Announcements, books, poetry, Poets & Events, writing

If These Walls Could Talk

If These Walls Could Talk

If these walls could talk
they’d tell mom’s stories
of her younger years
and the adventures of
family and friends
throughout our lives

They’d tell of wonders
how that first date would go
while sister curled my hair
and put makeup on
my 12 year old face
while I perspired in her dress

They’d offer witness of each brother
who came home on military leave
to celebrate accomplishments
and share family life
and visits to old buddies

They’d tell of phone calls
from far away, from old friends
who never forgot relationships
were more important than things

These walls would tell of tears
laughter, hugs, kisses goodnight
and all the life held in between
these floral papers, these quiet walls
if only, they could talk

Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld (c)

Memories of happy times in our lives are such blessings. I wish there had been a record of all the stories my mother alone would tell. As I am working on recording these, to the best of my memory, tears come and my heart warms. Later in his life, I recorded stories of daddy and his telling of his World War II service. I treasure that tape and the document created.

As I was working on Caring for Souls, what helped me is to look at old photographs of growing up. This has brought up so many memories that I am continuing to work in this process for another book.

Sometimes, we end up being the one who has been involved with caring for others or having others care for us. Mom did not care for having to be cared for, but it happened just the same. It was the love that was shared between and outside the walls that built these kind of relationships.

Are you caring for someone now? Please share in the comments. I want to hear about it, if you are comfortable.

May all your walls be covered with memories via photos, art, and more.



call for submissions, poetry, writing

Call for Submissions

Prolific Pulse Press LLC is conducting a call for submissions. Details are as follows:

Prolific Pulse Press LLC needs 3 essays and 3 poems about what it is like to be a caregiver of a family member or close friend who has become ill.

We also needs 3 essays and 3 poems about what it is like to be given care by a family member or close friend.

All entries must be speaking from their own firsthand experiences.

Essays should be no longer than 5000 words. Poems should not be longer than 600 words.

Previously published essays and/or poems will be accepted for consideration with the exception of already being published in anthologies or other books.

The 12 winning essays and poems will receive an award of $20 each.

All entries must be in 12 point Times New Roman or Book Antiqua font.

Send entries as attachments to your email.

Deadline: March 31, 2022

A 50 word Bio will be needed with the entries, not after the fact.

What will happen to these?

These are to go into a book by Lisa Tomey and it will be published in August 2022

Releases will be requested for the essay and poem writers to enable publication.

No royalties will be paid, but your names and bios will be included in the book.

There will be an optional open mic for this book event for which any winning entries will be invited to attend and read.

Send entries to prolificpulse@gmail.com

Put Caregiver in the subject line

Questions? email prolificpulse@gmail.com

poetry, Short Fiction, short story

Refuse to Believe Anything But the Truth

balance beach boulder close up
Photo by Danne on Pexels.com

Relief was not for Beth, watching out the window, seeing nobody to help her.
Everybody had other things to do and, while she understood, her heart would ache.
Family and friends alike wished her well as she cared for her mother without staff.
Undermining comments were a source of disdain, coming from the critical milieu.
Simply ignoring this was not easy, but Beth refused such and stayed in focus.
Everybody came for show at the end of it all, Beth left with her own peace.

…..

I went with a double acrostic this time.

It’s that time again for Six Sentence Story. Thanks to Denise for her devotion to this and for encouraging us to challenge our brains.

Rules of the hop:
Write 6 Sentences. No more. No less.
Use the current week’s prompt word.
Come back here Thursday through Tuesday, link your post…
Spread the word and put in a good one to your fellow writers 🙂

PROMPT WORD: REFUSE

Go to this LINK to check in!