ignoring earth's essence.
           ~~Judi Van Gorder

Ekphrastic
 

[Tinker]

After the Dishes Are Done

Fallen crumbs and bits
of pine needles tracked inside
from an outside stroll
need daily clean-up to keep
the kitchen floor litter free.
Quick sweep and wet mop
each evening after dishes,
Mama trained me well.
                   ~~Judi Van Gorder

Verse Form:   Oriental Octet