Subject Poetry Contest.

[tailor STATELY]

moments: summer in garden valley


red is the color
of the sun this summer day
the lungs of a fox
burn with exertion
from merely breathing the air
nearby kits whimper

a rusting ford truck
bald tires rotting on its rims
conceals their stark den
the day's heat lessened
by the shade of an old barn
bleached and desolate

tall grass and thistles
a sudden rustle spurred by
furtive running quail
beaks agape for want
water lacking for relief
- a pine martin leaps

a flurry of wings
beat upon drifting ash motes
whistles and warbles
signal the flock to
the refuge of a gnarled oak
where gray squirrels chirp

8/13/2018

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[cacian]

Thank you for YesNo and tailor Stately we now have a contest.

[cacian]

Both poems are brilliantly composed.
I like YesNo's play on rhymes and the last line is perfect. It is a neat little piece. Very well done.
The play on words in tailor's piece is grandiose. A whimsical a piece to read and reread and keep discovering

Hard choice but....
the winner is tailor STATELY!!!
congratulations!!

[tailor STATELY]

Thank you cacian ! I enjoyed your poem YesNo very much.

I just noticed the contrast in color and "breathing" between the two poems; a diametrical opposition. Our locale has suffered from the confluence of smoky air from various fires in California over the years, sometimes all too close (we've been evacuated once), and quite often the sun will be red, most spectacularly at sunrise and sunset - but at its worst during the midday. Our weather report even includes "haze" in our current forecast due to the fire activity: https://forecast.weather.gov/MapClic...n=-120.7809676 The backdrop of the poem is from a dream my wife had over a year ago that she has yet to act upon.

Next subject: The Homeless

[YesNo]

Homeless in the Ocean of Love

May homelessness be everywhere
With open door
With open heart
Without a floor
To fall apart.
Should I be blessed to find you there
May homelessness be everywhere.

[tailor STATELY]

Thank you YesNo for getting us started.

Setting a deadline for the end of the day Monday, September 10th.

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[cacian]

homelessness
is a crash course
on lack of thoughts
destitute is an institution
of faults
humans are mould
attention to detail
gold
and life is a little
bit more hold which is more than
can be said or told.

[tailor STATELY]

Thank you cacian! Deadline end of day 9/10/2018.

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[tailor STATELY]

I had much to ponder on these two entries...

YesNo - When I first read this poem I became incredulous; mouth agape in wonder... agape perhaps being appropriate in the Greek sense of the word in the context of your poem. Confused and surprised I tried to take in all 7-lines in the context of what my expectations were for this contest and was blown out of the water.

cacian - Enjoyed the word play: "humans are mould / attention to detail / gold"... my thoughts strayed to the potential each one of us has for greatness - vessels finely sculptured and refined; yet some become lost in an "institution of faults" whether of their own making or not.

Well done ! Both poems are worthy of winning, but a choice must be made and the winner this round is YesNo.

Congratulations !

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[cacian]

tailor STATELY thank you and congratulations YesNo

[YesNo]

Thank you, tailor STATELY! And cacian!

The next topic is "Autumn".

Off and on, I am unable to post, but today it seems to be working.

[tailor STATELY]

On Howling Breath

This weariness in my breast - Autumn has
come on howling breath - Mortality con-
sumes - consigned to death - Patiently, ever
patiently, enduring this earthly test

11-9-2018

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[YesNo]

I like the howling reference to autumn. Thank you for the entry, tailor STATELY! I am going to announce you the winner since the contest has been open for a while.

Congratulations!

[tailor STATELY]

(lol) Thank you ! Good to see you posting. Thank you for reading...and sorry my entry was forthcoming so late. The ideas have been simmering in bits and pieces for some time and burst forth with the news of yet another California fire that strikes too close to home in many ways.

Next Subject: A Rainy Day............. deadline 2-weeks from the first entry.

Ta ! (short for tarradiddle),
tailor STATELY

[prendrelemick]

I long for the blueness of skies
Hot sunshine
A dazzle in my eyes.

I think of bright surf,
Bluebottles,
The smell of dry earth.

A zephyr through leaves
Sweet breath
Of a long summers eve

It's raining on my days
But it may clear up
The Met Office says.