Even if it were bending the rules (it's not), birds is a wonderful answer! Thank you for returning with this post full of wonderful answers, Siodhna. 💛from another left-hander
This was so inspiring - I just had to pick up a pen and answer the questions!
Which phase of the moon most deepens your breath?
The full moon, hanging low and glowing orange in the night sky, steals my breath away then returns it to me in slow, even inhales/exhales.
Which time of year most often finds you laughing?
Summer – the antics of the birds, wild rabbits and squirrels regale me.
What is your favorite consonant? Your favorite vowel?
I love O, when it shapes someone’s lips and escapes as a breathy ‘Oh!’ of delight or surprise. Favorite consonant? I will have to ponder that one.
What figure walks through all your dreams?
My late father. I miss his words of wisdom, offered with kindness and objectivity. With them came these unspoken words, “This is what I think, but the decision is always, always yours.”
Your shadow – enemy, friend or stranger?
Friend, though only a fair-weather friend.
A cottage – in the forest, or by the sea?
I was born under the sign of Cancer, a water sign; it’s the sea that calls to me again and again.
A lover’s tryst – at dusk, midnight or dawn?
At dawn, when everyone else sleeps, but our bodies are fully awake.
Words, or colors – which, if you have to choose?
Must I choose?
Which blessings do you pray for in a whisper?
I pray for continued health – for myself and my loved ones – so we can continue to enjoy the blessings of our lives.
What instrument sounds most like your voice?
One that is not front and centre, but whose discreet performances (hopefully) add value.
Which animal can you speak with in their language?
Definitely cats. They may see in me a kindred spirit who trusts only a select few, but fully and unconditionally.
What would you swear to, with your left-hand raised?
I would swear to my belief that, with time, the good will prevail.
Which phase of the moon most deepens your breath? The thinest sliver in the sky speaking of possibility and renewal
Which time of year most often finds you laughing? Spring
What is your favorite consonant? your favorite vowel? B, O, then I can say Bob over and over and over.
What figure walks through all your dreams? A stalking stranger
Your shadow – enemy, friend, or stranger? Friend, a playmate, a comfort,
A cottage – in the forest, or by the sea? By the sea in front, forest behind me.
A lover’s tryst – at dusk, midnight, or dawn? Midnight, leading into the deepest soul of the night
Words, or colors – which, if you had to choose? Colours. Every hue, every shade, muted, vivid I want them all.
Which blessings do you pray for in a whisper? To be well, it’s a boring selfish wish I know
What instrument sounds most like your voice? UG, I hate my voice, so it’s probably a squeaky badly blown reed instrument.
Which animal can you speak with in their language? Microbes - prove me wrong.
What would you swear to, with your left hand raised? The power of Greyskull, oops sorry thats a cartoon, and I am devoid of sword. Hmm, 🧐, mmm, 🤔, every time I rise my hand to inspire thought, my hand just claps my cheek, so no idea. Not big on swearing that way, words don’t really mean much actions do.
Fun! I thought answers to your poem of unique questions would spark poems from your poet friends. Indeed, some lovely ones below. Still pondering my answers! And we can all embody the approach of that curious owl friend!
More a series of poemettes. Little eft poems wondering what they might grow into.
Thank you so much, Elizabeth, for your beautiful poem. It's so nurturing, I both want to sit alongside it in silence, appreciating its song, and to sing duets with it. And I love how many different doors it unlocked.
Not to worry, B. -- never thinking about these questions is completely normal, it's oddball poets who ask them! You take the cottage by the sea, and I'll come and visit you from my cottage in the forest.
Full moon. Half moon. Slip moon.
Summer laughing. Lately letting the winter laughs out. Encouraging them Nourishing from where they come!
I love Mmmmms
Os
So many sounds. Shadow walks in my dreams sometimes. The shadow of fear or falling. Only just getting to know this frenemy.
A cottage by the sea
A lover’s tryst – at dawn
Words. And music if I can.
Blessings in a whisper? Love that lasts, presence, patience, forgiveness.
Instrument like your voice? Air, I'd like to say flute but I can't really answer this. I hear me mostly from the inside.
Animal can you speak with in their language? Is birds bending the rules?
I'm left handed. (That explains it!)
Even if it were bending the rules (it's not), birds is a wonderful answer! Thank you for returning with this post full of wonderful answers, Siodhna. 💛from another left-hander
👋
"Your shadow – enemy, friend, or stranger?" This question is one of a kind! Wonderful poem
So glad you enjoyed it, Writer Pilgrim! (And so ... what's the deal with you and your shadow??)
I need to figure it out still. What about you?
Sometimes stranger, sometimes friend….
My answers begged me to put them on a post -- they do deserve a post of their own :)
And I must thank you for that dear Elizabeth! 🖤
Tomorrow...
Oooh, I will be on the lookout! Thank you, Fotini. 🙏🏼💛🌿
You asked—I’ll answer:
Full moon -makes me awestruck!
Winter in Oregon is laughable.
Consonant K
Vowel Y
Figure in my dreams: it is often myself walking paths unknown.
My shadow is a stranger in a wheelchair.
A cottage by the sea, or I can look out and see endless possibilities.
A lover’s tryst— I would think it would midnight but I don’t know. I haven’t had one lately..
Colors or words: I would pick words because they have endless possibilities.
The blessings I pray for are for my friend who is going through a serious mental health problem.
My voice does not sound musical But if it did not musical, I would choose the harp.
I can speak dog because I have one!
What is my left hand raised I would swear to believe in a brighter future for the United States. That’s an odd thing to swear to, but somebody has to!
What an interesting poem, Elizabeth! I think you’re wanting to make us think and also you want to get to know us better'
Thank you for these heartfelt, generous answers, sister Loocinda. 💛🌿
Oh, the gorgeousness of this poem. I will have to think about my answers. My instinctive answer to the shadow question is "stranger."
Oh, I agree with you about the shadow, Margaret Ann! And I'm so glad you enjoyed the poem. Please drop by any time if other answers occur.
But of course 😊.
Such a fun and interesting poem. Answer to #1- new horn moon, last night. It occurs in a song in Pocohantas, "Colors of the Wind"
Excellent! Thank you, Wes.
Thank you for the poetic questions. Much needed.
Questions can start things stirring in us, can't they? Thank you for reading, Mahdi.
Love this one. So engaging.
Thank you, Mary Katherine! So glad it speaks to you.
This was so inspiring - I just had to pick up a pen and answer the questions!
Which phase of the moon most deepens your breath?
The full moon, hanging low and glowing orange in the night sky, steals my breath away then returns it to me in slow, even inhales/exhales.
Which time of year most often finds you laughing?
Summer – the antics of the birds, wild rabbits and squirrels regale me.
What is your favorite consonant? Your favorite vowel?
I love O, when it shapes someone’s lips and escapes as a breathy ‘Oh!’ of delight or surprise. Favorite consonant? I will have to ponder that one.
What figure walks through all your dreams?
My late father. I miss his words of wisdom, offered with kindness and objectivity. With them came these unspoken words, “This is what I think, but the decision is always, always yours.”
Your shadow – enemy, friend or stranger?
Friend, though only a fair-weather friend.
A cottage – in the forest, or by the sea?
I was born under the sign of Cancer, a water sign; it’s the sea that calls to me again and again.
A lover’s tryst – at dusk, midnight or dawn?
At dawn, when everyone else sleeps, but our bodies are fully awake.
Words, or colors – which, if you have to choose?
Must I choose?
Which blessings do you pray for in a whisper?
I pray for continued health – for myself and my loved ones – so we can continue to enjoy the blessings of our lives.
What instrument sounds most like your voice?
One that is not front and centre, but whose discreet performances (hopefully) add value.
Which animal can you speak with in their language?
Definitely cats. They may see in me a kindred spirit who trusts only a select few, but fully and unconditionally.
What would you swear to, with your left-hand raised?
I would swear to my belief that, with time, the good will prevail.
Your answers are inspiring, Linda! Thanks so much for reading and responding.
Happy Birthday Elizabeth. I have enjoyed the reading !
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it.
A full harvest moon
Our early California spring when the plum blossoms start blooming in February
An L, an E
My ex-husband won’t leave me alone
Your shadow – My other half
A cottage – By the sea
A lover’s tryst – at dusk
Words, or colors – words
Help me
A squeaky violin
Cat
To be true to what I believe
Wonderful, LeeAnn, thank you!
Which phase of the moon most deepens your breath? The thinest sliver in the sky speaking of possibility and renewal
Which time of year most often finds you laughing? Spring
What is your favorite consonant? your favorite vowel? B, O, then I can say Bob over and over and over.
What figure walks through all your dreams? A stalking stranger
Your shadow – enemy, friend, or stranger? Friend, a playmate, a comfort,
A cottage – in the forest, or by the sea? By the sea in front, forest behind me.
A lover’s tryst – at dusk, midnight, or dawn? Midnight, leading into the deepest soul of the night
Words, or colors – which, if you had to choose? Colours. Every hue, every shade, muted, vivid I want them all.
Which blessings do you pray for in a whisper? To be well, it’s a boring selfish wish I know
What instrument sounds most like your voice? UG, I hate my voice, so it’s probably a squeaky badly blown reed instrument.
Which animal can you speak with in their language? Microbes - prove me wrong.
What would you swear to, with your left hand raised? The power of Greyskull, oops sorry thats a cartoon, and I am devoid of sword. Hmm, 🧐, mmm, 🤔, every time I rise my hand to inspire thought, my hand just claps my cheek, so no idea. Not big on swearing that way, words don’t really mean much actions do.
This is fabulous, Tamsin. So many lovely lines, and the one that made me laugh of course: "Then I can say Bob over and over and over."
It's like a whole poem made up of poetry prompts! How lovely!
A questionnaire to assess Poetic Capacity! (Everybody's got some!)
Fun! I thought answers to your poem of unique questions would spark poems from your poet friends. Indeed, some lovely ones below. Still pondering my answers! And we can all embody the approach of that curious owl friend!
Thanks, Petrina! I hope you share some of your answers if you feel so inclined.
The full moon when she sits huge and golden on the horizon
the waning crescent, a thin sliver in deep darkness before dawn
***
How to choose one consonant?
I love the sweet susurrus of hissing S,
so sleek and soft , seeking silence
But bold brash B bares branches,
breaks bread, and blazes brightly
lovely L looms and lifts, lush and likely,
lingers longing and lonely, and lilting
M is moody, melancholic, melodious-- and also Melanie
manic, motherly, maritime and martial, meticulous
D is dark, deceitful, doom-dwelling, deep,
delicious, delicate, deliberate, definite
Vowels are hard but I prefer soft and breathy like Aah, Eeee, Oh and Ooo, to the crisper vowels like short i in, uh or short a like cat.
***
A cottage by the sea
where the sun rises and the sun sets over the waves
where the stars are clear
But there must be trees
a beach to walk on
where treasures wash up
Pools among the rocks where living things lurk
clouds gather for daily drama
sails haunt the horizon
***
oh words words words words words
I can drown in azure blue or crimson
in gold and forest green and scarlet
I would go in mourning if I lost the world of hues
but I think I would die if I were deprived of words
***
bless my words and make them
into blessings for others
let them be channels of grace in the world
let them smell of Eden
let them sing like dawnlight birdsong in chorus
let them whisper hints of heaven
***
If you hear my voice and you think you hear
a cello playing on the Charles Bridge
in Prague while white swans swim
through inky darkness below
Then you will have heard truly
the music of my soul.
***
If I could speak any language
it would be the tongue of crows
Then I would ask them
what it feels like to blend in to the night
and to sound like murder and mayhem
while foretelling joy and sorrow
and how to perch in a pine
as if you owned the world.
***
I swear that I will do my best
to give everyone the benefit of the doubt
I swear that I will try to find beauty every day
and to sing beauty into being with my words
Great post Elizabeth. Let me think...
Glad you enjoyed it, Siodhna. Come back and share your thoughts any time!
Oh my goodness, Melanie, you have written a glorious poem in answer to my poem!
More a series of poemettes. Little eft poems wondering what they might grow into.
Thank you so much, Elizabeth, for your beautiful poem. It's so nurturing, I both want to sit alongside it in silence, appreciating its song, and to sing duets with it. And I love how many different doors it unlocked.
Never thought about these questions. Oh Dear! Does that make me not normal? Cottage by the sea definitely. To many trees, I feel hemmed in.
Auntie B.
Not to worry, B. -- never thinking about these questions is completely normal, it's oddball poets who ask them! You take the cottage by the sea, and I'll come and visit you from my cottage in the forest.