The second of my collections of poems written for "Express It In Eight." |
| As usual these days, I choose blog format because it offers more space for the work. |
| Unfamiliar Territory Out there in the wilds where the trees and the grass hold sway the midnight trail shines ghostly in the light of the vagrant moon. Hasten on your way homeward, traveller, for out here the spirits are ancient creatures of the open sky without thought of house and home. Line count: 8 Free verse For Express It In Eight, 10.28.25 Prompt: Write a poem about walking a spooky rural road around midnight. |
| Danvers Rail Trail The rails are long gone now and the track tamed as nature trail a secret path where houses turn their backs while dogs walk their owners and joggers chat breathlessly. The ground no longer trembles in the darkest moonless nights when the ghost train’s lonesome whistle sounds. Line count: 8 Free verse For Express It In Eight, 10.27.25 Prompt: Write an urban legend poem. |
| Circles Round and round the earth doth turn upon its daily round, the planets too in each their turn in solar orbits pound. Nature abhors a straight line preferring the circle’s arc, and so says brainy Einstein parallel lines meet in the dark. Line count: 8 Rhymed abab For Express It In Eight, 10.26.25 Prompt: Write a round poem. |
| Suspense “Is it true, it’s Halloween?” the pumpkin asked, distraught. I told him days yet in between, to ease his fears I thought. He shook with wild despair (my theory quite rebutted) and said he could not bear to wait till day he’s gutted. Line count: 8 Rhymed abab For Express It In Eight, 10.24.25 Prompt: Write a conversation between you and a Jack-o-lantern. |
| Dilemmas I’m a fan of the word “plump” though it has nothing to do with obesity when faced with a question that stumps and decisions so alike to a nicety So choice becomes impossible task with answers all equal to mind the future inscrutable mask then I plump for the first that I find. Line count: 8 Rhymed abab For Express It In Eight, 10.10.25 Prompt: Write a poem about making a difficult decision. |
| October 04 Agriculture It’s the farmers that do it with vision in their eyes that sees right through it and the desert belies. With their harvest they build civilisation’s balm it’s the future they milled through the strength of their arms. Line count: 8 Rhymed abab For Express It In Eight, 10.04.25 Prompt: Write an agricultural poem. |
| Unfolding Some lives are like a highway mine is a country lane hemmed in by hedges and shaded by trees twisting in random exuberance each bend a new adventure surprise a daily routine and tractors coming the other way. Line count: 8 Free verse For Express It In Eight, 10.01.25 Prompt: Write a poem about ‘Life is like a highway.’ |
| Horticultural Theft In the contest greenhouse gritty this vanishing’s a certain pity - prize blossoms in the morning sun, on favoured shelf now all are gone. So dastard crime assails the garden, revenge does make the intent harden, but boasting was the primal cause - humility demands that we might pause. Line count: 8 Rhymed aabb For Express It In Eight, 09.29.25 Prompt: Write a poem about the mystery of the missing potted plants. |
| On Being Watched Hidden in the long grass ducking the searchlight’s pass watching from the shadows secret the spectre goes. Silent too his passing a covert trespassing just a mild suspicion fleeting apparition. Line count: 8 Rhymed aabb For Express It In Eight, 09.25.25 Prompt: Write about a hider in your poem. |
| The ‘Manis There’s a place in Africa where the heat of the lowlands drops away and the silence of the heights lives in the wind cool and sharp in its clarity. Up there the grass bends always in one direction and the rocks twisted and pierced with the blue of sky beyond lean upon each other in rows while the streams flow with golden water over white pebbles. Line count: 8 Free verse For Express It In Eight, 09.24.25 Prompt: Write a poem about an unusual place. |