Safe inside, we listen to the howling wind as it rips up foliage and tears limb from limb branches from ancient birch and oak. Ghostly draughts creep into every nook and cranny, they squeeze under doors and whistle dirges down the chimney. Outside, the wind, still duetting with the trees, sighs in more steadfast branches […]
Prayers of Bone
Beware this Halloweenand the days in between, when knuckles crackbehind the back, of the flesh-eating ghoulthat sips your soul, carves telling stonesfrom finger bones, Our Fathers and Hail Marysstrung on calcified rosaries. Fingers that once folded in prayer,this Halloween beware! Kim M. Russell, 21st October 2020 My response to Poets and Storytellers United Weekly Scribblings […]
Dreams by Candlelight
I fell asleepin the pale heatand candle salve of twilight,nodding to an open book. In a pellucid questfor hallowed rest,my yellow dreamsploughed lucid farrowstowards the sunriseof my tomorrow. Kim M. Russell, 20th October 2020 My response to dVerse Poets Pub Poetics: The Charms of Samuel Greenberg Laura is back to host Poetics this week, with […]
Moon Mythology
Magnetised by northern stars, earth and moon dance together, tripping the light in any weather, one in shades of green and azure, the other radiant in shining silver, casting moon shadows on the water, son of Zeus and Hera and Hyperion and Theia’s daughter. Kim M. Russell, 19th October 2020 My response to dVerse Poets […]
Willow Wraith
Lithe limbs still clad with curly leavesand protective ivy shield her naked bark.There is no morning mist to clothe nor breezeto make her dance. Just green breath of trees,the scent of chlorophyll to transport herto the beginning, when spirits did not needto hide inanimate in plants, rocks, ice and water.Invisible to all except husband, son […]
Poetry Pea Found Haiku Podcast
I’m delighted to have a found haiku in this month’s Poetry Pea Podcast. There’s a great selection of haiku found in a wide range of places. Listen to Patricia, read the show notes, or do both at: https://poetrypea.com/series-3-episode-20-found-poetry/
Bursting
Earth has birthed an abundance of fruit:tawny acorn knots rain hard from oak trees;hollies burn brightly with a blood-red flame;magenta spindles split open orange hearts.A young boy kicks spiky shells with his boot,searching for chestnuts in a sea of sunset leaves –it’s conker time, and children play the game,knocking hardened seeds until they burst apart. […]
Daydreaming
wandering thoughtsfootprints across time and spacemelting with clouds Kim M. Russell, 16th October 2020 My response to Carpe Diem Celebrates Its 8th Anniversary, October 2020: #1836 Daydreaming Carpe Diem’s 8th anniversary’ month has reached its halfway point and today our prompt is ‘daydreaming’, which is a modern kigo (seasonword) for summer. Chèvrefeuille says, in summer, […]
Self-Cultivation During the Pandemic
I’m delighted to have another poem in Visual Verse Volume 7 Chapter 12. This time the ekphrastic inspiration came from an unusual image by Jemima Muir. As usual, my poem is in great company. You can find it on page 26 or you can go straight to ‘Self-Cultivation During the Pandemic‘. Linked to dVerse Poets […]
The Price
What is the price of gold or silver?Whatever you are prepared to offer,but silver is my choice. What is the price of a stamp?It depends on the weightand the meaning of the words. What is the price of tomorrow?It is everythingand the value of nothing? Kim M. Russell, 14th October 2020 My response to Poets […]