ALLITERATION ATTACK

By Charles Robert Lindholm

My Words
Will Always
Want To,
Play
Around

With Rhythms
And Rhymes
And Meaningful
Lines

A National Word Nerd Day Limerick

I would say that writing limericks qualifies me as a “word nerd” as it involves crafting a thought into a five line poem that uses a limited number of words. I try to infuse humor and have some sort of punchline, thus my calling my limericks “five lines of wisdom, wit and rhyme.”

I am just a silly old limerick writer
Who wants the world to be a little bit lighter.
So when I “see the light”
I offer clever, colorful insight
Hoping my wisdom, wit and rhyme makes it brighter.

HAIKU: A GIFT

By Charles Robert Lindholm

A gift from my heart

HAIKU: IN HAIKU HELL

By Charles Robert Lindholm

I’m in Haiku hell

Moon words

Outside my window, early hours
moonlight bright as day
there beneath a darkened sky
had something to say
So intently there I listened
to the words that softly came
kissed with moonbeam presence
akin to aspartame
And as soon as I had heard them
with my pen poised ready there
committed them to paper
so with you I could now share

Colloquy

Concluding the ‘Colloquy’ series (12 of 12)

I've been in conversation now
since December twenty-two
Twelve poems of obscurity
in verse right here to you
The recondite of English language
explored, brought to the fore
yet with this colloquy today
alas, there'll be no more

Diminishing I (blink)

This short verse gone in a blink
and though severed, secured by link
as the poet commits to ink

Each tercet brings its own charm
so there is nothing here to harm
in fact an antonym to arm

And though perhaps not quite in clover
there's still at element of lover
as the poet's hand cries now its over

Four Lines

Poems from the poet's hand
some are simple, others grand
myriad as grains of sand
all to help the mind expand

The hidden poem

There once was a poem, it lived in my head
where it churned and prospered and grew
Words came and went, stanzas they changed
Syntax coaxed old from the new

And unlike the ones that I write every day
this one shunned limelight and stayed
mysteriously there in the background
not yet to be up there, displayed

To meet my words

In the quiet still of these crystal moments
when the morning whispers at sun's first call
and slumber echoes on the dove-cote doors of sleep
a world lies waiting for the day
and there you will find me, pen in hand
poised for the never failing still voice of inspiration
and when it comes, as it always will
these virgin sheets meet my words

The Christening

A new book so a new poem
as it is the thing to do
with virgin pages waiting
for some words quite fresh and new

So here are several lines
of rhyming verse to fit
the nuance of that simple plea
with nonchalance and wit

Wherewithal

No. 10 in the ‘Colloquy’ series

With purpose in mind my best foot I place
metaphorically forward with zest
as with wherewithal there
with a purpose to share
I will give this plan all of my best

My very best

When you write something
of which you are proud
and brings you a smile
and makes you shout loud
'Cos you know that the words
which have come from your heart
are worthy to share
and to others impart?

Sylvan

No.9 in the Colloquy series

Darkened the tunnel beckoned
as sunlight filtered through
so gingerly I ventured
to the sylvan place I knew

The sound of trickled water
from the river down below
brought comfort to my quickened step
with beauty there on show

Fudgel

No. 8 in the ‘Colloquy’ series

Don't get the wrong impression
my colleagues, reading this
as I'm not one for fudgel
as for me my work is bliss

But on occasion there are times
especially of late
when a fudgel is more common
in attempts to graciate

As with retirement looming
ever closer now these days
I find myself succumbing to
a new relaxing phase

Velleity

No.7 in the ‘Colloquy’ series

I have an inclination
one deep-seated, born of dream
partly wishful thinking but
ever-growing with a smile of whimsy
to which I will return from time to time
For it is something to cherish
teetering on the brink of promise

Language of Substance

'For not' or 'not for'
in juxtaposition
two different meanings
for intent or for mission
Language of substance
for writer and poet
who will always exploit
as it's they who will know it

Discombobulate

No. 6 in the ‘Colloquy’ series

Is this the last line or the first?
is my syntax back to front?
or is this perhaps the middle
I don't know - it's worth a punt
Perhaps I'm discombobulated?
Maybe you are now as well?
and reaching for the dictionary
(believe me - I can tell)
For actually we're nine lines in
and nearing now the end
of this little series ditty
which I've written for a friend

Floccinaucinihilipilification not

[No.3 in the ‘Colloquy’ series]

Twenty-nine letters; testament to the fact
that in estimation and to be exact
the action describing this noun in these words
is so far from worthless as to be absurd

Opened Doors

Joint Poetry by Venkataraman L.N. and Joseph Kurian

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Saga of Poet

Joint Poetry by Venkataraman L.N. and Joseph Kurian

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Heartful Love

Joint Poetry by Venkataraman L.N. and Joseph Kurian

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Of poets and words revisited

5 of 12 in ‘The of…’ series from Jemverse 2022

Pen to paper
virgin sheen
words I’ve found
have never been
Coupled closely
with another
Family as if
to brother

Verisimilitude

#2 in the ‘Colloquy’ series from Jemverse

It may be true, it may be not
in wintertime to feel quite hot
that actually would say a lot
as you may well be ill

Yet verisimilitudes may well
get in the way and seem to tell
that ailments are there to quell
with warmth opposed to chill

Overmorrow

Today's overmorrow Tuesday will be
and the week will just have begun
then two overmorrows thereafter we'll see
a week that is almost done
But three overmorrows, it's not long to wait
if a week you need to pass by
so take that to heart and you will find
that time will literally fly

Life in words (reprise)

Concluding ‘The Word II’ series from Jemverse (10 of 10)

I like writing poems
I write one every day
‘Cos there’s lots in life to write about
and it’s nice to have a say
I’ll write about the sunshine
and I’ll write about the sea
I’ll write about ‘most anything
and sometimes simply me

The poet and some troublesome words (reprise)

9 of 10 in ‘The Word II’ series from Jemverse

As a candle burned into the night
the poet played a game
Chasing words that tried to hide
behind the flickering flame

But however hard the poet tried
he could not catch but one
The words were quick to disappear
as they were having fun

Just a few words (reprise)

5 of 10 in ‘The Word II’ series from Jemverse

Just a few words is all it takes
To change the way I feel
Escapism? Maybe sometimes
But they have the power to heal

In just a few words each morning
I will find a way to say
Something new to bring good cheer
And brighten up my day