Seven AM–dVerse MTB, Imagism

Seven AM

winter sunshine
slips,
unimpeded,
through half-
opened shutters.

pools of light
pour,
splashing on the bed.

Eureka! The Internet decided it was okay for me to post–so must get this linked quickly to dVerse MTB where I’m hosting Meeting the Bar. I ask you for poetry along the lines of William Carlos Williams or Hilda Doolittle (H.D.). Have fun with this–please join in. I will try my best to respond timely if Time Warner will be so kind as to cooperate. Because of the nature of the prompt, I’m not going to post an image today…that’s what the words are supposed to do.

poverty

poverty

jeans, faded.
tattered knees.
a sweater, snagged,
unraveling.

a glob
of mustard
slowly slips
down.

lands on
the equator.

Linking to OLN…but responding to Mary Kling’s Poetics prompt where I turned attention to the imagist poetry of William Carlos Williams. I am having horrific Internet problems right now, but will try my best to visit as many of you as I can on Saturday. Thanks for understanding.

Summer Bliss–Season’s Favorite Challenge

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In summer, the song sings itself. William Carlos Williams

Summer Night
by Kobayashi Issa

Summer night–
even the stars
are whispering to each other.

Summer Bliss
by Victoria Ceretto-Slotto
a collection of Haiku

Sitting on the deck
garden sunshine and shadow
early morning bliss

A male oriole
lay lifeless ‘neath the Ash tree.
Flaming sunset paused.

Red hot pokers flaunt
their brilliant orange erections—
boasting, unashamed.

Those brilliant red globes
peek from behind floppy leaves.
Tomatoes galore!

Reno is Art Town
tourists stroll the Riverwalk
watch painters at work.

Summertime living
lazy river rolling on
bees search for pollen.

Growing corn surrounds
(hides mysteries and wonders)
in my Field of Dreams.

A Few of My Favorite Things:

Quote: William Carlos Williams—among my top twenty favorite poets

Poem: Summer Night by Kobayashi Issa—discovering and savoring Japanese poetry

Word: Sunshine

Animal: Orioles—visit our feeder several times a day–here’s a photo my husband took a few days ago:

Photo: David Slotto

Flower: Red Hot Pokers—help attract those orioles–the photo at the top of this post is of a red hot poker.

Food: Heirloom Tomatoes—ugly-looking delicious fruit that my husband grows from seed.

Town: Reno—in July, Reno celebrates ArTown, bringing all the arts to many venues every day. Most people equate the “Biggest Little City in the World” with divorce and gambling. Those of us who live here know better. To learn more about Artown visit: http://www.renoisartown.com/

2011 ArTown Poster Image by Kelly Peyton

Song: “Summertime”—steamy, sultry song from the musical “Porgy and Bess”

Book: “The Secret Life of Bees” –an exquisite novel, literary fiction, by Sue Monk Kidd. Every word is poetry.

Movie: “Field of Dreams”—a baseball classic starring Kevin Costner.

Images: Who can choose? I love the intense colors of nature.

Photo: V. Slotto

Written in response to Broken Sparkles  Season’s Favorite Challenge. Check it out at http://brokensparkles.wordpress.com/

Wordsmith Wednesday–Poetry and Prose

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Since April is National Poetry Month, I think it’s important to pay homage to this sometimes undervalued art. Many prose writers, especially those who write literary fiction, dabble in poetry–either as readers or poets–and find that doing so enriches their own work. Here are a few things to consider:

POETRY:

• Engages the senses
• Pays attention to details
• Uses symbolic language
• Expresses thoughts succinctly
• Respects the rhythm and sound of words
• Makes use of metaphor and simile
• Uses description to express feelings
• Breaks the rules!

I invite you to treat yourself to a book of poetry, brew a cup of tea or coffee. Now, hunker down in your favorite chair and read. My personal preference is for poets who are not so obscure that you need a lit professor to help interpret their work. Here are just a few of my favorites, most of them contemporary: Ted Kooser, Kim Addonizio, Jane Hirschfiled, Jane Kenyon, Ellen Bass, William Carlos Williams, Pablo Neruda, Dorianne Laux. Stanley Kunitz. Consider browsing poetry blogs and websites and sample some of the excellent poetry that is there for the taking.

Happy writing. Enjoy the process…and try writing a poem of your own. If you’d like to post it in comments, I’d love to share it.