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 🍃

[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

[Pushkar Prabhat]

WoW!!!
this is beautiful Sir........
could feel the emotions conveyed.........like my own....
i loved it!!!
:)

[Richard🖌]

Thank you, Pushkar,
It is my pleasure to write and share with you my humble verses of romance and sadness.
Your praise of and connection with the essence in my words is the kind of gratification a poet looks for from their readers, to inspire their further efforts, and to make them smile.
Many happy blessings upon you, My New Friend! 〜 Richard

[Pushkar Prabhat]

you are most welcome Sir..........looking forward to learning a lot from you!!! :) :)

[A.R Grande]

"Olive oil and rose bouquet ..."
Honestly i wasn't paying that much attention while reading,until this line. For me that phrase was more beautiful than the poem itself :)

[Richard🖌]

You're easy to please, but your comments had me going back to re-read this piece, and I must agree that it stands-out as one of the poem's highlights, and I must agree that it is beautiful, indeed.
Thank you for stopping by for a read, and for leaving your lovely gift of inspiration! ⁓ Richard

[Shivai]

I could literally feel as if I were walking beside you! You are amazing! I loved it!
-Shivai

[Richard🖌]

Thank you every-so warmly, Dear Shivai, for selecting this romantically sad little poem to read and love, and for such inspiring praise … remarkably, I can feel your presence, too … smiles 'n hugs to you! ⁓ Richard

[Relic]

~I have no criticism to add. This is a beautifully written poem that expresses emotion and is so well crafted from the photo all the way down the page. A pleasure to read.~

[Richard🖌]

Thank you, Tim!

I am so very happy you selected this little Free Verse to read and review for me, and your praise is gratification of the kind that lets me know my earnest efforts have been enjoyed and worthwhile, as I wished they might.

Gifted from a poet of your caliber lends your comments even more value to my hope and need for encouragement … again, thank you most gratefully and humbly, My Fine Poet Friend! ⁓ Richard

[Relic]

You're quite welcome Richard. I'm sure you are an inspiration to many here. You are to me.

[Richard🖌]

I most humbly bow.

[Lydia Shutter]

Your words are a magic carpet transporting us to the scene. The emotions are whisper soft and very real. Great personification of the leaves. You touched me with your words. Lydi**

[Richard🖌]

Awww, thank you Dear Lydi,
Your words to me, a dreamy poem themselves, and such praise dances all through me like a flitting fairy, sprinkling glowing dust inside my every place … ummm!
T'would seem we "touch" one another warmly with our words, eh? ; )

[Lydia Shutter]

That's what poetry is supposed to do.

[Richard🖌]

I know … LOL!