Free Verse
Beneath the
Moss
Ducking young sun's barbs, we
sank into a hidden garden,
Through sun-filtered waves and scintillating shadows,
Where subterranean monsters boasted shiny scales;
We drifted on flimsy coral like forests, opal haloed
Where plumed and armored beasts peered, rainbow shaded;
Some bold as clowns; others, fragile as butterflies.
Our uninvited presence heralded such a display
Of pearl-pale fans splaying stars on fossilized sprays;
As if to say we may not visit again these sifted ways,
Or enter our echoless canyon twice; our polyp forested abyss.
Mike
Scheidemann, IL—Ekphrastic
Poem: Singing Nebulae
About Mike
Scheidemann, IL
Mike
Scheidemann: Most of my life I have lived as a farmer
and kibbutz member, practicing socialism in Northern Israel.
In this pastoral environment I wrote and published four
anthologies of poetry and numerous short stories. Recently I
have tried my hand at writing two novels and three plays for
the stage; all very rewarding. I enjoy practicing my poetic
craft by using traditional forms like the villanelle, the
pantoum and the sonnet. I like indulging in rhyme schemes.
I co edited two books on Peace through Poetry and Culture;
the material of two international peace conferences
sponsored by UNESCO. Indeed the honorary doctorate I was
given was awarded by the World Academy of Arts and Sciences,
associated with UNESCO, for coordinating the conferences. I
also happen to be President of Voices; the Israel English
Poetry Association; the largest group of Anglo Saxon poets
in Israel. We see ourselves as the cultural link with Anglo
poetsaround the world. To this end we have launched our 21st
international poetry contest (Ruben
Rose Annual Poetry Competition) and our thirty sixth
volume of poetry of which we are justly proud.
This is Mike
Scheidemann's first Appearance in Sketchbook.
