Calling All Angels

Fireblossom asked us to write about an angel.   She told us not to write about the traditional Christmas angel- mine is kinda winter related, but where I grew up I saw and made many of these even in March and sometimes in April.  New England is famous for an April Fool winter storm.

My second poem is based on some art-I recently made and submitted. I call it mail art.   I thought of the era where letters felt heaven sent, from loved ones during the war.  I remember my husband telling me how much my letters meant to him in boot camp, years ago.   I called my art eXtra Angels.   So, here are two poems.  Thank you to the Postal Service and all of its workers for allowing us to receive many cherished memories-gifts year round!

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SNOW ANGEL

Arrival flung far n' wide
like white glittered pearls

Moon fish dances in daydream's ripples

once blanket of green held whispers

now blanket
 canvas of white

 angel tells me

go child

spread your wings

like a butterfly
leave

mysteries for poets

who see worlds in aquamarine

memories n' silver rivers

caressed by wind's breath

and imagination's tightrope
it dangles inviting you
each day
©Ellen Wilson

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eXtra Angel

Ink memories
waltz in mind's music box
singing yellow canary paints
portrait on each page of
day's walk
near our green umbrella
beloved angel gathering berries
in golden bowl
whispers of our strings
like dappling sunshine on the coldest day
your font, your perfume
three words smudged end
edge's daydream
mind's spiral dance transfixed
portal's page opens
our treasured history
 our gray gardens
touching
 fern near our Tree of Heaven
planting our reunion
I'll wear my brown suit
you'll wear the sky.
©Ellen Wilson

Artistic Interpretations with Margaret - "The Collector" through the lens of Jennifer MacNeill

Over in the Garden, Margaret shared with us the talented Jennifer MacNeill.   Her Collector's series of photos inspired our poems.  I have written before about the lives of objects.  I love this challenge~
Thank you Margaret and Jennifer!!

Jennifer MacNeill gave us permission to use the images in "The Collector" series for today's challenge.  YOU can see more of her photos at
 her website HERE and flicker page HERE to your poetry post.

She is very talented! 

Buried at Sea

Smitten by thread

My parents played Button, Button

 born in a  basket

near blades of crane 

stories of collared wonder, suits and ball gowns

made my mirrored stars glisten

Crimson lips saved me

stitched to white velvet 

I roamed...

I saw his gorgeous brass eyes

in a sea of indigo wool

my mistress pressed me flat

was he a shank or stud

 buried in his sleeve

dizzy pressed against

 two bright smiles

we fell in love

once closed

now looped

knotted together

dancing, having tea

duty called him 

into battle

my stud lost at sea

I was tucked away

restitched on children's pocket

later tickle pink gown

covered with chocolate 

resorted to a joyful bubble

of bad manners

I miss

mahogany walls, tea with cream

and the scent of him

the sea

my new mistress grew

one day ripping her bodice 

near the shore

I tumbled 

into navy abyss

sinking 

I blew tiny bubbles

searching for 

my brass stud.

© Ellen Wilson

Lunatics

Yes, true story-the birth of photography involved a group of men who met and broke boundaries in both religion and class.  The met on the first Monday nearest the full moon and called themselves Lunar Men-a group of inventors, scientists, and freethinkers.   In good humor they nicknamed themselves the 'Lunaticks'. One of them was Charles Darwin's grandfather.  Here is my next attempt at a Black n' White poem and a roundel.
   I have struggled lately with my writing.
 I wasn't pleased with the my earlier offerings-so try, try again.

*****

BEWITCHING BOX

Bewitching box steals sails of shadowed night   

floating imagine of silver wings reveals    

fortune exposed by pale moon light  

bewitching box steals 

Night's album lifts light-does soul squeal? 

Mystic obscura paints in black n' white    

Nuns alert priest to instill prayer wheel     

Priest mumbles Franklin's key n' kite   

will pray for Lunatics' dark ideals   

goes to the heavenly peek show in spite 

bewitching box steals 

© Ellen Wilson

Lunar Man

*****

LUNAR MAN

Lunar man collects running light

exposed magic torches paper heart with copper flames

shadow grams illuminate silver circus by night

Lunar man collects 

Orange monarch captured by surrendering chains

wrinkle line of day scorched gold into blue line of flight

dark chamber filters optic quicksilver brains

Windows arch visible-pale white knight

riding n' discovering enchanted great plains

gardens of memories paint  peacock of night

Lunar man collects

© Ellen Wilson

Kerry asked us to write a poem in honor of Christina Rossini her birthday is December 5th

Creating Stillness

Here is my second attempt at trying to write a Tanka, for the weekend challenge.   I applied form this type-five lines with syllables, to evoke a memory.  The first one is all about my time with my grandparents.  Once a week, I was invited to have tea with them-a special time for me.   Their view was aligned by the sea, roses and their bird feeders.  Red Rose tea was served daily, but at our tea party a loose blend was steeped and served with special homemade cookies or muffins.

Steeped sea green pearls

warmth overcomes salty mood

swirling thoughts linger

portal of calm opens heart

fragile red rose hips remind me

© Ellen Wilson

 Yellow hearts climb high

their tiny arms fragment their dreams

hope planted in sepia

reaching kite blue tail's cast off string

embracing wings for last dance

© Ellen Wilson

 Hello Ruby flower

your exotic petals float

 Sun is joining us

dear sit near Peter by sky blue glories

your tea has sunflower's smile.

© Ellen Wilson

ART Challenge: Featuring Mike Worrall

For our Sunday challenge, Grace shared with us the talented surreal painter Mike Worrall!

"The enigmatic, dreamlike paintings of Mike Worrall are often inspired by historical themes.  Informed by his work in film, Worrall deals with the sublime in his hyperreal depictions of the mysterious.  As in a dream, the quiet façade and the beauty of the large scale oil paintings masks the intriguing content and enormous energy underpinning the works."


Thank you Grace!  Mike's art is wonderful~

For a complete view of his work, please visit here.

Poets Corner, oil on linen, 122x155cm, 2002



The Musical called Day 

My petals unfold as

Soleil twirls her skirt

bleeding light onto

green starred pasture

Honey bees hum as my
poem blooms

playing four notes

north, south, east and west

pointing my fate

towards night's garden

soon wormy darkness creeps

into our evergreen sea

 my blush petals deepen into maroon

 I surrender my neck my bridge

into heaven's blue crystallized soil

strum my fate

feathering fingers with

Brahm's lullaby
tomorrow I will play a hurricane
casting away the Iceberg Roses
their blood chills us all. 

© Ellen Wilson

Geometry of Costume, oil on canvas, 122x182cm, 2002

 FOUNTAIN OF LIFE

Geometry plays tricks

daughter dear-faded pearls n' dust

decorate family tree

dewy peach skin 

outlined charcoal doe eyes

grace blushed apple smile

dimpled thoughts wink

doorway of souls

float in bleached white memories

silver feathers glide

appearing in  hands, in smile

elfin manner transformed

every quarter hour

face chimes

You Westminster and I

Winchester

  archived map lives on

in golden floral notes

n' sands of time
 Daughter your Quadrilateral
I'm sorry
your father is famous
Yes, you know him
Time Square.

© Ellen Wilson

Thank you Mike!   Great challenge Grace~