adding father’s name to the family tombstone with room for my own Nicholas Virgilio a generation’s story inked green by moss and lichen Kim M. Russell, 29th January 2020 My response to Carpe Diem’s Tan Renga Wednesday #11: family tombstone It’s Tan Renga Wednesday, when our challenge is to add a two-line stanza (approx. 7-7 […]
This Dream
This dream is a moon-faced owl shining brightly in a silver tree, its amber orbs cups of honey that drip sweetly in a sleeper’s eye. This dream is a rasping call that echoes through windy branches, the spiky tip of a nightmare’s tail brushing against a windowpane illuminated with star-fall – before it flicks and […]
New Year Candlelight
clinking glasses stars rise in new year champagne by candlelight clinking glasses above the flash of fireworks a new moon stars rise in new year champagne each bursting bubble a resolution by candlelight the old year bids fare thee well flickering shadows Kim M. Russell, 28th January 2020 My response to Carpe Diem #1804 New […]
Snowdrops
waxy white petals illuminating grey days a celebration Kim M. Russell, 28th January 2020 My response to Carpe Diem #1803 New Beginnings: Snowdrops In today’s new episode of a month of New Beginnings our prompt is ‘snowdrops’, the first signs that Spring is near.
Wild Fruit
In the garden centre nursery, young raspberry plants long to break free from pots, and run wild in soil: sharpen up their thorns, let their pale green leaves unfurl and plump up ruby globes fit to burst sweetly on our tongues – to be sprung! Kim M. Russell, 27th January 2020 My poem for dVerse […]
At Dawn
yoake ni arau tsuyude watashino ashisaichoubi at dawn I wash my feet with dew the longest day Yozakura at dawn the first pink flush of morning still bleary with sleep I wash my feet with dew cold and refreshing the fragrance of grass the longest day stretching to the horizon suffused with promise at dawn […]
Only a Rehearsal
This week I’ve been training. All I’ve had to do is sit and watch for birds. Mostly it was raining; feathered creatures sat in the hedge and observed me through raindrops watching them through raindrops that plopped and spat on the windows. A pair of robins and some finches ganged up with a thrush and […]
Rings
shiny silver ring encompasses boundless love a winter wedding Kim M. Russell, 23rd January 2020 My response to Carpe Diem #1802 New Beginnings: without beginning Today’s prompt first appears to be a bit of an enigma or dilemma. It’s related to the (wedding) ring or circle. The circle is one of the most important symbols […]
View from Sea to Shore
The coastline is a rugged spine of cliff, rocky ribs rise and fall with each breath of wind and wave that shift the distant skiff. Its feet are firm and solid in the depths of tides that loosen roots and bits of stones like rotten teeth; they tumble to the beach with salty water sucking […]
What She Told Her
She always knew the little dark-haired, brown-eyed child was her mother’s secret. She’d kept the outings in a stranger’s car, ice creams at the airport and seaside trips close to her chest, being only five or six, and loving mystery. When the baby arrived, nobody said a word. There were whispers behind closed doors. The […]