Category Archives: Poetry

Tanabata – The One Night & Announcement

The Moon WaitsThe Moon Waits

The One Night

Stars shake shiny dust

on path to rendezvous

which rises from leafy glade,

passes nebula’s smoky gases

that echo tall thunderheads,

travels beyond the black holes,

crosses the Silver River

for their annual meeting,

their one night of bliss.

Lainie Senechal

Lainie will exhibit paintings and read her poetry at this event:

Tanabata – The Star Festival

A group exhibition from July 9 – July 31.
Works inspired from the ancient legend of Tanabata.

Opening reception: Saturday, July 9th from 7 pm to 9 pm.
Poetry Reading from 8 pm.
As a special treat there will be a performance of a new play by Debra Weiss entitled “Untitled”   at Kaji Aso Studio, Boston, MA.

Summer Solstice & Announcement

Strawberry MoonStrawberry Moon                

Summer Solstice, Lake Attitash

Summer solstice settles on lake,

a few casual clouds drift, almost

imperceptibly, across an azure dome.

Sun executes its tiptoe dance

on top of ripples sliding to shore.

A mother duck paddles by

with fresh hatchlings,

donning their fluffy down,

she clucks softly to remind

youngsters to stay close to clutch.

A dragonfly wings slowly along,

rests before the evening’s siege

that starts with waning light

and surge of mosquitos.

Some boaters settle on surface

in no hurry to go anywhere,

enjoying afternoon’s ambience.

Occasionally one exhibits an energy burst

and with a roar trails a white wake.

Fishermen drift slowly near shore,

cast lines while in quiet conversation.

Neighbor’s daughters return

to water for first swim –

a trio of Naiads enjoy

submersion into liquid velvet.

A breeze blows in from coast,

fans feathery fronds of Dawn Redwood

that shades porch from summer’s simmer

and where a cat snoozes away the season.

Summer returns carrying remembrances

of years along these shores

where days seem eternal

and the dream of summer never ends.

Lainie Senechal

Announcement:  Lainie will exhibit her paintings and read her poetry at an Art Show and Sale on Saturday and Sunday, June 25th and 26th from 10 AM – 3 PM at Amesbury City Hall as part of the Amesbury Days celebration.

May’s Flower Moon

Blue FlowerIrises

May’s flower moon

dances in pre-dawn sky,

an angel of night,

a dream almost forgotten

when snow showered landscape.

Waves swerve into lane of light

which has landed across lake;

clouds only a smudge on horizon.

A progression of blossoms

burst into beauty then

retreat and fade

as season pushes forward

in phases of increasing warmth.

Lainie Senechal

A Request to May

Crab Apple TreeCrab Apple Blossoms

A Request to May

May,

We require your cooperation;

April was a disappointment,

so fickle and fretful,

unable to secure a steady course.

Spring was, only occasionally,

in air, along with more snow.

Temperatures warmed, tentatively,

then plunged into frigid zone.

A few flowers made an attempt

to rise through still frozen soil.

Earth seemed to wake, stretch,

then return to slumber.

May, we are counting on you;

do not hold back, dive

headlong into a fresh season.

Bring on sweet scent of blossoms

in every hue and shade,

some mild breezes to ripple

through meadows’ greening grasses.

Paint sky an azure blue,

allow only a few billows.

Let feathered friends return

to establish boundaries, build nests.

Adorn bare branches with young leaves

where birdsong will cheer morning

and moonlight sparkle until dawn.

Move us forward into balmy days;

embrace a new direction.

You have our full support.

Lainie Senechal

Spring Arrives & Announcement

March WindMarch Wind

Spring Arrives

Clumps of crocus and daffodils,

wet with soft, spring rain,

rise above replenished soil.

Maples’ red buds shake

on ends of thin branches

that vibrate in steady breeze.

Winter’s quiet days rapidly end

with sudden burst of peepers’ song

from swamp which shimmers

in slowly dimming day.

Lainie Senechal

Lainie will participate in a reading of poems written for art in the Blue Wave Fine Art Gallery, Amesbury, MA.  The reception and reading is April 2, 6:30-8:30PM.

Unbroken Promise & Announcement

Snow StormSnow Squall

Unbroken Promise

Where is the peace

in these wild winds

that whip white veils

across a frozen land?

Small creatures stir slightly

in underground lairs;

bulbs revive beneath

their ivory blankets;

songbirds renew their melodies;

goldfinches transform feathers,

drab gray to vivid yellow.

Twilight’s indigo glow lingers

behind evening’s first stars.

Spring whispers in our ear

of soft breezes which

ruffle newly sprouted leaves

and of its unbroken promise-

a transition to temperate days.

Lainie Senechal

Announcement: Lainie will be a featured reader at the event: An Evening With Poets #2, organized by Bryan Riley. This event will take place on Thursday, February 25th from 6:30 to 8 PM at the Market Square Bakehouse, 5 Market Square in downtown Amesbury, MA.

Winter Branches

Winter BranchesWinter Branches Watch Sunset

Winter Branches

At end of day

last flash of sun

hovers over lake;

we may be deceived

by its fuchsia brilliance

that travels quickly

from edge of horizon,

a jest of summer

behind bare branches.

But we are not dumb,

the peal of winter bells

ring under a waxing moon,

frost king marches forth.

Lainie Senechal

Harris Gardner Comments:

Beautiful poem with great imagery especially in the closing lines. The painting dazzles the eyes. It captures a degree of shimmering light. The trees , I think, show a Chinese/ Japanese influence with their delicate elegance. The painting produces a very dramatic effect. A very successful creation!