Starboard, or: Gunwale

Poetry Partners #135

‘Falling Stars’, a poem by Malalai Khan of ‘Malalai Noor Khan’

While all the world is asleep
And I too close my eyes,
My inner ones open
To gaze at the soulful skies.

The night ocean glimmers
Upon the starry shores,
A whole place for me
To roam and explore.

The darkness covers me
In a hopeless veil,
But light is always there
For the stars lead the way.

I run around the
Vivid constellations,
Making wishes
With great expectations.

But...

The skies start to shatter,
The stars begin to fall,
And I wake up
To these forsaken walls.

Everything fades,
My dreams go numb,
While to reality
I give up and succumb.

Malalai Khan: https://malalaikhan.wordpress.com

A ‘choka’ by ben Alexander of ‘The Skeptic’s Kaddish’

Winslow Homer – The Gulf Stream
Metropolitan Museum of Art

thunderstorms tear up;
broken below deck, I lie
to myself again;
no, I'm not nihilistic
I'm realistic
about these rising waters;
up above, I smile;
my child blows a kiss to me;
her bright, cloudless eyes
lit with flashes of lightning
possibilities
an electric optimism;
I cannot contain myself

#TankaTuesday

This choka was written for this week’s Colleen Chesebro’s ‘Tanka Tuesday’ prompt, which was provided by Sangeetha of ‘Mindfills’. We are encouraged to write syllabic poems on the theme of: ‘The Nature of Lightning’.

Moonwashed weekly prompt

Thunderstorm

Let’s write poetry together!

When it comes to partnership, some humans can make their lives alone – it’s possible. But creatively, it’s more like painting: you can’t just use the same colours in every painting. It’s just not an option. You can’t take the same photograph every time and live with art forms with no differences.
–Ben Harper (b. 1969)

Would you like to create poetry with me and have a completed poem of yours featured here at the Skeptic’s Kaddish? I am very excited to have launched the ‘Poetry Partners’ initiative and am looking forward to meeting and creating with you… Check it out!

List of Poetry Partners

30 thoughts on “Starboard, or: Gunwale”

[…] David outdid himself this week with two poems! He sponsors a Poetry Partner’s post where you submit a poem to him, and he re-works it. The results are always fun to read. This week, David used our theme, so make sure and have a read, HERE. […]

ben Alexander October 3, 202207:11 Reply

💝

David… this is beyond stunning! I love the chōka form anyway, but your words made it sing. ⚡️

ben Alexander October 1, 202220:57 Reply

💙🙏🏻 Colleen 🙏🏻💙

I can feel the energy surge! Stunning write

ben Alexander September 29, 202210:01 Reply

🧡🙏🏻 Sangeetha 🙏🏻🧡

Both of your poems made my heart smile! Nicely done. I bet I know who blew you a kiss David 🥰💕🤗

ben Alexander September 29, 202207:19 Reply

💗🙏🏻 Cindy 🙏🏻💗
1. Cindy Georgakas September 29, 202208:01 Reply
  
  😊😊😊

Both poems evoke a reality shaken, at least to me.

ben Alexander September 29, 202207:17 Reply

💖🙏🏻 Lauren 🙏🏻💖

Malalai’s poem took me on a journey! 🌌 Your response tugs at the heart strings. A lovely duo. 💞

ben Alexander September 28, 202222:27 Reply

🤎🙏🏻 Michele 🙏🏻🤎 ~ thank you!

Lovely poem by Malalai and a touch of drama in response.

ben Alexander September 28, 202221:28 Reply

😻 Dolly 😻

I feel like poems set at night always have this aura of magic to them. Stunning poetry by Malalai. I love how both the poems portray reality. Clever writing!