"Beachside"

Beachside

I shake out the quilt, flip flops anchor corners,
and I'm beached for remainder of day;
cry of seagulls and sun upon my eyelids
an aphrodisiac I'm far too weak to fight.

May drag myself to water's edge mid-afternoon,
dip my toes, but full immersion's usually reserved for August.

Frolicking, chilly surf fazes not my children,
their chatter weaving in and out of my reverie
as they fill in, fill up pail after pail with water
for castle moat until waves rhreaten their creation;

even I, sun-drenched drunk, sigh deeply, heave myself up,
move our sandy outpost out of harms way,

glad lifeguards scan horizon and shoreline
for far more serious danger,
watch as seagull and shell garnishes are devoured
by ocean's surge and my children laugh it off,

run past my oasis, shroud me with sand.
I suppose my penance for being lazy.

by Margaret Bednar, July 31, 2018

This is linked with "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - The Tuesday Platform" 

"Dearest"

Dearest,

The sand is fine, almost powdery, wonderfully cool along ocean’s edge.

A few shells litter the way, seagulls, and our son’s footprints slowly filling up,

disappearing as I follow him toward breakwall and lighthouse.

Pick up pace, imagine him climbing huge boulders

protecting Cape Henlopen’s coastline -

Wonder if he’s pirate, dragon, or explorer today;

wonder how long childhood will cling to him.

See we have today; will cherish it with all I’m worth.

Wish you were here,

Love, Margaret

By Margaret Bednar, July 27, 2018

Cape Henlopen Lighthouse from 1940's

This is for "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Weekend Mini Challenge - At the Seaside in postcard form"   I go on many trips without my husband and he misses a lot ... I'm glad our annual family trip to Ocracoke (part of North Carolina's Outer Banks) is just around the corner.

This post card is from Coney Island - I have yet to visit this beach when I visit NYC.

"The Omen"

The Omen

They say crosses will save you.
And the Bible.  Yet Revelation hands us
chapter 13, 666, the Anti-Christ

and Hollywood Gregory Peck
whom I've faithfully followed
through courtroom, Rome, the Old West.

Convinced me to face my fears, trust
he could save the day against graveyards,
lightening storms, Rottweilers,

and The One who revels in obscurity.

1976 usually means "dated", yet I'm transfixed,
frozen in front of TV screen each year
know now cast & crew whispered of mishaps, of curses -

and develop paranoia, fear as I watch this flick
knowing devil's breeding ground
is being nurtured, yet hold blessed crucifix (tightly),

tell myself Gregory Peck's always worth watching.

by Margaret Bednar, July 27, 2018

linked with "The Imaginary Garden of Real Toads - Out of Standard: Fear into farce"  Write about a personal and unfounded fear and put a comedic twist on it. (tried to with the last line :)

I am not one to watch horror flicks - have NEVER watched Rosemary's Baby or The Exorcist... I watched original Friday the 13  when it came out, but that's more stupid than scary.

43:30 Watch the tape there for a truly horrifying "real or imagined" curse after the movie was made... John Richardson designed the beheading scene in the movie - this "accident" happened to him in Holland.

"July"

July

It's the month of sun-kissed,
of thimbleberry, phlox and yarrow,
of bare shoulders and freckles,
screened windows, deep porches,
cool mountain evenings -

of moments branded -

of velvet lips beside my cheek,
daisies braided through mane and tail,
dear face, pale from summer sun,
resting upon my shoulder,
floral stems and leaves dangling
from corners of his mouth -

evenings of bird-song

slipping into twilight's fold,
of stillness, watchfulness, deep breaths.

It's the month of sun-kissed
and longed for never endings.

by Margaret Bednar, July 23, 2018

In participation with "The Imaginary Garden of Real Toads - Get Listed - July Edition".  I sued the words Leaves, Consider, Sun, Pale.

A short little "in-the-moment" poem.  Oberon was so funny the other day, kept giving me kisses with his soft, whiskery nose - totally content to enjoy the fading light and last of the bird-song, cool breeze washing over us.

"In the Footsteps of a Dream"

Dress from NewFrog

In the Footsteps of a Dream...

It's shadowless, air's thick with caution. Everything's familiar,
yet comfort alludes me.  House void of furniture,
front door's missing, humming floats from kitchen.

Realize I'm a boy.  Same hairstyle, thanks to Mother's home cuts,
eyes, nose, mouth haven't changed,
chest still flat... strangely feel empowered.

Tear off shirt, it's allowed now, grab a stick, slice the air,
revel in new found freedom. Rebel yell escapes my lips;
then I see him and duck behind a tree.  Paperboy.

Sister descends porch steps,
a shoulder revealing sundress goddess,
hair curled just so.  Her smile's returned.

Long to be a girl, just not the one I was.

Run back into the house, slam heavy door behind me,
house so crammed with furniture a path toward kitchen is non-existent.
Mother's making cherry pie, which always makes me happy,

yet all I can do is stand still as my mouth waters.
Shadows have returned. smell of crust and fruit fill the air,
yet comfort alludes me.  Twelve is an awkward age.

by Margaret Bednar, July 22, 2018

I invite you to listen to me read this poem (below)

I am participating with "The Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - A Little Night Music" and writing about a dream or write in a dream like manner.  I chose to try and capture a dream I've had a few times in my life - the same exact dream.  I find it very hard to explain and I'm not very good at weaving a dreamlike tale but I wanted to participate.

I do LOVE sundresses and I almost bought quite a few while googling sundresses... this was almost a costly exercise but I refrained. :)

"Island Symphony"

"Island Symphony"

Huckleberries, rose hips, and blackberries trill
with grasshopper sparrow's song,

nearby salt pond offers painted snapping turtles,
osprey, and muted swans upon brackish surface,

while herons, great blue and black-crowned,
hesitantly search shallows for fish, insects, crustaceans.

Little blue and I glide silently
for a minute (perhaps two)
cocooned,

but soon sparrow's silence and others winged retreat
leaves no doubt I'm an intruder -

so Blue and I paddle away,
heart soaring as behind my back faintly hear
vibrato return.

by Margaret Bednar, July 16, 2018

Linked with "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Artistic Interpretations with Margaret - Toril Fisher"


all about Nantucket's berries:  http://yesterdaysisland.com/foraging-for-fruit/

"The Golden Hour"

Artwork by Toril Fisher

The Golden Hour

When daylight winks,
washes clean day's garish colors
with golden hues,

when red becomes wine,
green courts aqua,
and chickens almost purr,

disharmony unfurls,
doubt melts away,
and religion blossoms faith.

by Margaret Bednar, July 15, 2018

This is for "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Artistic Interpretations with Margaret - with artist
Toril Fisher".  

"Realizations"

Morning 1906- Clarence White

Realizations...

I’ve taken to dimming the lights,
applying makeup with my face
not so close to the mirror.

Realize chin raised and eyebrows arched
help a bit with an overall look.

Clothing that floats and glides
is elegant, or so I tell myself,

and bathtubs without a mirror
are far more inviting.

by Margaret Bednar, July 7, 2018

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

"An Atlantic Breeze"

An Atlantic Breeze

She palms my cheek,
lifts hair from nape, kisses it
as I contemplate gentleness

for it isn't always her nature.

She's wooing me this summer eve
and I'm hard pressed to remember
a tempest she can be..

For now toes sink into cool sand,
waves gently ripple ashore
as seagulls soar

undaunted in her July sky.

by Margaret Bednar, July 5, 2018

This is linked with "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Scribble It - "Peace is every Step"