"All in Good Time"

All in Good Time

Barberries march warlike paths,
scouts prepared for change,

otherwise green still hangs
heavily upon branches,
solemnly silent as Summer
gasps her last.

Unseen forest sprites
scamper ahead, play "he loves me,
he loves me not" as I come upon
yellow petals plucked, one by one,

find evidence of their
seasonal party - pink confetti
collected upon woodland leaves,
ready for Autumn's cleansing breath,

spy a few hints of gold,
long for nature's "showstopper",
impatiently remind myself
"All in good time.  All in good time."

by Margaret Bednar, September 30, 2013

This "eager for Autumn" poem is linked with "Imaginary Garden with Real Toad's Open Link Monday".

"The Moon Fairy"

Artwork of Catrin Welz-Stein - more artwork found HERE

The Moon Fairy

With glossy black caps and small stocky bodies
we patrol cimmerian nights,

black-crowned heron and I.

She forever seeks shallow waters for toads, insects,
I search city fountains, pocket children's wishes

and heartbreak, string them upon a midnight cord.

The fledglings chirp as with fish dangling,
mama wings their way - silhouetted -

beneath same magical crescent

I borrow stilted legs, rise up, up, up,
necklace the moon with iridescence

and hope for answered prayers.

by Margaret Bednar, September 29, 2013

black-crowned night heron
Google images

This is for dVerse - writing to the artwork of Catrin Welz-Stein.  Her blog and gallery is HERE.  Do yourself a favor and take a look at her stunning digital images of collaging old illustrations and photographs!

and for Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Sunday Mini Challenge - Secret Life of Bees.   We had several quotes from the book to choose from.  I chose "It is the peculiar nature of the world to go on spinning no matter what sort of heartbreak is happening."  I hope you see the connection of this thought in my poem.

"A Yellow Flower, Pressed - 1575"

Yew trees from the UK - "google images"

A Yellow Flower, pressed - 1575 (great hall shown below)

Praise the Oh Lord...

like mist evaporates, I skirt away,
hymnal discarded, chants faintly heard
as I race beneath bowing Yews, until
I see you  through the panes

God of Mercy,

I sigh, your image magnificent,
fills the Great Hall, makes it look small.
I hear you laugh - contagious, I smile,
spy your hand upon hounds head -
recall last night's caress beneath
watchful bishop's painted gaze.

Oh Taste and See,

you pluck a grape, teeth graze its skin,
lick, lean back upon heavy mantel,
eyes wander toward hearth's rug
and I know you recall.

Ask of Me,

not much, for brave I will
another moonless night for echoes
to reverberate in this vast room,
promises captured, muffled by red velvet,
dawn's soft pastel light befalling
a sight of limbs and hair co-mingling.

God of Grace,

we prayed for courage, for victory
beneath arches, hands clasped,
my eyes drawn to not bible held,
but flickering candlelight along your jaw.
Plead for another night before you depart.
will recite, will cherish my knight's
yellow flower placed between breasts
now pressed within prayerbook,
finally able to pray, for

Blessed is the Man.

by Margaret Bednar, September 27, 2013

Image found HERE

Oh, this was a stretch for me but I wanted to try and create a story...  for the challenge I'm hosting over at "Imaginary Garden with Real Toad's "Place".  I tried to take things from the room - the bible, the flowers, the candles and also the setting and use if for this piece.  Go and take a look , give it a try! 

"Future Sailors"

Future Sailors

Future sailors
'tis ev'ry little boy's fancy

sweeping -n- soaring
amongst celestial clouds
captaining a schooner
ferried upon ferocious
dragon wings,
boy and beast, both
strapping -n- strong
together facing
fantastical feats
of fantasy straight from
folklore -n- fairytales

but courage
for now 'tis spied
b'side gentle riverbed
or winking night light.

by Margaret Bednar, September 26, 2013

This is for Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Out of Standard.  

"Afternoon Bouquet"

Not yet October - and still pretty green.  But we are READY! :)

Afternoon Bouquet

It doesn't take much,
just a flick of an ear

imagine he's dreaming
of scampering the trails -
so I rouse him,
find ourselves treading

a sea of scarlet, red-russet,
and ochre,
chasing whirling
free-falling helicopters,

kicking a few rolling hickory nuts
not yet squirreled away,
collecting unsolicited
hitchhiking cockleburs,

enjoying October's
afternoon bouquet.

by Margaret Bednar, September 25, 2013

This is linked with "Poets United - We are Interconnected" where we are challenged to write a poem of "one thing leads to another",

and for "Poetry Jam - October",

as well as "Friday Flash 55 

IGWRT's Tanka & Hisashi Nakamura "Autumnal Equinox"

 #1

Pastel pinks and blues surrender
to shields of red and gold
A southward sun salutes
Relaxing weekends, holding hands
Free from mowing grass.

#2
Sumac seeds warn "Jack Frost"
Virginia creeper yells "fire"
Life surges forward
Last year's homecoming dress
Cannot be resurrected.

by Margaret Bednar, September 22, 2013

This "tanka" is for Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Sunday challenge.

My themes are of the "Autumnal Equinox".  I am open to any and all critiques - Is this a tanka, if not, give me a tip and I will work on it.

The 2nd tanka is humorous to me as I want my daughter to use an old dress - but "gasp" ... I guess that is like asking for last year's blooms to come back to life.  Life moves forward, as does fashion.

The first image was taken last fall, the second image was taken by a friend "J.B." and the third I took a few years back while walking the extensive gardens of Biltmore Estates .... I thought they were wild grapes, but now I think it is Virginia creeper! 

"A Blue Ribbon Day"

Oberon - Full of tests, tricks and a heart of Gold

A Blue Ribbon Day

It was a summing up

kind of day,

of hours spent

collecting, posting,

diagonals, leads,

shoulders back,

thumbs up, heels down,

look, leg, lead

(don't forget... smile!)

September is a time

to celebrate achievements, 

wrap up a season's progress, 

teamwork, companionship.

Our Oberon, full of fun,

tricks, and a heart of gold...

or is that blue?

by Margaret Bednar, September 21, 2013

A Blue Ribbon Day

Warming up... Oberon not wanting to "collect",
my daughter light of hands and patient.

 It was an overcast day, but that kept things a bit cooler.  It is still rather warm here in North Carolina and very green - trees don't show any hint of color yet - and it misted for part of the day - didn't rain until after we were done with our classes.   My daughter has come a long way in her riding, and Oberon is a pony with a wonderful mind - doesn't do anything dangerous, but will test her to see if she knows what she is doing.  Being a pony, he is always looking for an easy way out of work ;)

They were in 6 classes.  Placements:  1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and two 5ths (one was 5th out of a class of 15!).  Classes were all good sizes, but she did place 5th of 5th in her first pattern class - and he took the wrong lead cantering - but we can work on that for next year.  All in all, a great day.

Linked with Poets United "Poetry Pantry #168"

IGWRT's - Music with Marian "Come a Little Closer"

Come a Little Closer

A Van Gogh Moon
shines bright tonight
n' I'll collect my kisses
beneath this beacon bright.

Come a little closer, I aim to please
n' toil the whole night long -
if that's what it takes.
Thank the Lord for our ol' song

that I'll sing low, nuzzle your ear
in hopes to make you swoon.
Prove we're still in love
beneath this harvest moon.

by Margaret Bednar, September 20, 2013

for Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Music with Marian - "Harvest Moon"  Love - I can't think anything more worthy than love to "toil the whole night long".  

IGWRT's Wednesday Challenge - Gods in Celtic Nature "Niamh"

An Irish Postal Stamp based on the artist P. J. Lynch HERE

Niamh

I gallop a beauty white
wing over a western sea,

remember strength
turned to dust, hear my name
exhaled upon Oisin's lips...

Beloved!

I gallop a beauty white
listen for faint druid verse
of ancient celtic tongue
praise fearsome warrior queens,
fertile, wise and learn-ed...

wing over a western sea,
search for feminine hand
upon the hearts of man,
seek just one
who whispers my name 

among yellow iris and swaying birch,
green clovers and summer moon -
find silence.  Fear my name
in the hearts of man is but a myth...

to Tir-na-nOg!

I wing over a western sea,
gallop a beauty white.

by Margaret Bednar, September 19, 2013


This is for Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Gods in (Celtic) Nature. Specifically to write in the first person of a god or goddess as if he/she were contemplating existence in the modern day.  (Niamh's beauty was often likened to yellow irises, birch trees, green clover and the moon.)

I was thrilled to find that the goddess (and mortal) I chose to write about, so did William Butler Yeats - but he wrote an epic poem, "The Wanderings of Oisin" a dialogue between the mortal, Oisin and St. Patrick, about his 300 years spent in the magical land of Tir-na-nOg.

HERE is a nice (short) retelling of the story.

Below is a rather silly puppet (marionette) video which my five year old son thought was funny ... but I recall no dragons and pink barbie-like princesses in any of the versions I read:)

dVerse - Open Link Night "The Hoarders"

   A

bandid

woolly

bear

inches toward wintry

crevis, waylaid momentarily, tossed,

turned, by terrier nose and toddler toes, curious

to see where it goes.  Indignant squirrel shakes its tail

as unearthed is its precious stash and toddler laughs to see

the little brown “bedtime” cap -   Buzzin’ bees dart to and fro

between goldenrods and astor,  gentle noise disrupted

by six legs and a tail blazing a trail off the beaten path.

Two heads together, tousled and weary, lick and giggle 

as they reminisce, regale day's numerous adventures,

tongue and cheek no longer flushed, but cooled

against cotton pillow, softly breathing their way

to sleep, dreaming of a tomorrow of down-

filled coats and well stocked pantry

their hoarding a little 

less urgent.

Zzz

"The Hoarders"
by Margaret Bednar, September 17, 2013

joined to "dVerse Open Link Night #114"

join the fun & meet many talented poets!

banded woolly Bear is a Caterpillar that turns into the Tiger Moth come spring.

IGWRT's Sunday Challenge "A Gathering"

Art Work used with Permission by Kathryn Dyche Dechairo

A Gathering

A Beaver moon
does not beguile,
she enchants with honesty

strips bare my wooded refuge,
leaves me vulnerable
beneath spiring, wizened fingers

directing my gaze
toward countless glittering infinities.
I breath deeply, seek not answers

for now is the time to still,
to listen, to store up
beneath a Beaver moon.

by Margaret Bednar, September 15, 2013

This is for Imaginary Garden of Real Toads - Sunday Challenge featuring artist Kathryn Dyche Dechairo of "Listening to the Whispers".

IGWRT's Transforming Friday's w/ Hannah "Panacea"

(shared via photobucket - Blue Nemophilas)

Panacea (Hitachi Seaside Park)

Amidst a tsunami of baby blues,
I harmonize my thoughts
with distant waves

       as freighters
       sail past
       upon choppy seas

and transparent endless sky,
celebrate springtime's kiss
amongst delicate petals

       and people walk by
       plan ahead their
       days, weeks, years.

whose fragrance upon this hill
is generously shared,
offered freely.  Now.  Today.

Find myself wishing
this peace was mankind's
important destination.

by Margaret Bednar, September 13, 2013


This is for Imaginary Garden with Real Toad's "Transforming Friday's with Hannah.  She shared several beautiful photos of Hitachi Seaside Park, located in Hitachinaka, Ibaraki prefecture, Japan next to the Ajigaura Beach.  Yes, quite a mouthful!   If you click on the link there is a video showing this hillside resplendent with a sea of blue flowers...

Hanna specifically requested we try to write a poem showing "contrast" and "focus". 

"Golden" a poem

Golden

Soft fuchsia
gently kisses morning-tide
as I stretch, touch my foot to yours

watch periwinkle
seep into day's first blush
as I turn, kiss your cheek -

recall sitting, holding hands
beneath yesterdays
amber sky -

blessings bestowed,
all because you smiled at me
half a century ago.

by Margaret Bednar, September 13, 2013

The image was taken by a high school friend of mine (isn't it gorgeous).   I wrote this poem in response to an elderly couple I saw walking in the park last year.  We started up a conversation and they told me they were celebrating 50 years - and he winked and said "She's still holding my hand!"  They were adorable.

I will be linking this poem up with Poets United - Poetry Pantry #166  (I will link up on Sunday, Sept 15th)

Poets United - Verse First & Poetry Jam - Lost & Friday Flash55 "Listen"

Photo by M. Bednar "of Harborview, of a memory Sunset..."

(cursor down for the Friday Flash 55 version)

This is written for the challenge at Poets United "Verse First - Places You Love".  A poem based upon "Say the Names" by Canadian poet, Al Purdy.  Our marching orders were to consider the places we love, lived, visited and write about them.   Thought I'd explain it a bit before you read it.

Listen

-- say the names, say the names
and don't forget to listen
as notes tickle gently at first,

bellows press, unpress

as Old River rocks gently a rhythm

tree-lined, of hoof beats, laughter,

where endless time dips her toe, carefree -
octave slides upward

and Songbird vibrates along your spine

a tender old tune of beginnings,

of vulnerability never shed -

continues, lovingly hums

Fieldstone where kisses, 

womanly, motherly,

make you strong, prepare you -

for the whistle and sway of

Harborview, a rhythm
seized, loathe to let go
of days Sunset, forever home -
scale slides upwards, outwards

embraces Summerfield
a tempo change 

of letting go, acceptance -

where old melodies meet new  

and love listens, encourages:
             
                    --  say the names.


by Margaret Bednar, September 12, 2013

Also linked with Poetry Jam - Lost - We were given the option to write about things lost or things not to lose. I changed the word to "forget" which I think is fairly close to the same meaning...?

AND can I do it in 55 words for the G-Man's Friday Flash 55?  You tell me --

Photo by M. Bednar "Let go, accept"...

Listen (in 55)

Say the names
as notes

tickle "Old River",
rock gently a rhythm tree-lined,
hoofbeats, laughter -

vibrate "Songbird"
along your spine, tender old tune
of vulnerability and new beginnings -

hum "Fieldstone",
where womanly, motherly kisses
make you strong -

whistle "Harborview",
memories Sunset,
a forever home -

slide, embrace "Summerfield",
let go, accept.
Love listens -

     -- say the names.

by Margaret  Bednar, September 12, 2013

IGWRT's - Words Count with Mama Zen - 8 "Reliance"

Reliance

I
doubt
my beauty.

You
prove
me wrong.

by Margaret Bednar, September 11, 2013

For The Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Words Count with Mama Zen - Eight.  She gave us our marching orders, write a poem in eight words, or something to do with eight ... she even went easy on us (something which must have pained her) and gave us the option for eighty words.

My daughter sketched numerous nudes last year at college (she boarded as a high school student in the visual arts program) and is now a Freshman in college there majoring in Scene Design and still taking art classes.   I love them all, even though they are not the "traditional" beauty with a perfect body... perhaps that's why I like them so much.  

Magpie Tales #185 & IGWRT's Open Link Night "Magnanimity"

a young white boy calculates a tip for a much older black waiter

Magnanimity

We bend and sway
of our own volition;
a timeless battle
between vice and virtue,

our magnanimity
reflective of who we are.

How simple for some,
heroic for others.

Margaret Bednar, September 9, 2013

This is for Magpie Tales #185, a weekly photo prompt with many talented poets and writers.

Also linked with Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Open Link Night & dVerse Open Link Night #113.

Magnanimity is a tongue twister for me - but certainly a word worthy knowing - "Generous in forgiving an insult or injury, free from petty resentfulness.  High-minded, noble.  Proceeding from or revealing generosity or nobility of mind."

Poets United - Poetry Pantry #166 "He Kissed Me"

He Kissed Me

He kissed me

and I forgot 

we were different

as night and day.

He wasn't "safe",

wasn't "perfect".

His future?

An enthusiastic dream.

I could have gone on and on

about his faults,

but those baby blues

left me speechless

and then he kissed me.

Well, perfect and safe

never made me feel

like that.

by Margaret Bednar, originally published November 21, 2011

linked with Poets United - Poetry Pantry #166.  This is a poem I wrote a couple of years ago - photo is of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward - of course my poem is not about them :)

dVerse Poetics & IGWRT's Sunday Mini Challenge "I Remember"

Ink block created and shared by "Dr." Lolamouse 

I Remember

I remember high school, February 14th,
1981, like it was yesterday.  Hallway
outside religion class, he handed me
a rose, smiled, walked away.

I remember heat, my hEaRtBeAt
my out-of-body experience
looking down upon class
as Father V. warned of occasions

of sin with prolonged showers.

I remember the weekend,
humming, placing petals -n- leaves
carefully between tissue,
closing the family Bible, piling
dictionary, algebra, history,
Harlequin romances on top,
a token of love, pressed,
forever preserved.

I remember the following Monday
as he approached with roses,
smiled, handed them to
my girlfriends, winked, asked for
our vote for ...
honestly I don't remember what.

I remember heat, my hEaRtBeAt,
my out-of-body experience,
how different it was
the second time around.

I remember I didn't open
this Bible ever again, neither
did my family, apparently,
until now as it has fallen
upon my toes and I am amazed
to feel the heat ...

by Margaret Bednar, September 7, 2013

Well, this is quite a different write for me...  It's only loosely based on truth ... but Father V. really DID rant on and on one day about the opportunity for sin with over-long showers.  He eventually left the church - and I must say, I did have some very nice nuns (yes they exist) and some wonderful priests at my Catholic high school.

Written for Imaginary Garden with Real Toads "Sunday Mini Challenge - Dr. Mouse Is in the House - Inkblots 

and also linked with dVerse Poetics - Try to Remember.

dVerse - Form for All - Riddle "Stinking Rose"

Stinking Rose

I crush a stinking rose,
toss and stir this bit
of legend and lore,
smile at the promise
of added sexual vigor,

but would settle
for it to dangle
outside upon my door,
causing my demon
to finally tuck tail and run.

by Margaret Bednar, September 5, 2013


This is for dVerse "Form for all" Riddles.  Of course, I believe I have given away the answer with my photo.  I fashioned the above from a poem "Steadfast Garlic" I wrote in March of 2011 HERE. 

IGWRT's Wednesdays with Peggy - "Before Curtain Call"

Before Curtain Call

Pant, breath, fall in love
with emotions, round your back,
sigh, smile as you yawn.
Laugh loudly, cry if need be,
and sing, SING! in the shower.
Lie upon backstage floor, lines
whispered, thoughts free to roam.
Water the chords, nibble nectarines,
you Shakespearean actor -

...but first help lift this damn prop!

by Margaret Bednar, September 5, 2013

I love her comments on how women often hold their voices back "in expression" more than men...  (starts at about 4:55) but the whole clip is fascinating, so I hope if you click on the video you do watch the whole thing.  She's such a charming lady with a lovely Scottish accent.



The Linklater approach is a set of techniques many actors use of natural voice and language control.  I think that's an appropriate definition, but maybe not.  My son is a drama student at UNCSA (University of North Carolina School of the Arts) SHE MENTIONS THE SCHOOL BRIEFLY IN THE VIDEO! ... and he uses this approach.

I also want to note the above poem is an abbreviated "list" and not in any way a complete or thorough "how to"!   I wanted to fit it into 55 words for ...

Friday Flash 55 (I will link up Thursday after 8pm)

This is for Imaginary Garden with Real Toads "Things Carried".   I think this covers the challenge as I allude to lifting, carrying... :)

dVerse Open Link Night & Friday Flash 55 "The Eastern Breeze"

The Eastern Breeze

Does the eastern breeze
call your noble name
as you crane your neck
toward centuries old?

Do you gaze toward
the Northern Sea, hear
the Roman Legions march,
seek Hadrian's Wall?

Do the clouds conjure
ancient battles of Munster,
Aduard, and Cologne

as the eastern breeze
calls your beauty black
to reclaim a spirit bold?

by Margaret Bednar, September 3, 2013

This is linked with dVerse Open Link Night & "Friday Flash 55" which I will link up with at 8pm Thursday.

Sebastian is only half Friesian, yet there are times he looks up and gazes in the distance and I can really see the influence of his magnificent ancestor!   I don't own him anymore, James Cooler does, but I get to see Sebastian at the barn where I board Oberon, my Quarter Horse who is adorable and cute - but he doesn't quite have the presence Sebastian does.

Below is a beautiful video and a few pictures of a Friesian Stallion being ridden at the beach (they LOVE water)