Phil Perkins · Photography

& other creative pursuits

Tag: poetry

  • Poem in Response

    Poem in Response

    After reading “Forte é…” (Portuguese, meaning “Strong is…”), written by a talented writer, lovely lady and good friend from Lisbon, Carla Milho – wherein she speaks to courage and the importance of perseverance over negative influences – I was inspired to write this poem…

    Writing of challenges
    Encountered everyday
    It’s one win at a time
    Each victory, her way

    Her strength through courage shines
    In wielding sword and shield
    To keep bad folks at bay
    Whereby their fates are sealed

    With black leather jacket
    Wrapped in faded blue jean
    Humble in her beauty
    She’s a warrior and queen

    She is also the star whose light illuminates the landscape of my dreams.

    © 2022 Phil Perkins

    PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.

  • Poem in Response

    Poem in Response

    Having read “Let Me Sing You a Lullaby” by the talented and beautiful Californian poetess, Annabel – wherein she recounts an appreciation of kindness, love and guidance, as received through the song of an angel – I was inspired to write this poem…

    Like a message in a bottle
    Sealed with a kiss and set adrift
    Words flow from your heart, so lovely
    – poetic bliss, shared as a gift

    © 2022 Phil Perkins

    PHOTO CREDIT: modified photos from unsplash.com: one, two

  • Poem in Response

    Poem in Response

    After reading “Burn Brightly” by the talented and lovely Arizonian poetess, Michele Lee Sefton – wherein her inspirational poetic prose speaks to self-confidence, aspirations, and to make hay while the sun shines – I wrote this short poem…

    She arose, this desert rose
    As the sun in silhouette
    Bridging space with song, in dance
    Center stage, without regret

    © 2022 Phil Perkins

    PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.

    “Listen to the Music” – by The Doobie Brothers (1972) / see lyrics

  • Poem in Response

    Poem in Response

    Having read “Amanhã Talvez” (Portuguese, meaning “Maybe Tomorrow”), written by a talented writer, lovely woman and good friend hailing from Lisbon, Carla Milho – wherein she contemplates meaningful expressions of emotion, aspiring to the present (carpe diem) rather than tomorrow – I was inspired to write this poem…

    It’s what she has
    Inside her heart
    That makes mine skip a beat

    Her good nature
    And precious soul
    Accentuate the sweet

    She’s the one who warms my heart
    And the light by which I see
    What it means to be alive
    Here and now, and yet to be

    Green eyes serene, her pair is nice
    – a golden slice of paradise

    To make it four and evermore
    Two happy hearts, to underscore

    I pen these words
    With hope she’ll read
    This message of the heart

    That if someday
    We ever meet
    In love, we’ll never part

    © 2022 Phil Perkins

    PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.

  • Poetry in Motion

    Poetry in Motion

    This photograph highlights Middle Prong Little River, located in the Smoky Mountains near Townsend, Tennessee. You can see more in my galleries at Pixels, Redbubble and ArtPal.

    Poem

    Watching white water wash away
    From the mossy green riverbanks
    An inner peace transcends my day
    Blessed with such beauty, I give thanks

    © 2022 Phil Perkins

    Song for Today

  • Poem in Response

    Poem in Response

    Having read “To the Oak Tree“, penned by the lovely and talented poetess, Annabel, a dear friend and frequent source of my inspiration – wherein she speaks of nature, love and loyalty – I wrote this poem in response…

    Together, through roots and shoots
    Sharing seasons in the sun
    Majestic beauty unfolds
    With each ring, we grow as one

    © 2022 Phil Perkins

    PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.

    ↱ You can read the lyrics here ↴

  • Haiku

    Haiku

    Once more, as before
    Her beauty draws pen to hand
    Déjà vu haiku

    © 2022 Phil Perkins

    PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.

  • Poem in Response

    Poem in Response

    There are times I feel I should refrain
    From the sounds that drum as rhyme
    Yet, your beauty shines through poetry
    Like your smile, your words sublime

    Having read “Twilight’s First Blush“, written by a lovely poetess and friend from the Valley of the Sun, Michele Lee Sefton – wherein she conveys a romantic recollection at dawn & shares her welcomed sense of humor – I was inspired to write this poem in response…

    On a late night cruise
    To a rendezvous
    Just seventeen miles or so

    It’s the magic hour
    When night fades to day
    And the cock begins to crow

    In romantic waves
    Rhythm fills the air
    Glances cast amorously

    Soon, a warm embrace
    On the edge of love
    Two hearts sing in rhapsody

    Til the morning draws
    Colors peach to blue
    As faint starlight blinks farewell

    Cheers, to drift once more
    On this desert sea
    Over sand and under spell

    © 2022 Phil Perkins

    PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.

  • Poem

    Sands of Time

    Around the lake on winds of change
    The sands of time did rearrange
    To shift terrain along the shore
    Resculpting landscapes to explore

    © 2022 Phil Perkins

    One of the early lessons I learned as a child growing up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, in the city of Marquette on Lake Superior, was the enormous power of Mother Nature. Though some geographical locations remain relatively unchanged over time, the shorelines of my youth were renewed with each major storm — altering beaches and sandbars, as well as gigantic boulders washing up on to the harbor breakwall.

    This vintage photograph highlights the shores of Gitche Gumee to the northwest of Marquette, near Little Presque Isle. If interested, it’s available on a variety of prints and other items in my galleries at Pixels, Redbubble and ArtPal.

    Enjoy the great outdoors!

  • Poem in Response

    Poem in Response

    After reading “By Chance” (translated: por un acaso), posted by a dear friend and wonderful writer from Portugal, Carla Milho – wherein she shares reasons for changing her nickname, formerly Red Warrior – I was inspired to write this poem in response…

    In a land known as Lisbon
    Across the sea, set apart
    Hails a cute girl named Carla
    – a beautiful work of art

    Her skin, golden tan
    Her eyes, lovely green
    Her smile warms my heart
    …you know what I mean

    Like a school-kid with a crush
    Poems of love that never end
    Yet, I know she’s spoken for
    And extend my hand as friend

    © 2022 Phil Perkins

    PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.

  • Abstract Compact Disks

    Abstract Compact Disks

    Digital collage artwork of melting musical compact disks, with grunge effects and abstract typographic overlay. You can visit these galleries for great products:

    Haiku

    CD’s in the sun
    Melting songs some sang for fun
    Digitally spun

    © 2022 Phil Perkins

    Music and Design

    Songs that I’m listening to this morning while working with photography and/or creating designs…

  • Poem: Her Lovely Smile

    Poem: Her Lovely Smile

    Her lovely smile has the power to compel poetry. At an age 17 years younger, she’s Mukti Masih – a published poetess, author and successful content writer from India. After a recent exchange, I wrote this poem as I drifted into a daydream…

    Every time I see her smile
Heaven shines a light on me
Happy heart in sweet delight
Chasing dreams of what could be

   On the rhythm of waves
   Rang a sound from her heart
   Where the waters of love
   Know no end, only start

   On a ship under sail
   Without map, simply stars
   And a warm summer breeze
   With acoustic guitars

   On a course to the east
   Currents carry and flow
   Is this only a dream?
   Perhaps, yes, I think so

Were it not for many miles
And the years, so far apart
Both day and night - time to share
Grand adventures of the heart

    © 2022 Phil Perkins

    PHOTO CREDIT: modified photo from unsplash.com.

    NOTE: this poem uses the Preformatted Block, which allows for indentation of text exactly as pasted. However, in so doing, a monospace font is used.