poetry

Always be Prepared

alone animal bird clouds
Photo by Gabriela Palai on Pexels.com

Always be Prepared

The weather person
predicts the weather
putting on my raincoat
or heavy coat
toting an umbrella
just in case

Always be prepared

Predictions may be based on science
but life has it’s own little quirks
where other matters
or not
of life
take over control
because we let them
or not

Don’t trust predictions
be prepared

My sister predicted
my heart would be broken
based on science
and maybe some sorted arts

Putting my life back together
I discovered
what works well

Don’t trust predictions
Always be prepared

…..
This is day #15 of National Poetry Month! I wrote to a prompt from
Robert Lee Brewer’s Poetic Asides
“For today’s prompt, write a prediction poem. Make a prediction. Write about another person’s correct or incorrect prediction. Or, you know, be unpredictable.”

poetry

New York

buildings surrounded by trees
Photo by Reynaldo #brigworkz Brigantty on Pexels.com

New York

A college student
Midwestern planted
landed in New York
eyes wide opened

Granted a chance
to practicum in the city
of cities
you might say

It was post my mother’s passing
I needed the time
to sort my emotions
and stay focused on studies

Massive empire of buildings
standing tall
sweating from the heat
mixed with pollution

Trekking to the subway
early morning trot
acrid scents of night
lingering in the bowels

Subway to bus
dropping by Little Neck
for my stint
with the agency

Helping little babies
ones who were marked
sadly, but truly
determined to survive

Lives of sweet innocence
have to make it
for sure
and find loving homes

Once back to my temporary abode
clearing my olfactory portals
supping on meager findings
counting myself fortunate

Life has a funny way
of taking you to places
you never thought you
would go

One Saturday
I went to the World Trade Center
all was well
back then

Looking back
how fortunate I was
to have that experience
over seeing Lady Liberty

Many a time
I would go to the Metropolitan
enjoying the vastness
of artists who’ve long gone

Crying tears at Monet
astounded at the colors
the shapes
the sizes

And to ride to the mountains
say I have been to Woodstock
gather with folk musicians
and the scent of the flowers in my room

Life takes us on journeys
never forgotten
this one took me
into a life I own

…..
There you have it! Day 14 of National Poetry Month 🙂
My prompt comes from Robert Lee Brewer’s Poetic Asides “For today’s prompt, pick a state (or province, territory, etc.), make it the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. A few possibilities include New York, California, Ontario, Bavaria, and Champagne. It goes without saying, but I’ll say it anyway: Feel free to bend this in any direction you wish.”

 

Uncategorized

Ten Things of Thankful – April 12

baby children cute dress
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

It’s time to reflect on the TTOT gratitudes of the week. I have several gratitudes and will do my best to share.

1. April 15 is 2 days away!!

2. It’s raining. I live in North Carolina, which seems to be the pollen capital of the world. I am grateful for the rain to wash the pollen off the car and clean up the area. Realistically, it’s just going to be more to come, but allow me this bit of joy.

3. Trying new things. I was invited to a virtual art workshop this week and was able to get in three days of the five. In those days I created some artsy pieces. We just took 30 minutes, starting with breath work and then focusing on our individual intentions for the day. It was in the morning, so I was able to start off my day on the right foot. Here’s the link to the website of the leader. I find her emails to be very nice. My intention is to make this a daily practice.

4. National Poetry Month. I have been successful with getting my one poem per day accomplished. Here’s my most recent one: Views of Nature

5. Six Sentence Story has been a fun trial and I am grateful that I am able to keep up with this one on a weekly basis. Here’s the last one I posted. No Contest
6. I lost 2# this week. This is really working!

7. Yesterday, I interviewed a fellow poet. It has been years since I have done anything like that. It went very well as we had a relaxed, conversational tone. Once the video is ready, I will share.

8. Friendships. I have many people I call my friends. Many are nowhere near my location, but I have kept up with them, sometimes for as long as Junior High. How I wish that I could reach out more than I do when I know a friend is in need. There’s something about presence that helps. It’s not always possible, so I reach out as I can and sometimes send a card or gift to let them know they are cared about. I’m often left with feeling like I don’t do enough. This didn’t mean to come across as sad. I am mainly stating that I am grateful for friendships and friends who become family.

9. Birthdays. One of my brothers turned 71 this past week. How is that for one big happy?!!

10. Writing community. It seems that my writing community is growing. I am most grateful as I find that having others sharing in this makes my days much nicer.

What’s happening with your week? Please come share on TTOT!

 

 

poetry

Views of Nature

cardinal
Views of Nature
Art Work by Kayla

As I look from my desk
on any given day
I can see birds doing birdlike business
gathering, hunting, nesting
winging their way
about the yard
Blue Jays tend to run the show
I do have a Cardinal
I see it every day
it’s hanging on my window pane
as a reminder
those who have passed
are never really gone
we have nature to remind us
that with the cycle of life
there comes life anew
and never forgotten
is what came before
and left
—–
That’s my National Poetry Month poem of the day. The prompt came from Robert Lee Brewer’s Poetic Asides Blog. Here it is: “For today’s prompt, write a view poem. Wherever you’re at, you have a view: maybe of a river or sunset. Maybe of a cubicle or a copy machine. Even the blind have a view of darkness, nothingness, or some other -ness. And that’s just being literal, because everyone has views on sports, politics, poetry, etc.”

poetry

The Art of Painting a Picture

staying on task 041219
Art Work by Lisa Tomey

The Art of Painting a Picture

First: you find a place
clearing of the dining table
placing a protective cloth
feeding the dog

Second: get your supplies
sorting through the art closet
moving the ironing board
piling up the non-art stuff

Third: you put all supplies on the table
sitting down, you realize you did not make tea
making tea you look at the art table
watching the cat drinking from your water bowl

Fourth: you sit down with your tea and proceed to paint
focusing on your subject matter, you start
before your brush finds the canvas
you are blowing off cat hairs

Fifth: sitting back in your artist’s chair
resolving to put your brush to the canvas
you hear that familiar sound
tapping at the door, the dog wants out

Sixth: do not, under any circumstances
give up
dip, move, dip, move,
soon it will be done


Today’s National Poetry Day Prompt comes from Robert Lee Brewer’s Poetic Asides Blog: “For today’s prompt, take the phrase “The Art of (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles include: “The Art of Writing,” “The Art of Painting,” “The Art of Showing Up to Parties Fashionably Late,” and/or “The Art of Being Awesome.”