Breathe in the scent of / falling leaves and smoke twisting / in Crisp autumn air
MAGIC September 16, 2011
“Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.”
-Roald Dahl
and those of us who see magic all around us, will always be full of wonder.
Yesterday I wrote a love song September 15, 2011
While Grace Awakening Power (Book two in the series) is out for final edits, I’m working on Grace Awakening Myth, the third book. Grace Awakening Myth is Awakening Dreams told from Ben’s perspective. Poor Ben (aka Orpheus!) is suffering at the moment with his shattered nose. He’s in pursuit of his beloved Grace, and she is not being cooperative. He’s suffering so much that it was time for a cathartic poem…
.
Yesterday I wrote a love song
Spun in circles
Weaving memory
Reaching past today
Touching yesterday
Touching you
The only way
That’s left.
Yesterday was wrapped in kisses
Spun on cycles
Weaving history
Reaching past today
Touching yesterday
Touching you
The only way
That’s left.
Today you’re gone and how I long
For circles cycles
Memory and history
Reaching past today
Touching yesterday
Touching you
The only way
That’s left
Tomorrow needs to be prolonged
Spin our cycle
To eternity
Reaching through today
Beyond yesterday
Touching you
Every day
That’s best.
.
.
Not sure whether or not that will end up being in the book. I think it would make an awesome song. I need a musician to take on that challenge…
Submitted as part of the Gooseberry Garden poetry picnic. If you are here for the picnic, please include a link to your own submission if you leave a comment. Thanks!
The Thing September 7, 2011
With a bump and a grunt I started to jump
What was that by the cat? That thing with the lump?
Something scary
and hairy.
Something wiggling!
(I’m jiggly!)
It is black on its back
It is red on its head.
That bit on the paw,
Was that yellow I saw?I
Those colours so bright are making me weep
from the fright.
I fear it will come near
Will bump into me here?
It will leap while I sleep!
Will it beat me? Or eat me?
I stared and I shivered
It glared and I quivered.
It wiggled closer to me
A tingle ran through me.
A step closer it came
And then closer again!
I just couldn’t help it: I shrieked.
Then the thing, well, it leaked
A small yellow puddle
Of a fellow in a muddle.
Its head tilted down
On its face a sad frown,
From its eyes dripped a trickle.
Oh my! That’s a pickle.
Is it looked up at me, I thought, “Could it be
That the thing over there, That thing covered in hair,
that thing coming near Is not something to fear?
If it leaked when I shrieked,
Did it think I was scary?
Did it think I was hairy?
With black on my head
My back covered in red?
So I took one step nearer and the creature came clearer.
It was cute. It was fuzzy. It was really quite lovely!
I dropped to my knees as the thing gently sneezed.
“Hello Thing,” I said. “My name is Fred.”
“Can I be your friend?”
(True story)
The End.
secrets September 5, 2011
In the entire history of our marriage, it was the only secret I kept from her, and eventually it became impossible to fix. With a secret like that, at some point the secret itself becomes irrelevant. The fact that you kept it does not.
Water for Elephants. Sara Gruen. p. 415
This is a valid point, don’t you think? Whether or not the thing you conceal is important in later years, it can become a “Why didn’t you tell me?” sort of thing. Mind you, I also know that shrug that says, “Well that’s no big deal!” and just accepts the fact that some people are nervous about sharing news that they think will be taken badly. Some people get all worried about things like that, and others shake it off. In the past. Water under the bridge. Who cares now about such things?
What do you think? When is keeping the secret bigger than the secret itself?
masks August 25, 2011
“Man is least himself when he talks in his own person. Give him a mask, and he will tell you the truth.” Oscar Wilde
It’s an interesting idea, don’t you think? I can see how character and philosophy oozes out from between the lines of an author’s work. I know that people who know me laugh when they read my work, because they can hear my voice in the style.
What do you think? Do you think you reveal more about yourself by your action and writings (particularly writing in character) than you do when responding to others?
PS. Still looking for the short story “Masks” as per this blog
Roots and Blues August 20, 2011
Having read all last night, (The Help) and getting only 3 hours sleep before I had to start my day, I’m now sitting here at 11 p.m. having awoken from a five hour nap, listening to the music from the main stage of the Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival.
This is quite a lovely festival, with generally well-behaved guests of all ages, who listen to a variety of music from around the world on several stages throughout the day, and settle in for the main stage once night falls. A significant portion of Salmon Arm comes free as volunteers for one area or another.
This year I am volunteering on the dance stage. Various local dance groups are performing a little, and then leading a participation workshop. We’ve been practising all summer, which is good, because usually we all desperately miss dance between the spring and fall sessions.
Lots of people make up these local festivals, doing all sorts of little jobs. Our time makes it happen. Come on and enjoy a day with us!
help your choices August 19, 2011
In the book, The Help, by Kathryn Stockett, Skeeter is confronted by her maid, Constantine who tells her,
“Ever morning, until you dead in the ground, you gone have to make this decision…. You gone have to ask yourself, Am I gone believe what them fools say about me today?” (Kathryn Stockett, p. 73)
Skeeter is floored by this revelation. She says,
“All my life I’d been told what to believe about politics, coloreds, being a a girl. But with Constantine’s thumb pressed in my hand, I realized I actually had a choice in what I could believe.” (Ibid. p. 74)
This is a powerful message, isn’t it? You choose the values, morals and beliefs that guide your life. Your parents may teach you theirs, but in the end, you have the right, perhaps really the obligation, to choose your own.
pain and joy August 17, 2011
I was watching Oprah the other day, and was so sad to hear of the tragic experience of Chris and Lori Coble who lost their three young children in a horrific car accident. Lori, her mom Cindy, and the kids, who were all buckled properly in their car seats, were stopped in a traffic jam around a blind corner. A semi came around the corner a full-speed, and rammed into the mini-van killing all the children.
Can you imagine the anguish?
Three months of full-on, falling into pieces grief, the Cobles decided to do invitro fertilization to have more children. I’ve read some commentary around the internet that some people think that was inappropriate. One person said you wait longer to replace a dog. All I could think when I read that, was that this person obviously didn’t love his dog enough. We have always been out within the week, desperately attempting to fill the aching hole in our hearts and house. If it was like that for our dog, I can easily imagine how Cobles would be compelled to have more children, as soon as possible.
Having new children was never going take away the pain of losing the first three. It wasn’t going to replace Katie, Kyle, and Emma. , but it would give them something to live for. Having children to care for was going to bring light, love, and laughter into their home: things that were desperately needed to lift the fog of horror and loss.
So almost a year after the accident that stole Katie, Kyle, and Emma, Lori delivered triplets. Two girls and a boy: Ashley, Ellie, and Jake. Three sweet, busy children to echo the loss and encourage them to go on. It’s enough to raise the goose-bumps, isn’t it?
Here is a video of Lori and Chris giving advice on how to comfort your friends who have lost a child.
Here is a video tribute to Kyle, Katie and Emma.
Here is a summary article about the Oprah interview.
Shawn L. Bird 