‘Pentadactyl’ and Other Poetry by Joe Spring

Pentadactyl

5-foot dactylic poem with a truncated fifth foot on the odd-numbered lines. With apologies to Pterodactyls.

Dactyls are terrible lizards that fly at the mind
pounding their emphasis boldly, Jurassical pelicans
dipping through breakers, the roaring of others behind,
beating Tithonian wings like the rotors of helicons

Such a great leathery creature with talons will bind
even the boldest of poets, who long for a particle,
something more gentle to bring in a beautiful line…
Dactyls deny any space for an opening article.

Seasons of the Garden 

When Spring arrives, the flowers burst
and all the trees can quench their thirst
on rain that falls and drips off eaves
and climbs up roots to fresh green leaves.

Then summer roars and fruits grow plump
and teenage birds prepare to jump;
the air is warm and friendly now,
and when it’s done the sun will bow,

and dip a little further down
to point us to the Autumn crown
of red and orange leaves of trees
all getting ready for a freeze

for Winter is an icy quarter:
skies are clear and so’s the water.
Shrubs are huddled, trees asleep
and bulbs are stirring, buried deep…

Joe Spring lives and works in Johannesburg, South Africa. For more information please visit www.joespringwrites.com.