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 🍃

[Kenny N]

The imagery and emotion in this piece is absolutely stunning. I sense a great sadness and longing in this one, and I can truly feel the words gripping my hear. Awesome poem, awesome story.

[Richard🖌]

Beautifully spoken, Kenny.

Thank you! ! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[DeerInHeadlights]

This is so beautiful. So lovely written. I understand that constructive criticism is always s welcomed, but I just don't know what any one could suggest to make this more perfect than it already is. I am looking forward to reading more of your work.

[Richard🖌]

Dear Lady-Poet,
Your presence and praise gift a specialness to the appreciation, emotion, and feeling this poignantly lovely poem aches for, and I know your touch has warmed it all through.

Hugs 'n blessings of warmest thanks! ⁓ Richard

[Audrey Murray]

forgot to say that including thee photo is a nice lead into the poem did you also take the picture?

[Richard🖌]

Photo source is in Author's Note, Audrey.

[Audrey Murray]

a trail of yesterdays,,,,wonderful imagery and the way the words seem to float along like magic in all their glory I think your use of free verse is an excellent choice to lead from summer into the untidiness of fall

[Richard🖌]

Audrey,
I warmly and sincerely thank you for your praise of the picture, for your beautiful comments of appreciation, and for a review as poetically endearing as the poem, itself.
I hope you enjoyed the poem as much as I have your comments.
Hugs 'n blessings to you, Audrey! ⁓ Richard

[viola]

I enjoy the progression of this poem. You start with a description simply of nature. But it transitions flawlessly into the person who was lost.

I also appreciate the single line "Olive oil and rose bouquet ..." Having one important line that stands out in a poem works as a focus, and gives the reader something to remember--but of course you know that.

So in summary, thank you for a poem that simultaneously made me smile at the beauty of nature and sigh at the sadness of autumn and partings and the longing that comes with them.

[Zoe Naga]

wow!!! The way you described everything is so flawlessly magnificent... Thank you for sharing your beautiful moment with us. Its seriously beautiful.

[Richard🖌]

Such exuberance is invigorating, Zoe, and your praise of this deeply romantic and yearning Free Verse piece is certainly inspiring and gratifying to the earnest effort I put into composing it.
You are most welcome, and I thank you, also, for bringing warming sunshine into my day.
Namasta* ⁓ Richard

[icelandicblue]

You've created a beautiful back drop on which to hang your feelings and longings. Nature brings her own magic with her and makes us feel connected to those we have lost and also to something greater than ourselves. I thought your ending was superbly done. I enjoyed your free verse piece very much.

[Richard🖌]

Thank you ever-so warmly, IB, for such wonderfully appreciative and inspiring praise of this longing and plaintively lovely verse of emotional and visual beauty.
I have very much enjoyed your interpretation and shared insights … quite poetic within itself.
I am so happy you chose this work to read and review … it is one of the favorite of my Free Verse pieces.
Smiles and brightest blessings, and again, "Thank you!" ⁓ Richard

[annalysiar]

Its a sweeping moving poem

[Richard🖌]

Thanks for the info, Annar, and for your time in reading this wonderfully moving and captivating Free Verse poem in contemplation of love and wishful thinking! ⁓ Richard

[annalysiar]

You're more than welcome. I should be thanking you, Richard. Beautiful poetry is hard to come by

[Richard🖌]

I cannot deny I appreciate such a compliment, Annar, but beautiful poetry is all over this site, all over the internet on many, many sites … they may be quite different than my own, but beautiful, nonetheless.
Thank you, again.

[annalysiar]

You're welcome, Richard... I'm learning that too I'm falling in love with this site lol

[Roland Petrov]

So you write free verse as well. I'm glad you tagged it or I would have started counting syllables and looked for patterns. This is beautifully written, and it pulls the reader in to a time and place and bestows emotions and scents.

[Richard🖌]

Yes, Roland …
A truly accomplished poet should be able to express their self in any venue, genre, or form the mood, topic, or moment, etc; appropriately requires, just as you're increasingly doing with all your new forms and learned corrections, eh?

I thank you most profusely and gratefully for your praise of this little ditty, My Friend, as a poet on your level would genuinely know a good poem, and that is, indeed, encouraging to me! ⁓ Richard

[greyson lambro]

I was very moved. Beautifully written images presented with love, brushed with sorrow, and shared in memory. She must have been wonderful.

[Richard🖌]

Greyson,
I dearly love your name … what could be more excellent or appropriate for a writer than, Greyson Lambro?
Thank you so very much, and ever-so humbly, for your gratifying praise and emotive sentiments assure me you and this lovely piece have connected, and what better gratuity could a hopeful bard expect, eh?

Greyson, she was far more wonderful than my modest words could equal! ⁓ Richard