poem – Page 23 – Emotional Shadows

The Thunderbird – A legend

Published on June 14, 2023 by balroop singh58 Comments

This week’s poetry challenge is extremely interesting. Though it is a photo prompt but I must confess that I didn’t know anything about this picture. Thanks to Colleen for the inspiration to learn more while writing poetry.

Image by Terri Webster Schrandt, from secondwindleisure.com

The challenge is to write a syllabic poem using the photo for inspiration. “Delve deeper into the mythology behind the image,” says Colleen.

I chose to write a string of haiku.

a cultural pride
engraved on my mystic wings
an ancient grandeur

***

stories of clans ooze
out of my cedar carvings
blessed by natives

***

my wings hold power
producing thunderous sound
remnants of chagrin

***

I sound like thunder
when my powerful wings flap
lightning eyes shoot ire

***

fearsome to behold
I ward off evil spirits
but I seek heavens

Thank you poetry lovers!

If you like poetry: click here to hear Magical Whispers

Or hang out with Hues Of Hope

#Acrostic #Poetry Challenge

Published on May 23, 2023 by balroop singh56 Comments

This week’s challenge is to write a specific form with a twist: Write an acrostic poem with a syllable count of 8, 9, or 10 syllables per line (all the same, or a mixture of syllable counts, is fine).
Acrostic poems are poems in which a word or several words are spelled out vertically. This is usually the first letter of each line.

The word I chose is “Magical” and I’ve tried to write two poems with the same word.

MAGICAL

Mesmerizing strokes of an artist
Allure me, as they change every moment
Gorgeous glow at the western horizon
Illuminates my heart, inspires the sulking muse
Calls the birds back to their homes
Aesthetic arrangement that entrances,
lulls lingering steps of the sun
© Balroop Singh

Syllables: 9 10 10 12 7 9 8
***

Myriad entreaties and prayers
Are they not enough to wake you from slumber?
God smiled despite my insolence
Instantly sprinkled some magic dust,
Calmed my emotional outburst,
Alleviated angst that refused to melt
Life lurched forward with a little sway
© Balroop Singh

Syllables: 8 11 8 9 8 11 9

Thanks to Colleen for the inspiration.

Thank you poetry lovers!

If you like poetry: click here to hear Magical Whispers

Or hang out with Hues Of Hope

#TankaTuesday #Poetry

Published on May 16, 2023May 16, 2023 by balroop singh53 Comments

The challenge this week is synonyms only. We have to select synonyms for: WORK and PLAY.

a chore warms my heart
when I look at a new mom
yearning for more sleep
a memory that reminds –
newborns arrive with no fun.

***

what a chore it was
to jump out of bed, to soothe
a crying baby
what fun to wake up new dad!
the mother in me laughs now.

***

pride shines in her eyes
when her baby walks a step
all chores abandoned
to watch and clap in delight
an awesome moment of fun.

***

mom’s job never ends
an emotional anchor,
a supreme teacher,
unconditional lover
fun-creator bastion.

***

tigress who protects,
takes pride in giving them wings,
lets them fly for fun
never forgets to spell out
chores that are imperative.

***

I seem to have a Mother’s Day hangover! 😀

Thanks to Colleen for the inspiration to write syllabic poetry. I have written a string of tanka.

Thank you poetry lovers!

If you like poetry: click here to hear Magical Whispers

Or hang out with Hues Of Hope

The Last Kiss #DoubleEnnead

Published on May 9, 2023May 9, 2023 by balroop singh55 Comments

The Last Kiss

The sun tarries and winks
just for the last kiss
purple beauty bows to breathe the orange glow
love blooms with the promise
of meeting each spring

days of love get warmer,
beams of love sharper
but basking in the glory, she stands sturdy
as the petals wither.
love is just like that!

halcyon moments halt
seasons don’t matter
eons of love stories spill out of his den
as he chases the wind
and entices the rain.
© Balroop Singh

This week’s challenge is a photo prompt. Thanks to Colleen and Terri for the inspiration to write syllabic poetry. I’ve written a Double Ennead for the first time. A Double Ennead is a 99 syllable form, comprising three stanzas of syllables (6, 5, 11, 6, 5).

Thank you!