Mary

Kerry O'Connor Instagram: skyloverpoetry

Mary

Morning Star, shine upon my soul,
illuminate He who makes me whole.

Mystical Rose, infuse with beauty
so I may fulfill life's duty,

Tower of Ivory, may I receive His word,
His light, and faith undeterred.

Mirror of Justice, reflect love of our Lord,
an image I'll forever walk toward.

House of Gold, Star of the Sea, Gate of Heaven
you fulfilled his promise: life and resurrection

of which I wish to share one day
by way of witness, work and prayer.

Tree of Life, from Anne did bloom,
bore Tree of the Cross, Fruit of thy womb,

our Lamb of God; your heart of sorrows, of love;
may my eyes forever rest on you, Lady of the Dove.

This is for "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Art Flash/55 in December"

A quick write - I feel it needs a lot of work - have had a busy week with recitals and performances - the Nutcracker and singing with the Youth Choir and lighting (and watching the children sing) the local downtown Christmas tree... two more performances ahead, but Monday looks like a day of rest.  

Autumn Breath

"Autumn Breath" by Jason Limberg
Instagram jasonlimberg

Autumn Breath

Autumn breath is forgiving,

doesn't force one to pick and choose

like summer heat or winter freeze

but lets one embellish

with silk or knitted scarf,

wrap up in woolen shawl

or don t-shirt with shorts or jeans.

Whispers tenderly, not quite lover,

perhaps more confidante;

listens as I divulge aspirations,

start thinking of a new year,

new beginnings.

A bit like the beavers 

who have fashioned snug shelters,

secured fortifying food,

pelts winter-ready.

A bit like Hunter's Moon

sliding into Full Frost,

soon to become Cold Moon

arcing high across the sky;

change and yet, familiar.

Like caribou who shed 

seasoned antlers

patiently awaiting new velvet,

I too anticipate a crowning;

not one seen, but one inspiring

gifting me with grace, with confidence,

in order to triumph and thrive.

All this in an Autumn Breath.

by Margaret Bednar, November 3, 2019

This is linked with "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Art Flash"

Also linked with "Poets United: Pantry of Poetry and Prose"

Motherhood

Seamstress @ Catschappach

Motherhood

I’m not immortal, 

but rebirth isn’t foreign to me;

don’t long for eternity, just renewal.  

Purity and sin, coexist, stitched together 

with threads almost bursting

from lessons learned, lessons ignored.  

I’ve shared in creation, yet claim no halo. 

My redemption gifted six times,
never mine, but oh so dear,

each diminishing my youth,

yet rescuing me from myself;
a shedding of skin,

heart offered up,
my very mortality
not as precious as theirs.  

by Margaret Bednar,  September 10, 2019

Wow - this is linked with "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Art Flash 55"  The image through me for a loop and I came back over many days rewriting and trying to feel this image and relate it to me ... it was not easy and I'm not sure I really succeeded.  Quite the challenge, Kerry! 

Guardians

Watercolor by Anarh1a, Novorossiysk, Russia
"Chernobog & Belobog"
Her Instagram:  HERE

Guardians

Perhaps it isn't an angel that rests
upon each shoulder offering virtue and vice,
but Falcons, white and black,

one of day, the other night
One teases temptation,
the other promises redemption;

both have talons tapping my flesh
demanding I choose between the two.
Undecided, I pluck feathers from each,

pray there's salvation for gray.

by Margaret Bednar, July 9, 2019

Telling a story or trying to get a thought across in 55 words isn't always easy... I tried.  The artwork above is gorgeous and I had to write to it.  This is linked with "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Tuesday Platform" and a late response to "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Art Flash 55"

Survival

Eli Edward Evangelidis, illustrator and engraver
from Sydney, Australia.
https://www.instagram.com/eliedwardart/

Survival

She lived beneath our crisp blue skies
where cocksfoot and clover swayed as sweetgrass,
deer frolicked amongst meadow sage,
and lichen and liverwort sported splendid greens;
competed only with mythic water lilies
that floated upon forest's cucumber hued pond.

She charmed us with saffron-colored flowers
tucked within her hair, eyes that reflected molten gold sunsets,
and the taste of vineyard and vine upon her lips.

* * *

A tempest blew our way,
pristine wilderness now a phantom forest
where lilies closed against darkness, drooped, and dropped,
cattail reeds darkened with decay, weeping willows curled into the bank,
and summer's sunflowers wilted and grayed in her hair,
hint of honey no longer upon her tongue.

Everyone's quick to name the serpent, as ebony eyes
and forked tongues are contagious; evil spreads like black ink.
We all cowered, for we had no Knight, what were we to do?

Amongst us we had one rise to the challenge, follow the way
of the ghost pines who haunt the paths with gnarled fingers
yet point the way ... our Princess,
gossamer silk replaced with steel blade, last seen
bravely entering the gloaming as the last fairy firefly shimmered,
silently winked, blinked one last time.

by Margaret Bednar, June 1, 2019

This is linked with "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Art Flash 55"  I would love to have honored Galen with a short 55 word story - but this was hard enough for me to write.  I tried to give a nod to the fairy tale like quality AND the sinister vibe I get from this image.  A bit out of my comfort zone but it was fun.

My poems don't usually take a long time for me to write but this one did.  I'm not completely satisfied with this but I've got to go cook dinner!

note:  cocksfoot is another name for orchard grass and meadow sage (salvia) is deer resistant.

Of Scarlet, Claret, & Crimson

Art by (@skyloverpoetry instagram)
and blog:  https://kerryoconnorsother.blogspot.com/

Of Scarlet, Claret, & Crimson...

Red saturates, stains, attracts attention
desirable or not.  Confuses a man
who can't distinguish the difference
between rose, scarlet, claret, and crimson.

I wore red the night we met;
you may not remember where or when,
but recall the outfit, and so you say,
my smile.

Valentine's Day you still buy me
roses red and wink as I stain your lips
with my kiss; declare boldly, no confusion,
your attention's desired.

by Margaret Bednar, May 5, 2019

linked with "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Art Flash"

Today is our 29th Wedding Anniversary.

If you adore this tarrot card, here are more done by the amazing Kerry OConnor "This Rough Magic"

Dead of Night

"Star Gazing Rabbit" Artist Jason Limberg:  Website

Dead of Night

Dead of the night isn't for the faint of heart,
with evergreens' black tips pointing to the moon
hypnotizing those who gaze too long.

The nights with no shadows are perhaps the scariest
when moon's curtained behind clouds
and the rustle of rabbit or wolf sound the same

and cries of an owl or the fluttering of bats
make my heart beat faster.  Am I safer hidden in shadows,
or would a glimmer of stars reduce my fear?

How is it cat happily curls her body to mine on cold nights,
content, but equally pleased to wander outside
during middle of a summer's night?

Perhaps it's simply the difference between predator and prey.

by Margaret Bednar, April 7, 2019

Linked with the challenge "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Art Flash in April".

Also linked with "NaPoWriMo" - National Poetry Month, a celebration of poetry which takes place each April, was introduced in 1996 and is organized by the Academy of American Poets as a way to increase awareness and appreciation of poetry in the United States.

The amazing drawing is done by Jason Limberg - he can be found on Instagram and at this website:  Jason Limberg

Transformation

Moth-Woman Luke Eidenschink
Used with Permission
Luke Ink Art

Transformation

She is nectar, honeysuckle, and balm,
a night fairy drawn toward light
carefully treads forest path,

hips swaying, skin aglow;
he a moth to the flame, hypnotized

as desire beckons beneath Wolf Moon

awaiting his howl.

by Margaret Bednar, January 7, 2019


linked with "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Art Flash"