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 🍃

[Paul]

An absolute pleasure to read from start to finish. I felt like I was the one sitting by the pond the whole time. It pulled me in!
A wonderfully written free verse.

Paul

[Richard🖌]

Thank you, Dear Paul, sincerely and gratefully*
I thought I saw you there that day, in the dappled shadows with your pen and pad; obviously, lost deeply in reverence and contemplation.
Nothing gratifies me more than knowing my peers and readers can relate to and feel their emotion through my poetry … your praise, too, is high inspiration and encouragement, indeed, my friend.

*Many blessings upon your days! ⁓ Richard : )

[Susan 🦋]

This is so unbelievably beautiful. You really captured the very essence of ones soul...even if they are gone. I have had a lot of loss in my life..and I know this feeling. Lilacs, the smell of lilacs and I am a child again with a very special woman in my life.this poem captures those feelings so perfectly..sigh, another one of your poems bringing me to tears from the memories it is invoking...it's a poem I want to hang on to...and just re read over and over again.

[Susan 🦋]

more....there is a comfort to this poem. that in a way, those we have lost are still ever present in our memories, wrapped in our hearts...forever.

[Richard🖌]

Gosh, Susan!
I completely missed your beautiful review. The site often does not notify me of reviews, but yours is just as wonderfully touching and inspiring to an olde bard's hopes that his readers will find something worthwhile and meaningful to their minds, hearts, souls, and emotions, and it appears you have.

Thank you, Dear Poetess, for blessing me with your lovely presence and tender sweetness … hugs to you! ⁓ Richard : )

[Susan 🦋]

No worries Richard.. :-)

[Susan 🦋]

Just another look... perhaps a seasons end, but even that fallen leaf will make way for Spring. :)

[Coyote Poetry]

Beautiful. A amazing poem my friend.
Coyote

[Richard🖌]

Thank you ever-so gratefully, John!
Your praise is more than ample payment for my humble efforts.

Bless you, Dear Friend! ⁓ Richard : )

[Coyote Poetry]

You are welcome my friend.

[Zenovia]

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....


It's a beautiful pond you got for your self....

The words flow through the wind and reaches my ears... every word is absolute beauty...



I almost started to believe
I’d turn my head ~
and you’d be there.

Such wishful thinking :)
We all do when we miss someone who has gone...wishing for them to be back in life with us.

I loved all of it ;)
Zenovia

[Richard🖌]

Some lovely, touching lines and verse you've chosen, Zenovia … I favor, too, but it doesn't surprise me we're on the same wavelength.
Yes,I seem to be wishing and thinking a lot these days. ; )
I so enjoyed your take on this one,and that you love anything about anything me is fulfillment beyond anything I could have hoped for.
Thank you Dear Veronia, ever-so warmly … most grateful hugs! ⁓ Richard : )

[Zenovia]

Richard when did I become veronia lol veronica still sounds better don't you think ;)

[Richard🖌]

OOPS!
Believe me, Myrtle, I had no other woman on my mind … LOLOL!

[Zenovia]

Ya...I can see that lol

[tracey]

a fantastic free verse, i can just imagine sitting there. a truly remarkable piece.makes me want to get on and write,you have true talent

[Richard🖌]

Thank you, Tracey, for your lovely and inspiring review and warming compliment!
Blessings upon your day! ⁓ Richard : )

[horizon]

Again a lovely picture....I really liked this piece of yours..you might have a beautiful inspiration for all your writings sir...just want to know the meaning of fertile mana

[Richard🖌]

Aw, Dear Horizon,
How could I have missed your lovely, thoughtful review … I am sooo sorry!
The inspirations for most all my poems comes from my seemingly endless imagination, and from life's observations and personal learnings.
Fertile = fruitful, rich, lush, and/or productive
Mana = spiritually pervasive, supernatural, and/or magical power

Blerss you … heart and soul! ⁓ Richard : )

[horizon]

You never need to say sorry sir..thank you for the meaning sir.. I think its the Hindi word mana which I couldn't understand..thank you again :):)

[MsJewel]

The images you have described are lovely, but more than that is the soft tone of your words...sad, yet beautiful. Anyone who has felt loss will relate to your words. You have a wonderful gift. Julie

[Richard🖌]

Dear Julie,
When you've suantered along, selecting one of my pieces to grace with your own, always deeply expressed and meaningful words of praise, understanding, and appreciation of my hopeful efforts, I know karma is surely blessing one those good deeds I've done*

I happily agree, too, Julie, I do "have a wonderful gift"; it's your warming and inspiring presence … my most grateful hug to thee, Lady-Poet! ⁓ Richard : )

[Najam Us Saher]

A very beautiful imagery you have described here.
I could feel your emotions. I like the way yo have described the nature and that serves as a great metaphor. I loved the ending the way that you have come back to reality after being so immensely lost in thoughts and realised the fact that all things come to end and at that precise moment you have written about falling of the autumn leaves which not only shows the season but also shows the deep thoughts of your heart.

[Richard🖌]

Dear Najam,
I am not sure what I've done to earn such a lovely and touching review from a lovely poetess of your caliber, but there is one thing I know for certain … I love the manner in which your voice speaks to me about my poetry.
To this bard, there is no higher compliment than for you to tell me how deeply you feel and understand the essence of my words, and there is no more wonderful sensation derived than knowing "the deep thoughts of my heart" have been heard.

Bless you warmly, gratefully, and joyfully for your wondrously gifted review, M'Dear Lady-Poet! ⁓ Richard : )

[Najam Us Saher]

You've left me speechless. I am out of words. 😊

[Richard🖌]

Somehow, Sweet Najam, I doubt it! ; )

[Dave]

Do only poets write about lost love. To seek it out in the hope that it isn't really gone. That our will alone will bring it back. I feel such empathy for you in this. I know that we must endure the pain so that we can experience and appreciate the ecstasy.

[Richard🖌]

You know, Dave?

It's amazing how I've missed your deeply gratifying and insightful review for this rather poignant poem, but all too often the site is remiss in sending notifications. And, I just noticed William's review below was missed … sad, too, that he has passed and will never know how much I appreciate his wonderful words, as I do yours, so very wise and empathetically kind, My Very Fine Friend.

May your hours pass, each with the gratefully golden blessing of sheer joy! ⁓ Richard🖌

[Dave]

Richard - your work is always worth taking the time to read. I always enjoy what you say.
read moreRichard - your work is always worth taking the time to read. I always enjoy what you say.

It's been quite a while since we have written to each other. I don't know if you are aware, but I currently have four novels available on Amazon. Unfortunately, they are all romance based. I remember that you don't particularly like romance.