Zanger

Zanger

Stanzas	3
Lines	9/stanza = 27 lines
Syllable/Words	14 syllables/line
Rhymes	Odd lines have same rhyme all stanzas, even lines different rhyme/stanza
Repeat

H is for Holly—2009      

I never understood my line in my first Christmas Pageant.

“H is for holly, the colors of red and green together.”

I had to carry a huge green ‘H’ and say this oddment.

I explored it on the internet thirty years after.

My line takes on new meaning, to which I am reverent.                                                5

I have gained new knowledge that puts an end to my ponders.

I always knew the symbolism must be pertinent

To the true meaning of Christmas, but I always floundered.

Now I know the central meaning to be very poignant.

When holly’s lily white flower is most fragrant                                                    10

The brilliant white reminds us of Jesus’ purity.

When flower in turn becomes red berry as its’ penchant

We are changed through Christ’s forgiveness to become more holy.

The red berry reminds us of Christ’s blood spilled in atonement

For all our sins by those who accused Lord Jesus falsely.                                15

Evergreen leaves with thorny prickle crowning his movement

As Jesus makes the arduous trek up to Calvary

Bearing our cross and crown of thorns for us like a pennant.

Holly itself is evergreen and sometimes hidden, yet present.

Like Christ’s love, always there even if we can’t feel it.                                   20

Holly can grow and mature in dark, shady concealment

To break out vibrant red and green against winter’s spirit

Like suddenly feeling Jesus hand guiding and buoyant.

The King of the trees wreathed in an evergreen outfit,

Holly is often growing among the oaks lying dormant.                                     25

The lustery leaves a contrast to snow when sunlit

God’s love shining through, wrapping us in new, golden raiment.

Zamzer

Zamzer

Stanzas	3
Lines	12/stanza = 36 lines
Syllable/Words
Rhymes	Every third line rhymes  (3, 6, 9, 12)
Repeat

Metamorphosis

The cloud people metamorphosize

At the will of the wind.

Never a true shape to have.

No chrysalis of becoming,

Transforming always to the next being.

And like a glacier, they sometimes calve.

Losing bits and pieces of themselves

Joining up with some others

Become the wind and clouds’ distaff.

Sometimes light and flowy,

Sometimes dark and stormy,

Becoming in one mind’s eye a large giraffe.

Soaring above the gondolier’s head

To fall back onto the plains and oceans

The cloud people also bring life.

Always circulating around and around,

In one form or another

Energizing both pond scum and wildlife.

Blowing from Italy to England

In constantly changing form

Even to the firth and fife.

Swirling and twirling like smoke

In a raucous party they come

Storming into New York’s nightlife.

Driving in the car or laying on the ground

Staring in wonder as the cloud people transform,

A meditation of life takes over.

One cloud image triggers this memory

 Another triggers that,

Reminiscing of how through life we’ve blundered.

 Lives in constant flux and flow

Sometimes staying one way a bit longer

Other times a swiftly changing picture.

The wind brings new people to life

As others fade away, some gone for good,

While others are always remembered.

Zamu

Zamu

Stanzas	8
Lines	3/stanza = 24 lines
Syllable/Words	Alternate 8 syllables then 13 syllables/line
Rhymes	2
Repeat

Blues Sistah’—unrhymed version

1              Went to Chicago for a trip,

                Drove down Wacker Drive wantin’ a twenty car pile up,

                The kids with me, thought I was crazy.

                I even took a picture of the Wacker Drive sign.

5              Lookin’ everywhere for Elwood

                To drive past with Jake in the passenger seat, grinning.

                As we were driving in the city

                On our first night, a sax-man was a’ blowin’ his horn

                Standin’ on a corner, no cares.

10           On the 103^rd floor of the great Sears Tower

                Looking out at the Hancock Building

                I kept picturing a Pinto floating through the sky.

                Let out a squeal at another sign,

                Take the next exit to go to Joliet prison.

15           Jake, baby, hang out there for me.

                Took the El’ from Skokie to down town Chicago to shop,

                Rolling through a bunch of stations

                Wondering when a building would blow up by rocket.

               

                I could just imagine a cop car

20           Chasing Jake ‘n Elwood  ‘round and around,

                As I went about my shopping.

               

                At Midway Airport on the way home the kids found a great mockup,

                Jake ‘n Elwood singin’ their bit.

                I bought the glasses ‘n hat, and next Halloween I’ll be a Blues Sistah’.

Zapha Xi

Zapha Xi

Stanzas	3
Lines	5/stanza = 15 lines
Syllable/Words	11 words
Rhymes
Repeat	Line 5

Spirit Sister

                The internet has created wonderful opportunities to meet vibrant new people.

                I cherish these new friends as much as my old friends.

                You make my life more fulfilled, though we chat through wires.

                I am so glad to have met you my dear friend.

5              Though we haven’t met in real life, you are my sister.

                Your words of wisdom have found a home in my soul.

                I will remember and value the counsel you have given me.

                You are an angel on the ‘net with golden fiber-optic wings.

                In this cyber-world we’ve created, you rise above the rest.

10           Though we haven’t met in real life, you are my sister.

                I picture you floating in the heavenly blue sky, typing.

                The sun gently warming you, with just a trickle of breeze,

                Sitting cross-legged on a fluffy white cloud, keyboard on your lap,

                Smiling in concentration to pen for others sweet words of inspiration.

15           Though we haven’t met in real life, you are my sister.

Beth Ellen Cook               

1-10-2011

For Karenina

Zamese

Zamese

Stanzas	2
Lines	9/stanza = 18 lines
Syllable/Words	7 words/line
Rhymes	1 rhyme on odd lines
Repeat

—doubled, sort-of.  Dues to the quote from Mr. Yamaguchi at the end this poem isn't quite doubled.  I didn't want to distract from the quote by futzing with it.

1945

Just stepping off the tram that day

He became a part of history,

Caught by the blast of the U.S.’s endplay.

The B-29 Enola Gay dropped ‘Little Boy’

Changing the world in a horrific way.                                      

Sent from Nagasaki for a business meeting,

Tsutomu Yamaguchi, just in Hiroshima for the day,

Survived the first atomic blast in Japan.

Burned, deaf, and temporarily blind , he went home the next day.

While speaking with his supervisor two days later,          

Explaining how close he’d come to death,

Another flash of light, another crater.

The second B-29, Bockscar, dropped ‘Fat Man.’

Many weeks to heal the new blisters,

But Mr. Yamaguchi survived this blast too.                          

His wife, caught in fall-out, at 88 died of cancer.

His son, was a baby, and at 59 became cancer’s victim.

His daughter is now the only survivor.

Tsutomu Yamaguchi managed to live a full life.

He died at age 93 on Monday.                                                   

Against nuclear weapons he was very active,

Invited to speak directly to the United Nations.

A handful of people, through both bombings, lived,

Though Japan says he was the only one.

January 4, 2010, cancer claimed another captive.              

Yet his words will inspire those still here

To reach out to others and forgive.

“My double radiation exposure is now

An official government record, it can tell

The younger generation the horrifying history

Of the atomic bombings even after I die.

Having been granted that miracle of survival

It is my responsibility to pass on

The truth to the people of the world.”