Upon a grassy hill, so long ago,
our lovely, old Victorian-style home
was built in eighteen eighty-six, aglow
with cozy rooms and firesides burning bright.
So charming were the winding stairs that flared
neath the cathedral ceiling's chandelier.
Outdoors, a rolling lawn and gardens spread
beside a stony brook that rambled on.
A time I still remember- Christmas Day
in nineteen fifty-three- age fourteen then,
and I recall those very special hours
at home, so cozy, warm with my loved ones
of many generations, happily
around the sparkling tree with old-time trim
of bubble lights, glass balls, and Christmas songs
playing softly on the record player.
Extended family- my mom and dad,
grandparents, brother, cousins, uncles, aunts-
spent happy hours, and such a blessed time
was shared as peace and love were felt by all
as I, once the youngest, now the oldest
generation, carry on that spirit
and make traditions last, to someday be
my children and grandchildren’s Christmas past.
Categories:
firesides, christmas, tribute,
Form: Blank verse
Not Ready Yet
Give me just one more day of Christmas jubilee
Not ready to let go of Christmas, yet
Or stop gathering flecks of stardust
Scattered from the Heavens
Still reveling in the sweet aroma of frankincense
Or bovine straw
Lingering on evening's breath
To walk by candles in the window
Enchanted by twinkling lights of welcome.
My heart pitches a tent
On hillsides among olive trees
Craning it's neck to hear newborn angelic carols
And longs to cradle the pure cry of Love
Again and again
Infinite Love I can hold and understand.
Stay one more night, sweet season of hope,
Beside me
Not letting the lights twinkling with wicks of joy,
Festooning trees and doorways,
Dim with memory
Or exchange red and green for blue and ice
On starless nights.
Not ready to eat
The last crumbs of Christmas manna
Or leave the firesides of desert travelers
Stargazing.
Just one more night precious holiday
And then you can slip away
To walk from Bethlehem to Jerusalem.
Categories:
firesides, christmas, goodbye,
Form: Free verse
Some men keep real cool at gunpoint
Having been swimming in the company of the military,
The nozzles of guns surveying in moments solitary:
Witnesses to soldiers dipping their fingers in wallets
For the purchase of that spitting out the bullets.
Some men keep grinning at gunpoint,
Because at them pistols have been pointed many times
And no ugly story followed the smiles;
It shall always be a nice evening story by firesides.
Some men choose to be absentminded at gunpoint,
When sure they are that the thing will happen
And already glimpse the bullet their brains open:
One’s best bet to start visualizing the after- life
forgetting everything including one’s wife.
Man can be cynical at gunpoint,
When fixated his mind is upon a notion
Whose abandonment would cost him a demotion
The watchword of unwavering Arabs
Between the Healthy and the On-Tabs .
But should any man be unmanned at gunpoint
Following a menacing loosening of the thing’s safety catch
Behind a door complete with a latch
A hang man’s look on the faces of the Gang
Thinking of nothing else but the loud bang.
Categories:
firesides, anxiety, courage, emotions,
Form: Rhyme
Winter bends low to blow gusty breaths, cold,
out of his northern lair beyond the warm
of summer’s enfolding. Capricious, bold
he plans his escapades of icy storm.
Clutching for a covering, nature gasps,
trembling in a landscape grown terrible;
ice-brittle moisture ricochets and rasps
on soft skin with rough strokes unbearable.
Firesides signal soft, cozy indoor dreams
of warm nests stitched in quilted eiderdown;
we bequeath outdoors to winter’s dark schemes
to clothe the green world in dismal brown gown.
Three months to hibernate; he will retreat
before a stronger sun and winds grown sweet.
Copyright, November 18, 2019
Fall Sonnets Poetry Contest
Emile Pinet, Sponsor
Categories:
firesides, seasons, snow, winter,
Form: Sonnet
When winter comes it brings a special charm
With holidays and decorated trees
With guests and firesides to keep us warm
Despite the icy chill of winter's freeze
That torments us with plummeting degrees
And snow to depths that's well above our knees
But silver frosting’s on the window pane
The sentimental smells of cider’s spice
With laughter and the joy are shared again
And all the world’s a cheerful paradise
(With gifts beneath the tree just to entice
The children to be mannerly and nice)
Then turkey’s gone, the cakes and pies devoured
This day is done, the children all worn out
The pots and pans and dishes all are scoured
The guests must go though no one’s gone without
And from the drive a last farewell they’ll shout
Then soon to bed they’ll all retire, no doubt
And while we both agree it’s been worthwhile
We’ve nothing left to share … except a smile
December 3, 2018 Winter Wonderland Poetry Contest "Urban Sonnet" Sponsored by: Emile Pinet
Categories:
firesides, christmas,
Form: Sonnet
Autumn
Chilled breezes blow.
Warm firesides glow.
Pumpkins
Orange and round
Litter the ground.
Skies
Hold November rains.
Soak gentle plains.
Maple Trees
Dress in vermillion.
It’s autumn’s cotillion.
Children
Wear shiny costumes.
Huge harvest moons.
Turkeys
Many to die.
Hear them cry.
11/11/18
Six-Word Couplet Series Encore
Sponsored by: Mark Toney
Categories:
firesides, autumn,
Form: Couplet
Cognac & Brandy recollections,
sublime warmth 'tween
smoky exhaled vapors,
wisps of Madagascar aromatics
& blazes of Autumn firesides
amidst a French Château fantasy,
dipped in honeysuckle reminisces
of cardamom spice and the pungent
zest of once upon twilit legends
Categories:
firesides, autumn, desire, dream, fire,
Form: Imagism
Upon a grassy hill, so long ago,
there stood a lovely 'castle', tall and white;
was built in eighteen eighty-six, aglow
with cozy rooms and firesides burning bright.
So charming were the winding stairs that flared
'neath grand cathedral ceiling's chandelier.
Outdoors, a rolling lawn and gardens shared
a rippling stony brook, so full and clear.
This 'castle' on the hill from long ago
became a fairytale- no more to see.
Now, only precious thoughts that come and go
can bring to life my fading memory.
My childhood 'castle' on the hill is gone-
our home- torn down to build a bridge upon.
Categories:
firesides, house, memory,
Form: Sonnet
We've Been Alone Too Long
Different roads we’ve traveled down
To reach our destiny.
Many lonesome highways
Brought you here to me.
I see you now as in the dreams
I had those nights alone
When the warmth of many firesides
Chased the chill from tired bones.
We wandered far down unknown roads
Not knowing when or where
We’d find a special someone
With dreams they wished to share.
Just lonely pilgrims lost in time
With longing in their hearts
Searching for an ending
Of a dream – before it starts.
Lyric verses fill my mind
And soon become a song.
Come, let me sing my song to you –
We’ve been alone too long.
Categories:
firesides, loneliness, love,
Form: Rhyme
In the wintry countryside, January bares her soul and lets little buds grow,
Under drifts of pure white snow, hedge high frost hardened, there is movement,
Shoots of brave winter flowers wake, and they in turn wake our summer flowers,
Then the rarest of all our flowers the blow flower stirs hidden away from all.
With frosted snow lay-ed and the skies clear, it reflects a lapis lazuli blue,
The new snow that has fallen on top of icy snow the breeze blows it into spray,
The binding of the snow beneath there is hardness that allows us to walk on it,
Walking on snow is a wonderful feeling looking over hedge tops and deep valleys.
It's good to feel the frozen mass crunching under foot but we sometimes slide,
Only rivers show themselves, their wintery hues amid the trees and grey rocks,
And because it has been a snowy winter stories circulate around warm firesides,
Of travelers lost in great drifts on the wild moorlands and snow laden forests.
Categories:
firesides, nature, winter, snow, snow,
Form: Prose Poetry
In the wintry countryside, January bares her soul and lets little buds grow,
Under drifts of pure white snow, hedge high frost hardened, there is movement,
Shoots of brave winter flowers wake, and they in turn wake our summer flowers,
Then the rarest of all our flowers the blow flower stirs hidden away from all.
With frosted snow lay-ed and the skies clear, it reflects a lapis lazuli blue,
The new snow that has fallen on top of icy snow the breeze blows it into spray,
The binding of the snow beneath there is hardness that allows us to walk on it,
Walking on snow is a wonderful feeling looking over hedge tops and deep valleys.
It's good to feel the frozen mass crunching under foot but we sometimes slide,
Only rivers show themselves, their wintery hues amid the trees and grey rocks,
And because it has been a snowy winter stories circulate around warm firesides,
Of travelers lost in great drifts on the wild moorlands and snow laden forests.
Categories:
firesides, nature, winter, snow, snow,
Form: Prose Poetry
(THIS IS THE SECOND POEM DEDICATED TO THE US PRESIDENT IN HIS QUEST FOR A SECOND TERM)
Bit and bit together become whole,
And coin and coin fills the treasure.
Right and wrong never agree;
And little and little satisfies the measure!
Careless mischief is a dangerous thing.
Kenyans do cheerfully sing!
Here is advice for Barack Hussein Obama,
Unbeatable true son of the soil.
Sure and unbending must be your strategy;
See clearly there no chances to spoil!
Earnest and apt must be your plans,
Indefatigable must be your spirit:
Never lacking zeal, and dreaming deeds full of merit!
Our prayers we do say day and night,
By our firesides were rant our supplications,
And plead that you take courage in this fight.
May yours be a full and overflowing cup,
And may the Kenyan flag be always up!
Categories:
firesides, dedication,
Form: Epic