THE TENT (photomorph) & THE DRESS (on a dream) by Roswila

THE DRESS

at least for once it's quite clear why
I'm being shunned: due to my anger

also for once it almost makes sense when I
stretch to see things from their perspective

and yet, and yet, why have they made no
attempt to understand why I'm angry

but I choose to stay around them anyway,
finishing the folding of another gal's clothes

one of the shunning women works close by,
silently folding someone's else's clothing

she continues her careful work though
she's clearly a bit nervous to be around me

I pick up a white lace dress that's lovely
and not only antique but very large

I try to fold it, saying out loud that this must
fall right off its owner when she wears it

the woman says nothing, but I go on, asking
if I can use her just folded piece as a guide

she responds with a huffy monosyllabic "Why?"
clearly not understanding what my aim is

I add "A better way to put it might be:
I want to use your folding as a pattern,

a specific process of laying out and organizing
that I can use on this unwieldy old tent of a dress

so that I can pack it away neatly at last
and move on to the next challenge"


[on a dream of 6-9-16. If you'll pardon the pun, this is a dream/piece that unfolds in a different way each time I read it. When I first recalled the dream I did not think much of it. But once I began writing about it, all sorts of layers became apparent. Which is why I write anyway about dreams that seem uninteresting on initial recall. Photomorph "The Tent" (6-6-16 005v2c) by Roswila]

PLEASE NOTE: in most browsers you can click on the above image for a larger version. Also, the photo accompanying a post is not necessarily meant to illustrate it, but to reflect some small, even slant aspect of the verse, similar to Japanese haiga (illustrated haiku).

There are many other sorts of posts on this blog. I indicate which are about or influenced by dreams. Some non dream focused posts are book reviews, "regular" poems (some by other writers, as the above is), scifaiku, writing exercises, Tarot haiku, photos, haiga, and so on. However, most of those are in much older posts. There's a listing by month going back to early 2006, at the end of the sidebar.

* * * *

until next time, keep dreaming,

[a/k/a Patricia Kelly]
**** If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or poems, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”). Roswila's other blog (dedicated to her photos only, i.e. no poetry or other writing; daily post); TRYING TO HOLD A BOX OF LIGHT.

BEYOND THE HALLWAY (photomorph) & A CONFLICT OF INTERESTS (on a dream) by Roswila

A CONFLICT OF INTERESTS

(♪ "Love look away ..." ♪)

there's dear Bill again, I haven't seen him
in quite a while and have really missed him

oops! he's looking this way and I'm not dressed
but dang it, I want him to see me anyway

(♪ "Love look away from me ..." ♪)

I'll just go on picking up after myself as if I
don't know he's there at the end of the hall

his appreciative glances feel good, reassuring
and warming like small fleeting caresses

(♪ "Love me and set me free, look away,
look away, look away from me" ♪)


[on a dream of 6-9-16. "Bill" was President Bill Clinton, who's not an uncommon visitor in my dreams, either as lover or friend. The lines in parentheses are from the song "Love Look Away," from the musical, Flower Drum Song. I'd been singing that song to myself yesterday (prompted by a letting go I'm struggling with), and wound up "singing" it all through my dreams last night. I was struck by the contrast between this particular dream and the dream singing. A clear expression of the sometimes opposing priorities that our conscious and unconscious minds can harbor. Photomorph "Beyond the Hallway" (8-15-09 5566v3) by Roswila]

PLEASE NOTE: in most browsers you can click on the above image for a larger version. Also, the photo accompanying a post is not necessarily meant to illustrate it, but to reflect some small, even slant aspect of the verse, similar to Japanese haiga (illustrated haiku).

There are many other sorts of posts on this blog. I indicate which are about or influenced by dreams. Some non dream focused posts are book reviews, "regular" poems (some by other writers, as the above is), scifaiku, writing exercises, Tarot haiku, photos, haiga, and so on. However, most of those are in much older posts. There's a listing by month going back to early 2006, at the end of the sidebar.

* * * *

until next time, keep dreaming,





[a/k/a Patricia Kelly]
**** If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or poems, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”). Roswila's other blog (dedicated to her photos only, i.e. no poetry or other writing; daily post); TRYING TO HOLD A BOX OF LIGHT.

FROM THE HEART (photo) & THE FRUITS OF LOVE (on a dream) by Roswila

THE FRUITS OF LOVE

the mother reluctantly begins a search
through a magazine for a love card
that will meet her teenage daughter's
request for one to give to her new boyfriend,
the mother explaining it's very hard for her
to do this (physically, that is) to which
I respond "Let me help, I was just going
through this same magazine and there's
an index by subject at the back"

I run my forefinger down the lengthy
listing under "LOVE" and am quite
puzzled that though there are many (love
of country, platonic love, spiritual love,
love between siblings ...) none are really right
for her daughter's purpose, what's more they
all refer the reader to the same rather
cartoon-like, pale pink, heart-shaped card

well, I think, I suppose the daughter could
still use this card and make it more fitting
with what she writes to her boyfriend on it,
since nothing's perfect in this life anyway,
not even the efforts or fruits of love


[on a dream of 6-8-16. Photo "From the Heart" (3-28-16 032v2) by Roswila]

PLEASE NOTE: in most browsers you can click on the above image for a larger version. Also, the photo accompanying a post is not necessarily meant to illustrate it, but to reflect some small, even slant aspect of the verse, similar to Japanese haiga (illustrated haiku).

There are many other sorts of posts on this blog. I indicate which are about or influenced by dreams. Some non dream focused posts are book reviews, "regular" poems (some by other writers, as the above is), scifaiku, writing exercises, Tarot haiku, photos, haiga, and so on. However, most of those are in much older posts. There's a listing by month going back to early 2006, at the end of the sidebar.

* * * *

until next time, keep dreaming,





[a/k/a Patricia Kelly]
**** If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or poems, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”). Roswila's other blog (dedicated to her photos only, i.e. no poetry or other writing; daily post)

; TRYING TO HOLD A BOX OF LIGHT.

SHADES OF GRIEF (photomorph) & ON FAILURE (non-dream free verse poem) by Roswila

ON FAILURE

something inside's died
but refuses to leave me be
lounging there as if in an ordinary
recliner seeking an ordinary
conversation however there's nothing
ordinary about this shade's disruption
of harsh grief with its seductive
fantasies of passion and pleasantries
triggering more hot salty tears
tears that burn into the open wound
of my failure to meet the needs I heard
crying from behind all the charm (and still
hear crying out unmuffled by death)
even as I tried


[non-dream free verse poem written 6-6-16. Photomorph "Shades of Grief" (5-28-16 005v12b) by Roswila; might be best viewed in a larger version in order to see the detail, so just click on the image if you're so inclined]

PLEASE NOTE: in most browsers you can click on the above image for a larger version. Also, the photo accompanying a post is not necessarily meant to illustrate it, but to reflect some small, even slant aspect of the verse, similar to Japanese haiga (illustrated haiku).

There are many other sorts of posts on this blog. I indicate which are about or influenced by dreams. Some non dream focused posts are book reviews, "regular" poems (some by other writers, as the above is), scifaiku, writing exercises, Tarot haiku, photos, haiga, and so on. However, most of those are in much older posts. There's a listing by month going back to early 2006, at the end of the sidebar.

* * * *

until next time, keep dreaming,

[a/k/a Patricia Kelly]
**** If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or poems, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”). Roswila's other blog (dedicated to her photos only, i.e. no poetry or other writing; daily post); TRYING TO HOLD A BOX OF LIGHT.

STRETCHING TOWARD MORNING (photo) & THE DANCER (dream narrative) by Roswila

THE DANCER

the young, dark haired man's quite a talented dancer,
winning a T.V. talent show, only to be hounded
out of N.Y.C. by envious peers

the teacher of a dance class he's now considering sampling,
here, cross-country from N.Y., shows delight at the young
man's interest, "Talent's talent," the teacher declares

other newbies and I show up for the sample class, only
to learn that the teacher's now absent, when long time
students invite the young man to teach in his place

he hesitates, a wide range of emotions flickering across
his pale face, I can almost hear the many thoughts
gathered behind them:

... why do you want me, someone who's been bullied?
... I love to dance, but am I really all that good?
... how come you think I can teach?

and as his face flushes, I become aware of his last thought:

... is your class worth my taking such a chance?

this is the question I address as tactfully as I can,
wanting to support this talented young man's healing,
and somehow certain it'll help us, too:

"I took a sample class once, quite some time ago, young man,
and it's marvelous, a place to take risks, to stretch ..."

before I can even finish, he's smiling and beginning
to sort us into orderly rows

"Now, please, for starters," he says, "each of you do
a solo improv dance across the hall..."

the new day's sun lights the golden brown floorboards
that wink at each of us in turn as we dance gaily across them


[narrative on a dream of 6-6-16. Photo "Stretching Toward Morning" (5-28-16 005v15) by Roswila]

PLEASE NOTE: in most browsers you can click on the above image for a larger version. Also, the photo accompanying a post is not necessarily meant to illustrate it, but to reflect some small, even slant aspect of the verse, similar to Japanese haiga (illustrated haiku).

There are many other sorts of posts on this blog. I indicate which are about or influenced by dreams. Some non dream focused posts are book reviews, "regular" poems (some by other writers, as the above is), scifaiku, writing exercises, Tarot haiku, photos, haiga, and so on. However, most of those are in much older posts. There's a listing by month going back to early 2006, at the end of the sidebar.

* * * *

until next time, keep dreaming,





[a/k/a Patricia Kelly]
**** If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or poems, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”). Roswila's other blog (dedicated to her photos only, i.e. no poetry or other writing; daily post); TRYING TO HOLD A BOX OF LIGHT.

REACHING FOR THE SKY (photomorph) & HE LEAVES HER (free verse dream poem) by Roswila

HE LEAVES HER

he leaves her on good terms
though without telling her why,
having decided to protect her
from the truth

but what he doesn't realize (never did
realize about her) is that she knows
why, that she almost always knows
what she'd rather not, ignorance
being a bliss she's never been able
to hold on to, the scars from childhood
abuse stretching like ultra-fine antennae
across her soul

what eases her painful knowledge
as she watches him fly up and off
into the sunny sky is how he keeps
glancing back, a momentary doubt
filling his (soon to be no more
than a memory) eyes: should I,
she can almost hear him thinking,
should I tell her why?

yet he keeps on flying and her heart
lurches (only slightly) when be becomes
a graceful roan stallion, shining
as he lopes further away through
the air toward the horizon, beyond which
he's about to glide like a setting sun

for it seems quite fitting that he leave
her in this way (even if it also
makes her cry all the harder):

in the fond form of a long gone love


[free verse poem on a dream of 6-5-16. Yes, I loved horses as a child (still think they're darn special). Photomorph "Reaching for the Sky" (5-2-16 002v10) by Roswila]

PLEASE NOTE: in most browsers you can click on the above image for a larger version. Also, the photo accompanying a post is not necessarily meant to illustrate it, but to reflect some small, even slant aspect of the verse, similar to Japanese haiga (illustrated haiku).

There are many other sorts of posts on this blog. I indicate which are about or influenced by dreams. Some non dream focused posts are book reviews, "regular" poems (some by other writers, as the above is), scifaiku, writing exercises, Tarot haiku, photos, haiga, and so on. However, most of those are in much older posts. There's a listing by month going back to early 2006, at the end of the sidebar.

* * * *

until next time, keep dreaming,

[a/k/a Patricia Kelly]
**** If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or poems, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”). Roswila's other blog (dedicated to her photos only, i.e. no poetry or other writing; daily post); TRYING TO HOLD A BOX OF LIGHT.

RELUCTANT FAREWELLS (photomorph) & TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON... (mixed format dream poem) by Roswila

TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON...

Muhammad Ali
can't go with us on the trip
"You must stay behind"
I say, "You're extremely ill
and need medical treatment"

sadness bows his young dark head
further weighting my already heavy heart

"I feel like I'm giving up the fight," he says,
and I nod silently in tear choked agreement,

not able to say that it also feels like that
to me, to have to move on without him


[a tanka with three two-liners on a dream of 6-4-16. Yes, this is the Muhammad Ali who just died, but in his young fighting years. The scenario is actually a composite image for several issues/relationships in my life at present (death being either in the offing or metaphoric, depending on which issue/relationship). It puts me in mind of my recent poem "Prayer to Surrender" (posted here) which is essentially about "letting go and letting God," as is said in 12 Step parlance. Photomorph "Reluctant Farewells" (9-4-14 004v2c) by Roswila]

PLEASE NOTE: in most browsers you can click on the above image for a larger version. Also, the photo accompanying a post is not necessarily meant to illustrate it, but to reflect some small, even slant aspect of the verse, similar to Japanese haiga (illustrated haiku).

There are many other sorts of posts on this blog. I indicate which are about or influenced by dreams. Some non dream focused posts are book reviews, "regular" poems (some by other writers, as the above is), scifaiku, writing exercises, Tarot haiku, photos, haiga, and so on. However, most of those are in much older posts. There's a listing by month going back to early 2006, at the end of the sidebar.

* * * *

until next time, keep dreaming,

[a/k/a Patricia Kelly]
**** If you wish to copy or use any of my writing or poems, please email me for permission (under “View my complete profile”). Roswila's other blog (dedicated to her photos only, i.e. no poetry or other writing; daily post); TRYING TO HOLD A BOX OF LIGHT.