Manna

in Sapphic verse

Grey clouds gather over the thirsty garden,
bringing hope for vital relief in April.
Bloated skies release the elixir needed.
Prayers are answered.

Flowers spring from ground that is amply watered.
Blossoms charm an audience waiting gaily.
Nature's manna nourishes sacred treasure,
sharing its banquet.

Hummingbird surprises with early visit,
hungry after winter's long deprivation.
Daffodil delivers a pollen luncheon--
mutual comfort.

Many poets shower our lives with splendor
born of Nature's bountiful sacred treasure.
Elemental spirit of human beings--
valuing beauty.

Notes ▶︎

1. Sapphic verse is an ancient Greek form written in quatrains. The first three lines of each stanza have accentual-syllabic meter ( https://www2.anglistik.uni-freiburg.de/intranet/englishbasics/PoetryProsodic01.h... ) in the pattern of trochee, trochee, dactyl, trochee, trochee. The last line of each stanza is shorter with only dactyl trochee, as explained and demonstrated in the following link: https://classicalpoets.org/2018/11/27/a-beginners-guide-to-sapphic-verse/#/ .

2. Written for "Stormy's poetry newsletter & contest"  using the words: grey skies April showers garden flowers spring surprise .

3. Written for "The Bard's Hall Contest"  using the prompt: Choose one of the following poetry forms and write something that sets the mood for April: Sonnet, Sapphic, or a Villanelle.

4. Prompt: Find a form of poetry you've never written before and both describe it and write an example.

Written for "The Whatever Contest." "The Whatever Contest -- Closed for Now" 

Word/Line Count: 16