Changes are again afoot! Autumn is rapidly approaching and whether you like change or do not like change, it is inevitable. We cannot slow the march of time! And we have encountered some changes that are good and some that haven’t turned out so well. Write about change. Something changes, one thing becomes another, spare change in your pocket or change of attitude. Would you like to change something about yourself, or someone else? Give your changes a voice. Write about it before you change your mind!
SARA’S CHANGE:
METAMORPHOSIS
Capricious caterpillar inches along
until, one day, he stops eating.
Upside down from a twig, he spins
a silky cocoon. Concealed within
the chrysalis–like a changing tent
on the beach–body parts transform.
Unlike your standard rabbit pulled
from a magician’s hat, caterpillar
vanishes. He emerges a butterfly.
Difference is, no reversion
is possible. Would you swirl,
whirl, and spin as a top to become
something different, if you could?
WALTER’S CHANGE:
NICKEL AND DIMING IT
Like sands through an hour glass,
or minutes ticking away, we play
each moment against the next
reflecting how much one thing
changing does not change much.
Such is life. Each of us sits
in God’s pocket like so many
nickels and dimes,
and as times change we remain
pre-determined to our fates.
The debate will rage
and the sage advice is retained.
The more things change,
the more they stay the same!
(C) Walter J. Wojtanik -2016
POETIC BLOOMINGS 
Responses
INEVITABILITY
Changes
often change us
but nothing that change does
can alter the fact that change is
changeless.
change is
changeless… how true that is.
A gem! (Sara)
Wise. So true…
Walt, those nickels and dimes make for powerful imagery, in my opinion.
we remain
pre-determined to our fates.
The debate will rage…. yes, that is true and I love the thought of nickles and dimes in God’s pockets.
Sara, for me, the idea that “no reversion is possible” makes your poem especially poignant, in my view. I admire it much.
Interesting question you pose, Sara
Do you have an answer?
I’m not sure I’m brave enough. I’d be sure to end up a moth rather than a butterfly.
Thanks, William.
HOPE
someone tell the flowers
after autumn lays them low
hope’s buried in seeds
#
This is so powerful, Sal. That’s my hope when I’m laid low.
Bingo!
Garden of hope. I like this, Sal. (Sara)
THE CRIME OF AUTUMN
winter in the wings
autumn soon enough
will don its heavy coat
rehearse down-the-back
shivers and tremblings
strut through nature
with a vengeance
suck dry
chlorophyll dreams
autumn says
somebody’s got to do it
but then why
the diabolic sneer
the piercing eyes
raucous laughter
in the diaspora
of leaves
now brittle
in their colors
taking to the wind
autumn insists
winter demands
a prelude to
the white death
a sycophant
to rustle up
some dying
before winter
roars its frigid
killing breath
#
Perfect title!
I take issue with this depiction of autumn, but not with superb poem.
Echo William’s sentiments. (Sara)
(really enjoyed all the reading so far!)
Renewing Love’s Vows
You say I always change my mind
A woman’s right, I’m told
But darling, my love will not change
Though we grow very old
Still, should love change, pray it will be
More kind and patient, dear
When we are long estranged from how
We got to There from here
Then all the changes we’ve fought through
And laughed and groaned and wept
Will be the legacy, my love
Of promises we’ve kept
That is a lovely testament to true love.
Indeed so.
Lovely thoughts, Janet. (Sara)
Wow. The conclusion has the power of a cliffhanger.
This is a puzzle poem. Clever, Debi. (Sara)
Love the combination of words and photo, Debi!
The Other Side of the Pillow
Cats are way cooler than dogs,
with rituals and gestures,
less obvious, more ironic,
in the way that hipsters
out-cool hippies.
Thinking about that,
it comes to mind that
spring is way cooler than summer,
with breezes and colors,
less potent, more subtle,
in the way that autumn
out-cools winter.
And hey, snowmen
are way cooler than sand castles.
But, that goes without saying.
I disagree about the cats and dogs, but love the poem.
I love the conclusions you draw here, Daniel. (My dogs did not care for it)
(Sara)
Neither did my yorkie but my niece’s two cats loved it.
Genius Inside
Every four years,
near summer’s end,
the world focuses
on sports, on athletics.
For me, awaiting fall,
there’s more to enjoy,
like art and beauty,
nature, aesthetics.
We can’t all be runners
and leapers and such,
especially us old folks,
it would just be too much.
Yet, as our own personal
autumn nears,
there’s joy to be found,
no mere dollop of pride,
we each have some genius,
an artist inside.
We’re each an Olympian,
merely needing the temerity,
to claim our abundance,
our joy and prosperity.
I love the thoughts and rhyming.
Love the idea of everyone being an Olympian.
Antiquity
Where am I going?
From whence did I come?
Why am I living here?
What am I created from?
These are all questions
Children ask, and more
What do you tell them?
What are we living for?
Once was young, now I’m old
Not seen God’s child forsaken
The truth, it must be told
Not for bread will be beggin
Praise to the creator
All praise to His name
We are an extension
Of His Holy frame
Lovely hymn
Happy Sunday to everyone!
.
In Sorrow and Madness
he looked into her face,
so truthful, steady, pale
as the rising moon, and
she loved his every sipped
whispered lie. but he cut
and killed her. stealth with
his every cheating word.
in sickness and in health,
in shades and shadows,
in sorrow and in madness,
there was no changing
the course of love, not
when she was drunk
on his deceptive ways.
Wow! This made me stop and feel.
‘Drunk on his deceptive ways’ – somewhere this is happening, I’ll bet.
I just wish she’d sober up. This happens to too many
Winds of Change
Aren’t you astounded
by how profoundly
we hold on,
even so?
Aren’t you amazed
by streams of dreams
that still linger
under wrinkles?
Or dazzled
by the splendor of colors
that can dance
across weary eyes?
Or even surprised
by tides of passion
that prance
around gray heads, as if?
Can we hear sounds
of new beginnings
till the very end?
Will we?
Nurit Israeli
I admire this, especially the sounds that echo all through it.
Thoughtful poem, Nurit. I want the music to go on.
You are young sara — the music will continue playing for you for many years to come…
I am astounded, amazed, dazzled and surprised. May I never not be.
May you, Debi. May we…
Change
Now is a strange thing
It doesn’t last
But a thousand nows later
We never reach then
Oh! Big bingo here.
I agree with William.
word of the day:
estivate/aestivate
PRONUNCIATION:
(ES-tuh-vayt) http://wordsmith.org/words/estivate.mp3
MEANING:
verb: To pass the summer in a dormant state.
Change Wisely
Changes happen daily
Sometimes minute-by-minute
Changes can be good or bad
That’s mostly up to us to decide
Decide wisely
Change positively
Apologize for bad choices
Learn from every change
And apply what is learned
Change can be good
Or bad
Regardless
Change wisely
© Earl Parsons