Hunting Season

The leaves in silent fire

are mellowing,

a cool, crisp blaze

before the frost—

the last cracKle, pOp

before Old Man Winter

grays us with his beard.

We watch

as orange and white

petals of autumn suns

l           i           n          g                      e                                  r

like paper lanterns,

and then

the current

rolls them on—

I snuggle in

close beside you,

sip roasted dandelion tea

dripped with honey in the cup,

and on my tongue—

hoping you

track the scent

and catch me

mid-fall.

© 2014 Jennifer Wagner

Poets United: The Poetry Pantry

long hot summer night

hush now,

wild thing

have you ever been to electric lady land?

gypsy eyes, bold as love

machine gun fire burning desire—

hear my train a-comin’, lover man

let me move you

  

© 2013 Jennifer Wagner

Jimi Hendrix @ The Rock, photo © 2013 Jennifer Wagner

I recently visited a restaurant that had this likeness of Jimi Hendrix painted on the wall near our table (and titles to many of his songs on the seating).  Jimi is a Seattle icon, though I won’t say role model, ha…however, he was a brilliantly talented guitarist.  I crafted this poem (and title) from titles of songs he wrote, recorded or performed.

Songs:

Bold As Love

Burning Desire

Fire

Gypsy Eyes

Have You Ever Been (To Electric Ladyland)

Hear My Train A-Comin’

Hush Now

Let Me Move You

Long Hot Summer Night

Lover Man

Machine Gun

Wild Thing

Pinwheel

I don’t miss raindrops;

they’ve had their day.

I don’t miss March,

April, or even May;

especially when I see

the sweat

trickling down your back

and hope you

pick me

to throw into your sack.

© 2013 Jennifer Wagner

For two prompts.  Margaret Bednar at Imaginary Garden with Real Toads wants us to drip with heat…err summer.  This gorgeous photo is hers.  If you’ve gotta have more go here.  You won’t regret it!  And Peggy Goetz wants us to Feel the Heat in ten lines or less at Poetry Jam.  She’s an excellent photographer as well.  Go here to see more.  Happy summer!

Twinkling in the Midnight Blue(s)

That flicker in the

spaces between quivered breaths

calls to me on quilted nights.

Like stars collected

in a jar of lidless hopes,

each dark sky births want of you.

© 2013 Jennifer Wagner

This is my attempt at a Sedoka for dVerse Form for All:  The Princess’ Poem to her Secret Love.  Poet and host Samuel Peralta has invited us to try this rare form of unrhymed Japanese poetry consisting of two tercets with a scheme of 5-7-7 and 5-7-7 syllables.