Poetry from Alpha Writers

Poetry:

Writing that creates concentrated imaginative awareness?

Writing that creates emotional response through meaning, sound and rhythm?

The Alpha Writer's in Mitchell County had nine poets with their creations in Lyrical Iowa, 2012.  With over 2000 entries, these nine poems caught a judge's eye who felt them worthy to be published in The Iowa Poetry Association anthology.

From lighthearted and delightfully simple to a deeper reflective sense, these poets wrote their thoughts on paper and hoped someone would appreciate their words.

Enjoy:

OLD WASHINGTON SCHOOL

Old Washington School

The building is scheduled

to be torn down, leaving

behind visions of Emma,

her small hands trailing

the wide bannister from

second floor to first,

as she goes to the girls'

restroom with tiny sinks

and low-hung mirrors,

which reflect her winsome

beauty and the anxiety of

third-grade phonics.

              Ramona Morse

RIVER ROAD TALES

It's a great day for a walk.

Snow is almost gone

Ice is absent from the river

River Road

Sun is warm

Wind turbine faces southwest

Daisy digs in the ditch, dirt flies

She gets a drinkof clear water

A motorcycle vromms by

An eagle sits high above the water

We meet Dr.Ross, wearing shorts

"Rushing the season?" I asked

"I'm quite comfortable," he said

Fishermen are standing in the middle of the river

We meet James, also Dick and Dora

Everyone is enjoying the weather

The ditch grass is greener after the rain

Charlie is green but not yet creeping

Is this March?

Calendar says December

And its 47 degrees

   Mary Fisk

Haiki poem...

Dirty roadside ditch

Remains of rotten orange

Puppy sniffs, sneezes

      Carol Sisterman

Another haiku . . .

spiker crawls slowly

fearlessly it works its web

surprised by swift end

        Margaret Smolik

HOLIDAY JUNKIE

Holiday Junkie?

With a cherry nose
and a flush on cheek
he's eaten cookies
for over a week

The candy's gone
and egg nog too
you'd think his gut
would be churning brew

Yet there he goes
likely pushing fate
to the easy chair
with another full plate
      Marjorie Dohlman

FOLLOWING MUSIC DIRECTIONS

When I stopped my singing

Director thought it strange

But the music stated

That I must "refrain"

Steven Thompson

ODE TO A CAROUSEL

Who thought of building a carousel--

the merry-go-round--anchor

of amusement parks, fairs, carnivals?

Who dreamt of whirling, leaping lions,
tigers, unicorns, and horses?

Who unified those cams and gears

and shafts and levels, bolts and brackets

masked by mirrors and flashing lights?

What genius thought to so entertain us

then added the raucous, spinning sound

of steam calliope?

Did you realize you were creating

a dream machine for children of all ages--

a flying carpet that transports youthful imagination?

You are a wizard, a dream chaser

--the magic-maker.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Jed Magree

HER HUSBAND DID LISTEN

s

there was a lady
who had osmosis of the brain
her mind was like Velcro
she felt it her duty to 

share this knowledge

her husband did listen

day after day 

year after year

until his head could hold no more

he lifted his hand to his ear

and ever so gently

made a half turn

          Rita Smith

POPPYCOCK

They sit with potbellies

Cups of tepid coffee

And comrades

(they think)

Fellow soldiers

In the fight against apathy

Stirring emotions

With opinions about everything

Speaking nonsense

In blatant staccato

Babbling, gloating, swelling

With empty talk

Becoming contageious

Everyone expounding

No one listening

Blazing with blather

Kathleen Stauffer

There are five books of poetry in the Old Testament:  
Job 
Psalms
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon

None of them "poppycock"

Alfred Tennyson, 1809-1892, called Job "the greatest poem, whether of ancient or modern literature."  It  may be one of the most ancient pieces of literature in existence.  The theme of Job is "Why do Godly people suffer?" 

    In the land of Uz there lived a man whose name was Job.  The man was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil.  

Man born of woman

is of few days and full of trouble.

He springs up like a flower and withers away;

like a fleeting shadow, he does not endure.

Job questions God because of his troubles. 

. . .

His friends try to tell him why he is suffering,

but in the end

Job realizes

he could not "see" himself

until he "saw" God.

Therefore ending with these trusting words --

I know that you can do all things;

no plan of yours can be thwarted.

You asked, "Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?"

Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,

things too wonderful for me to know.

If you like poetry, try Job.

It's poetic.

It's a story about hardship and endurance.

It's a story about trust, God's love and blessings--

   in spite of hardships that may come.

If you like to write poetry, check out www.iowapoetry.com   

    

..and start writing!

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kathystauffer@hotmail.com