FALLING APART (photomorph) & A GREATER GRACE (non-dream free verse poem) by Roswila

A GREATER GRACE

inch by fraction of agonizing inch
you slip from my grasp toward the maw
whirling wider and wider inside you

and I don't even know if you've ever
returned my well-meaning grip
from beneath the layers of stories
with which you seek to mask
the depths of your pain, or
if this hold I struggle more
and more to maintain has always
come from me alone

and not to put too fine a point
on it all, maybe it would be
a greater grace
if I were simply
to let go


[non-dream free verse poem written 10-14-16. Photomorph "Falling Apart" (9-4-14 004v9a) 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.

BREAKING HEART (photomorph) & IT'S CRYIN' TIME AGAIN (mixed format dream poem) by Roswila

IT'S CRYIN' TIME AGAIN*

the only thing I want
is my infant back: where's it gone?
she cries to herself,
(this woman who's never felt deeply cared
for, without even her own babe now to love)

and, please, young man, she mumbles,
stop bragging about your beautiful kids

(yes, it's clear he's proud of them,
his joking shines with fatherly love)

for each word you utter about them stretches
my heart's huge emptiness closer to breaking

(losing this baby after so many before
makes her want to lose her life, as well)


[a tanka with four two-liners on a dream of 10-13-16. * "It's Cryin' Time Again" on Youtube, sung by Ray Charles. I sang snatches of this song throughout the dream. BTW, this dream is not about the loss of a literal child or even that I never had any. But about losing what appeared to be a chance at love, and/or a loss of soul (in shamanism, loss of certain aspects of self is known as soul loss). Photomorph "Breaking Heart" 18-10-14 008v6h) 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.

GODDESS OF THE RAINBOW (photomorph) & MOBIUS STRIP RAINBOW (free verse dream poem) by Roswila

MOBIUS STRIP* RAINBOW

I'm stringing together a mobius strip
from a rainbow of colored bits (not
exactly beads, not exactly pop corn),
its sideways figure eight form
to be worn standing on end pinned
into my hair above my white pony tail
(connecting the polar opposites of heaven
and my crazy self, I mordantly think)

another dream inserts its somewhat
pugnacious self and (as they all do)
the rainbow fades out, until the end
of this second dream (its boss a young
woman who knows too much to know
she knows very little) when the strip
shines again in my hands

I run my forefinger around the plane
of the mobius strip rainbow, as always
delighted how in this configuration
a single plane changes from inside
to outside and back again, feeling
soothed by its consistent mystery
even as I sorrow at its closed
circuit of loops


[free verse poem on a dream of 10-11-16. *For an interesting exploration of the structure and symbolism of the mobius strip, click here. I find the idea of contradiction very helpful. In fact, right now I'm viewing it as what creates the energy that produces the motion from which everything arises. (E.g., I'm more able to entertain the idea that my inner engine, so to speak, appears to be powered by the push/pull of polar opposites/contradictions.) It's also intriguing to note that the lemniscate (a sidewise figure 8) is often seen as the two dimensional representation of a mobius strip. BTW, I have actually been making a rainbow head dress for my Halloween costume. (Though in an arc shape, and to be printed out in color on and cut from photo paper, not strung out of anything bead like.) Photomorph "Goddess of the Rainbow" (8-10-10 10018v5a) 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.

THE QUICK AND THE DEAD (photo) & ON THE HOPE FOR A REQUITED LOVE (non-dream free verse poem) by Roswila

ON THE HOPE FOR A REQUITED LOVE

one might well wonder why she won't
simply release her strangle hold
on this racing hope with its flip side
that tramples all over her

does she cling sensing that her deeper, essential
emptiness will take over again if she lets go

somehow sure that anything, even this hopeful,
nauseating ride, is better than that ancient
vacuum, that galactic absence that always
crouches at her back

and so she holds on to this ersatz sense of fullness,
this stubborn, invigorating hope that alternates
like a pulse with its own dashing

even this bipolar rocket rise and torpedo crash
is better than being frozen to the bone,
as if blown from the airlock by fate or some
archaic sin, into a deep space vacuum
to twist and fall silently through the dark
between insensible stars, abandoned
and forgotten


[non-dream free verse poem written 10-11-16. Photo "The Quick and the Dead" (9-19-14 001v2) 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.

THE FOG BURNS OFF (photo) & SO MUCH COLOR ON A FOGGY MORNING (non-dream free verse poem) by Roswila

SO MUCH COLOR ON A FOGGY MORNING

under the platter white circle
of a hazy sun, the jacaranda's branches
fall to the trimmer's silver blade,
his bucket seat at the end
of an orange arm rising
to meet the highest of the tree's
bright green challenges


[non-dream free verse poem written 10-11-16. As with yesterday's post, this is a rather "meh" poem, IMHO. However, at least it's something new, not a re-post. The photo was taken not long after I drafted this poem on my way this morning to that beach overlook park. Photo "The Fog Burns Off" (10-11-16 001v2) 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.

CANDLE (photo) & CONUNDRUM OF THE CANDLE (non-dream poem) by Roswila

CONUNDRUM OF THE CANDLE

how to snuff out
one's blistering suffering
but retain
the guiding light of caring


[non-dream poem written 10-8-16. No great shakes, this little poem (not even sure I've made my point clear). But I have very little dream recall from last night. And none of those fragments are compelling me to write about them. So, instead of posting a repeat, here's a decidedly "so-so" new piece I wasn't even sure I'd keep. However, I do really like the old photo of mine I've posted with it. Maybe that'll balance things out a bit. :-) Photo "Candle" (5-18-11 11001ev2) 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.

IN MEMORY'S LIGHT (photomorph) & STAGES OF A CAPRICORN (mixed format dream poem) by Roswila

STAGES OF A CAPRICORN

STAGE ONE: The Dream

the stage has been set
for the musical performance
its star a baby goat,
wandering the floorboards bleating,
clearly extremely hungry

but there's no mother
goat anywhere to be found
it approaches me
and starts nursing furiously
and frustratedly at my big toe

I manage to break
its suction gently and it leaps
up to my left breast
nuh-uh, I say, nothing there either
I'll try to find a wet nurse for you

and so the two of us hobble around the large theatre
seeking someone this hungry baby goat can milk


STAGE TWO: The Musings

how do you need to be loved, littlest lost one,
my forever yearning infant?

I have no milk in these old breasts to offer,
and my open arms can only nurture so much
before it will become painfully apparent
you need other sorts of sustenance, as well

coming full circle like this at the far end of my
life to your bouncy, knob kneed search, I see
we are barely of the same species

oh, make no mistake, this is a boon, had you not
been the stubborn, tough little goat you are
we would not be here today

and I would not be faced with the loving,
if herculean, task of finding out how at last
to nurture you across the abyss of the years


[mixed format poem on a dream of 10-7-16: first part, the dream written in tankas capped by a two-liner, and the second part, written in free verse about my thoughts on it later the next day. BTW, astrologically I'm a Capricorn. The sign of The (fish-tailed) Goat. Photomorph "In Memory's Light" (6-12-09 2147v4a) 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.