#Ekphrastic Challenge #Poetry

The Wait

Adrift, 
alone, I pine,
everyday I look out, 
separated by a window
waiting.

just for
one glance, one chance
to prove my commitment, 
to pass the test of my patience,
my love.

will she 
turn her face once?
will I hold on for life ?
even the flowers at the ledge
wither.

true love
blossoms swiftly
can it change with seasons?
skepticism has no solution
I’m stuck.

this room
is my prison
this pact – my albatross
now I regret my decision
gravely.
© Balroop Singh

Thanks to Colleen and Rebecca Budd ~ ChasingArt.com, for the inspiration to write syllabic poetry. I’ve written a Crown Cinquain.

Crown Cinquain is a sequence of five cinquain stanzas functioning to construct one larger poem. This poem has five stanzas, each with syllable count of 2/4/6/8/2.

I would like to express my profound gratitude to Denise, Diana, Mae Clair, Sandra Cox, Vera Day, Robbie Cheadle and Patricia for wonderful reviews of my latest poetry book, Fusion, which was released this month.

#Seasonal #Poetry

irksome muggy heat 
bristles for sudden showers
oppressive August

***

dahlias toss their heads
scented breeze brings a message
we’re ready to go

***

carpenter bees buzz
some survive on sunflowers
fireflies mate and die


***

summer dresses match
colorful beach umbrellas 
waves welcome surfers

***

summer sounds snug here
ocean fog flaunts amity
eternal allure 
© Balroop Singh

Thanks to Colleen for the inspiration to write syllabic poetry. Click on the link to read more and participate. Have fun!

Thank you for your lovely support and reviews dear friends. I appreciate your kind gestures.

#TankaTuesday #Photoprompt #Poetry

Nurtured with soft love,
my sunflower glows with light
watch each petal sprout,
widen, thrive and radiate – 
breathing a message of life
***

Sunflower sulks now, 
has alienated herself, 
turned her face away. 
when did the winds of hubris 
blow away your faith in love?
© Balroop Singh

Thanks to Colleen and Terri for the inspiration to write syllabic poetry.

Thank you for your support. Please share this post.

#TankaTuesday & #NewRelease #Poetry

This week’s challenge invitation is to explore the world of collective animal nouns. Hop over to Colleen’s site for more details about this interesting challenge.

A host of sparrows
flit and flutter in delight
courtyard is mirthful
with benefactor’s birthday –
grandma smiles with affection
© Balroop Singh

Book Blurb:

Fusion is the elixir of life. We seek it in every aspect of the cosmos. The magic of fusion manifests itself in the colors of dawn and dusk, in the melodies of nature, in the singing of birds, in the miniscule moments of joy, inspiring us to live in harmony with each other despite the edges that threaten to swallow us. 

The poems in this collection are an amalgamation of harmonies and edges that bind us firmly. We have to wade into murky waters to measure the depth. We have to risk the heights to know our worth. Slippery snow makes us learn how to create footholds. Some songs of life dilute in the hourglass of time to erase the shadows – dark or light, all the colors play an equal role to create a fusion. 

I am looking forward to your help in promoting it. Thank you for your continued support.

Balroop Singh.

#NewRelease by Lauren Scott #Poetry #BookReview

Today we are celebrating ‘Ever So Gently’ by Lauren Scott. A combination of free verse and syllabic poetry like haiku, tanka, etheree, shadorma etc. this is a lovely collection of poetry. I’ve already read this delightful book and enjoyed it.

In this book, Lauren Scott shares her strong link to nature, taking the reader on a tranquil walk through a redwood grove. You’ll find an invitation to sit quietly on a patio, captivated by the simple beauty of a hummingbird. She’ll entice you to revel on the shore of a freshwater lake, mesmerized by its stunning beauty.
Scott shares how love has shaped her life. From that first delicious kiss to celebrating decades of marriage through a love that deepens over time. How her heart melted when she became a mom, then ached when her children started their adult lives across country. And how her adorable canine companions found their way into her heart.
Scott underscores how life presents mysteries we struggle to solve. We can’t help but ponder the deeper meaning of a simple vision. She prompts you to reminisce and reflect on your past, present, and future. Through the ups and downs. what matters most is to love and live ever so gently.

Scott’s poetry celebrates memories and moments in her latest collection – ‘Ever So Gently.’ Her connection with the surroundings blends into the wisdom of nature that unfolds through stunning imagery like: “hear the rustle of a skittering squirrel,” “petals of velvet invite raindrops to bask in their peach enchantment,” and “breeze carries burdens down rivers.”

From the birds that ‘flit and flutter’ to build their nest to the owl who proclaims his presence with his ‘high-pitched toots’ and the hummingbirds that flutter around the “bright pink petals” – all find a place of honor in this book to delight your moods. Lauren’s realism captivates and appeals to all the senses. Some of her poems express profound love that we cherish and yearn for – she tells you how valuable that love has been in her life.

From ‘The Peach Rose’ to ‘Firestorm’ and not to forget ‘I Was Adopted,’ her poetry slides most naturally on the wide canvas of creativity. However, poems that speak of love, of growing up and bonding are the ones that touched my heart. Who can ever forget ‘The Old Afghan,’ which is most relatable!

I haven’t read a more beautiful description of sunset – “The sky explodes in tangerines, salmons, canary yellows – brighter with every second. It’s as though a painter swished her brush back and forth…”
Some more examples of Scott’s brilliant style:
“And water hasnt caressed the hills
The earth, parched like Chile’s Atacama.”
“Silk-thread drizzles dusted rooftops and parched hills.”
“How he tenderly tiptoed through the syllables.”(I could feel the poignancy of the emotion)

A combination of free verse and syllabic poetry like haiku, tanka, etheree, shadorma etc. this is a lovely collection of poetry. Read it slowly to savor each emotion. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Lauren has authored two collections of poetry: New Day, New Dreams(2013) and Finding a Balance (2015). In the last couple of years, she began exploring memories from her past, penning them into short memoirs. In 2021, she released her memoir, More than Coffee: Memories in Verse and Prose. She lives in Northern California with her husband, Matthew, and their lovable canine, Copper; they have two adult children. Family has been an aspect of life she has always held dear. From her experiences over three decades: raising a family, grieving through loss, finding joy in the smallest things, and the many backpacking and camping adventures, her writing takes a magical path of its own. 

The marvelous wild world that surrounds her: the smell of the woods, the sound of a babbling brook, and the chorus of birds never disappoint in providing inspiration. Recent backpacking trips with Matthew along the California coast and Sierra Nevada have stirred up thoughts to write about love, lost friendship, family, and the possibility that anything can happen. Hikes along the Paper Mill Creek remind her that life is fragile. From trout hatchlings to swallowtail butterflies, Lauren is marveled at how the world is interconnected and that every living thing matters. She is a poet, short memoir writer, and nature lover who hopes her readers will find a little nugget of delight, comfort, or understanding in her poetry and stories – some detail that resonates with them beyond her words.

Thank you for your lovely support.
Balroop Singh.

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