Friday, May 20, 2016

WHISPERS’ MAY ACTIVITY—THE ART OF PERSONIFICATION

Michael Escoubas, an accomplished writer, generously agreed to be the activity editor for May.  He selected personification, an element in which poets assign human characteristics to nonhuman subjects.  It adds a creative perspective to convey thoughts.

The Exercise--Write up to two poems from one to three lines that contain at least one example of personification.  Titles are welcome. Let the syllable count range from 7 to 10. Underscore your personification.

What a wonderful response! I would like to thank Michael for his efforts to bring so many writers together.  I am grateful to all the poets that contributed to this column.  If you missed the deadline, you can add poems in the comments section.

                                       --Karen O’Leary, Whispers’ Editor
---------------------------

The Toast

Patiently awaiting warmth
Drinking in the sweet butter
While lying in the bright sun

By Sara Kendrick—United States

The Spring Leaves

Shuddering while being stroked
By the northwesterly winds
Dressed in spring's thin pale green

By Sara Kendrick—United States
---------------------------

Mt. Fuji

Clouds drift by
Fuji-san peeks
through her veil.

By Thomas Canull—United States
---------------------------

Sidewalk Rails

Guardians of momentum
holding back those who dare to rush
and protecting them from wayward steps.

By Langley Shazor—United States
---------------------------

Portrait Gallery 1

Yes, admiration we do adore
silent hedonism can be a bore.

By Brian Strand—England

Portrait Gallery 2

Up close into my face they peer
often my expression can bring a tear.

By Brian Strand—England
---------------------------

Katydids

Katydids sing from their own hymnal
in three part harmony.

By Barbara Tate—United States

Tattle Tale

Listening to what’s said,
Grandma’s myna bird
tells family secrets.

By Barbara Tate—United States
---------------------------

When Lovers Meet

Two tiny birds flirt on the edge of a stone 
bird-bath - they dip and drink in unison
A flower floats - his love offering.

By Suzanne Delaney—United States
---------------------------

Mother Bird

Her nest is traditional with modern twists,
Passion fruit tendrils- fluff from our car covers.
With Saint- like patience- her wings give shelter.

By Suzanne Delaney—United States
---------------------------

Wind

The wind startled her
by kissing a rosy cheek
with the finesse of a lover.

By Sunil Sharma--India

Roses

roses dance softly, 
faces flushed, bent at waists
like the tiny ballerinas during the break.

By Sunil Sharma--India
---------------------------

A Story

Under the old bridge
the boulders narrate
the abandoned journey.

By Pravat Kumar Padhy--India

Talking Time

Morning breeze
all the flowers start 
talking to each other.

By Pravat Kumar Padhy--India
---------------------------

Butterflies

two butterflies are flying
dancing in a ballet
a perfect duet

By David Fox—United States
---------------------------

On A Breezy Day

Flirty washing lines sashay up and down
and freely give away their clean clothes.

By Annie Jenkin--England

Noisy Neighbours

The gutters do nothing but mutter 
with the constant chatter by the French Windows
So the walls interrupt the discussion

By Annie Jenkin--England
---------------------------

Deadline

Angry clock, busy red second hand,
Don't show your mocking face here!
Placid blank walls -- gifts of infinite time.

By David Leslie—United States

Long Check Out Line At Whole Foods

Organic Potato chips
smirk with clerk and pale kale chip patrons
but they crack wise when safely home.

By David Leslie—United States
---------------------------

Love

Mountain hearts beat
For rising new lives.

By Michele Leslie—United States

Meekness

Trees peel off hats of leaves, toss
Them to the sky’s feet. Under
Ground’s leaves, tiny seeds cuddle, protected.

By Michele Leslie—United States
---------------------------

Fresco

Stained glass window --
shadows on the temple floor
paint a fresco

By Raamesh Gowri Raghavan--India

Drops

As little drops tame
the blazing sun, the thirsting
earth spins wild with joy.

By Raamesh Gowri Raghavan--India
---------------------------

Boiling

Your teakettle taunts, whistling
“Pour me out! Then you can relax.”

By Kelley Jean White—United States
  
Temptress

Long workday;
the bed beckons invitingly.

By Kelley Jean White—United States
---------------------------

Maiden Flight…

a yellow rose opens
and launches a butterfly

By Karen O'Leary—United States
---------------------------

Sunshine

As I opened the blinds
I sent a smile to the wind
then I see the sun smiling back at me.

By Maricris Cabrera—Philippines

Crabs in the Basket

Crabs racing up the basket
each pulling down to the base
biting both hands and feet.

By Maricris Cabrera—Philippines

---------------------------

Snags

In sheer meanness the bramble reached
Out snagging my soft sheer silky shirt,
Precious present my pretty one made.

By David Palmer—United States

Comparison

Proud rhododendron stood tall
Lording it over the rose
Pity they both fade so soon.

By David Palmer—United States
---------------------------

Pretty Cloud

She fluffs out her dappled skirt.
The crowd below admires her beauty,
snapping scrolls of pictures on their cell phones.

Elizabeth Howard—United States

 Weathervane

The cock is tired of turning with the wind.
He vows he'll neither whirl nor saunter
until the wind gives him a vacation

Elizabeth Howard—United States
---------------------------

In Fashion

Wearing yellow sun hats
daffodils ransack
the back yard.

Mary Jo Balestreri—United States

After Hours Duet

A lone sax plays
while dust dances
on the wooden floor.

Mary Jo Balestreri—United States
---------------------------

The Wood

Diminishing sun.
The dandelion heads,
Pointed our way home.

Ralph Stott—England

Scarecrow

We felt the
Eyeless scrutiny
Of a pumpkin head.

Ralph Stott—England
---------------------------

First Light

Holding the first light
a monarch butterfly
smiles at me.

By Archana Kapoor Nagpal—India

Tears

Next to your grave
this first snow 
wipe off my tears.

By Archana Kapoor Nagpal—India  
---------------------------

Cactus Flower

Rising up out of the grave
of dull colored rocks
comes a smiling cactus flower.

By Michael Escoubas
---------------------------

24 comments:

  1. Michael,
    Some good entries here. Thanks for letting me participate in this activity.
    Your friend,
    David Fox

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear David,

      It is good to have you a part of Michael's wonderful activity. Glad you enjoyed the final column. I did too!

      Blessings,
      Karen

      Delete
  2. Replies
    1. Dear Marianne,

      I agree! Michael did a great job as activity editor for this column. Thank you sharing your comment.

      Blessings,
      Karen

      Delete
  3. Replies
    1. Dear Archana,

      I thought so, too. Michael came up with a wonderful activity. Thank you for being a part of it.

      Blessings,
      Karen

      Delete
  4. Replies
    1. Dear Sunil,

      What a wonderful thought! Thank you for contributing to this lovely collection. Kudos to Michael for putting this together for us to enjoy.

      Blessings,
      Karen

      Delete
  5. enjoyed these very much, especially the narrating boulders by Pravat. a great activity!
    Ralph

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Ralph,

      Thank you for being a part of this wonderful column. Michael did a great job as activity editor. I enjoyed reading all the creative poems.

      Blessings,
      Karen

      Delete
  6. Great collection! Enjoyed reading!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Gert. Michael did a great job putting this together. Congratulations to all the contributors for sharing their creative poems.

      Blessings,
      Karen

      Delete
  7. This was fun--thank you for allowing me to be part of it. Enjoyed each and every one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Barbara,

      Glad to have you a part of this activity. Michael's idea was really a hit! Thank you to you and all the contributors who shared in this column.

      Blessings,
      Karen

      Delete
  8. Dear Karen and Michael,
    Thank you for bringing this expression of poetry to all of us. It was a fun exercise and I enjoyed being a part of it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Mary Jo,

      Michael did a great job with this column! I knew his idea would be well received. Thank you so much for sharing in this activity. It means a lot to me, and I'm sure to Michael, too.

      Blessings,
      Karen

      Delete
  9. An excellent ensemble. My favourite was:

    A lone sax plays
    while dust dances
    on the wooden floor.

    Mary Jo Balestreri—United States

    But loved the rest too!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Raamesh,

      I'm not surprised as Mary Jo is such a talented writer. Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful poetry for this activity. Many blessings in your journey.

      Karen

      Delete
  10. What wonderful moments captured...enjoyed them all for their artistry and beauty! Thanks for the collection Karen.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Neena,

      Thank you so much for your kind words. Michael did a great job with this column. I hope you will consider sharing some words for these columns, too. Welcome to Whispers!!

      Blessings,
      Karen

      Delete
  11. Very nice work, poets. Congratulations to you all and thank you to Michael and Karen for this activity. Really loved the "Katydids" write by Barbara Tate. Continued blessings to you all!

    -MJ (www.tgbtgpublictions.com)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Maurice,

      The biggest kudos goes to Michael who put together this collection of artistic views. Thank you for your kind thoughts. I really appreciate all the people that shared their talent for this column.

      Blessings,
      Karen

      Delete
  12. Dear Poet Friends,
    Thanks to everyone for participating in the "Art of Personification" exercise. I'm just now rechecking Karen's post of the project. Such fun reading the generous comments made. Karen and all the fine Whispers poets have blessed my life many times over as I've become part of Karen's family of poets. Now, I'm networking with poets writing from all parts of the globe.--I'm, thankful, honored, and humbled.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Michael,

      What a joy to have you a part of our Whispers' community. Thank you so much for being the activity editor this month. Your light is shining!

      Blessings and best wishes,
      Karen

      Delete