a journey filled with many familiar paths and some not yet taken... all leading to the ever-changing destinations just waiting to be discovered.

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Wednesday, August 31, 2011


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.

Monday, August 29, 2011

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.

Sunday, August 28, 2011

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

Sunday, August 21, 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.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

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



Wednesday, August 17, 2011

sun light beams beyond
mountaintops usher the day
new beginnings yours

Petrina Lesko
August 2011

written for dVerse Poets Pub

Sunday, August 14, 2011

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.

Monday, August 8, 2011

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

Monday, August 1, 2011

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.