Theme Prompt – A Gogyohka

as captive of time and nature

eyes nudged open

to this new dawn in the strife of life –

as we move through time,

I breathe – you breathe

Pat R

6/23/20

A Gogyohka for Colleen’s Tanka Tuesday. A theme prompt in the words of Longfellow:-

“…In the world’s broad field of battle,

In the bivouac of Life,

Be not like dumb, driven cattle!

Be a hero in the strife!…”

OR

“…Lives of great men all remind us

We can make our lives sublime,

And, departing, leave behind us

Footprints on the sands of time…”

From his poem

A Psalm of Life

BY HENRY WADSWORTH LONGFELLOW

Here is a link to the full poem.

A Psalm of Life by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow | Poetry Foundation

A Rainbow

this cloud lurking overhead
has claimed me
it snuggles in
displacing the thread of hope
I’ve been holding fast to
it flits in the breeze of the blues
swishing through my fingers
at every grasp

I force myself into the garden
it looks thirsty
I turn on the garden hose
and there through the fine sprays
a rainbow

Pat R

6/09/20

This Cloud – A Gogyohka

this cloud, generations old
cavalier cruelty has me bawling again
in search of air I walk to the park
no sign of the sun
yet, a toddler chases butterflies

Pat R

5/28/20

In response to the theme this week over at Colleen’s for Tanka Tuesday is a quote offered by Merril

“How fare that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world.”

– William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice.

To read more about the challenge or to participate go here

Also linked to OLN Open Link Night over at dVerse Poet’s Pub where Grace is hosting. Go have a look see here

 

 

 

 

BIAS

BIAS

Bias ingrained

Hearts and minds indelibly inked

A disconnect from statues in place

Black life don’t matter

Those charged with upholding

guided by inked hearts and minds

Modern day linching

No, he was not 22 he was only 12

He was reaching for license and

 registration

Yes, He’s got a smart mouth he

shouldn’t have to pay with his life

One step forward 5 steps backward

Sad, sad times that should no longer be

PR

12/08/14

EMANCIPATION

photo credit: wiki

Henry Louis Stephens, untitled watercolor (c. 1863) of a black man reading a newspaper with headline “Presidential Proclamation/Slavery”.

EMANCIPATION

though it was outlawed

the hardships took a new form

had life of its own

PR

9/11/2014

Henry Louis Stephen, illustrator

American

 Feb 11, 1824-Dec 13, 1882