SHAPING THE SHORE (photo) & IN THE WRECKAGE OF A LIFE (free verse dream re-entry poem) by Roswila

IN THE WRECKAGE OF A LIFE

oy, here I go again,
more flotsam and jetsam,
(and this time masses of it spread
as far as the eye can see) that must
be cleaned up, dragged from
the innocent sea of possibility

this debris (as all before it)
rising from the wreckage
of an understanding du jour
I'd sailed in order to stay
afloat, to go on

I suppose I could be grateful
for whatever kept me going after
each successive ship went down
with all aboard, for whatever guardian
angel that appeared to give my downed
heart the necessary jump start
to build or pirate (or even imagine
in my own peculiar way) a new
ship to carry me through

and this time I discover the gift
of a small pride, gleaming in this
newest huge galleon's wreckage,
like a doubloon that's not gone
down with the ship into the
mud of oblivion

I cup it in my palm, shining faces
on both its sides smiling like
a newly minted Janus,* one profile
acknowledging the past, the other
looking into an unknown future,
prompting recall of a line
by a favorite poet: love makes
the little thickness
of the coin


[free verse poem based on re-entry of a dream on 9-23-16, written 9-24-16. "Dream re-entry" is when one does just that: goes back into the dream while awake (in what, for me, is always a semi-trance state). And explores it imaginatively to see where it will go. E.g, the doubloon was discovered on re-entry. *Janus, a Greek deity. Photo "Shaping the Shore" (9-10-16 007v2) 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), 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.

WELCOMING ARMS (photo) & DAY OF THE DRYAD (non-dream tanka-like poem) by Roswila

DAY OF THE DRYAD

a dark knothole high above
in the old eucalyptus
like a dryad's watchful eye,
I stalk photo after photo
through leafy shadows


[non-dream tanka-like poem written 9-20-16. I sometimes think I was a dryad in a former life, given my love of trees (smile). The particular tree referenced in the tanka is one of my top favorites, and I'd begun to think I'd never see it again. It's been several years since I've been able to make the long walk to enjoy its incredible presence, along with all the others (such as the one in the photo above) along that walk. Photo "Welcoming Arms" (9-21-16 008v2a)]

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), 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.

GARDEN GOLD (photo) & THE GARDEN (mixed format dream poem) by Roswila

THE GARDEN

he's curious to know
how my garden grew to be
so richly varied
I don't answer right off but stand
just happy to be close by his side

when I do respond
I sigh first, concerned my answer
will be off putting:
it's not really my garden, you see,
many have planted something here

and of all the gardeners, the wind's on-going
gift-giving has been by far the greatest:

like an intuitive hand sprinkling seeds
for what will someday be most needed


[two tanka and two 2-liners on a dream of 9-21-16. Photo "Garden Gold" (9-21-16 028v2b) 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), 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.

COMPLEXITY (photo) & THE SHADOWY MAN (dream narrative) by Roswila

THE SHADOWY MAN

a tall dark shadowy man's been indicted
and now they're all after him, chasing him
through the endlessly intricate
and confusing hallways of his air ship,
frustrated as they can't put one hand
on him much less catch him

when his air ship suddenly begins
a crash and burn spin, the shadowy man
releases a big plastic square out of thin air,
that immediately inflates into
a humongous pale life raft

the chase is clearly off as his pursuers
must not only all get in it with him,
but he's the only one who knows how
to operate the gearshift-like handle
to operate it

once all are aboard he releases a second
smaller plastic cube out of nowhere,
that instantly inflates into a soft
couch for him to lie back on

then to their utter astonishment, as he
flops down into his couch's puffy
embrace, apparently preparing for a long
rocky ride before they're rescued, he releases
yet a third small cube with just a gesture

this one inflates into another couch
for his gaggle of pursuers, and as they
settle into it, one deflated chaser looks
pointedly at another, both dumfounded
and relieved, whispering:

"It seems failing to get a grip on this shadow
has turned out to be a life saver"


[narrative on a dream of 9-20-16. I relate to "shadow" in a Jungian psychology sense, aspects of ourselves we repress because they're unacceptable to us and/or to others. Sometimes good stuff winds up in that crowded, unconscious dumping ground, too. In any case, shadow contents do need to become known and embraced. At least that's been my (sigh...) ongoing experience. The song that I kept singing snatches of during this dream was "Looking for a Soft Place to Fall" (link is to a music video of the song) from the movie "The Horse Whisperer." Photo "Complexity" (9-15-16 004v2) 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), 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.

CLEANING THE NIGHT WIND (photo) & MESSAGES (free verse dream poem) by Roswila

MESSAGES

all of my brother's empty envelopes
need a thorough washing out if they're to be used,
yeah, he's an adult and could do it himself
but somehow it seems right for me to wash them

he drops them in the soapy water as I promise
to get to them as soon as I can; I watch
them sink below the suds, each at their
own pace: a large manila bubble lined one,
several off-white letter sized, and many
so small that I barely get a glimpse
of them before they're sunk

I turn from the sink to complete the many
other chores in my rooms that I have yet to do,
only recalling my brother's envelopes when I've
finished sweeping, and dusting, and defrosting,
and so on, and am about to sigh with relief ...

oh, well, I roll up my dusty sleeves and pick up
each envelope in turn, cautiously swishing
the soapy water around inside it with a cloth

as I work, I think that as odd as it seems to wash
paper things, they do need it and they'll dry just
fine since I'm working with care not to rip
their soggy fragile sides as I hang them
to dry above the sink,

mumbling to myself that, after all,
how a message is contained and conveyed
matters at least as much as what it says


[free verse poem on a dream of 9-19-16. This was my actual brother (now deceased), at the age when we were good friends (in his late 30's), not too many years before we were estranged. BTW, I had many reactions to this dream that I did not write into the poem. Such as "pushing the envelope" (it fits but takes the dream to a less important, if still valid place). And a hint of regret that I cannot go back in time and clean up what I only recently realized was a fragile relationship between two very wounded people. Photo "Cleaning the Night Wind" (9-15-16 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), 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.

A PROFUSION OF LIMBS (photo) & THE PERFORMANCE (free verse dream poem) by Roswila

THE PERFORMANCE

she's living in New York City yet
right here in California at the same time,
a long distance closeness, so to speak

we snuggle on the couch, happy to see
each other on one of her infrequent
appearances, and when I reach out
hesitantly to caress her heavily pregnant
belly she nods a smiling yes

the baby's very active, constantly
stretching out her limbs (somehow
I'm certain it's a "her"), making
my friend's belly expand and wobble
under my hand

I'm positive this means birth
is imminent, even though the due
date isn't for a few weeks yet,
which my friend softly confirms
when I inquire

then the babe's arms appear out
of my friend's dark green tunic,
followed by her head with a shock
of curly dark hair, and the rest of her
landing easily in my hands, sans any
labor pains at all on my friend's part

and she immediately starts talking
(to her mother, to me, to anyone
who'll listen) and I'm not at all
surprised given both her parents
are super intelligent

this bright infant's been born
into a new world as if simply taking
a bow between partially closed curtains
after a performance


[free verse poem on a dream of 9-18-16. Believe it or not this dream has a painful "Wake up to yourself!" aspect, to it, too. In fact, it's that aspect that is most important to me right now, as much as I tried to deny it as I wrote this piece. It's too much to go into here or I would explain why this is so. Photo "A Profusion of Limbs" (9-15-16 005v2a) 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), 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.