"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:

"Outside my Window" & "Wild Geese Take Flight"

The Nursing Home

Outside my window
leaves become sainted with gold
a life's span revered.
       Eyes hopeful I watch the door,
       wrinkled hand smooths silvered hair.

by Margaret Bednar, October 21, 2013


(wish I were a Maple tree.)  - my original ending. 

A Mother's Inevitability

Wild geese take flight
upon exuberant wing,
restless spirits freed -
       yet I remain rooted,
       childish laughter growing dim.

by Margaret Bednar, October 21, 2013


Over at the Imaginary Garden of Real Toads - Format Challenge, Kerry has a fantastic series with Dr. Hisashi Nakamura on the poetry form Tanka. The transcript of his lecture "Japanese Women in Tanka Poetry: From the 4th to the 13th Century" can be found HERE.

Traditional Tanka, as far as I can see, has no "title" but I decided to add one to direct the way I want the reader to view these... I didn't put a title at first, and it was interesting to see where people went with them... and perhaps I should have let that be...

I see I did NOT strictly follow the 5-7-5-7-7 rule in the second Tanka, and will leave it as it is for now.  It is still 31 syllables. This form is MUCH harder than it looks!

If you want more info on Tanka, I found "The Seed of the Human Heart: Writing Tanka" quite interesting as well.

Also Submitted to "Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - Open Link Monday" as I am a bit late getting this "Sunday Challenge" submitted - I had a very busy weekend and yet, was unable to enjoy being OUTSIDE in this glorious fall weather!

IGWRT's Rondelet "The Scoundrel"

A typical view into the side garden yards in historical downtown Charleston, SC

The Scoundrel

You came to me,
kissed me beside scrolled iron gate.

You came to me,
promised love upon bended knee.

Heart aflutter, swallowed the bait,
gave myself.  I regret the date

you came to me.

by Margaret Bednar, April 16, 2013


This is for Imaginary Garden with Real Toads - I say Roundel, You Say Rondelet.  I have a mind block and always approach these with dread and find I usually enjoy the result.   I tweaked it a bit beside = 'side.  Was tempted to forgo "structure" and use 9 syllables ... not sure I like 'side.  But for now, I'll play by the "rules".

IGWRT's Format Challenge - "Precocious" a renga poem

Precocious

Some claim April rain                            (Grace of Words like foam on the waves)
brings the blossoms of May, but
trees here are hasty

like youth, ardor unrestrained                 Me
eager for springs first sweet kiss

Sakura blossoms                                    (Kerry O'Connor of Skylover)
In the arms of old man tree
Drops of moonlit milk

showgirls will perform a dance             Ella's Edge
inspir'd by Moon light's embrace

her graceful waves in                            Laurie Kolp Poetry
a risque spring ballet, legs
kick the silver sky

stars wink at rainbow feathers              Susie Clevenger of Confessions of A Laundry Goddess
that tease with each fluttering

My full heart flutters,                            Mary of Writing in the Bachs
I become dancer and dance
under April's moon

and a blossoming cherry                       Kay, an Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel
in the sweet, full warmth of May        

And we, resting far                               Shawna of Sunflower Poetry
north where snow still flies and melts
await midnight summer

polar day does not circle                        Jinksy of Alias Jinksy
on cosmic calliope

Pegasus gallops                                     Cad of A Trellis Fencing
to the music of the spheres,
while star clusters spin.

The earth spins on its axis,                    Margo of Margo Roby: Wordgathering
hums its music in B flat

Spring pirouettes ice                              MiskMask
Spun sugar and crystal shards
Across the cosmos

silver vessel half moon                           Jules of jules gems and stuff
empties dawn into morning

The night bids farewell                          The Happy Amateur
Leaving a trail of stardust
It flies on its way

Restored to herself, the earth                  The Happy Amateur (above)
resumes her orderly spin

At a loss for words                                  Siggi in Downeast Maine
coherent flew out window
on the wings of nerves

The above poem is a renga.  Click HERE (Imaginary Garden with Real Toads) for the details.  This is a challenge presented by Grace; she wrote the first stanza, I wrote the second.  I will be adding to this poem as it progresses and each individual participates.