|
I DANCED - poetry chapbook
by Richard L. Provencher 81 Queen Street, Unit 6, Truro, Nova Scotia Canada B2N 2B2 Phone (902) 897-2344 E-mail: [email protected] A Poetry Chapbook with 20 poems I DANCED By Richard L. Provencher Poetry Statement: A love of nature escapes from the heart, desiring space to reflect. I truly believe poetry exists as an opportunity to enjoy images that beautify our pulse helping us feel alive as humans. So I dare to dance with the music of sight and sound. Seven of the enclosed poems have been published in print or online. These journals include: The Cormorant (1988); The Officers' Quarterly (1996); Poet's Gallery (1989); Ascent Aspirations Magazine (2006); Sentinel Poetry Magazine (2003); The Dublin Quarterly (2006); and Poet's Podium (1996) This collection is dedicated to my wife, Esther, a powerful prayer warrior, without whom, my writing would not be fulfilled. A Beginning Ghostly images slow-dance as smoky tendrils sleet masking a snowy terrain Nature's boundary separating dampness from the snowy bliss. Within the comfort of hideaway trees, spirit mist arises free. ** A Landscape Night is a blanket of stars, day's brightness downsized to cloudy dabs of gray high above a coastal village son's report card a shower of praise husband's codfish catch something else. Now she lays in the silence, her man snoring after a meal of loving Nathan in the next room, counts her blessings she does, family a castle of promise. ** A Searching eyes across dry parched desert, snake sees coils within his ring reaches out, snares a little creature, mole cries betrayal too late eyes bulge in anger, tricked this was a safe journey, as I traveled from other destinies no one advised against the dangers ** A Spiritual Banquet Our canoe allows a feast of pleasure its sleek hull an arrow piercing the stillness of a greater plan as reflections shunted from stately trees where cozy cottages are a ring of jewels this lake created from cups of freshwater a sanctuary from grasping life, woes and errs of human contact left behind. We step up to Nature's table and absorb these vegetables tempting us birth of a baby-blue sky, shush of quiet ripples against our fiber glass prow, the thrill of a loon's lament. We hold firmly to these moments- dip of cherry wood paddle, our J-strokes moving us forward to future feasts. ** An Early Catch on his boulder-white stone a seagull stares with startled eyes, early morning light and reflecting waves paint pastel delights, watery ribbons and twisty designs, flavoured by windy huffs rushing in low across the expanse, crossing from mainland's sight and seeking a place to store any treasure amid schools of fish galore, hearts beating a triumphant song as he stretches a restless wing, morsels float nearby, sailboat at bay rocking gently in its cradle, awaiting early morning's hustle feet thumping along the pier, hoping today's catch is floundering and boasting near ** Around Dusk clouds are subliminal layers of iridescence one upon another as evening survives another day within this ravaged forest tormenting machines stilled from their insatiable demand for growing greenbacks primeval timber anxious for a respite, where burnished pines guard as silhouettes atop the joy of wilderness ancient sunset masks reddened tears, frightened for tomorrow's further outrage of shame. ** Safari of Desire South African hyenas scavenge, a signature they too are part of the precious Savannas lions meditate in pride, crocodile snouts protrude, guarding watery temples and the Marula tree guides spirits of ones ancestors. Whipping Whettle leaves, Mopane trees, scrubby bush, gorges, sliding hillsides on this Nyalaland Trail of abundance a menu where thatched-roof huts abound in circles, leafy trees understanding a village need for privacy, especially from the terrors at night. Yet, in the darkness of memory a basket of sharing bathes our blessing, the tease of your scent as I gather in a night of loving. ** Aviary The sky is a lock of water among the hills joining sky versus land, where fowl inhabit openness and hard crusts. Humans exhibit their wares the only safe journey beneath the seas of the world below the depths of earthly worries errs of existence, damaged crops and other essentials. Hurry to correct the situation, food banks, charities to other nations and we are left at the well. ** Bedouin Thirst is an impediment for hooves across the Sahara, eyes as stars breakfast among the dunes, shifting ridges, windy nudges challenging our camels, their throaty calls streaking across the terrain. A dust storm spirals from the sky, creates a stamping on the ground, the measure of sun's anvil. ** Feast of Summer The Milky Way is a collection of nightly glimmers, an imaginative journey through the galaxy, into our minds Queen Cassiopea, Aquila the Eagle, Northern Cross and Great Rift, a fantasy of dusty smudges. ** Rose Bay, Nova Scotia Ocean's froth is gathering along the shore, a windy push of foghorn blasts into the bay, forest's silhouette saluting our twin-peaked cabin, footsteps in the sand as misty outlines on the beach seagulls swooping with lasting messages peek-a-boo driftwood on a beach of seaweed, clumped in salty disarray. ** Shadows cower beneath a Spruce of drooping branches hares peering within a rising snow bank and mice gather. The wind continues its push of white piling high against the farmhouse children huddle by the fire mom, dad making plans for tomorrow. In the attic pigeons cuddle and coo, dark but warm. ** Sundown's Enchantment The evening tingles with showers of radiance, soft lavender splash warming trees and fields edge of God's smile, peaceful aside Cobequid Bay. Car hums along at 100 Km traveling Hwy 104 work troubles masking my view, headache in full alert. But, I become alive. Absorbing your splendour eyes feast at shadow's rim, swirls of yellow and gold colouring the scene. In my hurrying gait, in my crab-scrambling race I allow a bathing. The sky is a comfort, feelings changing from moody blue, orange and red to yellow hue comes a sweet soothing, a rekindling of life's eager fire. ** Standing Around From their master's cultivated land cows stretch necks and tongues to a ravine of water others watch a few muddy feet away. Guernsey's they're called brown and white colours of friendship lessons for mankind. The day is also a joint exercise of non-violent interrupting. Disturbed from squatting rest two ducks scoot across the pond cows pass along stares at departing wings. ** Swimming in Sentiment My heart is a lyre, plucking stories from TV's medium of anguish -- Taliban ferment in Afghanistan Rebels in the Congo, Terrorists on Malaysian soil a sniper in Maryland, USA. And havoc within the cities of Iraq. Tormented people are not diminished their lives a testament to my thoughts -- I feel anguish within those tortured faces, victims of Columbia drug wars failures in food shortages and escape from Ethiopia's drought. Tired souls possess a passion for survival, capturing mice for food on the barrens of Afghanistan, fish in the harsh distance of Arctic north, and holding one another during Tsumani's rage. I am in bondage to their spirit. ** Early morning from my window. I see passers by and their anxiety filled faces bulging tummies with showy coats of marked-up retailed cloth in a trestle of movement, an overlap of cars, trucks belching past neighbours on their way to some necessary activity. Behind this wall I inhale their existence, watch living standards and record any harmful looks thrown my way. Their eyes cannot understand my wounds, my desire to get out on the sidewalk and join them. ** Nefu Desert That bark-less tree is a witness to our desires, as rock formations like sleeping lions point regal stares to imaginations of water fountains and we accept their eyes of distance. ** These Great Outdoors Nature is a slice of affection where winds soothe stream's cascading surge Mallards and Pintails above in evening shades, as silhouettes of movement. Rain-pouncing warmth, sprinkles on shoreline's clothing of kelp, abandoned buoys and other flotsam loons absorbed in eerie calling throughout the mist. Dusk is a weaver of Poplar and Birch sun shrinking, mosquitoes upon my brow ripples on the lake our canoe searching, Nature a smorgasbord of memory. ** I Danced inside a daydream, the feel of you, your scent surrounding, lovely attire in the wilderness of my domain rainbow fire an evening soliloquy, tapping rain on my shoulder combined with a stairwell of loon accolades. Attention to spirit within a day and night in dreaming. ** In the Blink of morning's yoke of light, once tired muscles stretch, modified from lazy sleep to fighting trim, reaching out to assail the prize, to capture the moment, singing of new life, and heap praise on day's beginning, and promise. * * * Richard L. Provencher 2008 Richard enjoys writing poems; many of which have been published in Print and Online. He and his wife, Esther are also co-authors of stories and a print novel. They are "born again" Christians and very busy in their church, Abundant Life Victory International, in Bible Hill, Nova Scotia. Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |