Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Feeling Young Again


I'm a little late in my personal challenge to post a poem a week from my journal.   Here's my original post explaining the challenge.

So once again I feel the need to add that I don't consider myself a poet, but wanted to shake up my morning journal writing and start writing in my blog again.  I'm having fun with a challenge to myself of writing a daily poem taken from random words I see in my journal.  I'm picking one of those poems every week to post on my blog.  Here's the latest.

Grass

between my toes
bring memories of summers past
bicycles, popsicles
adventure at every turn.
goofy grins, kool aid mustaches
battle scars, "tag you're it!"

do you carry it with you?
the smell of fresh cut lawn,
hot tar on the driveways
sprinklers to chase
feeling like you're tricking the world
to stay up past your bedtime
the sun's still out!
Not a moment to waste
imagination on fire
following a butterfly could take over hours

do you carry it with you?
do you remember to remove your shoes,
to allow the grass between your toes?
can you come out to play?

Sunday, July 13, 2014

Morning Thougts


I just updated the appearance of my blog yesterday.  I was inspired to figure out some of the html, blah, blah, blah. Anyhow, I think it turned out alright.  It's kind of like cleaning your room when you have an assignment due.  I always did that in college.  Before I could get started on any work, I had to clean my room.  I'm going to attempt to recharge my blog, but before that starts, I wanted to "clean it up" first.  Some people may call it procrastinating, I like to think of it as a nice shower.

For over a year I've been keeping a journal.  A friend introduced me to the book, The Artist's Way.  The book has you go on a course over three of four months.  Part of it is writing 3 pages every morning right when you get up.  It has become such a part of me that if I skip it, I feel a little off.  As you can imagine, sometimes the daily posts can get pretty boring and the same.  

Two weeks ago, my friend, Alecia Whitaker's young adult novel, Wildflower, came out.  I grabbed it on the first day and just finished it yesterday.  She's an excellent writer and I recommend getting it, no matter what your age.  The point I'm trying to get to, is that her main character keeps a songwriting journal.  And while I'm not trying to write songs, I thought maybe writing poetry would help spice up my Morning Pages for the month.  

Feeling the need to tell you, dear reader, that I know absolutely nothing about poetry, I've decided to choose one of my poems from each week to include in this revamped blog. So, don't judge too harshly, I'm just having fun.

This first poem I titled Morning.


MORNING


Is it already?
Just one more minute.
Awake to appreciate
the feel of cotton against my face.
my Morning lying next to me
still dreaming of the night.
In the quiet
exploring new worlds
discovering new lands
content alone
to be the first
a badge of honor.

The birds have known all along.
They tell me of battles won,
bring news from other lands
all in a mornings work.
We gossip
I, with my coffee
them, from their perch
much to catch up on
I'm not the first.

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Peace & Happiness

I just got back from my sister-in-law's wedding in South Africa.  She got married on a beautiful vineyard in Tulbagh, SA.  I took this picture the morning of the wedding.  We stayed in the cottages in the pic.