Tall bushy green hair tops over thick black poles,
Standing, ‘fro touching ‘fro, as a living gateway
to a field that is somewhere between fresh cut
and gone to seed. The welcome mat is wide
for the feet of grazing deer at dusk, frisky rabbits,
and the occasional whooshing wings of a hawk.
Green and purple dragonflies patrol and chase
gauzy clouds of gnats, lacewings, and mosquitos.
Beyond the welcome, wild grain, papyrus, and
young cottonwood sway in wispy, tentative breeze.
The raised edge is an appetizer to a main course of
a clan of willows of various ages, all dipping their
toes into the ponds. Mallards nest and herons hunt
amongst them. All are welcome. Minnows, thin
and thick, are dashes puncuating the sun’s
yellow spotlights into the brown-green water.
The perfume of red, white, and purple clover calls
to the noses of humans and hungry honeybees.
Milkweed, with their soft green, veined leaves wait
to sacrifice themselves to hungry monarch caterpillars.
Kingfisher, pheasant, and crow set it all to music.
I checked out one of Amy Lowell’s poems, “The Pike,” which spurred this. Thanks Amy!
You have here a description of what I see and know is beyond my sight when I look out my back window. I have no idea if this poem fits imagism. Please, feel free to critique, offer suggestions, feedback, etc. I’m here to learn!
Frank J. Tassone is today’s host of dVerse. Frank says:
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to write a poem utilizing the aesthetics of the Imagists. Use free verse, imagery, a focus on the “thing” of your choosing, and an economy of language in service of your presentation. As a haijin, I welcome the use of Japanese haikai forms, of course, even if they are not free verse forms. If you are writing haiku, however, write at least two in a sequence. Additionally, if you are enamored of Sappho’s Greek lyric, have at it. Otherwise, keep it free verse.
Tao Talk 
This is packed with superb imagery! This line, “Milkweed, with their soft green, veined leaves wait,” is a delight, especially recited out loud. <3
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Ah! thanks for the enjoyable feedback <3
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An evocative rush of backyard bliss! This poem sings serenity! Pure beauty!
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Frank, thank you, it becomes a real zoo around here in summertime :)
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That is a great video getting to see all of them smiling.
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Yes I think so too, Jim.
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great last line to put the finishing touches to your natural world
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Laura, thank you very much.
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Wow, only a poet can glance out into the back yard, and garner these lush color saturated images and frenetic natural beauty. I felt like I was in your mind’s greenhouse, the air pregnant with nature’s bounty, mist, and moistness.
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You can frequent my mind’s greenhouse anytime, Frank <3
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Who would need music and perfume after being immersed in all this richness? Lovely!
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So glad you enjoyed the poem, Vivian <3
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:)
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That was a feast for the senses! I loved it!
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Thank you very much. Glad you liked it.
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🤗😊
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Agreed!
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Thanks Ken!
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Love the images! Amazing effort-the minnows are my favourite! ✨
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Thank you :)
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Maybe a bit verbose to be imagism? But a wonder-full poem full of rich imagery, Lisa!
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Thanks for the feedback, Mary!
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I enjoyed this. Your garden sounds wonderful. A place of bounty and beauty.
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Thank you, Suzanne, it is!
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What a wonderful place to call home! You’ve painted a vivid picture of color and sound. (K)
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It’s a blessing. A place of respite and healing for now. Thank you, K.
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It sounds like an Eden. Lovely
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Thanks, Debi, it truly is.
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great imagery and such a bountiful garden, you have worked hard to achieve that!
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Kate, thank you. Yes, I have. I grew up DIRT POOR and have been busting my buns for a long time.
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good for you, and you have achieved all you need by the sounds of it … I also grew up DP but done ok :)
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from an old Roy Clark song, “the taste of life is sweet as rain upon my tongue.” Glad you’re doing ok. Waking up to the ocean every day has to help :)
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lol this is a momentary treat I assure you! Been living in a ghetto …
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Oh this was so full of wonderful imagery and I adore CCR. It’s lovely combination.
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Thank you so much, Raivenne, glad you enjoyed them.
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It compliments the song perfectly…or is it the other way around?
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They dance well together :)
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That is some view, Lisa! I especially love these lines:
‘Green and purple dragonflies patrol and chase
gauzy clouds of gnats, lacewings, and mosquitos’
and
‘…Minnows, thin
and thick, are dashes punctuating the sun’s
yellow spotlights into the brown-green water.’
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Thanks Kim.
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Love the song which came to mind immediately with the title! Your poem is full of vivid images that take me there! I imaged looking out the back door to the sea off in the distance!
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Thanks Dwight. I look due west out my back door, where a couple miles down is Lake MI, so if I were an eagle, high in the sky, I could see it.
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Nice!!
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Thank you so much for a glimpse into your backyard. As I read your words, the images popped in front of my eyes. 😍
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Awesome, Punam. It’s a nice sanctuary for the critters, and the honeybees love the clover.
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It does sound like a wonderful sanctuary for humans too! 🙂
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:)
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Thank you for letting me romp thru this field of plenty. Just what I needed!
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Happy to oblige, D!
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Beautiful imagery Lisa. I loved this line:
“a clan of willows of various ages, all dipping their
toes into the ponds.”
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Thanks Christine. And it is just so.
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