Poetry

#NaPoWriMo 21: Day Poem

Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Sat, 04/23/2016 - 09:22

I started this poem
about sixteen hours ago;
the first stanzas
about morning prayer,
checking email,
and social media.

They were followed by
breakfast – oatmeal,
a shower,
dressing,
and leaving for work.

A trip to the
just opened
and nearly empty
post office
provided
an unusual
interlude
as a clerk showed great kindness
while we filled out the forms
for my daughter’s passport.

The work day started
with calls from the car
and meetings with activists
all before
noon day prayer.

The afternoon was filled
with technology
and video conferences.
Soon it was time
for evening prayer
and a meeting.

A drive home,
a quick bite to eat
and polishing the poem
concluded the time
before compline and sleep.

(Categories:

Poetry

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#NaPoWriMo 20: The Insect Auguries

Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Wed, 04/20/2016 - 20:37

The bugs hit the windshield
like stars
coming out at night.
First one,
then another.
Some large bright ones,
several smaller splotches.

Soon, you could see the patterns,
like a constellation
of bug entrails.

I have not studied
the entomological zodiac
or the insect auguries
so the patterns
lacked meaning
to me.

(Categories:

Poetry

)

#NaPoWriMo 19: The Totem

Submitted by Aldon Hynes on Tue, 04/19/2016 - 20:08

When is an animal a totem?
When it catches your eye,
unexpectedly?
Like the hawk diving
from a distant tree,
the great blue heron,
flapping it’s giant wings
as it slowly gains altitude,
its path having just crossed
your own,
or the mangy old coyote
trotting down the lonely road?

This morning
a small sparrow
landed on my
driver side mirror
and looked at me
quizzically
as I waited
at a stop sign.

What did she see?
Did she have a message for me,
and if so, what?

Then she flew off
as unexpectedly
as she arrived
and I wondered
what this small living
Rorschach test
was meant to tell me.

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