Shanin's Poetry Page

<body><center> <script language="javascript" type="text/javascript" src="//ad.broadcaststation.net/ads/show_ad.php?width=728&height=90"></script> </center>  <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-4KX380T5BD"></script> <script> window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'G-4KX380T5BD'); </script>  <geoads></geoads> <b> <h1 align="center">Shanin's Poetry Page</h1> <p align="center"><img border="0" src="images/feather.gif" width="540" height="46"></p> <p align="center"><i>Non-frames Version</i></p> <h3 align="center">Contemplation from a University of Florida Classroom</h3> </b> <div align="center"> <center> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111"> <tr> <td> <p align="left">On this pale white morning<br> Beyond the window of a University classroom<br> The blank, pallid-blue sky floats overhead<br> Blinding the earth with white morning sunlight.<br> The steepled rooftop of a nearby towering brick building<br> Offers its garb of dirty-red to the bright paleness above.<br> Thick fronds of three royal palms obscure the upper windows<br> Trunks arching into the crowded bushes below<br> Showing off their wild coats of green.<br> A carpet of grass spreads across the short lawn where<br> Two winged bugs play chase in quick circles--<br> Little black bodies creating imaginary lines in the pale air.<br> As quickly as they appeared, they’re gone<br> To continue their game near another campus building.<br> And still, beyond this University window<br> The blank, pallid-blue sky floats overhead and<br> Blinds the earth with white mourning sunlight<br> On this pale white morning.</p> <p align="right"><i><font size="2">--2003 (adapted from free-form text written in 1990)</font></i></p> </td> </tr> </table> </center> </div> <p align="center"> </p> <h3 align="center">Florida Summer</h3> <p align="center">Heat rises in golden clusters<br> The feathered skies are azure-thin<br> A rare breeze hugs in stiff embrace<br> Soothes the pores of sweltering skin<br> Mid-day clouds noisily gather<br> The sky grows dark, the rains begin.</p> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <dl> <dd> <p align="right"><i><font size="2">--2002</font></i></dd> </dl> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> <p align="center"> </p> <b> <h3 ALIGN="center">Thanksgiving</h3> </b><font SIZE="2"> <p ALIGN="center"></p> </font> <p ALIGN="center">The table of food lays in front of me – ominous.<br> My stomach growls with anticipation.<br> It is Thanksgiving and all the condiments of a typical Thanksgiving meal sit on this table.<br> My eyes focus on the large nine-pound turkey in the middle, glistening with sweet and sour glaze.<br> In front of the turkey is a large silver bowl stocked with chunky white mash potatoes garnished with parsley.<br> My empty plate sits just in front of that.<br> A fork to the left pokes its four silver prongs at the potatoes.<br> Under the fork is a white cloth napkin folded neatly.<br> On the napkin rests a crumb.<br> The crumb is pale brown, like it has fallen from its mother bread.<br> I think I will start this Thanksgiving dinner by eating this particular breadcrumb.<br> I will enjoy its humble delicacy.</p> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <p align="right"><i><font size="2">--1990</font></i></p> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> <p align="center"> </p> <h3 ALIGN="center">Haikus</h3> <p align="center">Standing solemnly<br> In a filed of loneliness<br> Forever waiting</p> <p align="center">Magnificently<br> Curved flower – colored yellow<br> And a vibrant red</p> <p align="center">The owl waiting in <br> Silence always alert with<br> Curiosity</p> <p align="center">Engulfing over<br> Exceptionally smooth stones<br> The river takes form</p> <p align="center">Sharply tormented <br> By harsh, unforgiving winds<br> Lay the icicles</p> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <P ALIGN="right"><i><font size="2">--1988</font></i></P> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> <p align="center"> </p> <div align="center"> <center> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111"> <tr> <td> <font SIZE="2"> <h3 align="center">An Acrostic</h3> </font> <p align="left"><b><font size="4">O</font></b>ffering a home for sea-<br> <b><font size="4">C</font></b>reatures the ocean<br> <b><font size="4">E</font></b>dges along the shores with<br> <b><font size="4">A</font></b>rresting waves that<br> <b><font size="4">N</font></b>arrate the stories that are to be told.</p> <P ALIGN="right"><i><font size="2">--1988</font></i></P> </td> </tr> </table> </center> </div> <p ALIGN="center"> </p> <font SIZE="2"> <h3 align="center"><a name="Cinquanes">Cinquanes</a></h3> </font> <p align="center">boy<br> curious, adventurous<br> seeking, finding, risking<br> never satisfied<br> male</p> <p align="center">stream<br> petite, awesome<br> whispering, flowing, gurgling<br> always moving, but seems so serene<br> river</p> <p align="center">peaks<br> jagged, rough<br> stabbing, looking, overwhelming<br> creating a goal for climbers<br> summits</p> <font SIZE="2"> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <P ALIGN="right"><i>--1988</i></P> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> <p ALIGN="center"> </p> <h3 align="center"><a name="Little">Little</a> Star</h3> </font> <p align="center">Closer, closer little star;<br> I hate to see you oh so far.<br> Up above, far away;<br> As a dot you look so gay.<br> Come closer, closer little star;<br> How I hate seeing you oh so far.</p> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <p align="right"><i><font size="2">-1987</font></i></p> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> <p align="center"> </p> <font SIZE="2"> <h3 align="center">New Year's <a name="Resolution">Resolution</a></h3> </font> <p align="center">A time to live;<br> A time to die;<br> A time to laugh;<br> A time to cry.</p> <p align="center">A time for hopes;<br> A time for fears;<br> Now is the time <br> To reflect upon the years.</p> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <p align="right"><i><font size="2">-1987</font></i></p> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> <p align="center"> </p> <h3 ALIGN="center">My <a name="Odes">Odes</a> to You</h3> <p ALIGN="center">The earth may be rearranged;<br> The sky may not stay blue.<br> But never will be changed<br> The way I feel about you.</p> <p ALIGN="center">----------</p> <p ALIGN="center">Yes it was fun,<br> Yes it was great;<br> Sorry it had to end,<br> With a thing like fate.</p> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <blockquote> <p align="right"><i><font size="2">-1987</font></i></p> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> </blockquote> <p align="center"> </p> <h3 ALIGN="center"><FONT SIZE=4><B><a name="ToShaninTia">To Shanin Tia</a></h3> </B></FONT> <div align="center"> <center> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border-collapse: collapse" bordercolor="#111111"> <tr> <td><P ALIGN="left">As you lie there wrapped in slumber,<BR> A soft cloak of warmth surrounds you.<BR> The perfume of a love so tender<BR> Sends out tendrils of feeling to shield you.</P> <P ALIGN="left">To watch you is truly delightful,<BR> Your beauty is for the world to see.<BR> You're the product of something special<BR> Or - so it does seem to me!</P> <P ALIGN="left">Mom & Dad have a love and understanding.<BR> It's the two of them against the world -<BR> With their beautiful strong convictions,<BR> And their freedom flag unfurled.</P> <P ALIGN="left">Rest well, little Shanin Tia.<BR> Yours is a nice place in which to grow.<BR> And someday you'll be a fine woman - <BR> Which everyone will be proud to know! </P> <blockquote> <P ALIGN="right">Love,                  <BR> <I>Grandma Laura</I> <BR> <I>1/28/72</I> </blockquote> </td> </tr> </table> </center> </div> <p ALIGN="center"><b><font size="2">Copyright ©2003 Shanin Tia Speas <br>  </font></b></p> </body>