WHISPERS’ JANUARY ACTIVITY-- ENGAGING THE ETHEREE

Dear Whispers’ Family,

The January writing activity has been ENGAGING THE ETHEREE. Thank you to all who submitted poems. These wonderful poems showcase the form’s range and potential for poetic expression. Enjoy these Engaging Etherees.

Michael Escoubas, Whispers’ Activity Editor

_________

An Apple a Day

Nest

building

has begun

in the big tree

in our back garden –

male blackbird keeps lookout

while female constructs the nest:

twigs, grass & beakfuls of compost.

By second day, task is accomplished.

Birds slip out of sight. I put out apples…

Mary Gunn, Ireland

_________

Outside My Window

My

garden

of flowers,

zinnias and

marigolds with weeds,

pleases my earth beyond

words though wilting pumpkin vines

hang from the fence.  Hope rises for

little pumpkins soon to grace our rooms

among vased zinnias and marigolds.

Barbara Robinette, United States

_________

Snow Kittens

Black

and white

balls of fur

frolic in snow

beneath ice-blue sky,

leave paw-prints around oak

before racing up brown bark

scattering snow from scraggly limbs

upon squirrel searching for acorns

amid frigid crystalline decked landscape.

Mary A. Couch, United States

_________

Overcoming

All

because

consistent

discouraging

efforts to fix and

finally finish the

great American novel

have fizzled and foundered but for

inspiration blazing, inflaming

joy! Love for the bloody art of writing.

Candace Armstrong, United States

_________

The Nature of Things

Wave

on wave

of cedar

waxwings sweep in

with their chattering,  

strip the fruits and berries

from mistletoe and holly,

dogwood, ash, and serviceberry. 

Deer follow, gleaning the detritus,

storing up body fat for winter’s cold

Elizabeth Howard, United States

_________

Sixes and Sevens

How

fragile

this New Year:

the world with its

'one-second wobble',

and the uncertainty......

until I hear the sound of

the old farrier's steely caps,

coupling with the steadying of the

colt's clattering feet, as he snorts the air.

Ralph Stott, United Kingdom

_________

Reading Late at Night

book

sleepy
in night light

feeling fearful

when knock on the door

disturbs my reverie

I do not know what to do

I open the door to see god

he is smiling and wants to come in

I fall in awe at this majestic sight

Isha Wagner, New Zealand

_________

The Eddystone Lighthouse(s)

The

current

lighthouse is

on a large rock,

its home for many

years. I often wonder

if it thinks of retirement

as it sees its idle brother 

on the land.(Or if that retired light 

dreams of returning to active duty).

Jack Horne, England

_________

Homespun Art

Ice

Chiseled

By Jack Frost

On window panes

Forms crystal feathers

That impregnate the glass

With stylistic curls and swirls

Turning a common frosty scene

Sculpted by winter's artistic hand

Into a masterpiece of homespun art.

Emile Pinet, Canada

_________

Epiphany

Snow

fell last

night until

the Christmas lights

were covered, glowing

through a billion tiny

crystals. Imagine, each flake

unique and discrete, but piling

softly upon each other they’ve made

a new world, cool, refreshed, lit from within.

Kelley White, United States

_________

Awakening

Eggs
with toast
Butter and
fresh marmalade
Start of a new day
My cat in her basket
is pleasantly purring, as
my coffeepot softly simmers
A homely and snug togetherness
celebrating the sun's awakening 

Inge Wesdijk (Daginne Aignend), Netherlands

_________

Crystal-Gazing

The
light lifts
my eyes to
a raised glass dome.
Its glittering gift,
carefully wrapped in love:
a promise of hope and joy,
of a second-chance awaiting,
a belief for what is possible
to be gifted by family and friends.

Annie Jenkin, England

_________

What I Wrote

Just

fooling

with words so

I'm writing this

form, an etheree,

harder than people think

since the line that follows the

previous one is longer than

another syllable so forgive

this my first attempt at an etheree.

David Fox, United States

_________

Dilemma

You

make me

so confused

with all your talk.

Millennials and

Generation Xers:

I feel so faint and dizzy

counting up so many numbers.

Do I need computer services

to have the pleasure of your acquaintance?

Joan McNerney, United States

_________

Sundries

gloves
pennies
white tissues
pieces of lint
silver gum wrapper
ten cents worth of nickels
some half chewed pieces of gum
card for a dentist appointment....
just before you put it on again
look in the pockets of your winter coat

Pat Geyer, United States

________

Crossroads

Yes

or no.

Either way,

a choice is made.

The first of many,

each one a domino

precariously perched in

front of the next, waiting to be

nudged, waiting to collapse from the weight

of the decisions leading up to it.

Robert P. Hansen, United States

_________

Moment

I

Want to

Live each day

Each moment now

But how I struggle

To simply walk daily

Oh Lord, show me how to live

Teach me to let go of myself

Fall into your arms and sing loudly

Breathing deeply and fully in your love

Jim Teeters, United States

_________

Daybreak 

Wake

Morning

Sun rises

The birds chirping

Flowers spread petals

Warmth begins to chase dew

A horizon filled with light

Signals the coming of new days

Replacing the glow of evening's moon

The steady rotation of Mother Earth

Langley Shazor, United States

_________

Winter Jester

Snow
drifting
over cars
like ocean waves
leaving foam in wake
until all is white bumps
silent beneath cold blanket.
Silent as snow deepens to flat
landscape quiet in hibernation;
sun plays April Fool’s in January.

Diane Webster, United States

_________

The Lone Oak

Last

giant

of triplets

planted for shade,

a century old…

Boughs stretch to compensate

the loss.  And when the wind howls,

my friend’s branches rustle alone.

As the rain pours, I pray he will bear

the weight…so our lonely souls aren’t alone.

Karen O'Leary, United States

_________

Peace at Whitefish River*

This

placid

blue river

bordered by snow

banks and crusted pines,

seems to know the needs of

buck and doe sheltered in snow,

pensive of the hunter’s tramping

boot. The Whitefish whispers in soft tones,

danger nears, hold still, till they stop and go.

*The Whitefish River is located in northwest Montana.

Michael Escoubas, United States
________

Enthralled

Love

starts small

a pleasant 

interest, but 

then, before you know 

it, she then becomes your

passion, and you would move the 

heavens and earth just to please her 

and think nothing of it, for she is 

the one for whom sun, moon and stars orbit.

David W. Palmer, United States