Almost single-handedly, moon conquers the night
Although the stars, taken together, shine so bright,
Give to the moon most precedence, evenhandedly
Moon conquers the night, almost single-handedly.
The moon in all its glory, the naked eye can see
While nearest stars, I’m afraid, are too far for me,
Though the most distant star has its very own story
The naked eye can see, the moon in all its glory.
Indeed, I stand in awe, of the heaven’s vast array
To stand and peer upward at the end of a long day
So mysterious the length and breadth of its draw
Of the heaven’s vast array, indeed, I stand in awe.
I love the night sky, filled with wonder and mystery
Evidenced from the beginning of human history,
Ere man could comprehend, [or even begin to try]
Filled with wonder and mystery, I love the night sky.
Written August 11, 2022
[Swap Quatrain, as invented by Lorraine
M. Kanter; introduced to me by Emile Pinet]
For the benefit of any non-Middle-English
speakers, a literal, word-for-word translation
has been provided beneath each line of
the original:
Whan that Aprille with his shoures soote!
When we've already had enough! of April showers
Whan priketh hem Governeur in oure corages
Our prick of a governor locks us down in our garages
Than longen folk to goon on pilgrimages
Ha, ha! Our goon squads are itching to go on barrages
And smale fowles maken melodye
And assault thine ears with foul-mouthed serenades
That slepen al the night with open ye
'Twill fershloft three far aye with mnemonic charades
~ A special thanks to Middle English translator, Barry Kanter
Look to the sky to witness morning glory
As rising vision writes an amorous story
Painting cosmic canvas delightfully spry
To witness morning glory, look to the sky
Listen to the birds for message they heard
As the horizon lit-up when emotions stirred
Blowing cheery winds chanting your words
For message they heard, listen to the birds
Every day goes by without you by my side
Waiting to decide, I see you teary eyed
Trust the answer you have, don't ask why
Without you by my side, every day goes by
Heeding my advice you echoed my voice
Leaning on destiny you made your choice
Trusting my friendship won't exact a price
You echoed my voice, heeding my advice
June 20, 2018
Placed 1st: Late June 2018 standard contest by Brian Strand
NOTE:
This poem is a Swap Quatrain. This form was created by Lorraine M. Kanter.
Within the Swap Quatrain each stanza in the poem must be a quatrain (four lines) where the
first line is reversed in the fourth line. In addition, line 2 must rhyme with line 1, and line 3
must rhyme with line 4 and so on, BUT not repeat the same rhyming pattern on subsequent
stanzas. Rhyming pattern: AABB, CCDD, and so on.
When life gives a choice don't ask why
Don't dwell in dark under a star-lit sky
If music starts playing go find your voice
Don't ask why when life gives a choice
Every life will smile bearing a gift of joy
Echoing sounds of a harmonious ploy
Spreading cheer, donning perky style
Bearing a gift of joy every life will smile
In times of despair, know there's hope
Happiness resides in everyone's scope
Blessings embody within every prayer
Know there's hope in times of despair
Upon every roof some rain must fall
Life once in a while answers your call
When love finds us, that is one proof
Some rain must fall upon every roof
May 14, 2018
Poem of the day on May 16, 2018
HM: Strand select 3 contest by Brian Strand
NOTE:
This poem is a Swap Quatrain. This form was created by Lorraine M. Kanter.
Within the Swap Quatrain each stanza in the poem must be a quatrain (four lines) where the first line is reversed in the fourth line. In addition, line 2 must rhyme with line 1, and line 3 must rhyme with line 4 and so on, BUT not repeat the same rhyming pattern on subsequent stanzas. Rhyming pattern: AABB, CCDD, and so on.
Sunshine and showers; grey clouds and rainbows.
Woes vanish, and then, again our pain grows.
Our happiness wilts, and then again flowers.
Grey clouds and rainbows; sunshine and showers!
So on and so on, our pathways will wend -
some paths beginning where others’ paths end.
Mornings to nightfalls, and nights to each dawn,
our pathways will wend so on and so on.
Into centuries, from months and through years,
we keep passing on our foolhardy fears.
All that we’ve gleaned drifts on with the breeze.
From months and through years into centuries.
Can love and peace grow? God alone knows this.
In this life or the next, will we find bliss?
All that restricts us! When will we let go?
God alone knows this. Can love and peace grow?
Feb. 20, 2018 for Robert Haigh's Sunshine and Showers Contest
(This is using Swap Quatrain form, created by Lorraine M. Kanter)
One Lost Shoe
What to do:
Find the lost garden shoe.
Look here and there with detective flare.
Searching won’t fail; so, don’t pull out your curly hair!
Begin sniffing here, there; it has to be somewhere.
Grizzly bears smell, stinky shoes; then, flail!
So, forget your tall tale.
And inhale!
© Dane Smith-Johnsen
May 24, 2010
Poetic Form-LIST: Trois-par-Huit as created by Lorraine M. Kanter