December 26, 2013

Happy and Healthy New Year to All...

As we say goodbye to 2013 -
a year that seemed especially
harsh to many...
'Expressions' 
 is sending good cheer for
the coming New Year 2014.

Our hearts thank you for spending
time with us - see you all next year!

May God continue to grace this
website with 'expression' to be shared
with those who want to learn more
about the wonderful world of poetry.
 
'Let the Pen Flow' -
Heartfelt Blessings from,
Rhoda and Gracie

December 20, 2013

Merry Christmas 'Expressions' Readers...

Jesus’ Birthday 

The holiday season means
something to everyone differently
perhaps, but the meaning is
there for those who choose believe

To those of you who follow my poetry,
my words can be deep and penetrating
My feeling for the birth of our Lord
is just a deep as my penned words

It seems many have forgotten
what Christmas is all about
Knowing it is about the birth of Jesus,
that is what I choose to celebrate

My Lord was born on this day
Joyous are we as to His birth,
saddened are we as to His departure
His will come again, for it is written

To the people who celebrate with
material things, I wish you joy
To the people who celebrate His birth,
I wish you peace, love and happiness

I choose the latter
as I reflect the life of our Lord,
His trials, tribulations and His death
for me and mankind

- Rhoda Galgiani

December 19, 2013

Featuring Spiritual Poet ~ Karen O'Leary


Christ's Birth

Christmas is His birthday
Humble Son of God
Rescuer of souls
Igniting faith
Sustaining life
The grace giver
Spiritual mentor

Born in a stable
Inspiration for all
Redeeming sinners
The key to salvation
Hope for the world

By Karen O'Leary

December 16, 2013

'Expressions' Features ~ Charlene McCutcheon


His Mission: To Save

Lovingly He calls, Come unto Me 
All ye who are so heavily laden. 
I've paid the price for all your sins, 
Making it possible to be forgiven.

Repent and be baptized, it reads. 
Receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 
He will guide you safely back home.
Despite the world, He helps most!

Kneeling at the foot of His cross,
My head bowed in deep humility,
I remembered His loving words
While going through such agony.

Father forgive them, he pleaded.
They don't know what they do.
In compassionate understanding
He makes intercession for us too.

Jesus first loved us and lit the way.
Oh to return His love; how we ask?
Give as Jesus gave, to us so freely.
Forgive as forgiven, that is our task.

                 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

December 9, 2013

Merry Christmas from 'Expressions'...

Baby Jesus and Santa Claus

Happy Birthday, Jesus

In the silence of the night
He comes to us, bringing
heavenly love and warmth
 within His glorious touch

As we accept His gift and
cherished love that surrounds us
we gives thanks to Him for He
brought to us His Son today

Our hearts receive His purity
light that shines upon a new born
in the hay, the light captures our
souls bringing us understanding

Remembering baby Jesus and His birth
we give thanks to you Father for
your blessings and our gift of life as
we bow our heads and give our hearts -
 to your Son Jesus

- Rhoda Galgiani


'Expressions' is Sending Holiday Blessings
To All for a Glorious Christmas Season.
Let Us Not Forget What Christmas
is Truly About - Him...

Hugs from Rhoda
with Kitty Purrs from Gracie 


December 8, 2013

Santa is Coming...

Have you been good???
I have, I have...

December 7, 2013

Free Verse...

Fortune Cookies Don’t Lie 

 
This is a moment of your reality
‘stay in touch above all with what you feel’
what you feel is yours alone, shared by no one

You might speak of your feeling only to gasp
with a lack of understanding that comes to view
by one not in touch with reality of his own mind

- Rhoda Galgiani

Poetry Created from My Fortune Cookie…
Free Verse Poetry Form has no rhyme, no special line length or no special pattern
It sounds like natural speech - It tells a story or paints a picture - It uses carefully chosen words to describe experiences or feelings - It is written like a poem and not like a paragraph
It must make sense to the reader…rg


December 6, 2013

Ricks 32...

Lone Willow Tree
 
Fingertips

Willow tree
You weep for me
As I stand
Beneath your sprawling limbs
Come comfort me today
From the world
That surrounds me
Set me free
 
Willow tree
Do dry your tears
I am strong
I carry a steel shield
Wards off the pain that comes
My angel
Is always near
Takes my fear

Willow tree
Spread your branches
Wide and true
Let the sun now shine through
Take the chill from my soul
As I touch
My fingertips
To your heart
  
- Rhoda Galgiani
  
Ricks 32 Poetry Form - 8 lines 3-4-3-6-6-3-4-3 syllables
Rhyming optional - any subject, at least two verses - no verse limit...rg

December 1, 2013

Cascade...

Meadow of Wild Flowers
 
Colors Delicate Shade
 
Meadows of flowers spread their hew
Giving birth to scent the foliage
Nature shows her delicate shade
Wondrous beauty of nature’s love
 
Deer gather at the meadow’s stream
Come together they drink their fill
Fear none as summer casts her glow
Meadow of flowers spread their hew
 Bumblebee’s spread their golden wings
Gather pollen giving new growth
Come spring the cycle starts again
Giving birth to scent the foliage
 
Beauty in our eyes we behold
Buds peek through fertile moist soil
As flowers come each year to us
Nature shows her delicate shade
 
Blessed are we to share such gifts
Bringing peace to one’s heart and soul
Color remain in silent sight
Wondrous beauty of nature’s love
 
- Rhoda Galgiani
 
Cascade Poetry Form - Created by Udit Bhatia
This poetry form does not have any rhyme scheme; therefore, the layout is simple.
As an example: the first verse has three lines - Line one of verse one becomes the
last line of verse two - To follow in suit, the second line of verse one becomes the
last line of verse three - The third line of verse one now becomes the last line of
verse four, the last stanza of the poem -  a/b/c, d/e/A, f/g/B, h/i/C...rg

November 28, 2013

Hey! It's Thankgiving...

  
Gracie and Rhoda Oct. 2008
 
Happy Thanksgiving
from Our House to Yours...

Hugs from Rhoda
and Kitty Purrs from Gracie

November 25, 2013

Monotetra...


Spoken!

Expression is heard from within
Words spoken tells where they have been
Buried inside a hidden grin
Isn’t a sin; isn’t a sin!
 
Come daylight I show a bright smile
Won’t hide anymore all the while
With words to express shows my style
Been a dark isle; been a dark isle!
 
Imagination mine to share
Read to others without a care
Memories come back shed a tear
Vision past errs; vision past errs!
 
Spirit alive soul is now born
Guilt and hiding is now not worn
Past is buried I shall not mourn
Old pages torn; old pages torn!

- Rhoda Galgiani

Monotetra Poetry Form - Created by Michael Walker - Each stanza contains four lines in Monorhyme - Each line is in tetrameter (four metrical feet) for eight syllables - What makes the Monotetraso powerful as a poetic form is that the last line contains two metrical feet, repeated - It can have as few as one or two stanzas, or as many as desired.
Stanza Structure: Line 1: 8 syllables; A1, Line 2: 8 syllables; A2, Line 3: 8 syllables; A3,
Line 4: 4 syllables, repeated; A4, A4...rg

November 23, 2013

Vers Beaucoup...

Mind’s Confusion
 
BLUE is created from the Dew on QUEUE
It is TRUE of a flower I LONG for is a SONG
WRONG is a cry of ONE who does RUN
For he has SHUN the BLUE that was in QUEUE

YELLOW is the suns HUE that touches YOU
Right on QUEUE with WARMTH and CHARM
Protects from HARM full of LOVE and JOY
From evil’s PLOY that comes to YOU for a VIEW

WHITE is the calm CLOUD that bowed so PROUD
Took LOUD anger that SCREAMED as you DREAMED
With tears that BEAMED into the NIGHT - turn BRIGHT
One’s PLIGHT will LIGHTEN as calm and hope HEIGHTEN

SIGHT has come into the NIGHT just RIGHT
For one is free - FRIGHT is GONE come this DAWN
Awakes with a YAWN life is WELL for a SPELL
HELL has DISAPPEARED takes dream that was FEARED

- Rhoda Galgiani 

Vers Beaucoup Poetry Form - Created by Curt Mongold - Name is French
for "many rhymes" - Each stanza consists of four lines with a rhyming word
scheme of a-a-a, a-b-b, b-c-c, c-d-d
Each rhyme can only use a MAXIMUM of three words - The fourth "a" rhyme
carried over to the second line causes enjambment and creates a strong internal
rhyming structure - Left justified - Rhyming words capitalized for clarity…rg

November 19, 2013

Rhyme...

 
Autumn Left Us…

The crescent moon shows his twinkle
As the trees shiver in moonlight
Ground below dry hear the crinkle
Quiet valley endures her plight

Days ago, the foliage was bright
As golden leaves trimmed in deep red
Brings to one a beautiful site
Not thinking the leaves are now dead

Autumn left us alone and bare
With promise of new birth again
After springs flowers bloom with flair
Fields will flourish with their new grain

Each season has its own rebirth
Creatures wake to a brand new dawn
Bumblebee’s work colors the earth
Welcomes birth of a new born fawn

- Rhoda Galgiani

Rhyme Poetry Form - abab, cdcd, efef, ghgh
Each stanza is 4 lines - each line is 8 syllables…rg


November 16, 2013

Free Verse...


Ode to Sugar

Terrible temptations!
Oh, such tantalizing treats
so titillating to the taste buds,
they dance to the piper's tune of
suicide by the spoonful.
 
Cut the confections!
Stop continued carelessness,
that carries dire consequences,
even creates callousness,
and the law was given.


Buyer beware!
Bondage betrays beauty, best
purchased by precious blood spilt
and a body bruised and broken
on the hill of Calvary.

 
God's greatest gift,
His Son; pure love freely given.
Gratitude and charity are filling,
gluttony then gladly given up,
my victory already won!

Love Charlene


Poetry Created by Charlene McCutcheon, UT
Free Verse Poetry Form has no rhyme, no special line length or no special pattern. It sounds like natural speech. It tells a story or paints a picture. It uses carefully chosen words to describe experiences or feelings. It is written like a poem and not like a paragraph. It must make sense to the reader…rg

November 11, 2013

Nine, Eight, Nine Poetry Style...


Learning Tools

Words of wisdom come to those who wait
those who long to fill knowledge plate
broaden their mind in the starting gate

Patience learned with time - times a teacher
patient one is a good preacher
rewards far outweigh for this creature

Light gives to one for their brightest day
turns dark thought to a positive way
directs ones path from dark dreams of grey

Love brings her joy to an open heart
shows one the way to peace from start
giving those who wait - their wisdom chart

- Rhoda Galgiani

Nine, Eight, Nine Poetry Style - Created by Rhoda Galgiani
Four verses, 3 lines each with syllable count of 9, 8, 9!
Rhyme aaa, bbb, ccc, ddd - Subject - Something taught…rg

November 9, 2013

Serventesio...

Dedicated to the People of the Philippines

Nature on Her Prowl

Whistling of the violence storm
Threatened the habitats ashore
Beats the earth is the Typhoons norm
Washing away every man’s floor

Warnings can’t help the native’s soul
Nature brutally makes her point
Destruction again takes its toll
Breaks human knees at their thin joint

Knees on the ground cry’in to Him
As the wild winds rips and tears
People pray forgiveness of sin
Floods raid broke houses and life’s wares

Typhoon’s power brings fear today
Hiding can’t save them from the howl
All they can do again - is pray
Nature destructs while on her prowl

- Rhoda Galgiani

Serventesio Poetry Form - syllabic, usually written in 8 syllable lines
Stanzaic written in any number of quatrains - Serventesio rhyme abab is used
Popular Castillian stanzas since the 16th century - Apparently experimentation
with the form by Ezra Pound brought about a resurgence in popularity in the
20th century - Spanish Poetry form...rg

November 2, 2013

Quatrain by Letter

'Linen Cloth'
Linens I Wear

  Lifting ones spirit to a new level
Lights the way to rejoicing path of love
Leads one to Him and not to the Devil
Listen gentle signs from a small white dove

Leading the way to freedom of the soul
Lends glorious hand as He lifts you high
Lets angels catch you if you don’t meet goal
Lies no longer exist eyes will not cry

Lord will show you the way from dreadful sin
Lifelong graces will now fill your lost soul
Live peaceful joy for you are now with Him
Love is there now lift up out of black coal

Long to ascend to His heavenly home
Lost no more for the path has been lighten
Life now eternal the soul shall not roam
Linens I wear are forever whiten 

- Rhoda Galgiani

Quatrain by Letter - Created by Erick J. Goller 7/29/2011
No syllable counting - Take any letter from the Alphabet
and begin each line with that letter - Three stanzas minimum
Any subject - These Quatrains are unmetered
Rhyming abab, cdcd, efef, ghgh, etc...rg


October 29, 2013

The Novelist...

 Dedicated to Florence Galati
The Novelist
You are looking at her with interest
seemingly smug and giddy listening intensely
to her stories of portentous men in her life.
Laughingly, she captures your intense, curious heart.
She says casually, she has been around,
she knows what she wants and expects in a man.
Knowing what they want and desire, she will play
their costly game, thus, winning all in the end.
She again throws her head back and laughs,
gaining attention, securing herself in a shaky, unsecured
moment of truth, revealed carelessly during a nervous
conversation drawing again the attention she craves.
Realizing eyes are staring upon her body she is
exposed to the greedy world of lust, a world of
novel making, words of explicit description
from words she has spoken in haste.
Quietly, she turns to me, her long time friend,
looking into my eyes for comfort, sheltering her
mind from the cruel words of disbelief uttered,
are her stories of compassion truth or fiction…
She reluctantly admits her words are only make believe,
throwing her head back and laughing again,
as she cleverly captured us all with her
story telling as only the novelist can do.
 - Rhoda Galgiani
Hi Rhoda
Hope all is well with you, I had just went on to see what you wrote about Flo.
Very nice. Take care have a good day.
Frank

(A nice email I received from Florence's Brother...rg)
Free Verse or Unrhymed Poetry Form has no rhyme, no special line length or no special pattern. It sounds like natural speech. It tells a story or paints a picture. It uses carefully chosen words to describe experiences or feelings. It is written like a poem and not like a paragraph. It must make sense to the reader…rg