Amputated Moon

prismed light fractures

in strands of melting color

woven together

as a butterfly knits the air

a morning’s tapestry

Pamela Olson, 6/15/08

This tanka was written in response

to the prompt, “transience” at

One Single Impression

- for Emily

I’ve seen you take

a horse’s muzzle close

gently between your

fine fingers and hands

you pull yourself

into intimate space

your mouth slightly open

your breath singing softly

into the other’s

nostrils flaring

ears signaling attention

his breath mingles with yours

Pamela Olson

This poem was written

for my daughter

in response to the prompt

“pets” at One Single Impression

       - for Michael

the shepherd runs with you

along the breaking winter waves

paws leaving their marks

scribbles of joy in the sand

your bare feet whisper in response

the silvered sun slips westward

multiplied three times again

once in the sea beyond the seastack

twice in the sand

equation of space and light

how do you measure

a November evening

a boy and his dog

the slipping sun into the sea

a quiet run on the beach

Pamela Olson, 6/5/08

This poem was written for my son

and for the prompt “Pets”

at One Single Impression

I heard the moon sing last night

a full bodied aria

maybe from Madame Butterfly

she took down her hair

shook herself free

from all her ornamentation

and the song began quietly

growing with her danced arc

she sang until she set

a performance that made me weep

sorrow, joy and hope

all found within her light

O Moon, sing again

send your voice to me

at the setting of the sun

Pamela Olson, 6/6/08

Photo courtesy of

freedigitalphotos.net

Release me, O Sea

salt-water womb

from your dark chaos

birth me

on the rising tide

yearning for the moon

on the rock

there is safety

I long for dry land

keep my breath close

from your bound molecules

from your unbearable density

release me, O Sea

born me and toss me

to the safety of the land

Pamela Olson, 6/3/08

This was poem was inspired

by the painting by Rick Mobbs

at Mine Enemy Grows Older

            wild abandonment

in the air a swallow flits

            freedom uncontrolled

Pamela Olson, 6/1/08

This haiku is in response to

the prompt at One Single Impression

Photo courtesy of:  Malene Thyssen

I rise from dinner leaving

chicken, potatoes, and yogurt

the westward door beckons

ochre stains the horizon

beyond the long-leaf pines

and the rolling purpled-hills

as the sun crashes down

leaving its light-shadows

to linger in the air

and on the ground

reflecting on the angular gravel

lying within the road’s banks

ochre overflows the banks

flooding the straw strewn

on the rust-filled earth

‘erosion control’

here in the failing light

with road dust in my mouth

Pamela Olson, 5/29/08

This poem was written for

Friday 5 at Poefusion

like a prodigal child

I circle around where I belong

gathering bits and pieces of place

holding them close as I leave again

remnants of home

rocks and wood

found on beaches and in forests

primeval in their isolation

the wind whispers

through the mist of the wave’s curl

through the needles of the evergreens

a parent’s call for me to return

Pamela Olson, 5/27/08

This poem was written for the prompt

“The Return” on Writer’s Island.

the remnants of roots

lie locked in day’s ligature

what was dark is light

what was buried is unearthed

spent roots bound up with the sky

Pamela Olson, 5/26/08

This poem is an exploration of the prompt

“quitting” at Sunday Scribblings

star constellations

reflected in the ocean

sky lies under sky

Pamela Olson

This haiku was written for the

prompt “reflecting” at One Single Impression