The draft dips downward, limbs swaying in the wind;
fearless butterfly hovers over a branch.
Listening too late, one strong gust of wind
propels her towards an overhanging tree.
She grabs hold; hunching under leaves; she waits it out.
What a story she'll have for her kiddoes tonight.
Audacious bee is busily engaged
stockpiling nectar from nearby tulip blooms.
He hears the wind's howl and crawls quickly to safety
deep inside a budding tulip blossom's petals.
"Wind's too strong to risk flying back to the hive;
I might land in Timbuktu or the Sahara."
Hard-working ants set out on their quest early;
word has it that there's treasure on Ridge Rd.
Hauling crumbs twice his size, along the dusty path,
Andy has made three trips already by noon.
Wearily, he trudges along with his last load
and gets wind of a blast coming his way.
Dropping cargo, he crawls to a crack just in time.
Cruising in a yacht
Sailing on the sparkling sea
Seagulls squawk above
Walking on the shore
Drinking sweet pineapple juice
And collecting shells
Taking a moment
To breathe in the salty scent
Of the pleasant breeze
Sitting in the shade
Under coconut palm trees
And licking ice-cream
Waves washing away
Footprints left in the soft sand
And flooding castles
Shh, listen closely
To hear the sun sizzle on
The ocean's surface
In the corner weighing 200 pounds
trying to make myself small to escape
notice in the fog of Dad's drunken rage.
Waking in darkness seeing in light
from the living room Dad's bloody face
begging Mom to take blame for the accident.
Around the dining room wiping up blood
from Mom's broken nose while Dad worries
she called the police after she left.
Cowering with Mom inside as outside
Dad like a mad cowboy rides the bulldozer
threatening to destroy the house.
At the funeral lacking power
to give Dad's life back to him
mourning the lose
Like a sheet of mercury glass
reflects light imperfectly,
I pass life’s mirror,
capturing distorted vignettes,
experiences faded on the edges
or, here and there, heightened focus
amplified the ridges of our years.
Funny how perception can exaggerate memory;
our mirrors may stand side by side,
but the image is not identical.
Copyright, May 8, 2022
hindsight
a vicarious sanctuary
exhiliarating fluctuating
harmony
conventionally coidtered
exquisite enchanting
in mysterious patterns
changing tones&
textures immersed
in stunning images
depictions
tinged with
wistfulness
chaos
from desolation
of emotions awry
four vignettes on silence
I
Muteness broadcasted
hush-hush flaunted
just like a coverall,
silence is a blanket
on human telepathy and intent.
II
It's simple, actions speak as loudly as words.
Silent treatment can be an
autumn breeze,
granting space
cooling tempers.
III
Sulkiness can be likened to
green gall, blatant brooding
and withdrawal characterized as
yellow cowardice,
Passive aggressive behavior exposed.
IV
Cats, life-long friends, co-workers all employ
loving acts, yet silence...
licking, ankle rubs
eye winks, hugs
waves and smiles.
July 29, 2019
She is hot and cold,
keenly engaged then a
distant horizon.
She is like cotton candy,
so sweet and pretty but in
one bite evades me.
She doesn't respond
to my deep probing questions
impenetrable.
But when she is with me
the whole world reverberates
the passion we share.
Immersed in love's gaze
I see her soul leaping
spontaneously.
Always a question
whenever we meet is
who are you today.
When do I decide
if there's enough growth to stay
or just walk away.
Love Is...
I
Elusive mist passes through her fingers
Love envelopes and clings hot and humid
Once dry she wonders if she ever felt anything at all
Parched she cracks and awaits the rain
II
Swimming deep and then buoyed to the surface
She bubbles with excitement
Glorious joy infuses her being
Love engulfs her as she drowns
III
A cool glass beaded with moisture
In control she sips and exhales a sigh
Love lingers imparting pleasure
Sip by sip she and he become one
Vignettes and clips
Fling sober mind trips;
Watch heavy heart skip
Tears ooze with mood flips.
Wherever I roam,
Feelings promptly sigh;
Tender thoughts of home
Ply through august skies.
Touch of warm July
Sun-drenched pathways bright;
I hear stray bird cries
In this sunny light.
So I weave a tale
As verse comes around;
Let silence avail
Unknown yet profound.
Home is a fond place
Where heart finds true rest;
Where soul feels sure trace
That anchors clear zest.
Leon Enriquez
24 July 2014
Singapore
I crave for them in weaves of light
And scan life’s vignettes on my mind
Their charmed love wraps me day and night
By the porch, his guitar sings bright
Relieving heart’s joys so entwined
I crave for them in weaves of light
My grandma's laughter soft and sprite
My grandpa's brown eyes, firm yet kind
Their charmed love wraps me day and night
Bedtime tales inspire fancy’s flight
Hide-and- seek thrills, now hard to find
I crave for them in weaves of light
They taught me to win, lose with might
Till frail trees sobbed with old age grind
Their charmed love wraps me day and night
Legacy of my heroes' blessed rite
Find me weaving past years all timed
I crave for them in weaves of light
Their charmed love wraps me day or night
(c)
*villanelle: 8 syllable count
For Janette Fisher's
By nette onclaud
sublime quilt
of dormant shimmers
in lethargic winter sunshine
stretched on shivering earth
as finger caresses of peace.
turning variegated world
into a room filled
with feathers floating from
bursting womb
of sailing pillows on azure.
pouring wisps of manna
from chalices in heavens,
falling through misty translucence
to salve blisters on
breast of earth in chilblain.
muted rhapsodies of drizzles
resound as whispers of
snow crystals with soar throat
humming ambiguous strains
in ears of indifferent Boreas.
hymeneals in albescence
floating in the chilly breeze,
prayers of angels for children
and dreams for animals
dormant in hibernation,
from land of Morpheus reach
the world as prismatic snow.
like molted moonlight
raiment of night covering
visage of earth's verdant realms
piled on treetops and roofs,
turning kaleidoscopic canvas
of existence argent...