Read a Poem
Little Lanterns of the Night
by Jacquie Peoples Dukes
Beautiful insects that are natural lanterns of the night.
They are always the life of the party for all their short-lived life.
Their tiny orange or yellow head with split black wings hides a hidden treasure.
That thrills, excites and delights with astounding mystical pleasure.
It prowls the habitat for a twilight date.
It employs bioluminescence to attract a mate.
Trying to avoid the looming, nocturnal,
Mason jar zoo.
They bob and weave and loop de loop.
Lampyridae is hard to say, but scientifically their name.
They love to play “Hide and Seek”
and are experts at the game.
“Lighting Bug” or Firefly”
folks from the North or South both needle.
Ironically, they’re not a bug or a fly,
but classified a beetle.
Quietly upon a Summer’s eve,
on a stealthy mission
they embark.
They shine some light on a dimming world,
by piercing through
the dark.
“Little Lanterns of the Night” by Jacquie Peoples Dukes from Poetic Inventory online anthology. Wick Poetry Center and The Cuyahoga Valley National Park. 2022. Used by permission of the author.
About the Author
Jacquie Peoples Dukes, LSW, M.Ed., is a Licensed Social Worker and professional educator. She is a longtime poet, writing since early adolescence. Her debut book, Southend Serenades, published by Last Exit Press in Kent, Ohio, features her original poetry, recollections, retro photographs, and information about growing up in her cherished neighborhood on the south side of Kent, Ohio. Her poetry has been published in Kent State University’s Wick Poetry Inventory, Standing Rock Cultural Arts 30th Anniversary Calendar, and the Edith Chase Poetry Anthologies. Jacquie can be reached at [email protected].
Write a Poem
The total eclipse is today and it is also Opening Day for the Cleveland Guardians. Write about the juxtaposition of these two events.
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The sun shone bright in the cloudless sky over our fine cities. The moon moved fast across the sun and every moment the cold said hello and the warmth of the sun said goodbye.
Downtown the voices of Gardians' fans applauded and smiled as the team scored again and again. Fireworks went off in the streets and we all cheered. The sun and the moon meet like this again in 20 years but yet never like twas this day.
The team will play and play but it too will not be the same.
[Comment hidden due to low rating]
Both Things for the First Time
Concurrence.
Attention-getting: interest-drawing.
Popular.
A hot ball of plasma.
A professional sports team.
One eternal.
One finite.
The greater, taken for granted.
The lesser, often disappointing.
Once in a lifetime
They compete.
Many will witness.
Some will be disappointed.
the alignment
of the sun, moon, earth, and baseball
--opening day syzygy
~Nancy Brady, 2024
#offthecuffhaiku
Light towards darkness
to light up the sky
again~
Is it a day game
or a night game?
What will the * say?
Day 8
The total eclipse is today and it is also Opening Day for the Cleveland Guardians. Write about the juxtaposition of these two events.
bummer...my palindrome didn't format: visit my website--easier read: https://tovlis.wixsite.com/tovliwriter/tovlis-writings
Palindrome: Baseball JuxtapositionLight to Dark
I. Day Game
Eclipse swallows Cleveland
Nothing from light
Nothing from darkness
Now Guardians.
Not Indians?
Baseball happening.
Americans change.
Eclipse the burn.
Baseball?
America!
Eclipse sliding home.
Subtle.
Light off
Light on.
Dogs. Kosher again!
Finally light
Finally, night.
II. Night Game
Night finally.
Light finally.
Again, Kosher Dogs.
On. Light.
Off. Light.
Subtle.
Home. Sliding eclipse.
America?
Baseball!
Burn the eclipse.
Change Americans.
Happening. Baseball.
Indians? Not.
Guardians! Now?
Darkness from nothing.
Light from nothing.
Cleaveland swallows eclipse.
(c) Tovli 2024
A stream of cuyahoga
Through Metro parks splashes brooks currents of NCAA news of stardom losses or mighty conquests, depending on your allegiance, led into
An auspicious day of solar eclipse
We head to the ticket lines
With no fears of last season, scoffing at the pains
Of Mudville
Ramirez not Casey is at bat
Kwan is poised at third
The sun nearly free from the moon
Setting at the start
Of another season
I liked "The sun nearly free from the moon", because it reminds me of how it felt, me, finally free of the anticipation.