Sunset Poems

At our last meeting, we discussed "renga" poems and talked about the possibility of creating an ongoing renga.
For those of you unfamiliar with the term and who didn't read Brenda's explanation of it, the short description is that it's actually a sequential series of poems, each a follow-on or response to the prior one, written by two or more poets. No clear (to me) decision was reached as to the subject of the renga, or exactly how it would be produced, so this discussion may continue at next month's meeting.

At the end of the meeting, we did some writing, based on the prompt "sunset." Here are some of the poems produced:

Sunsets

I have seen sunsets over mountains, the China Sea,
Pennsylvania, big cities, and villages.
The most glorious was on a mountain
Overlooking Taipei, Taiwan.

It started shy and started to blossom in light.
Then matured to a blood red glow
Blending with the city's turned on lights
And it kissed one and all goodnight.

        Don Fessler


Amarillo Sunset

Today there is only one sunset
not the memory of one
across the widest, flattest terrain

We road out across the vast
immenseness
did i mention the flatness
of the terrain?

The roasting ground wrapped arms around
The fiery orb
shuttered as he settled below
that flat, immense terrain.

        Brenda Conley


Sunset Options

She said, "I prefer sunrises,
It means I'm still here."
Just diagnosed with cancer
I could touch her fear.

As she travels
the chemo road
and radiation tracks
Please, lighten her load.

Await the day
She will be glad
And claims..............
"Sunsets....another day to add."

        Kay Klinkenborg


Sunset

Sunsets over the ocean are best
Watching that burning orb vanish into the water,
Wondering why it doesn't all turn into steam
Or expecting a big sizzling sound
As the hot coals are extinguished.

Why isn't the Sun still wet the next morning?

Do people on the other side of the ocean spend all night
Drying it off
Squeezing the last drops out
Wiping off the last moisture
Just in time for dawn?

        Ralph Acosta


Well, that's it. If you want to submit a sunset poem you've written, i'll post it in the next blog.
Send the poem to: lastMinuteMouse@hotmail.com

Join poets and poetry lovers in this FREE event.

2011 Montserrat  Poetry Festival  

June 5, 2011
1 p.m. to 8 p.m.

check out the website for details:

http://www.kmos.org/Poetry/Index.html


Performance Schedule

1:00 E. John Knapp, Jefferson City

1:20 Alex Wales, Warrensburg

1:40 Faith Bemiss, Sedalia

2:00 Neal Torrey, Bolivar

2:20 Carol Gorski Buckels, Rocheport

2:40 Gustavo Adolfo Aybar, Kansas City

3:00 Brent Martin, Jefferson City

3:20 Tony Shaffer, Warrensburg

3:40 Diana Chang, Fulton

4:00 David Clewell, St. Louis

4:40 Columbia Writers’ Guild (Larry Allen)

4:40 Columbia Writers’ Guild (Eva Ridenour)

4:40 Columbia Writers’ Guild (James Coffman)

5:10 Bernard Hartg, Chamois

5:30 Clarence Wolfshohl, Fulton

5:50 Connie Koch, Sedalia

6:10 Christina Pacosz, Kansas City

6:30 Tantra Zawadi, New York City

7:00 Robert Milton Ingram, Independence

7:20 Evelyn Aholt, Glasgow

7:40 Daniel Mollenkamp, Warrensburg

Kansas City Metropolitan Verse - vol 5 2011

The proof copy is being printed as we speak! If all is as it should be (as I'm sure it is or will be) the bulk order will be submitted to the publisher in plenty of time for a National Poetry Month Book Release.  Advance orders are being taken until Monday, March 21.  The cost is $10. (postage paid by the chapter for advance orders). Mail (or drop by the check ) to 877 NW South Shore Dr. KCMO 64151. The anthology will be available on Amazon.com within a few months.

Hunkered Down by Frank Adams

Hunkered Down -



Forecasters call for a winter storm

then suddenly, as if by magic,

even the trees are quiet

the squirrels are gone

there are no birds at the fountain



people rush to the grocery store

buying milk and liquor

chips and bread

sandwich meat, processed cheese food -

lunches for the kids

fortifying themselves

for the night ahead

the day home from work

hunkered down

praying the heat does not go off

that the power stays on

and that the television

and computer work



doctors call for his pending death

it might be anytime now –

no way to tell

and the world goes silent

the birds do not sing

as the family shops

for milk and eggs

liquor and chips

to fortify themselves

for the night ahead

the day home from work

the waiting

praying it’s soon

praying for it to be over




Frank Adams

WINTER!

think it's gonna snow? 
as i waited for the january poetry submission for this forum and realized it isnt coming, i decided to use this time just to check in and let readers know there is still a blog.  March! i know it will be here soon. then we can climb out of cyberspace and all get together across the table from each other and share some poetry!

the vol 5 anthology submissions are being collected and this volume promises to be as enjoyable a read as those from our past.  the diversity of our voices continues to be our stength.

stay warm and stay safe...  see you in the spring.

december featured poetry by pat berge

Blaze



Blinking awake from night

Reddish orange sky

Covers thrown back

Bare feet hit the floor

Run to the porch

Nose to the screen

Watch golden trees gulp sunrise



Once, she ran toward

The edge of the prairie

Dragging him by the hand

Hurry! Hurry!

It happens so fast!

They sat by corn stalks and

Watched bloodred leak into sky

While Blaze lowered herself

So slowly the eye could not see

Letting poetry play hide and seek

Rising and falling

Rising and falling



She called

Can you meet?

Yes, in an hour.

You bring the sandwiches.

I’ll bring the wine.

Where?

Down by the river.

On an Indian throw

Under a River Birch

Glasses of Sauvignon clinked

Hours of telling and laughing,

Devouring

Croissants and honey crisp apples

Finally quiet, they watched

As trains and cars crept along

The horizon.

Bridges turned black

Against the last

still available...

a handful of our 2010 anthology are being held for mary and for sheila.  if anyone else is interested there are a few copies left for your gift giving or treasured keeping.  let me know.