Beside the pond ⁓ (wistful)

Free Verse

    

       

      Beside the pond ~

          Alone,

          I sat beside the pond

          this morning.

          Early sun ...

          vibrant in its warm flush

          of golden welcome

          came cascading down

          from treetops' glow,

          embracing grass,

          gifting colors vividly alive,

          lifting flowers' faces …

          with their honey-pollened smiles.

          I was amazed

          at how the breeze knew

          I missed you

          or was even thinking of you,

          but I’d swear

          it touched mine with your cheek,

          slid a wisp of your locks

          across my shoulder,

          and became the sweetness

          of your breath.

 

          Olive oil and rose bouquet ...

          ... it hung for awhile

          in the morning air,

          a fragrant marker

          along a trail of yesterdays,

          leading to You ...

          places of dreams and hope,

          of love and laughter

          and impossible possibilities.

 

          I almost started to believe

          I’d turn my head ~

          and you’d be there.

          Each year

          has come and gone …

          You, like fertile mana

          ever glowing, growing

          in my heart.

          It’s said all things end,

          and walking back to the house

          I sensed that coming truth,

          as Autumn's leaves

          began falling

          like tears ~

          washing around

          my feet.

              Richard W. Jenkins

                        ©2015

1st Place

"Poetry About Loss Contest"

Author's Note

Picture is courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Constructive criticism is always welcomed and appreciated. : )

I was asked to post a Free Verse for a change; so, here one is … hope you enjoy.

Reviews

[Norman T]

I loved the gentle imagery that you created, that ended with a poignancy indicated by the falling leaves.
Although not normally a writer ( or lover) of free verse, I felt that this worked particularly well. You may have helped to change my inhibited views. Thank you.

[Richard🖌]

Hello, Norman! : )
It is so nice to see you here today, M'Friend, finding something to love in this beautifully poignant piece, filled with the flow gentle emotion.
Your comments and praise have certainly gratified my efforts to write, share, in hopes of pleases my knowing readers — those like You.
It is certainly rewarding to know my poem may have inspired your beginning to enjoy the Free Verse genre of poetry, broadening your appreciation a bit more, let's say. The one thing I know is, we can always keep growing, eh?
Norman, I thank you so very sincerely for stoping-in to enjoy one of my poems … please, feel free to do so anytime, My Fine Friend! ⁓ Richard

[Richard🖌]

For those who might wonder:
The six deletions above were controversial comments from a wrongly disgruntled being, who took my response to Norman's review out of context.

[Great Aunt Astri]

oooooo, oh dear1

[K writes]

I don't see anything wrong with Norman's review.

[Richard🖌]

Thank you, Dear Kay✨
Your kindness is so gracious … it was not Norman's review, it something misinterpreted in my response to Norman's review that got her knickers in a wad.
Privately, she apologized and all was set straight between us … I never like to let misunderstandings go without making peace.

You're a sweetheart, Kay … thanks again. RJ 🍃

[poetgurl (Plainly Meg)]

Not sure what Mana is, but i enjoyed this write. I like poems that rhyme.

[Richard🖌]

Hi, Dear Lady K🌸

It's so nice of you to select one of my Free Verse pieces to read and comment on. It's true this type of form does not rhyme, but I've many more poems posted for your enjoyment that do.
I like poems that rhyme, too, but I like many kinds of poems. : )
According to Webster's Dictionary, "mana" is a noun and is described as a pervasive supernatural or magical power (especially in Polynesian, Melanesian, and Maori belief).

It's wonderful knowing you "enjoyed this write" … I'm truly grateful.
Thank you ever-so warmly! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[no tell writer]

there is a lot you can do while sitting next to a pond, pick up a rock and skip it across, and listen to echoes among the winds. Sitting by a pond is beautiful write here.

[Richard🖌]

Thank you, Dear Katzie🌼

Your praise and relatability with this piece tells me you've spent your own time dreaming beside the pond. : )

Hugs 'n smiles! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[Firebird]

I'm not surprised you got first place in a poetry about loss contest for this. It is very good.

[Richard🖌]

You've bade my heart smile 'n blush 😌

[Firebird]

Aw! I love this one. The imagery in the final part is particularly lovely. Falling leaves like tears. Hope Spring brought new hope and sunshine.

[Richard🖌]

Thank you, Dear Poetess🌸

For your beautiful wishes … Spring seems to always touch my senses in wondrously warming ways.
That you love anything about my humble poetic efforts swirls bliss through my senses.

It pleases me your choice of lines to highlight are among my favorite, too.
Warmest hugs to You⁓ Richard 🍃

[Azifwecare]

First I must comment on the pictures you chose. Lovely and just perfect for your poem.
Not sure what led me to this poem in particular against all the others, it was a strong pull and so here I am. Perhaps there was something I was meant to read in your words. It is a lovely poem Richard. I've read it 3x in one sitting. Pondering. Your words are like music.

[Richard🖌]

Dear AWC 😊

I truly enjoyed your beautifully warming sentiments of this rather reflectively yearning Free Verse piece.
Your praise and expressed appreciation are such a tender touch.

Thank you ever-so warmly, Lady-Poet! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[Kerra]

I sensed that coming truth,
as Autumn's leaves
began falling
like tears ~
washing around
my feet.

So very nicely written and presented, I enjoyed this discriptive write.

[Richard🖌]

Hi again, Kerra 😊

Thanks for taking another bit of the apple with this second review in a row … how lucky can one poet be, eh? 😉
You always pick the best lines to feature, and they seem to always mirror my own, which shows how much we relate through our poetry.

It's nice, too, knowing the way(s) you enjoy and appreciate my little efforts … happy smiles to You, Kerra ⁓ Richard 🍃

[Poetic Beauty]

Sitting beside a pond reflecting and longing for a love that has become adrift from us in life. It’s amazing how certain scents can remind us of people times and places in our lives.

The imagery is painted beautifully here and the scents of smell allows the reader to get lost inside the words

[Richard🖌]

Salutations, Dear Lady PB 🍂

How delightfully wonderful it is to receive such warm appreciation and praise from a poetess of your distinction … I feel happy smiles all over. ; )
Then, there are those aspects of your perceptive depths that embrace my senses ever-so encouragingly.

What better could a bard wish for from a lovely poetess? I have no answer, except, to offer my most grateful hug of thanks! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[Poetic Beauty]

You are most welcome. I like be to read poems that paint stories.

[Tina]

A very haunting beautiful poem whoever you wrote this for his lucky

[Richard🖌]

Thank you most warmly, Dear Tina 🌺

Your compliments and expressed appreciation of this rather plaintive poem gift a soft warmth to my heart.
Re: "whoever you wrote this for" … most all my romantic pieces are derived from imagined scenarios; what high praise, indeed, that my words felt so real to you.

Hugs 'n happiest blessings to thee! ⁓ Richard🍃

[Tina]

You're welcome

[Wendy Sue]

I felt this Richard.
Joy, gratitude, acknowledgement of beauty woven with sorrow and longing.
So much can happen inside one’s mind when experiencing a moment sitting quietly. Thank you for sharing yours.

[Richard🖌]

So beautiful, Wendy Sue, the meaningful sentiments you've left me 🍂

Thank you ever-so sincerely for sharing the wonderful depth of your kindred feelings, understandings, and expressed gratitude.

The pleasure in receiving your cherished words of gentle warmness, are among the most treasured reasons I write and share! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[Wendy Sue]

🙏❤️The pleasure is mine

[Crowley]

I love the thought of the early sun gifting colors. This was a very carefully crafted piece of free verse. Only you can make the the words dance to the tune of truth, beauty and justice in any old format you want to. Wonderful writing Richard.

[Richard🖌]

How wonderful it is, Corey

To have my earnest efforts appreciated in such an open, honest way by a fellow wordsmith; especially, an artist with works as accomplished and skillfully refined as yours.

It is reviews such as yours that gratify my hard work and hopeful sharings with others … I thank you humbly and sincerely for reading and appreciating me, Syr Poet! ⁓ Richard 🍃