Category Archives: Inspiration

Defensive Valentine: (In)vulnerable

Posted on February 12, 2016 | 30 comments
Poetry Friday Tag

Kimberley Moran is this week’s hostess at Written Reflections

 

Being part of a martial arts family, I have to say that “Haiku” sounds as if it could be a martial arts self-defense style.

Ergo, on this Valentine’s Day weekend, rather than sparring helmets, arm and shin guards self-protective love….a Haiku heart of stone self-defense mechanism photo-poem for those responsibly cautious-in-love (a.k.a.”control freaks” —that would be me!) who want to protect against being caught off guard, impaled by one of Cupid’s unexpected love-at-first-sight arrows–especially if Cupid’s aim is off and the arrow is wayward!  Scary stuff!

 

heart horiz 6 (3)

(Martial artists–with the correct mind-over-matter hand or foot technique–actually can break through stone. But please don’t tell the cautious-in-love  heart-protective self-defense artist.)

 

Now, for the entire Poetry Friday community and all those–hearts totally vulnerable–who love and allow themselves to be loved by poetry:

Heart-beatHappy Valentine’s Day, Blessed Poetry Lovers!

 

By Nevit Dilmen (talk · contribs) (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)%5D, via Wikimedia Commons

 

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Ditty Delirium

Posted on February 8, 2016 | 4 comments

 

 

In response to Michelle Barnes’ DOM challenge, my “ditty” fun submission, which Michelle, whose consistent wit and sense of humor I greatly admire and enjoy, good-naturedly accepted. Thank you, Michelle!

 

DOM Ditty cbhanek

p.s. I’d love it if one of my PF comrades could compose a really challenging “ditty” tongue twister (compared with my string of “D” words. Delirious. Delirium.) Thank you!

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Leaves

Posted on February 7, 2016 | 3 comments

 

DOM leave2 (2)

This Haiku photo-poem is a revision of an earlier poem, posted in October. This version has been created for David Harrison’s February Word of the Month challenge: LEAVES.

Special thanks are extended to Michelle Barnes, whose informative Ditty of the Month interview with Mr. Harrison included the invitation for Poetry Friday community members to participate in Mr. Harrison’s February WOM challenge.

Here, then, is my first Word of the Month sharing.  I welcome, most sincerely, comments and suggestions.

 

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Chillin’

Posted on February 5, 2016 | 17 comments
Poetry Friday Tag

Tricia is this week’s hostess at The Miss Rumphius Effect

 

With mixed feelings, I can share that yesterday’s nearly all-day heavy rain removed most–but still not all– of the evidence of the Blizzard of 2016 from our lawns, roofs, and streets.

Since I’m not giving up my snow-inspired photo-poem infatuation (yet) I have a “wild” public domain photo inspiration for this poem-post.

For many years, I missed seeing snowpersons of any size or shape grace our neighborhood. Then, a couple of years ago, a young couple moved across the street, and their children warmed my heart on a cold winter’s day as I watched them build a snowperson or two with their father.

Alas and alack, the family moved right before Halloween; no little kids replacing them. And so, once again, no snowpersons did I see–even with plenty of raw material, compliments of the blizzard. Once again, there were no snowpersons drawing me back to the days of yesteryear when I fashioned them so joyfully.

And so, the closest I could come (short of building one myself) is this loving couple. I hope you enjoy his and her bravado! (As for why I didn’t build one myself: it’s not that I mind getting my hands dirty; it’s getting them frozen–along with the rest of my body, feeling chilled to the brain, that I mind.)

Did you build any snowpersons this season? Looks as if this pair is open for some good company!

chillin' snowpersons

 

 

 

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Blizzard 2016

Posted on January 29, 2016 | 25 comments
Poetry Friday Tag

Catherine is this week’s hostess at Reading to the Core

 

Half way through last weekend’s blizzard, I took the photo shown below, while standing in our front doorway. After a couple of sidewalk shovelings, the snow was probably “only” eight of the eventual seventeen inches. The entire background is snow, which covered the lawn, as well as the front evergreen shrubbery (save the potted shrub on the left, as well as errant branches poking their way through the snow in postures of “Help!” –or surrender). The little area of darkness at the top of the background is a hint of the truck parked in front of the house.

 

Blizzard 2016

 

Today, there still are multi-foot drifts, but the area shown in the photo is down to seven inches of snow. We’ve weathered a storm. I written a poem. Who could ask for anything more?

If you, too, experienced the blizzard–before, during, and after: I hope all went well for you! God bless you!

 

 

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DOM Twice-Suspended Animations

Posted on January 22, 2016 | 20 comments
Poetry Friday Tag

Tara is hosting this week at A Teaching Life

 

 

They also serve.jpg

Here’s to nothing!

Call it an occupational hazard. I see a photo of snow-covered swings, seats hanging so low that the long length of chain is visible, and immediately, I think of Milton’s quote, especially since there are two swings…”They” also serve makes perfect sense in terms of the winter warrior suspended animation photo.

I’m in love with the suspended animation photo– and the quote, and so when I read of Michelle’s DOM challenge about poeming nothing, I thought that this week, this phot0-poem “had to be” my offering.

Milton’s words speak to me of the power of restrained, sacrificial inaction—of the strength, humility, and courage that there oftentimes is in restraining the urge, the tendency to “do something”—even if it’s seemingly counterproductive not to do anything–“just” to do nothing.

As someone who likes to hedge her bets, just in case the Milton photo-poem doesn’t cut it, I’ve used the same photo prompt (which I’ve already noted that I love) and I’ve written a five-word poem “all my own.”

Nothing happening patience

As someone for whom patience is a constant struggle—since birth, and who has happy memories of sunny Hawaii “hang loose” mentality, this photo-poem, if you don’t mind my sharing it, contains a lot of much-needed self-talk.

Thank you very much for taking time to read the poems…

Now, the ball’s in your court, if you will.

Which of the two poems do you recommend I share as my DOM (poem about nothing) submission?

Thanks for your critique. I really appreciate your feedback and input!

…God bless you!

 

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Scarlet Red Cardinal in the snow, tell me, what do you know?

Posted on January 15, 2016 | 26 comments
Poetry Friday Tag

Keri is this week’s hostess at Keri Recommends

 

Our daughter’s students are are reading “The Crucible,” which reminds me of  “The Scarlet Letter” by Nathaniel Hawthorne.

It’s the Jubilee Year of Mercy, I’m reminded of “The Scarlet Letter,”  the sight and sound of  ruby-red cardinals (which for this creative effort become scarlet red, don’t you know!) spark an audible inhaled “ahh!,” especially when the cardinals are framed against the snow, and putting all those juxtaposed things together, voila! Redemption poem. (With absolutely no apologies to Mr. Hawthorne!)

Redemption Jpeg

 

Redemption

Scarlet Red Card’nal,
How apropos!
In this Great Year of Mercy,
You sit, gracefully branched, ‘gainst
fresh-fallen snow.

Scarlet Red Card’nal,
What do you know of scarlet red sins, scarlet red letter A, blood-stained Cross, and
pure white snow?
In this Great Year of Mercy,
Speak to me, please, of Isaiah 1:18 & John 3:16.
Sweet mercy hymn you sing! (Away with Hawthorne!)

 

FYC (for your convenience):

Isaiah 1:18: “…Though your sins be like scarlet, they may become white as snow…”

John 3:16: “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.“

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Cold Moon on Christmas Morn

Posted on January 8, 2016 | 22 comments
Poetry Friday Tag

Tabatha is hosting this week’s Poetry Friday at The Opposite of Indifference

 

moon screen grab (2)

 

This past Wednesday, January 6th, was the Feast of Epiphany, aka “Little Christmas.” …You likely know the story. Three Wise Men from the East followed the new star to Bethlehem to worship the newborn King. …Thinking about their trek in search of the Child, led as they were by a heavenly sign, got me thinking about a heavenly sight I nearly missed on Christmas Day.

True, this December 25th, this Christmas Day, there was no Bethlehem star in the heavens, but there was a special sight, nonetheless.

Inspired by Donna Smith’s pictorial Christmas Eve post, which I read early Christmas morn, I overcame laziness and indifference concerning the day’s historical Christmas Moon.

Thanks to earlier-in-the-week televised newscasts, I knew that the last full Christmas Day Moon had occurred in 1977 (likely when some of you had not yet been born; though I was more than alive then, I have no remembrance of such a heavenly event). Thanks to the news, I also knew that the next occurrence would be in  2034 (no assurance I would be alive to see that one.)

Originally thinking I would be content to see an image of the Christmas Moon on the news, Donna’s enthusiasm and photo intervened.

Now or never. Not Christmas past. Nor Christmas future. This Christmas, Christmas present, held the best chance of witnessing such a phenomenon: the first full moon of winter, called a “Cold Moon,” occurring on Christmas morning.

Not sure if it were already too late, if I had already missed my chance, nonetheless, outside I raced to see the night light sight for myself. Then, not content with the sight of the Moon from my house–from between the trees–I quickly dressed, grabbed my car keys, and drove to our parish church, which sits upon a hill and sure enough, I got a much better look at the Moon.

In retrospect, I’m grateful to Donna for photographing and posting the inspirational piece Christmas Eve–not only because it led to my witnessing the full Moon in person, which was a moving experience. But, perhaps even more importantly, because this Christmas Moon “caper,” I’m sorry to say reveals a tendency in me to underplay through laziness or malaise the value of firsthand experiences.

This time, I was blessed to get a second chance! As we enter into 2016, I hope to learn from this near-miss to be more appreciative and enthusiastic when the Creator gifts us with a special sight, such as teh one just given on the day that commemorates the Birth of His Son.

Shame on me!  Thank God that the Wise Men did not share my malaise.

Thank God (literally) for Donna S. from Maine! This is not the first time her posts have made a difference to me. Main(e)ly, she keeps me eyes-open, humble–and moving!

 

 

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bring on the new year!

Posted on December 31, 2015 | 16 comments
Poetry Friday Tag

Mary Lee is heralding a new year of poetry, hosting today at A Year of Reading!

2016

…bring on the new year…

 

bottled bubbly cheer.

bottled up longing and fear.

pop the cork on both!

 

New Year Postcard from early1900s

Public domain New Year greeting postcard circa early 1900’s via Wikimedia Commons

 

Dear Poetry Friday Community of Writers and Readers,

To you and your families: 2016 wishes (and more!) for a new year filled with every goodness! God bless you!

Happy New Year!

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Christmas Angels

Posted on December 25, 2015 | 9 comments

 

Christmas Angels

Gather near in sacred anthem.

Light the night ‘neath His star.

8272686727_e36f2bcffa_m

Photo credit: Flickr/Jacinta Iluch Valero

Linger. Silent. Near His manger.

Calm men’s heart aches.

Sigh. 

Arise!

 

To all the Christmas angels, messengers of song, light, hope–thank you!

…Who are those angel-messengers?..Our Poetry Friday community of poets, for sure–all year round!  God bless you for your ministry of life-bolstering, as well as life-altering, vivifying words.

 

Back story, not necessary to read on Christmas Day:

Throughout Advent, I couldn’t resist “squeezing” a myriad of traditional  Christmas images and symbols  into individually Squeezed Poems.

Unfortunately, the only one that actually worked–of sorts–was the “Christmas Angels,” which I am actually quite pleased with–even if I’ve “poetically licensed,” in part, the “Squeezed Poem” format:)

First, here’s how I was twice true to the format. Every word in the “Christmas Angels” poem consists solely of letters found in the title/target-words. And, as far as I know or consciously intended, no word in the poem consists of more instances of each letter than are found in the target-words. …”Squeezed poem”…Yes! ..So far, so good.

Here’s where conformity ends and poetic license begins….Rather than having the words “fall” vertically on to discrete lines so that no letter is used more times on one line than matches the number of times the letter appears in the target word being squeezed, I distributed the squeezed words horizontally, creating more conventional verses.

If what I have done precludes positioning the “finished” product as a “Squeezed Poem,” albeit “Modified,” then I am happy to think of some new format name, and welcome your suggestions.

(I definitely do not want to indulge in false advertising–even in poetic form name calling, especially not in connection with Christmas:))

 

GOD BLESS YOU!

(Whether you celebrate or not, Love became Flesh for YOU today!)

 …MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

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