Blogger Break - Summer Vacation!

I'll BEE away for a bit ... off visiting family and friends.  Our whole family can't go, but due to the price of airline tickets that might be a good thing.

I hope to buzz by and say hello a few times while I am on vacation - if not, I will be back early August.

In the meantime, enjoy summer! 

The Mag #178 "Summer Moon"

Painting by Andrew Wyeth

Summer Moon

A summer moon hangs low tonight,
shimmers full upon mirrored sky,
invites us to do the same.

I take your hand, dive in, float
upon beams of light, splash surprise
from eyes that see me as angelic,
giggle, hellbent on proving you wrong.

by Margaret Bednar, July 21, 2013

This is for "The Mag #178".  

IGWRT's Artistic Interpretations & Friday Flash 55 "Southern Belles don't Sweat"

Southern Belles don't Sweat

As magnolia trees blossom
porch-side, we settle
beneath alabaster blooms,
complexions glistening,
subtly catch ourselves
a few beaus.

Creamy vanilla scent
draws them like flies,
skirt hems delicately lift,
careful chaste ankles
never be cause
for undue attention.

'Course, Mama's rules
are made to be broken,
especially when sweet sixteen
has come and gone...

by Margaret Bednar, July 19, 2013

Over at Imaginary Garden with Real Toads, I am hosting "Artistic Interpretations".  Please swing by and see my photographs. If one inspires you, I invite you to join the fun and write a summer poem!

This is also for Friday Flash 55.  Another wildly fun weekly prompt.  

dVerse Open Link Night "Fragrant"

"Photo courtesy of Bonnie of Original Art Studio 

My Children (or "Fragrant")

Purposefully I tend my roses,
freshly sprinkle with care, secure
them just so, yet wander they do,
gloriously climb higher 
than I can reach, leaving me
inhaling resplendent fragrance
and admiring colorful, vibrant blooms.

by Margaret Bednar, July 16, 2013

This is for dVerse Open Link Night #105 ... celebrating crossing the two-year threshold.  I reworked a poem I wrote in 2010 - did that after I had submitted the second one (a tanka) a few hours earlier today.  Just felt I needed a new poem for the celebration.    The original written:

My world is fragrant,

each bloom vibrantly lovely,

life's force glorified,

still freshly worn and displayed.

Each "rose" my joy, my purpose.

This is also a nod to Imaginary Garden with Real Toads "Live a Little" - a mini challenge asking us what we live for.  At this stage in my life, it is simply my children.  Quite simple, boring, perhaps, but the truth.

When I was a little girl I admired a rose trellis at my grandmother's house - the roses climbed far, far beyond my reach.  

Thank you all who visit me here -- summer has swallowed up my free time, but I will make sure I celebrate TWO YEARS of dVerse!!!

dVerse Poetics "Keep Holy the Sabbath"

Keep Holy the Sabbath

Beneath Sunday's siren sun,
I squat, grip, heave, throw,
ignore scratchy hay 
between shirt, dirt, sweat.

Zombi-like follow row upon row,
squat, grip, heave, throw.
Makeup long gone, hair undone,
plastered wet, sigh relief

as baling machine
belches, sputters, jams,
twine spins, bales abort, distorted.
Wearily lean into truck's shade,

watch as he unbuttons, slips off shirt,
wipes brow, whistles low
(was that him or me?)
leans my way
(no, that's wishful thinking)
leans into breeze,
runs hand through my hair -
(I'm getting dizzy) his hair,

for the first time recall "Keep Holy
the Sabbath", quickly bow head,
thank God for the Glory
which stands before me,
(did I say that out loud?)
flush when our eyes meet,
and as if on cue, engine revs -
I squat, grip, heave, throw.

by Margaret Bednar, July 14, 2013

This is for dVerse Poetics - is this a pub or a mirage? Hop on over and see how the summer heat is interpreted by the other poets!

Grammar Heads .... my line (was that him or me?) - should it be "was that he or I"  I looked it up, but the more explanations I read, the more confused I got!  If you don't know - well that makes me feel good :)

IGWRT's - Beautiful Mother "Wendy"

Peter came back for Wendy, but she's now a mother.  It is Jane's turn.
My son, Will as Peter Pan (2005!)

Wendy

She soared toward the second star,
veered right, free-fell for a season
before jealous maiden, Time, swooped in,
snatched away fancy, moonlight, adolescence.
Threw them like pixie-dust into shadows, unretrievable,

yet remembered,

her voice floating lyrical with stories of thimbles, 

marbles, fairies, planting happy thoughts
in dearest daughter's heart of mermaid lagoons, 

pirate caves, Indian braves, a boy's beautiful smile,

while gazing toward her land of nevermore.

by Margaret Bednar, July 13, 2013

This is for Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Beautiful Mother.

The prompt mentions a new play, "Peter Panties" a "radical re-imagining" - a new way of looking at our differences.  I tried to google and see HOW the play portrays this, but wasn't successful.  I must confess, I'm a bit "protective" of this classic story - don't think it ever needs tampering with. :)

Perhaps my poem does not reflect the true nature of the prompt, but it did bring on my thoughts on Wendy, so I went with it.   Wendy had to grow up as that is the way of motherhood...

Peter Pan has a special place in my heart as in 2005 my son portrayed Peter Pan and my daughters were the brother, Michael, Fairy, Mermaid, Indian...

One of my daughters as a mermaid

Great memories... the cast of Peter Pan 2005.

IGWRT's - Imagined by Kerry - Rhapsody "Wishing'

Wishing

Thunderclouds pass, leave mid-afternoon
soothingly sleepy in soft pastels, find myself
wishing back the promise of rain

to the time we peeled off clothes, danced
like natives 'round the horse trough, whooped,
hollered 'till life-giving rain came, cooled parched lips.

Ol' Joe leans against the now squeaky gate, seeks
nightly rub, carrot, but I walk toward our creek, curious if
Passion Flowers bloom vividly as the night you proposed.

Coolness engulfs, a bee drones, light dims.  I search, smile
when violet lashes and a golden crown peek from tangled vines
and I become young again ...

all I have to do is wait upon the leaning covered porch
until you ride in from the fields... and this time, promise
I won't insist you shower before you kiss me.

Margaret Bednar, July 10, 2013

This is for Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Imagined by Kerry "Rhapsody".

• The poem could consist of several parts or variations on a theme.
• Free verse is preferred over form but it should be structured according to the writer's fancy.
• Mixed media could be utilized - especially for those who like to include photography or art with their writing.
• A sense of improvisation is preferable to a piece which is over-worked.
• The mood should be impassioned or exalted. (Some synonyms for 'rhapsodize' include babble, carry on, declaim, freak out, fume, go bananas, orate, prattle and rage.
• The content should focus more on the imaginative than the concrete.

I did try to write this with a flowing mind, to let the "scene" drift and I hope it doesn't seem overworked as I wrote it within fifteen minutes.  Thanks for the challenge, Kerry -- it was a difficult one for me (but I was thrilled to use two of my latest favorite iPhone images!

dVerse & Friday Flash 55, July 9, 2013

Photo Courtesy of Tess Kincaid for Magpie Tales

Too Late

A hand shakes,

caresses my cheek,

tugs upon non-existent 

ponytail, moist eyes

crinkle with approval...

see me not as I am.

I try and imagine

how it would've felt

to have received

tender devotion

as a little girl 

desirous of his affection,

not an image conjured up

by a doddering mind,

years too late.

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, revised July 9, 2013 (original June 7, 2011)

This is for dVerse - Open Link Night #104 ... and Friday Flash 55 (which I will link up to Thursday after 8pm.   This was originally a poetry prompt for Magpie Tales - Tess collects all sorts of things - and her weekly photo prompts for poetic expression are still going strong!

IGWRT's Open Link Monday "Tink"

Tink
by William Bednar

It's not every day you see a girl with butterfly wings
Just standing on the sidewalk.
It's funny how mundane things
Like ten dollar wings, street lamps, and kindergarten chalk
Can conjure such a pondrous fey,
Who waits by starlight for her Pan,
Hair undone, forgotten bangs, astray.
It's not every girl, reminds a boy inside the man.

Sharing a bit of my two oldest children's artistry with Imaginary Garden with Real Toad's "Open Link Monday"... my son's poetry, my daughters art (she did a few years ago).  I am so excited that my oldest son Will's (junior in college) play "Straight on 'till Morning" will be performed August 5th in Winston Salem, NC and Chelsea (freshman in college) will be portraying Tinkerbell.  

IGWRT's A Birthday - "A Moment, Realized"

A Moment, Realized

Life is a series of moments, flickering quickly,
soon forgotten as I hurtle myself
toward each new sensory and you, often
with me, eagerly round each bend,

traverse each hill, two souls adventuring
into seconds, minutes, hours.  My youth
beats to the rhythm of your hooves,
your name caresses my lips each night

as I pray our connection lasts,
hope we learn to pause more often,
like this morning when you honored me

with your trust, your gentleness -
the moment I realized it is not I who offers up
the greater sacrifice, the greatest gift.

by Margaret Bednar, July 7, 2013

This if written for the "Imaginary Garden with Real Toad's Birthdays in July - The Sonneteers". Two poets are featured.   Francesco Petrarch, a traditional sonnet with lots of rules.  I fashioned mine after Pablo Neruda whose translated poetry into English is absent of rhyme and iambic meter - the translators for whatever reason did not take the time.  What is left is the essence of the poem.   For more information, click on the link.

Well, lazy me, I jumped all over the no rhyme, no rhythm route and I apologize as this probably isn't really a sonnet...

Isn't Oberon adorable sleeping like this?  He is out all night as the days are so hot and often when we arrive he is napping in his stall (with fan on overhead).  My girls have cuddled with him quite a few times - we joke he is like a big dog - he loves the scratching and petting, even gives kisses.

IGWRT's Transforming Fridays with Hannah - Haunted Hearts "Enraptured"

Enraptured 
(pondering Tulips)

Hopeless love I gaze upon
or is it sweet and fair?

Many moods you flaunt
like royalty at play

flash flirtatious sunshine smiles
and revealing taffeta-yellow gowns,

easily traded for purity, unfeigned,
slip on forgiveness, easily gained

your changing hues entrap
with white, or beauty bright

you sing my heart an opera
luxuriously indulgent,

whisper "take not love lightly".
Oh, sweet herald of springtime's breath,

for mystery unwavering,
such elegant enchantment

I seek to cast aside a winter-heart,
long to nestle, secure

in a nature gently generous -
whose flashing sidelong glances

blush seemingly just for me,
promise to tease not...

enraptured am I for
such a feast of passion rare.

Margaret Bednar, July 6, 2013

This is for Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Transforming Fridays with Hannah - "Haunted Hearts".  She gave us a feast for the eyes - Tulip fields of the Netherlands and a challenge to search our hearts for a Tulip's beauty...

The Mag #175, "Mirage"

Musin Yohan photographer

Mirage

Many an evening
many a horizon
tempts with turquoise tints

of misty waterfalls, teal seas, 
coconut palms, dipping, swaying,
gentle waves beneath gossamer clouds,

shapeshifting above dirt tire tracks, 
weary shoulders, bare feet
toward a mirage, ever trudging.

by Margaret Bednar, July 1, 2013

This is linked with "The Mag #175" and the image is Tess's choice for her weekly challenge.   I invite you to click on the link and enjoy other poetic interpretations.

Also linked with the awesome "Imaginary Garden with Real Toad's Open Link Monday".