You are currently viewing Roosting: Prelude To That First Kiss #dVerse #tankatuesday #ekphrastic
Portrait of Lady Agnew of Lochnaw (1865-1932) by John Singer Sargent, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Roosting: Prelude To That First Kiss #dVerse #tankatuesday #ekphrastic

The squeak of your bike
never went ignored
I’d dry my hands fast,
kiss Ma’ and dash out–
meet you down the road.

With pinkies entwined
we’d walk to the gate
where Pa’ soon would wash
off the grease before
lighting a cigarette.

But of Pa’ that dusk
there wasn’t a sign
just the hens, heads bowed,
the cats near the well,
waiting– and the sky

a fading red rose
to the night ceding.
The robins chirped long;
the swallows too. But
’twas when Mockingbird

let out a call to
charm a mate that you
drew me close and on
my lips you roosted
— filled me with eve’song.

When Pa’ did appear
we sat gratified
intoxicated
embers ignited
with a promise for
florid song next time

© 2023 selma


The top poem is for dVerse’s Poetics: Prelude to a Kiss which Kim is hosting and asked that we try to capture the wordless intimacy of the act. Thanks, Kim– giving it a try.

The second poem below, a Gogyohka, is for Colleen’s Tanka Tuesday Ekphrastic prompt #Poetry Challenge No. 308, 2/21/23 that presents us with the main image.

any old squeak
pulls at my heartstrings
no matter my age
it still makes me giddy
drunk on our first kiss

© 2023 selma


Here are the rules for this poetry form from Wikipedia.com:

Five rules of Gogyohka by Enta Kusakabe (1983)

  • Gogyohka is a new form of short poem that is based on the ancient Japanese Tanka and Kodai kayo.
  • Gogyohka has five lines but exceptionally may have four or six.
  • Each line of Gogyohka consists of one phrase with a line-break after each phrase or breath.
  • Gogyohka has no restraint on numbers of words or syllables.
  • The theme of Gogyohka is unrestricted.

Thanks for reading.
Image attributes: Portrait of Lady Agnew of Lochnaw (1865-1932) by John Singer Sargent, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Selma Martin
Follow me

This Post Has 49 Comments

  1. kim881

    What a delightful poem, Selma! I love the way it starts with a sound, ‘the squeak of your and the dash out to the road to meet Pa. The kisses, although secondary to the story, do play a big part, showing the love for Ma, and later the love for the subject of the poem, the ‘you’ whose identity is not disclosed. I also like the way the hens and the cats wait.

    1. Selma Martin

      You bless me for seeing it through and through, Kim. A lovely prompt. Xoxoxoxo

  2. Cheryl, Gulf Coast Poet

    So beautifully written and sweet, Selma! The charm of the poem is enhanced by the minute details you remember! I have memories of my first date, walking hand-in-hand to the Twin Kiss with a boy, who bought me a “swirl” ice cream cone. Later, he kissed me on the porch swing!

    1. Selma Martin

      Aww. Sweetness!! Thanks for reading. Blessings on your evening.

  3. Sadje

    So beautifully written Selma

  4. CHUONTHIS

    Beautiful imagery, Selma. I love a good roost. 😘

    1. Selma Martin

      Aww. So happy when I manage that. You’re sweet for saying, Yve. Thanks, dearly.

  5. balroop2013

    So sweet… that’s what I thought after reading the first poem. How some moments stay with us forever. I love how the kiss wins even in the second poem.

    1. Selma Martin

      Yes. So glad you saw how the feeling continued in the second poem: my point exactly! That lady was thinking of THAT first kiss. Thanks so dearly for seeing this. Bless you. Xoxoxo

  6. Tricia Sankey

    So charming, always love your style. I could just see those “pinkies entwined” ‼️💋

    1. michnavs

      I love the imagery here….you literaly took me to where it happened

  7. Jane Dougherty

    It’s the details I like in this, the scene, the flowers, the scents. You brought it to life.

    1. Selma Martin

      Thanks, Jane. Glad you saw that come to life
      I appreciate you. XoXo

  8. Colleen M. Chesebro

    I really loved the imagery Selma… I felt like I was there watching the scene unfold before my eyes. This is stunning!! 💜

  9. Luanne

    Well done! That first one pulled me along with the voice as well as the story!

  10. Michele Lee

    Your charming poem swept into the speaker’s world. Lovely writing, Selma!

  11. Rebecca Budd

    Lady Agnew and John Singer Sargent would very much appreciate and love your poem, Selma. I am delighted that we have connected.

    1. Selma Martin

      That confirmation from you makes me so happy. Aww. Thanks, Rebecca. Blessings.

  12. msjadeli

    Two beautiful poems. I *love* this:
    “you
    drew me close and on
    my lips you roosted”

    also how you concluded it

    1. Selma Martin

      So pleased you dropped this message, Lisa. Thanks so much. Just found this in spam. This is NOT spam. Sorry ‘bout that. Blessings.

  13. Grace

    I love that part of being filled with the evening song. You captured the moment so well.

    1. Selma Martin

      I’m thrilled you read, dear Grace. It is a great prompt. Blessing you. XoXo

  14. sanaarizvi

    This is absolutely stunning, Selma! I especially love; “But ’twas when Mockingbird let out a call to charm a mate that you
    drew me close and on my lips you roosted— filled me with eve’song.” ❤️❤️

  15. msjadeli

    I read this and was sure I commented on it before. 2nd try. Loved the story you told here, Selma.

  16. Conny

    What a sweet poem, Selma! I love how in the middle of the poem there’s a pause, a brief suspension, when we’re waiting with the hens and the cats for that kiss to happen. Bliss 😊

    1. Selma Martin

      Thanks for reading and commenting, Willow. Blessing on your new week.

Thanks for stopping. Comments mean the world to me. Won't you please leave one?