In the Name of Progress

The trees and shrubs

Grown wild for the birds,

Are knocked to the ground,

Because of man’s quest for homes.

Everything that once

Was a pleasant nesting ground

Has been destroyed

By the concept of progress.

Nothing is safe

From change,

Because change happens

Untutored and unkind.

Looking with sadness

On the devastation

That was once peaceful,

Brings sadness to my heart,

As wildlife gets displaced

All for the benefit

Of plentiful people.

They don’t fathom

The change of scenery

As they happily

Move into condos,

Cold hard buildings

That have no heart.

But,

Nature waits.

Eager to once again

Claim back its territory

As Man moves on

To other things.

War between

Man and Nature

Continues,

For the rest of time:

Nature’s resilience

The hope for the future.

Poetry Is…26

                Poetry has many sides. It is represented by the light and fluffy, and also by the sad and melancholy. The ego and the shadow – the light and the dark – the good and the evil; all are explored by the poet. The unconscious includes behaviour, thoughts, and emotions that are underlying in the poem’s verses. The poet uses powerful, creative energies and words to convey meanings to the reader. Metaphors and similes are used to paint word pictures that speak volumes about the human condition. Personal shadows are similar in the human collective mind. The revelations of poetry can bring a feeling of relief when one realizes that we all have common experiences that are shared. The light and the dark expressed by poetry, allows the reader to understand life in all it’s affirming and confirming details. Creative impulses provide guidance about the human experience. Poetry takes the reader on a journey through the psyche. Buried and hidden feelings find release in poetry’s verses. Poetry helps to look at the world closer through description and rhyme and helps feel the emotions that underly the poem’s images. The mystery that is the muse, is the root of understanding poetry’s language and power.

Poetry Is…25

            Poetry can be dramatic and greatly exaggerated. It often takes the tone of a fairy-tale or make-believe. A good poem is also a good story full of emotion. The qualities of love & tenderness are felt in a good poem, with perhaps a sense of humor as well. A good poem is an important gift from the pen of the poet. Poems can sometimes also talk about difficulties and limitations of the world. They can reflect like a mirror, the thoughts that are expressed through word pictures. The poem can speak of memories and early experiences. The poet brainstorms and establishes a link between relationship of self and the outer world, through metaphors, or word pictures. The image of a particular moment is a strong sense of the poem’s message. Poetry is a reflection of our imaginations and our lives.

Poetry Is 24

                 The world around us is a fascinating source of inspiration to the poet. Objects around us can become a poem easily. Memorable events that are special and important to us can also have poetry in them. What we do everyday is also a source of poetry. What do we love? A simple topic for a poem, as poets are romantics by nature and so they create poems about love, frequently. There are lessons that poetry teaches us, the listener. The main thing for we the writer is to write about what we know about. Some emotions that we have all experienced in one way or another are love, kindness, isolation, and community. Poetry touches on the vulnerable parts of us, that, when listened to, bring us a sense of belonging. It allows the listener to use their imagination and really think about things. It is a way of knowing ourselves, our true selves. The tone of the poem sets the emotional story that is told through the creative words of talented poets. Poetry is all at once, a learning opportunity and also a discovery of ourselves.

Pony’s Presence

A young lad,

12-ish or so,

Stands before

The old barn door.

He enters.

The comforting smell

Of the haybin

Rests in the air.

A welcoming whinny

Sounds

From the far stall.

As the boy approaches,

A soft, brown nose

Begins to show itself

Above the stall door.

Whickering softly,

The pony allows

The boy

To enter the area.

The boy pats him,

Gently,

On the neck

And whispers

Reassuring words

Of friendship

Into the twitching ear

Of the listening pony.