regal wise white owl

perched high in life's branches waits

greeting night and morn

message carried forth

or waiting in hunt of babes

regal wise white owl 

Petrina Lesko

August 2011

While walking my dogs the last few days, we have again been greeted by the very large white owl that hangs near our home.  He had seemed to have left for a couple of weeks, but has again returned.

Linking also to dVerse Poets Pub and their OpenLinkNight.

Image from http://coloringpages.com/

Looking Through Windows



Red Umbrella, Christopher Shay
as shared at Magpie Tales



looking through windows

waiting for rain to bring home

those loved ones missing

still missing today

kept late by the storms passing

not yet home this night

looking through windows

waiting for rain to bring home

those loved ones missing

childlike wonder still

awed by the powerful rains

hoping for their return

looking through windows

waiting for rain to bring home

those loved ones missing

man passes windows

his red umbrella  reminds

time takes no heart loved

looking through windows

waiting for rain to bring home

those loved ones missing

creaking doors startle

branches banging the eaves too

long rainy days... wait

looking through windows

waiting for rain to bring home

those loved ones missing

Petrina Lesko

August 2011

In writing this piece,  I tried to capture the feelings when I was young...  When storms would pass our way, I would arrive home before everyone else in my family and then I would wait... searching the windows for signs of any of them to come home.  I would often times spend hours pacing window to window, wondering until one by one they would arrive home from their busy days, complaining of the delays the rain had caused.

This wonderful picture prompt was shared over at this weeks prompt #80 at Magpie Tales hosted by the talented Tess Kincaid.  There writers and poets come together to share their creations inspired by her weekly prompts.  Come join the fun, share your thoughts and get to know the most fabulous group of writers and poets.

Beyond the Moment: Poetics

Over at dVerse Poets Pub Brian Miller has challenged us for his Poetics post to explore what can only be seen with a 'third eye', those things that can only be known, beyond our true ability to see or touch something.  His post reminded me of the tenderness of this interaction with a dear friend from a few years ago.

She sat lost somewhere

beyond the moment,

not connecting to

the drivvle of her

favorite show...

Somewhere far

beyond our words,

drifting into the darkness,

"Momma is that you?"

Stillness filled the room

as she looked up, around...

smiling at what was there.

"Her dress is beautiful,

did you see it?"

"Don't go yet, it's been

so long..."  Silence engulfed

us, filling the crevices

of the space around us,

momentary glimpses...

"She died when I was

five.  Wasn't her dress

beautiful?  I'll be with

her soon, you know."

She sat smiling, looking

upward...

A calm slowly overtook

her fidgeting hands.  The

television continued to

drone on, noting the

world of victims of

the day's burdens.

Special Victims

contrasting the quietness

of her breath as it eased

from her lips, tender as

the child's hand.

Innocence of childhood,

a heart broken, a

mother's love stolen

from her on that

lonely dark road some

sixty odd years ago.

Tomorrow we would

need to drive that endless

road to nowhere, the

scarred bark branching

out to hold her.

A single tear trickled

down to catch the

edge of her smile,

her knowing one

day soon they would

be together again,

forever.

Petrina Lesko

August 2011

Stillness Overtakes...

Walking, the soft damp sand slips
between our toes as we approach
her beauty.  The pilings stretching

to touch the blue skies, billowy

clouds lying there like satin pillows.

Further we stroll along the shore,

arriving... the sun drenched warmth

firm... yet roughened by the misty

breezes.  She is splintered almost,

beneath our steps, ever enticing.

The length of her lines narrowing

as she reaches forth to meet the

icy white waves in the distance,

longing for us to tread there, just

at the horizon's razor sharp edge.

Come, walk with me, feel the misty

breeze brush against your paled skin,

gently embracing your soul.  And in

this place feel her engulf with the

softest silk cloth, burning now...

The sunlight scorching the damp

wooden path, grooved by days

gone by.  The air ever so thick,

showering the suns warmth as

the sea completes her stretch.

Yet in this ever moving world,

stillness overtakes the essence

of this place.  A comforting

serenity fills the dimming skies,

lit on fire like a burning log.

Petrina Lesko

August 2011

submitted to Poetics - Texture over at dVerse Poets Pub   while enjoying a great cup of Jo at Latte 101.

Today's Item up for Crit: Elusive Remains...

I posted this poem almost 9 months ago, when I was a bit closer to a situation that freed this poem from deep within.  It had been waiting years to be written.  Now that I have been able to put some time and distance from its words, I would love to have some honest critique of its expression.  Today, over at dVerse Poets Pub is this weeks Meeting the Bar: Critique and Craft.  I think this poem really seems to fit the topic and would love the input on its form.  I've done a couple of slight tweeks already...   Hope you all don't mind another share of this one. 

 Elusive Remains...

Somewhere in the darkness of the night,
should I answer, could this be the day,

that wonderful day when you just might,

might be standing beyond the doorway...

The phone ringing, please let it be you,
'Unknown Caller' across the display,

my heart in my throat, skips a beat too,

if only someone, somewhere would say...

The news that you have been waiting for,
I called, saw him earlier today,

it was here in town, down by the store,

he asked to see you, if not he may...

Elusive remains, mysteries too,

what happened on that long ago day,

everyone searching, looking for you,

at a distance, I guess you must stay...

One day, somewhere in time, I will know,

whether or not, that you are okay,

for now my heart breaks, I can not show,

always to wonder, where do you lay...

Hoping and praying, this I must do,

searching myself to find a new way,

wondering always, could that be you,

beheld in my heart, always this day.

Petrina Lesko
November 2010

sun light beams beyond

mountaintops usher the day

new beginnings yours

Petrina Lesko

August 2011

written for dVerse Poets Pub

Standing Tall Your Light

I'm sitting in a little coffee place totally enjoying the atmosphere... not far from the shores of the Pacific... you can tell where my mind is drifting off to.  Thought I would share an attempt at a Ghazal, a form new to me.

Standing Tall Your Light

Through the darkest night, one struggles beyond, deeper into and more.

This beacon shining bright, upon the sandy shore, standing tall your light.

When into the night, one sits outside a crowded shop alone.

Musical ebbings etching stars in the darkest skies shone, standing tall your light.

Mystical magic flows within this place, coffee brews for all.

While cool breezes playfully slip past chairs, her shawl, standing tall your light.

Warmed by the flow, the swirling winds dancing there.

Still into darkest night, a comfort touches down for all to share, standing tall your light.

This the bricklayer's building blight, as he lays the stumbling blocks of life.

A pillared starkly sight, my harbor from misty strife, standing tall your light.

Petrina Lesko

August 2011

The other day over at dVerse Poets Pub for their FormForAll the form explored was a Ghazal.  I think this somewhat falls into how it 'should be written'.... obviously I am late in my attempt, but I was rather intrigued by the form.  Hope you all enjoyed my attempt.

A Brief Update about my Absence

My apologies to my regular followers for not having been on much as of late.  I took a spill this past week and injured one of my hands/wrists as well as a knee.  Though I have not commented much or posted as of late, I have been browsing minimally through all of your posts.  However, having difficulty with the creative juices flowing like they normally do.

Please bear with me in my absence, I hope to be back writing and visiting soon.  Miss you all very much!

Reflections

aka Petrina Lesko

Rusted Sunshine



Image by Skip Hunt
as shared at Magpie Tales



Of clouded moments thickened stagnant air,

like towers of cumulonimbus dreams,

filled droplets of time, memories lie there,

yet sunstripped days wait to slice, thus it seems,

      showering this moment in fantasies,

      of your touch, cutting deep into the heart,

      always...forever, til death us do part.

Rusted sunshine twirls the blade so neatly,

cuts deep in time, of a long ago day,

the soul dies with a love shared once sweetly,

leaving pieces of dreams sprinkled this way,

      showering this moment in fantasy,

      of your touch, striking deep into the heart,

      always...forever, til death us did part.

Petrina Lesko
August 2011

This poem was written for both Magpie Tales which provided this wonderful photo prompt and for this week's Poetry Potluck over at Jingle Poetry where the topic is Love... and it's not being there.  I was also attempting my first try at the Rhyme Royal form, however, I think some of my feet are not in true iambic pentameter.  The rhyme scheme for this form is a-b-a-b, b-c-c or a-b-a, b-b, c-c.  I really like the possibilities of this form so I will probably continue to work on it.

Adding a link to dVerse ~Poets Pub for OpenLinkNight.