Existentially Speaking

 

traveling through space

small and insignificant
in a sea of stars

eight billion voices

our words do not hold meaning

where the silence speaks

lost in the vacuum

a single footprint in time

molded in the dust

we search for answers

inside hidden worlds and words
seeking translation

from darkness to life

we come into existence

searching for light

© ginny brannan 2026

Haiku day was April 17th.  

A few haikus, existentially speaking.

Paved with Good Intentions

The future on hold

unmet goals notwithstanding

and so April ends

© Ginny Brannan 2019

Sorry that I did not meet my goals. Juggling too many balls at the moment. Congrats to my friends who did 30 in 30!

Meteorologically Speaking...

Gray clouds and sunshine…

is it weather prediction

or maybe just life

© Ginny Brannan

MLK's Legacy

Intent to make change
you took your dream to the streets
fighting hate with love

We still remember
a man of infinite hope,
whose legacy lives on

© Ginny Brannan 2018

In honor of the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King's death.

Dragonfly

Ever transforming

stronger than you first perceive

I am ‘dragonfly’

* * * *

What is it about the dragonfly

that attracts me…

As a children we were told

they were “darning needles”

would “sew your mouth shut”

…we ran in fear of them.

Yet over time I have come to appreciate

how they morph to “become”

what they are meant to be—

Throughout my life

I have adapted and transformed:

transparent, translucent

I wear my heart on the outside.

I may appear stationary,

but am always moving,

discovering, growing;

like the dragonfly,

becoming who

I am meant

to be.

©  Ginny Brannan 2016

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

As a seasonal symbol in Japan, the dragonfly is associated with autumn. More generally, dragonflies are symbols of courage, strength, and happiness, and they often appear in art and literature, especially Haiku. Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

I like to believe that my “spirit” animal is a dragonfly. I am definitely drawn to these creatures. The dragonfly, with protruding eyes and exoskeleton, is not nearly as pretty as his butterfly cousin, though in their lifetime both metamorphose, adapting, becoming something else.  I’ve learned that even youth, the dragonfly nymph faces adversity, and must learn to swim the currents to survive. Their delicate, translucent wings disguise their real strength. In this stage of my life, more autumn than summer, I too have changed— writing poetry, finding my voice, and in the past year have discovered a courage and inner-strength strength I did not know I possessed…yes, I am drawn to dragonflies…

Snow Moon

The full moon of January is known as the 'Wolf Moon,' as it appeared when wolves howled in hunger outside the villages. It is also known as the 'Old Moon' and to some Native American tribes, it was the 'Snow Moon,' a term often now applied to the next full moon in February.

Water Colors

a study in pastel

pollen drifts the surface

 to capture Monet 

© Ginny Brannan 2014

An Effigy in Monotone

captured, black and white

she danced as if no one watched

perfection, en pointe

© Ginny Brannan 2013

Written for The Mag #193. Image provided by Tess Kincaid: she provides the image, we the story!
Image: Danseuse ajustant sa bretelle, 1895-96, Edgar Degas 

Autumn Rain

Crystalline drops—

cabochon beads on gold leaf

nature’s perfect jewels

© Ginny Brannan 2013

The Soft "Hello"

What change is this that whispers in

on padded feet in stealth disguise…

inspiring poet’s pens to write—

to try to capture once again

the vistas spread within our sight?

In silent awe we feast our eyes  

on scarlets, ambers, wines and gold;

we struggle ever to describe—

in thoughts expressed—to realize

with words, though often used before—

retell the story, fresh and bold.

“How to reveal such season, grand?”

concedes the writer, meek and small.

Our poems join with the thousandfold;

yet still, they fail to verbalize…

for brushstrokes from the Master’s hand

fall short within the words of man.

©  Ginny Brannan 2013

Image: Google Images: Rob McKay 2010

Sharing at dVerse Poets Pub Open Link Night Week 113. Come join us!

Perspective

Original image, Green Gecko, taken by author at Magic Wings, Deerfield, MA.

Becoming

darkness into light

not death, but transformation

life’s circle complete

Bending light and shadow

elevated to sanguine plateau

closing old for new;

over medial plains, I pass.

Mourn not this loss—

I spread these eager wings,

no longer constrained;

girded in peace, I fly!

© Ginny Brannan

Image: Waking, Walking, Singing, in the Next Dimension, Morris Graves, 1979

Written for The Mag #171.  Image provided by Tess Kincaid. She provides the image, we the story.
Sharing at d'Verse Poets Pub Open Link Night Week #99.

Hidden Pearls/Inked

Written for The Mag #147, image provided by Tess Kincaid.
She provides the image, we the story!!

 Hidden Pearls

this world, my oyster…

when seeking path of wisdom

let my maps guide you

Inked

There was one and only one

that got in, under my skin.

Can still trace the marks he left

indelibly printed on my soul.

© Ginny Brannan December 2012

Inspired to write a "two-fer" this week!
Image: http://themetapicture.com/earth-map-tattoo/

Seeking Clarity

Figure Eight by Franz Kline

life in constant flux

we explore our center core

seeking clarity

much like yin and yang

attempting to find balance

in uncertainty

embracing the gray

in a world of black and white

a constant struggle

inner peace renewed

chaos ceases to exist

once more we are whole

© Ginny Brannan July 2012

Chinese symbols, Yin and Yang

Sharing at The Mag #127 ~ they provide the image, we provide the story!

Sucked Dry

with charms deceiving,

you sucked the life from me

to feed your own ego.

© Ginny Brannan April 2012

On 4/28/12 Claudia Schoenfeld hosted Poetics—Vampires at d’Verse Poets Pub.  

Out of the Shell

Image: Egg Island by Djajakarta

floating aimlessly…

a life of non-existence

in an empty shell

hull begins to crack

self-esteem eclipses pain

I emerge, unscathed

finding strength anew

I shed the broken pieces

to learn who I am

© Ginny Brannan April 2012

Written for The Mag #112--they provide the image, we provide the story!
and sharing at 
d'Verse Poets Open Link Night #39  4/10/12

Addiction

Image provided by Tess Kincaid/The Mag

slow slide to dark side…

temptation draws you deeper

twisting inside out

riding shattered highs

in life of smoke and mirrors

hopelessly engulfed

captured in the lie

one moment <frozen> in time

beauty’s voice falls mute

bared for all to see

the final cost…what was lost,

such a tragedy

©  Ginny Brannan February 2012

A series of four haiku/senryu formatted together. 
Sharing at "The Mag" #104 2/12/12. They provide the image, we provide the story.

Redemption

woodland becomes church

rugged mountains form steeple

redemption awaits

© Ginny Brannan November 2011

Sharing at d'Verse Poets Pub Poetics: Poetry & Philosophy

Half Asleep

Image: Prospect Park, Brooklyn, wn.com

Uplifted

wherever I am,

poetry lifts from mundane

giving flight to dreams

© Ginny Brannan January 2011

Image Credit: http://chance-of-sunshine.blogspot.com/2011/09/umbrella-season.html

Sharing at BlueBell Books Thursday Short Story Slam January 5th, 2012