The Versesmith

A Z appai is often referred to as a "pseudo-haiku," and haiku societies dismiss the from as having little literary value.  A  Z appai follows the 5-7-5 syllable lines of haiku, but never has seasonal references.  What I have written isn't even a proper Z appai!  I have laid it out as one sentence of 17 syllables, which is an American Sentence.    It's a Z oo Out There was bought at Goodwill for $2.69.  How could I resist!  There must be a story behind this trio of Washington D.C. powerhouses!  The title is one I used for the Challenge, I usually call it Animals in D.C .   This isn't the first time I've featured this artwork in a poem.  Here's the other .  If I say they act like animals, that gives animals a bad name. ©202 6 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved     Thanks to all who dropped in this month for the A to Z Challenge!  It was fun!  

The J oseph's Star was created in 2007 by Christina R. J ussaume in memory of her father, J oseph.  It is a syllabic form with the following "rules" that should make the poem rather star-shaped. 8 lines 1/3/5/7/7/5/3/1 Unrhymed Any subject, and no limit to the number of stanzas, but each should be a complete statement. Center aligned  This sketch came professionally framed from St. Vincent de Paul for only 50¢. It is signed Paunch, and on the back is a doodle that reads PaunchoDoodles.    Jazz time to dance so strike up the band flute and drum and sousaphone tap your toes and nod your head leave off your worries tonight nothing like Jazz ©202 6 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved  

 We've come to the end of another A to Z.  Congratulations to all who not only made all 26 posts, but all those who attempted to. For my last post, Z, I offer an ekphrasic poem based on a painting I own, with the author name beginnnig with Z, Gertrude Zeller.  The title of the painting is "Birches of Cheyenne Drive," the street on which Ms. Zeller resided.  "Birches of Cheyenne Drive," by Gertrude Zeller - painting in author's collection     The birches on Cheyenne Drive flame this October as they’ve always flamed.   The setting sun lights the sky ablaze. An inferno in the west.   Do you miss our autumns together, watching the sun go down on Cheyenne Drive? Or, alone, are the leaves of Kyoto enough for you? ©2022 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserve

Writers' Pantry #75   Last week's Scribblings' prompt got me wondering just what's the story behind this painting, bought at Goodwill for $2.69 a few years ago.  Just why are there African mammals dressed in business dress in Washington D.C?   Here's the story as I imagined it:        A water buffalo, a baboon, and an antelope walk into a bar.      Strike that.      A water buffalo, a baboon, and an antelope took the bar, and are  now high powered attorneys and judges in DC.      The baboon has expectations, an appointment to the Supreme  Court.   He has the look, don’t you think?   Although, some have said his hair is too like that of “He who we would rather forget,” that  perhaps he should dye it.   Baboon chuckles deeply and enjoys the  comparison.      The buffalo is outwardly more of a thug, sarcastic, loud- mo...

Lady in Orange  Superior look on your face Who is it you judge?   ©2020 Lisa Smith Nelson. All Rights Reserved