Poems From the Porch 5
Poetry For My Friends
Thank you for visiting the porch again this week. Everyone is welcome, old and new friends alike. I am thoroughly enjoying the challenge of writing poetry based on the prompts you provide, though some are more challenging than others and really test my skills.
While I am on that subject, I must issue an apology to Marie Flint. I had intended to include a poem for Marie in this collection, however, Marie has added to her original request and now would like it written as a sonnet. I actually enjoy the challenge that the strict form of a sonnet requires but it will just take me a little longer to do it justice. So, if you are reading this Marie, your sonnet about plants linked with emotions will appear next week.
Ok, sit back and relax while I share this week's poetry from the porch.
Liz Westwood
"How about one on the joys of travel?"
OK Liz, your wish is my command, though I am not that widely travelled myself. I can tell from your hubs/articles though how much you enjoy it.
The Travel Bug
Beware the travel bug that bites
Infecting you with must-see sights.
There is no cure, so hold on tight.
You'll soon compare the price of flights.
Jetting to exotic lands,
Peru, China, Kazakstan,
Pacific Islands, Sahara sands,
Anywhere your passport spans.
Everywhere on Earth's a wonder,
So push your boring life asunder,
Trek across the icy tundra,
Visit that strange land down under.
Whether ship, plane, bus, or train
The travel bug gets in your brain,
And once the virus gets ingrained,
If you travel once you must again,
Rinita Sen
"That gives me an idea for you - a poem about an actual letter box. Although rarely used for personal letters any more, yet the memories it triggers could be worth writing about, if you wish to?"
Thanks for this prompt, Rinita. I thought this would be an easy poem to write but I have actually rewritten it twice. I hope you like the final result.
The Letterbox
There's a letterbox perched by my gate,
It once would bulge with mail
These days it often sits unused,
A victim of e-mail.
Now, only bills and catalogues
Seem to grace its slot,
Or maybe a religious tract
I desire to read it not.
Letter writing‘s had its day,
But it seems that time has passed.
People now don't take the time,
They like things done too fast.
Those days I still remember
When I'd watch out for the mail,
For a letter from my loved one
To be delivered without fail.
The letterbox holds memories
And dreams of yesterday.
Like other relics from the past
That years just can't erase.
Shauna Bowling
"I love the idea of asking your readers to challenge your poetry prowess.
How 'bout this one?: Smelly Sneakers."
Trust you Shauna haha. I have never been asked to write a poem about smelly sneakers before. Well, there's a first time for everything so here it is.
Smelly Sneakers
I wear my sneakers everywhere,
They're rarely off my feet,
Whether it is pouring rain
Or in the sweltering heat.
I don't have time to wash them
And wait for them to dry,
So I just wear them as they are.
I'm always on the fly.
I know they're getting smelly,
And everybody knows,
But thankfully they're on my feet
And a long way from my nose.
Diana L Pierce
"Spring is my favorite time of year. With it rapidly approaching fall where I live I know winter will be here just as fast. Seasons changing gives great material for writing poetry. We seldom think about the seasons changing on the opposite side of the world being opposite also, perhaps learning about spring time in Australia will make dreaded cold weather seem less harsh to your friends in North America."
Thank you for your request Diana. Spring is the favourite season for many when flowers bloom, birds nest and sing etc. This poem about the Aussie spring may not be exactly what you were expecting, however. (* let me just add that Spring 2019 in Queensland, Australia is not typical, at least not to date, and I hope it isn't representative of the future.)
Springtime in Australia
Springtime in Australia
Is unique in many ways,
Diverse flora and fauna,
And a distant smoky haze.
For although the days are pleasant
And temperatures are mild,
With rainfall we have not been blessed
In more than quite a while.
The colour green is sadly
Disappearing from the scene,
On only tough established trees
Are where it can be seen.
The grass is brown and withered
and crackles underfoot,
And where fires have been burning
There's nothing left but soot.
The animals are dying
For they have no food to eat,
Or water to refresh them
And sooth them from the heat.
Sometimes the storm clouds gather
and we hope and pray for rain.
There is thunder in the distance,
But it always ends the same.
Just a sprinkle of a promise
Before the clouds move on,
And we are left lamenting
What, before it came, was gone.
Though some plants have been flowering,
The very hardy few,
And the birds have still been singing
with the early morning dew.
Now, summer is approaching
And we hope it brings the rain,
To soothe this parched and ravaged land
So life can thrive again.
Although temperatures will soar
In the coming months,
It will be the cyclone season
With rains that lead to floods.
The climate has been changing,
Droughts are more extreme,
And bushfires are now so frequent,
The likes we've never seen.
When the skies do open up
And rains begin to fall,
Tears of joy will be shed too
That God answered the call.
Sometimes relief comes far too late
and stock and crops are lost.
I lament the plight of farmers
And their reoccurring costs.
For those in other countries
It's hard to comprehend
The harshness of this southern land,
With its different season trends.
So, this poem about the spring
Is not what you expect.
Blooming flowers and singing birds
Are somewhat circumspect.
But, truth is sometimes hard and blunt,
And just has to be told.
Springtime in Australia
Doesn't fit the clichéd mould.
* Just after writing this poem, the skies darkened and we were suddenly hit with a hail storm. It was short-lived but most welcome as it also gave us 15mm of rain...more than we have had in the previous six months.
Keep Those Requests Coming
Don't forget, if you have an idea for a poem you'd like me to write, then let me know in comments. Throw subjects at me and I will do my best to write poems about them. If you want to really test me you can even request the type/style of poem you want.
Next week I hope to fill the requests of Marie Flint, Lind Lum, and Gypsy Rose Lee. Until then, it's bye from the porch.
© 2019 John Hansen
Comments
AUTHORThanks for reading Lawrence. Our weather is crazy.This year has had the lowest rainfall I can remember so far and that won’t change unless we get a flood for Christmas. I hope you had enough to get you through Summer. We had 40 C degree heat here two days ago and bushfires everywhere and in Perisher and Tasmania they had snow...crazy.
John
So glad you got the rain, we've had a wet spring so far, but we'll need every drop thats fallen in the summer.
The 'Spring' poem was my favourite.
- AUTHOR
Ann, goo to see you again. We just had another storm tonight so the weather Gods seem to be listening. I already have enough suggestions to keep this series going for months so that’s great.
My favourites this time are the Letterbox (great illustration!) and Spring in Australia where the climate is so different from ours here in Britain. I hope you get more rain soon, John.
This series is going well. I don't think you'll ever be short of suggestions!
Ann
- AUTHOR
Thank you so much for your generous comment, Chitrangada. This series may be the first of its kind here at HubPages, funny thing is none of these have been selected for a niche site. I know they don’t really like articles in a series, but still. I am glad you are enjoying these anyway.
You are so talented and creative John! Beautiful expressions.
Perhaps, this is the first time, I have across such a thing on HubPages. You have done full justice to all the topics, suggested by fellow writers.
I loved going through all your poems.
Thanks for sharing.
- AUTHOR
Hi Brenda. I am glad you liked those poems, and your letter box sounds like mine.
I loved the letter box one and the last one on springtime in Australia.
So sorry your grass is brown, it doesnt look like spring.
And for the letters my box too is empty except for bills and marketing. The fast lane it seems to be.
Great read.
Happy to. The inspiration behind these verses is my husband's 10 year old nephew who still sends him hand written letters from time to time. It is indeed a unique experience for us in this day and age.
- AUTHOR
Hi, Rinita my dear friend. Thank you so much for your additional verses to add some hope to the letterbox poem. I love it. I hope you did really receive a hand-written letter from your tween nephew. What a pleasant surprise that would be.
Thank you for the comment regarding Springtime in Australia too. Most people only see spring a beautiful season, and many times it is, but not this year in my part of Australia. I hope you have a wonderful week ahead.
Brilliant, John.
Thank you for including my request.
I thought I might add some hope to the sadness of the letterbox, so here are a couple of stanzas from me. Hope you find them okay.
In came the mailman the other day
My eyes I couldn't believe
Said he, "There's a handwritten letter"
To see this day again didn't think I'd live
Scrawled in big, bold alphabets
My name and address clear
The "From" surprised me the most
For 'twas from my tween nephew dear
An old-styled letter, a 'To', a 'From', with paras
Wrote he with such affection, in Whatsapp you won't see
Made his tiny pencil drawings - plants, animals, beings
I still couldn't believe such a letter was posted just for me
Oh, and the spring poem was another marvel. Had no idea this beautiful season was so hard for you guys. I cannot say things will improve, but let us not lose hope. Have a great day, John. You are amazing.
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I am so glad you did the maths! Indeed your rainbow poetry expressing all the right colours at the same time becomes a pure white light!
Let the colours of Love flow!
Sean
- AUTHOR
Hi Nikki. How are you? It is good to read that you enjoyed these poems and even got a laugh out of a couple. I really appreciate your generous comment.
I loved reading all these poems John!
Smelly Sneakers is my favourite and Travel Bug made me laugh so hard. Lol.
You’re getting perfection day by day, I must say this.
Waiting for another set of poems from the Porch.
- AUTHOR
Hey Cynthia. I am so glad these poems helped to cheer you up. Thank you for reading.
Hi John,
These latest poems are delightful. I was feeling kind of gloomy, but your cheery rhymes erased that. Thank you!
- AUTHOR
Hi Alyssa, thanks for following this series. You have a great weekend too.
Another fun collection! I look forward to you turning random things into poems. Have a wonderful weekend!
- AUTHOR
It is never too late, Genna. You are always welcome to the Porch. I am glad you enjoyed this collection of poems. I am enjoying the challenge of writing to other people’s requests.
- AUTHOR
Hello Linda, it is always good to see you here on the porch. Yes, maybe I need to take the time to wash those smelly sneakers. I wasn’t aware they were so smelly until Shauna pointed it out lol. Yes, sadly the mail box is more for gathering cobwebs these days or housing the occasional critter. OK it’s a deal we post photos of our areas during our lovelier times of the year. Have a great weekend.
I'm afraid I'm late to the party for this one. So well done, John! I very much liked The Travel Bug and The Letterbox. And Shauna's was such fun. Reading Springtime in Australia, and the drought that has caused suffering to so many living things... I, too, hope that summer brings a hearty rainy season for you all.
What fun John. Perhaps those smelly sneakers have been doing too much traveling. The poem about the mailbox is a bit sad. I remember when the daily visit from the mailman was always full of anticipation. Now, the poor thing is dusty. Bills are handled online, catalogs are replaced by ads on Facebook, and no one writes letters anymore.
As for the change of seasons, ours has been quite dramatic. Perhaps you and I could make a pact--as my cold weather approaches you could entertain me with photos of your beautiful weather. When your icy season descends I'll return the favor.
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By the way, John, it doesn't have to end with an A or C, it can end with BB.
- AUTHOR
Oh ok, thanks Charlie
My brother lives in the same state as you John.
Ormeau Queensland
- AUTHOR
Sean, my brother, thank you for labelling me a "white hole of poetry." I had never heard of a white hole but I am sure there needs to be the opposite of a black hole. Your physics teacher has come out in this comment.I guess if you spin a colour wheel you just get white as a combination of all colours...so I can be the rainbow poet and a white hole lol.
- AUTHOR
Hi Linda, thank you for following the series. Fortunately, before I even finished writing this we experienced a hail storm, and more rain was to follow a couple of hours later. It hasn't broken the drought yet though, we need more follow-up rains.
- AUTHOR
Lora, thank you for such an insightful comment. Yes, I did include a little misture of humour and seriousness this week. No matter how much people want to argue about the climate I think it is clear to most of us that the seasons are changing and climatic events worsening.That can't be denied. I am glad you liked "The Letterbox" most though.
Do you know that the reverse of a black hole is a white hole? In general relativity, a white hole is a hypothetical region of spacetime in which nothing can be entered from the outside, while matter and light can escape from it. Well, my brother, you are a white hole of poetry! Thank you for the fun!
Shine on you crazy diamond!
Sean
You've created some entertaining poems, as always. I'm glad you included the one about the Aussie spring. I believe we need to think about what is happening in the world at the moment. Thanks for raising awareness. I hope you get the rain that you need.
Fun and serious reflections from the porch are shown in your poems this week, John. I love the Travel Bug and Smelly Sneakers really made me smile but I think The Letterbox was my favorite. Very nice, indeed! The last poem, Springtime in Australia, paints a vivid and sad depiction of the changes that climate change is bringing to Australia and everywhere. There is no place that global warming isn't effecting. You confront the reader with the serious consequences of the changes we have brought about and the urgency of acting now. Great job on some difficult topics.
- AUTHOR
Hi, Marie. Fortunately, it rained last night but we need follow-up rain to make it worthwhile. Yes, we are growing all our herbs and vegetables in large pots. Let's hope. Glad you enjoyed these poems.
- AUTHOR
Thanks so much, Lori. Blessings.
- AUTHOR
Ok, thanks for explaining that Elijah.
John, I must have did it incorrectly. The "BB" suggests only those 2 rhymed as I does going back and forth from AA to CC mean only that particular pair are required to rhyme. I'm new to that concept, had never seen it until you used it to explain what I had asked before.
I'm sorry to learn about the general lack of rain down under. I hope you can implement olla pots for your garden(s).
Yes, I enjoyed the rhythms and rhymes. Comforting, humorous, and conversational.
Blessings!
Love these poems.
- AUTHOR
Thank you for your kind words, Cheryl.
- AUTHOR
Truly, Ruby. I find rhyming verse easier to write than prose. Thanks for reading and enjoying.
- AUTHOR
Flourish, this is so much more interesting than just writing about my own ideas. Glad you are enjoying the diversity of subjects.
- AUTHOR
MsDora, I am glad this series is proving educational as well as entertaining. Blessings.
- AUTHOR
Thank you, Rasma. Glad you liked “smelly sneakers” and guess what?...your request will be in next weeks edition.
- AUTHOR
Nice rhyming, Peg :) I am glad your porch is lovely. Thank you for reading and for the kind comment.
- AUTHOR
Hello Lorna, I am glad to hear that you still write letters. I don’t but I do still write hand-written greeting cards (usually with my own verse and sometimes written in calligraphy if I have the time.) I always prided myself in my handwriting but I noticed it has been deteriorating in recent years so I need to practice more.
- AUTHOR
Thank you Charlie. I am pleased you are enjoying he series and “Springtime in Australia”especially. What state does your brother live in?
- AUTHOR
Hi Shauna, I am happy that you liked these poems, especially the one you requested “smelly sneakers.” Yes, the drought and bushfires and devastation they cause are hard to cope with, however last night we had a large downpour of rain so I hope there is more to come. Cheers my friend.
Thank you for sharing. You have a natural talent.
John, it is my firm belief that you could rhyme anything. I enjoyed reading all of your poems, esp. The Smelly Sneakers.
You do such a great job on these and with everyone giving suggestions the ideas are all over the place. I love it. What a fabulous column!
As for me, I manage to learn a thing or two while I'm having fun reading your poems. Thanks for sharing your unique expertise.
Absolutely delightful and those smelly sneakers really show creativity
- AUTHOR
Peggy, I feel for the people in Los Angelus as many places here have faced a similar situation recently. It is obvious that climatic change is occurring and we need to do all we can do to rectify the situation
What a great theme of poems from the porch. Loved springtime in Australia. Glad you got some relief from the drought.
We love sitting on our porch, too.
Now's the time to enjoy the view.
With cooler days and gentle breezes.
Oh, my. I made a rhyme. Adieu.
- AUTHOR
I appreciate that, Bill. Not sure that writing these poems is quite as easy as it seems but glad it appears that way.
- AUTHOR
Thank you for following this series, Mary. I am glad you enjoyed “Springtime in Australia” too. Yes, take your time to think of a request, but I look forward to whatever it may be.
- AUTHOR
Thank you Elijah, yes I prefer to rhyme if possible, though I tried writing “The Letterbox” with free verse but wasn’t happy with it. You certainly like to challenge me...with that rhyme scheme I need a lot of common rhyming words for all those “B”s.
- AUTHOR
So glad you enjoyed these poems Pamela. Let me know more details about your granddaughter if you can..her name and things she likes etc so I can personalise it more. Email me the details if you need to.
Another enjoyable selection from the porch - I enjoyed the variety of poems and in particular 'The Letterbox' which brought memories. I still write letters to friends across the world, as I like to keep this old-fashioned way of communicating alive.
Another enjoyable visit to your porch. I especially liked springtime in Australia. A country I have never visited, but my brother has lived there for about 25 years.
John, these are all amazing, as usual. The Letterbox was sad. But it's so true. About all I get in the mail anymore are bills and junk mail. The first mailbox photo looks like it's rusting away from loneliness.
You did a great job of smelly sneakers. You had me laughing out loud! Thank you!
Springtime in Australia breaks my heart. I've seen photos of the toll the wildfires have taken on your wildlife. I can tell you feel very deeply about the situation - and rightly so. I could sense you choking back the tears as you wrote it.
Excellent job, John! I'm really enjoying this series.
I loved your poem about travel and laughed at your smelly sneakers poem. It is sad that in Australia you are suffering from such a drought. Climactic changes seem to be getting more severe. I just heard on the news this morning that some people in the Los Angelus area are being evacuated from their homes due to wildfires and the Santa Anna winds. Electricity has been cut off to many people and businesses in California for fear of sparking more fires. Amazing!
I love them all, but the Travel Bug was my favorite. You are showing some serious game here, John! None of this is easy to do, but you seem to do it effortlessly.
Enjoyed your poems especially because they are for specific requests. I will have to say Spring is my favourite. You gave me an idea of how it is in your area and I can picture it well. I will think of a request one day. I want it to be special.
Booooy John, you are the master of poetry, and, you're quite like me who mostly want poetry to rhyme. You appear to take any subject and make it appear as if overnight rhyming and rhythm perfectly timed. Thanks for sharing them, my friend.
I have a rhyming I will call "ABBABBCBBCBBABBABBCBBC" with the "BBs" shorter lines than the As and Cs. So take your time and see what you can do with that for me.
I really enjoy your proch poems. A couple of them had me laughing. You are skilled as you seem to write a poem about any topic. I would like a poem about my 5 year old granddaughter, who is a precocious child with big brown eyes. Thank you John.
- AUTHOR
Thank you, Eric. I am glad it helped in some way, however that may be.
Thanks Jodah. This was needed. I am helped by your Spring Poetry.
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