24 Poems ~ 24 Hours
I am using this 2015 Poetry Marathon to honor the memory of my grandmother Barbara, who transformed into Light in January of this year. She gave me words to love. It is my best hope to use them now to reflect the beauty of her life.
They often perplexed me as a child.
You spoke barely detectable words.
My ears feasted upon their marrow.
You served many delectable words.
I internalized each syllable.
You taught purely respectable words.
Granny, Thanks for the compendium.
You gave highly collectable words.
by Karen Sullivan
Form: Ghazal
Embodiment of a life evergreen,
Be the compass lit path toward my best.
I feel your soul echoing in my dream.
Awaken vibrancy in every gene.
Provide a solace softening my nest,
Embodiment of a life evergreen.
Amid bountiful harvest may I glean.
Pillow my compassion and pad my breast.
I feel your soul echoing in my dream.
From wisdom’s sweet drops I shall not yet wean-
Channel my hope to babes tucked at my breast,
Embodiment of a life evergreen.
Harken me to the song inside my queen-
Humble my heart to make me truly blest.
I feel your soul echoing in my dream.
May the shape of truth be forever seen.
Lead me through a life of love and sweet rest.
Embodiment of life evergreen,
I feel your soul echoing in my dream.
By Karen Sullivan
Form: Villanelle
An artist knows the soul’s effect.
Drops of blue hued eternity
On Life’s canvas forever kept-
Fierce, Bold, tremendously mighty
Deliberately drawn safety
With each brush stroke a million tries
Capturing time’s humanity
Hush, little lady, dry your eyes.
Musicians call souls to connect.
Harmonious identity
In melodic magic enrapt-
Echoing, pings, ringing beauty
Where silence cannot be guilty
Missing the dulcimer’s strummed cries
Organ breathing humanity
Hush, little lady, dry your eyes.
A woman’s soul feeds to protect.
That nourishing mentality
Abundant, fruitful, never scapt-
At times bitter, sweet, and salty
Lest one starve; succumb to frailty
Invigotating ‘neath her skies
Satisfying humanity
Hush, little lady, dry your eyes.
Your soul is my reality.
Your legacy, it never dies-
Drawn song feeding humanity
Hush, little lady, dry your eyes.
by Karen Sullivan
Form: Ballade
I call to thee, O’ sweet Mnemosyne
Gaia’s fountainhead; spring of memory,
Pull forth from thine father of the heavens
Thy legacy of Devine expressions.
Call into being, O’ mine Oracle,
All thoughts visceral and primordial
Lest they escape into oblivion
To sup waters of Lethe’s dominion.
Bring out the host, O’ Devine Memory,
As I genuflect humbly before thee
And quaff the elixir of passing time
To hold its hand in remembrance of mine.
by Karen Sullivan
Form: A Horatian Ode