Category: Nature

Petrichor

Petrichor

Brazen colors of molten lava
streak across the canvas
of a smoldering sky 
The sun still a bursting yellow-pink guava
The heat of the day a lingering memory
while dark clouds form 
Red heat lightning flashes silently
like muted fireworks 
Twilight closes in cooling the sand
as the first rumble of thunder rolls
Large raindrops dot the beach
indenting miniature craters in slow motion
before the clouds empty in buckets
and a tsunami of beachgoers scatter
The coolness of the rain
douses the fiery heat
that had drained my sweat
and given me thirst
until I became light-headed and faint
Now cleansed and refreshed
by the pleasant, dewy petrichor
of the post-rainstorm
My work is done



Copyright © 2023 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing
All Rights Reserved



Kim from Writing in North Norfolk is hosting Poetics at D'Verse and has prompted us as follows: (My choices are italicized)

Choose ONE word from the list below (I’ve given definitions in brackets):

anachronism (the placing of persons, events, objects, or customs in times to which they do not belong; a person or a thing out of place in time and especially the present time)

filipendulous (hanging precariously – usually by a single thread)

limerence (an involuntary state of intense desire)

petrichor (a pleasant smell that frequently accompanies the first rain after a long period of warm, dry weather)

pulchritudinous (beautiful)

symphonia (musical unison)

Now USE YOUR CHOSEN WORD AS THE TITLE OF A POEM, in any form of your choice, which explores that word in one (or more) of the following ways:

anthropomorphise the word (give it human qualities)
use zoomorphism (give the word animal qualities)
objectify the word (describe it as an object)
write the poem ‘through the eyes’ of the word – put yourself in its shoes
write a stream of consciousness or ‘abstract’ poem about the word
write an acrostic of the word

The Weaver

The Weaver

Thread over
Thread under
Row after row
It comes and goes
this way and that way

Instinctively I collect materials
A masterpiece takes planning
and much thought
With my inherent skills 
I am a dream weaver

The fruits of my labor
begin to take shape
A hanging garden home
Complete and ready
for its open house

I am an architect 
I am an artist
I am a weaver
I am a weaverbird


Copyright © 2023 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing
All Rights Reserved

Kim from Writing in North Norfolk blog is hosting D'Verse tonight and has
prompted us to write about animal abodes.  I have always been fascinated with
the Weaver Bird and his undeniable talent.  I hope you enjoy the poem and the video.

Window of Opportunity

Window of Opportunity

Seven Pelicans bobbed peacefully
on the gentle movement of bay waters
Sunlight captured on the surface
displaying its sparkling gems 
A cloudless sky and warm breeze
delivered a picture postcard day

A Great Egret stood patiently
beside a dock fisherman
Hungry for his catch
I smiled remembering
our birds show no fear
when it comes to food

As I allowed the beauty of the day
to embrace my body
a dolphin arced in the water
and touched my soul with the sight
These stolen moments at the water’s edge
Seen through my window of opportunity


Copyright © 2023 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing
All Rights Reserved


Merril is hosting D'Verse tonight and prompted us with "Windows"

Praying Mantis

Praying Mantis

A slow controlled walk across the vast empty space 	
Each step controlled and purposeful
as was she
A solitary creature without distraction 
At one point stopping as if frozen in time
Not a hair on her head moved
Breathing barely visible
Long and slender limbs holding an arched frame
Her green suit blended in to the surroundings as if invisible
She had spotted her prey and watched him carefully
He was unaware of her presence
Oblivious to what she was planning
He turned ever so slightly
realizing she was there
and the mating ritual began
When finished and with the same effortless precision
she devoured him


Copyright © 2023 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing
All Rights Reserved


Lisa from Tao Talk is hosting D'Verse tonight and has given us the prompt of living
things - animals, mammals, insects etc.

Factoid:

A praying mantis is not only carnivorous but a vast majority is also cannibalistic — meaning they will eat others (even of the same species) when they have the chance. So the general advice is to keep praying mantis solitary. They enjoy being on their own and most species don't tolerate any competition.

Clouds – Poem of the Month – April 2023

Clouds

flocculent clouds
puffed in the sky
giant marshmallows
tempting the eye

an east wind moving them
beyond the line of vision
dividing the horizon
with a precise incision

sun covered momentarily
perhaps making a prediction
only to reappear
with courage of its conviction

as twilight arrives
at its inevitable time
Nature’s shift begins
its internal rhyme


Copyright © 2023 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing
All Rights Reserved

Linda Lee Lyberg is hosting Open Link Night at D’Verse.  I reworked a poem I wrote about 5 years ago.  I wrote it in rhyme as that is how nature sometimes talks to me ☺️

Maidenhair

Maidenhair

Your name is pretty
and describes you well
Maidenhair
You are a fern
Delicate and soft
fluttering in the breeze
In some places you are finicky
and live inside
where it is warm
You are planted in peat-moss soil
and misted with water
But here in the deep south
you are a delightful weed
Strong, low-maintenance
popping up in between concrete cracks
around trees
and pushing up pebbles
You are at home in shady sunshine
Natural and free flowing
and for sale
Nowhere

Copyright © 2023 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing
All Rights Reserved


Sarah is hosting D'Verse tonight and has prompted us with "Weeds"

Photo by Xuan Min on Unsplash

Fill The Senses

Fill The Senses

Between long shadows
and golden hues of late afternoon sun
The silent movement of gossamer wings
flutter in gentle breezes
A sweet sound of birdsong
echoing through trees

Sparkling diamonds of early morning dew
caught on a spider’s web
A flapping of duck’s wings the only sound
Full moon rising to complete a starry sky
Hooting of a distant owl
Melodic sounds of a river tumbling over rocks

Cool water washing sand from between toes
The rhythmic movement of a boat upon water
Lulling you into sleep
An invitation to fill the senses
Simple wonders bring peace
and soothe a troubled soul


Copyright © 2023 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing
All Rights Reserved


Bjorn is hosting Open Link Night at D’Verse Poets

Trading Places

Trading Places

A lemon sherbet sky
Brought its chill to the evening
The sun, released from its obligations of the day,
Slipped quickly from sight

As twilight consumed
Trees shivered in Autumn winds
Sending their loose leaves scattering
Laying a carpet of burnt sienna on the cold ground

Darkness came and the earth became silent
A time to reflect on the beauty daylight brings 
And allow the night to put it to rest
The glow of a nightlight moon comforts as peace comes


Copyright © 2022 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing
All Rights Reserved

Prompts
Light - RDP
Open Link Weekend - Earthweal

Hibernation

Hibernation

The smoky grey sky remained
long after the storm blew away
remnants of an Indian Summer
Clouds hung heavy and oppressive
in the late afternoon
Lingering joy of sunshine and warmth
already faded into memories 
A page turns and a new chapter begins
I am not ready, I am never ready
to let go of my season of birth
It invigorates me, it feeds me
I draw strength from its strength
I grow and thrive like grapes on the vine
and wheat in the fields
Now it’s time to be plucked and harvested
My season is celebrated for its bounty
With thanks duly given
but then my world becomes dormant
leaving me to cover my head and hibernate


Copyright © 2022 Christine Bolton - Poetry for Healing
All Rights Reserved

Lillian is hosting Open Link Night at D'Verse
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