I had the pleasure of interviewing these two lovely women for my podcast and YouTube and, as you can see, above is the YouTube and below is the podcast link.
Good Morning and happy Friday and happy June!! Let’s get started.
I like this sky picture because it is beautiful with the various colors and designs, just like people, we are all different, but look whatever a majestic presence we represent. I am thankful for this and that all people have a place in the grand scheme of things.
I like the rain, despite it cutting into play time at the pool, it is watering the many gardens of life and while it’s coming down, we can take the time to do other things and be creative.
It’s June, which – like the last couple of months – is getting a new name “Majun” I am wondering if the rest of the year will be like this. I do like cooler weather, so I won’t complain.
Berries – they are sweeter and I love it!
I am in this book which is from the Triangle Association of Freelancers. It’s essays and poetry about books which have made a difference in our lives. I am happy to be among those accepted for this book.
6. It is First Friday and it is usually when the artists and musicians and foodies celebrate in and outdoors in Raleigh and many of the venues for art are free to enjoy. We have gone several times and particularly enjoy the variety of art and seeing artists in their studios. If the weather is decent, you will likely see dancing in the streets by performing groups, perhaps a drum formation and whatever is ever whatever on the agenda.
7. I have been doing some videos with David Martin, Founder and Chief Editor of Fine Lines. These are fun to do and I always learn something new. Summer Camp is coming up, too. Here’s the last video we did about journaling:
8. Summer Camp is coming soon! I hope to see you there.
9. I saved the best for last: Daughter appears to be moving a little bit better. Baby steps, but I think that PT is helping. It’s a slow process, but eventually she will be back to her old, feisty self.
10. YOU! What’s up with your life? I saw some geese and their babies walking alongside the road the other day and they were adorable. How can we not smile at nature’s new offspring! Please do share your thankfuls.
Fluttering about fairy gardens, vivid colors and purposeful lives, butterflies know their calling.
Eat until they are filled and full, build a protective crysalis, until they emerge as butterflies.
An artist and storyteller by the name of Eric Carle brought a hungry caterpillar into the homes of many families. School teachers brought the story into classrooms and inspired children.
That’s what happens when a seed is planted in a book, in art, in voice—
It lasts forever in the artfulness, in the Imaginations of humankind.
Butterflies live on when the world keeps feeding them with fairy gardens, simple garden paths, massive wildflower fields, all this by caring for the lands.
Help butterflies live whatever length of time they can as they are called to be, as we are called to support.
Learn more about butterflies from this link to the Smithsonian.
TGIF and time to reflect on those who aren’t here to say TGIF… As we embark on Memorial Day Weekend it’s time to think about being thankful for those who gave their all. There is always a debate about remembering those who give all now but are living and those who lost their lives because of giving all for their country. I am going to focus on being mindful of this as I do this post, so let’s just see how it goes.
Technology which helps save lives.
Toes in the sand and mindfulness that boots have also walk these sands.
Time does not stop and when it does there is a soul.
Taxes to pay so that others can be of service.
The taste of things that might not be possible with different circumstances.
Tanks that are full.
Talking freely because of the fight for the right.
Thanksgiving is no longer about injustice.
Last, but not least – those who gave all.
YOU – let’s hear your thankfuls. Edgar wants to hear them, too.
I had the most delightful time interviewing David Martin. And ICYMI there is a Virtual Summer Camp for Creative Writers coming up in June. You might want to check it out. Information on FinesLines.org
I am going to get to go to the Creative Writing Summer Camp. Perhaps you would like to go, too.
2. Tax season is over.
3. Kay Doiron, my cover artist and great niece finished the book cover art for my next personal book of poetry. This was just in time for the upcoming birth of her baby, to be determined by God’s own plan. I am so thankful when Kay does the art work. She always “gets” what I am looking for.
4. We had a nice turnout for the Book Launch party. I did not record it, but we had a great time.
That’s the book:
5. It’s been a different kind of week in that I am doing more art than usual. That is always a positive.
6. Daughter is going to PT and comes home sore, so it must be doing some good.
7. Did you know that when you ask for a blessing, you open a window and it may take a whole door to take in all the goodness. Yeah…I have to remember that. And I am grateful to have to open my door.
8. I had a first meeting with an awesome coach and now I have an idea to develop. It’s like it’s always been there and I have done some things about it, but I am gaining clarity. I started by writing something and submitting it and it was accepted. I have another writing project to work on along the same lines. #7 is the result of seek and you will find.
9. The pool is supposed to open next week and the temps are going up, so maybe, just maybe MarPril is moving on and allowing PrilAyUne to come along.
10. Welcome to the path where you can lead the way. You are never alone when you share with others. What are you thankful for? The kitty wants to know.
Hey April! May is here ALREADY! Phew…April just flew by! It’s Already May 7th and time for TTOT!
We get to see mama this weekend. It’s been tooooooo long.
Silver Linings – The proof arrived and boy, oh boy am I glad I got a proof copy. I have some serious pudding to stir from this proof. “Did I do that…?” Yes, I did. If you are ever planning to publish, always get a proof copy before you send your child into the world. I am grateful it arrived sooner than I was informed and I have it all marked up to make changes today.
I am going to be grateful it is raining as April was kinda light on the juice. And I am grateful my family in Alabama escaped unscatched, maybe a tree and neighbor’s fence got toppled, but people did not.
that’s 2 up there
people who support life’s adventures
immunizations DONE
Nurses – that’s this week on the 12th, but I believe the whole month is most accurate for these fine folks who put it all out there to help us.
8. Help with pain. The treatments I had over a year ago have passed their limit and I started a new round and I am grateful that the first treatment has provided such relief.
9. Fun! I wrote this story and thought I would share. It’s fun to try a little humor out.
goodbye April days which melt to April nights when my muse would tickle my toes at 4 a.m. psst, I have a poem the flood would hit wake up or not it was a tidal wave some days I’d ride some days I’d sleep most days my muse would smile this last day she let me sleep thank you, Chloe goodbye April days May comes with new poems I am sure
National Poetry Month daily poems ends today. I am grateful for the challenge and that this is the last day I need to find a prompt. I can guarantee that on May 1 I will still be writing a poem.
I was able to keep up with #1 and brought along some others.
The Garden of Neuro has been a nice group of women to get to know and I am grateful for making new friends and many of my friends have chosen to join.
My book is almost ready to publish. I am working on the cover art, but want to tweak it some more.
Change is something I adapt to well. I think it’s from being a military kid and then moving every so many years afterward. We have to move because the community is wanting all unimproved apartments to be improved. The good news is that we are getting to go into an improved apartment. It’s just waiting for one to open up, but we have until December for an opening to happen. I am grateful we have time.
It is almost pool season. As May is sticking it’s nose over the fence, that means one more month to splish splash.
We get to see Mama in a week. We have not seen her in over a year. We are pretty excited.
I started a new gig. I did it last year and was approved to do it again, so I am happy about that.
It has been magnificently beautiful weather.
YOU – What’s your thankful? Robert wants to know… Just pop it in the link below!
Mirrored Images
From Amazon: "Two sisters and authors are back with their follow-up sequel Mirrored Images. This is where their story in Different Sides of the Same Coin left off. In this poetic adaptation Chyrel J. Jackson and Lyris D. Wallace attempt to navigate the pouring rains of life conditions as they tell their tale in poetic contemporary modern verse reflecting on present day social and political events facing the Black community. In this heartrending collection of poems, the sisters further deal with life as it unfolds as they try to arrive to a collective center of peace and understanding. Mirrored Images is a written meditation about people’s sometimes darker actions and motives. We journey with these ladies as they honestly tackle racism, frayed familial dynamics and embracing a sister bond that has proven to be impenetrable. This time around Blues is the preferred backdrop of their gripping tale. Prepare to be wowed beyond expectation as these writings and poems deliver more of everything you loved in book one while remaining authentically true to their soulful and riveting narrative as Black women. Where their first collection of Black Expression revisited Harlem Renaissance and cashed with 2018-2019 social unrest. In Mirrored Images they rip the bandages off human life experience and force you to see what most are happier pretending just does not exist at all. Spoken word is back and these literary writers take social conflict and unrest to brand-new unchartered heights."
Chyrel J. Jackson and Lyris D. Wallace are avid lovers, readers and writers of African American Literature. They grew up in a Southern Suburb of Chicago, IL. Country Club Hills. As young girls they read Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and Judy Blume novels. College was the real scholastic awakening introducing these two Literary Enthusiasts to the Literary works of their great ancestors: James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, Nikki Giovanni and Sonia Sanchez. These writers influenced Chyrel and Lyris. It only makes sense that they would now be writing in the Spirit of these ancestors. Giving a voice to social issues that plague our modern time.
They have written for much of their adult lives. Political Opinion Editorials, Book Reviews, Romance Novels, Television Show Treatments, Journaling, and Poetry are what these sisters enjoy writing best. When asked why they write? Their answer, they write for visibility. They want to be a voice for all those who feel they have something of value to say but aren’t capable of putting it in their own words.
Words surpass life, love and loss. Writers are born when life intersects with time and chance. You will always find them doing what they love reading, and writing. Writing, and telling stories is how they fulfill their divine purpose. You can’t ignore what is so visible and undeniable. Writing saved us at our lowest points in living. We hope to provide healing through our writing. We want to uplift others through their pain as writing has uplifted us and provided great healing in time of profound despair and hurt. Throughout the passage of time words remain.
Sistersrocnrhyme.com
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This episode is sponsored by
· Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lisa-tomey/message
Today the prompt is to tell a story about something. So here is my story. I give credit to this prompt from the PAD challenge and here is the LINK to check it out.
On Saturday, April 10 we met for a virtual poetry reading by the Contributing Authors to the Heart Beats Anthology of Poetry. Each poet read poetry from their contributions and many read additional works. We has a morning and evening sessions with two separate groups of poets. Sit back and enjoy these beautiful words.
Shandy set up her room at her Aunt Cherri’s house, placing her framed pictures of her late husband and her son on her dresser. Grazing the edges of the scrolled, antique textured frame surrounding her husband, Shandy sighed and began talking.
“Honey, it’s a new start for me, being here at Cherri’s, and I always thought we would be moving here together, but later in life, yet here I am, at a new house, a new life, but just so you know, it’s not the same without you,” and with that a tear rolled down her cheek, followed by a few more droplets before she stepped away.
Shandy stepped outside and leashed up Candy for a walk, and off they went, the fresh air pleasant to her and to Candy, they both sped out in a trot, before long, Shandy’s head cleared, and her eyes saw new possibilities as the neighborhood was near a small shopping center and that was where she found a diner, a homey looking place, with a “Help Wanted” sign on the window.
Stepping out after getting cleaned up, Shandy walked to the diner, “I see you are needing help, well I have lots of experience, may I please get an application?”
“Have you worked a full-house, lunch crowd, we could use you right now,” and with that, Shandy felt a confirmation that she had found home.
…..
This is my response to the Six Sentence Story challenge word “Home” provided by Denise of Girlie on the Edge. Would you like to submit a story? You can go HERE
Mirrored Images
From Amazon: "Two sisters and authors are back with their follow-up sequel Mirrored Images. This is where their story in Different Sides of the Same Coin left off. In this poetic adaptation Chyrel J. Jackson and Lyris D. Wallace attempt to navigate the pouring rains of life conditions as they tell their tale in poetic contemporary modern verse reflecting on present day social and political events facing the Black community. In this heartrending collection of poems, the sisters further deal with life as it unfolds as they try to arrive to a collective center of peace and understanding. Mirrored Images is a written meditation about people’s sometimes darker actions and motives. We journey with these ladies as they honestly tackle racism, frayed familial dynamics and embracing a sister bond that has proven to be impenetrable. This time around Blues is the preferred backdrop of their gripping tale. Prepare to be wowed beyond expectation as these writings and poems deliver more of everything you loved in book one while remaining authentically true to their soulful and riveting narrative as Black women. Where their first collection of Black Expression revisited Harlem Renaissance and cashed with 2018-2019 social unrest. In Mirrored Images they rip the bandages off human life experience and force you to see what most are happier pretending just does not exist at all. Spoken word is back and these literary writers take social conflict and unrest to brand-new unchartered heights."
Chyrel J. Jackson and Lyris D. Wallace are avid lovers, readers and writers of African American Literature. They grew up in a Southern Suburb of Chicago, IL. Country Club Hills. As young girls they read Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and Judy Blume novels. College was the real scholastic awakening introducing these two Literary Enthusiasts to the Literary works of their great ancestors: James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, Nikki Giovanni and Sonia Sanchez. These writers influenced Chyrel and Lyris. It only makes sense that they would now be writing in the Spirit of these ancestors. Giving a voice to social issues that plague our modern time.
They have written for much of their adult lives. Political Opinion Editorials, Book Reviews, Romance Novels, Television Show Treatments, Journaling, and Poetry are what these sisters enjoy writing best. When asked why they write? Their answer, they write for visibility. They want to be a voice for all those who feel they have something of value to say but aren’t capable of putting it in their own words.
Words surpass life, love and loss. Writers are born when life intersects with time and chance. You will always find them doing what they love reading, and writing. Writing, and telling stories is how they fulfill their divine purpose. You can’t ignore what is so visible and undeniable. Writing saved us at our lowest points in living. We hope to provide healing through our writing. We want to uplift others through their pain as writing has uplifted us and provided great healing in time of profound despair and hurt. Throughout the passage of time words remain.
Sistersrocnrhyme.com
—
This episode is sponsored by
· Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
—
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lisa-tomey/message
Mirrored Images
From Amazon: "Two sisters and authors are back with their follow-up sequel Mirrored Images. This is where their story in Different Sides of the Same Coin left off. In this poetic adaptation Chyrel J. Jackson and Lyris D. Wallace attempt to navigate the pouring rains of life conditions as they tell their tale in poetic contemporary modern verse reflecting on present day social and political events facing the Black community. In this heartrending collection of poems, the sisters further deal with life as it unfolds as they try to arrive to a collective center of peace and understanding. Mirrored Images is a written meditation about people’s sometimes darker actions and motives. We journey with these ladies as they honestly tackle racism, frayed familial dynamics and embracing a sister bond that has proven to be impenetrable. This time around Blues is the preferred backdrop of their gripping tale. Prepare to be wowed beyond expectation as these writings and poems deliver more of everything you loved in book one while remaining authentically true to their soulful and riveting narrative as Black women. Where their first collection of Black Expression revisited Harlem Renaissance and cashed with 2018-2019 social unrest. In Mirrored Images they rip the bandages off human life experience and force you to see what most are happier pretending just does not exist at all. Spoken word is back and these literary writers take social conflict and unrest to brand-new unchartered heights."
Chyrel J. Jackson and Lyris D. Wallace are avid lovers, readers and writers of African American Literature. They grew up in a Southern Suburb of Chicago, IL. Country Club Hills. As young girls they read Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and Judy Blume novels. College was the real scholastic awakening introducing these two Literary Enthusiasts to the Literary works of their great ancestors: James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, Nikki Giovanni and Sonia Sanchez. These writers influenced Chyrel and Lyris. It only makes sense that they would now be writing in the Spirit of these ancestors. Giving a voice to social issues that plague our modern time.
They have written for much of their adult lives. Political Opinion Editorials, Book Reviews, Romance Novels, Television Show Treatments, Journaling, and Poetry are what these sisters enjoy writing best. When asked why they write? Their answer, they write for visibility. They want to be a voice for all those who feel they have something of value to say but aren’t capable of putting it in their own words.
Words surpass life, love and loss. Writers are born when life intersects with time and chance. You will always find them doing what they love reading, and writing. Writing, and telling stories is how they fulfill their divine purpose. You can’t ignore what is so visible and undeniable. Writing saved us at our lowest points in living. We hope to provide healing through our writing. We want to uplift others through their pain as writing has uplifted us and provided great healing in time of profound despair and hurt. Throughout the passage of time words remain.
Sistersrocnrhyme.com
—
This episode is sponsored by
· Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
—
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lisa-tomey/message
Mirrored Images
From Amazon: "Two sisters and authors are back with their follow-up sequel Mirrored Images. This is where their story in Different Sides of the Same Coin left off. In this poetic adaptation Chyrel J. Jackson and Lyris D. Wallace attempt to navigate the pouring rains of life conditions as they tell their tale in poetic contemporary modern verse reflecting on present day social and political events facing the Black community. In this heartrending collection of poems, the sisters further deal with life as it unfolds as they try to arrive to a collective center of peace and understanding. Mirrored Images is a written meditation about people’s sometimes darker actions and motives. We journey with these ladies as they honestly tackle racism, frayed familial dynamics and embracing a sister bond that has proven to be impenetrable. This time around Blues is the preferred backdrop of their gripping tale. Prepare to be wowed beyond expectation as these writings and poems deliver more of everything you loved in book one while remaining authentically true to their soulful and riveting narrative as Black women. Where their first collection of Black Expression revisited Harlem Renaissance and cashed with 2018-2019 social unrest. In Mirrored Images they rip the bandages off human life experience and force you to see what most are happier pretending just does not exist at all. Spoken word is back and these literary writers take social conflict and unrest to brand-new unchartered heights."
Chyrel J. Jackson and Lyris D. Wallace are avid lovers, readers and writers of African American Literature. They grew up in a Southern Suburb of Chicago, IL. Country Club Hills. As young girls they read Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and Judy Blume novels. College was the real scholastic awakening introducing these two Literary Enthusiasts to the Literary works of their great ancestors: James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, Nikki Giovanni and Sonia Sanchez. These writers influenced Chyrel and Lyris. It only makes sense that they would now be writing in the Spirit of these ancestors. Giving a voice to social issues that plague our modern time.
They have written for much of their adult lives. Political Opinion Editorials, Book Reviews, Romance Novels, Television Show Treatments, Journaling, and Poetry are what these sisters enjoy writing best. When asked why they write? Their answer, they write for visibility. They want to be a voice for all those who feel they have something of value to say but aren’t capable of putting it in their own words.
Words surpass life, love and loss. Writers are born when life intersects with time and chance. You will always find them doing what they love reading, and writing. Writing, and telling stories is how they fulfill their divine purpose. You can’t ignore what is so visible and undeniable. Writing saved us at our lowest points in living. We hope to provide healing through our writing. We want to uplift others through their pain as writing has uplifted us and provided great healing in time of profound despair and hurt. Throughout the passage of time words remain.
Sistersrocnrhyme.com
—
This episode is sponsored by
· Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
—
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lisa-tomey/message
Just like in the old days when poets came together, perhaps imbibed, or had some coffee, and talked about the problems of the world and how they would use poetry to speak their minds. This is a Coffee Table Talk. We will have a select group of panelists: Susi Bocks Chyrel J. Jackson Maxima Kahn LaVan Robinson For this event, Susi Bocks will be shar…
Mirrored Images
From Amazon: "Two sisters and authors are back with their follow-up sequel Mirrored Images. This is where their story in Different Sides of the Same Coin left off. In this poetic adaptation Chyrel J. Jackson and Lyris D. Wallace attempt to navigate the pouring rains of life conditions as they tell their tale in poetic contemporary modern verse reflecting on present day social and political events facing the Black community. In this heartrending collection of poems, the sisters further deal with life as it unfolds as they try to arrive to a collective center of peace and understanding. Mirrored Images is a written meditation about people’s sometimes darker actions and motives. We journey with these ladies as they honestly tackle racism, frayed familial dynamics and embracing a sister bond that has proven to be impenetrable. This time around Blues is the preferred backdrop of their gripping tale. Prepare to be wowed beyond expectation as these writings and poems deliver more of everything you loved in book one while remaining authentically true to their soulful and riveting narrative as Black women. Where their first collection of Black Expression revisited Harlem Renaissance and cashed with 2018-2019 social unrest. In Mirrored Images they rip the bandages off human life experience and force you to see what most are happier pretending just does not exist at all. Spoken word is back and these literary writers take social conflict and unrest to brand-new unchartered heights."
Chyrel J. Jackson and Lyris D. Wallace are avid lovers, readers and writers of African American Literature. They grew up in a Southern Suburb of Chicago, IL. Country Club Hills. As young girls they read Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and Judy Blume novels. College was the real scholastic awakening introducing these two Literary Enthusiasts to the Literary works of their great ancestors: James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, Nikki Giovanni and Sonia Sanchez. These writers influenced Chyrel and Lyris. It only makes sense that they would now be writing in the Spirit of these ancestors. Giving a voice to social issues that plague our modern time.
They have written for much of their adult lives. Political Opinion Editorials, Book Reviews, Romance Novels, Television Show Treatments, Journaling, and Poetry are what these sisters enjoy writing best. When asked why they write? Their answer, they write for visibility. They want to be a voice for all those who feel they have something of value to say but aren’t capable of putting it in their own words.
Words surpass life, love and loss. Writers are born when life intersects with time and chance. You will always find them doing what they love reading, and writing. Writing, and telling stories is how they fulfill their divine purpose. You can’t ignore what is so visible and undeniable. Writing saved us at our lowest points in living. We hope to provide healing through our writing. We want to uplift others through their pain as writing has uplifted us and provided great healing in time of profound despair and hurt. Throughout the passage of time words remain.
Sistersrocnrhyme.com
—
This episode is sponsored by
· Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
—
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lisa-tomey/message
Mirrored Images
From Amazon: "Two sisters and authors are back with their follow-up sequel Mirrored Images. This is where their story in Different Sides of the Same Coin left off. In this poetic adaptation Chyrel J. Jackson and Lyris D. Wallace attempt to navigate the pouring rains of life conditions as they tell their tale in poetic contemporary modern verse reflecting on present day social and political events facing the Black community. In this heartrending collection of poems, the sisters further deal with life as it unfolds as they try to arrive to a collective center of peace and understanding. Mirrored Images is a written meditation about people’s sometimes darker actions and motives. We journey with these ladies as they honestly tackle racism, frayed familial dynamics and embracing a sister bond that has proven to be impenetrable. This time around Blues is the preferred backdrop of their gripping tale. Prepare to be wowed beyond expectation as these writings and poems deliver more of everything you loved in book one while remaining authentically true to their soulful and riveting narrative as Black women. Where their first collection of Black Expression revisited Harlem Renaissance and cashed with 2018-2019 social unrest. In Mirrored Images they rip the bandages off human life experience and force you to see what most are happier pretending just does not exist at all. Spoken word is back and these literary writers take social conflict and unrest to brand-new unchartered heights."
Chyrel J. Jackson and Lyris D. Wallace are avid lovers, readers and writers of African American Literature. They grew up in a Southern Suburb of Chicago, IL. Country Club Hills. As young girls they read Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and Judy Blume novels. College was the real scholastic awakening introducing these two Literary Enthusiasts to the Literary works of their great ancestors: James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, Nikki Giovanni and Sonia Sanchez. These writers influenced Chyrel and Lyris. It only makes sense that they would now be writing in the Spirit of these ancestors. Giving a voice to social issues that plague our modern time.
They have written for much of their adult lives. Political Opinion Editorials, Book Reviews, Romance Novels, Television Show Treatments, Journaling, and Poetry are what these sisters enjoy writing best. When asked why they write? Their answer, they write for visibility. They want to be a voice for all those who feel they have something of value to say but aren’t capable of putting it in their own words.
Words surpass life, love and loss. Writers are born when life intersects with time and chance. You will always find them doing what they love reading, and writing. Writing, and telling stories is how they fulfill their divine purpose. You can’t ignore what is so visible and undeniable. Writing saved us at our lowest points in living. We hope to provide healing through our writing. We want to uplift others through their pain as writing has uplifted us and provided great healing in time of profound despair and hurt. Throughout the passage of time words remain.
Sistersrocnrhyme.com
—
This episode is sponsored by
· Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
—
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lisa-tomey/message
It’s time for National Poetry Month! Each day I will be posting a poetry book review. Stay tuned!
What are your plans?
I am going to write a poem each day along a certain theme. There are also prompts and I am going to turn to them to mix it up, perhaps inspiring more about my theme.
We are thrilled to announce that Heart Beats: Anthology of Poetry has been published. Such a wonderful selection of poetry is now available for poetry lovers!
What is Heart Beats?
Heart Beats is an anthology of poetry about the various aspects of what makes us tick or makes a heart-beat. This is about love, life, happiness, anything that makes life more joyful or tolerable. Let’s face it. These are tough times and there have been many events in 2020 which have many of us shaking our heads. People who were once friends have gone their separate ways. Some are soul searching, examining life more closely as time has leant more for this. Heart Beats is about working through and maybe even overcoming these challenges. It is about what brings smiles to our faces or, at least, in our hearts. Heart Beats is about life’s ups and downs and in-between, and how different points of view merge into one beautiful collection of poetic works. Inviting poets from the world to take part made this project even more meaningful. We are a world of people, and the poetry community has become more culturally diverse. This is largely because of the pandemic, as people are interacting virtually more than before. All this said, Heart Beats has beautiful works of art, some of which may bring tears of sadness and of joy. Perhaps as you read, you will find that one thing that makes your heart beat.
Motel Merrion was on the outskirts of the next big city in Kentucky and Shandy was pleased with the homey look of the place, from the very moment she pulled up to the point of checking in, she knew she was in the right place and Belle, who sent her there, was right about it being a decent place to rest up; this became even more evident when the sole proprietor, Merry, strode up to the desk; she had a full head of blonde hair, curled and sprayed to the nth degree, penciled eye brows that appeared raised despite the fine line of her actual brows, coral puffs of rouge, and lipstick which reminded her of strawberries; she has a an unfiltered Camel burning in the ashtray, which she paid no care to, while she focused on Shandy.
“You must be Shandy; thank you for calling from Belle’s place, it helped me get your room ready, and I wanted to be sure you had a room close to the front so you could be close to the office, you are in a safe place, but there’s something to be said for taking that extra step, you know what I mean, yeah, of course you do; well you are all set in room 3, my lucky number, and I hope you find it to be yours, too; there’s coffee and donuts in the morning by six and just leave the key in the drop box when you leave.”
“How much do I owe you,” inquired Shandy.
“Shandy, dear, you don’t owe me a thing, I heard you are starting over and, well, I have been down that road, until I found this place to make a home for others, I was lost, and, well, I promised myself that if there ever was a woman who was in my shoes come in the door, I would treat her like she deserves to be treated, and I won’t have any money from you, I have a little cash stash for these reasons, and tonight is your lucky night.”
Speechless, Shandy tried to speak, but her throat closed up as her eyes welled with the fullness of tears, and when she found her voice, she spoke, broken but clear enough, “Merry, you are a jewel, I am going to accept this, well, because I remember that my husband would say to pay attention to the angels, they are in front of us, and, well, you are one of those angels, and, well, I will be sure to pass your kindness on to the next person I come across with a need.”
Merry handed Shandy the key to her room, Shandy reached out and gave her a hug, walked out to find her room and when she opened the door, she was greeted with a bouquet of fresh roses, clearly from the beautiful rose bushes which lined the front of Merry’s motel, and Shandy knew she found the right place to claim for her overnight home.
…..
And that is my installment of the continuing story of Shandy and Clarabelle. This week, the focus has been on Shandy, but Clarabelle will be back. She’s just not met Shandy, at this point.
You can go see what others have written to the prompt this week of FILTERHERE
HOPE – See those pretty flowers? Those are in Texas. I hope they will be soon seeing sunny days and the ice melt away and have safe water and heat as needed. I am glad we always have hope.
YOU! I am jumping straight to it to ask you for your thankfuls for this week, because I can and I wanna hear your great news, we all do in this TTOT hop. And I bet your Aunt Sally does too.
3. Music. I have been doing an exercise each morning. I am on Day 3 of 40 Days, 40 Writes. And I play music when I write, when I am not listening to sounds of silence. Here is one of my favorite channels which updates for the day of the week.
4. My article was published for Okra Magazine. I interviewed Madison Woods. She is amazing! We met because I was researching about making watercolors from nature and found her in my internet search. I wrote her and starting following her blog. And I decided I wanted to get her wonderful work out there, so I got her permission and the rest is history.
5. Exercise. I was able to walk more this week. It’s a slow process, but I may have overdone it on Wednesday because I could manage just 10 minutes yesterday. But, I am happy to report that effort is paying off. And I signed up for weekly Yoga, and had my first chair yoga session last week. It is through You Call This Yoga I have attended their live classes and they are very nice. They help people who are having challenges and a most compassionate group.
6. Daughter says Thank You for all your lovely messages for her birthday. I am thankful she read my blog and saw them.
7. I was able to, thanks to the stimulus, buy a new computer. This morning, I had to update the audio drivers so I could hear on my headphones. I am in heaven! It is a double win as my daughter was the heir of my other computer, which I cleaned up so she could have one without the issues I was having. She is often the heir, which works out with budgets. And she is over the moon because it’s one with a built in CD player.
8. The art work for the book cover came in the mail yesterday. I am over the moon thrilled with the beautiful work of Kay Doiron. There will be a reveal coming soon. Heart Beats is in production.
9. People who are committed to share the value of poetry. I reached out and the responses are wonderful!
10. Reading. I am grateful for so many wonderful things to read and that I am able to read them.
And that’s that. Scroll on up there and join us… You will be glad you did. Or leave your thankfuls in the comments.
This is my Six Sentence Story, a continuation about Clarabelle and Shandy, which has been a running story for a few weeks. I have not decided if this is the end, but I will see what happens as the week goes by. Perhaps the other story members will call out to me and ask me to tell more about them. Thanks to Denise for putting up with my attempt at serializing this story and for being less than concise. Yes, I push those six sentences to the limit, guilty as charged. So, are you thinking you want to join Denise’s Six Sentence Story blog hop? Well, hop to it by going to this LINK
*****
The Strength of Hope and Faith
Shandy continued with her story about he husband, away, serving in Vietnam, “Clair, I was so religious about writing to Marcus and it would be spurts where I didn’t hear from him, before I would be several letters in one day, so it was just the way it was where he was serving, he was on the front lines and I couldn’t really expect instant letters every day,” Shandy paused, starting to tear up, Clarabelle reached over and patted her hand, and poured another cup of tea for Shandy, “and then the letters slowed down, real slow, sometimes for weeks, and I got really worried that there was something wrong, and then I got a letter from him that there was a bad storm and it was more than difficult to get letters out, so he was okay and, well, I was surely relieved, a lot of the letters he had ready to mail, ended up in a mess of mud and they pretty much had to plow through all the muck to get to a clear path, so those were long gone.”
“Oh, my dear girl, that must have been quite the ordeal for you, as I remember how it was for my family, it sure could be hard to get those letters back and forth, I suppose wars have a way about making it hard, too bad there was no easy way to make a phone call.”
“That’s just the thing, Clair, I did get a phone call from Marcus, he sounded so distraught, and said that he had to take some time to sort things out, and in the meantime, he was put on medic assistance duty, so he could clear his head, although, I will tell you that in a war zone, it’s hard to clear your head in a medical camp, so it was hard for him, but he took to the work, and he did so well with it that they kept him there for the duration, so, you see, that worked out; and when he came back home he decided to pursue medicine and went to school for emergency medical technician training, not really wanting to be a doctor, but an emergency worker, since he found out that was where he did his best work,” pausing to catch her breath, Shandy sipped her tea before continuing, “while Marcus studied, I worked as a waitress, because I was good at it and was not ready to consider going to school or start a family, not until he was solid with his job, so I was able to bring in a lot of tips, because that’s where waitresses make their real money, and we managed well, even if it was tight, but we had our love and it all worked out.”
“That’s an adventure you have had with learning to be patient and survive what must have been one of the most difficult times of your life and look how you came through with helping your husband do well and pursue his goals, for the best of both of you.”
“Thank you, Clair, it was nice, like a real-life honeymoon in a way as we just worked well together, like a team, so after he graduated and was working full-time, I was able to think about my own goals, and that was when I got pregnant, not really planned, but not unwanted either, so there I was pregnant and that’s when things changed, and not for the better, mind you, and I finally got it out of him about his experiences in Vietnam and things he saw, and how he was afraid he would not be a good father; of which I assured him that such a kind soul could be nothing less than a great dad; but he started pulling back, became less affectionate and the nightmares he had were more frequent, they were always about something to do with the war, and I was so afraid for him, knowing it must have been painful to see things and not forget, but I was always there for him, no matter what, and we gradually worked on things with a counselor, I mean, he was invested, for sure, and the counselor helped us get past these things, and when we had our little boy, he was the best father to him, always careful with handling him, and affectionate, like all his worries went away,” pausing for a tissue, the wells of pain flooded and Shandy shook, trembling and collapsed in Clair’s arms, eventually, with the comfort of Clair, Shandy was able to go on, “Marcus was the best father to our son, Gerald, and loved him until his last days, as, Marcus had a heart attack while he was working on a run and he did not make it, and it turned out he may have had a heart condition, but at that point, we just knew that he was gone and Gerald and I carried on, as best as we could, Gerald was 19 when his father passed away and he is doing well with college, but when he decided to go away to school, I decided I needed to get away from all the memories and moved to Iowa, so while the war did not ruin us, life had another plan, and I rely on the presence of his spirit to keep Marcus alive, but, to tell you the honest truth, I just could not longer live in a town where we made many happy memories, so just like my dad live after he lost mom, I moved.”
“Sweetheart, life surely does turn things around unexpectedly, but it looks like you are a get on up and get to it kind of person, look at how you have done with your life, you serve others, you are compassionate, you have a strength which is calm, yet mighty, and I certainly do understand the desire to move to new memories, as I had to do similar when I lost Herbie, I could no longer live in the house we made into a home, so I made a move to an apartment, and now, my dear Shandy, I have a beautiful, inside and out, friend, and we are not that much different, just in age, but not much different in clarity, we will plow through life and find that at the end of the road, is a heap of heap of muck, but that muck is what we have to go through to find the treasures.”
7. Technical problem solving is becoming a skill. At least, for me, but I am not putting out a shingle, nope, no way… it’s just a way for me to get back to what I love to do.
9. Do you ever put on your headphones and not have any music? I call it my Sounds of Silence. It helped me to stay focus. Thankful for headphones which really do cancel out noise. And if you want to listen to beautiful music, I suggest checking this out:
10. You! What are you feeling warm and fuzzy about? Let’s hear it.
Mirrored Images
From Amazon: "Two sisters and authors are back with their follow-up sequel Mirrored Images. This is where their story in Different Sides of the Same Coin left off. In this poetic adaptation Chyrel J. Jackson and Lyris D. Wallace attempt to navigate the pouring rains of life conditions as they tell their tale in poetic contemporary modern verse reflecting on present day social and political events facing the Black community. In this heartrending collection of poems, the sisters further deal with life as it unfolds as they try to arrive to a collective center of peace and understanding. Mirrored Images is a written meditation about people’s sometimes darker actions and motives. We journey with these ladies as they honestly tackle racism, frayed familial dynamics and embracing a sister bond that has proven to be impenetrable. This time around Blues is the preferred backdrop of their gripping tale. Prepare to be wowed beyond expectation as these writings and poems deliver more of everything you loved in book one while remaining authentically true to their soulful and riveting narrative as Black women. Where their first collection of Black Expression revisited Harlem Renaissance and cashed with 2018-2019 social unrest. In Mirrored Images they rip the bandages off human life experience and force you to see what most are happier pretending just does not exist at all. Spoken word is back and these literary writers take social conflict and unrest to brand-new unchartered heights."
Chyrel J. Jackson and Lyris D. Wallace are avid lovers, readers and writers of African American Literature. They grew up in a Southern Suburb of Chicago, IL. Country Club Hills. As young girls they read Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and Judy Blume novels. College was the real scholastic awakening introducing these two Literary Enthusiasts to the Literary works of their great ancestors: James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, Nikki Giovanni and Sonia Sanchez. These writers influenced Chyrel and Lyris. It only makes sense that they would now be writing in the Spirit of these ancestors. Giving a voice to social issues that plague our modern time.
They have written for much of their adult lives. Political Opinion Editorials, Book Reviews, Romance Novels, Television Show Treatments, Journaling, and Poetry are what these sisters enjoy writing best. When asked why they write? Their answer, they write for visibility. They want to be a voice for all those who feel they have something of value to say but aren’t capable of putting it in their own words.
Words surpass life, love and loss. Writers are born when life intersects with time and chance. You will always find them doing what they love reading, and writing. Writing, and telling stories is how they fulfill their divine purpose. You can’t ignore what is so visible and undeniable. Writing saved us at our lowest points in living. We hope to provide healing through our writing. We want to uplift others through their pain as writing has uplifted us and provided great healing in time of profound despair and hurt. Throughout the passage of time words remain.
Sistersrocnrhyme.com
—
This episode is sponsored by
· Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
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Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lisa-tomey/message
not called by their name, but names they called them.
Working on the railroad was hard for blacks
they risked their lives jumping from car to car
the color of their skin ruled what they did
taking risks not really a choice, you see.
Laws kept the black man from more skilled jobs
even though they had exceptional skills.
Laying track though rough lands and tunnels too—
shovels, picks, axes, explosives were used.
Bring along the wheelbarrows, ropes, and mules
driving heavy spikes precisely trued up.
Precision was important for setting rails
no doubt any slight difference caused death.
Derailment came if not measured right
and the black man made sure others were safe.
Black prisoners had the riskiest jobs
often left to die when falling from cliffs.
Nothing to be said for their souls right then;
they considered them less than valued life,
and the way they became such laborers
did not match the crime or even confirmed.
A Pullman job was prestigious, true
but they treated them just like equipment.
Life back then, the way they treated black men,
inspired the movements of civil rights.
Sleeping Car Porters had a brotherhood
inspired by treatment of these nameless souls.
It would be many years before a change
many souls would march for their civil rights—
Randolph, King, Malcolm X to name just some
to step forth for souls until kingdom comes.
…..
This poem was inspired from research I have done after learning of the black prisoners who lost their lives working for the railroads and the suspicious ways they came into being imprisoned. And for the treatment of railroad workers who went straight from slavery to continued enslavement, yet believing in a dream.
Good Morning to the first 2021 February TTOT! Let’s get at it!
Fantastic Friday with rain and promises of sunshine on Saturday. That’s the day we go on an outing of sorts, usually short and sweet, but out for a bit.
Feasting made possible by baking pecan encrusted trout which we bought at the fresh fish market. Prices were low and this made enough for two meals.
Fixing things which are challenges, I did that this morning thanks to Google. Fingers crossed that it took.
Finding out some bad news, but finding a way to fix the situation so it will no longer be a future problem.
Finishing projects and finding more options to enhance what I do.
Finding coffee in my cupboard every day, is no small thing for me.
Finding a pilates video suggested by a friend and doing it this morning, skipping the knees. It’s a seven day challenge and just take a little time each day.
Finding a message on my phone this morning from a friend who was checking on me and she is going to be my accountability person in the morning to help me get moving. I did not ask for it, but God knew my heart’s desire.
Finishing touches are being made on the book cover and I cannot wait to see it.
Finding out that there are people like you who like to share in thankfuls and, guess what, you can participate right here or share in comments.
Mirrored Images
From Amazon: "Two sisters and authors are back with their follow-up sequel Mirrored Images. This is where their story in Different Sides of the Same Coin left off. In this poetic adaptation Chyrel J. Jackson and Lyris D. Wallace attempt to navigate the pouring rains of life conditions as they tell their tale in poetic contemporary modern verse reflecting on present day social and political events facing the Black community. In this heartrending collection of poems, the sisters further deal with life as it unfolds as they try to arrive to a collective center of peace and understanding. Mirrored Images is a written meditation about people’s sometimes darker actions and motives. We journey with these ladies as they honestly tackle racism, frayed familial dynamics and embracing a sister bond that has proven to be impenetrable. This time around Blues is the preferred backdrop of their gripping tale. Prepare to be wowed beyond expectation as these writings and poems deliver more of everything you loved in book one while remaining authentically true to their soulful and riveting narrative as Black women. Where their first collection of Black Expression revisited Harlem Renaissance and cashed with 2018-2019 social unrest. In Mirrored Images they rip the bandages off human life experience and force you to see what most are happier pretending just does not exist at all. Spoken word is back and these literary writers take social conflict and unrest to brand-new unchartered heights."
Chyrel J. Jackson and Lyris D. Wallace are avid lovers, readers and writers of African American Literature. They grew up in a Southern Suburb of Chicago, IL. Country Club Hills. As young girls they read Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys, and Judy Blume novels. College was the real scholastic awakening introducing these two Literary Enthusiasts to the Literary works of their great ancestors: James Baldwin, Toni Morrison, Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, Nikki Giovanni and Sonia Sanchez. These writers influenced Chyrel and Lyris. It only makes sense that they would now be writing in the Spirit of these ancestors. Giving a voice to social issues that plague our modern time.
They have written for much of their adult lives. Political Opinion Editorials, Book Reviews, Romance Novels, Television Show Treatments, Journaling, and Poetry are what these sisters enjoy writing best. When asked why they write? Their answer, they write for visibility. They want to be a voice for all those who feel they have something of value to say but aren’t capable of putting it in their own words.
Words surpass life, love and loss. Writers are born when life intersects with time and chance. You will always find them doing what they love reading, and writing. Writing, and telling stories is how they fulfill their divine purpose. You can’t ignore what is so visible and undeniable. Writing saved us at our lowest points in living. We hope to provide healing through our writing. We want to uplift others through their pain as writing has uplifted us and provided great healing in time of profound despair and hurt. Throughout the passage of time words remain.
Sistersrocnrhyme.com
—
This episode is sponsored by
· Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app
—
Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/lisa-tomey/message
Herbie pulled up in the old grey Dodge, “Bird” as named by his best friend, George; Turning the handle on the garage, he pulled up the door and went inside, scuffing into his workshop, and placed his worn tool bag on the bench, all the while thinking about what might be going on with him, coughing so much and feeling such a hard time with breathing; lighting up another one of his unfiltered he took a draw and slowly blow a stream of smoke before another hack came on, “these damn things are getting the best of me, maybe I oughta give them up,” he snuffed the butt since there was some more left for later and closing the garage door, he went inside the house.
Scents of cinnamon and apples greeted Herbie before he could enter the house and he smiled, knowing his dear wife, Clarabelle, had made his favorite dessert of apple pie; opening the door, he saw her standing at the stove, unaware he entered; easing up behind her, but being ever so careful she was not in danger of getting burned he reached around her waist and gave her a squeeze and a peck on her warm, red cheek, to which she giggled and said, “hi, honey, how was your day?”
“It was pretty good, we got old man Fletcher’s barn door fixed and I don’t think he’ll have any escaped cows anymore, ‘course that’ll mean no more cream for us when we rescue another stray, but that’s okay.”
“Well, we will be okay without so much free cream; my hips are getting too wide as it is.”
“Clair, my love, you know I love your hips and everything they’re attached to, so don’t you go talking that silliness, as long as we stay healthy, we have no worries,” patting her hips, letting out another hack, Herbie excused himself and went to the bathroom to wash up for supper; it looked like chicken and dumplings, and that was a good enough reason to scrub extra hard.
Tending to the chicken and dumplings, Clarabelle thought to herself, I hope he will be open to going to the doctor for that cough, there is not enough whiskey honey to solve that problem, and she felt her eyes water and felt she was being watched, just then she turned around and there he was, on the floor, passed out from lack of breath; she quickly called an ambulance and stayed by his side, and when they arrived, they could get him to breathing, but took him in to the hospital, assuring Clarabelle, that they would do all they could to help him and she grabbed her purse and took off right behind them, with prayers that her faith, unfiltered, would carry him through, and she believed it did.
And there you have it! This is my Six Sentence Story for this week! Would you like to join us? Go to this LINK and check it out!
They admitted Clarabelle to the hospital and Shandy waited for her results at the River Walk, since the pandemic would make it difficult to sit in the waiting room and maintain social distancing; they gave her a pager, and she left her number just in case it did not reach; knowing it could be a short time or long time, depending on the freeze test of the lump, if benign it would be a sew up and send home, but if malignant, a mastectomy would be the result; praying for the time to be short, Shandy watch the wildlife doing their morning dance for breakfast, offering some of her own treats from the feed box provided by the wildlife management.
Clarabelle had to have another mammogram to pinpoint the location of the lump; and perspiring from the lack of food, she struggled through it, praying for relief from the pressure of the mammogram machine, realizing that this was just part of the whole routine, she did her best to get through it, thinking of her late husband and imagining his comforting hands holding hers and she found mental peace.
As they wheeled Clarabelle to the surgical unit, she sighed and hoped for the best, wondering if she would go home that day and thinking about how good breakfast would taste, just thinking of anything but what would happen next, until the surgeon came in and talked to her; explaining the procedure, she told Clarabelle that she would keep her on the IV and she should not feel any pain, they would isolate the area so that would be where she was numb, they would then remove the lump and take it for a freeze test to see if it was benign depending on the results, they would either sew her up or they would anesthetize her and do a mastectomy; assuring her she would keep Shandy informed, Clarabelle tried to relax and wait while the procedure began and she did not feel a thing while they did their procedure.
“Hello, Shandy, your mother did just fine and will be in recovery just a short while, and you can take her home, all went well, the good news is that the lump was benign and the worse thing is that she will have to continue with annual mammograms, so it was a good day for her and for you.” Shandy breathed a sigh of relief and then she realized they referred her to be Clarabelle’s daughter; Smiling, she decided it was not such a hard title to accept.
When it was time to take Clarabelle home, Shandy called a taxi and smiling, she told Clarabelle about being called her daughter, to which Clarabelle smiled and responded, “Yes, I knew they wouldn’t have any issue if we were related, so I told them that, and, well, you are like the beautiful daughter I never had, and I am grateful to know you,” to which Shandy took Clarabelle’s hand and just like that Clarabelle knew her beloved Herbie was still around, looking after her, always ready in a zip.
There you have it! This is my response to the prompt word ZIP from Denise’s Six Sentence Story Blog Hop. You can go HERE to join in and read the other stories.
