Butt wait…

 

Seduce me

In salt and pepper slag

Lipsticked and kissed

You are my swag

So sleek in cylinder fashion

Each one of you

My moment of passion

Ending just before

Your tones of terra cotta

 

Filter me

Just ever so slightly as I

In…..hale……slow…….ly

Incandescent in fire engine red

Kindled by each blazing breath

     Awwww

Silver flakes fall like snow

And I know

I loved you

Once

 

As a former smoker, I cannot tolerate the sight or smell of cigarettes.

Can you find beauty in the ugliness?

That is our challenge today at dVerse. You are welcome to join in at 3 p.m. EST

Image credit: pixabay.com

 

 

 

Chimera

 

 

From a window seat view

I watch clouds casting shadows

In puzzle-like fashion

Beauty mimicked from skies, majestic

To desolate, desert floors

In solitude they roam

Longing for home

I cushion them gently between

My thumb and pointer finger

Dreaming each piece into place

 

 

Its Quadrille Monday at dVerse Poets Pub and I am your host.

You are welcome to join in! Doors open at 3 p.m. EST.

Photo taken in flight over Nevada.

 

Self Combustion

 

 

I’ve dabbled in darkness

the match, centimeters

from singeing

my fingers, my soul

A symphony of sirens

felt like a lullaby

why?

you’d have to look deeper

I’d have to share more

than embers greyed, tired

I’d have to breathe life

into the fire

 

 

Written for d’verse Poets Pub. De is our host for this week’s Quadrille prompt. A quadrille is a poem of exactly 44 words, not including the title. De has chosen the word ” fire” which must be incorporated into the poem.

Image credit: pixabay.com

 

 

 

 

Expectations

 

Words echo through

Ear piercing silence as

Secrets hide under

Blankets of truth

Moments ignite, rise

Only to fall like wasted air

Dancing on deaf ears

Jabbing at hearts

For various reasons

Known and unknown

But we fill our stomachs

And cordially consume

All that is placed in front of us

Still craving for all that is not

Storage

Image: Stardust – Nick Gentry

 

Time had more space

When one measly megabyte

Was enough

For the techno trivial pursuit

We still had dreams

Sketched in graphite

We searched without engines

For insects and answers

In hideaway places

And sparkly eyed faces

Photos pinned to the corkboard

Notes passed in the schoolyard

And in retrospect

I would not delete a thing

 

 

Starting off the New Year at dVerse, Grace shared with us the unique artwork of Nick Gentry as a poetic prompt.

http://www.nickgentry.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Three Guitars

 

The great escape

From the black and white keys

Was my Fender

Shiny and smooth

Never been used

Fingers on frets

Calloused and tender

Took flight to the strings

Imprinting my skin

Tuning from ear

Playing by heart

Ascending my dreams

To my Takamine

Crystal clear

In sound and conviction

Lyrics of soul

Leaving lips

Not kissed

Love not lost

Hope only tossed

To dogma days

And sultry ways

Of my Ovation

Acoustic nirvana

Standing up tall

And I had the gall

To write, to sing

Create the flow

Of beat and sweet

Surrendering all

That I am

~

 

 

 Anthony gave us the opportunity to share our love of music today at dVerse.

My guitars of past and present are pieces of my life.

I would be lost without music.

Empty Nesting

 

Curried carrot soup in the crock pot

Peach berry crisp bubbling in the oven

This is my morning

Its sixty four degrees and perfect weather

To watch the geese come in

For a spectacular landing over the pond

But that is not where my heart is

I am blind as autumn guides me through

The rituals of raking and baking

Buying squash at the market

Pinching off the mums that are wilting

Because I don’t have enough sun in my yard

I don’t have enough sun in my life

It is all a facade when there are no

Mouths to feed and no laughter kicking

Up the leaves

That was my yesterday

Little jean jackets, mischievous smiles

I brace myself for the cold

That never fails to surprise me

Half way through October

Even though it’s never left

Since you did

 

 

~

It’s Open Link Night at dVerse , an opportunity to share anything, but when Marina Sofia mentioned Fall, this one evolved quickly.

Haiku

Trees paint on water

Brush strokes under sunlit skies

Nature’s self portraits

Where Earth Meets Sky

Image credit: Joel Robison

 

I sit here writing

About the possibilities

The sun setting on the horizon

As if it is so far away

Thinking I have to reach

Dreaming about dreams

When all I have to do

Is believe

That rainbows exist

The earth meets the sky

Thoughts merge with reality

And change is not work

Change is just catching up

To the truth

 

 

To see more of Joel Robison’s  extraordinary photography, visit  http://joelrobison.com/index.php/category/blog/

 

For dVerse

 

Antheia

Image: Wikipedia

 

 

She hated looking for a needle in a haystack
Mysteries made mush of her brain
Clarity was key, it was always key
To winning and wounding her heart

She could rock to the blues man playing the sax
Jazz made her cringe
Rhythms and notes, aimless and tangled
Randomly written in code

Goddess of the marsh, she was drawn to the river bank
Where the black swan never failed to amaze
Reminding her of lullabies and nursery rhymes
Swaying in her head like a metronome

She longed for the days of simple and sweet
Of tic tac toe and Superman capes
Begging to stay outside in the snow
Sun bleached hair, summer dreams

And she hated looking for a needle in a haystack
Mysteries made mush of her brain
Clarity was key, it was always key
To winning and wounding her heart

 

 

Claudia at dVerse Poet’s Pub gave us a grab bag full of characters and the freedom to “go a bit fairy tale or fantasy”. My eclectic mix included the following:  needle in a haystack, blues man playing the saxophone, black swan , metronome, Superman, a Greek goddess.

50 Things I’ve Learned in 50 Years…#23

“If you constantly blame others, you will never see your own mistakes.”

Pretty self explanatory. You’re not perfect. You never will be perfect. You can be 99.9 percent right, but never 100 percent. If you are, then you may have landed here from some unknown planet because this planet, my friends, is full of humans. Humans falter on a regular basis.

Breathe…falter….breathe…falter.

Catch those breaths in between.

Look in the mirror. Reflect on your actions.

It might not be pretty, but you will discover something amazing…an enlightenment, so to speak…a realization of your own flaws and blunders.

This can change your life.

 In every interaction or relationship, we have strengths and weaknesses that come into play. Even if we are “right”, we can present it the wrong way. Presentations are like a land mine of misunderstandings waiting to happen…and in our quest to be heard and understood, we make mistakes. And that isn’t all of it. Sometimes, we really are wrong. We forget or refuse to take the time to look into that crystal clear stream of reality and see our own imperfections.

Enough said.

From the Shadows

I had no wings

Until I soared high

Over the desert

Faith under feathers

Suspended above

Corroding platforms

Of jagged words

Spellbound by what was

And what could be

             ~

I had no voice

Until the silence screamed

Above the sound

Of my own heartbeat

Exploding

Into a million

Tiny fragments

Of fear, recycled

               ~

I had no hope

Until it was buried

In early graves

Defective dreams

Petrified particles

Of all that I knew

For in this soil, this pain

Sifted and sorted,

I grew

 

In dVerse Poet’s Pub, MarinaSofia inspired us to answer questions of our own identity.

1) Who are you and whom do you love?

2) What else are you, that no one has seen before?

3) Describe a morning you woke without fear.

4) What lingers when all is said and done?

 I responded to #3

A Good Mother

I built a wall around you

Believing that was right

Pushing away the darkness

To hold you in the light

Brick upon brick

Arms wrapped around you

Leaving you nowhere

To fall or hold on to

Except for me

But I don’t count

Because a good mother

Would have let you out

A good mother

Would have sewed you a cloud

To sail to the sun

And sing out loud

To swell up with tears

That rain on parades

To play with the lightning

And not be afraid

A good mother

Would have loved you from afar

Forgot where you came from

And learned who you are

She would have braved her own demons

And dried her own tears

Harbored your anger

And welcomed your fears

A good mother would love you

And that I have done

But you broke the wall

You found the sun

Weekly Photo Challenge: Reflections

Beauty is forsaken
Where no one sees
No one ventures
No one feels
Silence speaks
But no one listens
It’s too easy, too authentic
Pure and transparent
You wouldn’t look for yourself
In the mirror, would you?
Then why would you search for life
When it is there in front of you
Calling your name
Caressing your soul
Nurturing your body
Balancing your burdens
Blessing your every moment
Reflecting your heart
With the most radiant light of all
Did you know
That you are nature?

 

 

 

I am dedicating this post to tyler4turtles, a fellow blogger, a friend in nature and kindred spirit. His expertise, dedication and endless fascination with nature combined with his gift of poetry and photography make for the most amazing blog.

You can admire his work at The Ancient Eavesdropper

http://tylerpedersen02.wordpress.com/

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unraveled

Diaries and tiny keys

Opened doors

To thoughts unspoken

Indigo blurred

By rainy blue eyes

My full heart emptied

To fill blank pages

             

Lyrics and chords

Strumming tales

Of the deep and the dark

Words and voice

United in song

My full heart aching

To fill open spaces

Pain and torment

Tapping keys

In a candle lit corner

Creative crescendo

Boundless and beautiful

My healing heart open

To infinite places

 

http://dversepoets.com/2014/03/04/poetics-poetically-evolving/

Undertow

Regrets swell like the tide

Dragging us like rag dolls

Back into the abyss

Swallowing us whole

Spitting us out

Only to con us in again

 

 Moments back washed

Dripping with defeat

Nostalgic thoughts repeat

In the ebb and the flow

Dreams adrift

Seeking shores of solace

 

Truth

It is what it is

Unobscured , sunlit

A guiltless glow of certainty

Barbed and bristly

Thoughtlessly exposed

Nettles rooted and ready

Unwittingly aimed

At pricking me

Into the Light

Did you think you were alone?

Fighting shadows of regret

Disguising guilt for passion

Hiding in your haven

Free from condemnation

Well look at you

The light will always be

Despite your mystic muteness

More than you can fathom

Illuminating, vindicating

Beaming on the beauty

That is you

For Granted

San Albino Church, Old Mesilla Village, Las Cruces, New Mexico

If all is well

Do we pray?

Praise the spirit

We so openly honor

Find the time

That we have been gifted

To thank, to touch

 

If all is well

Do we stay?

In the moment

That speaks to us clearly

Hold it close

As the last it may be

For joy, for hope

 

If all is well

Do we know?

Pain and suffering

Swirling beneath jaded hearts

Eyes of steel

Secretly begging

For comfort, for love

 

 If all is well

Do we bow down?

To our maker

Fathom our fragility

Bold yet brittle

Filter fabrication

Into purity and grace

 

http://dversepoets.com/2013/12/10/open-link-night-week-126/

Pondering on Pumpkins

I can buy a pumpkin. That part is easy.

I can choose one that is unique. I don’t want to conform to the assumed traditional, triangular eyed, orange globe. It needs to be oblong, out of whack and downright crooked. It has to leave me wondering where to begin with the knife.

I can scoop out the insides, although I am allergic. With speckled hands I can continue pulling out the slimy innards and dangling seeds. All for the love of a pumpkin. All for the display.  After all, everyone expects it to be gutted and transformed. Every little ghoul and “too old for trick or treating” fool needs to be beckoned by it’s beauty.

If you carve it, they will come.

I can place it in that perfect spot on my porch where everyone will see it and admire it…on top of the rusting, old fashioned milk churn.

I could do that or I could open my mind to more possibilities.

It’s just a pumpkin.

Bird Brain

From heron in

To heron out

I watch you

As I focus

But it is bogus

To you

Intrusive

Illusive

You watch me

Fumble, fiddle

I am your riddle

If you could laugh

You would

All for a picture

Of a bird

Strange

Sometimes you travel down a path

Before knowing you are on it

Time ticks and toys with your intentions

Space grows large enough to swallow you whole

Highways, byways lead to nowhere

Signs are non existent, lights are out

You surrender to the map of fate

Blindly hoping it will bring you back

To the warm, familiar place

You took for granted

To the smiles, the love, the laughter

Away from the “strange”

Full Colour

Before I die

I want to show all my colours

No secrets concealed

Like a leaf in the sun, aglow

An extension of life

Weightless of all regrets

Reflecting hues and memories

Shades of pain and joy

Tints and tones of all I am

Ready to float freely

For one last dance

With the wind

Beach Bird

 

 

 I was always directed to

Follow, conform

Listen and obey

Don’t make waves

Stand in a row

Follow the crowd

Integrate

Go with the flow

Don’t rock the boat

Comply and adjust

Submit

Am I a little beach bird?

 

50 Things I’ve Learned in 50 Years….#9

#9.  “Happiness and contentment in your life only happens because you are happy and content with yourself.”

Throughout my twenties and thirties, I had a vision of what would make me happy. It was a perfect world and time.   It was just outside the box of reality I lived in, but completely achievable….or so I thought. It was more than just career goals or personal milestones. It was this imaginary idea of what my life should be like. I constantly pined for it . I was always waiting for it.  I like to think that I had some kind of epiphany about this but maybe it was just a few hard knocks that forced me to finally free myself of these ridiculous and unnecessary expectations.

As I approached 4O,  I found myself again…under the rubble of wishes and good intenti0ns. Wow, I was M.I.A. and didn’t even know it!

Why is it that different things make different people happy? Maybe it’s because it is our own particular state of mind that reacts. Happy things make happy people happy. They don’t work as well with unhappy people. People in my life have suffered similar challenges and losses. Although they all found themselves drowning in  despair and self pity, some have not come back up for air. They are still swimming around in the aftermath, hanging on to what happened to them, their only strength is their pain. It’s really easy to be unhappy. It requires no work on our part. Acceptance requires action but believe me, it is worth it in the end. Our own contentment welcomes the laughter, the warmth, and the beautiful stillness.

California breathin’

Feeling inspired to write a poem today…….

SEARCH FOR SERENITY

Taking, needing, wanting

All the while believing it is the goal

To find, to get, to hold

A dream deserved

Only to realize

The illusion of plans

And the truth of fate.

Giving, accepting, feeling

As each moment ignites only briefly

Feeding the soul for only now

Is there anything

Not conjured up

Or wished upon

Only within is there light

To find, to get, to hold.

50 Things I’ve Learned in 50 Years….#7

#7. “Don’t be afraid to take a stand. The people that matter will not hold it against you.”

I used to care….REALLY care about what others would think if I was more aggressive with my opinion. I still care. The only difference is that these self conscious feelings will not stop me. I don’t let them. I can only hope that those who are important in my life will accept me no matter what I stand up for or what I believe.

“ Why not go out on a limb? That’s where all the fruit is.”

Mark Twain (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

~Mark Twain~

Now that’s a good quote, truly better than mine. Love the imagery.

I spent at least the first half of my life sticking like glue to the trunk of the tree, afraid to move. It took me a long time to ……change? That is really what it boils down to.  There was no divine  intervention that took place to transform me. I just got tired of the  “me” that I had become. Somehow I was enlightened that change happens by changing your mind. It is purely psychological. You can remain the way you are, if you’re happy with that, or you can move on.  Find new ways to interpret and live your life.  Some significant losses and events in my life also gave me more reasons to venture out of my safe haven. When people you love die young……I think you know the rest.

Recently I took a stand by supporting a movement for environmental issues. The group made headlines around the world. Like many other movements, it has a strong message although not always delivered in a consistent, united or organized fashion. The cause reflected my beliefs, my morals and certainly my love for a clean world or “Mother Earth”, as this group refers to it.

I am a non-native working in a native community surrounded by chemical plants. I “get it”. I breathe it.

Taking a stand for this group took me on a couple walks of peaceful protest. I have to say I enjoyed every minute of it.  The prospect of change taking place because people speak up, people reach out, people  stand firm, is at the very least, inspiring.

Taking a stand can be easy, if you don’t think about the risks. You just get out there, balancing with whatever you have to stop you from falling. Pride, determination, strength or even disregard for what can happen because you believe it can’t be worse than playing it safe. There are times in your life when you gamble more. First day on the job….not so much. Veteran in the field…..let it rip. Just my opinion.

Limbs can break.  Sometimes what we’re standing on is not as solid as we thought.  We may or may not have been aware of that, but we got out there anyway. That’s the beauty of it.  Hopefully, when we hit the ground, we are unscathed. There are many more trees to climb.

Great place to stand alone
Aguirre Springs, New Mexico

 

50 Things I’ve Learned in 50 Years…#6

#6. “I could easily get into a fist fight with people who talk during a concert. If you’re not singing, shut up!”

Tragically Hip
(and the brilliant mind of Gord)

Have you been there?

It’s hard enough watching a struggling artist pour out his heart and soul in a quiet bar as people obnoxiously talk over him.  At a concert, it especially baffles me when people actually pay for a ticket but don’t have any interest in the band. There’s the fifteen year old textaholics that didn’t know the name of the group until they got there because they never heard of them. Why? Because they were not BORN YET!! Then there’s the couple who had a few too many “pre-drinks” and are now arguing about how many they’ve had and how they’re getting home. Don’t forget the ones that continually talk into each other’s  ears about the group you’re trying to listen to as if no one can hear them.

I am there to see a band that I love and somehow through my gritting teeth, I manage to bite my tongue and behave myself.

The evil glares continue, however.

Music is extremely meaningful and sentimental to me and I appreciate that not everyone shares this passion to the extent that I do but…pahleeaase!!

There is a time and place for everything.

The Eagles
(a major check off the bucket list)

50 Things I’ve Learned in 50 Years….#5

#5. “Everyone you meet in your life will teach you something…..if you’re willing to learn.”

If you think about how much you have learned over your life time so far, it is probably at the very least, mind blowing.  By asking simple questions of those you meet, you can multiply this amount of information over and over.

There came a time in my life (probably around 40,  since I have evolved slowly), when I realized that every unique being on this earth has something to offer me.  I have always found human behaviour to be quite fascinating but within this hobby of observation, it is easy to analyze and judge.  When I tried to curb this a bit, I began to see more, learn more and feel more.

Besides the obvious factual information so easily obtained, there is always a story, an undertone that whispers  softly , if  you listen….I mean, REALLY listen and imagine where it is coming from.

Do you think you can learn something from the homeless man begging for change on the street?

Absolutely!  He has a story. You can learn from his pain, his misfortune and the small acts of kindness that give him joy. You can learn from your own fear of him, as he approaches you.  Ask yourself why it is so hard to look at his face, even when you hand him your spare coins.  Is he not worthy of eye contact or is his lesson to you lying dormant within yourself? Everyone has a story. Your story may not be any more interesting.  It is just different. Your story is not worn on your sleeve every day, like his.

There are no limits to what you can learn, only doors for you to open or leave shut.

50 Things I’ve Learned in 50 Years….#3

#3. When tobogganing down a steep ravine, a wine skin filled with cherry whiskey, will soften the blow of every tree you hit.

Looking back at it now, I can’t believe we really owned one of these.  The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language describes it as “a bag made from the skin of a goat for example, and used for holding and dispensing wine”.

I am fairly certain that I was unaware of the goat skin as I sipped chugged my cherry whiskey, hoping my socks would stay dry. We were trudging through a foot of good packing snow with our plastic Magic Carpets, waxed up wooden toboggans and super flying saucers. Woooo Hoooo!!!

Life was good……in the 70’s.

50 Things I’ve Learned in 50 Years….#2

#2. You can procrastinate about not procrastinating.

Even the word “procrastinate” sounds like something to avoid.  It has such an unusual and harsh tone to it.

Why do we do it? There must be a reason why we don’t get around to doing what we planned to do. My excuses are many.

There isn’t enough time in a day.

Shall I clean the oven in my sleep?

I’m tired.

I am not doing that until this gets done.

I’ll call her tomorrow.

I need to be in the right mood to do that.

It would take me ALL day and I don’t have all day.

I was at work. Does that not count as exercise?

It’s just a little piece bar of chocolate.

If I can’t do it right, I’m not doing it at all.

I know I’ll do it, but not now ever.

I’m tired……again.

There’s  a  tiny little sliver in my right big toe . (Ok, I made that one up)

My excuses are rather lame. My intentions on the other hand , are outstanding!  My mood is very perky when I make the conscientious decision of  drawing up “the list”. With my favourite pen in hand, I look for the perfect piece of “Things to Do” paper . Then, using my best handwriting, I proceed to make the most elaborate list of projects ever! It’s an amazing feat of futility.  It doesn’t stop me, however, from feeling incredibly proud of myself as I cross the first  easiest task off the list. Bravo!! A few more strokes of the pen and I’ll be on my way.

Then something changes. I think it has a lot to do with that “P” word.  Somehow “the list” finds a cozy little space where I can easily forget it ever existed.  I  plan to make a new list…..

after another little piece of chocolate.

50 Things I’ve Learned in 50 Years…#1

A little over  a year ago,  I  found myself undeniably approaching  the big five oh (no!).  I was determined to make it significant, at least to me, so I decided to share  some things I’ve learned over the years…… the good times, the bad times, the crazy times and all those enlightening moments in between.

Some lessons take a moment, others a life time.  Maybe you can relate to a few.

Hope you find a moment to join me on a regular basis as I reflect on this roller coaster ride we call “LIFE”, starting with…..

#1.  If you’re holding a grudge, you’re letting someone continue to hurt you.

Think about it.

Someone causes you pain.  They ruin your day….or maybe your life?

Wait a minute! Are you going to let them ruin your life? Do they deserve that?  Do YOU deserve that?

Carrying a grudge is heavy work  but only you can lighten the load.

Are you waiting for an apology or someone to have a life changing enlightenment?  You could be waiting a long time.

You may be the only one capable of moving forward.   Harboring the anger, resentment and pain is your choice.

Simple as that.

      Stay tuned for #2 !

Reflections in Motion: Photos From a Train

Some of the best things in life happen accidentally. That was the case when my husband and I took a scenic train trip in a more northerly area of  Ontario.

Take the beautiful beaming sun, the large window of a train and the  constant movement as we roll down the tracks. Mix it with a somewhat limited knowledge of photography and voila…..some strange but interesting shots.

Coupled clouds

From the dining car….

…or a floating restaurant.

Reflecting on a remote little cottage.

Would I like to live here? Uh…yes!

Blurring colors of trees

Eerie silhouettes as the  sun rises

He’s looking forward…..I’m looking back…….reflecting.

Relax as we race

Pondering the landscape

Beauty repeated

Lakes can be mirrors

Rays of replication

Mirrors in the mist

On the outside looking in

Or from the inside looking out?

Or maybe there is no division….maybe we are just part of it all

The journey by train is over as the sun offers us one last moment of introspection.