Archive for the ‘gratitude’ Category
True Work
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, Haiku, Image, Poetry, Tanka, art, beauty, courage, dark, gratitude, love, mystery, nature, philosophy, photo, tragedy, wisdom, wonder
…I offer this piece in response to prompt #67 at Carry On Tuesday,
and prompt #16 at We Write Poems,
also the August 23rd prompt at Big Tent Poetry,
and the August 25th prompt at Three Word Wednesday,
and prompt #18 at Writer’s Island,
and finally prompt #131 at One Single Impression…
______________
AUTHOR”S NOTE: I had this incomplete 3-year-old draft of [...]
Clarion Stones
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Image, Poetry, beauty, courage, dark, gratitude, joy, love, memories, mystery, nature, photo, rhyme, wisdom, wonder
…this piece is in response to the 17th prompt of 2010 on Writer’s Island,
and offered for prompt 130 at One Single Impression,
and for prompt 229 at Sunday Scribblings….
• photo of stacked stones above from Inkwell Whispers
Clarion Stones
•
all those years ago
in the time of dangers
they were placed in secret
as a silent beacon
in the realm of night
waiting [...]
Still
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, Image, Poetry, beauty, courage, gratitude, homage, joy, love, memories, mystery, nature, photo, tragedy, wonder
This piece is offered in response to prompt Mag 26 at Magpie Tales
Still
•
it sits
still
atop the corner
of our garden wall
just where she left it
how many lilies
did it nourish
how many fuscia
lilac
rose
and morning glory
did it quench
it dispensed its
life giving waters
so gracefully
in her hand
such a delicate hand
gentle in its task
of planting new growth
but rugged on the weeds
that threatened her [...]
The Quiet • The Strike
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, Poetry, action, beauty, dark, gratitude, horror, joy, mystery, nature, philosophy, regret, suspense, tragedy, wisdom, wonder
…I’ve written two pieces in response to Three Word Wednesday July 21st prompt • the first is entitled “The Quiet” • the second is entitled “The Strike”…
The Quiet
•
left like spent bait
in the disapproving sun
to rot from apathy
the carcasses of constituents
foolishly quiet
curl brittle and crack
victims of their trust
they did not jump
their chance for change
and so they [...]
You Are Here
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Poetry, gratitude, joy, love, memories, tragedy
It was 15 years ago today
you were taken from this earth
I could not sleep last night
the tears come at times today
tears because I miss you
tears because I love you
tears because the memories
bitter and sweet
bring forth these true emotions
you abide within my heart these days
in a place of warmth and peace
I am so thankful you are [...]
No Longer Imagine
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, Poetry, beauty, ecstatic, gratitude, homage, joy, love, mystery, nature, sensuality, wisdom, wonder
…in response to the 9th prompt on the newly re-opened Writer’s Island, I offer a perspective on love…
…but first a short verse I wrote inspired by prompt #8 at We Write Poems…
•
see feel hear touch breath live
life is a sensual garden
no longer imagine
•
No Longer Imagine
•
I can no longer imagine
the heat of the red rock desert
soothing [...]
The Gift
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, Image, Poetry, gratitude, joy, love, sensuality, wisdom
• In response to the 7th prompt on the newly re-opened Writer’s Island, I offer a perspective on love…
The Gift
•
unworthy fool am I
to ignore it
to abuse it
to mistreat it
to misuse it
to mishandle it at every turn
no way am I deserving
yet over and over
you lay it at my feet
to protect them
from life’s harsh road
time after time
you [...]
Words of the Wizard
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, Image, Poetry, courage, family, gratitude, homage, joy, love, philosophy, photo, prayer, tragedy, wisdom
…I wrote this in response to prompt #6 at Writer’s Island, the prompt is “Unforgettable”…
“The Wizard of Westwood”
John Wooden 1910-2010
Words of the Wizard
•
John Wooden has,
on this 4th day of June,
in the year 2010
left this mortal realm
after 99 years
of untiring service
impeccable wisdom
and great love
a man of balance
and spiritual depth
such as John
comes so seldom
it must be [...]
Trouble Comes to Dry Gulch
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, Poetry, courage, dark, family, gratitude, horror, love, mystery, photo, suspense, tragedy, wisdom
• In response to the 4th prompt on the newly re-opened Writer’s Island, I introduce you to my imaginary childhood friend. In the heart of a terrified young boy, he was more than real…
Trouble Comes to Dry Gulch
•
you were my truest friend
my steady rock of safety
my captain of escape
you were always there
the amazing man [...]
Integrity
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, Poetry, courage, gratitude, love, philosophy, whimsy, wisdom
…I wrote this in response to the May 17th prompt at Big Tent Poetry…
Integrity
•
I have fondled
the fabric of fame
and now you look
for a pattern in my life
a tincture in my clarity
a glitch in my resolve
you seek the proof
that I will forsake decency
doff this cloak of dignity
don the garb of lechery
but your search is futile
no such [...]
Blue Temple
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Image, Poetry, Tanka, art, gratitude, homage, joy, love, minimalist, mystery, philosophy, photo, prayer, wisdom
…response to prompt #14 from Magpie Tales…
The image of this plate above, this week’s prompt at Magpie Tales, immediately put me in mind of serenity. Also, while the plate may be Chinese in origin, it also made me think of the ancient Japanese poetic form called tanka.
Tanka are 31-syllable poems that have been the [...]
Why I Write
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, Image, Poetry, courage, gratitude, homage, humor, humor noir, joy, photo, satire, stream of consciousness, wisdom
In response to prompt #87 at Poetic Asides
Why I Write
•
I write as proof that I exist
so as not to lose my mind
to prevent my sorrow
from choking the life
from my soul
to know what I really think
to ride the currents of my joy
and laughter
to track my growth
share what I have experienced
shed light on my ignorance
to leave my [...]
In A Heartbeat
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, Image, family, gratitude, joy, love, photo, whimsy, wisdom
In response to prompt #52 at Carry On Tuesday, and prompt #115 at One Single Impression
In A Heartbeat
•
the trip to visit you
is filled with memories
sweet anticipation
knowing the warmth of your hello
the strength of your handshake
your fond embrace
the stretch down I-5
we’re laughing and singing
miles zipping by
till we spy your exit
then west toward the coast
a quiet buzz [...]
Daredevil’s Dread
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Free Verse, Poetry, gratitude, humor noir, love, mystery, photo, rhyme, whimsy, wisdom
…presented as a gracious salute to the first prompt from Big Tent Poetry…
____________________________________
Daredevil’s Dread
•
to be shot from a cannon
into the cool night air
is really no big deal
to face a barrage
of flying knives
isn’t really that unreal
to leap through the fire
of a flaming hoop
the warmth is kind’a nice
jumping giant chasms
on two-wheeled fury
sure - let’s do it twice
to [...]
Message in a Bottle
Posted by Rob Kistner | Filed under Letter, Poetry, courage, dark, family, flash fiction, gratitude, love, mystery, prose, rhyme, suspense, tragedy, wisdom
In the spirit of the 1st prompt on the newly re-opened Writer’s Island, I retrieved this message from my imaginary bottle, unrolled, then read it — this is what it said:
___________________________
Seamen brave and strong as we
There’s a truth that we all learn
When brave and strong men go to sea
Tis not certain they’ll return
___________________________
October 23rd, 1997
This [...]
