Sunday, November 27, 2016

LINKED POETRY: CHANGE 68, and BEYOND REACH 69

ANOTHER NEW BEGINNING
70 Poems for 70 Days 
 is a collection of poetry I wrote as a birthday present to myself and gifted in book format to 70 of my friends and family members. Over a period of 70 Sundays, I am submitting the poems in the order of composition, along with a short comment about the poem’s style or theme,
often including a complementary photograph.

With linked poetry, a form of Japanese Renshi poetry,
the last lines of one poem are used to form the title of the next poem,
then the next poem shifts to a different topic.
 

I hope you find a few entries that bring a smile to your face or a long buried memory to the surface of your consciousness. Poetry is like that, whether you are the reader or the author.

 
68
Change
 
At thirteen
her world contained
confusing shadows
Hiding answers
to which
no questions applied. 
Teen years
slipped into brilliance
she perceived as sunlight. 
Then fading shadows
opened vistas of
rainbow-stained hues 
Inevitable change,
Promises targeting growth,
Indelible answers
Beyond reach.
 
*****     *****     ***** 
 
Ah, the springboard of teen years -- when everything is in a state of flux. Too young to understand body changes or thoughts that appear to make little sense. Unable to form intelligible questions, and wondering who to ask even if one could. Like the tangled aerial roots of a banyan tree, there appears to be no rhyme or logical reason to each new experience until, like the roots, they take hold and become solid support for continued growth.
 
*****     *****     *****

69
Beyond Reach

 
She works the front door latch.
Locked. She thinks, again
left in the rain.
Alongside, a window raised
for circulation, offers hope
once beyond reach.
Defeat is not
an option, she reasons,
inside or out.
Shrieks of laughter
in the back. A gathering.
Faces turn to her.
"Ever so long,”
they say, “we’ve
been waiting. For you.”
 
*****     *****     ***** 
 
The difficult years:
The confusion of not belonging, thinking she does not fit in anywhere. Also convinced she is the only one suffering this dilemma.
 
When, new accepting friends offer possibilities, though different from what she knows, it allows her to feel she belongs.
 
Eager to be accepted, her rationalization is quick. 
 
Was she even right to harbor such thoughts?
 
Then, realization. She is not the only one who felt insecure and out of place. Everyone must search. Most will find their niche, sooner or later.
 
*****     *****     ***** 
 

Saturday, November 19, 2016

COLLABORATION Poem 66 and REBELLION Poem 67

ANOTHER NEW BEGINNING
70 Poems for 70 Days 
 is a collection of poetry I wrote as a birthday present to myself and gifted in book format to 70 of my friends and family members. Over a period of 70 Sundays, I am submitting the poems in the order of composition, along with a short comment about the poem’s style or theme,
often including a complementary photograph.

With linked poetry, a form of Japanese Renshi poetry,
the last lines of one poem are used to form the title of the next poem,
then the next poem shifts to a different topic.
 

I hope you find a few entries that bring a smile to your face or a long buried memory to the surface of your consciousness. Poetry is like that, whether you are the reader or the author.

66
Co-Existing
 

 
 
I see how coral thrives along the
jagged coastline.
How geckos live and play
among the plants.
Silverswords disguise the
peaceful Nene,
on the slopes of dormant
volcanic rock.
Night marchers travel through
the steaming mist
on lonely roads lit by
a silver moon. 
A surfer’s board on water
Orchids blooming in sweet air
Pineapple roots in soil. 
Collaboration
is what I see.
 
So much of life in its natural state knows to cooperate with its surroundings to survive in comfort. Humans, superior in their reasoning, are unable to fully grasp this concept, instead always striving for more of their allotted share. Would mimicking the practice of coexistence demonstrated by nature offer a more collaborative existence for men?
 
*****     *****     *****
 
67

What You See
Riots
Society on the edge
Politics, redefining lives 
Anger
Men engaged in war
Family structure, realigned 
Rebellion
Control in flux
Freedom, the goal 
Question not
what you see, but
the lack of change 

Change may not be an acceptable long-term solution. Then society might consider the simplicity of recognizing that whatever we have to share can be used as a catalyst toward equality. The result, an end to riots, anger, and rebellion, leads to satisfaction.
 
*****     *****     *****
 
 

Sunday, November 13, 2016

#64 and #65 Turning From Diamonds

ANOTHER NEW BEGINNING
70 Poems for 70 Days 
 is a collection of poetry I wrote as a birthday present to myself and gifted in book format to 70 of my friends and family members. Over a period of 70 Sundays, I am submitting the poems in the order of composition, along with a short comment about the poem’s style or theme,
often including a complementary photograph.
 
With linked poetry, a form of Japanese Renshi poetry,
the last lines of one poem are used to form the title of the next poem,
then the next poem shifts to a different topic.

I hope you find a few entries that bring a smile to your face or a long buried memory to the surface of your consciousness. Poetry is like that, whether you are the reader or the author.

64
Recurring Thoughts
 
The day this thought
first occurred,
words spoken in her mind
She knew an end had come.
So loud the words:
“One cannot hate until one
has learned to love.”
Was it possible, she
tried to reason,
to experience both emotions
in a single span
of time?
Engulfed and smothered.
Memories meant to last,
turned now from diamonds
back to coal.
 
*****     *****     *****
 
65
Turning From Diamonds
 
 
Paris in the ‘70’s inspired
you to express
the longings deep within
To hear the music that your soul played
Whenever spirits craved
Encouragement
Euphoria filled the air as you
Strolled the Avenues
and Champs Élysée,
Searching 
Diamonds were not treasures worth
your heart strings, in a place
where wine
and chocolate
Co-exist
 
*****     *****     *****


 

Saturday, November 5, 2016

HOLIDAYS and GRATITUDE #62 and #63

ANOTHER NEW BEGINNING
70 Poems for 70 Days 
 is a collection of poetry I wrote as a birthday present to myself and gifted in book format to 70 of my friends and family members. Over a period of 70 Sundays, I am submitting the poems in the order of composition, along with a short comment about the poem’s style or theme,
often including a complementary photograph.

With linked poetry, a form of Japanese Renshi poetry,
the last lines of one poem are used to form the title of the next poem,
then the next poem shifts to a different topic.

I hope you find a few entries that bring a smile to your face or a long buried memory to the surface of your consciousness. Poetry is like that, whether you are the reader or the author.


62
Now The Pie

 

Holidays bring family close together

with birthdays a favorite, for the cake.

Chocolate is the choice most every time.

 

The 4th means potlucks and fireworks

displays in the park, on the island,

or near the shore. With watermelon

chilling in the cooler for dessert.

 

Thanksgiving’s feast means

now the pie takes center stage, topped

with vanilla ice or fresh whipped cream.

 

Christmas is a winter solstice celebration

most anticipated every year. The sacred

offering of bread and wine consumed with

wrongs forgiven and gratitude expressed.
 
 
*****     *****     *****
 
 
63

With Gratitude
 Geckos on my lanai bring
good luck into
my home.
With gratitude
I watch their
high-speed sprints.
 
 Birds on the high wires
chirp me awake
the sun our silent clock
Their downy feathers
floating on trade winds
demonstrate a ballerina’s grace.
 
Nature delivers peace
at morning’s start,
lightening my cares.
Sipping caffeine black,
the pain subsides
leaving only re-occurring thoughts.
 
 
Ah, the unparalleled pleasure of sipping morning coffee on the lanai before the weight of the day demands your full attention. Still not fully awake, unmindful of opinions pressing down with unrelenting force, obligations stacked for later consideration, and disorderly expectations of unruly humanity. 
 
Soon, the geckos scurry for cover,
the birds' chirps become more frantic,
and the sun's golden rays appear to tarnish
 
Back to a world of reality. 
 
 

*****     *****     *****

 


 

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

#IWSG What is Your Favorite Aspect of Being a Writer?

 
Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds!

November 2 Question: What is your favorite aspect of being a writer?

Alex J. Cavanaugh's awesome co-hosts for the November 2 posting of the IWSG will be Joylene Nowell Butler, Jen Chandler, Mary Aalgaard, Lisa Buie Collard, Tamara Narayan, Tyrean Martinson, and Christine Rains!

*****     *****     ***** 
 
If you've ever participated in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) you know the importance of setting goals. With NaNoWriMo, the objective is to write 50,000 in 30 days. Basic math suggests that writing 1,666 words per day will get you smoothly to that goal. Simple, right?

The title of my previous post suggests there is: No Wrong - Just Write-Write-Write!
 
Each year that I've participated in the November event I've learned a bit more about how to become a 'Winner' (completing the goal of writing 50k words.) This year, I made an outline of the basic story, decided on the general progression of the plotline, and laid out the order of scenes. This doesn't mean I confined myself to a narrow framework or a boring ritual, though.
 
On day one, my characters surprised and fascinated me. After layering my basic knowledge of a topic with imagination, I created scenes that never existed until I started typing. Kinda gives new meaning to "let your fingers do the walking." In this case, it's letting them do the "talking."
 
Where else can you be so totally in control of your work? Let your imagination run wild, create extreme characters, build psychedelic scenes or develop an outrageous plotline.
 
This is my favorite aspect of being a writer!

*****     *****     ***** 
 
Applying this freedom to another area of my life, I've decided to change my menu to non-cooked meals, at least during NaNoWriMo. Here is a picture of what lunch consists of for the next 30 days:
 
 



*****     *****     ***** 

Are you participating in NaNoWriMo 2016?