Remembrance

By Scott Bailey © 2018

Gone
The sound
The thunder
No silence reigns
And the poppies bloom
Nodding respectfully
To the brave that lay beneath
The swathe of red that remembers
The blood that was shed here for freedom
And the folly of man to his brother
So we may never forget all that pain
To ensure it will not come again
We respect them with silent thoughts
Resist any violent trends
Talk, build bridges, not walls
While the poppies bloom
While silence reigns
Honour those
That are
Gone

Image from Pixabay

 

In response to COLLEEN’S WEEKLY #TANKA TUESDAY #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 109, HAPPY NOVEMBER – “POETS CHOICE OF WORDS”

Check the link for the guidelines and rules

A double mirrored Etheree that is fitting for the time of year – particularly this year.

#Etheree

Sway

By Scott Bailey © 2019

All
That I
Survey is
Under my sway
That is what they say
The evidence is slim
So I start to understand
How perfidious is the world
And the darkness begins to seep in
The entropy of hope, and dream slayer
So I must strive to remember the truth
My eyes are my window to the world
What dwells behind them in my world
My kingdom and my domain
So here I shall remain
That is what I say
Under my sway
In my eye
That is
All

In response to COLLEEN’S 2019 WEEKLY #TANKA TUESDAY #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 132 #SYNONYMSONLY

Influence & Perception

Check the link for the guidelines and rules

A double Etheree

#Etheree

The Solace of the Night

By Scott Bailey © 2018

When the fire goes out
The heat is dissipated
Darkness falls again
Only then do the creatures
Of the night, find their solace

Image from Pixabay

In response to COLLEEN’S WEEKLY #TANKA TUESDAY #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 112, “COLD & SAFE,” #SYNONYMSONLY

Check the link for the guidelines and rules

A tanka this week.

#tanka

Lost Realm

By Scott Bailey © 2018

For a sweet moment
This green forest was all mine
My own secret realm
Now, it is fenced off, private
Playground of the privileged

Image from Pixabay

In response to COLLEEN’S WEEKLY #TANKA TUESDAY #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 107, “HAUNT & SPELL,” #SYNONYMSONLY

Check the link for the guidelines and rules

A tanka this week.

#tanka

Arise

By Scott Bailey © 2018

Water
Drops from the sky
Yearning to reach the sea
Its path always heading downwards
Tumbling

Humans
Are not water
Humans yearn for the sky
They strive and climb up and up
Struggling

Sliding
Down from the heights
Steps faltering and weak
Bringing us down into the deep
Failing

Thinking
Measure the path
Assaying obstacles
Planning with forethought and wisdom
Reason

Rising
Against the rain
Climbing the steep ascent
Aiming for the sky, for the stars!
Soaring

Image from Pixabay

In response to COLLEEN’S WEEKLY #TANKA TUESDAY #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 103, “FALL & TRY,” #SYNONYMSONLY

Check the link for the guidelines and rules

Had a go at a crown cinquain this week

#crown-cinquain

No Change

By Scott Bailey © 2018

Screaming at the storm
The words lost in the thunder
Storm undeflected

In response to COLLEEN’S WEEKLY #TANKA TUESDAY #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 99, “CHANGE & DEFY,” #SYNONYMSONLY

Check the link for the guidelines and rules

Another senryu – I have taken the opposite of one of the words this time, so a bit of a cheat.

Image from Pixabay

#senryu

Triumph

By Scott Bailey © 2018

The white wolf’s triumph
Hunt over, hunger sated
No howling tonight

In response to Colleen’s Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 81, DIGNITY & SUCCESS, #SynonymsOnly

A haiku again this week. My brain is too fried for anything more.

#haiku

Sun Cycles

By Scott Bailey © 2018

Dawn spills on the land
Sharing its free, warm bounty
Nurturing the seeds
Feeding the grazers in turn
Then stolen by the hunters

Image from Pixabay

In response to COLLEEN’S WEEKLY #TANKA TUESDAY #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 90, “Give & Receive,” #SYNONYMSONLY

An attempt at a Tanka

#Tanka

Thunder

Arise
To the thunder
The raging of the skies
Rain, that splits the drought asunder
Rejoice

Tremble
Beneath the aweful majesty
Of nature’s might roar
Making your heart
Thunder

 

Image from Pixabay

In response to Colleen’s 2018 Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge No. 76: JOY & FURY, #SnyonymnsOnly

Had a go at a reverse cinquain this time.

#Cinquain #reverse-cinquain #CinquainPoetry

Blush

By Scott Bailey © 2018

See the sky blush with
Golden fire heaven sent
And then the darkness

Image from Pixabay

In response to the daily prompt Blush

#DailyPrompt, #amwriting, #postaday

Nature

By Scott Bailey © 2018

Nature
Claws back its realm
Over many ages
Verdant fingers prying apart
Even
The strongest of our creations
With persistence of growth
Old and fertile
Mother

Car Reclaimed by Nature
Image by Scott Bailey

In response to the daily prompt Patience

#DailyPrompt, #amwriting, #postaday

Chasing Sunbeams

By Scott Bailey © 2016

See the argent moon
Chasing the brightest sunbeams
Moments slip away

Image from Pixabay

Reclamation

Nature
Claws back its realm
Over many ages
Verdant fingers prying apart
Even
The strongest of our creations
With persistence of growth
Old and fertile
Mother

Car Reclaimed by Nature
Image by Scott Bailey

In response to COLLEEN’S WEEKLY #TANKA TUESDAY #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 75: “PATIENCE & GREEN” #SNYNONYMSONLY

Had a go at a butterfly cinquain this time – and I had the perfect picture to go with it – one I took myself for a change.

#Cinquain #butterfly-cinquain

COLLEEN’S WEEKLY #TANKA TUESDAY #POETRY CHALLENGE NO. 75: “PATIENCE & GREEN” #SNYNONYMSONLY

Thaw

By Scott Bailey © 2018

I watch the snow melt
The green shoots of grass rise up
To greet the new dawn
Taking a bracing shower
In glistening morning dew

Image from Pixabay

In response to COLLEEN’S WEEKLY #TANKA TUESDAY #POETRY CHALLENGE, NO. 74: “RENEW & FRESH,” #SNYONYMSONLY

#Tanka

The Cock

The resplendent cock
Struts and crows, feathers rich red
While the hens scatter

Cockerel
Image from Pixabay

In response to Colleen’s Weekly #Tanka Tuesday #Poetry Challenge, No. 71: Character & Affection, #SnyonymsOnly

#Haiku

Beginning

By Scott Bailey © 2016

Lightning flash charges
The rain drenched primordial dawn
A spark of life stirs

Beginning

In response to RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #96 Lightning&Rain

#Ronovan Writes Haiku Challenge

Dragon’s Jaws

By Scott Bailey © 2016

A silk-lined invite
Lures the hedonist inward
Down the dragon’s jaws

Dragon Jaws

In response to RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #95 Dragon&Invite

#Ronovan Writes Haiku Challenge

Thought

By Scott Bailey © 2016

Pearls of wisdom fade
Becomes as hard as diamond
Implacable thought

In response to RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #94 Diamonds&Pearls

#Ronovan Writes Haiku Challenge

Morning Vale

By Scott Bailey © 2016

The vale veiled in mist
Treetops fray misty tendrils
Sunlight melts it down

In response to RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #91 Fray&Veiled

Mist
Image from Pixabay

#Ronovan #Writes #Haiku #Challenge

Missing Meadows

By Scott Bailey © 2016

Intent on life’s path
We do not see the meadow’s
Beauty all around

In response to RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #92 Life&Path

#Ronovan Writes Haiku Challenge

Capital

By Scott Bailey © 2015

Clawing
Avarice
Pouncing
Insidious
Taxing
All
Lies

Cash
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Light Play

By Scott Bailey © 2016

See the sunlight play
In every dancing drop
A laughing shower

Light Play

In response to RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #89 Shower&Play

#Ronovan #Writes #Haiku #Challenge

Only Us

By Scott Bailey © 2014  

We don’t understand
The fight between them and us
There is only us

Division

To Me

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “Audience of One.”

To Me (Senryu)

By Scott Bailey © 2014

To my younger self
Don’t be so bloody afraid
Have fun and prosper

Good Faith?

In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “In Good Faith.”

In good faith they took
Their covenant most holy
Is killing good faith!?

Crusader
Image from Pixabay

Allure

By Scott Bailey © 2015

A golden charm hangs
Twisted tear between her breasts
Hungry wolves look on

In response to RonovanWrites #Weekly #Haiku #Poetry Prompt #Challenge #75

Holding Hands

By Scott Bailey © 2016

Tiny, warm, fragile
Fingers tightly holding mine
Treasured memories

Image from Pixabay

Owners Guide to Cattle

By Scott Bailey © 2017

Keep them on the verge
Of being panicked
Keep them unsure
And afraid
Whip them into a frenzy
Then collect the coin they make
Prod them where you need them to go

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Deep Roots

By Scott Bailey © 2017

The roots of the trees are deep
In the deep of the old old forest
Digging in the dirt, drinking in the earth
Long are the memories
The past seeping slowly from
Root to trunk to branch to leaf
Contemplating
Ripped up.
Houses built.

Image by Filipes from Pixabay

A Spring of Dreams – Trench

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Trench

By Scott Bailey © 2013

Dancing with my wife,
last week the telegraph came:
Coughs ring round the trench.

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Three hundred and sixty-five poems in all shapes and sizes, sprung from dreams and emotion. Published day after day for a year. There are haiku, sonnets, katauta, lanturnes and many other forms – including free form. The moods are as varied as the forms and often reflect my mood on the day. There is sadness and grief, joy and love.

If nothing else – these can provide a small moment in everyone’s stressful lives to stop and contemplate the world in a different way.

On the Cusp

By Scott Bailey © 2017

On the cusp
Of hell and
Something else
Who knows what

Photo by @joagbriel on Pexels.com

Prudence

By Scott Bailey © 2016

Prudence
Saves me
From rash acts
And decisions
Damn prudence
I need to fly!

Image by Public Co from Pixabay

Discover

By Scott Bailey © 2016

Discovered knowledge
Treasured sweeter than any
Teacher could serve up

Photo by Sofia Alejandra on Pexels.com

Enthusiasm

By Scott Bailey © 2016

Dead enthusiasm
Passion for mundane labours
Seems to be required

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Relax

By Scott Bailey © 2016

Relax
It’s just the end of the world
Relax
As the wall tumbles down
Relax they say
It will all work out
In the end

If you down in the dumps
Smile
It’s the positive attitude
That wins the day
Which is just another way
To say
It’s your fault

Relax
It’s just the end of the world
Relax
As the wall tumble down
Relax they say
It will all work out
In the end

Tell that to the man
Asleep in the door
Tell that to the maiden
Dead on the shore
Tell it to the lonely
Tell it to the lost
To the OAP bitten by frost

Relax
It is the end

War Scape
Image from Pixabay

Moody

By Scott Bailey © 2016

Brooding skies
For moody times
Thunderous justice
For shady lies

A storm is coming
Be prepared
For the arising
Of the weak and the scared

 

Photo by stein egil liland on Pexels.com

Bespoke

By Scott Bailey © 2016

Are we lucky?
A comfortable generation?
Or is it just
That our chains fit us perfectly?

Flee

By Scott Bailey © 2016

The cold swallows flee
Riding currents to the south
Rivers take their time

Photo by Skyler Ewing on Pexels.com

Mystical

By Scott Bailey © 2016

The mystical chord is missing
Congregation of the hearts
Cohesion of resistance
The friction that throws up sparks

Dragons stir on dripping hoards
Squeeze the bloody stones
Build their beds on broken bones
Their hunger ever fed

Lore is twisted into chains
Choking all who dream
Mystic songs have drained away
Silence reigns

Image from Pixabay

Missing

By Scott Bailey © 2016

Never ending beach
The crashing waves repeating
Permanence missing

Image from Pixabay

Still

By Scott Bailey © 2016

Stood before a wall
Dreaming of the road beyond
Still before a wall

Image from Pixabay

Vanish

By Scott Bailey © 2016

You must remember
When waking from reveries
All your dreams vanish

Photo by Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels.com

Straight Path

By Scott Bailey © 2015

The Romans had it right
With their roads
Our roads wander
And wind
Avoiding stuff
Drawing closer to other stuff
But it’s all just stuff
We get lost
Never arrive
Or if we do
Too late
Too late

Image from Pixabay

Dark Path

By Scott Bailey © 2015

(Musette Poem)

Sadness
Never ending
Madness

Will we
Learn to tread light
Greed free

Burning
Dreams leaving us
Yearning

Image from Pixabay

Over the Top

By Scott Bailey © 2006

The general’s orders are loud
Over the shattering shells
Through the mustard gas cloud
The general’s orders are loud
For privates timid and proud
We hear the tolling of bells
The general’s orders are loud
Over the shattering shells

And over the top once again
We face the thundering guns
We climb from our miry den
And over the top once again
A million war weary men
All scared but nobody runs
And over the top once again
We face the thundering guns

They stand at the station and wait
For their heroes and lovers’ return
While praying they will not be late
They stand at the station and wait
With their hearts in a fluttering state
For news they are longing to learn
They stand at the station and wait
For their heroes and lovers’ return

Image from Pixabay

The Night

By Scott Bailey © 2015

The music of the night!
The night of the wolves calling
The calling of the blood
The bloody business of mine
My feasting time

Dimming Lights

By Scott Bailey © 2015

Lights in grey matter
Never reaching the day
Plans uncommitted
As the chance ebbs away

A refugee wanderer
In dream worlds and clouds
Where sparks can be realised
And escape from the crowds

Homecoming (Tyburn)

By Scott Bailey © 2015

Flying
Soaring
Roasting
Roaring
Majestic wings spread like thunder clouds
The dragon has come home to his realm

Image from Pixabay

Grey

By Scott Bailey © 2017

Gunmetal grey
Blood-red letters
Professional presentation
Businesslike
Guns and Blood and Business
Bedfellows for eternity

Image by Pexels from Pixabay