Poetry and Prose by #1 Amazon Bestselling Author of Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow, Co-Author of #1 Amazon Bestseller, Wounds I Healed: The Poetry of Strong Women, and Jan/Feb 2022 Spillwords Press Author of the Month
Twitter#vss365prompt words used: pale, lambent, east. You can follow me on Twitter here.
Submissions are still open for the Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow: 30 Poems in 30 Days Collaboration, and will remain open until September 23. The submission details are located here.
A quick reminder that the first reading from my debut poetry book, Natures Speaks of Love and Sorrow is this coming Monday at 6 am PT (USA). I’m excited about all 4 of these upcoming poetry readings, and hope you enjoy them!
I am so pleased to announce that my poem, still breathing you in…, is now available at MasticadoresUSA. A big thank you to Gabriela Marie Milton, and the team at MasticadoresUSA for their continued support, and for publishing this piece.
still breathing you in…
the last time I saw you, Coltrane was spinning, and there was this feeling, a rose in your hair, cunning, and fair
while music billowed out, raspy, deep sounds filtering throughout, and…
I would be honored if youwould go here, and read the rest of my poem. Thank you!
The music fills me with such love and beauty, it’s like free-falling with all the best intentions, just now, while the world shepherds a course of direction, and I feel that deep connection.
I sit and let the music fill me, every nook and cranny of my soul becomes engulfed in the sound and feeling of all that’s there. Oh, such devotion and care.
Care for ourselves is such an important part of our journey. Sometimes we feel lost, and unsure, even uncomfortable in our own skin, even when we are with our kin. It’s not a demerit, we all feel this way at times, so let your heart inherit.
The joy you feel within, as you take in the piano paying a melody you swear was written for you, and you grin.
The smile filling the room with joy and love, it’s enough to absolve the remainder of the lost souls, in which you do connect, as you see yourself in their midst, and have lived through the tests, just as they are now presently, giving their best.
Best is what we each carry, give out, and try not to tarry. No, give all that you have, my friend, and, when it’s time, let the music fill you and begin the dance again.
I strum the guitar, just as the dream begins, and close my eyes, and look within. The sound coming from this instrument fills me with a knowing that feels like the best of times akin.
Back and forth, and forth and back, strumming, all the while there’s more coming. Hands slide up and down the neck, fingers tired, yet no one remembers, because the music Is simply glorious in all it’s radiance.
The vibration shakes my being, core holding tight to this very special delight. Skin prickles, wakes up, just as the goose bumps begin to flush.
The end of January. Wow. It’s been almost a year since the pandemic broke out here locally. What a year. And, within 2.5 months of starting to work at home, my first blog post was published. Since then, I’ve created 295 posts, began following so many amazing blogs and inspiring people, and have now over 450 followers. Awesome, and so much fun.
Alright, let’s get to the writing part.
My 2 Favorite Posts This Week
I want to do something different this week, and for a few weeks. Instead of simply recapping all that I wrote, I’m going to choose my favorite 2 or 3 posts each week and provide some of the inspiration, thinking, and reflecting that went into the post. Ready? Good. Here we go.
The reminiscence poem was created as a multi-reflection on my marriage, my childhood, and having two beautiful boys. All three reflections combined in unique ways to create a poem about pain and joy, and recollections about simpler times.
One of the things I love the most about writing poetry, outside of the sheer exuberance I get when an idea flows through me, is looking back, reflecting, and putting on paper some joyous, and yes, sometimes painful life events.
Tanka #2
Tanka #2 was created as a reflection on my meditation practice, and the chasing we sometimes do as humans, trying to get to the next thing, and then the next. Reflecting on meditation and then the concept of chasing after things is a paradox, just like all of life.
The last two lines are a reflection upon creating the future from the present moment, with the knowing that already living inside of me, all of us, are the past, present, and future. As, they are one.
Alright, that’s my reflection on the reflections that inspired the two poems above. That was fun. Let’s now turn to one of my other favorite topics, music.
I’ve posted about my love for music before, though it’s been a while. I grew up in a household where music was always present. Whether that was through the TV and MTV, my dad playing his guitar, or sisters, mom, or myself playing the radio, cassettes, or an 8-track.
Yes, I did just reference the radio, cassette tapes, and 8-tracks in the same sentence. I did grow up in the late 70’s and 80’s though.
In this entry on music, I want to do two things. Show you the guitar I bought today, and embed a youtube of one of my favorite songs.
Alright, first, here is a pic of the guitar I bought today. As I mentioned, my dad played the guitar. Though I tinkered with the guitar as a child, youth, and young adult, it’s been years, and I am excited to take some lessons and begin to play.
Corvallis, Oregon 2021
Pretty, yes? Yes, I think so too.
Alright, now here is one of my favorite songs. I am present to it, because my oldest son played it on the guitars we looked at on Saturday. Was so beautiful.
Here you go.
YouTube
I just adore this song. Always have, and always will.
Alright, friends, that’s all for this week.
Remember, to keep breathing and take time for yourself. It’s important.
Develop. Inspire. Transform. 