Friday, January 20, 2017

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

12 comments:

  1. This collection of Etheree's is great to read, so many different images tumbling forth that I need to read again and again!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Annie,
      I appreciate your thoughtful observation about the column. This was a lot of fun!
      Michael

      Delete
    2. Dear Annie,

      Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your poem on friends and family. Michael did an amazing job with the column. I'm glad you enjoyed it.

      Blessings,
      Karen

      Delete
  2. Great collection infused with wonderful poems.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Gopal,
      I think the different forms available to poets enhance poetic production--the etheree is one excellent option.
      Thanks for the comment.
      Michael

      Delete
    2. Dear Gopal,

      I hope you will be participating in activities in the future. You will enjoy working with Michael as he provides a variety of activities to help writers stretch and grow. Again, Welcome to Whispers!

      Blessings,
      Karen

      Delete
  3. Many poems of good thoughts and images. Enjoyed them all, especially "Awakening" by Inge Wesdijk (Daginne Aignend), Netherlands. I liked the lists and love the snugness of being home in this poem.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Barbara,

      Thank you for sharing you creative and lovely poem for this column. Glad you enjoyed reading these etherees. Michael did a great job putting the poems together.

      Blessings,
      Karen

      Delete
  4. Dear Barbara,

    I feel part of a big family that comes together around the "hearth" of poetry--blessings come literally from around the world!

    Michael

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  5. I sit at my desk, on my computer in awe of the beautiful Etheree poems by some beautiful and gifted poets. I honestly enjoyed each one of them. I am so grateful for the nice turnout of contributors. Michael, Karen, nicely done. Thank you and thank all that contributed.

    -MJ (www.tgbtgpublictions.com)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Dear Maurice,

      Thank you for your ongoing encouragement. Michael is a gift to our poetry community. I'm glad to hear you enjoyed these etherees like I did.

      Blessings,
      Karen

      Delete
  6. Dear Maurice,
    Appreciate your comment and what a treasure of reading pleasure courtesy of the Whispers' family of fine poets.
    Blessings,
    Michael

    ReplyDelete