Awkward

meeting up for lunch
awkward small talk
hides the truth

 

– – –

Photo: Anyone know what park this is?, London, c.b.w. 2011

Words: senryu, c.b.w. 2018

SaveSave

SaveSave

SaveSave

Advertisement

Exercise

I. morning exercise

rising early
a walk in the woods
soaring with birds

II. exercise in patience

seedlings sprout
patiently waiting
for peas

III. exercise in self-control

one last cookie
trying hard
to leave it for you

IV. exercise in futility

the garden grows
clear of weeds
until tomorrow

– – –

Image: Wood Lane – Claude Monet, WikiArt.org. I’ve never seen this piece before and I just love it!

Words: haiku, senryu, c.b.w. 2016

Part of the 2016 April Poem A Day Challenge (via Poetic Asides on Writer’s Digest) for the April 25 prompt: exercise

Urban

I. urban pause

sitting in traffic
the sun glints
off strangers’ cars

II. urban solitude

the city surrounds
my skin and bones
yet I am alone

III. urban sprawl

houses stand
where a desert
once filled my view

IV. urban garden

picking garden beans
a motorcycle
roars down the road

 

– – –

Image: New York Movie – Edward Hopper, 1939, WikiArt.org

Words: senryu, haiku, c.b.w. 2016

Part of the 2016 April Poem A Day Challenge (via Poetic Asides on Writer’s Digest) for the April 7 prompt: urban (blank).

He Said/She Said

a message from him
let’s meet at eight
can’t wait

sitting alone
half past nine
a full moon

a message
I never sent
where were you

 

– – –

Image: Automat – Edward Hopper, 1927, WikiArt.org

Words: (threaded) senryu, c.b.w. 2016

Part of the 2016 April Poem A Day Challenge (via Poetic Asides on Writer’s Digest) for the April 2 prompt: he said/she said

Foolish

It’s time again for the April Poem A Day Challenge (via Poetic Asides). For the next 30 days I’ll be writing and posting poetry in celebration of both the challenge and National Poetry Month.

My goal this time around is explore the haiku offshoot, senryu. This form adheres to haiku norms, but focuses on human nature and emotions instead of nature. I’ve dabbled in senryu before, but I find it considerably more difficult to write. I’m open to the challenge and I’ll do my best not to wander off into haiku (but it might inadvertently happen!).

Last year I started the tradition of pairing my PAD Challenge poems with a piece of art and I plan on continuing that tradition this year. So, sit back and enjoy a month of senryu and fine art!

– – –

I.
a cup of coffee
an hour before bed
lying awake

II.
I believed
you could change
the rain falls

III.
watching them debate
thinking there’s truth
a lost vote

 

– – –

Image: At the Coffee Table – Edvard Munch, 1883, WikiArt.org

Words: senryu, c.b.w. 2016

Part of the 2016 April Poem A Day Challenge (via Poetic Asides on Writer’s Digest) for the April 1 prompt: foolish