forward...arCH!

http://clicksandtrips.com/2013/10/14/ingalls-pass-and-yellow-larches/

Happy Poetry Friday to all, and thanks for meeting me under the arCHes!  If you have not been following my Forward...MarCH CHallenge, you can read about it here, and you are in for suCH a treat.  The participating poets (and that could include YOU) have labored in the trenCHes, stretCHed themselves day after day, reaCHed for new heights, and will bewitCH you with their riCH offerings.  Just scroll down to see the week's posts, featuring the words preaCH, sketCH, smooCH and pitCH.

Today's word is "arCH".  I learned all kinds of things I wasn't planning to this morning, but then we're all about researCH in kindergarten right now!

Larix laricina

Behold the golden larches.
Unlike the yellow beeches
that bend their leafen branches
the larches do not arch
but stand in straightened marches
rich with needled thatches
and bear their spiral cones.

HM 2015
all rights reserved



What's arching towards you this morning?  Leave your poems in the comments or send me an email!

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Diane brings us what she refers to as "poehistry. Readers will need a little background:  when WW I ended, the French held a celebration in Paris.  The men who flew planes, were made to march with common foot soldiers.  They felt slighted and took their revenge having a pilot fly through the Arc de Triomphe.  It was a well-planned stunt, and the perps made sure there was someone on hand to film it.  Here's a link to the video of the feat: https://youtu.be/HIZzkq5Y8q0/.  The man who flew the small plane (known as the bebe) was Charles Godefroy."  ALERT: unapproved words in this post--but in French.  : )

Arch of Triumph of the Star
(You Up for It, Mr. Godefroy?) 

Merde!
They make us march
with foot soldiers--
those who have no
connection to stars!

Imbéciles!
They make light of us!
We are the future.
We've conquered the enemy.
We've conquered the skies!

Il faut!
They underestimate us.
We will plan carefully.
Study the arch, the air,
le bébé Nieuport.

L’appel du vide!
We will do it—fly through
l'Arc de Triomphe de l'Étoile.
We will touch the heavens.
We will honor this land.

Ça te dit?

14 Juillet, 1919

Donna's back with another shaped poem, and I see we both had trees on the mind:

Arch Overhead

Fingers of trees
gloved in snow
Arch overhead
wherever I go;
Some clasped in prayer,
Some reaching strong,
Loving hands twining,
Sighing for long
Winter to end
and spring to arrive,
when white gloves toss
dust flakes aside,
and tender buds prosper
as branches upraise
their green fingered hands
softly swaying sweet praise

©Donna JT Smith, 2015

        
I'm sorry that the beautiful arch of her poem is not preserved in the formatting--I tried it two ways an couldn't get it to work.  You can see it the right way at Mainely Write.  Wow.  Also check out Donna's winning round in the March Madness Poetry Tournament this week!


Mary Lee's poem is in conversation with her plan for a National Poetry Month Project, described here:

SKEPTIC

Head tilted,
one eyebrow arched,
lips pinched:

Are you sure?
Seven days a week?
Really?


©Mary Lee Hahn, 2015

Kate brings us the arches of Utah:

Arches

Red rock arches, making
a cathedral in the still
desert light of morning.
Sacred shadows sing.

—Kate Coombs

 I bet Diane will like this illustrated one  from Jone, about a different kind of battle!

From Carol we have a Slice of Life rumination on the Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn, NY:

Oh, impressive arch,

you stand regally as a connector.

Your massive structure

with old world feel, greets each day,

not as a landing platform for pigeons 

but as a gateway to possibilities.

As a separator from a noisy city,

your arched style graces Park Slope.

Visitors stand in awe of your grandeur-
stories told of your life as a Beaux-arts monument,

Brooklyn's own version of the Arc de Triomphe.

Regally and royally, you

recall a bygone time and herald in
the revival of old world Brooklyn.

Oh, historic monument how impressive
you remain as a landmark point of interest
to travelers, tourists, and New York City residents.
As a backdrop for weddings and market vendors
you represent what used to be and
what is to coming back to a borough of old world charm.

Joy has another acrostic that manages to be both dynamic and restful:

Arches
Rest in
Curved open
Humps

Charles closes us out today with a yoga poem--a first at my juicy little universe!

PRETZEL LOGIC

Arching like an upright horseshoe,

I contort my frame as each piece

Of sinew screams in anger; I hope

This human bridge I've created

Doesn't have a faulty structure

So my yoga teacher could one day

 Be my beloved. 

(c) Charles Waters 2015 all rights reserved.

Laura Shovan has the round-up today and shares details of a really thrilling Poetry Month Project.  See you at Author Amok!