Into Success #54 and Far Beyond #55

54

Into Success

She walked into success

With four-inch heels

And dusty-rose linen suit. 

Her smile flashed with confidence

Showering the crowded room

Doubt left at the sliding glass door 

“Sweet” described her weekly stats

Earned with forceful charm

Familiarity the winning edge 

Heights encourage depths

Obtained easiest by overreach

Far beyond the

elusive brassy ring.

 

Success followed by regress does not a failure make. Every experience is a rung up the ladder, heading toward the next goal.

*****     *****     *****

55

Far, Far Beyond

 

Encouraged to walk

You stood and crossed

The room 

Continuing far, far beyond

Until hands

Steered you to safety

Tempting with strange noises,

Very loud 

Your lips quivered

Searching for a promise

Sweetly warm

 

Discouraged, you sat

Garnering attention anew 

Lesson learned

You rose on wobbly feet

A toddler, at last.

 

Each of the linking poems receives its title from the final words of the previous poem. The fun of forming a poem based on this new title is that you never know what to expect until the words actually reach the page. Even then, the idea often veers into unexpected territory. This poem is a good example of such a twist. For those who first think the person encouraged to walk is elderly, the ending is a pleasant surprise that conjures up memories of ones self, or of children and grandchildren taking their first steps.

MEMORIES ARE MADE OF THIS
photo by: lakotawestband.ord

 

 

 

*****     *****     *****

 

Near Horizons and Break the Cycle Linking Poems #52-#53

From Poem #2 SMILING BACK

When I wrote the 70 poems for 70 days, I had no idea if anyone else would read them. After pouring my heart onto the page, I had met my initial goal of writing the set of linked poems. Later, it became obvious that while I'd scratched the surface of my memory, that mere scratching had triggered an opportunity to delve deeper into the topics that surfaced during the writing process.

 

Once the little book of poetry was published and distributed to 70 friends and family members as gifts, it seemed practical to post articles that reflected on the poems, or to write more in depth about a segment of a poem, or to contemplate new ideas stemming from the original seed of thought.

 

Give me a choice between chocolate or a new project,

and I'll take both . . . every time!

 

 

Now, a year later, I am reaching the end of this latest project. I hope you found something of interest in the preceding Sundays. Over the next three weeks, may the final sets of linking poetry create a desire to pen the precious thoughts welling up in you.

52

Near Horizons

Farms spread out

by design of county plats

Home for dinner

Each family tucked in

for the night. 

Breakfast a routine affair

Like Sunday drives

after mass

And holiday visits

to relatives. 

Roads with numbered routes

Lead to fishing holes

And beach parks

hold dreams that encompass

only near horizons. 

Dare to break the cycle

 

Poetry is meant to be read not as an interpretation of the poet’s thoughts, but as a means of opening the reader’s mind: to spark imagination, to recall memories long ago experienced, long forgotten; thoughts happy and sad, thought-provoking experiences that form and inform the person you are today. Do not fear the past so you can enjoy the present and plan a happy future. Poetry can open for you infinite possibilities. Claim what rings true for you, leaving the rest for others to explore their own awakening.

 

*****     *****     *****

 

53

Break the Cycle

 

 

No! My education

is too lacking.

The words all

come out wrong.

Why would anybody

even care?

Marathons are

not for weak,

questioning souls 

but for

strong minds,

solid knees,

and muscular hearts

Yes. I can

believe in myself. I can

stop braiding negativity

into disbelief. I can

start spinning confidence

into success.

 

When a child is told often enough that they don't have the strength or the brains to accomplish something, this negative attitude carries over into their adulthood. Breaking the habit of believing this may seem insurmountable, and often is, because negativity only breeds more of the same. 

 

Need incentive to change?

 

Check out this TED talk entitled "How to stop screwing yourself over by Mel Robbins: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lp7E973zozc#t=834.232184

 

or

 

The skill of self confidence by Dr. Ivan Joseph

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w-HYZv6HzAs#t=18.4932751

 

 

 

Z is for ZEALOUS THOUGHTS ABOUT DESTINY #AtoZChallenge

For this year's challenge, my theme is The Fun in Writing. Each of my 26 posts for April is aimed at
illustrating fun parts of an author's day. A writer doesn't only write.
Creating a story or an essay requires research, revision, editing, and lots and lots of coffee and chocolate.



Z is for ZEALOUS THOUGHTS ABOUT DESTINY

Thank you to all my fellow A to Z'ers for sharing this month of April, offering your thoughts for me to read and reading the thoughts I put forth. A special thank you to the people who planned and executed this year's April A to Z Challenge. The amount of work involved is immeasurable.

 

Although posting 26 times in one month has its drawbacks, the fun of feeling so productive is another reason I find such joy in writing on a daily basis. I have chosen my path, one filled with simple pleasures. In this, I have made my own destiny.

 

May you always have control of your destiny.

 

 

 

Keep looking up, and reach for the sky!

 

 

Following are two prose poems from my Renshi-style poetry collection.

Both reflect my thoughts about destiny and how a person must take control of their own life.

 

 

36

Strength to Live 

Desire, Strength, Commitment

three separate paths

toward achieving success* 

Each path demands dedication

a lifetime of living

no distractions along the way 

Time is so short, even

dreaming must have purpose

when each day brings new challenges 

Hurdles appear insurmountable

as age takes its toll, leaving

destiny to mold and shape itself.

 

*The true meaning of success is in the minds’ eye of the beholder.

 

37

Molding Destiny

 

A fallacy,
both the molding

and the destiny
 

The master plan

includes free will,

without restriction
 

No ending

is pre-arranged

by calendar month:
 

Play here

Marry over there

Die on schedule
 

Rather: follow

what your heart

beats in time.

 

*****  *****

 

May your zest for life never diminish in power or enthusiasm.

 

 

 

AN EXPLOSION OF POSSIBILITY: A Thimbleful of Happiness

Being alive means having the opportunity to accomplish, whether the goal is to sleep through the night or to save the world from imminent destruction. Absence of possibility is the black hole of despair. Accomplishing your goal is secondary - unless the goal involves something comparable to landing an airplane or crawling back out of that darn volcano caldera! 

I need to know that my efforts can produce results. Imagine working toward a goal that is impossible to reach, or that you’ve convinced yourself is impossible to reach (think 5 pounds). That goal sinks under its own self-defeating prophesy. 

But accepting the promise of a “maybe” or a “chance” inherent in hopes and dreams, I am eager to move forward. I continue to strive toward improvement in my craft, my art. Throughout the length of this process, I also understand that the completion of a goal does not deliver unending happiness. Life is a balance, the tragedies giving fuller meaning to the explosions of joy, the success, and the endless possibilities.

 

 

 

An Explosion of Possibility 

Success is a thimbleful

of happiness

A goal met or drawn near 

 

Promises, layered for buffer

raise hopes

Granting permission to go on 

 

Wishes meant for more than

empty dreams

guide the way forward 

 

An explosion of maybe’s;

chances are; and possibilities;

give purpose to life.

***  ***  ***  ***  ***

 

ZETSUDAI



Zetsudai no doryoku osuru

These Japanese words express an honorable action, "to make a supreme effort."

Everyone who joined the April 2011 A to Z Blog Challenge chose to make a supreme effort. Those who posted articles, anywhere from A to Z, succeeded.

Omedetoo Gozaimasu! Congratulations.