"An Invitation"

An Invitation

A frosted glance she sends my way,
shivers my spine and steels my breath,
dares me look with eyes afresh
upon her barren, frosted breast

where treasures lie, displayed anew.
A frosted gift she sends my way
quite diff'rent from her heated gaze
of languid blues and fanning lash

where time abides with gentle sighs
and lips a glist'ning with sweetened tea.
A frosted glance she sends my way
as if to say "Bundle up, quick,

don't miss this beauty of soft grey
where silence sings a soft sweet note
and wonder kisses crisp, pink cheeks.
A frosted gift she sends my way.

by Margaret Bednar, February 17, 2014

A dried & open Sweetgum ball (1 tree = hundreds of sharp "treasures'

This is for "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads Sunday Form Challenge - Quatern".  I didn't' get it done in time, so I have also submitted it to "IGWRT's Open Link Monday".  

For the full details of what this form entails, please see the form link above.  I did use artistic license and changed the repeating line (first line in the first stanza) from glance to gift in alternating stanzas.  I also have one line that is only a count of 7 instead of 8 syllables. 

Her in North Carolina, we have a few patches of snow left, but the grey beauty is melting away…  

and for I Heart Macro #40, below:

"Wracking"

Wracking

Riding rolling waves over pirate ships, war,

graves of loved ones bound for Charleston

and destinations unknown -

a whelk, knobbed and streaked, 

laid to rest gently upon sand freshly piled high

amongst seagrass and vine.

What secrets have you seen, of history,

of mystery that swirls and churns about

treacherous Diamond Shoals?

Many lie neglected, battered, shattered 

beneath our feet, fragments further crushed,

pulled back into ocean's broiling waves.

Lone survivor, we basket you, wash, bleach, 

brush, oil, shine, place you upon a shelf - "collected" -

open many a book, search for what you can't say.

Margaret Bednar, February 3, 2014

This is linked with "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Open Link Monday".  Wracking is the "age old profession" of scavenging the beach.  We enjoyed two "winter" weekends on Hatteras and Ocracoke Island and found a lot of shells - but the shell found here was the only "perfect" large one we found.  We feel really lucky.  

The top image is also linked with "I Heart Macro - week #38"

Below is exactly how and where we found it on Hatteras Island, perched gently upon a sand dune amongst sea grass:

"Gratitude and Thankfulness"

My niece's artwork

Gratitude and Thankfulness

Gnarled fingers accept each season,
Reach toward the sky
Asking no more
Than to be.
I have always admired
The strength of trees, their
Undisputed ability to bend, sway,
Displaying a wisdom we humans should
Embrace, not clearcut -

A spirit thats
Nectar is mother earth.
Do we ever

Think to pause from our rat race,
Hesitate for a moment
And give thanks for the day?
Not likely; prayers are often saved for Sundays, holidays,
Knowing flowery words will impress
Friends, family.  Peace, though, starts with
Us being thankful for what we have,
Leaving desires, wants - to rest.  Focusing on what we
Need.  It starts now.  Not tomorrow.  If
Everyone were like a tree, we would
Simply be silent.  Learn to listen.
Simply embrace the light.  Be satisfied.

by Margaret Bednar, November 25, 2013

This is for Laura's "Gratitude Quilt", asking us to write - unedited and letting the words flow - what we are grateful for in this moment?  The above acrostic poem is my response.  I am trying to learn to be thankful for NOW.  Today.  Trying to have an inner joy at all times.  To be satisfied with what I have, not desiring more, more, more.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my fellow Americans - and wishing everyone else peace and joy for today.

I am also linking this with "I Heart Macro - Week 28" and "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads Open Link Monday".

"The Fishing Fleet'

The Fishing Fleet of 1620

Beside gray and choppy shore of the river, James,
preening men strutted before the "Fishing Fleet" -
seventy women strong, "old maids", widows,
handful of virgins,

from England they'd sailed, supplied with new petticoat,
gloves, rug, and sheet.  Domesticity's price? "One hundredth
and fifie pounds of the best leafe Tobacco".

Preacher warned, "one man at a time!", judge declared,
"Consummate or set her free!", indentured servants they were not,
but plucky women who gambled, tried to beat the odds -
did for two years

until Opechancanough spared no "man woman or childe",
proceeded to "deface, drag, and mangle the dead into many pieces -
triumphant."

Triumphant for a time,
as the hand of "revenge" is never-ending.

by Margaret Bednar, October 28, 2013

A replica of the first Protestant church in America located inside the Jamestown Fort -
I assume the "Fishing Fleet" couples were married here.

HERE is Bob Deans the author of the book I am currently reading, "The River Where America Began".  He is a gifted speaker and this is a C-Span Video Library link.  It is thoroughly educational and enjoyable.

The Fishing Fleet was a true group of women (age 15-24) who came over to find husbands within the  Jamestown colony.  Most of these women were killed two years later in the "Great Indian Massacre".   Opechancanough was Powhatan's powerful brother who took control after the great chief died.  I find it a fascinating topic and Mr. Deans states briefly that their stories are fascinating (which leads me to believe there are journals and/or documents about them).  I wish there were books or a documentary about them, but I can find nothing.

Below is a photo of my youngest son standing very near the location where the Jamestown people were massacred (the people inside the fort were warned in advance and did not suffer devastating losses).  So much history, so much violence along the James River.  This is linked with "I Heart Macro Week 24".

I signed up to view National Geographic - HERE is a great article on Jamestown, but it will ask you to sign up as a member (which is really easy).

I am linking this with "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Open Link Monday" and will link with "dVerse - Open Link Night #120" on Tuesday.

Finally found an image painted by Sidney King "Arrival of the Maids".  The website is HERE

Sidney King "Arrival of the Maids" (to Jamestown Colony 1620)

"Days of Grace"

Would you like to hear me read my poem?

Check this out on Chirbit

Days of Grace

I wish these days of grace to linger -

linger in my soul content, yet ablaze.

Ablaze with dying in order to nourish -

nourish to live again.  Each Autumn I walk,

walk these wooded trails, pause -

pause to photograph and gaze in wonder.

Wondering all the while if I will bow -

bow as graciously as nature when it's my time.

Time, a gift we seem to squander -

squander away when we have it and long,

long for it when it silently winds down - tick,

tick, tick.  Perhaps we over-think, when we should -

should just breath in and out, think how to,

to give of ourselves, daily.  Die to self,

selflessly give each day in order to live -

live one day outside of time, ablaze with grace.

by Margaret Bednar, October 13, 2013

This is written for Imaginary Garden with Real Toads "Sunday Challenge - Loop Poetry".  The last word of the line must wrap around and begin the next.  I did not take up the challenge of a rhyme scheme.  

I am also linking this up with "I Heart Macro week 22" 

and Poets United: Poetry Pantry #171.  

I Heart Macro Challenge & dVerse - "Simplicity"

Simplicity

A fragrance
crushed, steamed,
dabbed behind an ear.

A beauty
domesticated, snipped,
arranged in Waterford Crystal.

An artistic statement
of love, passion,
absolute perfection.

A rare joy
to see a rose simply be
wild and free.

by Margaret Bednar, June 3, 2013

The first photo is linked with "Shine the Devine's - I Heart Macro"

Also linked with dVerse Poet's Pub #99.