In the shallow waterTen egrets in dazzling whitePerform a slow-motion ballet. — Donna Wildearth
Poetry Writer
Poetry submissions may be sent to poetry@northcoastjournal.com. See our Writer's Guidelines for other submissions.
Posted inPoetry
Ode to Color
in your Little Red Corvettewith the floral interior,like Crimson and Clover,you manage to catch the Green Light en route to a White Weddingat the house of worshipwith Gold on the Ceiling where sits outside a Pink Cadillacdragging Silver Bells,prepared to take the young rockerswith the Brown Eyes past Fields of Grayto the Yellow Submarine hotelfloating […]
Posted inPoetry
Happy Murder
As the wind begins the crows emergeready to play tag, chortle, caw . . . make that special sound only they can make, take flight over rocky shoals into ocean misttheir numbers increase as day descends upon the dense pines that line the graveyard of our tiny coastal town Great swaths of green leafy boughs breathe and billowas corvid come […]
Posted inPoetry
Pervasive Invasive
So much suffering pervades the world, bad newsinvades our mindstream. Searching for how to helpwe still need ways to gain some equanimity. My way: pack a water bottle, pen and paperin an old cloth bag to sit on later,set off for a slow-paced forest walk. Wild cucumber blooms along the pathtwinberry branches drape across the […]
Posted inPoetry
Beyond Reason
Hydrogen enlightenedAll we can possibly see, When nothing created everything. As I plod along now decipheringAll the clueless information One thing is clear: Somehow we are all a part ofSomething wonderful forever… I can live with that! — Kirk Gothier
Posted inPoetry
Waxwings
The dawn after you diedThe cedar waxwings cameFirst one, then a dozen, then a throngThe cotoneaster, twenty-thousand berries strongSupported them easily The tree got taller as the birds got fullerThen the empty-nester stood too tallTo see its flock dig up their leavingsFrom the ground below Six feet under another treeTwenty-thousand secondsSince life felled youLies a […]
Posted inPoetry
There Is A Story
There is a story,a story acting like a ribbon would in the wind,twisting and dancing. In this story she is like a hillrolling wet and green under a yellow sun. She is that sliver of moonbright in the dark summer night. She is surrounded by childrenand music, snow and breath and flowers,righteous indignation and a certain way […]
Posted inPoetry
Bub’s Secret Trail
Just off the roadBehind some brushAnd nearly within hailOf Sue-Meg ParkYet close to homeHides Bub’s Secret Trail The footpath’s wornThe roots exposedAnd dotted with toadstoolsThe fallen treesWe clamber o’erTo play by diff’rent rules For in this spaceWithin the trailThe Green Arena dwellsThe stage is setThe curtains drawnAnticipation swells The beetles areOur audienceAnd so are slugs […]
Posted inPoetry
April Showers
The clouds are leaden with raincoming down in streams over thesea green tree tops of redwoods feedingancient roots, which scientists have discoveredcommunicate with one another, linking themas a family.Leah and I head into the forest on soil the color ofburnt coffee, pale redwood brambles insertingthemselves into her paws, a slick banana slugcurled up at our […]
Posted inPoetry
Winter Was
Winter was the blackest nightAnd the gray of dayLady Fern grew ghostly whiteThe woods stayed red and fey Winter was a barren bushFrost on raven wingsThe lonesome brrrr of varied thrushA wren who’s seldom seen Winter was a snow-capped mountPlumes of horses’ breath Fluffy foxes, frozen fountsAlders miming death Winter was a flooded marshWhale calves on […]