Orchard Smudging
Written: by Miracle Man
3/28/2024
When, heavy frost was forecast,
for all the area and reaches.
Orchards would burn smudge pots,
trying to save their peaches.
A northwesterly wind whispers,
through recently budding trees.
We pray the temps don’t fall,
and the peach buds don’t freeze.
Smudging is not widely practiced today
due to health concerns.
Going home
across the Shard bridge
spanning a rattle-snaked river
that bites into the Irish sea
cold-bloodedly pumping
into Fleetwood's gaping fish-mouth.
Here birthmarks
are branded with icons
like beach lighthouse at Rossall Point
as Northwesterly winds
whistle across the dinosaur ribbed sands.
Yet towers still sentinel
over the dark valley
riveted in iron, rusted russet
like warships wrought from steel,
but aspire
like a winged-spirit
above backstreet's cobbled lanes
that echo with drunken frenzy.
The river's stenched breath
perfumes the breeze with sewage leaks
as passing tankers head north
and farm slurry seeps into pure veins.
Distantly,
Alveley's coalfields fade
whose ashen sides once licked
red ulcers with embered tongues.
Their slag banks were stacked
near St Michael's
whose hidden eddies still swollow
many a beautifully troubled mind.
Now the future skies
spread star-spangled
glowing with fractured light
sparks that guide strangers
embracing Morecambe bay's wide
open seas
Cerulean above
Fan brushed with fossil, ash, silver and cloud
Zephyr's northwesterly cold
Hemlock seeds and broom sage tassels fly
November surprises
I
Thought there
Were golden
Leaves upon the
Ground beneath my gold
Ginkgo, alas~~ only
Yellow frost bitten grass lies
Left wet from yesterday's winter
Rain, as the almost bare limbs shiver
In the icy northwesterly brisk breeze
I, also shiver inside our heated
Home, stripped bare of youth, vitality
In the winter of my short life
Here on Jesus' created
Earth, experiencing all
His creation's joy
Such a short time
Just a drop
Compared
To
Eternity
The Book Of John 1st Chapter
Somber gray clouds float
Northwesterly with speed
Limbs dance, shiver, rest
Her birth like this winter day
Poverty, dysfunction reigned
No ordinary
Angels just humans on earth
Adopt this small child
Sunlight floods through dark gray clouds
Life restored, a better day
The poverty of self- loathing
The of the cloak of poetry I once wore
does not protect me against my insecurity
the fear of being destitute.
Nowhere to hide when the northwesterly blows
and happy people dance at a restaurant
to the music, I composed in my heart.
Steamed up café windows people eating broth
gesticulate with forks to get me away
to eat their food in peace.
I have enough money for a cup of coffee but
they will not let in the drowning cat.
Never mind I lost my nerves
but it will be better when I write this down
and my notebook is dry with self-loathing.
Smiling In The Dawn
Haiku - Tanka
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
tis natures rhythm
heart beating in seasons
climate change cofounds
robins singing out of tune
winter sun confusing all
winter retreating
sunny spring has arrived
natures telling lies
should we give up no
spring will emerge believe
daffodils dancing
we all wait for spring
the doors to summertime joy
flowering meadows buzz
pm dusk still dark
with a wizardly spell
each time I blink
dusk smiles a smile of lightness
concedes smiling in the dawn
sunshine a promise
a northwesterly wind denies
cold—birds all puffed up
crocus all in bloom
nature I will not be denied
snowdrops dancing too
cuckoo’s don’t make spring
first swallows not a summer
fledglings—life anew
true love so precious
nature singing out aloud
forever it pleads
Icy northwesterly winds whip
Like a buggy whip cracks,
Hurrying the horses along
Dragging winter on its back.
Green leaves battered to the brown earth
Instant early death befalls.
Tender young fruit most likely gone
Spring unsettled appalls.
Unfinished
Roosters crow at the break of day
Inviting the sun to come up
And reveal a partly cloudy sky
While the poet shivers as she stays
Out on the porch to view up high
The odd slow movement of clouds cupped
Like a clam shell's ridges flay
White crackled cold dew coats summer grass
Pines softly sigh their winter song
Amidst bamboo wind chime's mellow tunes
Winter's bite removes desire to surpass
Time out on the porch with nature commune
Birdsong symphony; poet belongs
Not viewing nature through the glass
The Star Magnolia now blossoms white stars
Daffodils delicate leaves show
Forcefully pushed through frozen clay
Encouraged by the signs of spring's stars
The poet's winter blues allay
As warm sun shines returns aglow
Luscious plants become new avatars
Soon the red earth will warm again
Remove the damp damaging frost
Bare limbs whipped by winter winds
Will invite to come unconstrained
Now the northwesterly breeze blinds
The pines sigh from the cold winds tossed
A poet languishes behind glass constrained
Written: February 06, 2016
Inspired by a contest..It was a challenge..
stripped naked shivering
raped by northwesterly wind
stiff bare limbs vibrate
leaves once ablaze rest 'pon roots
nourishment for spring's rebirth