Dusk tiptoes in with its shadow feet
Colors slip away, leaving silhouettes
Birds huddle in pine; bare trees stand,
Silent witnesses to nighttime rituals —
All reminders of my cold, empty bed.
Grace is today’s host for dVerse’ Meet the Bar, for our final prompt of 2022. Grace says:
Write a Zen poem.
See you all in 2023!
Tao Talk 
I love this! <3 <3 well done i!
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Thank you, Carol Anne.
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Beautiful and poignant
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Sadje, thank you <3
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My pleasure, always
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Are you taking a break? Love the poem :)
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dVerse is taking a break until 2023, which will also give me a big break but I’ll still be around. Thank you <3
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Air, trees (green and bare) birds and oh, my, that empty bed closer. Zenwonderful.
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Thanks, Ron.
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Really well done. The images you paint are all poignant, I hope you light up your room and make it warm and cozy.
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Jay, thank you <3
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Sounds a bit sad to me. That string instrument for the traditional Chinese music sounds great!
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It is, Christian. Although it’s a time for giving and spending time with loved ones, thinking of a loved one no longer around kind of washes out the color of the season. I agree with you on the music. I listened to quite a few offerings on youtube before settling on this one.
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This is so so beautiful
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Thank you very much.
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You are so good at describing Nature in all of its aspects. Can’t say I enjoyed the chill of the last line. It hit too close to home.
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Thanks much, Sylvia.
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Tanmay 😂
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Yes, I think this is probably what the zen form should be, the observation that becomes a metaphor for your condition. Good one.
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Thanks, Jane, much appreciated.
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xxx
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Musical metaphors that so well depict the winter season. Wishing you a warm and cosy December and fond memories to cherish and hopefully share.
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Thanks much, Susan.
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This is rich with both poignancy and depth, Lisa! I can picture those bare trees 💘💘
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Sanaa, thank you very much <3
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Wow, that first line blew me away. Love it!
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Dora, thank you very much <3
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It is that somber season Lisa, you reflected it wonderfully in this piece. I hope you have a wonderful holiday my friend, and I will see you next year. Peace and be safe.
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Thanks much, Rob, yes it is. I know you will have a joyful holiday with your son, daughter in-law, and little grandson.
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sad but beautiful reflection <3
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AJ, thank you.
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A lovely few moments of Zen poetry .. reminding me of how much I treasure my down comforter! Wishing you a joyous Holiday, Lisa.
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Thanks much, Helen. May yours be Merry and Bright.
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The sadness of the last line is touching. Winter is bearable only when its shared with family; otherwise, its really cold and lonely. Enjoy the break. Thanks for being part of our team. See you in 2023!
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Thank you very much, Grace <3
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That loneliness has to be hard… and even harder during the holidays.
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Nice! The first line and last line would even make a great two-line poem.
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Yvonne, thank you so much :)
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Wonderful Lisa! Your last line twist is perfect!
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Dwight, thank you very much. It was a tough poem to inhabit.
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:>) You are welcome!
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That picture is so bleak…you did great with the feeling or atmosphere.
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Thank you so much, Max.
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Did you take that picture?
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Yes. It’s one I used last year in with a haiku (if you look close you’ll see the squirrels nest up there in a tree) but with this I stripped the color and light out of it.
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It conveys loneliness so well.
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It gets lonely here in the winter.
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Yea winter is written all over it. I can’t imagine one of your winters.
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