The Versesmith

 Poets and Storytellers United Friday Writings #193: Tell Me Something Good “...for this week's optional prompt, I am requesting that you tell me something good .”  I hear the sparrows’ chirp cicadas’ buzz smell the neighbors’ barbecue I see the clouds above floating gently by feel breezes in my hair I pick a warm tomato ripened in the sun ...a taste of something fine the dog is belly up wriggling on the lawn his carefree joy contagious ©2025 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved   I've just had a taste of something fine. Jackson Browne, Something Fine #poetsandstorytellersunited #freeverse #jacksonbrowne #atasteofsomethingfine #fridaywritings

  Friday Fictioneers   "The Challenge: Write a complete story in one hundred words of less." Mine worked itself into a story-poem. photo prompt © Roger Bultot 100 words Please don’t. I said, don’t ! Turn off the TV! You know the dog is afraid of boom-booms, why would you add more when there are enough outside right now! Look at him! It’s not funny. He’s shaking and drooling and won’t go outside to pee before bed. No, I won’t drag him out! I’ll clean up his accidents. You’re cruel. I wouldn’t force you to face your fears, and you understand what’s happening, he doesn’t. You are a jerk. I hate you. I really do. Yes, I love the dog more. Go, or I will. And, I’ll take the dog. ©2025 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved Only two things in this are true.  My dog, Mickey, is very afraid of fireworks, which are, unfortunately, legal (with exceptions, but people ignore that and bring the banned ones from out of state) in Oregon from June 23 through July 6.  He also will ...

Quadrille #207 Poem Spin Cycle " Don’t go into a tailspin. Just spin us a poem of precisely 44 words (not counting the title), containing some form or other of the word spin. Post the poem on your own blog and link up using the Mr. Linky below. Then spin out into that beautiful blogosphere to enjoy all the amazing poems. Some of the most incredible poets spin their stories right here at dverse. The Q is open all week long, so be sure to come back and take a second spin around the track. " He spins in circles ‘round and ‘round, a silent hunter, makes no sound. He eyes the prize, and sets to motion. He will get that thing, Land o’ Goshen! Now he’s so woozy, the silly boy! He’s found his tail is not a toy! ©2024 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved #dverse #quadrille #wordcount #poetryprompt @mickey_chicky_boom_boom 

 24 Seasons Syllabic Poetry Challenge, No. 24  Wintering Insects Awake (March 5 – 19) Keichitsu 啓蟄 " Your syllabic poetry writing invitation is to choose a kigo word or phrase from the seasonal kigo list on the post, or you can choose from the spring category on the kigo word list links below. Share your kigo word on your pos t." It's been raining.  It's been snowing.  Then more rain.  It's muddy.  Very, very muddy.  So, what kigo phrase would be more fitting right now than Spring Mud ?  Nothing I can think of.   It was made for me considering I took the photo below just two days ago!  I wrote a h aiga . ©2024 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved #tankatuesday #kigo #tankatuesdaypoetrychallenge #tankatuesday24seasons #haiga #syllabicpoetry 

Tanka Tuesday 24 Seasons Syllabic Poetry Challenge No. 8   The Beginning of Winter (November 7 – 21) Ritto 立冬 "Below you will find the three kigo phrases (five syllables each). You can use them as the “turn lines” or “pivots” (third lines) for each of your three tanka, or as the first line of your tanka. You must use one kigo phrase in each tanka as either the first line or the pivot line in each of your three tanka poems." The kigo phrases are: #1: “the first month with sleet” #2: “late winter garden” #3: “blanket by the fire” the first month with sleet these early cold days are hard since I've been alone the nights are so much longer I don't know how long I'll last squash dead on the vine withered tomatoes turned brown late winter garden  hang up the garden hoses close the garden shed door tight the first cold morning mug of hot cocoa in hand blanket by the fire warms my legs and the old dog memories for when he's gone * ©2023 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights R...

 Ronovan Writes Ovi Poetry Challenge 6: GOOD is your inspiration.  What things, when asked, would I term "good," things both unclear and understood? Forgive me please for if I should take so long deciding.     One thing I know is good for sure, with heart of gold and love so pure, who cheers me up, who is my cure, no surprise, it's Mickey!   He's by my side both night and day, placidly napping, or at play, comprehending most words I say. His vocabulary!   Yes, he's my dog, yet so much more, with a face you cannot ignore He's clearly not a Labrador, largely Border Collie. ©2023 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved I had a little fun writing this one today!   #mickey_chicky_boom_boom #ronovanwrites #ronovanwritesovipoetrychallege #ovipoetry #ovipoem #dogpoem #rhyme #syllablicpoetry 

 Mindlovemisery's Menagerie Wordle #299  Prompt words in red.       I feel the pressure of his body against my back.  It’s actually rather nice, the warmth pressing right where my back likes the support.  He seems to believe the queen mattress is one big dog bed, and by morning he’ll be in the center, with me on the edge, bound for the floor!      His previous family adopt ed him from the shelter as a tiny pup, only to abandon him back a few short months later when his sibling’s DNA showed something they didn’t appreciate .   They didn’t even give him a chance to finish his puppy classes.  I’m his family now.  He’s my family .  You don’t give up on family .      He’s the brave (or timid, depending on his mood) defender of our home.  A staunch protector of the garden from cats hiding in the rosemary , the fragrant needles not fooling him. He smells cat!  Not that he’d...

  Tanka Tuesday No. 280   first red, ripe tomato from my garden bliss   heat sets in afternoons are spent indoors cool dog loathes heat spends his day under table limp  ©2022 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved  #tankatuesday #syllabicpoetry #syllabicpoem #lanturne #lanturnepoetry #lanturnepoem #shapepoem #summerpoem