Author: Linda J. Wolff | Founder of Wolff Poetry Literary Magazine

Free Verse: The Crying Brown Paper Bag

/ Linda J. Wolff | Founder of Wolff Poetry Literary Magazine / 15 Comments

In this free verse poetry, “The Crying Brown Paper Bag.”

Being a teenager living in the countryside had its challenges, yellow buses didn’t just come to your doorstep, there was always a long walk to have the privilege of being picked up by the bus. My walk was 3/4 of a mile.

Image of free verse poetry,

Granted whether it rained or shined, hot or cold. It was my 3/4 of a mile. I enjoyed it, except for the bitter cold days. I was 16, and summer was almost upon us when I heard “the crying brown bag.” And this is my free verse poetry to tell my story in lines.

Free verse poetry: The Crying Brown Bag

Like a bee to a scented flower; I was drawn to it. An instinct as old as time itself: my first pings of mothering.

A brown paper bag. A cry for help. (A cry and not a bee.)

Country roads weren’t a place for innocence, and innocence without guidance, predators lurk. After many afternoons of walking three-quarters of a mile to get home, from being dropped off by the yellow bus. I knew they didn’t belong here.

The old pavement road was quiet that afternoon, and the cries for help echoed. Eyes wandered to the sound beating in my ear. To the brown paper bag alongside the road.

Cries rang out from brown the closer I approached. Kneeling down, I spread open the bag.

My heart melted there on the pavement, eight brown eyes as big as saucers peered up at me. Four tiger stripe felines meowing…I’m hungry and scared. They musta been no older than about 6 weeks of age.

I carried them home to my mother. She took one look at the bag and went straight to work putting together a home for four lucky kittens.

The once hungry and scared felines now have names; Harley, Nana, Baby, and Rascal.

Who in their right mind abandons 6 week old kittens, that day when I found that brown grocery bag with those kittens, I for the first time felt the cruelty of humanity. It left a sadden, sickening feeling in my gut, in my heart. Maybe it why I write, cause we can be these little kittens, abandon by society, our state, our family.

We really must stay in tune to humanity and care about our world, our animals, our children, nature itself.

©Linda J. Wolff 2017
| The Crying Brown Paper Bag|
An urban free verse poetry

 

What is a Free Verse Poetry? Typically patterned by speech rather than meter, this form of poetry is very open to the author’s discretion and usually does not rhyme. Visual and sound effects are often employed.  It can have as many lines as the writer wishes.

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He asked for a story about me, about losing something, about loss. In this free verse poetry, I lost a part of innocence, I saw love and hate hang from a wall inside a small chapel. I saw them slap GOD’S name on it to condone their rituals. It was wrong.

So I write this to you, Roderick Bates of Rat’s Ass Review.  I’m walking you through this horrific day through these lines.

The Crying Brown Paper Bag, urban free verse poetry, poetry, enlightenment, life, daily prompt, inspiration, fear of the unknown, appreciation of life, free verse poetry, kittens, abandoned, abandoned kittens

Daily Prompt for You:
Launch

Free Verse: This Was No Ordinary Church

/ Linda J. Wolff | Founder of Wolff Poetry Literary Magazine / 15 Comments

In this free verse poetry, “This Was No Ordinary Church.”

I want to share an experience with you of a Sunday that was quite strange when I was fifteen years old. I will never forget it either. I won’t say anything more…You must read and form your own opinion.

No Ordinary Church

Free Verse Poetry: This Was No Ordinary Church

Adorned with fifteen years, and a canary yellow dress.
My father finally wants to go to church.
Was it to save his soul or more of the curiosity of the choir two blocks down that rose above the hum of main street traffic.

Blue suits and plaid shirts clothed them, but something felt awful here.

I could feel hate. A neo-nazi sign hung above the pulpit.
But it wasn’t just that; it was the cold steel that hung from leather on hips, that scared me.
I tugged on daddy’s sleeve to show him the sign.
All I heard was chatter. My father had a way of ignoring you when he was interested in other suits.

My mother only stared into the eyes of my father, as nothing else existed. We all lined up in a pew, like cattle for slaughter,
at least that’s what I thought.
The suits still marched along the pews with their steel armor.

The hair on my neck continues to stand along
with goosebumps on mine arm.

This church wasn’t an ordinary church.
Why couldn’t my father see this?
Seeing the cross on the wall and the neo-nazi sign above the cross.
The sign gave me the insight to love and hate.
How can a church proclaim the love for GOD, yet despise a black man, when we are created equal in the eyes of GOD?

Granted, it was the first and last time I came here.

©Linda J. Wolff 2017
| This is No Ordinary Church|
An urban free verse poetry

What is a Free Verse Poetry? Typically patterned by speech rather than meter, this form of poetry is very open to the author’s discretion and usually does not rhyme. Visual and sound effects are often employed.  It can have as many lines as the writer wishes.

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He asked for a story about me, about losing something, about loss. In this free verse poetry, I lost a part of innocence, I saw love and hate hang from a wall inside a small chapel. I saw them slap GOD’S name on it to condone their rituals. It was wrong.

So I write this to you, Roderick Bates of Rat’s Ass Review.  I’m walking you through this horrific day through these lines.

This was no ordinary church, urban free verse poetry, poetry, enlightenment, life, daily prompt, inspiration, fear of the unknown, appreciation of life, free verse poetry, church, house of god

Daily Prompt for You:
Coincidence

Urban Daily Haiku: Hush

/ Linda J. Wolff | Founder of Wolff Poetry Literary Magazine / 16 Comments

In this urban daily haiku, “Hush”

An illusion of a soul burying the pain deep within the wall of the flesh of the heart. Open eyes are unable to see the depth and the emotion that one can carry. Sometimes a  disguise under a smile. Depression lingers in the white flowers holding shadows, and the tears absorbed through the stem.

Image of Urban Daily Haiku - Hush

Urban Daily Haiku: Hush

only the petals
and silence, know of your tears
moon whispers hush, hush

©Linda J. Wolff 2017
|Hush|
A daily haiku poem

What is a Haiku Poem?  A Japanese poem which can also be known as a Hokku. A Haiku poem is similar to a Tanka but has fewer lines. A Haiku is a type of poetry that can be written on many themes, from love to nature. A Haiku consists of 3 lines and 17 syllables.

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Read more Inspiring Poetry:

  1. Free Verse – Bullying, When You See Her
  2. I Am a Twilight Girl
  3. Daily Haiku: Gray Abandonment

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Haiku poetry, urban daily haiku, hush, depression kills, enlightenment, Japanese poetry, daily haiku, white flowers, an urban nature haiku poem, nature
Focused

Free Verse: Bonnie Bell

/ Linda J. Wolff | Founder of Wolff Poetry Literary Magazine / 33 Comments

Free verse poetry, “Bonnie Bell.”

On Saturday, I awoke to the news that my young niece of 40 passed away to liver failure. It broke my heart, she suffered from depression, everyone tried to help, but she fell deeper into a black hole. For myself, when I hurt inside, pouring my emotions into poetry helps me heal. I only wished I could have helped her see there is light.

Image of free verse poetry,

Yesterday,
another red rose fell.
Once filled with
crimson red.
Petals held a storm,
for too long.
Passage of roots,
drowned in darkness
I didn’t say goodbye and wanted to.

My heart knows not of the time, clues not seen of the depth of pain, like a dry sponge soaking rain. The eyes tell their own story—lacking luster, the spark of life when happiness is the red rose in full bloom.

We’ll gather,
the fallen petals
and dry them,
into memories
place them in
sculpted, floral glass
dish of potpourri
I’ll always remember,
the scent of your perfume.

  • This one for you my dear sweet red rose, Bonnie!

©Linda J. Wolff 2017
| Bonnie Bell|
An urban free verse poetry

What is a Free Verse Poetry? Typically patterned by speech rather than meter, this form of poetry is very open to the author’s discretion and usually does not rhyme. Visual and sound effects are often employed.  It can have as many lines as the writer wishes.

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swallowing blackness, urban free verse poetry, poetry, enlightenment, life, daily prompt, inspiration, fear of the unknown, appreciation of life, free verse poetry, caves, nature

Daily Prompt for You:
Planet

Urban Ekphrastic Poem: Six Magnolias

/ Linda J. Wolff | Founder of Wolff Poetry Literary Magazine / 13 Comments

 

In this urban ekphrastic poem, “Six Magnolias.”

One who views nature with lenses closed doesn’t see the season’s changes that are put into place from each day, from the heat of the sun to the coolness of the breeze, just as each day changes us in our age, in our expression of life. A digital art piece and ekphrastic poem to display inspiration.

Six Magnolias

Urban Ekphrastic Poem: Six Magnolias

Six magnolias at the end of branches, pink as
innocence. A fierce wind could shake them free.
The blue sky mirrors the loose petals

Above where clouds drift softly of different shapes and
sizes. We wonder if the blossoms will stay long or
will fall with the moon.

Like their fragile existence, they caught between
Summer and Fall; the habitation scene stilled except
for the finches and squirrels.

What has happened before blossoms gave up their color to
the sun that absorbed their pink hues,
fading to white? Shadows discolor on dried, shriveled remains.

At this moment when life becomes nonexistent,
when the color leaves the branches to fall into the earthen crust,

a butterfly flutters into the light. Behind it darkness form.

©Linda J. Wolff 2017
|Six Magnolias|
An urban ekphrastic poem

What is Ekphrastic Poem?

Poets.org expresses it like this: Ekphrastic poems are now understood to focus only on works of art—usually paintings, photographs, or statues. And new ekphrastic poems have shrugged off antiquity’s obsession with an elaborate description, and instead have tried to interpret, inhabit, confront, and speak to their subjects.

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Daily Prompt for You:
Irrelevant

Urban Ekphrastic Poem: Color-Blind

/ Linda J. Wolff | Founder of Wolff Poetry Literary Magazine / 13 Comments

In this urban ekphrastic poem, “Color Blind.”

Love is blind, kinda like this digital art here, I created a fence line that runs into nowhere land…A mirage of reds, burgundy, greens, blues all collide. Relationships can be that way too especially with the struggles and challenges of everyday life. An ekphrastic poem to enjoy! Happy Friday everyone! Have an awesome weekend too!

Image of Urban Ekphrastic Poem: Color Blind

 

Urban Ekphrastic Poem: Color-Blind

Like an abstract painting before it’s brought to life by brush strokes, unveil me into a single color enough to condone and let it bleed into a body that can breathe a life or at least an appreciation for one.

You are color-blind, leaning against the truck beside me as we listen to a lead guitarist riff…that gave rock-n-roll a name.  Or maybe you know, clinging to our mutual partiality of Ted Nugent set to obscurities.

I love “Great White Buffalo” like the first ridiculous story a boy told me on that old country road—that stirring of rebellion over tradition. Or maybe it was just the way he walked…fluidly. My attraction needs color and passion; the scratching of the guitar, the deliberate strokes.

I feel more vulnerable when you and I discuss our devotion to special music, of craziness, your fingers already, indulging goosebumps on my neck. They never stay long enough though…to paint abstract on my canvas. And how I want to let our colors bleed.

©Linda J. Wolff 2017
|Color-Blind|
An urban ekphrastic poem

What is Ekphrastic Poem?

Poets.org expresses it like this: Ekphrastic poems are now understood to focus only on works of art—usually paintings, photographs, or statues. And new ekphrastic poems have shrugged off antiquity’s obsession with an elaborate description, and instead have tried to interpret, inhabit, confront, and speak to their subjects.

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color-blind, urban ekphrastic poem, poetry, enlightenment, daily prompt, inspiration, appreciation of life, free verse poetry, love, digital art, relationships, romance,

Daily Prompt for You:
Leaf

Ekphrastic Poem: Under the Petals of Fluorescence.

/ Linda J. Wolff | Founder of Wolff Poetry Literary Magazine / 12 Comments

In this Ekphrastic poem, “Under the Petals of Fluorescence.”

In PhotoShop, I wanted to create an image that gives a 3D effect. One of depth in the first layer of a grainy sky that fractured into a dreamy landscape, the second layer of huge fluorescence blossoms, and the third layer of miniature gold-tipped geese in fantasy land. How many geese do you count? How many flower blossoms do you see?

Image of Ekphrasis poem "Under the Petals of Fluorescence."

Fantasy with its gigantic efflorescence, in the Emerald meadow, flourished. Air-infused with stagnated fragrance and pollinated particles, the trees wore a gray gown when the breeze tossed leaves waiting for my mother to breathe.

She grabbed at the corners of lace in a pocket, sneeze, sneezes again. When she finally quits wiping dripping perfume off her nose, with moisten eyes she sees them.

This wasn’t a run-of-the-mill meadow, it was magical, everything was not of what it seemed, a fool’s paradise for dreamers. Objectifying of extremes.

Today the meadow’s noisy. Emerald got a flock of geese. A rare, unique gold-tip feathered breed under the petals of fluorescence. Geese of miniature stature. Mother could hold them in the palm of her hands if she wanted, she didn’t.

Blue became filled with honking serenade. They didn’t stay long though.

It will be another year by chance we might see them again. In the meadow, blossoms sway in dance.

©Linda J. Wolff 2017
|Under the Petals of Fluorescence|
An urban ekphrastic poem

What is Ekphrastic Poem?

Poets.org expresses it like this: Ekphrastic poems are now understood to focus only on works of art—usually paintings, photographs, or statues. And new ekphrastic poems have shrugged off antiquity’s obsession with an elaborate description, and instead have tried to interpret, inhabit, confront, and speak to their subjects.

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Daily Prompt for You:
Mighty

Urban Ekphrastic poem: Obsession with Roses

/ Linda J. Wolff | Founder of Wolff Poetry Literary Magazine / 11 Comments

In this Ekphrastic poem, “Obsession with Roses.”

Growing a rose garden is as challenging and rewarding as raising children. The pruning, nurturing, watering, the guidance, and more. An ekphrastic poem and digital art piece as I describe the appreciation of mothers. Hope you enjoy this!

Image of Urban Ekphrastic Poem - Obsession with Roses

My mom says there’s only one way to grow a rose garden and that is through love. Love opens her thighs & seeds thrust forth from branches

Seeds from branches blooming like a new bud. Seeds from branches colorful & personalized, open mouths laughing,

our fragrance in the air perfumed with blood isn’t that what they’ve tried first, miniature roses.

Roses, Climbing pink, Hybrid tea, Tiffany, my mother fertilized every seed till she grew a perennial garden from her heart & it reached the sky blue

& the happiness was the site of fluttering butterflies.

Every night heat rose from her garden, she carried her heart like a rosebud & dreamt every night of more seeds. Every petal opening a soft mouth & a suckling tongue, pink and brand new.

Hunger driven and sweet as pink petals in sunlight. Wasn’t it inevitable, she dreamed of the sun stirring stars in the night, that opening of pink or white, that I bounced in her arms.

©Linda J. Wolff 2017
|Obsession with Roses|
An urban ekphrastic poem

What is Ekphrastic Poem?

Poets.org expresses it like this: Ekphrastic poems are now understood to focus only on works of art—usually paintings, photographs, or statues. And new ekphrastic poems have shrugged off antiquity’s obsession with an elaborate description, and instead have tried to interpret, inhabit, confront, and speak to their subjects.

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Daily Prompt for You:
Crumb

Urban Ekphrastic Poem: In the Air

/ Linda J. Wolff | Founder of Wolff Poetry Literary Magazine / 22 Comments

In this urban Ekphrastic Poem, “In the Air.”

So many times we hold ourselves back from success, or opportunities. Why do we let a little thing called doubt stop us? Thinking we are not good enough, a few days ago, I submitted a poem to a professional online journal, the fella emailed back saying my poetry isn’t good enough, it didn’t speak to him. At first, I was bummed, but then I thought about it for a moment.

Image of Urban Ekphrastic Poem:

Then I said to myself, “Who the heck is he, he’s just an opinion of someone who’s got his own ideas of how poetry should be written, it doesn’t mean his thoughts are perfect, or imperfect. It just means my poetry doesn’t fit into his per spectrum or criteria.

I know of myself, and what I can achieve and write, so I will be diligent and find other professional online journals to accept my poetry. I am stubborn. Yet, I am willing to learn a new mindset to perfect an art.

In this digital art piece, here’s is what I’ve come to surmise in the viewing of what I have created. Hope you enjoy! Never give up on something you enjoy or love to do, it might be your future to success.

Urban Ekphrastic Poem: In the Air

Uncover a sky
from white.
Tuck it inside my eye.
I don’t want to stand here.

I want to fly.

I want to soar the wings
out of my arms,
Swoop them out
of feathers,
Move a screech out
of your mouth
and it’ll come out
of the blue.
Airborne a freedom from
your soul
and it’ll escalate
and rise like a phoenix
you’ve never seen.

Yourself aeronautical.

Don’t let the dove be befuddled by
your exhilaration if
found, is nothing but your heart
Full of regrets.

©Linda J. Wolff 2017
|In the Air|
An urban ekphrastic poem

What is Ekphrastic Poem?

Poets.org expresses it like this: Ekphrastic poems are now understood to focus only on works of art—usually paintings, photographs, or statues. And new ekphrastic poems have shrugged off antiquity’s obsession with an elaborate description, and instead have tried to interpret, inhabit, confront, and speak to their subjects.

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Daily Prompt for You:
Tentative

Ekphrastic Poem: I See the Glass

/ Linda J. Wolff | Founder of Wolff Poetry Literary Magazine / 22 Comments

An ekphrastic poem, “I See the Glass.”

Look deep into the glass window, on the other side is a story. In this digital art piece, I wanted to show layers, layers of a face, of pain, bitterness, homelessness, of somebody. Hope you enjoy the story behind the piece of art.

I See Glass

Ekphrastic Poem: I See the Glass

Streets have mirrors.
I see the glass.
Long-lashes stare from windows.
Pupils are cold.
She lives hard like pavement.
A conduit, of bitterness and cracks.
A grocery cart compacted—pieces of chapters.

McDonald’s was two blocks down,
I drove the drive-threw,
Twenty dollars bought a piping feast,
I went back.
She still possessed space.
An open parking stall found me.
Quickly, I hopped out.

Cautiously I approached.
Coal eyes stared and blurted: “What you want?”
A peace-offering and a twenty dollar bill.
Grabbing tines swooped, tearing open the
brown “M” bag, she tore at the paper of the offering.
Gobbling hamburger, and tears streaming.

And muttered with a voice stuffed
with food and appreciation; “Thank you!”

©Linda J. Wolff 2017
|I See the Glass|
An urban ekphrastic poem

What is Ekphrastic Poem?

Poets.org expresses it like this: Ekphrastic poems are now understood to focus only on works of art—usually paintings, photographs, or statues. And new ekphrastic poems have generally shrugged off antiquity’s obsession with an elaborate description, and instead have tried to interpret, inhabit, confront, and speak to their subjects.

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I See the Glass, urban ekphrastic poem, poetry, enlightenment, life, daily prompt, inspiration, homeless woman, appreciation of life, free verse poetry, humanity, homeless

Daily Prompt for You:
Glorious

Ekphrastic Poem: Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo Koala Bear

/ Linda J. Wolff | Founder of Wolff Poetry Literary Magazine / 9 Comments

In this Ekphrastic Poem, “Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo Koala Bear.”

Bianca and I love going to The Woodland Park Zoo in Seattle, viewing, and watching the wildlife there. The koala never moves, just napping having sweet dreams. The giraffe was so beautiful, stretching his long neck to eat of trees. The baby seals, so entertaining, swimming and diving, showing off for us. A little ekphrastic poem and digital art piece to brighten your day!

Koala at Woodland Park Zoo of Seattle, WA

In this digital art, I found a picture of koala resting, wanted to incorporate a hieroglyphic type effect to bleed through, and a texture of the metal and an abstract effect to give the image a 3D depth.

Ekphrastic Poem: Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo Koala Bear

A tummy tucked with eucalyptus leaves,
A “marsupial”  naps cradled within phalanges.
Natives have left their hieroglyphics of painted people.
Coursing upon the heart walls—veins. Far off the koala hears drums beating and the ranting chants. Small-sheltering towns are growing in on the marsupial’s homeland.
And now she’s forced to seek refuge from extinction.

©Linda J. Wolff 2017
|Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo Koala Bear|
An urban ekphrastic poem

What is Ekphrastic Poem?

Poets.org expresses it like this: Ekphrastic poems are now understood to focus only on works of art—usually paintings, photographs, or statues. And new ekphrastic poems have generally shrugged off antiquity’s obsession with an elaborate description, and instead have tried to interpret, inhabit, confront, and speak to their subjects.

THINGS TO DO HERE: 

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Seattle’s Woodland Park Zoo Koala Bear, urban ekphrastic poem, poetry, enlightenment, life, daily prompt, inspiration, fear of the unknown, appreciation of life, free verse poetry, koala bear, nature, marsupial

Daily Prompt for You:
Sting

Urban Ekphractic Poem: Bird Under Canopy

/ Linda J. Wolff | Founder of Wolff Poetry Literary Magazine / 29 Comments

An urban ekphrastic poem, “Bird Under Canopy.”

My first attempt at an Ekphrastic poem, here I wanted to create a piece of digital art, that illustrated a brown hawk trapped within a canopy of branches. Like woven metal of chicken wire, entrapment. It took three separate images to create this abstract digital art, some transparencies, blends, and effects, then cropping out a bird soaring into a blue. I believe that this piece displays this.

Bird Under Canopy

Urban Ekphrastic Poem: Bird Under Canopy

Inside the abstract sky—a delicacy of color—
Phalanges touch, axis across offshoot,
intermingle. Underneath its canopy,
of woven intersections, I see him.

Long-wing spanned speckled brown hawk.

Swirling, diving, confined.
Eyes are darting up and about,
searching for an escapeway.
Screeching, shrieking, with urgency, another swoop again.

I saw it before him, the realm, within which openings invite blue. 

Shifty, darting eyes eventually lock on, around the underside and up
straight into blue and white. He’s gone.
Inside this covering, I find where life and enchantment
coexist in nature and not. Inhabitants hide.

©Linda J. Wolff 2017
| Bird Under Canopy|
An urban ekphrastic poem

What is Ekphrastic Poem?

Poets.org expresses it like this: Ekphrastic poems are now understood to focus only on works of art—usually paintings, photographs, or statues. And modern ekphrastic poems have generally shrugged off antiquity’s obsession with an elaborate description, and instead have tried to interpret, inhabit, confront, and speak to their subjects.

THINGS TO DO HERE: 

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bird under canopy, urban ekphrastic poem, poetry, enlightenment, life, daily prompt, inspiration, fear of the unknown, appreciation of life, free verse poetry, birds, nature,

 

Daily Prompt for You:
Recreate