John Daleiden, US

 

 

Sijo   A Mother’s Lullaby   Hush, my sweet, my little one—the night has come, it’s time to sleep. I’ll rock you—close, sleepy eyes, it’s time to rest and grow an inch! In dream land frolic with great joy—tomorrow you’ll be a man. Capture time in a bottle; fill it with love and secret dreams. A soft song and loving arms to dry your tears and charm your smile. Rock-a-bye, sweet little boy, some day you’ll sleep in other arms.     Cinquain A Garland For You On Mother’s Day   For you these white lilies— strong stalks that bend in wind, gentle petals and a sweet scent, mother. Your strength, all enduring; so like Penelope— your life tapestry testifies true love. You mend the broken heart— heal little scrapes and wounds; tender cradle songs rock and sooth the soul. Courage is your motto, an unflinching anthem— marching in step with the parade, you lead. Mother, in word and deed you are a rich treasure, your wealth worth more than mere diamonds, a Queen.     Tanka Sequence While We Wait   ninety-four days with not a drop of rain in this Spring desert— thank God we still make love after forty-three years!     in the morning sun the ancient saguaro a-twitter with song-- my little bird, rest a while by my side in this warm bed     do you think this gray in my hair is becoming? yesterday, I cried when my sister telephoned to say her marriage ended!     our first grandchild will be born in a few days! how old we are now— distant is the memory of his pre-mature birth     listen to the wind— perhaps the rains come today! hold my hand awhile— how tiresome, watching sand trickle through the hour glass     red sky at sunset— expecting sailor's delight I trim my sails perhaps our passions will meet in perfect harmony      Oliver's Feast: A Mirror Cinquain   They serve gruel in bowls— we bend our weary heads to the crazed white dishes and drink our food. Sundays we get half a roll—twice a week raw onions in our cup; only the click of spoons.

 

Read Additional Poems by John Daleiden   John Daleiden, US and Vaughn Seward, CA—Three Linked Renhai: A Spring Frolic; Stringing Things,  Another Scoop, Sunrise, Sunset John Daleiden, US: Solo Renhai—A 'Tie That Binds' Gillena Cox, TT and John Daleiden, US—Spring Essence Shanna Baldwin Moore, US and John Daleiden, US—The Last Rose