Did you carry a poem in your pocket yesterday? Here at the Lucidity Poets Retreat, in Eureka Springs, AR, with the lovely Ozarks as a background, we didn’t have to…our group of 40-some-odd poets walked around all day with books and notebooks full of them.
The Lucidity poets have created an anthology, called April in the Ozarks, themed around the retreat itself. Tributes to Lucidity’s founder, Ted Badger of Sugar Land, TX, are contained in the volume as well.
Here are a few of the poems found inside ( of course, I’ll lead off with mine) For some reason, the caption isn’t working on the photo. Photo below is Birma Castle, Director – ME – Charlotte Renk of Athens, TX, Speaker.
Advent
Eureka springs forth in April.
The oldest mountain range in America breathes
fresh crisp air and greets the dawning.
It’s not the altitude, but the attitude.
Bears emerge from hibernation, with new birth
at their sides. Birds, squirrels, bunnies
and other creatures appear – chattering, bouncing,
bounding with energy stored through the winter,
ready to regenerate.
Oaks, Pears, Redbuds, Dogwoods awaken from slumber
and begin restoration.
Lilies launch from their beds, casting off their quilts,
hailing the swelling sun, making their offerings.
Flowers sprout from seeds planted with winter’s hope,
and, with the breeze, nod greetings as others arise.
Poets, winding upward, finally arrive -
discarding coats, revealing fresh finery,
eager to bloom.
In a moment of Lucidity,
I, too, have my Spring.
AFTER THREE DAYS
by Todd Sukany of Pleasant Hope, MO.
Purple petals dot the vine, scramble
above ground, and bound over the fence.
Yellow roses burst open, colossal,
bolster a status quo, weighing
the climber. I return from poetry
lucid, twice drawn, and enlarged.
Retreat
by Anna Wells of Festus, MO.
Tucked into Ozark hills,
a village clinging to cliffs
calls to artists, writers
to come, share, absorb creation
We poets, in responsive dialogue
work to perfect soul felt words,
to lift up each other
to revel in friendships
to grow like the green
forests covering the hills.
Really enjoyed the poems…and since I have been there, I can relate in a whole new way.
I feel like “real” poet now. LOL
Odd poets – well, yes, that’s a good description – laughing with you – great to see you and share talk and poetry. . .
Oh dear. Used an old expression, and didn’t realize it would translate that way. Well, yes, some of us are…
Lovely poems. I’m sorry I missed the fun and learning more about the art of writing poetry.