Poetry Pantry #433

Christmas Tree in NK Shopping Center - Stockholm, Sweden

Greetings, Friends.  Hope you all are doing well and enjoying the blessings that December can bring.  This will be the last Poetry Pantry of 2018.   It has been a good year for Poets United, and we hope it has been a good year for each of you too -- both poetically and personally.

After this Pantry closes, Poets United will be taking a break until January 6, when we will resume our regular features again.  (We have some great things planned for the new year!! But, for now, mum is the word!) 

Hopefully, during this break time, each of you will be taking the opportunity to rest, enjoy, and celebrate (whether it be a holiday or the end of the year) as well.

Sumana, Susan, Sherry, Rosemary, and I all have enjoyed sharing time (and poetry) here with you this year.  We have had some good times, shared good poetry, and enjoyed some wonderful features, haven't we? Some of us have gotten to know each other well over the years, and reading each other's poetry is like having a visit with friends.

I personally will not be quite as present in the new year as I have been.  It has not been easy lately for me to come up with original poetry that I deem to have 'redeeming qualities.'  Perhaps this happens when one writes for a number of years.  But I will be around...off and on.

We all wish you a nice break!  Sherry will be putting up an 'official break message' tomorrow.  See you in 2019.

Poetry Pantry #432

Morning Mist Lifting from a Plowed Field - Brastad, Sweden

Greetings once again, Poets.  I hope everyone is having a good week.  So many signs of holidays around.  One can't help but get in the spirit.  Yesterday when I was walking around in a mall, there was one of the usual Santa Claus set-ups along with a photographer, of course.  I couldn't help but smile though when I saw 5 children (from perhaps age 12 and down) cuddled up with this mall Santa in their seasonal pajamas.  Perhaps this photo will end up on the family's holiday card.

I hope you have all seen (or read about) some joyful things this time of year.  The other night when I took the dogs outside for the last time I saw several deer in the background, perhaps the same kind that will be pulling Santa's sleigh.  And one more share:  I read an NPR article about an Orthodox Jewish man who has been a year-around Santa for about seven years!  Inspiring really.

Be sure to take time to read and comment on Rosemary's Moonlight Musings this week. If you haven't seen it yet, do look at it.  She asks the question, "Are we preaching to the converted?"  What do you think.

Monday, be sure to visit Sherry's Blog of the Week feature in which she talks with one of our regular poets about a particular poetry technique.

Sumana's Midweek Motif this coming Wednesday will be "Peace on Earth."  Definitely a good theme for the season.

And just a reminder, next Sunday will be the last Poetry Pantry of this year before we all go on break for a bit & take time to enjoy the season.

With no delay, let's share poetry.  Link your one poem below.  Stop in and say hello.  Visit the poems of others who link.  See you on the trail.

Poetry Pantry #431

Paradise Valley - Morocco

Good morning, Poets!  Here we are into December already!  The year has really gone fast.  Just a reminder that Poets United will be taking a holiday break.  The last Pantry of the year will be December 16, and Poets United will resume with the Pantry on January 6.

Monday Sherry will be visiting with a very prolific and responsive Indian poet.  His interview (and his poetry) is not to be missed.

Next week's Susan's Midweek Motif will be Surprise!  It will be wonderful to be surprised to read whatever you write for this theme. 

With no delay, let's share poetry.  Link your one poem below.  Stop in and say hello in the comments.   Visit the poems of other poets who link.  Look forward to seeing you on the trail.

Poetry Pantry #428

 Ancient town of Kourion near Limassol, Cyprus. Early Christian Basilica.

Greetings, Poets!

The photo today is one I found in Wikipedia.  Just something a little different for you to ponder as you share your poetry today.

As we are making our way to the holiday season, we want to let you know in advance that Poets United is planning a holiday break. The last Poetry Pantry of 2018 will be on December 16. We will not have any features between  that date and  Sunday, January 6, when we will resume then with Poetry Pantry and go on from there..  So let's do a lot of writing and sharing before that time and then enjoy our break!

Monday Sherry is featuring three  poems of the week. Be sure to return and give Sherry and these poets a shout-out.

Wednesday Sumana's Midweek Motif will be "Ode to Age." So feel free to plan ahead!

On Friday Rosemary had an excellent feature - another of her Moonlight Musings.  This time the subject was "Lust and Rage."  I hope that has gotten your attention, and if you have not yet read her musing you will take a look!

Now with no further delay, let's share poetry.  Link your one poem below.  Stop in and say hello.  Then visit poems of others who link.  Look forward to seeing you along the way.

Poetry Pantry #425

Hi Friends -

Sometimes I am amazed when I look at the number of the Poetry Pantry I am preparing.  This week, did you notice, it is #425?  Considering we take breaks for winter holiday and I think have occasionally taken a summer break, this is at least 8 1/2 years that Poetry Pantry has existed.  If I were ambitious I would look back and see when Poetry Pantry #1 occurred.

Do scroll back and read Mr. Moto's Confession which Rosemary shared for I Wish I'd Written This.  It was really an enjoyable poem, and Rosemary shared lots of interesting details about the poet as well.

Next week Sumana's Midweek Motif will be Winter.  I find myself wondering if I am ready for it!!!!  (I think not.)

Monday Sherry is featuring poems by three of our prolific male poets!  You will definitely recognize the poets and enjoy the poems being shared.

With no further delay, let's share poetry.  Link your one poem below.  Stop in to the comments to say hi. Visit the poems of others who link.  Look forward to seeing you on the trail!

Poetry Pantry #424

Pewaukee, Wisconsin

Greetings, Friends!  Hope you all had a poetically productive week.  Time again for us to share poetry here in the Poetry Pantry.  We have had another good week, and we hope that you enjoyed the features.  Monday Sherry featured poet Pat Palazy.  Wednesday Sumana presented the prompt "Owl" for Midweek Motif.  And Friday Rosemary shared a Thought Provoker,  the poet Candy Royalle who is a performance artist.  Check it out if you missed it!

Do return on Monday for Sherry's chat with one of our poets who is also a visual artist.  Susan's Midweek Motif this next week will be "Abundance."

Now with no delay, let's share poetry.  Link your one poem below.  Say hello in the comments.  And visit others who link.  Looking forward to reading your poetry!  See you on the trail.

Poetry Pantry #423

Greetings, friends!  I don't know about you, but it seems that these weeks keep moving faster and faster.  It seems like only yesterday that it was spring here.  We have already passed through summer and are in the middle of autumn; and soon (horrors) it will be winter.  Someone please slow down time!  Smiles.

Thank you, Rosemary, for the poem "October" by Edward Thomas that you shared for The Living Dead.  I had never heard of this poet, but really appreciated how he depicted autumn!

Monday be sure to return and read Sherry's Blog of the Week - a visit with a Canadian poet who is relatively new to PU; but it will be wonderful to get to know more about her.

Next week Sumana's Midweek Motif will be The Owl.

With no further delay, let's share some poetry.  Link your one poem below.  Stop into the comments and say hello.  And visit the poems of others who post.  I look forward of reading what you share

Poetry Pantry #422

Greetings once again, Poets!  Once again, happy autumn to those of you in the Northern Hemisphere; and happy spring to those in the Southern Hemisphere.

Before I forget, if you have not already read / listened to the I Wish I'd Written This this week, hop back to it.  Sherry has presented some beautiful spoken word by Shane Koyczan from British Columbia not to be missed!

This week Monday Sherry will feature three 'poems of the week,' which I am sure you will enjoy.

If you enjoyed last week's Midweek Motif - The Wall, be sure to come back this next Wednesday to participate in Susan's Midweek Motif -  Balance!

With no further delay, let's share poetry!  Link your one poem below. Stop in and say hello in the comments.  And visit the poems of others who link! Looking forward to reading your poetry today.

Poetry Pantry #419

Photos of Giethoorn, Netherlands  --

the small Venice of the North

By Marja Blom

Greetings, friends....and thanks, again, Marja for sharing your beautiful photography with us.  This week we have photos from the Netherlands to enjoy.

If you have not read Rosemary's I Wish I'd Written This this week, run don't walk back to it! She features a poem by Thomas Keily - "We are Not Afraid" - which really speaks to us in these difficult times.

Also, if you did happen to miss Sherry's chat with Robin Timber / Old Egg last Monday, please scroll back to read that as well.  Robin talked about what it was growing up in London during World War II, and it is a chat not to be missed.

Monday Sherry is going to feature poems of peace by some of our poets.

Wednesday Sumana's Midweek Motif will be "Sunset."

And now, let's share poetry.  Link your one poem below.  Say 'hello' in the comments; and then visit the poems of others who link.  See you on the trail.

Poetry Pantry #415

Seven Bridges Trail

Grant Park

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Yes, there really ARE seven bridges!

Part of the Trail

Trail ended at the shores of Lake Michigan. Lots of locks
attached to the chain fence here.  Forever love?

Really very much like an ocean -- but VERY VERY cold water

Some people DID swim though!

Good morning, Poets.  Hope you are having a good Sunday.  This week I am sharing a few photos from a walk I took this week not too far from my area.  It really was a nice day for a walk, and the beach was peaceful.  Lake Michigan is too cold for serious swimming, but some people do take a quick dip.  The waves are ocean-like really.  Click on photos to make them larger if you wish.

Thanks to those who took part in one or more of the Poets United features this past week.  Without your participation, where would we be?

If you have not read Rosemary's "Moonlight Musing" about Poetry Addiction,  take a look back.  Lots to contemplate in this article. 

Monday Sherry is featuring the works of three poets who have written on a very tragic and sad situation which has been in the news these past days.  Such good poems, as well as some heartfelt discussion,  you won't want to miss.

Susan has a very timely topic for us to write on for Midweek Motif:  National Flags.  Will be interesting to read what people come up with.

I do like the timeliness of what is posted on our site.   I really appreciate all that Sherry, Susan, Rosemary, and Sumana do...and also appreciate each of you poets!

Without delay, let's share poetry.  Link your one poem below.  Stop in to say hello in the comments.  Visit the poems of others who link.  See you on the trail.

Poetry Pantry #409

Sunset at First Street Dock - Tofino

Photo by Sherry Blue Sky

Sunset at First Street Dock - Tofino, BC

Good day, Poets.  This morning I am sharing a photo taken by Sherry recently.  I am sharing it because it is such a peaceful poet, and it is just the kind of scene perhaps we need to embrace right now.  What is it about sunsets that gives us such a tranquil feeling?  Even though we have all seen many sunsets, it seems we all like to photograph them and look at them.  Sunset viewing never gets old!

I hope everyone had a chance to read Rosemary's Midnight Musing this week.  Her topic was:  Why is it so difficult to write erotica?  She used as examples some of our poets who do this VERY well.  Take a look at the article and see if YOU agree!

Sherry has chosen a wonderful Poem of the Week for Monday.  Be sure to come back and take a look.

Wednesday, Susan's Midweek Motif will be "Lady Liberty.

Now with no delay, let's share poetry.  Link your one poem below. Visit the poetry of others who link.  Enjoy the camaraderie we have here every week.  See you on the trail!

Poetry Pantry #408

New York City -

Photos by Vandana Sharma

Statue of Liberty - "Lady Liberty"

Ever busy Times Square

New York City from Empire State Building

World Trade Center Memorial

Annie Moore statue - first immigrant
who came through Ellis Island

Thank you, Vandana, for sharing your photos of New York City with us today.  The photo of the Statue of Liberty makes me sigh a little bit.  I hope that Lady Liberty welcomes immigrants to our country for a long time to come.   You must have had a wonderful trip, Vandana.  It is always nice to be able to experience another country..

Oh, and in the Northern Hemisphere, summer has finally arrived.  Smiles.

Susan's Midweek Motif topic (human) this past week certainly turned out to be an appropriate one for the week and inspired a lot of interesting responses.  Next week Sumana's prompt will be:  What I Think about Myself. I will have to give that one some thought.

I hope everyone has had a chance to read Sherry's I Wish I'd Written This feature  - the poem "These are Some of the Things You Missed" by Christine Lowther, a very good Canadian poet who just happens to be a neighbor of Sherry's.

Monday, do return to read the latest Poem of the Week.  Sherry makes such great choices, doesn't she?

With no delay, let's share a poem.  Link your poem below.  Stop in and say hello.  Visit other poets who link.  Enjoy being part of the community.  See you on the trail.

Poetry Pantry #406

Fünf Höfe - Hanging Gardens, Munich

Where does the time go?  It is Sunday again and time for another Poetry Pantry.   I looked around at Wikimedia Commons and was struck by the above photo.  Really must be a beautiful setting, I think.

We had another good week at Poets United.  If you have not seen Sherry's Monday feature - "A Prayer for Peace from South Africa' - featuring some wonderful poetry by Kerry's students, please take a look back.

Susan's prompt "Running" on Wednesday was responsible for a lot of good writing.

Rosemary featured a delightful cat poem in her "The Living Dead."  I never imagined there was so much to say about a cat.  Smiles.

This Monday Sherry will be featuring a few more poems of the week.
Wednesday  Sumana's Midweek Motif prompt will be "Lust."

Now, with no further delay, let's share poetry.  Link your one poem below.  Say hello in the comments.  Visit the poems of others who link.  Looking forward to seeing you on the trail!

Poetry Pantry #405

Wire-tailed swallow feeding its young

Greetings, friends.

It has been another active week at Poets United.  Monday Sherry shared dragon poems written by three of our fine poets.  On Wednesday Susan prompted us to write about Truth for Midweek Motif.  Friday Rosemary presented Marge Piercy's poem "For the Young Who Want To" in her feature for this week.

And in the week ahead:  On Monday Sherry has an extraordinary post featuring some amazing young poets.  I won't tell you more, but you are in for a real treat.  Don't miss it.

On Wednesday Susan's Midweek Motif is Running.

Now a gripe.  I am sure many of you share the same gripe with Blogger.  No longer do I receive emails when people comment on my posted poems in Blogger.  The only way I can read people's comments is to go the poem itself.  I generally write only one (or at the most two) poem a week, so I have only the one poem to check.  However, I know some of you write poems for various prompts and many during the week, so I can only imagine how difficult this is for you.  Has anyone found a way to enable emails to be sent to you if you use Blogger?   How about WordPress?  Do those of you who use WordPress still receive email notifications? Anyone have any comments about these changes, please share them below.

And now let's link poetry.  Choose a poem.  Link it.  Stop in and say hello.  Visit the poems of others who participate.  Looking forward to seeing you on the trail.

Poetry Pantry #405

Hong Kong by Night

Greetings, Poets!  I found the above photo in Wikimedia Commons.  I thought it was a beautiful one so decided to share here for Poetry Pantry this weekend. (Click on it to make it larger if you wish.)

Hope you enjoyed all of the features we shared at Poets United this week.  Sherry prepared a great feature on poet Vivian Zems for last Monday.  Sumana had us writing tribute poems for Wednesday.  On Friday Sherry featured Joanna Streetly, the poet laureate of Tofino, BC, Canada for "I Wish I'd Written This."  We all know that Sherry is living there in Tofino, and Sherry knows this poet!  Scroll back to read these wonderful features.

Return Monday to see which poems Sherry has featured for Poems of the Week.  And, for this week's Midweek Motif Susan's prompt will be Truth.

Hope that everyone is having a good weekend, and that you will have some time to share and read poetry.  Link your one poem below.  Stop in and say hello.  Visit the poems of others who share! I will see you on the trail.

Poetry Pantry #399

source

Greetings to you all on another Sunday.  I am still waiting for spring to come in this area.  First it was horribly cold, and now the rain is pouring down incessantly.  I guess this is what April showers are, but enough already!  The photo I have shared today is that of a Eurasian Lynx, just because I thought it was a nice photo!

Be sure to take a look at Rosemary's post for "I Wish I'd Written This."  She featured the poem of a performance poet in her hometown....."The Angels Are Angry."   (I think indeed they are.)  I found it very fascinating to read the poem and also to picture it being performed.  I wonder if some of you perform your poetry!

Be sure to come back on Monday when we will have an update with one of the poets who was there when Poets United began!  My goodness, where does time go?  Sherry's posts of this nature always make me nostalgic for the old days when the poetry blogosphere was new!

Next Wednesday Susan's Midweek Motif will be Invention.  Make this part of your Wednesday routine!!

And now with no further delay let's share poetry.  Link your poem below.  Stop in and say hello!  Then visit the poems of others who post.  See you on the trail!

Poetry Pantry #396

Greetings, Poets.  Also, I am happy to note that now we are OFFICIALLY in the season of spring.  (In the northern hemisphere.)  I hope that it is springlike everywhere.  Spring is the season of hope and rebirth.  I took the photo above a few years ago in a local park.  Actually it was taken in April, so I know that this kind of view is not far ahead.  Ah, spring!

And speaking of hope, weren't the March For Our Lives marches inspiring?  We do need THAT kind of hope right now, I think.

Thanks for participating in the Poets United community.  If you haven't read Rosemary's Moonlight Musings this week, please check it out.  She wrote about the role of the poet in the community.  So much food for thought.  If you missed it, you missed something special.

Sumana's Midweek Motif this next week will be Treasure.  Believe me, each of you who participates here at PU is a treasure.  Smiles.  Anyway think ahead, and write a poem to share.

Monday Sherry has an interesting chat with two poets who are part of another poetry community.  You all know them, I am sure.  And I know you will enjoy this chat.

With no further delay, let's share poetry.  Link your one poem below.  Stop in and say hello in comments.  And then make the rounds visiting the poems of others who have linked.  I look forward to seeing you on the trail.

Poetry Pantry #395

Taken Inside the Milwaukee Art Center

Time passes so quickly.  I cannot believe it is Sunday again and time for another Poetry Pantry.  My weeks become busier as spring begins.  Time for hibernation is over, it seems.  The world is coming back to life, and it is a good feeling.  The photo above is one that I took inside the Milwaukee Art Center a couple weeks ago.  It is a beautiful building!

It has been another busy week at Poets United.  Monday Sherry featured poems by Rajani, Kerry, and Magaly.   Wednesday Sumana's Midweek Motif was SCREAM.  Next week's Midweek Motif will be Colour/Color.  Feel free to write a poem ahead if you like.

Friday Sherry shared the poem "sacred" for I Wish I'd Written This.  Scroll back if you haven't read it.  Just as Rosemary has been sharing the works of Australian poets, Sherry will be periodically sharing a work of a Canadian poet.  This poem was written by a young member of the Driftpile Cree Nation and what a powerful poem it is!  This poet has a great future.

Monday, be sure to return. Poets United has lost a fine poet, and Sherry features him and his work.  He hadn't posted for a while, but is indeed missed.  His wife is still around in the 'sphere' and will probably read this article as well.  So let's all visit PU tomorrow and give this poet some 'love.' I think many of you will remember him, especially those who have been around for a while.  So sad when we lose someone...and so quickly too.

With no further delay, let's share poetry. Link your one poem below.  Say hello in the comments.  And visit the poems of others who link.

Poetry Pantry #394

1918 - Ohio, USA - first Daylight Savings Time official clocks needed to be hand set!

Greetings, Poets!  For those of us in the United States, today is the first day of Daylight Savings time, also known as Summer Time.  I know different parts of the world do this differently, begin summer time later, or don't change clocks at all.  Anyway, I am hoping that spring is not far away.  Smiles.

Tomorrow Sherry will be featuring poems of the week by three of our prolific poet.  And on Wednesday Sumana's Midweek Motif will be Scream! (Yes, sometime I think we all would like to just scream.  Here's your chance to write about it.)

Hope you took a look at the poem Rosemary shared - "House Rules" by British poet Esther Morgan- in her Thought Provoker series.  It was indeed thought-provoking.  Read it and you will see.

With no further delay, let's share poetry.  Link your poem below. Stop in and say hello.  Visit the poems of others who link.  Look forward to seeing you on the trail.

Poetry Pantry #393

source

Greetings, Poets!

Today is Academy Award Day here in the U.S.  I wonder if, in comments today, people might be interested in mentioning one of their favorite movies from the past year.  It doesn't even have to be an Oscar nominee.  It could be a favorite movie made in your own country. Our library acquires a lot of foreign movies, and I often look for the new ones.  If you name a good non-English movie, I will be on the lookout.  Smiles.  This year a movie I really liked was "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri."  Another was "The Post."  How about you?

Thanks to participated in Sumana's "Carpe Diem / Seize the Day" Midweek motif.  Next week Susan's motif will be "Money."

If you didn't read last Monday's feature of Poems on Grief by four of our male poets, please take a look back.  It was such a very moving feature that should be read by everyone, I think.  I am awe sometimes of the poets we have here!

Monday Sherry will be doing another poet update.  Stay tuned, and return to see who she is featuring this week.

Friday Rosemary featured a touching love poem, "My at last lover," by Australian poet Dorothy Porter.  Don't miss it!

Now with no further delay, let's share poetry.  Link your ONE poem below.  Say hello in comments, and mention a movie if you want to.  Visit the poems of others who link.  Looking forward to seeing you on the trail.