Best Backyard Poems
as I poured some wine
hummingbirds sipped from the blooms...
happy-hour time
____________________________
8/17/18
For : Tania Kitchin's Hummingbird Haiku Contest
Early morn’s bright birdsong sings my blink to day activate,
waking my faith as feel my thoughts cannot think agitate.
Of earth’s many crisp Eden’s, my yard does participate,
for when I stepped out and into Spring, her marvelous slate
had hymn-grown it as a wholeness chapel, less man’s ornate.
Our loved, frail willow’s miracle growth rose thanks to dilate,
then soar-spun my green love thru all growth to appreciate.
The blueberry bushes set my awe on anticipate.
Our garden washed me fresh in gratitude’s glorious trait.
Bulb plants lifted me with promises that exhilarate
my sense rushes of gem blooms to come and intoxicate.
Our joy-filled, yard contentment was a sense sweep dictate.
From ground to sky, eye to soul, spring does rehabilitate
all that lags as spiritually weak in my heart’s rate.
Natural earth is wonder in beauty’s prime based state
and in our yard presence are the Spring psalms I celebrate.
... CayCay Jennings
May 26, 2018
A yellow finch chirps a sweet melody
As black-capped chickadees steal the show
A blue jay circles in the air for food
Robins in the grass finding worms for food
As a red cardinal sings his loud mating melody
I watch out the window enjoying the show
Two hummingbirds at the feeder, putting on a show
Fighting until they stop to perch while sipping liquid food
Crows appear, cackling and squawking their own melody
I enjoy hearing the melody of birds while watching them put on a show searching for food.
2/15/19
Blue Jays and Black birds and half a dozen squirrels.
Sprinkled with Sparrow's, it's become quite a world.
Occasional Cardinal to add a little spice.
They seem to all be getting along fairly nice.
The neighbor, he feeds them plenty of food.
It seems it is working, they've become quite a brood.
As long as the house is buttoned up tight.
They're not a problem, I sleep fine at night.
Out in the front, a chipmunk does play.
Scurrying around and having it's way.
A Robin or two might ruffle their feathers.
I wouldn't change a thing if I had my druthers.
It feels like I'm blessed to have such a mess.
Nothing to do but enjoy it, I guess.
God certainly does have mysterious ways.
How he shows us his love in these warm summer days.
My son is out fixing up the shed.
Winter is coming on. Needed doing he said.
He had the time and the bound-to’s.
I’m not used to this thought process, I’m not. Not from a child.
I watch him for a while.
Opening and closing gates as needed.
The dust, sifted into powder from summer’s heat, poof’s with his steps.
The heels of his jeans dragging strings on the ground, erase the tread of his
boots.
The shed is old. There is algae or lichen on the north side boards,
where the wood is splintery gray.
Some of the lichen florets are the color of sage, some the color of a bright orange
rust,
Circled with gray ones and black, their life cycle played out.
He hammers nails and screws in screws while holding boards in place.
Sweat glistening where skin is exposed, making long dark stains in his black
shirt.
Veins standing out against the strain, and
Muscles laboring to prove he can do the job well, without a mother’s help.
While he works I think about his father and how differently they work.
His father preferring team work and orchestrated smooth motion
working side by side, no extra movements – and he whistled.
My son needs to prove his skills first – alone.
The shed is done and it will brave another winter, keeping the horses sheltered
from the elements.
The wind, snow and horses milling about, will obliterate the trail of pant cuffs,
Along with the memory of one cool day at the end of summer,
When a man worked hard to rebuild their shelter.
Have you ever spent a night
outside in a tent?
chips and marshmallows
lanterns and pillows
Frolicking fun with good friends and
food mother sent
Backyard becomes a pirate's den
of thieves and foes
swords and swashbucklers
playfights and chucklers
Telling scary ghost tales of dungeons below
Night falls with thick darkness
a child's Brigadoon
loud whippoorwills hark
owls flap in the dark
Fears rise with the glow of
the smirking full moon
Time to tuck in, long night filled
with wonder and thrills
menacing shadows
thoughts of cruel gallows
Now eyes closing, in spite of
a fight with our wills
Backyard Vacation
(Country, male vocal, speed/tempo in vein of Zac Brown Band's "Knee Deep" w/Jimmy Buffet)
When life’s hurdles got ya goin’
Around in circles without you knowin’
And it seems they’ll never end
I take a walk in my backyard
I like that it’s so large
There I look around and take it all in
Sometimes life feels strained
It shows us joy and sometimes pain
I’m here to tell ya a backyard can explain..
That just for a few minutes
So long as a hammock’s in it
Life’s trials can’t ever beat out a sunny day
I’m lucky got a few nice acres
Trees and a pond from our good lord maker
I’m thinkin’ it’s funny how it got this way
As I take in the view
And tell myself don’t be a fool
This feeling is what you never want to go away
Sometimes life feels strained
It shows us joy and sometimes pain
I’m here to tell ya a backyard can explain..
That just for a few minutes
So long as a hammock is in it
Life’s trials can’t ever beat out a sunny day
The beauty you’ll see offers a hedge
Like a tree’s reflection against the water’s edge
It’s a paintin’ you can see in your mind
It’s all a gift so enjoy the tryin’
Sometimes life feels strained
It shows us joy and sometimes pain
I’m here to tell ya a backyard can explain..
That just for a few minutes
So long as a hammock’s in it
Life’s trials can’t ever beat out a sunny day
Can’t ever beat out a sunny day..
When normal frustrations of life seem they’ll never end
I take a walk in my back yard and take it all in
I’m lucky, a few acres, some trees, and a pond
I embrace the view but try to look beyond
To the beautiful things that I see offering a hedge
Like a tree’s reflections against a water’s edge
Bird sounds, the wind, even the occasional voice
Of a neighbor at play, always a good choice
All are just the first layer of a painting that I see in my mind
That when appreciated allow me to relax and recline
I often talk to God, knowing He always hears
My thoughts, my concerns, no matter how unclear
Even when they sound complainingly so
They need to be said so that I might grow
So when life seemingly begins to tighten or strain
Maybe a backyard vacation can help explain
That it’s all a gift, but there’s no denying
We all need a backyard of sorts to enjoy the trying
Long, weather-vane tail—
Brown Towhee, a Plain Jane bird,
Homebody—home here
After booking for a consul-tation,
The doctor prescribed medi-cation,
But when I stood on a rake,
Then stepped back on a snake;
That’s what cured my consti-pation.
sittin' on the back porch,
drinkin' gran'ma's brew;
lots of free time on my hands,
can't think of what to do
i wanna strip naked,
go lay out in the sun;
chiggers chompin' on my butt,
ain't my type of fun!
maybe i'll build a treehouse,
but i ain't got no wood;
it's too hot to break a sweat,
that won't do no good
perhaps i'll have a cookout,
but i ain't got no meat;
i can't go to the market,
although it's down the street!
i wanna write a poem,
but i ain't got no words;
i long for inspiration,
while countin' flies on turds!
maybe i'll sell my dog,
clean up this funky yard;
that would make me sad as hell,
goodbye is just too hard!
sittin' on the back porch,
drinkin' gran'ma's brew;
lots of free time on my hands,
can't think of what to do...
Raul, When where You here?
I'm sorry I was not Home
This is my backyard
Inspired by Raul Moreno's Haiku Contest "Solace in Nature"
Author's note: Raul where did YOU take this picture? This is an exact view of my backyard
YOU are amazing LOVE Always...Harry
OUR BACKYARD
we have habitat
nor wire nor fence enclosing
open habitat
animals roam free
god ordained environment
clear blue sky to see
such the normal clime
since the snake spoke from the tree
since primeval time
man laboring hard
so slowly changed all that but
not in our backyard
My Backyard Playground....Mt. Lassen Peak
Our playground is a mountain steep
Come climb with me to Lassen's Peak!
It guards our valley, rust and green
Like roughing it? A camper's dream!
Or take a picnic for the day
Such beauty takes your breath away
With lakes and streams and meadowland
Boiling mudpots, volcanic thrills
And sulpher springs to take a bath
With fish and game and hiking trails
In summer take your fishing poles
Or ski the slopes when winter calls
One hundred years, since last it blew
Prepare to run....'cause it ain't through!!!
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Inspired by Brian's contest "SONNET ME"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lassen_Peak
RUINED BACKYARD
giant tree
standing guard
in my ruined backyard
rose bush
overrun by shoots
catches my sleeve