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Announcements, books, poetry, Poets & Events, writing

If These Walls Could Talk

November 6, 2022 Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld

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.

Announcements, art, call for submissions, Personal Essay, poetry, writing

Dear Heart – Call for Submissions

July 11, 2022 Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld

Years ago, before computers, we wrote letters. My mother’s letters were like little novellas. They sometimes were several pages long. She wrote her family members and friends and they loved to get her “books.” How I wish I had saved my letters from mom. As a witness to her letter writing, I would watch as her pen moved passionately across the pages, sometimes witnessing her eyes well up. Letters were her release. They were her way of expressing herself in ways she could not voice. Sometimes she would write letters to people out of anger and then tear them up. To my knowledge, she never sent one of those angry letters. It could have been politicians, relatives, and those are the ones I knew about. She would express her heart’s desire, open up her soul, and pour out her thoughts.

As a letter writer, I did not have the beautiful penmanship of my mother, but I learned that the pen was my power. I also wrote letters and tore them up. I even wrote one about the need for a doctor in our little town and it was published in the newspaper. I wrote letters to family, friends, old friends found from a long time lost, family who I wanted to see but knew my letters would reach them long before I ever would.

Now, I am a writer and a poet. I write as if my words are letters to the world, at times. Other times, I write to express my desires of the heart. And other times I write to write.

I firmly believe that when we do express our desires within our heart that this has a way of stirring up thoughts and even action plans to make things happen. Sometimes those things that happen are acceptances of things that can’t be changed, but sometimes they are steps to taking up the courage to make something happen in our lives.

What is the desire in your heart? This is my challenge to you. I would like to read about the desires in your heart in the “Dear Heart” anthology of letters, poetry, art, photography, and whatever ways helps you express your passion.

There’s a caveat to this. These are all to be sent to me via good old fashioned snail mail. I will sort through these and select which submissions to publish.

Please drop me an email to prolificpulse@gmail.com for the specific call for submissions.

Announcements, call for submissions

The Talk – Not the TV Show – the Real Talk About Living Cautiously

March 4, 2022March 4, 2022 Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld

I was reading this article on NPR It’s about the talk that black mothers have with their sons. It came to me while I was working on an announcement – or a fresh announcement about The Talk – which is the name for the anthology of poetry and essays by mothers of color & possibly fathers, too.

As a white woman, I have had talks with my now adult child, but nothing compared to what people of color have to have, MUST have with their children. None of us wants to have our children’s names or adult children’s names associated with a hashtag. What do you think the chances are for this to happen with a person of color vs a white person?

Even with The Talk, there’s still a chance that something could happen, but we are not, as parents, going to let our children into society without caution. The Talk and many other measures has to happen.

What is the talk as a white parent? What is the talk as a parent of color? Just think about that and let it sit for a few moments.

Photo by August de Richelieu on Pexels.com

This picture depicts the happiness I want to see for people of color. And I want to hear about The Talk that is had. It keeps those of us who don’t have this experience, mindful. And it keeps us heart-full. How I wish that in this world, we did not have the adversity, the hatred, the assumptions… And I don’t want to hear about how that’s just the way it is. That is not good enough, nor acceptable to me and I hope it is not acceptable to others, but I know. I don’t have blinders on, but I also don’t have dark skin which causes people to scowl, distrust, look the other way, accuse me, to make my name a hashtag.

Are you a person of color? Would you feel comfortable sharing the talk you have had to have with your children? There’s a Call for Submissions for your story, your essays, your poetry… Would you consider sharing Your Talk with others?

Here is the link if your answer is “yes” or if you want more information:

The Talk Call for Submissions.

Announcements, Book Announcements, non-fiction, poetry, Poets & Events

She Did It! Have a look & listen to the video – this was so much fun!

February 25, 2022March 4, 2022 Lisa Tomey-Zonneveld

It is with great pleasure that we announce the release of Two Time-International Best-Selling Author Zaneta Varnado Johns latest book of poetry “After the Rainbow: Golden Poems.” A celebration was held on Sunday, February 27 at 4 p.m. EST