Saturday, May 08, 2004

Green Sky

People, random strangers
Crackle with energy, anticipation
Furtive glances to the horizon,
Instinctively knowing
Darkening sky
Deep grays
Strong edges
Blue slate to charcoal
Pale, dimming yellow
Powerless to pierce through

Color shift
Gray to green
Shade like a white pine needle
Awash over other colors
Heavy air, scent of foreboding
Wet feel, distant rumble
Closer, dread
Flash and boom
Inside the fireworks
Scurry for cover
Drench


====================
edited January 14, 2016
Green Sky – v2
posted May 8, 2004
written August 28, 2003
Green Sky
&
edited January 13, 2016
Gray to Green – v2
posted March 1, 2004
written August 31, 2003
Gray to Green


All of my poems and photographs are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 40,660+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Tuesday, May 04, 2004

Private Extravert

Interacting when I’m ready
On my terms, in my way
In control
Ready to take the lead in the class,
committee, hearing
But happy to lose myself
In a book, taking of a photo,
walk alone in the park
Or a bit of poetry
About nothing




All of my poems and photographs are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 40,650+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Monday, May 03, 2004

Evolution of a poem - ten feet overhead

The three drafts below represent the evolution of a poem, "Ten Feet Overhead", based on a morning on Swains Lake in Barrington, NH in 2001, reading down from 1st draft to a second version, finally to the published version, posted here on 2/7/04.

=============
edited August 21, 2015
Ten Feet Overhead – v9
(editing version 6)
edited December 9, 2014
Ten Feet Overhead – v8
(editing version 6)
edited April 3, 2014
Ten Feet (not Twenty) Overhead – v7
(editing version posted 5/3/2004)
Edited September 20, 2012
“Ten Feet Overhead – v6”
editing the 4th version (the one with Marie Harris input)
&
Edited September 20, 2012
“Ten Feet Overhead – v5”
(editing the 3rd version)
inspired by reading it at Poets’ Corner
monthly poetry reading,
at the Suncook Senior Center
September 10, 2012
&
Saved as separate file and reposted
September 20, 2012
published version – 2/7/2004
“Ten Feet Overhead – v4”
Written June 18, 2001, edits June 21 and June 22, 2001, based on input from NH Poet Laureate, Marie Harris.
&
The evolution of the poem - Ten Feet Overhead”
The three drafts below represent the evolution of a poem, "Ten Feet Overhead", based on a morning on Swains Lake in Barrington, NH in 2001, reading down from 1st draft to a second version, finally to the published version, posted here on 2/7/04. 
&
“Ten Feet Overhead – v3”
June 21, 2001
“Ten Feet Overhead – v2”
June 22, 2001
“Ten Feet Overhead – v1”
June 18, 2001



All of my poems, photographs, and videos are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017. All rights are reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 43,080 of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Ten Feet (not Twenty) Overhead -- (first draft)

Up ahead
To my right
Around the point before me
A burst of squawks and the
Beating of heavy wings
Filled the air

The head and then the long endless body
Rose before me
Right over
The spine of my canoe
The heron
Blocking my vision

No more than ten feet above
My open jaw
And transfixed eyes.
It flew toward me
Thwump, thwump
I heard the wings breaking the
Early morning stillness around me

The majestic bird
Cupped its sails
And hovered for a moment,
Or a lifetime,
Directly above my right shoulder

Each feather was visible -
Rust, cream, slate,
And light blue eye shadow.

The feet and legs stretched behind
Tows pointed to cut through the air

My head rolled backward to watch
The bird fly off
Across the lake

A gift to start my day.


edited August 21, 2015
Ten Feet Overhead – v9
(editing version 6)
edited December 9, 2014
Ten Feet Overhead – v8
(editing version 6)
edited April 3, 2014
Ten Feet (not Twenty) Overhead – v7
(editing version posted 5/3/2004)
Edited September 20, 2012
“Ten Feet Overhead – v6”
editing the 4th version (the one with Marie Harris input)
&
Edited September 20, 2012
“Ten Feet Overhead – v5”
(editing the 3rd version)
inspired by reading it at Poets’ Corner
monthly poetry reading,
at the Suncook Senior Center
September 10, 2012
&
Saved as separate file and reposted
September 20, 2012
published version – 2/7/2004
“Ten Feet Overhead – v4”
Written June 18, 2001, edits June 21 and June 22, 2001, based on input from NH Poet Laureate, Marie Harris.
&
The evolution of the poem - Ten Feet Overhead”
The three drafts below represent the evolution of a poem, "Ten Feet Overhead", based on a morning on Swains Lake in Barrington, NH in 2001, reading down from 1st draft to a second version, finally to the published version, posted here on 2/7/04. 
&
“Ten Feet Overhead – v3”
June 21, 2001
“Ten Feet Overhead – v2”
June 22, 2001
“Ten Feet Overhead – v1”
June 18, 2001


 All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 39,250+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Ten Feet (not Twenty) Overhead - (second draft)

Up ahead
To my right
Around the point before me
A burst of squawks and the
Beating of heavy wings
Filled the air

The head and then the long endless body
Rose before me
Right over
The spine of my canoe
The heron
Blocking my vision

No more than ten feet above
My open jaw
And transfixed eyes.
It flew toward me
Thwump, thwump
I heard the wings breaking the
Early morning stillness around me

The majestic bird
Cupped its sails
And hovered for a moment,
Or a lifetime,
Directly above my right shoulder

Each feather was visible -
Rust, cream, slate,
And light blue eye shadow.

The feet and legs stretched behind
Tows pointed to cut through the air

My head rolled backward to watch
The bird fly off
Across the lake


=============
edited August 21, 2015
Ten Feet Overhead – v9
(editing version 6)
edited December 9, 2014
Ten Feet Overhead – v8
(editing version 6)
edited April 3, 2014
Ten Feet (not Twenty) Overhead – v7
(editing version posted 5/3/2004)
Edited September 20, 2012
“Ten Feet Overhead – v6”
editing the 4th version (the one with Marie Harris input)
&
Edited September 20, 2012
“Ten Feet Overhead – v5”
(editing the 3rd version)
inspired by reading it at Poets’ Corner
monthly poetry reading,
at the Suncook Senior Center
September 10, 2012
&
Saved as separate file and reposted
September 20, 2012
published version – 2/7/2004
“Ten Feet Overhead – v4”
Written June 18, 2001, edits June 21 and June 22, 2001, based on input from NH Poet Laureate, Marie Harris.
&
The evolution of the poem - Ten Feet Overhead”
The three drafts below represent the evolution of a poem, "Ten Feet Overhead", based on a morning on Swains Lake in Barrington, NH in 2001, reading down from 1st draft to a second version, finally to the published version, posted here on 2/7/04. 
&
“Ten Feet Overhead – v3”
June 21, 2001
“Ten Feet Overhead – v2”
June 22, 2001
“Ten Feet Overhead – v1”
June 18, 2001


All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 38,980+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Ten Feet Overhead - (final version)

Up ahead
To my right
Around the point
Burst of squawks and
Beating of heavy wings
Filled the air

The head and then the long endless body
Rose right over
The spine of my canoe
The heron
Blocking my vision

No more than ten feet above
My transfixed eyes.
It flew toward me
Thwump, thwump
I heard the wings breaking
The early morning stillness around me

The bird
Cupped its wings
And hovered for a moment,
Or a lifetime

Each feather was visible -
Rust, cream, slate,
And light blue eye shadow.

I watched
The bird fly off
Across the lake


edited August 21, 2015
Ten Feet Overhead – v9
(editing version 6)
edited December 9, 2014
Ten Feet Overhead – v8
(editing version 6)
edited April 3, 2014
Ten Feet (not Twenty) Overhead – v7
(editing version posted 5/3/2004)
Edited September 20, 2012
“Ten Feet Overhead – v6”
editing the 4th version (the one with Marie Harris input)
&
Edited September 20, 2012
“Ten Feet Overhead – v5”
(editing the 3rd version)
inspired by reading it at Poets’ Corner
monthly poetry reading,
at the Suncook Senior Center
September 10, 2012
&
Saved as separate file and reposted
September 20, 2012
published version – 2/7/2004
“Ten Feet Overhead – v4”
Written June 18, 2001, edits June 21 and June 22, 2001, based on input from NH Poet Laureate, Marie Harris.
&
The evolution of the poem - Ten Feet Overhead”
The three drafts below represent the evolution of a poem, "Ten Feet Overhead", based on a morning on Swains Lake in Barrington, NH in 2001, reading down from 1st draft to a second version, finally to the published version, posted here on 2/7/04. 
&
“Ten Feet Overhead – v3”
June 21, 2001
“Ten Feet Overhead – v2”
June 22, 2001
“Ten Feet Overhead – v1”
June 18, 2001


 All of my poems are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss for usage. See all 39,250+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.

Sunday, May 02, 2004

The Fashion Plate

Walking on the path
Looking for a gator
Down by the water
A star preens for me
And my camera
Waiting in the sun
On the hot blade of the tall grasses
Bouncing on the branch
Poised and posed
Waiting for the casting call

A dragonfly,
Again,
Cocked its wings
Harried jet
Jumped from the perch
As I focused
Coy now are we
As she alights again
In the same spot

Patience rewarded
For the photo shoot
Seven dances of the same
Choreography
Me and thee
My model
As I got closer and closer

Filling the frame
Seeing the eyes
The cellophane
And the segmented tail
A little coquettish
Betty Grable
In The Shot
or maybe,
Was that good for you Mr. Demille?


-----------------------
edited January 3, 2016
The Fashion Plate – v2
posted May 2, 2004
written March 27, 2004
The Fashion Plate


All of my poems and photographs are copyrighted by Raymond A. Foss, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015. All rights reserved. Contact me at Ray Foss (raymondafoss@gmail.com) for usage. See all 40,520+ of my poems at www.raymondafoss.blogspot.com Poetry Where You Live.