POETRY CORNER
Winter Silence by Stevie Strang.
– 1/10/18
Hosted by Kathabela Wilson
The new year has begun. Some playfully call it the year of the dog. Within that we find ourselves looking for silence, a quiet place to be, to survive well, and stir the elements of inspiration.
Listen to the six poets, read straight through from one to the other as they tell the first stories of their year! Almost all the poems are cherita, six line stories that speak one, two, three. Beginning development, Finale. I have arranged them all as a sequence, with a pair of experimental tanka by matsukaze in the center, pouring wine and easygoing.
~ Kathabela
Chinese Dog at the USC Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena, by Kathabela Wilson.
Gillena Cox
2018 year of the dog
fireworks shower the sky
in magnificent colorspity the poor frightened creature
a dog
scampering along the pavement
Ο Ο Ο
Billy Howell-Sinnard
below zero weather
first day of year
no different from anothersparrows
huddle on electrical wires
together we survive
Ο Ο Ο
matsukaze (Orrin Tyrell)
New Years’ Day the one i flirt with
washing black eyed peas – i uncork a bottle of wineΟ
2:45 pm New Years’ Day I’m at work
coaching myself to be kind to be easygoing
Ο Ο Ο
Peter Jastermsky
when stars flicker
the story
of beginningeach ray
a light
I’ve yet to shineΟ
at the same time
a light
goes offyou appear
at my door
with your smile
Ο Ο Ο
Grace Galton
new year
in the half-light of dawn
I stand at my windowand savour this moment
listening to the blessed silence
before even the crows stir
Ο Ο Ο
Billy Howell-Sinnard
listen
to the snowfall
in moonlightour breaths
like the beginning
of all things
Ο Ο Ο
Pat Geyer
as the
last day
sun setsearth dog
calmly buries an old bone…
a new day will dawn
Ο Ο Ο
Earth dog (the dog next door) by Pat Geyer.
Gillena Cox lives in St James, Trinidad and Tobago. Since the loyal man\dog friendship is pertinent to this year, we as humans are reminded of loyal relationships. Chinese lore regards it as auspicious if a dog happens to come to a house. It symbolizes the coming of fortune.
Billy Howell-Sinnard says: “I live in Fort Wayne, IN, mostly write and publish free verse, dabble in shorter verse. I actually celebrate the New Year on the first day of spring, the vernal equinox, but winter has a hard, cold beauty that inspires me.”
matsukaze (Orrin Tyrell) is a classical music singer who lives in Texas. He is known for his experimental, lyrical and detailed down to earth expression in the manner of the Japanese masters. His poems are free form two line tanka.
Peter Jastermsky writes Japanese short-form works. His writing has appeared in many journals, including Failed Haiku, Haibun Today, The Cherita, and KYSO Flash. Born in Connecticut, Peter and his family now live in Orange County, California, where he works as a licensed counselor. He says: “I am grateful to live in California, which I see as a high energy, always in-process environment, where not much stays unchanged for long.
Grace Galton says: “I live on the Somerset levels in the south-west of England in a very small village surrounded by farmland. Along the River Huntspill we have a wonderful view of Glastonbury Tor. I wish for a happy and peaceful new year.”
Pat Geyer lives in East Brunswick, NJ, USA. Her home is surrounded by the parks and lakes where she finds her inspiration in nature. Published in several journals, she is an amateur photographer and poet.
Ο Ο Ο
> We welcome and encourage your response especially in the form of short poems. You may reply by leaving a comment below.
Especially beautiful. Dense, full of meaning, also full of hope. The 6 voices arranged in a great polyphony. Bravo.
Thank you dear Toto. With your poet artist musician’s heart, ear a d sensibilities it means so much that this resonates with you!!