Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Concepts of Time



Today my fingers fumbled over cupcake liners
Just yesterday it was diapers.
Today I turned in your kindergarten registration
Just yesterday you were discharged from the hospital.
Today I combed your hair
Just yesterday I stroked your bare head.
Today I said, "one more day bugga boo!"
Just yesterday I said, "hello my sweet."
Tomorrow you will turn five,
and someday it will seem like just yesterday.

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Waiting and Anticipating


One on either side sconced in lights.
One behind openly revealing a different reality.
The opposite reflecting the light of those dreams, fears, anticipated horrors.
Those walls see it . The resulting tears, gasps, gaffaws, nauseum.
Our vulnerability seeping as the screened wall tells the story.
The adjacent absorbing the splattering and scattering from our surprise.
Seeing the disappointment, disgust and delight.
Movies.
They bring this out in all of us.


I wrote this while waiting to see The Hunger Games this weekend. We got to the theater about forty minutes early so I had some time to kill. The theater slowly filled. There were gasps, tears, relief, it was good. Almost as good as my imagination had made it when I read the story.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Wordless


So, I am just beginning to type. I have things in here, ideas, poems, stories, lists. It is endless. Like talking, I always have a conversation, I am never short on words. I have so many words, it can be frustrating at times. I don't stop, listen, take in other people's words, I miss out...words are my weakness as much as they are my strength.

This is where I go when I just begin to type...
reflect
revise
refine
refuse
revive
relive

This is what I think when I just begin to type...

Ideals
Ideas
Identify
Identity

This is what I wonder when I just begin to type...
Define
Design
Decide
Divine
Deny

This is what I hear when I just begin to type...
Ways
Delays
Okays

words are my nemesis...outright...they are my life...they are...me...defined...

Friday, March 23, 2012

Child's Play Haiku

A Slice of Life Post Hosted by Two Writing Teachers


and 

Poetry Friday Hosted by A Year of Reading


A child's play haiku for today! :)

Thursday, March 22, 2012

My Evening in Pictures

I took my camera outside tonight to take a moment and notice everything around me. There was quite a lot to take in; this deer was my first subject. It held my gaze, never moving as I moved in closer snapping photo after photo. Then I began to notice the other peaceful subjects in my backyard.
 A deer resting peacefully just outside our woods.

 A sun setting to the right.

 An apple tree bud opening to the left.
 
Blue spring flowers at my feet.

A blooming quince bush saying goodnight.

Friday, March 16, 2012

A Poem Inspired by The Thin Prison, Leslie Norris

Poetry Friday is hosted today by Greg at Gotta Book.



Slice of Life Story Challenge hosted by
Stacey and Ruth Two Writing Teachers
About three years ago I read the book, Dancing With the Pen: The Learner As a Writerby New Zealand Staff Ministry Of Education. It was a book I picked up and read a little here and a little there. It is a great book to read if you are beginning to question your own process as a writer or a teacher of writing. It helped pull things into focus for me at a time when I was ready to reflect on these aspects of my teaching. However, the part that remains fresh for me, even after three years, is the poem that opens chapter three of the book, The Thin Prison, by Leslie Norris. It is the poem that lead me to write Steps and helped me realize if I am going to understand writers, I have to be one. I think each day I get closer to convincing myself that I am a writer too; still on my journey like everyone else.




STEPS
Steps are what I take
every time I pick up my pen.
Words take me somewhere. A medium
to expression, an art that too many never try.
 

We all have words,
an audience, a pen, yet,
words do not escape among the
doodles, smudges and ink stained fingers.

Let your words out.  


Inspired by
The Thin Prison,
by Leslie Norris       
The Thin Prison
 Hold the pen close to your ear.
Listen—can you hear them?
Words burning as a flame,
Words glittering like a tear,

Locked, all locked in the slim pen.
They are crying out for freedom.
And you can release them,
Set them running from prison.

Himalayas, balloons, Captain Cook,
Kites, red bricks, London Town,
Sequins, cricket bats, large brown
Boots, lions and lemonade—look,

I’ve just let them out!
Pick up your pen, and start,
Think of the things you know—then
Let the words dance from your pen.

Leslie Norris

Friday, March 9, 2012

The Chapters in Life Shape Our Story

Slice of Life Story Challenge Hosted by   Two Writing Teachers!
 Poetry Friday roundup hosted by Gathering Books!



The Chapter Beyond Pain

I have known pain 
and
I will know it again.

A crime against pain I would commit
With no shame.
It distracts me, attacks me.
In its scope it will track me.

Pain is blinding and binding
Debilitating without discriminating.
Pain can prickle or trickle
Throw me down without thought.

When faced in its arena
It counts me as weak
It stands confident before me
Intimidating, me bleak.

But I choose what I see
In those moments of pain. 
Though distant, I see it,
My weapon to slay.

I reach out for it
Grabbing that place beyond pain
My defense from the wounds
From worries and shame.

I have known pain 
and 
I will know it again.