Form challenge at Poetic Asides (the Sijo is an ancient Korean form). My entries:
The
Bloom is Lost
You have fallen by the wayside; I go on without
you —
as if you were just a weed, plant that I used to
tend and cherish.
Perhaps I’ll give up gardening, or find something
hardier.
Missing
My black cat is moping tonight, and wandering the
whole house
uttering strident miaows; I know he wants me to
fix it all
but I can’t bring back our dead man, I can only
cuddle the cat.
12/2/14
Is it wrong to start my day, every day, at the
computer?
Bad for my health and my housework both — so I am
often told.
Ah, but this they don’t know: I start all my days
with poetry.
13/2/14
Morning Sounds
Intermittent calls of local birds,
from shrilling to warbling.
My neighbour's wake-up cough;
noises of saucepan and kettle.
I am quiet here in my yard, with my
cat curled up beside me.
As Promised
‘We’ll get through this,’ you told
me, your arms around me as I sobbed
and would not give my reason: that
I saw you dying day by day.
Alone now, and still here, day by
day I’m getting through it.
14/2/14
I walk about my little house,
liking the comforts I’ve made here —
this home of mine that was once
ours, from which you are dead and gone,
where in each room I encounter warm
traces of your presence.
15/2/14
Waking up, I stretch my limbs,
lifting my legs high in the air
so I see the slim ankles, the
shapely calves of a young girl
once a day — before weight and age,
and Gravity, thicken them.
16/2/14
In Wilting Heat
I believe there will be rain
tonight, at last. Yes! I walk out
and find very fine drops already
falling invisibly.
But will they be enough for this
thirsty land? Bring on the storms!
21/2/14
Rain Call
Big splashy raindrops, I call you
to fall on this thirsty earth!
And to keep falling as long as the
plants need to keep drinking!
In one week autumn will begin --
mote we go into it refreshed!
The Dead Year
It's as if a whole year has been
negated since you died.
Though I'm well aware of all its
happenings and stages, they dim.
It seems reality stopped with you,
events since pale and lifeless.
22/2/14
The Singer Tells Me
The singer tells me that, since
menopause, she’s lost the voice she had.
She likes to sing with others
now, who are giving all they have.
‘I too,’ she says, ’Give all I
have. I must let that be enough.’
23/2/14
I'm also linking these to Poets United's Poetry Pantry #191
I found this a challenging form indeed, so was very surprised and delighted that Missing was placed 5th in the Top 10 when the Challenge was judged! — 14 March 2014
