Image by Spike Summers from Pixabay
Happy Independence Day for those who celebrate. Personally, I don't do anything in particular, and my neighbors who insist on setting off bottle rockets and the like here on the dry prairie make me grouchy. I have fond memories of Fourth of July celebrations from my childhood. It was a holiday my late father loved. My mother was not quite so keen. Her attitude was more of going along to get along.
So, what in the world could poetry have to do with Independence Day? Have I written a suite of patriotic poems about the Fourth of July?
Not this year, although a few years back I wrote a suite of poems in the form of letters to Abraham Lincoln about the state of the United States.
In this case, I'm simply addressing the idea of freeing the mind, something which poetry allows me to do.
Although some of my poetry rhymes, I'm generally more of the free verse type. I also enjoy writing Haibun, a form of Japanese poetry that incorporates prose and Haiku. There is considerable contention about what constitutes a proper Haibun, but since I've never been mistaken for proper, I don't worry about following the rules to the letter. I am more concerned with expressing emotions and concepts.
Dragon Soul Press publishes a poetry volume every June. I am proud to say that some of my poems were selected for this year's anthology, Soul Chaser. The following is one I wrote after my mother passed away this February, making me an official sixty-year-old orphan. My father has been gone since November 2010.
A Gift From the Angels
I wish I had a special telescope
So I could look up to the sky
And see an angel’s eye.
With a wink and a friendly smile
The angel sisters would send golden light
Flashing across the night.
I would see my mother and father
Walking down Heaven’s streets hand in hand.
She is happy and healthy
His hair is red once again.
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If you enjoy poetry, you can pick up a copy of Soul Chaser through the following link. The cost is just $4.99. The book is actually available now.
May you enjoy your Fourth of July if you celebrate, or just have a good weekend if not!
2 comments:
Congrats on your poetry volume, Cara. :)
I used to write poetry during my college lecture classes. That was the only thing keeping me awake.
I used to doodle during high school and college lecture classes. My high school teacher ordered us to put our pencils down when he was lecturing. My question was, how am I supposed to remember this stuff if I can't take notes? I struggled with geometry.
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