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 🍃

[McBear]

The imagery is just beautiful. I really liked it. Send me some RR's!

[Richard🖌]

Thank you, My Friend,, for the kind, encouraging words of praise and appreciation for this softly poignant piece.
There are a number of Free Verse and Free Style poems amongst my selections, if you enjoy this genre … I would love your take on any or all of them.
Thank you for liking this one … that means so very much to me! ⁓ Richard

[Jessi]

This literally took my breath away.

[Richard🖌]

Hi, Dear Jessi.
Your words sweep all through me … how lovely and welcome they truly are.read moreHi, Dear Jessi.
Your words sweep all through me … how lovely and welcome they truly are.
Thank you for sharing You … hugs! ⁓ Richard

[Jennesis]

This was beautiful! I found myself along with you by the pond. For me, there is something so beautiful about being in nature, as it connects us with the spirit inside us, as well as the connectedness we all share. It's like when we are quiet there, observing and absorbing all the beauty, we can touch that which is unseen. I sensed grief here, or a love lost, either way I felt how spiritual the moment was.

[Richard🖌]

Gosh, Jenn!
I am so sorry, M'Lovely Lady … I've no idea how i could have missed such a beautifully rendered review as yours is.
I think I felt you there with me, too, or would have loved to, and how inspiring, gratifying, and fulfilling your voice is in letting me know you feel the deep emotion so vividly, so clearly that it brought you there with me beside the pond, sharing it all … there is no one I'd rather it had been.
The way you describe it is a wonderful poem, and exactly how i saw and felt it, too.

Thank you, Dear Lady-Poet, for sharing it all with me … smiles 'n hugs! ⁓ Richard

[Jennesis]

Happy new year Richard. I read the poem again as I read your comment and was absorbed yet again. May 2016 be a beautiful year of poetry for you. Though I don't believe in resolutions per se, but I am making it a point to spend more time writing and reading. :) mwah!

[Richard🖌]

Such sweet sentiments you gift me, Jenn, the inspiration and feelings embrace me to compose them into a poem … such are those portions of me awakened, thereof, so nicely, so welcoming with smiles like happy butterflies within ⁓ thank you so dearly, and A Happy New Year To You, Too, Jenn.
I love the kiss … it is a most wondrous way to begin 2016 ⁓ and, one to Thee, M'Lady, mwahhh*

[Richard🖌]

Jenn,
Your new profile picture, by-the-way, delights me … thanks! : )

[katie]

Beautiful!
Slightly sad at the loss of a cherished one but beautiful in the memory of one. It's amazing how sometimes we can almost feel someone from our past is just around the corner when, in fact, we will never see them again.

[Richard🖌]

So many, Dear Katie, from my past for imagination to draw upon, to create these little poignantly romantic poems of mine.
How true it is, and how insightful you are to know I have moved-on, to never see them again.
I think it must have something to do with a poet's heart (or a poetess's), that there is something deeper always stirring in us, eh?
Warmest hug of thanks to you, Katie! ⁓ Richard

[katie]

I think, as poets, as artists, we are more in tune with all that we feel. We are able to pull all our emotions and put them onto paper. :)

[Richard🖌]

Katy,
You are a most wonderful and talented poet (as if you did not know), and I love your sense of understanding and expression of that which glows within us … you make my heartbeat quicken and my notions sigh.

[jesserose99]

a special handling of the words used...very beautifully done. Has a lovely old world feel.

[Richard🖌]

Jesse,
Your knowing way enthralls with gratitude and praise, that keeps this olde pen shined and ready to share and please again, and I cannot thank you enough for the encouragement.

It has been a distinct pleasure to share with You, Dear Lady-Poet … warmest smiles! ⁓ Richard

[David Scott]

I see the free flow you spoke of here. I could feel the calm. The last stanza painted a picture of autumn leaves floating away from a moss covered shoreline.
Enjoyable and educational.

[Richard🖌]

Thank you, David, for reading and enjoying this reflective little piece of yearning emotion.
It is rewarding to know you've come away with something worthwhile in a brighter understanding of the Free Verse form.
Your comments let me know we've connected through this work, and what better reward and gratification could there be for a hopeful bard, eh? Smiles, with many thanks! ⁓ Richard

[Jyoti_Ablaze]

Nature has ways to touch your very being so deeply with mysterious meanings. Sometimes, it brings someone's breath to you while sometimes it brings the shed tears. It is astounding how well your words convey that. Amazingly penned, for it's flow is like honey.

[Richard🖌]

Aw, Jyoti,
From your words in review to this sadly tender piece, my heart is filled to overflowing.

Thank you ever-so warmly! ⁓ Richard 🍃

[Jyoti_Ablaze]

You are welcome :)

[Linda Marie Van Tassell]

In those quiet moments, nature finds a way to fill our veins, our pen and write the sweetest of sentiments. Autumn leaves may fall and winter will follow; but spring always returns. This is beautiful!

[Richard🖌]

While looking to see if you'd read this rather poignantly romantic piece, I ran across your review I now realize I missed when you wrote it for me these three long years past.
First-off, I am sorry to have missed anything from You, Linda Marie; secondly, as always, I love the sentiments and feeling left within from your gentle words. ⁓ Richard 🍃

[Willard Wells]

Very lovely piece and I am torn between a story of love absent and the leaving of summer. It rather leaves the ideas in the mind of the reader, depending on what their needs might be. Well Done.

[Richard🖌]

Yes, Willard,
I can see how one might be held between those two events, both physical and/or emotional, and why am I not surprised you would be drawn to those aspects of this piece, knowing from your poems how deeply your feelings run.
Many thanks, My Friend, for your always needed and appreciated praise, and for selecting this poignant release from my imaginative, more pensive mood! ⁓ Richard

[Willard Wells]

Always a pleasure to read your work and receive your words.

[Cherrie Palmer]

I enjoyed how you let nature and your easy tempo lead us through this vista of beauty. It is filled with delightful images and a lasting memory.

[Richard🖌]

Hello, Dear Lovely Poetess!
How wonderful of you, Cherrie, to select this romantically tender little piece to read and enjoy, and to review with such encouraging praise.
Hugs 'n blessings or warmest thanks to You! ⁓ Richard