Green Door [Free Verse]

What mysteries lie behind
That old green wooden door:
Carved elaborately
In bygone days?

On a street that features only sights
Both newer and more decrepit,
It stands out as a grand entrance
That begs something special
Beyond.

I’d hate to think it’s just
Old paint cans —
Half empty and congealed
Beyond usefulness.

I doubt it’s a brothel or speakeasy —
Too silent…
But a vault of lost masterpieces,
Inhabited by a hairy-legged spider,
Might not be too much to ask.

Little Dragon [Lyric Poem]

Ancient temple carved with features:
Beasts, men, gods and mythic creatures.
Imagine my surprise when I
Came face-to-face with this lil’ guy.

The lizard did his level best
To stay stock still with puffed-out chest.
To pass for a chiseled dragon,
But couldn’t keep its tail from waggin’.

DAILY PHOTO: Belur Gopura [Chennakeshava Temple]

“The Death of a Soldier” by Wallace Stevens [w/ Audio]

Life contracts and death is expected,
As in a season of autumn.
The soldier falls.

He does not become a three-days personage,
Imposing his separation,
Calling for pomp.

Death is absolute and without memorial,
As in a season of autumn,
When the wind stops,

When the wind stops and, over the heavens,
The clouds go, nevertheless,
In their direction.

World Lung [Haiku]

trunk splits to branches
that stretch to the edge
of oxygen’s crossing.

DAILY PHOTO: UVCE [UNIVERSITY OF VISVESVARAYA COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING]

“The Soul has Bandaged moments” (360) by Emily Dickinson [w/ Audio]

The Soul has Bandaged moments -
When too appalled to stir -
She feels some ghastly Fright come up
And stop to look at her -

Salute her, with long fingers -
Caress her freezing hair -
Sip, Goblin, from the very lips
The Lover - hovered - o'er -
Unworthy, that a thought so mean
Accost a Theme - so - fair -

The soul has moments of escape -
When bursting all the doors -
She dances like a Bomb, abroad,
And swings opon the Hours,

As do the Bee - delirious borne -
Long Dungeoned from his Rose -
Touch Liberty - then know no more -
But Noon, and Paradise

The Soul's retaken moments -
When, Felon led along,
With shackles on the plumed feet,
And staples, in the song,

The Horror welcomes her, again,
These, are not brayed of Tongue -

PROMPT: One Simple Thing

Daily writing prompt
Describe one simple thing you do that brings joy to your life.

A walk in the park. Most things in life are no walk in the park, but you can’t say that about a walk in the park.

[This message brought to you by WALK IN THE PARK.]

Understory [Haiku]

understory thrives:
light plants & shadow plants
each finds its place.

Watcher [Haiku]

lone watcher leans
on pagoda railing
to view sunrise.