A Haiku and a Sonnet

Today, I'm doing a double poem post.

First, the Haiku.  February is the month of the Haiku-a-thon!  Few Miles is a site which actively encourages poets to write twenty-eight haiku during February - one for each day of the month. 

Image courtesy Krazykk's Weblog

Contemplating snow.

No plans to shovel it; just

contemplating. Snow.

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Second, the Sonnet.  Poetic Asides is currently running their Sonnet Challenge. If you are a Sonnet person, you really should give it a try!  Now, in addition to that, Magpie Tales offered up the photograph below as a writing prompt for this week.  I wrote a Pushkin Sonnet utilizing both sites as my twin inspirations.

Cobbled Bricks

I gingerly tread on old cobbled bricks
which pave the roadway to dark parts, unknown.
I seek Charon to navigate this Styx
but friendless am I on brick-laden stone.
Which door will lead to the warmth of the hearth?
Which door will lead to the chill of a Swarth*?
Crossing these cobbles and bricks bring me fear.
All that surrounds me is cold and austere.
I take but a step, and then look around.
Nothing’s familiar and nothing feels close
except for dread on a scale grandiose;
except for ghosts of the dead that abound.
And then, when all hope has vanished – a light.
It beckons me home, to end this drear night.

(* According to Webster's Dictionary, 1913, one definition of a 'Swarth' is an apparition of a person about to die; a wraith.)

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The Violet Fairy Queen

Illustration by: Anne Anderson 1930's

Monday's Child, the wonderful site which provides writing prompts utilizing antique artwork in order to capture  childhood spirit, has posted the above illustration.  I was inspired by the art to write a short piece involving a fairy goddess from Celtic mythology.

Eolande

In Old Celtic legends

she is the fairy queen

of all violet flowers. 

The full moon blows glitter

o’er her gossamer wings

like deep-hued snow showers.

If you’re a lucky child

then you might catch a glimpse

of Eolande’s flight

when the sky is mauve-blue

and the snow whirls and swirls

on a chill winter’s night.

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Oh yeah, and one other thing...the Rubliw poem from yesterday?  I just realized the form's name is 'Wilbur' spelled backwards.  I wonder if there's a connection...