Compassionate
Answers
Not
Denial
Lessens
Errors
May this candle lead us to a better 2022.
A lovely photo from Sadje’s What Do You See #114 to bring inspiration, motivation and hope for the new year.
Light has always been the remedy of darkness, it’s heat keeping the cold at bay. My one resolution this year is to be a better candle. How can we be better candles this year?
© iido 2022
My friend: how did you know to
Answer my unsaid request, to
Negotiate distance and visit the abode of my soul, to
Give sweet words and kind fruit to
Offset the bitterness brought by isolation.
Slicing through skin,
Accepting what is laid bare,
Lavishing wisdom like a balm while
Savoring mango salsa under
A shared umbrella of hope
Last week, Kate at Aroused by Arête requested letters or words in her comments which she promptly turned into acrostic poems about the commentator. I gave her the words “mango salsa” since Kate had mentioned that she was on her way to the store (then would return to continue with her task) and this is my current food obsession. Of course, I was being cheeky and was subsequently quite humbled by her genuine response.
Kate’s intuitive and generous nature, her powers of observation, and her loving candor were on full display in her poems. You can read her responses here. I loved what she wrote for me and about me!
I wrote this poem with gratitude in my heart. Thank you again, Kate!! Once this is all over, please come and visit and share some mango salsa and chips with me!
© 2020 iido
Saturday mornings begin best with
Awakening while the sun still sleeps, dressing then
Trotting down the stairs with sneakers in hand, quietly making a PB and J yet
Ultimately waking the youngest ones with the coffee pot’s final hiss,
Rushing to get them back to bed then, quickly into the car, fueling and hydrating
(me not the car)
Driving to a favorite trail, late, but relieved that my tribe waited for me to
Arrive before starting on our group run.
Yes, this is the best way to begin a Saturday.
I wrote this poem last week for Jamie Dedes’ Wednesday Writing Prompt (you can read responses to her prompt HERE), but I wanted to save this poem for the March Runfession. So without further ado….
Forgive me Nike for I have sinned….
I runfess…I really, really, really, really, really miss Saturday morning group runs! Yes, even waking up at 5 or 6 AM. I miss the quiet companionship of the thumping of sneakers on packed dirt, the cool early morning mist and the laughter of bada$$ mother runners.
I runfess…my new sneakers (that arrived just a week before we knew what the term “social distancing” meant) have been very committed to being 6 feet away from people, specifically me! Despite having more time at home, the “extra time” that could have gone into running has not made an appearance. I blame it on homeschooling, but really it’s probably the stress of what’s going on that has defeated my motivation.
I runfess….in an effort to get out of the pandemic funk, I signed up to Run the Year. That’s right, I plan to run 2020 miles this year (or part of that if I can get a team together…Bueller? Bueller?). Because what better way to combat stress and pressure than to commit myself to running a ridiculous number of miles when I have never even gotten close to running before?? I blame the high of finishing the Taji 100 for this one…
I runfess…I’ve also signed up for the March Madness Challenge through Team RWB (Red, White and Blue). Team RWB is a group that supports active military and veterans through physical activity. Even though I have not been in the military (aka, a civilian), I have a nephew in active duty and numerous friends who have been or are active military. The concept of staying active for a larger cause resonates with me. I may not be able to help in a tangible way, but this act of solidarity speaks to my social soul.
Well, there you have it…March has definitely come in like a lion this year…here’s to hoping that lamb comes soon and brings toilet paper and hand sanitizer….
(c) 2020 iido
Another fun challenge for the Go Dog Go Cafe Tuesday Writing Prompt: Write a poem about the one thing you can’t live without. Within it, try to state why. Their last challenge involved doing an acrostic poem about our greatest fears (here’s mine). I thought it would be fun to do an acrostic poem for this challenge as well.
******
Written down
Or spoken or
Running unabated in my head
Daring my pen to play or pause
Sharing connective catharsis
(I cannot live without WORDS!)
******
Words have always been a big part of my life – even before running was, actually even before walking probably! I have always loved words – reading them, saying them, writing them, researching them, playing with them. Now that I have found a wonderful writing community in WordPress and IRL, I realize every day the importance of words in my life – for communicating and commiserating. I’ll even admit, that I would not love running as much if it wasn’t for the wonderful conversations I have had during my runs.
Our words shape our lives as much as our lives are shaped by our words (and sometimes the words of others). What words are you using today?
©️ iido 2018
I Do Run 