"What's in a Name?"

What's in a Name?

Mt. Oglethorpe to Katahdin
is almost like a prayer, names mystical,
Saddleback, Goose Eye, Lafayette,

Grandfather, Greylock, even a St. Guadens!
Culvers Gap, Hawk Mountain,
all north of Harper's Ferry,

Big Meadows, Shenandoah, The Priest,
Peaks of Otter, Blackhorse Gap, Laural Fork Gorge,
Standing Indian, Blood Mountian

just a handful plucked from a trail ancient
awaiting exploration, appreciation,
and reverence.

by Margaret Bednar, August 31, 2014

Grandfather Mountain - Appalachian Trail.  The wind is what took me by surprise - so powerfully beautiful.

We live SO close to a section of the Appalachian Trail - I have been to Grandfather Mountain and a few other places, but my family and I are now going to make efforts to explore the whole amazing mountain range - camera ready, of course!

Appalachian Trail Conservancy   and Appalachian Trial Map

This is with a brief nod for "Imaginary Garden of Real Toads - Transoforming Friday with Nature's Wonders - Mt. Katahdin" which is the northern beginning of the Appalachian Trail.  

"The Ultimatum"

Blue Muse Art - Etsy Shop  Photographic art by Kelly Letky

The Ultimatum

I tempt fate
with childish pluckings -
unwanted revelations
tossed.

Start over again
with devotional plea -
innocence held
between prayerful fingers.

Start anew, summer's spirit
chained about my head -
upon my lips "he loves me,
he loves me not".

Pagan or Christian?
Tell me
what I want to hear
and I promise to convert.

by Margaret Bednar, August 30, 2014


Oh, the impetuousness (sometimes not so childish) heart!

This is for "Imaginary Garden of Real Toads - Sunday Feature Artist - Kelly Letky'

"The Amateur"

"The Amateur"

"Perhaps
a different angle
try lying on the ground
or aim directly into the sun.
Maybe a silhouette
will showcase it best."

Except,
there's no "official" assignment"
no competition, no reason -
but the voice in my head challenges:

"Find the art in every day…
what angle?"

We were asked to share a "weird" truth about ourselves in 46 words or less for "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Words Count with Mama Zen".   The above is true - I've been in some pretty weird positions in public getting that "award winning" photograph.  

The photos I recently took downtown - I gave myself the theme "windows" …  Had no idea what I was going to do with them… so here they are.

"Veiled Window"

Photographer Guy Stern's Flicker Stream HERE

"Veiled Window"

I see young passion
Open window
Let my compliments tempt
Dance and come
To me; reparations
partake another day
Lady, let passion tremble
Surely my kisses
Prized.  Oh, sancutary
For me, desire to
Parlay - regard my
Lips.  This instance I bet
A dance and kiss I win.
Bless your beauty tonight
Open veiled window
And I'll come to you
Joy and more, I pledge

by Margaret Bednar, August 26, 2014

This is for dVerse Poetics:  Homophonic Translations.  Translate a foreign poem - translating just the sounds and the look of the words.  Try to stick to the original line lengths and stanza shapes.

The French poem I "interpretted" is below.  For a REAL English translation, see HERE.

Ici rien ne se passe
Tout est dehors
Le temps se plie comme un vêtement
Dans un coin
La mer rentre par transparence
Par la porte de verre
L’eau de la lumière tremble
Sur les murs lisses
Prison ou sanctuaire
Fermé à double tour
Par le regard même
La paix de l’instant se boit
Dans une coupe sans bord
Là-bas un bateau gîte
Toutes voiles dehors
Et avec l’écume bleue
Je mouille la page

Manawydan’s Glass Door (d’après David Jones, 1931)

"Invincible"

Invincible

Ocean's tide
faithfully recedes,
sand ebbs beneath my feet -

arms raise, palms flat,
press sun kissed waves
to horizon's edge

undecided if I can -
even want -
to save this world.

Mere slip of a girl am I,
full of laughter, dreams,
bedtime stories

of heroes, heroines,
wicked slain,
riches shared with the poor.

What will happen
if I lower my hands -
will floods surge forth?

Will I ride seahorses
in deep's blue depths,
seaweed entwined in my hair?

Become a mermaid
unable to sing her siren song
as all mankind is dead?

Far easier
to deny inheritable burdens,
let struggle slip away

but youth believes
mazes solvable, impossible attainable -
in arms forever strong.

by Margaret Bednar, August 24, 2014

This is for "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Play it Again, Toads!" I chose the archived challenge "Jorge Luis Borges - become lost in the maze of language, magic, and endless possibilities".

Borges wrote "The Garden of Forking Paths" with can be read HERE.   My poem is nothing like his writing - but this is what I spent an hour on (a lot of erasing) so I will put my effort forth…

SIGH - Vacation is over

Just returned from vacationing on Ocracoke Island.  We kayaked, boated, parasailed (not me, I'm afraid of heights) and swam in the sound where Blackbeard met his doom.  I thought it was quite fitting I photographed this image as our ferry pulled out of the inlet on our return home.

"Kingfisher"

Kingfisher

Tail feathers, crest
were first to go.
Then the eyes -

tongue preserved.

Division of parts, bleached,
dried, reassembled, glued,
buffed, lacquered -

bones in repose.

Upon willow branch
stately solitude and secret
intact.

Margaret Bednar, August 7, 2014



Last week I visited Washington D.C. and enjoyed many museums and art galleries - one of them was the Museum of Natural History's "Bones & Mummies" exhibit.  I was entranced with the numerous animal skeletons - how each was displayed in a natural pose - I wouldn't have been surprised to see them just walk, swim, or fly away!

I am hosting a challenge Friday (August 8th) at "Imaginary Garden of Real Toads - Skeleton Poetry" - sharing a few of my photographs from the exhibit as inspiration.  It starts 12:00 am Friday (central daylight time) and ends Saturday at 12:00 pm.   You are welcome to join in the fun.

This is also linked with dVerse Poets Pub - Meeting the Bar - Lets LIMBO… simple expressions, in 40 words or less.

The skeleton above is of a Ringed Kingfisher - I just love their tilted heads -  as if they have a secret.  They are birds that prefer solitude - pair up only during the mating season to take care of the babies.

"Little Traverse Bay"

Little Traverse Bay

For a six sided gemstone I search,
plunder stillness like a tourist -
face flush with the rising sun,
splashing, humming, exploring.

If only I'd keep the me she sees,
I wouldn't need a weathered memento
uprooted from protective embrace -

Instead store promise internally,
take it out, polish it,
appreciate the imperfect preciousness
of me.

by Margaret Bednar, revised (again) August 7, 2014

I've fiddled with this poem several times … just needed to "record" the newest version.

Petoskey Stones are the "mementos" I am referencing. 

"Domesticated"

Domesticated

Imperially
she owns the tufted
Redgrave chair,

flicks not a whisker
as she saunters past three dogs
who diligently avoid eye contact -

no contest
the early morning sunspot
belongs to her.

A world encased
about her protectively,
yet she's drawn to the kill -

chatters and stalks,
tense behind glass.  "Domesticated"
or so we tell ourselves.

by Margaret Bednar, August 3, 2014

This is for "Imaginary Garden of Real Toads - Flash 55" a story or poem in 55 words - no more, no less.  The images above I took on my iPhone and then used an app called "Waterlogue".  

"Tower of Faces" Holocaust Museum, Washington, D.C.

"Tower of Faces" United States Holocaust Memorial Museum - HERE for website
Photo NOT taken by me 

Tower of Faces - Holocaust Museum, Washington, D.C.

In black and white

A boy rides a chubby pony

Farm girl gathers eggs
Young man shows off shiny new bike
Woman poses hillside, new coat, new gloves, wind in her hair

Children play outdoor games
Distinguished gentleman sits on wooden chair 

Mother leans over a crib
Young boy's first day at school, book open

Teenagers beachside, faces sun-flushed
Chubby baby, proud older sister 

Lad fast outgrowing wooden rocking horse
Couple on hammock, smiling

Three sisters, embroidered dresses, lipstick lightly applied, hair shining

Horse and farmer battling snow

Four young men in a convertible

Family celebrations, tables laden with food and drink

Handsome man with cane, wavy hair, sexy eyes

Sled party, fur trimmed collars and sleeves, laughing

Three women with shawls, heads together

Toddler clutches well-worn teddy bear

Old lady, threadbare scarf, wooden bucket

Pair of strapping men with axes, one with dimple, dangling cigarettes, coats, hats

Flowered scarf adorns dark, waist-length hair, pendant nestled in v-neck dress

Father holds cherub daughter, soft hair pressed against stubbled cheek

Pearl earrings dangle from delicate ears

Two grandmothers sit on pillared porch, clutch purses, hats tilted 

Slender girl with white dress billowing, walks along gravel, country road

Woman poses for lover, he photographs her lying in grassy field.

Lives in full color.

You, them, me … we fool ourselves there's a difference.   It's really only "us".


by Margaret Bednar, August 1, 2014


I just returned from Washington DC with three of my daughters.   We visited the Holocaust Museum for the second time and have yet to finish it.  The next time I go I will start where I ended this time and hopefully will finish this museum experience.   I was quite taken this time with the "Tower of Faces".

We all suffer when we treat others with hate, prejudice, indifference.  I'd like to think one day that "…all the children of Abraham Will lay down our swords forever in Jerusalem" (from Steve Earle "Jerusalem" from "I'll Never Get Out of This World Alive).   The "Tower of Faces", if we really look, is our story of family, that each of us have images in our family albums of loved ones doing these exact same things.    We are not different.  We all belong to the same family.

This is a response to the challenge from "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Music with Marian - Jerusalem".