"Pokemon"

Pokemon

It's about strategy,
this training for battle;
of knowing one's weakness

one's resistance, of retreats and
tactics behind eyes bright with ardor

for water, fire, grass,
art painted on every card,
soft pocket monsters tenderly held

whose theme song
inspires a rallying cry

for unifying hearts,
building an alliance,
capturing destiny.

It's about six year old warriors
playing the game.


by Margaret Bednar, September 17, 2014


This is for "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Get Listed - The Art of War",  I used nine of the words - two I slightly altered.

I've been hearing the Pokemon theme song now for 19 years.  I DO know how to play this complicated card game - how many mom's can say that?

One thing I like about Pokemon is they don't kill each other.  And they are rather cute.

"Baby Turtle"

Baby Turtle

Like a thumbprint
you're unique, but common
in your perched preference,
still and content

until I wend my way forward
curious
if one so young
will hurtle away in fear.

Quickly answered
as pond's tranquil surface
safely pockets
your tiny, tumbling fury.

Guilty, I retreat
beneath July's blue sky
feeling ever the growling giant
to your tender little Jack.

by Margaret Bednar, July 27, 2014

The photo is a blurry mess - hastily taken with my iPhone.  I did take a video of it scurrying across the rock and back flipping and ker-plopping into the pond.  It really was cute … but I accidentally deleted it.

I've never seen a turtle so young and so small.

This is for "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Play it Again, Toads" - where I revisited Grapeling's word list HERE.  

"Midsummer"

Midsummer

Midsummer time languishes,
spring's bursting forth
long since soothed -n- settled.

Metallic wings skim over listless ponds,
hover, watch.  Fish slap -n- flop,
birds exchange half-hearted warbles

and sun-glazed horses swish corn-silk tails
as shadows slant long, cool fingers,
cue the katydids to defy season's stupor.

by Margaret Bednar, July 10, 2014


This is what it sounds like in my neck of the woods come night:


This is for Imaginary Garden with Real Toads "Word List for July" - of which I used three words: burst(ing), exchange, defy.

"Expectations"

Expectations

Little explorer clad in silence
reflects on adventures
yet to flower -

beside river bank he balances,
ponders a million different paths
the midnight stars might lead.

by Margaret Bednar, April 30, 2014


This is for "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Word List with Grapeling"  The words are selected form a favorite children's' story of Grapeling's -  "The Little Prince" and the challenge is to write a poem in the spirit of the book.  I confess, I have yet to read this classic, so I used seven of the words and hope that will be good enough.

This wraps up my 30 poems in April  - also known as:  NaPoWriMo2014 or National Poetry Writing Month.  The website is HERE.

 I am on a blog break for a few days and will post on Monday, May 5th the winner of the drawing below - You have until May 4th - midnight to sign up.

In celebration of this year's challenge, I will be giving away a free book of my poetry.  If you are interested in participating in this drawing, please click the red logo at the top of my side bar and leave your name and a means to reach (blog, email, etc) you in the comment section.

PLEASE INDICATE YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DRAWING OR I WILL ASSUME YOU ARE JUST COMMENTING.  THANKS. 

"Seeing"

"Seeing"

Snow crystals dust my mitten-tip
their future dismal,
shine but a few minutes more -

no chance of becoming.

A fragile existence
we humans often face,
become crestfallen -

melt into indifference

until a restless spirit
stones our lack of will
with hope -

gifts us into seeing
minutes, hours, days
as swirling possibilites.

And we dream.

by Margaret Bednar, February 20, 2014

This is for "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Get Listed with Kenia Cris"  Click on over if you want to see her word list from a science fiction book about a post-apocaliptic world "Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?"

Well, I thought I was a goner with this selection of words, but somehow I scraped together 55 words - and that means…. this is also linked with Flash Friday 55 over at G-Man's blog, "Mr. Knowitall".  Doors open Thursday at 8:00 pm.

"Plath's New Moon"

Evening Moon through the trees

Plath's "New" Moon

I cling to evening's hem,
fingers entwined with heaven's blue -
a mantle I'm loathe to let go
lest I spiral wild into blackness
of twigs and branches
sharper than any tongue.

I plea forgiveness
as pink wanes gray,
garment's edge disappears -

silence descends
upon yew's upstretched arms
and like a savior,
knuckles moon's mystical murmurings

while I,
scratched and torn, face east,
await dawn's bald golden hue
to slip in with the tide,
for sea birds' spirituous song
to announce salvation's door,

and like a candle protected,
I will cease wavering,
Angelus warm upon my lips
while the bell tower tolls.

by Margaret Bednar, January 15, 2014

Morning over the lake

What a challenge this was for me!  Over at  "Imaginary Garden of Real Toads - Get Listed with Brendan" we are asked to be "freshly inspired" by Sylivia Plath's "The Moon and the Yew Tree".  As I read her poem HERE, I find it dark with little hope (sadly, Plath committed suicide in 1963).

I used all 14 words selected from Plath's poem, angling for a feeling of hope.

The images are not of the ocean nor of yew trees - but this is the best I could come up with on a moment's notice --- funny thing is, I took these photos last evening and this morning before I had read the prompt for this challenge.

"A Winter's Recipe"

A Winter's Recipe

A soothing open fire, two devilish dimples,
three lavish splashes of hot buttered rum,
and lips to whisper four (or more) feathered trails
along one's neck…

If the flame smolders to embers, well
what lady doesn't prefer a long, slow burn
to a frenzied heat for roasting chestnuts
and other such … amusements?

by Margaret Bednar, December 11, 2013


This bit of seasonal fun (and advice) can be attributed to Fireblossom's challenge for "Imaginary Garden with Real Toad's Get Listed".  She is stepping in for Mama Zen this month hence no word limit but she did issue a decree:  NO haiku.

My husband and I tasted warm, roasted chestnuts for the first time this past weekend… As he loves sitting 'round an outdoor fire, NOW I know what I will be getting him for Christmas - a chestnut roaster.  HERE is how it is done.

note:  For the record,  I do NOT require dimples (my husband has none  :)

This will also be linked with "Friday Flash 55".

"I Listened"

I Listened

I cannot tell you what tomorrow holds

nor what yesterday means just yet,

but I know last evening I listened

as summer's last songbird splashed

its lyrics against a tangerine sky, 

its sentinel voice bowing

to river's restless murmurings

of numbered sun-drenched days.

I smiled as stubborn oak, fully ablaze,

stood defiant, prepared to hang on 'till spring

despite wind's gorging appetite

while more prudent creatures scampered

and burrowed beneath falling, spiraling

canopy, snuggling spring's promise

and I adjusted my jacket, pulled out 

my mittens, and saw my breath 

beneath beaver moon's filtered light.

Margaret Bednar, November 6, 2013

This is for "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Get Listed with Ed Pilolla" and "Poety Jam - What do you Know for Sure"  

I believe this year's "beaver moon" will happen around November 15th - but it worked for the poem, so go with it :)

Photography is courtesy of my friend "J.B."  (thank you!)

"I Wonder"

I Wonder

I wonder
will they return

to this garden
next year, buzzing,
hugging, sucking
life from colors bold -

to this home
next holiday, laughing,
conversing, filling up
these brick walls -

or will the bees
diminish, die
as scientists forecast,

will my children
follow far flung gazes,
leave my arms yearning?

I wonder
will they return?

by Margaret Bednar, October 3, 2013

This is written to the challenge at "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Get Listed" and for Friday Flash 55 (will link up tonight at 8pm)  Patricia A. McGoldrick supplied the word list - her site is HERE.

I had no idea what I was going to write as I stared at the word list.  So I just started thinking about my last few thoughts yesterday.  I went to photograph a few more bees amongst my flowers.  I had already used my iPhone, but wanted a few with my nice Canon lens... but there were NO bees.    I also have been texting and calling my two college children to see if they will be coming home during this short fall break... I have been put on "hold" and they will get back with me....

So, that is how this slightly melancholy poem was "birthed".  

IGWRT's - Get Listed "Transparent"

Transparent

A playground punk
careens with speed
down a slippery slope,
sports a James Dean pout
when told to "SLow DOwn!",

a tattooed rebel
with energy explosive
his mother agrees.

He scrapes, clutches
bloody knees, tears glisten,
unshed, slyly glances her way,

observes tenderness
and drops the act,
becomes the sweet little boy
his mother needs.

by Margaret Bednar, June 20, 2013

This is for Imaginary Garden with Real Toad's "Get Listed" with host Helen Dehner of "Poetry Matters".  I used the words:  punk, tenderness, clutch(es), and transparent (the title).

I will also link up with Friday Flash 55 - a story (poem in my case) in 55 words.

IGWRT's Get Listed & Friday Flash 55 "My Butterfly"

Self-Portrait - Acrylic, Ebony, Charcoal (won a Scholastic Gold Key Award)

My Butterfly

Reflected like stars
within your crystal blues

is spring and youth-filled dreams
dappled with yes,

presented decorously
upon today's silver platter,

some visions already realized,
some nibbled upon,

while others await
a future rejuvenation.

Soar, my butterfly, set
a bedazzling pace

and remember:

Treasure your yesterdays,
hope for tomorrow,

and always
embrace the moment.

by Mommy  (Margaret Bednar), May 22, 2013

This is for Imaginary Garden with Real Toad's "Get Listed"  The three words I selected from the list: dapple, tomorrow, pace.  This is also for Friday Flash 55 .

My daughter graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Art's high school program for Visual Arts.

Thomas Shumacher was the commencement speaker (he is president of Disney Theatrical Group) and his speech was OUTSTANDING!  My poem reflects three things I walked away with:  be present (in daily life), say "yes" (more often than no), and rejuvenation is not failure.

THEN... from the orchestra pit arose a grand piano and ... Alan Menken!!  He is famous for his Disney lyrics and scores.  (Think "Little Mermaid", "Beauty & the Beast", "Hercules" ... oh just the last 20+ years of Disney magic)  Below is a video of his medley he put together just for UNCSA's class of 2013!

IGWRT's A-Z Poem "Wordsworth & Coleridge"

"A-Z - Wordsworth & Coleridge"

A book, candlelight,
dreams...

expectations flicker,
glorious hopes,
idealists,

jilted karma,
lady-luck maligned -
nourishing opium

poetic quality
revolutionary!

Stanzas, temperaments,
unappreciated.

Visionary Wordsworth,
(e)xhausted youthful zeal.

by Margaret Bednar, April 30, 2013

Wordsworth & Coleridge were two gifted young poets who lived during tumultuous times (French Revolution) and formed a youthful and exhilarating friendship, but differences doomed an otherwise brilliant partnership.  Youthful zest can only fly so far, and they ended up parting ways.  They did reconcile a bit later in life, but... I haven't read that far yet.  The book is "The Friendship"

Linked with Imaginary Garden with Real  Toad's "A-Z Poem"

IGWRT's "Get Listed" & Friday Flash 55 "Enticed"

Enticed

One shot of tequila 

wasn't to blame

for the flicker of desire

that raged uncontrollable,

consuming my innocent intentions.

Neither was the sweltering heat

nor the full moon.

I wasn't tempted

by your charming dimple

nor your mercilessly cool 

exploring touch.

I was enticed after two rounds

of chocolate martinis.

I never can resist chocolate.

Margaret Bednar, February 6, 2013

This is for Imaginary Garden with Real Toad's - Get Listed" with Fireblossom. (I used 8 of the listed words).  

Also linking up with Friday Flash 55 (a story or poem in 55 words).

IGWRT's - Ink Stained Word List "Gypsy Herb"

Gypsy Herb

Adaptable
as from kitchen garden,
sedentary, you fled

a chthonic fate
of chopped and diced
upon linoleum.

Scattered gypsy-like
to roam 'cross field
and meadow,

wildly nomadic,
you slumber 'neath alabaster
and periwinkle sky,

bedazzle orangey butterflies
with promise of
idyllic, endless peace.

Charmed, I breath in patience,
your magical bohemian spell
ubiquitously fragrant;

a bit of serendipity I share
as arms and wings
in perfect synchronicity

spread toward sacred,
become sisters, rejoice
in your voice of hopeful silence.

by Margaret Bednar, December 11, 2012

This is for Imaginary Garden with Real Toads "An Ink-Stained Word List".  There were 30 favorite words shared by poets a few days ago and I used 21 of them, including the bonus word "chthonic".