Currents

Being who we are
Accepting what we have
Knowing the best is yet,
Allowing the is to be;
Smiling moon above the sea.

We behave ourselves
Absent any monitors,
Children sufficient
For this time in history;
Eagle flies freedom, glory.

Looking we reflect
Decisions hastily made
Pain never erased,
We run into the sunset;
A slice, life remains to get.

What once we wanted
We hardly recognize now
Health we keep praying,
God becomes more real than day;
Every voice some thoughts convey.

Irrepressible

Some races we cannot win
Though we try and try again,
But we may endeavor to make
Of everything, a thing to take
Away in beneficial learning
Advancing as more discerning,
Improving for the days coming.
Suffering is extremely painful,
But also, can be gainful,
For if we overcome our problems
And even should we not solve them,
We are more resilient in the end,
Than when we did, our trial begin.
Much becomes of having it all,
But along the way, we often fall.
Our failures give us an appreciation
For the moments of approbation
We, in relation ourselves, better know
And realize life is ours always to grow.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

Be You

The bravest of hearts
May lose its way along paths
Insecure, doubtful;
Love’s gifts may lift the troubled
High enough to trust, believe.

Live yourself each day,
If you somehow lost your way
During yesterday
Make today your tour de force,
Continue in taking charge.
Living this one life
Generously given you
To make an impact,
Explore your paths of purpose
Spread love, care, creatively.
Standing in limelight
May never become your fate,
But a difference can
Be made in many moments
Choosing kindness to spare, share.
You are a precious
Child of the Creator held
Eternally in blessing,
Never forget no matter
What occurs, you are valued.

Absolutely

The lights turned on bright
Hardly dispel the darkness,
The walls are not pale
But dark like Winter’s dusk
With shades, shadows, arriving.
Still, there are windows,
Onto the outside, shining,
With friendly glow, warmth,
But at times, this fails to rouse
Adequate joy to sustain.
Chosen to wander
Where needs must finally go
To arrange brief lives
With satisfaction enough –
Will exists to continue.
Every life matters –
Purpose burns absolutely,
Never giving in,
Coming fully alive, now,
Each life to liberate, save.

Allegiance

It is not like me
To dwell here inside my flesh;
My mind is often
An aptly chosen abode,
Words my finest furniture.
You, however, call
Me into reality,
My visions react
To your being with growing
Hopes, you may one day love me.
Time beating unkind
Reverts to seeming stillness
When you hold me near;
Better dreams, futures appear,
We, together, display promise.

What you see is quite different from what came out in my journal (in Kindness Pink ink), but I think it serves well. Again, I used the syllable counts for tanka and strung three together.

I keep thinking I will find some other forms, but I have almost always been a Free Verse poet. It is hard to break the habits of a lifetime.

What forms do you like? Can you illustrate one?

If you are another type of writer or artist, what patterns do you see in your work? Can you break with those, change things up?

I went to the library yesterday. Oh, what a treasure trove I amassed. I appeased my dragon self with a horde of books. No zombies though, no, done with those for now, maybe ever.