An Ottava Rima

Across the verdant meadow lies
The gateway to a sacred place
Betwixt the water and ice blue skies
Enfolded in a magical embrace
At journeys end there waits a prize
A solemn blessing - boundless grace
Out of time and worry a day
To visit with the elusive fey

~Ellen Apple 05-16-2015

The Things We Leave Behind

The Things We Leave Behind
(a prompt poem)

Is it the could
the would 
the should

Or the pain
the gain
the strain

Was it the loss
the cross
the dross

Perhaps the grace
the chase
the place

That which we leave
grieve
weave

Defines our existing
persisting
enlisting

~ Ellen Apple 05-10-2015

the me that others see

the me that others see

both fallow and fertile
drowned in tears
enriched in love
overgrown with worries
harvested by hope
love the gardener
occasionally goes on holiday
and despair visits to pick up
maintenance and harvest
oasis apart from
the daily strife
respite when I 
cannot plod on
My Inner Landscape
Defines
and
Defies
the me that others see

~ Ellen Apple 05-08-2015

My Inner Landscape

My Inner Landscape

I close my eyes and I can see
A path from river stone laid
Past fragrant lily of the valley
'Neath a weeping willow for shade
Clover, violet and moss so lush
Varying shades of green 
A blossom laden spirea bush
Morning dew adds sparkle and sheen
The sounds of serenity filter in
Birdsong and a dragonfly's whir
Leaves flutter on tip of limb 
As a breeze begins to stir
A seat from a tree stump hewn
From which to sit and ponder
While glimpsing in cloud an ancient rune
A delicious way time to squander
Come join me in my inner landscape
A place I have carefully constructed
Where from life's trials we can escape
And dreams are not obstructed

~ Ellen Apple May 3, 2015 

Solace to the Battered Spirit

Solace to the Battered Spirit

Solace to the battered spirit
Found in times of need
Sobs of despair incoherent
The sudden yaw to feed

Respite from the endless tasks
Stretching out for days on end
For both the adherent and the lax
The same results portend

Victory lies not within 
He who is last to fall
Nor failure resides wherein
She who forfeited all

The secret lies along the path
That lead from then to when
A precursor and an aftermath
To the sojourners chagrin

~ Ellen Apple May 2, 2015

A Poem of Friendship

A Poem of Friendship

Ellen Apple:

Years melt
Distances shrink
We giggle and snort
What must others think

You knew my heartache
I felt your pain
We always promised
I will see you again

Now we trade updates
On computer and phone
The methods don't matter
Your heart is my home

Sandi Corbett:

My heart is open

My tears roll free

We laugh

We grieve 

For all to see

Yet all are blind

Without eyes to see

Your heart is my home

shhh

shhh

we must quiet be 

not rustle the grass

the shy unicorn

is about to pass

the creek 'tis singing

and violets first bloom

all point to her visit

not later but soon

the mowing can wait

no motors will hum

dandelion and clover

the yard overrun

she comes in the night

by light of the moon

daintily nibbles

on natures best bloom

the wee folk whisper

when her visit is nigh

you can hear their song

in the warm breeze sigh

spirit will listen

and pure heart will hear

when nature awakens

the magic is near

~Ellen Apple 04-13-2015