Good news - editorial

Bruce Niedt and I were just named runners up in the Poetic Asides Somonka challenge, for the second of two collaborative efforts posted here.

Details of winners and top 10 are here.

All the entries — all a delight to read — can be found here.

Somonka Challenge 7

Collaborations with Bruce Niedt
for Poetic Asides

Overcast sky.

No moon lights my way

to find you.

How can I discern

the path to your door?

RNW

I will leave

a candle in the window,

the latch open.

I will sing a night song

and have tea ready.

BN

***

Listen!
A magpie warbles
at my gate.
I send you the song
across distance.

RNW

When I hear it

I will fashion clouds

to its music.

When the weather turns

they will sail to you.

BN

***

Update, 15 January 2014: I'm overjoyed that the second of these collaborations was runner-up in the Poetic Asides challenge (in which I felt every poem submitted was a delight to read). Read the detailed results here.

Somonka Challenge 6

Second collaboration with Phillip Barker
for Poetic Asides

you shape dreams

into swirling colours

on your screen

where I fail to find

an imaqe reflecting me

RNW

your eyes

in dreams

paint me perfect

smoke and mirrors
on a dappled dawn

PB

Somonka Challenge 5

Prophecy

Alone now

I do not seek new love,

but I’m told

a leaf blowing in the wind

dances on my horizon.

I am free

to float where I choose.

A dancing wind

blows me towards you

through pause and pirouette.

Somonka Challenge 4

Second collaboration with Walt Wojtanik
for Poetic Asides Somonka Challenge

Not time; not distance,

no offers of resistance -

affections run deep.

Keeping within reach of you

seems to be a futile try.

WW

How placid

the surface appears

like a lake

but deep down we know

a whirlpool eddies and sucks.
RNW

**

Ocean currents draw

two hearts deeper under tow.

Save me from this fate,

a victim of water’s flow.

Love makes ripples near the shore.
WW

Never

a strong swimmer —

the hidden tug

of tides and currents

pulls me away from you.
RNW

**

Believe in yourself,

for in the world of such pain

you begin again.

Draw on my strength if you need,

but count on yourself; believe!
WW

Lifesaver,

one arm around my neck,

stroke by stroke

you pull me ashore
where I stand without you.
RNW

**

Love letters to you

Come off as shallow and vague.

You wish it weren’t true

my words fall short of your heart.

I will write no more of love!
WW

And so we part

after joining so briefly,

the poor words

insufficient … and yet

knowing each other deeper.

RNW

Somonka Challenge 3

Collaboration with Phillip Barker (Soma)
for Poetic Asides Somonka Challenge

you deal The Lovers
from the bottom of the deck
not cheating
just stating your case
as the clock chimes midnight
PB

by morning

the Death card surfaces

indicating

little and great

transformation
RNW

Somonka Challenge 2

A collaboration with Walt Wojtanik 

for the Poetic Asides Somonka Challenge

I imagine you

walking around in daylight

while I am sleeping.

In separate hemispheres,

we can't even share the moon.

RNW

Yet, the moon inspires. 

Worlds away, playing on tides. 

Awakened in mind 

finding common ground in words 

written together.

WW

**

That man, I think, 

has a look of you.

But then he turns

and it's not your face,

which is still elsewhere.

RNW

I cannot face you 

I am not near to be seen. 

Between here and there 

we are reminded of us. 

Yet we do not exchange looks.
WW

**

Do you notice

when I send my spirit

to visit you?

Does a ghostly shiver

stir you - or sudden warmth?
RNW

Finger-like tendrils 

leaving shivers to begin 

our spirits take flight 

every night when we visit 

I notice you near.
WW

**

It's morning!

I wake to the thought of you

on your pillow

embracing dreams of love

as I farewell mine.
RNW

Destinations stay 

well within our thoughts at night 

pillows held tightly 

are the clouds that carry dreams, 

hellos and goodbyes in time.
WW

Somonka Challenge: 1

As well as the November Poem A Day Chapbook Challenge at Poetic Asides, I am doing their recent Somonka Challenge. A somonka is a pair of tanka, written as love poems in dialogue.  In these I take both roles, and was imagining Andrew as the second speaker in each.

At Night 

At night alone

I reach for you in thought.

And then I weep --

you've gone far past my reach, 

beyond all hope of touch.

I hear your thoughts,

I see you reach for me.

Oh do not weep!

I'm just a little distance

and the veil is thin.

Rememberings

rainy night
I cuddle in bed
with my cats
remembering you
warm in my arms

this clear night
in the bright moonlight
I wake
remembering nights
I shared with you