The Word Cloud

Blots on the landscaped canvas
Deserts or fields nobody cares
I picture artists's palettes
Wetted up freshly mixed
Sticky tainted death drawn shades
Painted out wounded faces
Mamed bodies blast blown apart
Sniper's Bullets aimed fired fell
Poppy red spills remembered
Clotted blood smells fill nostrils
Rotting fleesh stomachs churned chucked
Battlezone booms friends departed
Comrades in war fallen heros
Forever forgotten gone
Lest we remember each one
That gave their life in service

Saturday 9:30am it's drizzling
but still I here the charming melodies
of garden birds calling away
From the window where I sit
I can see out onto the street
All is quiet except for the odd fluttering
and the familiar cheery face
of the postman doing his rounds
as a yappy dog sees him on his way

The recognisable clatter of my letterbox
Followed by the flipping, flapping, flop
of letters falling on to my tiled floor
I rise from my chair to retrieve them
White envelopes and a variety of junk mail
No difference there then
Just how  long ago was it
Since I last received a cheery hello,
miss you, thankyou, love you?

I blame it all on modern technology of course
Never did I think I too would be entangled by the web
Too old now for that
my schooling long since passed
But no, slowly I get caught up into emails
Facebook, Twitter and the likes
Being pretty housebound it brought me company
I/we made new friends together
And now look forward to my newer daily mailbox

Even with computer progression the unwanted mail comes
Not the bills, reminders nor bank
They're mainly formalities with direct debits anyway
But scammers and unwanted advertisers
That push their way into your home
no matter how you try to block them
So desperate are they to clench a deal
In this climate of recession
Where so many have no work

                                         / /
                                       / /    /
                                    Your
sophisticated, strong, curvy
stance attracts me - along
 with that subtle perfumey
 scent - Upright you stand
 tall and sleek - Angelic
 creamy white you smile
   to the Heavens above
     Nature's creatures
     adore your gentle
      style - The pride
        of your family
           Head and
           shoulders
              above
               most
               floral
             counter-
              parts -
                You
                are
               proud
                 to
                 be
                 a
                 lily

From the East amber skies streak
Morning’s golden glory rising
becomes a giant yellow-white cheese melt sizzling
Burning down it’s fiery head

In the pond there’s a bubble, ripple, frog
Smiling its ‘I don’t give a damn look’
With sudden movement he’s up tall and stretched
and his froggy tongue darts out to catch insect

At waters edge hundreds of squirmy long tailed tadpoles
growing, wait to join the chorus
A dragonfly hovers a while before swooshing away
While waterboatman rows all way round pads of lily

The shining sun dances light and shadows
through the longer grasses and trees
Dazzling unexpectedly the one who awakens from sun-bathing
pepper red from too long, an agonising site and dangerously sore skin

Through the garden’s archway
a perfumed breeze fills the nostrils
transcends such simple heady delights
jasmine clematis and honeysuckle scented pleasantries

With silky gossamer velvet coated wings
the brightest yet most delicate of these things
Flutters prettyness as it flirticiously plays with companion
Carefully avoiding the intricate weave of woven spiders web

A hum and buzz from the flapping wings of wasps and bees
as they go about collecting their dusty pollen from each flower
A pretty red ladybird four black spots on wing
and a caterpillar crawling munching lettuce leaves for dinner

A rainbow of colourful beauty
garlands swags baskets and beds (le jardin en fleur)
Few daisies dandelions hold their own
until tomorrows mower sees them gone

Nature’s hands unveil baby birds
trialling first flight from nest
and babbling brook as it rushes chance carried stones
washed, tumbled, turned, have no rest

The lush of the land lies as velvet moss green carpet
The river rushing its morning wash
rumbling as it spins twisting and turning its tidal path
over the chance carried stones to the seas
Where the coastal sands of time are met
Meeting waves pulled by undercurrents
Finding rocks, kale, seaweed and moss covered
Just as the hair of cherubs faces foamed
Then gently adorned with shell and mollusk jewels
and salty sea air crusts crystal formations alongside
In come the tides bringing with them oceanic treasures
Driftwoods, wreckage, salvage,
that have crashed and bashed the cliffs along the way
To finally rest ashore and be renewed
To become beach combers delights
Trinkets gifts or items for the home

I’m fairy nature,
Come to collect fall’s leaf wares
to help make a coat.

A coat of sunsets,
A last breath of summer’s glow
To wrap up autumn.

I disguise myself
Living amongst the woodlands,
squirrels, bugs, birds, bees.

Slowly with magic
I single handedly turn
The season’s over;
Sweeping winds and driving rains,
Giving nature rest till spring.

I nourish the land.
Autumn’s blanket becomes crisp,
Stark, white, purity,
I contrast, redecorate
New, sleek, sexy, wavy tones.

 

To aid learning.

For those wishing to know the form of this poem, the first three veres are written in Haiku 5-7-5 form and the latter two verses in Tanka 5-7-5-7-7 form.

Firefly fairy seldom seen till dusk falls,
Flits and darts amongst the trees giving her,
Own miniature light show as she goes.

Ladybug fairy in her tarty spotty little number,
Sometimes red/black or yellow/black,
Dances amongst the leaves or hides beneath coyly.

Dragonfly fairy is queen of the garden,
Beautiful blues and greens are her delight,
Hovering over the pond admiring the kingdom around her.

Fluttering fairy butterfly drifts flower to flower,
Proudly flirting her way around causing a stir,
Often coupling up with mischievous fairys as she goes.

As night time draws deeper and stars light the way,
When moon is high, playful little fairys can be seen
Chasing and merrily dancing or leap frogin’ toadstools!

Look at my face, -
see scars of Demelt.
Enormous black beard
woven and lit by matches;
staring back at you.

Feared of reputation,
I reflect in my blade -
a ladies man in style.
With feathered tricorn, hemp
and multiple weapons to hand.

Representing ferocious battles,
and yet no account of killing one;
I use my terrors' edge
to gain entry of ship;
steal valuables, gold, food, weapons and liquor.

Aye; 'tis by rumour alone
we did battle those seas
of 1718 and more.
Notoorious our piracy legion lives on;
my handle Black Beard, Teach, Drummond.

I forever a treasured and trusted companion,
historic; now I lay to rest for all to see.
One but rescued, when run aground;
on Queen Anne's Revenge,
around Ocracoke Inlet, North Carolina Seas.

Excuse me Mr Penguin,
in your formal black  attire;
are you going to State Occasion?
Do you mind if I enquire?

Is it for a Mansion House Banquet,
Hunt, May, or Common Ball?
Do yo wish for specially fitted,
off the peg, or off the wall?

For this kind of dress is most reserved
for when black tie, -D.J's not suffice,
and even for dinner, dance or prom,
you need to look just nice!

But Sir there's quite a difference,
it's important that you see,
if you turn up quite understated;
you'll look as plain as me!

I see you like the morning suit
that's used for daytime wear,
by male's at wedding party
or occasion needing special care.

I rather like those long black tails,
black tie, white shirt, top hat,
with fresh clean socks and nice new shoes;
yes, you'll look quite smart in that!

Thankyou, now is there something else,
like men's accessorie?
I'll rap them up and take your cash,
then rub my hands with glee!

Gently walking,
sweetly talking;
filling void of heart
and every part of me whilst we enjoy,
long hours of love do we emply.
This strongest emotion in my breast,
such powerful heartbeats most impressed.
I lay my head, you stroke my hair,
sing tuneful notes and soothe my care.
For hours have passed we did not measure,
instead we sun soaked primal pleasure.