SWANNET

This form whilst not the creation of the Canadian poet, Gloria Carpenter, it has become her trademark being used in conjunction with her elemental and avian photo studies in British Columbia.
It is a straight forward form comprising of 3 envelope stanzas and a couplet.
The rhyme scheme is .A1. b. b. A2... c. d. d. c... e. f. f. e... A1. A2.

The meter is not specified but is usualy tetrameter or pentameter.

Enlightened

What could she do but radiate the light
with heaven’s image mirrored at her feet?
Her legendary beauty rose to greet,
and thank the healing waters for the sight.

No sound was heard but whisper on the wing
as silence listened, sharing nature’s bliss,
while waiting for the brush of feathered kiss,
to bless the hush serenity can bring.

Afloat on clouds, her elegance is drawn
in emblems of nobility and grace.
Her chariot transcended time and space
For it has reached the night where Deneb shone.

What could she do but radiate the light
and thank the healing waters for the sight.

Gloria Carpenter
Later Swannets were also written in the more conventional manner without the linking back of the refrain.

Swannet Posts
Contents

Gloria Carpenter

Breathless
Cirro-cumulus-nimbus
I think of you
Sister Moon - Response
My Spirit Yearns
Thirsty
Kathy Anderson

Come to be Sun Centered
Leny Roovers

Spring Building
Ryter Roethicle

Sister Moon

Gloria Carpenter

Breathless

So breathless, running through the rain soaked street,
Exploding puddles leap and splatter wide.
Umbrellas pop, while others duck inside,
As laughter splashes on with soggy feet.

A cleansing freshness flowing down my face,
Unlike those tears of sadness that I’ve shed,
This rain replenishes my thirst, instead.
I run with rain and let it set the pace.

Why hide from nature’s tears that fill a void,
For flowers bow their heads, as if in thanks;
Dry riverbeds at last, embrace their banks.
The cycle turns; a time to be enjoyed.

So breathless, running through the rain soaked street,
As laughter splashes on with soggy feet.

-----

Cirro-cumulus-nimbus

With swanlike grace, they float in plumes of air
Accessorizing precipice and ledge,
Appearing often as a trailing edge
Like feathered boas flung without a care.

At times they have a circling flimsiness
Like cheesecloth whirled above in gauzy threads,
‘Til thinness rips, and bits tear off in shreds
As wafting wisps of fleeting nothingness.

Accumulation causes moods to shift
When masses meet and energies collect.
Intensity is felt as they connect
In thunderous applause, until they drift.

With swanlike grace, they float in plumes of air
Like feathered boas flung without a care.

-----

I Think of You

It is the music, still, that feeds my soul,
I cannot seem to go beyond its voice,
It follows me as if it had no choice,
It reaches far inside and makes me whole.

It calls to me no matter where I go,
I turn my head to listen, for it seems
It’s in the air I breathe, and in my dreams
I look for it, for surely it must show.

How does it know just where I’ll be? What clue?
It finds me like it knows where it belongs
As if forever rings throughout its songs ~
Yet, when I hear it call, I think of you.

It is the music, still, that feeds my soul,
It reaches far inside and makes me whole.

-----

My Spirit Yearns

What restlessness I feel as spring returns,
As though I was the one to give it birth,
As if somehow I knew this Mother Earth,
A stirring, deep, where still my spirit yearns.

My spirit yearns for things it never found,

Through all the turns of seasons it has spent,
For it was lost. Somewhere in time, it went
And only now can hear the faintest sound.

The faintest sound, as wings play out their beat
Awakening my senses with sweet song,
A renaissance, for it has been too long
Of living in the cold, desiring heat.

What restlessness I feel as spring returns,
A stirring, deep, where still my spirit yearns.

-----

Sister Moon - Response
---- Lingering

A lingering, it clings; a memory still ~
A silhouette embracing films of light
Beneath a moon, this vision of the night,
Surrendering to whispers on a hill.

Diaphanous, it flowed and showed the way
As kisses bared soft skin so warm, aglow,
Revealing more, caressing curves below,
Entrancing, traces danced in lovers sway.

A scented breeze brings back that night again
As winking stars join Sister Moon above,
And peak through open windows framed with love.
A white dress flutters; it remembers when…

A lingering, it clings; a memory still ~
Surrendering to whispers on a hill.

-----

Thirsty

A tingling wakes as music feasts at first
On tiny drops of pleasure, as tongue flicks
To taste each silver note; exquisite licks
As trickles quiver, teasing lovers thirst.

So gently, rhythm smiles and parts her lips
As sips of nectar linger, tantalize
Whilst bow and strings caress, to improvise
A melody that sways her supple hips.

A quickening in tempo toasts the dance
As she and music saturate the night,
Aware of heights now reached beyond delight
‘Til breathless wings descend in lovers’ trance.

A tingling wakes as music feasts at first
As trickles quiver, teasing lovers thirst.

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Kathy Anderson

Come to Be Sun Centered

What can be done but find sunlights center
When the wicked world has undone your life.
Can you conjure into mind tones of fife
Without finding where you are to enter?

The music lifts you from earth to find sun
Brightly drawing you inside its hot core
Protecting your wings from the evil hoard
As you soar toward serenitites run.

Run full throttle, fly higher than your ties
Will let you go, beyond the pained thorn
Bearing upward, joy to hold, love born
Midst shadowed hates, floating above black skies.

What can we do but let sol surround us
And thank the stars sharing this one thus.

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Leny Roovers

Spring Building

With each stone set, the building grows and spreads-
into the soft cement the bricks are placed;
the grey and terracotta interlace,
like beads are fed onto a waiting thread.

Unfinished windows stare from darkened eyes,
await the life reflecting spark of light
till glass will intercept the dull of night.
With brightened eyes the house shrugs off disguise.

Her red topped hat she wears with pride and zest;
behind the curtains potted plants stand guard,
while soft, sown grass is carpeting her yards.
A nearby birch-tree shades a crowded nest.

New life abounds in crowns of house and tree
as song of bird and man resound in harmony.

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Ryter Roethicle

Sister Moon
Double Swannet

I watch you walking up the darkening hill
Seeing the night wind playing with your hair
The gossamer like wings of your dress’ flair
Flying out, flutters and twists and spills.

Your black hair streams outwards of its will
Contrasting against skin soft and fair
Of outstretched arms, tanned and bare
Giving the appearance of an ethereal Zyll.

Your clothes against your body press
Tanned flesh contrasting by sheer whiteness
Dark patches emphasise your womanliness
Your figure shows through gauzy dress

Against a dark blue sky where stars amaze
Your Sister Moon sets your hair ablaze.

II

Taking each others hands we gladly greet
Serenaded by the night winds soft song
As we embrace in dreams n’er to long
Your body presses close and our lips meet.

The winds song approves of what it sees
And warmly stops for our loving blessing
Your dress no longer to your body fitting
Still kissing, wildly falling to our knees.

The wind sounds out, as in our bliss
Our sounds of love and whispered vows.
Sister Moon dims her sight and bows,
Labour dampened skins as if to kiss.

Her brightness spent with morning light
The stars leave winking, sweet goodnight.

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Any Comments or Suggestions, please email me

2005 Poetry Challenge
Sonnets Part 1
The Poets Garret
Tir Na nOg Poetry Community