For the Birds? -- a Poem for Friday Writing and for dVerse Poetics

Notice Mrs. Jim's painter shoe covers.  The ground
here is like a duck's kennel floor, covered.

  

Parenting is shared 

 Realization comes 

I lived on a balloon 

Sailing and flitting 

Didn't matter to where 

I sailed through the marshes 

Range Rover's delight 

Penguins visit well worth 

On sailing to China 

I walked the Great Wall 

Didn't stop great masses 

.Day Three found us at the Kremlin for 

a nice tour. This is the Kremlin Wall.

Or the Kremlin's Great wall 

Glide past with great care 

Their prisons work you hard 

And so life goes right on 

We are but peons 

I could go on some more 

Realization hit 

me like a ton of bricks *

You care not one Iota 

 _ _ _ 

 

 * These two lines are taken from Dwight Roth's poem, "Resolve" 

 https://rothpoetry.wordpress.com/2024/04/30/resolve/ 

 - Photos and Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2024 or earlier, All Rights Reserved 

 - I am linked with Rommy for Friday Writing # 128 who is hosting at 

    https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/ 

 - Rommy had asked, optional with her writers, us to write about something small (a raindrop, a ladybug, a lie, etc.).  

    Perhaps our world is smaller when we have traveled a lot.  We’ve been retired 25 ( Mrs. Jim) and 23 (myself) years and have fairly well finished our desire to travel. We have visited at least 82 countries. My list, https://jimmiehov3.blogspot.com/2021/08/countries-where-i-have-been-78-of-them.html?showComment=1716438967251 .

 - I was and still am first linked with Melissa Lemay for her easy out Idea No. 1 since it is late, hosting for dVerse Poetics at  

 https://dversepoets.com/2024/05/21/april-poems-bring-may-centos/ 

 - Read here other's poems hosted by Melissa

.. 

Rabbit and the Fowls - - a Poem for Friday Writings and a Piece of Prosery for dVerse

 Missing friends

Little rabbit was 

 getting lonesome 

He'd sit by the fence 

 missing his buddies 

“Something told the wild geese 

 It was time to fly.”

Then they all left  

  alone again 

Didn't last him long

 ducks coming in

Quickly making friends 

 Rabbit's alone no more 

 

_ _ _ _ 

 - Photos and Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2024, All Rights Reserved  

 - I am linked with Rosemary at dVerse Friday Writings #126 at 

    https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/ 

   Rosemary has asked as an optional assignment for us to write a poem or story (or a few) in only 160 characters including title and spaces. (If you choose to write more than one, please put them all in one post and make sure that collectively they don't exceed our 369 word limit.)  

   I chose not to do that and wrote instead what you see next here.    

.

 - I am also linked with Kim881 at Prosery, dVerse,  her prompt line is above in quotations and posted at 

https://dversepoets.com/2024/05/06/prosery-something-told-the-wild-geese/ 

 

 - Click here for others writing Prosery Flash Writing this week.  I wrote only 44 Words, we could have 144

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The duck stays with us -- a Poem for dVerse using the Duplex form

Our Guest 

She spends her mornings in our front yard

That's where the shade is in the mornings 

  

Where the shade is in the afternoons

In the afternoons this duck's across the street 

She's across the street where the shade is then 

She drinks sprinkler water from the street 

I worry about the water in the street 

Has washed fertilizer from the soil 

Fertilizer from the soil tastes not good 

She drinks it anyway that's all she's got 

All she's got but needs it for her eggs 

She'll hatch them in a shadow box nest  

Her chicks after they're born will leave the nest

She'll spend her mornings in our front yard again 

_ _ _ 

 - Photo and Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2023, All Rights Reserved 

 - I am linked with Merril D Smith who in dVerse MTB the Duplex has introduced to us a new form, "The Duplex". which I have copied its construction below.  Read more also here, you may wish to try it.  Fun, a little tricky to make it come out right, sort of. 

https://dversepoets.com/2023/07/27/mtb-the-duplex/ 

 - Click here to read the efforts of other writers, you will all like them.

 - O yes, this starts out like a poem that I wrote on my other active blog.  The duck really has adopted us, and spends its time in the three places.

  

 - Here are the basic components of the form: 

 14 Lines, in couplets 9 to 11 syllables for each line (but the lines don’t have to have the same number of syllables) 

The second line of each couplet is partially repeated or echoed by the first line of the following couplet. 

The last line (line 14) echoes the first line. 

The second line of each couplet should change the meaning of the first line in some unexpected way. 

.. 

Birds, birds, so many Birds ~~ a Poem for the Friday Writings

Birds of a Feather; 

    light as a feather 

Birds of a feather stick together

Birds that I love, feed and talk with them

They come to my place, sit on my fence

Sing from my trees, in pairs or in flocks

Birds of a feather have a problem

Their problem is I don't like feathers

Feathers are nasty, sticky, oozie

On the birds they are beauty makers

Thinking Flamingos, Peacocks, et al

But feathers I haven't touched in years

So when they nest in my tree what then

Who will take the feathers when they leave 

"Light as a feather," blow all over 

    _ _ _ 

 - Photos and Poem Copywrite, Jimmiehov 2023, All Rights Reserved  

 - I'm linked with Rommy for the Prompt phrase at the Friday Writings #68 at  

    https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/ 

Notes: 

 - Rommy has invited us to write about what comes to mind when we hear the phrase “light as a feather”. 

 - Many birds came, several times, flocks sitting up in my backyard tree.  I don't know what kind they were.

.. 

Dilema? - a Tanka for Friday Muse

by Hein Rich 

 

Oh Yes

Fly away or stay 

Like little bird in Fate's hands 

Solved--cook it for lunch 

World goes around and around 

With hands give thanks for our food 

_ _ _ 

 - Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2022, All Rights Reserved 

 - Photo by Hein Rich on Flicker, our Sunday Muse #238 a choice for prompt theme, "Hands", given by Carrie at   

https://thesundaymuse.blogspot.com/2022/12/sunday-muse-238.html?m=1  

.. 

Nonet -- NaPoWriMo 2022 Day Nine

Little Winged Acrobat 

Glad you came little winged acrobat 

Glad you came prety bird to eat 

Glad you came to eat with me 

Come again tomorrow 

Come again more bugs 

Come again please 

Eat with me 

Eat well 

Eat 

_ _ _ 

 - Photo and Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2022, All Rights Reserved 

 - I'm linked for the photo which I've embellished with Carrie at the Sunday Muse #206, 

http://thesundaymuse.blogspot.com/2022/04/sunday-muse-206.html?m=1 

 - And with NaPoWriMo 2022 Day Nine for the prompted form, the nonet, requirement, 

https://www.napowrimo.net/day-nine-8/ 

 - the nonet starts with nine syllables and works a line at a time down to one single syllable.  Read more at the link above and it's link.

Word List -- The Birds Came -

    Lady visits the Penguin Flock* 

       [Photo by Jimmiehov 2017]

    The day the blackbirds came 

I was sitting on my porch that day 

That horrible day the blackbirds came 

Hundreds of nasty birds came to light 

                                In our back yard 

They scared all other creatures away 

Porcupines and rabbits were the first 

Even I ran in the house from them 

Though they purported to scratch for worms 

                                Worms and bugs 

In reality they'd come to raise cane 

Every three steps they pooped nasty stuff 

Practiced diving with unwilling Cat 

What to do what to do-called the cops 

                                Came and left 

Put on my boots and gown, water down 

Scare the birds away 

                                Their smell remains                                                                    

 _ _ _ 

 - Photo and Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2022, All Rights Reserved 

 - * Note:  My Photo is of Mrs. Jim with a flock of Penguin birds taken in 2017, 

 - I am linked with Shay at her Word Garden List #16, 

 http://fireblossom-wordgarden.blogspot.com/2022/03/word-garden-word-list-16-donald.html?m=1 

 - Shays 20-word list from which we were to choose at least three:   

 actors, avoids, blackbirds, bodyguard, cops, first, gaped, gowns, heroic, interview, Natasha, necessarily, peculiar, porcupines, saddened, shockingly, streamers, submarine, welter, wonderful 

I AM ON SABATICAL AND MAY NOT RETURN YOUR COMMENTS.  PLEASE DO COMMENT THOUGH, I'D LOVE FOR YOUR SAY.

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April's Love

April's Love 

.

It was the best of months, the worst of  months

married young, so good it's hard to describe

tender and sweet, closely entwined, young love

Young marriages may not last, seasons change

bitterness and sorrow, brokenhearted 

storms throw down their nests, the flowers die

- - - - - -

Photos and Poem Copyright
© 2014 Jimmiehov
All Rights Reserved

- - - - - - 

Again I am posting this little poem, in honor of the birds in the picture nesting.  

A house guest dropped one bird on the table, the little bird broke.  Too.many small pieces to glue back together, they were a wedding present 48 years ago.

Posting with the Writer's Pantry #84, Magaly has charge this week, https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/2021/08/writers-pantry-84-lets-read-up-storm.html

Today I am  linked to the Real Toads, Words Count with Momma Zen

 (My word count is forty-six)

"In his masterpiece The Waste Land, poet T.S. Eliot 

describes April as the cruelest month," Mom Zee asked,

"Give me the best and worst of April, then render a verdict . . . in 66 words or less."

Sunday Muse - Meditations

 

   Walking Home 

My sales went well today 

I can hardly wait to hear 

Mama's good words to say 

They warm my heart please my ears 

Even Mr. Fiesty sold, 

My yellow canary friend 

Woke us up on mornings cold 

Sad this way it has to end 

Family will eat today 

Mama takes from the money 

Markets, venders, food she pays 

Laugh and eat still funny dressed 

Someday when money's mine 

I'll buy Mr. Fiesty back 

 _ _ _ 

 - Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2021, All Rights Reserved 

 - Photo prompt from Carrie at The Sunday Muse #172, http://thesundaymuse.blogspot.com/2021/08/the-sunday-muse-172.html?m=1 

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Writer's Pantry -- 1943 at War

Memorial Day 2021

In honor of Mrs. Jim's brother we fly our flag from our front porch and wear a red poppy from our chests. 

During WW II he and his P38 fighter plane were escorting a bomber flying over Italy in from Tunisia on December 16,  1943, just days before Mrs. Jim was born.  

His plane was shot down by enemy fire and crashed, it was confiscated and Junior was buried in a nearby churchyard until the war was over.

 - - - 

Notice the mother-to-be nesting bird seems to also be mourning for the missing pilot.

 - - - 

 - Posted with Writer's Pantry #72,  https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/2021/05/writers-pantry-72-oh-i-will-walk-500.html?m=1 

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The Sunday Muse -- Time's Big Change

Doom 

The Moon shone brightly, storm was gone 

One small cloud stayed for company 

Both had hope for the universe 

All others fled there were no stars 

The moon the cloud and one lone bird 

Just those three and oodles of wet 

Old Sol was spewing fire brimstone 

Puking like a drunken old man 

The bird ignorant it played dumb 

The Moon was tired and growing dim 

The fluffed cloud was seeking a lamb 

The Sun nearly emptied his gut 

After that it was all lights out 

One cloud to float away, bird dies 

 - - - 

 - Poem Copyright,  Jimmiehov 2021, All Rights Reserved 

 - I am linked with Carrie Van Horn for the photo prompt at the Sunday Muse #162,   http://thesundaymuse.blogspot.com/2021/05/sunday-muse-162.html?m=1 

NaPoWriMo 2021 Day 28 -- The Flock -- Weekly Scribblings

[My Photo]

Why get up; Rooster and Chickens and Me and You

Why get up when my rooster crows 

He's not crowing for me or you 

He's crowing for his flock, it's time 

Time for them to rise, rise and shine 

He knows early bird gets the worm 

Early to bed early to rise 

makes for healthy wealthy and wise 

Axioms he's learned and rules by 

Yes sure he's boss of the chickens 

But for me my boss is my wife 

She is still in bed and asleep 

[also my photo]

 - - - 

 - Poem and Photo Copyright, Jimmiehov 2021, All Rights Reserved 

 - I am linked to NaPoWriMo 2021 Day 28, https://www.napowrimo.net/day-twenty-eight-7/ , where we are prompted there for today to write question and answer poems.  You can find other's efforts there as well. 

 - I have also linked it to Rommy at the Weekly Scribblings #67, https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/2021/04/weekly-scribblings-67-liminal-space.html for the idea of liminal space.  I wrote this before I knew the prompt but I think Mrs. Jim (i.e. the writer's spouse) still in bed asleep is far removed from the wake up call of the rooster on his roost in the hen house.

 - This April I am again once a day writing "poems",  for the National Poetry Writing Month 2021.  To read my others click HERE.

NaPoWriMo 2021 Day 14 - They're Back

Our little friends 

Our little friends are back 

They announced their arrival 

to their nest vacant since last fall 

Under the eaves between 

our front porch and the garage 

Mama announced their presence 

Clucking to me 

like she'd laid an egg  

while I was in the drive 

getting the Sunday paper 

Our sixth year living here 

Each year they've come  

To raise a new family 

Another generation

And in the fall they'll leave 

Again to winter in

Mexico where its warmer 

Little love birds have returned 

I'd like to think that these doves are 

the the ones here last year 

Their long flight across the Gulf 

They flew by instinct 

Across the waters to us 

 - - - - 

 - Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2021, All Rights Reserved 

 - Photo Copyright, Jimmiehov, 2019, Previously used for Birds, Fish, and their Sharing,  (http://jimmiehov6.blogspot.com/2019/03/birds-fish-and-their-sharing-poem.html )

 - I'm linked with Rommy for the Weekly Scribbles #65,    https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/2021/04/weekly-scribblings-65-bird-is-word.html?m=1 

 - And also linked with NaPoWriMo 2021 Day 14, https://www.napowrimo.net/day-fourteen-8/ 

 - I am participating in the National Poem Writing Month.  So far I have missed yesterday (you can kiss me on a Monday but never on a Sunday--old song) but will write two for one day soon.  See them at Labels: NaPoWriMo 2021.

Mother-to-be, little bird - Day 01 of NaplPoWriMo 2020

    [nest is above the drainpipe] 

My Heart this Week

I am the little mother 
Mother-to-be little dove 

You may think that is scary 
Responsibility loved 

Smallish memory is short 
I may have been here before 

Was I the little bird who 
hatched her brood here in this nest 

Or the runt born here last year 
Runt of last year's brood come back 

Guided, invisible hand 
One I don't know got me here 

It could have been my husband 
Faithful friend father-to-be 

This our family home for years 
Safe secure under the eaves 

Little Dove, Mother-to-be 

(I, Jim, live in home behind)
(My heart this week?  Little bird)
 _ _ _ _ 

 - Photos and Poem Copyright,  Jimmiehov 2020, All Rights Reserved 
 - I am linked with Rommy at Weekly Scribbles,    https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/2020/04/weekly-scribblings-13-all-small-things.html?m=1
 - Also I'm linked to http://www.napowrimo.net/day-one-2/, daily National Poetry Writing Month coordinators when I connect.  Click on "Participants' Sites' link at the top of Day 1 page to read other bloggers' poems.
 - And I am linked with Kerry O'Connor in the Imaginary Garden which is reopened for April, National Poetry Month, at http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2020/04/april-2020-days-1-5.html?m=1
There I used a prompt formerly suggested by Marian  at April is for Fools and Poets 
 - I plan to write a poem each week or even daily.  We are shut-ins until April 30 per our Governor's COVID 19 orders.  We will see if I live that long.  💝

Our doves have been returning since 2016 to hatch a brood of baby doves.

A Poem for Midweek Motif

The Birds and ... 

The birds and the bees

I never was told

My father started

but then he said, son

you've watched cows and pigs  

The birds and the bees

I never quite knew

The birds fly high and

little bees fly low

Busy buzzing bees 

sweet smelling flower 

blooms make honey sweet

Pretty birds are nice
find worms for the nest
and make stinky poo

 

And if size matters

then it's large and small

Feathers or fuzzy  

There had to be more

The Birds and the Bees

 "S" word was the clue 
for school boys and girls
 

 Wikipedia 
was interesting
I tried not much help

 

 (Thomas Carew first user) 

 _ _ _

 

 - Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2019, All Rights Reserved

 - I'm linked with Sumana Roy at Poets United, Poets United Midweek Motif ~ Honey / Bee, http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/2019/09/poets-united-midweek-motif-honey-bee.html?m=1

 

A Sour Poem, not my Norm

The Birds and Me

The birds are singing
but I dont hear
No I'm not deaf but
my head says no
They aren't calling me
from me they run

The birds are singing
but not to me
I can't stand feathers
they make me itch
They dont like me and
I dont like them

I'm not a Scrooge but
Santa must go
My friends like the birds
they stay away
 _ _ _

 - Poem Copyright,  Jimmiehov 2019, All Rights Reserved
 - I'm linked with Sherry  Blue Sky hosting "The Poetry Pantry" at Poets United, http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/2019/09/poetry-pantry-492.html?m=1

 - Sherry has hinted for a Cheerful World but I've had this song in my head before I woke up by the alarm this morning.
I generally have a smile on my face but I surely am not a bird lover.

A Short Poem for Thursday -- Emporer, King, Vulture




Emperor of the Dawn
Quincy Washington
Used with Permission

Emperor of the Dawn

Emperor of the Dawn home from battle

King of Night his playful name, plunders, maims

Come morning brings home his trophies and loot

Generous with his treasure skulls feathers coins

Boys girls men women love to share spoils' trove

Emperor of Dawn--hunt's beloved King

Close up during the night King's army feeds

Be it road kill or fowls' mad genocide

King of Night, ferocious hawk leads his flock

. . . . . [click on picture for larger view] [again for larger still]

"In the morning, the vultures, fourteen of them, came to eat the poor little deer that got run over by a car in the middle of the night.  You can see it laying in the foreground.  Their mother called a meeting before breakfast to divide up the parts of meat among her brood." http://jimmiehov.blogspot.com/2016/05/non-summer-birthday-school-party.html 

 _ _ _

 - Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2019, All Rights Reserved
 - Photo attribution to Quincy Washington, using the following link: https://www.instagram.com/albanusdesign/

 - I am linked with Kerry O'Connor in the Imaginary Garden at http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2019/08/art-flash-55.html
 - Go to the link just above to read Kerry's introduction to Quincy Washington and his paintings.  And for her instructions to us for our writing this. 
 - Including the title, this poem has 73 words. nine lines, and 90 syllables. Though short, 55 words is commonly used as standard for Flash Writing.