#Etheree #Poetry Challenge – 336

A Mute Beauty

Peace
hovers
around her
a mute beauty,
a sculpture that stares 
expressionless, voiceless. 
her mind is a clean slate now
she can’t hear you, her eyes follow
imploring you to understand pain 
that lies within her, waiting for Yama.
***
Ardently, this young girl observes grandma,
with spark in her eyes, she holds her hand, 
kisses her shriveled cheek gently,
speaks in an endearing tone
that elicits a smile –
a silent message:
love needs no words –
a bond that
follows
you.
© Balroop Singh

Thanks to Colleen for the inspiration to write syllabic poetry. This week’s challenge is “Synonyms Only.” The words are: QUIET and SEEK.

An Etheree is a type of poem which consists of 10 lines of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 syllables. Etheree can also be reversed and written 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1. So it is called a double Etheree.

This week, my gratitude goes to Jacquie Biggar, Gwen Plano and Luanne Castle for their lovely reviews of Fusion – my latest release.

#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.

#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.

If you like poetry: click here to hear Magical Whispers

Or hang out with  Hues Of Hope 

 

My Picture Window #Etheree

This week, the challenge is “to share the view outside your window by writing a syllabic poem.” Here is the view from my window though the picture doesn’t show the howling wind and the continuous rain… spring still seems far away!

View from my bedroom window

Pine 
tree twigs
swing harder 
wrathful wind howls,
inert spring stumbles
nonplussed, she looks at the 
silvery sky that shields sun.
My picture window remains closed
to keep the wayward winter chill and
the unpleasant sounds of the wild wind out.

So ferocious that it knocks down blossoms
as if spring charm is at its mercy!
It’s fun to watch freaky weather 
only from my French window
and wait for fragrant queen
to arrive with breeze
loved by lillies 
and roses
to spread
joy.
© Balroop Singh

Thanks to Colleen for the inspiration to write syllabic poetry. My admiration for this form has grown with each attempt.

I have written a double Etheree which consists of 10 lines of 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 syllables. Etheree can also be reversed and written 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1.

Thank you.

If you like poetry: click here to hear Magical Whispers

Or hang out with  Hues Of Hope 

#TankaTuesday #PhotoPrompt #Poetry

Image by Terri Webster Schrandt

Coherent Colors

Colors condescend here and mingle with perfect ease. Green dives into blue to create a calm combination. Peach perches on rocky terrain. I rise with the mist to kiss the clouds.  A wondrous land beckons me far beyond the fragrance of fir trees. An empowering lift. A milky channel opens to welcome a weary soul.

An artist at work
unfurling serenity
breathing in colors
her easel is eclectic
divine power mentors her. 

© Balroop Singh

Thanks to Colleen for the inspiration. This week’s challenge is photo prompt and I chose to write Tanka prose.

Thank you.

If you like poetry: click here to hear Magical Whispers

Or hang out with  Hues Of Hope