Inspiration finally returned in these last days of 2022. I’ve taken an unwanted hiatus from all types of writing these past few months, a potent combination of pessimism, anhedonia and general life busy-ness. Functional depression is a thing!
So easing in to 2023…much thanks to Patrick at Pix to Words (#330-338 included in this poem)! I had a streak going and plan on getting that back!
Wishing all my WordPress Family a great start to 2023!!
Image credit; Lolame @ Pixabay For visually challenged reader, the image shows three Cranes flying in the evening sky. You can see a waning gibbous moon behind the birds.
Getting back on track with a poem for Sadje’s What Do You See #59. When I first saw this picture, I thought the birds were geese, however after pasting in the description, I now realize they are cranes. If I knew that before hand, this poem might have taken a different path. But I didn’t and that’s OK.
I also incorporated Patrick’s Pic and a Word Challenge #256 – Touching. There are so many things I want to touch! I’m the type of person that if I see an interesting texture – on a wall or on clothing or in nature – my curiosity gets the best of me and I do reach out to touch it. Touch is really one of our most underrated senses but it’s the one we have the most of since we are covered in skin from head to toes.
There is a saying, “Shoot for the moon – even if you fail, you might land on a star.” This poem reflects my thoughts before I tried for the moon.
I “borrowed” this picture from my friend, Loriann B‘s FB page. I’m not sure if she took it or if it was from someone else. If this is your image, please let me know do I can give you proper attribution. Thank you!
This poem was written in a one sentence story style suggested by Amaya/Gospel Isoceles for her D’Verse MTB Challenge. It doesn’t truly meet the challenge because it doesn’t meet the parameter of the story to be odd/whimsical and true however I do think it describes an event that can be considered “the end of the world as we know it”. Alas, I missed the link up, however this was defiantly a challenge that I will try again.
I also missed Patrick’s prompt #218-Tiny for last week but am “early” for his deadline on prompt #219- Dig for this week. I am totally on a streak for Patrick’s Pic and a Word Challenge – I hope this one still counts! I really loved Patrick’s poem for “tiny” – he is truly a glorious writer and photographer!
I did not get to do any celebrating for Valentine’s Day unless you include being able to sleep without a sick child on your chest a celebration. Having all your kids sick on the same week is really hard! And they all had something different! Thank goodness for my parents who stayed to help me this week. Today, everyone was up and about so hoping we have seen the last of whatever nastiness invaded our home.
I was able to get a much needed 10 mile run in today! Not that I needed 10 miles, but I needed to get out of house and be with (healthy) adults. The ladies I was with from my She Runs this Town/Moms Run this Town chapter were totally cool and chill, like “Yeah, we’ll just run this trail back and forth a couple of times and yeah, we did 9, let’s round it out to 10!” Seriously – we just chatted and did our intervals and next thing you know…BOOM! 10 miles done!
Check out our strong legs and cute sneakers!
This brings me to 69 miles for the Taji100! And we are just starting week 3! Between being sleep deprived and covered in throw up and feverish kids, and having this awesome run and keeping up with my miles – this week actually wasn’t the “end of the world.”
I originally composed this little ditty for Quadrille Monday with the prompt “cheer” for dVerse, however it refused to be limited to 44 words and the song kept on running in my head. I guess it didn’t want to be limited!
And that’s one thing I can say about this wonderful group of women – they are UN-limited in what they accomplish as mothers, runners, workers, partners. I am so thankful to know them and am inspired by them daily. This picture was taken at our annual Holiday bRUNch and gift exchange (courtesy of Nada W. – thank you!). We ran (well, some of us – the rest were guarding the food) then ate and did a gift exchange. The kids who were there also had their own mini party and gift exchange. Holiday cheer abounded! Next year, we’re doing a sing-along!
This is what the holidays should be about – being surrounded by loving and caring people and eating lots of good food! Oh – and running because running with a group leads to being surrounded by the best people and eating! 😁
This poem is a companion to the Quadrille written for Hélène Vaillant’s and Jamie Dedes’ prompts for this past week. It’s a beautiful gift when inspiration strikes twice.
This secondary title of this poem, Quasi Una Fantasia, means “almost a fantasy” and comes from this essay on Beethoven’s famous Moonlight Sonata. I do not listen to a lot of classical music, however this piece I am familiar with since I shed many tears listening to the First Movement after my twins died. That phrase, “almost a fantasy” describes the surreal feelings and thoughts I experienced after I got home from the hospital without my babies in my arms. It also describes the “what if’s”, “if only’s”, and “I should have’s” of the grief experience, as well as the hope that eventually leads to healing.
I also tried to incorporate the writing challenge from Grace at D’Verse Poets to try writing an English Quintain or a Spanish Quintilla (too late to add it to Mr. Linky). These two forms are similar – poems with five (5) lines each – however the Quintilla keeps an eight (8) syllable count per line while the Quintain has no such constraints. Also, the Quintain follows the rhyming form ABABB while the Quintilla can follow AABBA or ABBAA or ABAAB or ABABA.
I am not sure these are my best work as they sound quite limerick-ish and that wasn’t my intent, but I had to write something! At least I didn’t start it with “There once was a mom from South Philly…”
(I know this picture isn’t a smiling one but look at that adorable Popeye face yawning!)
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This 12 word poem about a love story was inspired by the Go Dog Go Cafe Tuesday Writing Prompt. I know, a day late – it’s been that kind of week! These word limited poems are really quite challenging for me but in a satisfying type of way.
This crazy week has also limited my running – limited as in none! My last run was Sunday and I can tell by my energy and mood that I am long overdue for one. Hmmmm, maybe I can sneak in a short run like I’m sneaking in writing these short poems…..
When stormy clouds beckon warm snuggles under blankets
Why promise safe harbor
When tempests rock the rhythm that brings quivering joy
Why promise white picket fences
When unknown roads uncover the places of soft sighs
I will only promise my heart.
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Trying something new today – yes, I know it’s Tuesday and this was a dVerse Quadrille Monday prompt….well, better late than never, right?
What is a quadrille poem, you ask? It’s a poem of exactly 44 words (not including the title) with the prompt word embedded into the poem. The challenge this Monday was to include the word “harbor” or a form of the word (verb, noun, even using poetic license is allowed) however using a synonym does not fulfill the prompt. A quadrille is also an 18th/19th century dance performed by four couples in a square formation (the precursor to square dancing according to Wikipedia). I’m not sure how the dance became a poem – if you do, please enlighten the rest of us! However it came about, keeping a poem to 44 words was a challenge for me (can you tell by the rambling I’ve done in this section? 😂). Thank you Lillian at dVerse for getting me out of my safe harbor and trying out this new form!
A poem inspired by The Poet by Day’s Wednesday Prompt – Evolving. Thank you, Jamie Dedes, for another thought provoking prompt! It started out optimistic but as the poem evolved, it was pulled in the opposite direction. Telling, isn’t it?
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It sets us apart from other animals
The ability to grasp objects and concepts
To finely manipulate tools and other people
With this simple communication
We can catch a ride or point the way back
We can say Winner or Loser
With a twist of the wrist
For complexity
We now use them like beaks
Pecking letters that make or break relationships
The more it gets used
The faster it gets
Bypassing the higher brain
Thinking only of the print it wants to leave behind
I Do Run 