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. 

 

 

*****     *****     *****

 

 

AT LONG LAST #56, FRONT ROW SEATS #57 #58 Purple Socks All Winter

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.
 

56

At Long Last

 

 

 

Waiting, when there is

nothing to anticipate

every conversation leads

to war 

Socks the wrong color,

heat set too high, too low

too much garlic, not enough salt,

and the gas tank’s dry, again. 

At very long last,

free to be the real me

purple socks all winter,

floor fan after March 

Gone the need to capitulate,

with no control on topics

ranged from condiments

to front row seats.

  

Of course, this is written “tongue-in-cheek.” If only all conflict confined itself to difference of opinion in sock color and choice of condiments! Then again, any mystery writer worth their salt, and pepper, could execute a story that involved death by choking on a gold-toed stocking or asphyxiation by chili powder.

*****     *****     *****

 

 

While some of the poems in this collection were written with a bit of humor, others focus on more serious, and often, quite emotional topics. The topic of the following poem falls into the latter category. These thoughts did not come easily and were not written with a light heart.

57

Front Row Seats

 

Back yard

Saturday night

Full moon rising

Open to the force, electric

In its delight. 

Twirling dancers

Shining stage

Violin concerto

Emotions swell, the pleasure

Uncontained. 

Front row

Thursday morning,

Silence trickles down

Incomprehensible, to view

The tiny casket.

*****     *****     *****

 

 

58

 

Every Day is a CELEBRATION of ALOHA

FOR EVERY ACTION
drawing

Every day is a Celebration of Aloha! I am reminded of this most during the anniversary month of my birth. There was a time I didn’t read horoscopes, believing the predictions would somehow influence my thoughts and actions. Though not a control freak, I do not like being controlled.

In recent months, however, I have begun to read horoscopes for Libra and Scorpio as I relate to both signs. One such prediction said: 

“Being secretive, mysterious and dedicated will

make you very intriguing to the people you deal with.”

 

Because I write murder mysteries, the enigmatic statement enticed me, especially the secretive and mysterious parts. Having already completed my second novel in the Pepper Bibeau Mystery series, secretive and mysterious in its own right, I decided to celebrate my birthday by sharing the first novel in the series, FOR EVERY ACTION There Are Consequences, with as many people as possible by offering the eBook for free on Amazon for my birthday. This FREE offer runs for five (5) days, from October 22, 2012 through October 26, 2012.

 

 

After making this arrangement through Amazon, I decided it would also be fun to give away copies of my second novel, DEADLY AS NATURE Envy Spawns Grief, to some wonderful readers on the Goodreads site. See information at right >>>>> Sign-up for this giveaway is scheduled through November 22, 2012. A total of four (4) Tradebook copies of the novel will awarded and sent to Goodreads readers immediately after the winners are announced.
 

  

Finally, I figured it was time to hold a drawing to give away two special “Pepper Dolls” designed by my good friend Kristie who has a large variety of cuddly dolls and animals for sale on her Etsy site at:

 

http://www.etsy.com/shop/kristieskids?page=1

>>>The limited-edition Pepper Dolls are not for sale, however<<<

 

How you can be entered into the drawing for a chance to win one of two Pepper Dolls:

            A.) On or before November 22, 2012, submit your review of a Pepper Bibeau Mystery novel on the Amazon internet site for:

                        1.) FOR EVERY ACTION There Are Consequences 

http://www.amazon.com/ACTION-Consequences-Pepper-Mystery-ebook/dp/B004VT3QRU/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1350892066&sr=1-1

                                                            OR                                      
 

                        2.) DEADLY AS NATURE Envy Spawns Grief 
http://www.amazon.com/DEADLY-NATURE-Spawns-Mystery-ebook/dp/B0093FJO9G/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1346269159&sr=1-2&keywords=Deadly+As+Nature

 

 

            B.) AND

                        1.) Include your contact information and your Amazon review name in the comment section below,
 

                                                          OR                                           

                        2.) Email your contact information and your Amazon review name to gbaugniet@aol.com

(If you submit a review for both novels, your name will be entered into both drawings)

 

The drawing will be held on Monday, November 26, 2012 at 8:00 a.m. Hawaiian time.

Winners will be announced on this blog site immediately following the drawing.



DEADLY AS NATURE
drawing

Dolls measure 9 inches from hand-to-hand and 14 inches from head-to-toe
Dresses are constructed of Hawaiian print fabric from Honolulu, HI