Sketchbook Cinquain

A Viceroy Butterfly

Viceroy
over the phlox,
the fanning wings soundless—
a tiny fragment of sunset
alights.

Zhanna P. Rader



The Nature of Things

White clouds
becoming black…
and soon the storm begins…
The sky’s been mimicking my life
these days.

Zhanna P. Rader



Alone

Words, black
on white paper,
that say, "I'm leaving you."
Since then my life's a colorless,
blank page.

Zhanna P. Rader



In the Passenger Car

Blinding
winter landscape
switched off as the train’s loud
“toot-toot!” dives into a tunnel’s
dark throat.

Zhanna P. Rader



A Country-Side Visitor

Magpie—
its black and white
colors match those of the
March landscape… Soon the last snow will
be gone.

Zhanna P. Rader

 

Harvesters Young deer standing alert between fence row and woods blend with the brown, laden cornstalks— waiting. John Daleiden Just Before Frost I pick the last apple in cold October winds— through wet orchard grass Venus guides my feet. John Daleiden Renewal love tryst in gold moonlight— all night our long embrace, a feast cut short at dawn's morning harvest John Daleiden Día de Los Muertos Portal between seasons: with harvest riches stored we light dead souls to their sweet rest . . . candles John Daleiden Let Us Pretend To Be Royalty  Goblins come to my door— a prince and his consort dance a ditty for their beggar's sweet fare. John Daleiden After The Leaves Fall I hear bare tree branches  whisper at windy dusk— prelude to the fall of winter snow flakes. John Daleiden "To Silvia Let Us Garlands Bring" . . . and all  her delights fill  the fantasies of young  roués sequestered in dark rooms  alone. John Daleiden

 

In His Room on Veteran's Day folded flag kept along with his old service tags— I watch a leaf fall from the bough outside Deborah P. Kolodji   Moonlight Sonata clear notes after sunset, piano serenade— an unknown musician weaving my dreams Deborah P. Kolodji Pumpkin Picking the kids run through the patch point at this one or that— I try to keep up, camera ready Deborah P. Kolodji

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