The trees dressed in their carnival clothes
Gold and scarlet of the autumn days
They play about the earthy hues
Of boughs and boles
Proud flag of any sky
I take in the freshly calm air
With that hint of an earthly aroma
The fragrance of homeliness
Oh, little chirpy squeaking squirrel
I see you always dressed in grey apparel
Swift as an arrow you can run
Watching you scamper the tree is fun
Is it when you are joyous and hale,
That you are seen flicking your bushy tail?
Along the ground and over the bough you scurry,
Darting up and down in great hurry.
Why do you arch your back and sniff the air,
When you see someone coming near?
Men seem to annoy and leave you in fear,
That you take to heels in top gear.
You live in the holes of boles
But rarely rest in those hollows
When the weather is warm and bright,
You forage food with all your might.
To beat the wintry days, you have many tactics
And it is a pleasure to watch your antics
You strive to fill your granary with nuts and grain
To this end, you are ready to take any strain
For you, living is the sole occupation
From labour, you never take any vacation
Seeing the manner you move and run
It seems you have so much energy to burn
How I love you little chirpy squirrel
Come to me, I shall feed you with nut’s kernel
Oh chattering friend, you remove from my dull day
All that can leave me in possible dismay
Aconites gazing into the sun
'neath catkins dangling,finely spun
Awakened mammals desert their holes
rummaging midst the hazel boles
Long twilight days in winter's shade
tomorrow..brings snowdrops in the glade
many prefaces
emphasis on Ephesus
said on premises
what we do intend
hand of friendship did extend
love of God will lend
had a huge hassle
trying to put on my tassel
to ground will wrestle (wraahstle)
others have been caught
open email rather not
wife will have me shot
did declare a truce
for communion have grape juice
or tie neck in noose
free for all was fair
she had ripped out all my hair
now my head is bare
God brought me along
what we saw became a song
heard by a huge throng
feet started to soak
then found frog who liked to croak
he had become broke
God who does bestow
caused popularity to grow
put on quite a show
God always redeems
made Boles great on balanced beams
became party of her dreams
went walking down hall
following hall protocol
be sure to not fall
made my life fuller
became puller and pusher
of hope plush pillar
was worth waiting for
heard a message ship to shore
we have won the war
found a place for poor
in big house on a beach shore
now need an encore
after dissension
God gave me His permission
accept a commission
twitching noses
in tussocks
of awakened primroses
rummaging on hazel boles
hibernating mammals
poke from the holes
leafless hedgerows
where buds now form
a carpet of white corm
Badgers forage
for food near their sett
renewing
their bracken scented couchette
Sparrow and robin
pair off in twos
as lengthening days
come into view.
aconite open in rays of sun
below yellow catkins
with tails fine spun.
Osier shoots
in green corn camomile
as Spring mornings
begin to smile.
W I N T E R
B R E A K S
N A T U R E
A W A K E S
G A R D E N
A S L E E P
&
an oldie reposted
Fields flooded into skating rinks
into which each footstep sinks,
cracking under body weight so
not the best place to skate.
Thawing February of twitching noses
in tussocks of woken primroses.
Rummaging on hazel boles,hibernating mammals
poke from the holes.
Leafless hedgerows , buds now form
a carpet of white corm,
Badgers forage food near their sett
renewing the bracken scented couchette.
Nature pair off in twos
lengthening days come into view.
aconite open in rays of sun
below, yellow catkins tails fine spun.
Osier shoots in green corn camomile
early Spring mornings begin to smile.
Copyright © Brian Strand | Year Posted 2007
rumanative &
ancient
in gathering skies
of thunder&beating rain
groves&glades
with enormous boles
grasping at roots
&twisting sinews
clotted thatch corn stooks
sprinkled
&showered with a
thousand eyes
motley clothing fine meshes &
dappled skies&
mountains of light
enriching the actual present
pure&quaint
a crinkled Goth
pitting his English visions
with riches&fruitfulness
of urgent realities
in
prodigal
profusion
Fields that echoed with the muskets' rattle;
Blood of Yanks and Rebs spilt in dire battle;
Now serene with murmurs of restless ghosts,
Of men who died among the frenzied hosts!
Are those the sighs of souls heard with each breeze,
As winds stir dancing leaves of ancient trees?
Do winter winds shrieking 'bout Round Top Hill,
Recall screams of men, their fate to fulfill?
Heard are moans of dying men, laurels won,
Or is it groans of pine boles 'neath sere sun?
Lincoln's speech yet echoes to honor they,
No matter the hue of cloth worn that day!
Should phantoms yet ask if they died in vain?
"Nay! Nay! Due to you this land rose again!"
Entry for Mark Massey's "War Sonnet" Contest
(6 January 2019)
Just a Cat's tail....
Photo by Alan L Boles
Think!!!!!.....I'm gonna,
Stay in today,
Hum... bit tired...
Sun's to bright,
Got a bit of a hang over,
Had a busy night...,
You know...how it is....
With the ladies!!!!!! Yeah...
Cannot get enough of me,
Love the chase,
Run for miles,
They love it...
I tease them a bit,
Who could resist
My black shiny fur,
Sexy...yes!
Catty dark eyes,
Seeing...who's
Hanging around,
They cannot resist,
My meow's,
Best in town,
I'm the king!
Got a few scars... fighting,
Bit of a Jack the lad,
Always win...ha ha,
Other Toms... back down,
Stay out of my way,
If I really want to impress...
Just take the girls a mouse,
Like to dine out,
Under the moon-light,
Stars twinkle...and I sparkle,
Gets them every time,
I'm a good looking dude
Even though...I say it myself,
A bit cocky....
A bit slick...
Debonair, confident, stylish,
I'm out tonight,
Why not...i'm still young,
More chicks,
No wonder I'm tired,
Just having a few hours sleep,
Then spruce my self up,
Lick my whiskers clean
Ready for another night on the town.
Yuuppee...
Wendy Jae
Robins love song
Picture by Alan L Boles
Come to me...my darling...my love,
My beautiful one,
Look at my colours,
Robin calls....
Whistling his mating songs,
My kisses are sweeter than wine,
I've plumed my feathers,
Put on my best...red breast,
Look how proud I stand,
Just for you my dear,
Will you be my Lily...
Amongst Thorns,
Will you fly with me
Higher than high,
Through clear blue skies,
Will you land with me ..
On the branch of pure delight,
The apple tree of my heart,
Can I whisper sweet coo's
Into your ears,
Will you shelter...under my wings,
Will you dine on berries...prepared,
And taste of my love,
Come...his mating call...calls
I will keep you...warm,
From the winters snow,
From cold winds that blow,
Come let me build us a nest,
For our baby chicks to grow
And keep them safe,
From the nasty old crow,
Feed them on God's supply
Let me take care of my family,
The way nature intended,
Come my sweet...he calls,
Will you be my own fair maiden
His bird song calls.
Be my soul mate and drink
Of life with me forever more.
Wendy Jae
Childhood day's
Photo by Alan L Boles
Something about purity,
And innocence,
That enables a special connection
Between human life...and plant life,
A young girl's love for the forest,
Outweighed any fear,
Of the unknown,
Everyday...
Running, swinging and climbing,
Was the best..
Branches welcomed,
Like the hands of a caring parent,
Holding her safe,
She was becoming one...
With nature's kindergarten,
Forest was alive with activity,
She listening carefully,
Hearing vibrations as they drank
Water from the earth,
And signalled each other,
To keep all danger away,
Hearing them chatter,
Made her laugh,
Laughter... echoed for miles,
Fox...followed her lead,
Listening Intently
To stories,
As though he understood,
Watching...
As she played
Adventurous games,
Childhood days,
Paved the way
Into her future,
Times...she would never forget,
For the rest of her life.
Wendy Jae
(This is a true fact about trees)
Profoundly deaf
Picture by Alan L boles
Can you imagine,
Someone telling you...no,
Or someone saying...sorry....
Your...not good enough,
Can you imagine....
This little girl's heart
When they told her,
You cannot dance...
Your deaf,
This should have broken,
She should have been in...bits,
Devastated....
Instead...it drove
It pushed
It encouraged,
And strengthened,
She decided to reach...
Higher...
Beyond...dreams...
Beyond...the universe,
Nothing could stop,
No heights,
No depth,
Nor anything else
Could separate,
From...her desires...
So she danced...
And danced,
Feeling the rhythm...
With every beat,
Vibrations...through the floor,
She heard it...
Whispering in her soul
I love you...it said
I love you...
Now dance,
Follow your dreams,
You can achieve anything,
Now.....fly,
Something touched her
Deep inside,
So much...
It took over her life,
Deafness wasn't going to stop her,
She was born to dance,
She conqued
And won the battle,
Soaring though the air
Like a bird.
Wendy Jae
Yesterday
Picture by Alan L Boles
Yesterday...yesterday,
Where have you gone,
Blown away,
Like the wind,
My heart yearns,
Deep inside my soul,
Come back to me
My darling yesterday,
I miss the way...you always,
Embraced me,
Keeping me warm,
On dark nights,
We danced
We laughed
You held me close
We made love,
You consumed me,
With your power,
Sparking with flames
That ran through my veins,
You desired me,
Showed me off,
Took me out on dates,
Candle lit nights,
Ate sweet chocolate together,
Told me...
I looked good,
Made me feel...care free,
You inspired me,
Romanced me,
Kisses me,
Excited me,
Yesterday...yesterday
How I miss
Them...our times,
Running wild,
Come back to me,
I pray...come back,
My tears each night,
To the mirror on the wall,
Who is this person...
Help me to see,
Is this reflection
Really me,
Yesterday, yesterday,
Where have you gone,
My heart cries to you,
Come back
Where have you gone,
Let youth sing her song,
Keeping warm
The lonely
Night's long.
Wendy Jae
(Love)
Alan L Boles Picture
A picture of radiance,
Framed in the heart,
Her beauty is indescribable,
Her smile...infectious,
Her love...eternal
Like an all consuming fire,
Flames of... burning embers,
Shine...and reflect,
Deeper than skin,
Deeper than the heart of God,
Freely...the sun...permeates,
Mother... rejoices in child,
Holding out her hands in gratitude,
She thinks!
It's better to have loved,
And lost,
Than never to have,
Loved at all!
Her warmth is..unfathomable
Happiness overwhelming,
She rises early morning,
Works all day,
Looks after her family,
Putting others first,
Before resting her self,
Walks miles for water,
But still she is joyful,
Singing for every breath of life.
Wendy jae
(Dream worlds)
Picture by Alan L Boles
Each night...her dreaming
Spirit... travelled,
Beyond worlds
Through...the dark skies,
Light from the moon flickered
Stars shined
Reflecting rainbows of colour,
It was beautiful and euphoric,
Curiosity and desire wanting more,
But how far could she go,
Each night a little further,
Across land and over sea,
A silver cord attached to her body
Life line...keeping alive...
While the earth slept
She danced on the breeze
And talked to the trees,
The plants were funny
Making her laugh
Communicating through...
Telepathic thought waves,
Mysteries of the universe was hers,
But remember your creator!
The dream man... said,
Don't forget... be back in your bed,
Or forever dead,
Once the silver cord is loosed
The golden bowl broken,
Or the pitcher broken,
At the fountain...
Or the wheel broken at the cistern,
Then return to the dust,
And your spirit to God,
Each night...she returned
Knowing one-day,
It would...break,
And she would live...
Forever... in her dream world.
Wendy Jae
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