Two for the Money and Three to Go

The mascot and logo of Carpe Diem, a stylized hedgehog (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Things are still a bit chaotic for both Meena Rose and I with other obligations claiming our attention and energies.

As a result, I’m a bit late this week with poetry selections for the usual Poetic Bloomings and Poetic Asides Prompts. I decided to go ahead and share them with all of the readers here.

Poetic Bloomings Sunday Prompt #76 asked us to write a poem about a family trip. This is the only one that waxed poetic in any way. The form is an adapted Haibun. I added another haiku to the end of the Haibun to finish the thought.

Taking a Deep View

It began innocently enough. Mammoth Cave was my first family adventure. We wound our way down slippery wooden steps, through scantily illuminated rock galleries. Damp cold chilled my shorts-clad legs. Girls of twelve tend toward personal considerations before others, and I was no exception. Yet the wonder of things witnessed that day amid the small crowd of thrill-seekers and awestruck seniors stayed with me. My rising need to explore hidden places held private meaning. From that day, I found my private spelunking challenges throughout high school. The parents had made the introductions. They knew the risks as I did but did not restrict the activity when I chose to seek out the dark places beneath rock faces and into hillsides.

One trip, one taste of depth

Within Earth’s recesses,

Color life’s pleasures.

Within Earth’s caves,

Visit worlds unseen by day,

Muffled life emerges.

*  *  *  *  *

On Wednesday, Poetic Asides handed us this lovely little burr for our poetic saddles. I have to admit that fiction was running through my brain before I put this one together and I went with the first impression that struck me. I can absolutely guarantee that this was not a personal experience.

Prompt # 196–Take one of these lines & make it the first line of your poem.

1.  She’s been thinking about things that don’t need thinking
2. I’m not sure who I am or what I want
3. The world, a helicopter seed spinning
4. Burn the want out of every moment
5. My bed is a planet
6. Trees hide the better views

One Legend’s Lesson

“Burn the want out of every moment,”

Connor said, smacking my staff away.

“Don’t breathe if not fully, deeply.

Life must be tasted, appreciated.

Staff swinging, I memorize his words;

My life on this mortal world requires it.

“See sun’s glory, soak in its energy.

Moonshine comes soon enough.”

My rhythm breaks, as does my staff

In the flurry of Connor’s master strokes.

He stands over me, breathing calm

Assurance onto his defeated opponent.

“Only McLeods offer true mercy in

This game called mortal life.”

His words peal through my mind,

Reminding me of mercy’s truth;

Highlanders don’t need tartans

To take the battle to their foes.

*  *  *  *  *

Also on Wednesday, Poetic Bloomings put forth its In-Form Poem Challenge. This week it consisted of a Carpe Diem, otherwise known as a theme based verse related to a “seize the day” attitude. This is my effort for that form—a first for me.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow waits for no man

Since such has no existence.

All that is or could be

Exists within this breath,

Filling lungs with this moment’s

Air; air that did not exist in

A past already dead to now,

Nor to a future which can

Only be when it’s forced

Into a new moment by life’s

Passage through this exhalation.

All that we are or can be

Is defined in this one moment.

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