THE POETRY OF AIR
Part 1: SNOW
Ramsau Parish Church
Reiteralpe Mountains, Berchtesgaden, Germany
I step outside
this heated lair
and feel the blast
of crisp, cold air
And wonder at the
winds that blow;
The poetry of air is
....................Snow
Part 1: ©Copyright February 3, 2006 by Christina A. Sharik
Part 2: FIRE
Bush Fire at Murray Bridge, South Australia
December 20, 2005 Photograph ©Copyright, The Pahl Collection
I step outside
my shaded home
into the blast that
cooks the bone
And wonder at the
Hobs of hell;
The poetry of Air is
....................Fire
Part 2: ©Copyright February 6, 2006 by Roger Liebmann
Part 3a: WIND
"On the Summer Wind" by Jane Wooster Scott
Fire! It comes,
To melt the snow,
Both blown away,
By the wind you know.
That refreshes each
And every day
The poetry of air is
....................Wind
Part 3a: ©Copyright February 6, 2006 by Colin F. Jones
Part 3b: RAIN
"Summer Rain" by Teresa Shelton
Rain! It comes to
Cleanse and clean,
To wash away
The melting sleet
And cool the sunburned
Steaming street
The poetry of air is
....................Rain
Part 3b: ©Copyright February 6, 2006 by Colin F. Jones
Part 3c: CHANGE
Autumn Leaves on the Buffalo River, Tennessee
The leaves do fall
When summer's done
Before the freezing
Snows do come
And winter clouds
To block the sun
The poetry of air is
....................Change
Part 3c: ©Copyright February 6, 2006 by Colin F. Jones
Part 4: BREATH
"Man's First Breath" by Suzanne Tornquist
Wind fans the fire that melts away
signs of snow upon the ground
in warmth and goodness created thus
birds aspire to joyful sound
Whiteness turns to colour
and on earth, life springs from death
Gasping at this metamorphosis
the poetry of air is
....................Breath
Part 4: ©Copyright February 8, 2006 by Anthony W. Pahl, OAM
Part 5: RAIN
"After the Rain" by Vlatko Juric-Kokic, 2004
I stand outside
my protected home
Feeling a washing come over my brow
Remembering, cleansing, trials of Vietnam
washing away frightened tears
waters of time healing my pain
The poetry of air is
....................Rain
Part 5: ©Copyright February 8, 2006 by Gary Jacobson
Part 6: GOD
"God is Talking to Me" by Harry Hansen
That breath of wind
like the voice of a choir
snuggled close to
the warmth of the fire
summons the healing
touch of rain
to soothe away
those years of pain
and call upon the
slumbering earth
to wake once more
and again give birth
from its fecund, fertile sod;
The poetry of Air is
....................God
Part 6: ©Copyright February 8, 2006 by Thurman P. Woodfork
Part 7: CHANGE
"Thunder" by Frank Basinski (2003)
I stand again
outside once more
and wonder if...
an ancient war
still blows cold echoes to my ear
or is it thunder that I hear?
each cloud that passes...
brings different view
a vanquished vista
replaced with new
Ageless angels rearrange
the poetry of air to
....................Change
Part 7: ©Copyright February 8, 2006 by Randy E. Richmond
Part 8: SUN
"Skagit Sunrise" by Teleia Geddes
Rising
in the morning
just as the day
is dawning
nighttime's
darkness has run
The poetry of air is
....................Sun
Part 8: ©Copyright February 8, 2006 by Faye Sizemore
Part 9: HEAL
"Jungle Breeze" by Robert J. Miley (1989)
I step into the winter freeze
Come face to face – My love's disease
Has hardened on this icy day
What can I do to chip away
The memories of jungle heat?
The Blaze of victory and defeat
Has left my lover cold at night
I think he's lost the will to fight
Until he calls out in his sleep
He wakes me up – I start to weep
Then dry my tears and resolve seize
For after all, I am The Breeze...
The poetry of air will
....................heal
Part 9: ©Copyright February 9, 2006 by Robin Amy Bass
Part 10: LIFE
US Navy Air Strike in South Vietnam, 1966
created from an Associated Press Photograph
I recall a place I've been
Where bombs sucked up the oxygen
And to the ground I learned to dive
Take cover, praying to survive
Till quietness again returned
And though my throat and chest both burned
I felt my Spirit then revive
The poetry of air is
.................... life