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 vivid life,

          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 🍃

[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 🍃

[Patricia]

I know how winds bring back love, the scents, the glistening of dew on grass, a gentle rain, the sound of leaves rolling, it’s endless how nature says remember him or her and then so eloquently it’s put to poetry and lives forever, very nicely done and I enjoyed living this poem for a moment. Thank you

[Richard🖌]

Truly beautiful sentiments, Lady Patricia, you've left a hopeful poet. 🌸

The poetry in your voice sings of wonderments that softly and knowingly touch a bard's grateful sou … your words equally embrace his in ways I think this yearning piece may have touched yours.

Thank you, Dear Poetess, for sharing such a lovely moment with me! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[Richard🖌]

sou = grateful soul 😏

[Kay/Hayden]

I love how you created the image of Atunuam leaves! (its my favorite season) -Kay

[Richard🖌]

Hi, Kay 🌾

What graciously lovely sentiments you've left for me to smile so warmly from … Autumn is my favorite season, too.
That you love anything about my humble writing is a blessing that inspires my pen to keep stroking.

Thank you ever-so sincerely, Poetess! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[Patricia Wedel]

dearest Richard... now I realize why I see memories when
I look out my kitchen window and the Sun shines so vividly
upon the grass with ghostly shadows of times in the past.
Nature is full of mysterious emotions that bring tears of joy
to a poets soul... for this I thank you... tenderly, Pat

[Richard🖌]

Goodness, Dear Pat ☀️

You do shine such a lovely light upon my page with your sweet poetic voice.
Same as Nature, you've your own way of touching a poet's soul ever-so gently.

Warmest hug of thanks, Dear Lady-Poet! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[Cherrie]

Richard this is so graceful.
I am so glad I open up this beautiful stroll of memory mingled in the fragrant blossoms

[Richard🖌]

Thank you, Lady Cherrie 🌾
… ever-so gratefully and warmly.

This is one I, somehow, knew you'd enjoy and feel its essence in a special way.

Hugs to thee, Dear Poetess! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[T.S. Ulmus]

I love the change and imagery in the last stanza. You start the poem with sunrise and growing and spring in the air and end it with an onset of autumn. A younger man would get hung up on the spring but one who's seen some seasons knows that fall will come. This poem shows not only your skill with words but your wisdom. I know it was a good write because it made me feel something

[Richard🖌]

Thank you most gratefully, Dear Syr TS 🥂

Every once in a great while, a knowing poetess or fellow bard happens upon one of my humble pieces and finds something they deem worthwhile to shed their deeper, more sincere thoughts on, and it is these rare few instances that give credence to my earnest efforts, that feels so rewarding and worthwhile in sharing them.
I've often been told my Free Verse is unique from mosts', and, in as much that you've found virtue in this more "mature" piece, it came to mind you might, also, enjoy, "Explaining to a Leaf" (softly sad) in like vein: https://www.writerscafe.org/writing/RichardJ/2096521/
In-any-event, your concisely relevant take on this rather poignantly reflective work, alone, is reward enough to inspire my olde pen … thank you again, My Keenly Insightful Friend! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[Ankita Dwivedi]

For a special someone.. I believe.. The way you described everything it was just soo amazing.. THE IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBILITIES I feel everytime you sit and even scribble, you weave something good and as beautiful as ever. Hope you someday gonna teach me to write like this, dear Ric.
Love, Ankita

[Richard🖌]

Thank you ever-so sincerely, Dear Ankita 🍁

There is such depth and feeling radiating from your gracious words in review, that I am left a bit humbled, inspired, gratified, and most certainly warmed. by their very level of understanding clarity and expressed sense of appreciation and amazement.
What more could a hopeful bard ask of his readers(?) … I do not know, but wholly accept your fulsome take of this rather gently sad Free Verse poem.
Because you've mention it, I will elaborate on the source of this piece: Only a very rare few of my poems are written with a particular person in mind … this one completely from imagination, feelings, emotions, observation of life and Nature, and from the nuances of circumstances I've seen or actually experienced in some impacting way.
As for teaching your to write like I do, we each have our own styles, and I happen to feel about yours the same way you do about mine, but we both can always learn and get better at our beautiful art, eh? : )

I must apologize for such a longwinded response to your lovely review, Ankita Dear … lets say I was compelled.
Hugs 'n smiles! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[sandra]

This poem is so beautiful. Your words brought tears to my eyes. Your word flows so easily, giving the reader the feeling of the wind that you write about.
My favorite lines:
"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,"

[Richard🖌]

Goodness, Sandra Dear! 😉

How I was able to miss your beautiful review, I have no idea, but I sincerely apologize for being so tardy in expressing my warmhearted gratitude for you sharing the way my humble little poetry affected your tender emotions -- 'tis rarely one will reveal their precious tears to me … sighhh! Sandra, you've touched my heart ever-so softly.
The lines you've selected are among my favorite, too, and are the core of this piece, I think.

Please, come again, Sandra … I like it when you're here.
Warmest hugs! ⁓ Richard 🍃