poetry – Page 6 – Susan Joy Clark

Creative Life, Poetry

Don’t Look!

You don’t want to hear my sad tale,

It was not too pretty a sight,

Cover your eyes and close your ears,

And don’t let me give you a fright,

But I wound Dad’s wound in towels,

After a big dog took a bite.

This poem was written in response to dVerse’s Monday quadrille challenge. I’m not sure how I feel about this poem. It has a strange, almost silly feel for such a serious incident. Then again, a graphic retelling would be far worse, I think. I guess it fulfills all the requirements which is 44 words, no more or less, and the homographs “wound” and “wound.”

When I thought about “wound” and “wound,” this is where my brain took me. I did not know I would make the incident a subject of poetry. 😛 Dad and I were bitten by a dog in mid-August. My injury was more minor. Dad required two surgeries for his wound, but he is doing just fine now. We are thankful to God there was no major damage to joints or structures of the hand.

Creative Life, Poetry

The Goldfish and the Robin

Paint Chip Quintilla or Two

This poem was inspired by Linda Kruschke’s Paint Chip Quintilla or Two Challenge. The idea was to use two of these color names in a poem in quintilla format.

A goldfish in his glass-bound pond,

Feels limitations of his space,

As he looks through window beyond,

He spies a nest among tree fronds,

A peaceful and unhampered place.

A robin’s egg of pastel blue,

Sits in that nest upon its perch,

A fish can’t fly – now that is true,

But it can wish for freedom too,

And a share in that robin’s mirth.

This was an interesting exercise. I’m not sure I would have come up with this particular poem outside of the challenge. Once I selected my two color words, I began to think about the contrasts between the two animals and how they live.

Creative Life, Explorations, Hiking and walks, It's a Doggy Dog World, Poetry

A Stroll in the Park with Luce

Haibun, Haiku, Travel Writing

Photo by Susan Joy Clark, bridge in Verona Park, Verona, NJ

I want to take you on a virtual walk with me, inspired by Restless Jo’s Monday Walk, with a little haibun (Japanese poetic prose,) haiku, park photography and a little down-to-earth information about our experience.

On Saturday, I walked with a new doggy client, Luce (pronounced Loochay,) a handsome dog, a Brittany spaniel and dachshund mix. We walked through Verona Park in Verona, New Jersey, and as it was a nice day, the park was busy with people doing everything possible to do in the park: fishing, cycling, walking dogs, playing tennis, paddleboating and using the playground and the exercise stations around the walking path.

Luce, (pronounced Loo-chay,) a Brittany spaniel and dachshund mix

Haibun

We traipse along the paved path, Luce moving ahead of me, waving his tail like a feathery fan. We pull to the water’s edge where the sun glints against the smooth surface. The blurred reflection of the trees in the water resembles an impressionistic painting. A central fountain shoots its spray, creating a relaxing soundtrack, while distant swanboats glide through the pond.

Other swans dock at the shore, awaiting passengers, their beaks face to face, creating a heart in the negative space between them.

Intense pink dianthus greet us, lifting their frill-framed faces to the sun.

The shadows of the trees create lacy patterns on the wide stone path bordering the lake while a paddleboat floats under the arch of a stone bridge.

A cluster of irises grow at the water’s edge, their yellow teardrop petals drooping gracefully.

A weeping willow’s tendril-like branches sweep the water’s surface. They hang like a fairy maiden’s hair prepared for a wash. Its branches majestically arch and curl above the reflective water.

Luce, though placid, is drawn to the sight and smell of two ducks in the water.

Haiku

A green-headed mallard

and his mate float together,

on a man-made raft.

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Luce and I had some refreshment at the Snack Shack at the boathouse after our walk. I had forgotten to bring water or a dog bowl, and as I was too distracted to notice the signs forbidding dogs on the dock, I carried Luce over to the Snack Shack order window. I bought a drink for myself and a bottled water and asked if they could give me a bowl for the dog. The kind employee at the window alerted me to the "no dogs" rule but provided a bowl for me. I thought they might have a disposable one, but he gave me a melamine plastic one. We sat at a nearby lakeside bench to refresh ourselves, but I didn't break the rules again in order to return the bowl, so I hope that they were able to retrieve it from where I left it. I appreciate the kindness of that employee.

Creative Life, Poetry

King Chuck — #Tanka Tuesday, #Tanka, #Poetry, #Micropoetry

King Chuck sits so still,

and, seemingly, free of verve.

He begins to stir

then stretch, race and crash sidelong

into me — with affection.

This was written as part of the Tanka Tuesday challenge, hosted by Colleen M. Chesebro. For this challenge, we had to use synonyms of life and move in our poems.

In just a little end note, King Chuck is not my cat, but a cat I take care of from time to time. I have been the recipient of many of those funny, affectionate crashes. I also agree that his name is very comical.

Creative Life, Dog poetry, It's a Doggy Dog World, Poetry

A Doggo and His Ball

Poem and Palinode

Franco, a little doggy I care for several days a week.

I have been writing some short stories lately, and though I am late for National Poetry Month, have been in the mood over the past few days to experiment with different poetry forms. I am always in the middle of a longer creative writing project, so it has been nice to write some shorter pieces and put out a piece of creative writing more often.

I came across this challenge by DVerse to write a palinode. As described on their page, “A palinode or palinody is an ode or song that retracts or recants a view or sentiment to what the poet wrote in a previous poem.” It’s possible to do the poem and its recanting in a two-part poem which is what I chose to do.

A Doggo and His Ball

Franco is a funny boy,

Doggo with a favorite toy.

Balls are this doggo’s delight,

Which he dreams of day and night.

His fixation is annoying,

For the while he is enjoying,

the ball it bounces, skips and places

self into inconvenient spaces.

Only a hooman on her knees,

Face, hands or belly can retrieve

beloved bally from its snares

Under sofas, seats, beds or chairs.

Did I say my darling was a pest,

Just because he gives me little rest?

Maybe I did, but only in jest.

I’m not sure my form is flawless — poem people, be gentle — but maybe light, comic verse gives me more leeway?

I’m showing off my lovely mismatched staying-at-home outfit in this pic, but it’s a good example of Franco being a darling.

This silly ditty below, by Gelett Burgess in 1895, was shared on DVerse’s page as an example of a poem with palinode, and I liked it so much I’ll share it here.

“I never saw a purple cow.
I never hope to see one.
But I can tell you anyhow
I’d rather see than be one.”

Later in life, Burgess wrote —

“Ah yes, I wrote the purple cow!
I’m sorry now I wrote it!
But I can tell you anyhow,
I’ll kill you if you quote it!”