Poetry Fun Fact
Did you know there's a connection between painting and poetry?
(See the answer below)
The best answer to this interesting question can be summed up in a particular quote
written by renowned, Italian Renaissance Era painter and sculptor,
Leonardo da Vinci
What Inspired me to Write Poetry?
I believe that poetry has an amazing creative outlet for aspiring writers, and has the ability to entertain, inspire, and enlighten its readers. I became fascinated with creative writing after learning I'd was one of the winners of my high school english class's short story competition. That same year, I reluctantly challenged myself by entering the Bob Hope Poetry Writing Competition, where I received an honorable mention.
After being bitten by the creative writing bug, I sought to expand my knowledge, becoming an avid reader and writer of Renaissance-era poetry. I developed an interest in the literary art forms, so much so that I began to focus more on writing poetry, and less on short stories.
While I enjoy writing across diverse genres, I've discovered the most fun in writing poetry.
As my passion for poetry deepened, I joined a local library's poetry group, where the club’s president provided monthly writing prompts. The group members were required to complete their assignments, and to share and critique one another’s work.
I'm grateful for the inspiration and valuable experience gained from participating in that group.
Fast forward to 2026, I decided to dust off my old poems, and revise them to share on this writing portfolio website.
If I were asked to reveal my favorite poetic form, I'd have to say the Japanese haiku.
This form is super-short, yet fun to write. Nevertheless, they're challenging to write because this three-line poem must make sense and flow well. It's imperative to adhere to its restrictive structure regarding the syllable count, line length, and abstract meaning.
Another favorite form of mine is free verse, which permits the poet to create without rigid restrictions on line count, syllables, or rhyme scheme.
The following poem collection is preceded by brief descriptions of its unique structure (e.g., line, stanza, and syllable count).
Another poetic form, which I failed to mention is the ballad quatrain, consisting of four-line stanzas with an alternating rhyme scheme (abcb). The rhyme occurs in the last words of lines two and four. I will add add this poetic form in the near future.
My poetry collection showcases a variety of forms, including haiku, free verse, lyric, and tanka poetry.
So, without further ado...
Haiku Poetry
"A traditional Japanese haiku is a three-line poem with a seventeen (5/7/5) syllable count.
Often focusing on images from nature, haiku emphasizes simplicity, intensity, and directness of expression."
Pursuit of Solitude
Aimlessly he fled,
out from under the chaos—
then solace ensued.
Illuminated
The emerging sun
obliterated the dusk.
Illuminated
Beneath the Ocean Waves
Beneath the ocean,
lies aqua-blue, crystal-clear
dazzling waters waves.
Broken Tree Trunk
The turbulent wind
violently swayed the tree
'til its dissection.
Hurricane
Brutal howling winds
Torrential rain,
and peeled roofs
Natural disaster
Originality
An innovator
embraces uniqueness, but
shuns replication
Free Verse
"Free verse is the name given to poetry that doesn’t use any strict meter or rhyme scheme. Because it has no set
meter, poems written in free verse can have lines of any length, from a single word to much longer."
Racism
Excerpt from my Black History Month article,
"Police Brutality—The Systematic Racism of the Uniformed KKK."
You rejected the uniqueness
of my skin pigmentation.
You stripped my authenticity
by oppressing my voice.
You beat and bound me
with your whips and chains.
You altered my identity,
and robbed me of my dignity.
You obstructed my freedom,
and ignored all my pleas.
You averted humanness,
but embraced unjust cruelty.
Dog Days of Summer
Free verse poem excerpt from my science-based essay, How the Earth's Shifting" Triggers Torrid Temps."
Blazing sun rays ascend—
over the horizon.
Soaring temps climbed
in the Orient.
The galaxy’s shiniest,
and brightest star—Sirius
—illuminates the vast,
brightly-lit sky.
As night falls, Sirius rises,
and twinkles above the earth,
emanating scorching heat,
and rendering miserable,
summer days, and nights,
— ushering in those—
hot dog days of summer.
Wounded Warrior
Though anguish firmly gripped
his wounded soul, the warrior
never stopped to nurture
his bleeding wounds.
The warrior refused to succumb
to cowardice; instead, he
persevered through tough
challenges — knocking down
walls of limitation —and
re-emerged as a brave champion.
His survival proved that his adversity
was the catalyst for his resilience.
Sleeping Bayou
An overcast sky
high humidity,
mosquitoes flying,
birds-a-chirping, strong
tall, massively branched,
moss-filled cypress trees,
hovers over the dark,
alligator-infested waters.
The bayou’s atmosphere is
serene and devoid of activity,
but even in its muteness; it
makes beautiful, quiet music.
Shh! Listen to the melody
of the sleeping bayou.
Explore it. Adore it.
Capture its unseen beauty.
Lone Drifter
Aimlessly, he strolled on
a path to nowhere land.
Devoid of a guiding compass,
he journeyed far and wide.
Realizing his aversion
to stability, and tendency
toward complacency, he
finally discovered that
his true identity was,
The Lone Drifter.
Pandemic
Staring intensely out her window — longing to escape confinement to her four-wall prison.
She relentlessly sought liberation from the restrictions, and curfews imposed upon her.
She daredn’t succumb to despair, but
she lifted herself from the depths of
captivity and loudly shouted, "End my
misery, release these shackles,
free me now, and let me go!"
Sweet Blooming Gardenias
Flaunting its classy hue,
and distinctive shape.
Its sensual fragrance emanates
while a gentle summer breeze
whispers through its soft,
white petals.
Ah, those sweet gardenias!
Good Morning Spring!
Winter storms subside;
cozy climate emerges
Crystalized drops of dew
saturate budding flowers.
Moisture envelopes terrain;
insects graze sweet nectar
Soaring birds fly high while
melodiously trilling a song.
Winter Blues
Howling winds, cold and brutal
Ground enveloped with snow
Dead leaves, softly falling
Inclement weather, storms blow
Bones quiver, teeth-chatters
Vanishing smiles, emerging gloom
Barricaded, trapped inside
Yearning sunlight, returns soon
Resurgence of Hope
Dreams do fade
into utter oblivion, then
as fate shifts its course—
hope re-emerges
Imprisoned
He is confined to prison walls
Though he's restrained, he's liberated
Trapped, but still going places
Oppressed, but still uplifted
Bound, yet shackle-free
************************
Tanka
"The tanka is a thirty-one-syllable poem, traditionally written in a single
unbroken line. A form of waka, Japanese song or verse, tanka translates as
"short song,” and is better known in its five-line, 5/7/5/7/7 syllable count form.
Procrastination
Procrastination impedes productivity,
diminishes drive, squanders away
precious time, and kills inspiration.
Rising Above Pettiness
Subliminal jabs, occasional snubs—
toxins aimed at your vulnerable heart.
You peeped their nuisant tactics,
and pitied their comfortable abode—
an overflowing cesspool of drama.
You rose above it, nobility still intact.
yet, they continued to wallow in the
pit of pettiness, fueled by painstaking
misery and their projected insecurity.
They sought your attention, relentlessly,
craved a guns-blaring duo with you,
but you refused to join them in the pit.
Instead you smiled, gave with a polite nod,
and rose—above the chaos, escaped the
confusion, reclaimed your peace, and
earned a well-deserved badge
of peace-abiding honor.
