Category Archives: Inspiration

Distressed

23 Friday Oct 2015

Posted by in Inspiration

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

Calming rock with flower

Why, if we distress our furniture to glamorize imperfections,
do we try to sculpt our bodies into perfection?

Why, if we distress photographs, mystifying the past–
do we resist getting older, avoiding future’s past?

Why do we distress paper crafts, emphasizing wrinkles,
but can’t do enough to smooth over our skin?

Why do we distress new jeans to look faded and worn,
then complain of fading hair color and aging skin?

But if a person is distressed, it’s not an outer appearance
that we can smooth over or sculpt or change,

It’s an unforeseen blemish, buried deep within,
yet it’s humanly possible to heal and resurface it.

For, unlike tangible objects, we choose what people see–
Let my inside be my outside, when others look at me.

My Story

24 Thursday Sep 2015

Posted by in Art, Inspiration, Life, Muse, Nature, Writing

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , ,

Pastoral setting in book

I’m standing in the middle of my story,
writer, actor, and director.

I choose the words carefully;
They are not scripted for me, but by me.

I choose how to play out the scenes,
Knowing I’m my own stuntman and could get hurt.

And I choose how to direct my energy,
How to live day by day, each day a gift I give myself.

The Wisdom of Time

05 Saturday Sep 2015

Posted by in Family, Inspiration, Life

≈ 3 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Grandfather clock
The Grandfather clock
swayed through the era,

its pendulum
a perpetual motion,

its steady beat
an unconscious message
to those around it,
keeping them on track,

teaching them to
swing with the highs,
push through the lows,

and enjoy the balance found
within the rhythm;

Thus, like the hands
on the clock face,

they were able to make
every minute count.

Learning Compassion

05 Sunday Jul 2015

Posted by in Animals and Insects, Children, Family, Inspiration, Life, Love, Nature

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , ,

I thought I knew compassion,
but when I looked into his eyes,
I knew I’d never felt that way.

The tenderness he offered a lost dog,
the inner need he had to help,
to makes things better for her
brought warmth to my heart.

Then I watched his seven-year-old eyes swell with tears
as they walked the streets and found her owner.
The dog of his dreams was gone,
returned to her scared and punitive owner,
and his heart was breaking.

As I watched this young boy walk away,
head hanging, brown eyes saddened by the struggle,
I knew he was learning doing the right thing
can feel wrong sometimes,
but I could also see that he can’t help but be who he is,
and that he’d do it again.

Power of a Raindrop book

06 Saturday Jun 2015

Posted by in Animals and Insects, Art, Children, Family, Health, Humor, Inspiration, Life, Love, Mountains, Nature, Philosophy, Seasonal, Weather, Writing

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Power of a Raindrop cover

I’m excited to share that I now have a book of poetry, Power of a Raindrop, published and available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and through the publisher. If you order from the publisher, the first 10 to order will receive 15% off the retail price. http://shop.ravenbooks.net.

Acrostic About Trust Challenge

17 Tuesday Feb 2015

Posted by in Children, Family, Inspiration, Life, Love, Poetic Challenges

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

A child holds your hand, and
before she knows it, she’s
caught up in the steps and
doesn’t realize you’ve let go, so
easily she goes forward on her own.

And before you know it, she’s on a
bicycle, swaying, weaving,
caught up in the forward motion,
determined to ride without training wheels,
evidently unaware when you let go.

And it seems only too quickly, she gives up
bicycling, her third or fourth by now,
caring only to get behind the wheel,
driving with you as her instructor,
each lesson a little easier than the last.

From day one, you were there with her,
growing closer day by day,
her trust of you so complete.
It only seems natural,
judging by her successes, that you
know you’ve been there for her, and that you
love and trust her enough to let her go.

2/17/15

This is an acrostic variation about trust. The first three stanzas begin in succession, a-e; the last stanza’s format is f-l. The assignment also suggested internal rhymes. I played some with full rhyme, slant rhyme, assonance, and alliteration. What a fun challenge.

I Can See Clearly Now

06 Friday Feb 2015

Posted by in Family, Inspiration, Life, Love

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

sunset beach mother

I never envisioned
a sunset without oranges and reds and yellows.

I never thought blurry vision could be
anything but a view through streaming tears.

And I never dreamed I might not see your smile again
or see the love in your eyes as you look into mine.

However, as we oftentimes do,
I had taken something precious for granted.
I lost sight of things for just a little while,
though I’m sure it was a gift in disguise, for
I learned to cherish my eyesight, each and every day.

Shadowy Figures of Peace

03 Tuesday Feb 2015

Posted by in Inspiration, Life, Nature

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , ,


olive tree shadow

Scorching beneath the bright sunlight of day,
opaque olive branches seem to vanish,
replaced by dark, elongated stick-like limbs
projecting ever forward, reaching out,
seeking enlightening paths of their own.

Stripped of three-dimensional prejudices,
these two-dimensional silhouettes
criss-cross traditional barriers,
offering friendship and peace along their way.

Occasionally, progress seems to rescind as
clouds drape across the sun,
causing an unsettling interlude;
but hope is afloat as another act begins,
alit with shadowy figures of peace.

Bookmarked

20 Tuesday Jan 2015

Posted by in Art, Family, Inspiration, Writing

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

IMG_0269-0

Countless pages marked,
labeled as favorite,
grouped, regrouped,
synced and shared.

Now, literally hundreds
of electronic bookmarks
clutter my browser,
rarely used, oft forgotten.

Yet ask me about the single cross
Grandma crocheted for me

and I can tell you not only the
favorite passages it marked, but also
where it is at any given moment,
and what bookmarks mean to me.

Little Red Coupe

17 Saturday Jan 2015

Posted by in Family, Inspiration, Life

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

, , , , ,

Although contorted accordion-style,
he sat proud behind the well-worn steering wheel
of his MG sportster bargain.
“I bought her to restore,” he said, patting the dash.

I cringed as the creaking hinges
of the passenger door allowed me in;
Yet, it was a “little red coupe”, and
I felt so tall and special in my seat.

Revving the engine for effect, then stomping it,
we slung gravel and pealed out the driveway.
Indy 500, here we come; or so we dreamed as
he hammered the accelerator to the floorboard.
I watched the speedometer pass 60, then 70, then…

It didn’t matter we could see the road through the floorboard;
and it didn’t matter we had to shout to be heard above the
roaring bursts of an untuned engine.
We were two against the road.

After a while, I no longer noticed the
vibrations and rumbles of years of neglect,
and I could see his vision as we neared the finish line,
friends and family cheering us on.

A Lesson in Alcohol Ink

23 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by in Art, Inspiration, Life, Nature

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

“If I mention blue,” the artist asked,
“what word or phrase comes to mind.
How about orange? And green?
Now hold these thoughts as you
work with the inks on your paper.
You’ll be amazed at what happens.”

Focusing, a word and color at a time,
I drizzled and swirled, watching
ink flow together as if self-directed.

Each color changed the painting, and soon
green and orange were blending, creating
evergreen and earth-toned mountains while
orange refracted into an arched sunset
against the now azure sky.

Calmness and warmth filled me, and
I settled into a meditative peace as I laid my painting to dry.

A slight miscalculation by my neighbor, however,
and his dropper full of purple ink hit my paper.
I found myself trying to “fix” my painting,
forgetting that I cannot change anyone’s thoughts or colors
but my own.

My Golden Autumn

26 Sunday Oct 2014

Posted by in Family, Health, Inspiration, Life, Love, Nature, Philosophy

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

I love the season of autumn
where the colors softly change
from greens to autumn hues.

Blessed with warmer days,
refreshed by cooler nights,
these changes are inevitable,
and they’ll happen to me and you

as we softly enter our autumn,
the last season of our life,
may we see golden treasures
both old and new alike.

My Superhero

17 Friday Oct 2014

Posted by in Humor, Inspiration, Life, Love

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

, , , , , ,

Some soar toward a target, their
red or black cape catching the wind
as they zoom in to battle.
Some defend with swords
and light sabers, dueling until
their enemy concedes defeat.

For others, it’s more subtle,
like an EMT attending to
a heart attack victim, or
the fabled Robin Hood,
equalizing the haves and have-nots.

But for me, it was when you
rescued me from myself and
offered me a part of your world.
That’s when I knew you were my
Superhero, someone I could
count on for the rest of my life.

Recharging the Brain

03 Friday Oct 2014

Posted by in Inspiration, Life, Philosophy

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , ,

I took my brain for a test drive–
Revved her up to check her speed,
tested her powerful engine,
then slamming the brakes to a stop,
I shifted into neutral so I could
idle, become steadfast at the helm.

The motor speedway wasn’t far;
It followed the path, memory lane.
Drivewise, she met expectations;
Neutral was fueled by love and
where I recharged by reading.
Driving forward, I feel centered,
enjoying the next journey in my life.

Universal Language

02 Thursday Oct 2014

Posted by in Inspiration, Life

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , ,

Bee-bop a diddly do
A ring a ding a dong;
Silly little syllables
create a happy song.

Bam, bang, crackle, crash
Ga-rump-a-rump-a-roo;
Now these rougher syllables
I’d rather not even use.

But they all serve a purpose,
and get the point across;
Though they’ve little meaning
they express emotions well.

And so it is with music,
Universal across all lands;
Understood by every tongue,
yet with nary a word sung,
its volume and intonations
convey the feeling among.

10/2/14

Encouraged

26 Thursday Jun 2014

Posted by in Inspiration, Love, Thoughtful Thursday

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

20140501-213156.jpg

Because you love me I have much achieved,
Had you despised me then I must have failed,
But since I knew you trusted and believed,
I could not disappoint you and so prevailed.

Paul Laurence Dunbar (June 27, 1872 – February 9, 1906) was an African- American poet, novelist, and playwright of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Looking Through Her Eyes

17 Tuesday Jun 2014

Posted by in Animals and Insects, Children, Inspiration, Life, Nature

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , , ,

If I could see what she actually
sees as snippets of life
come her way for the very first time,
everything so fresh and new, yet
words unavailable to her,

I would have lots of colors and
movement in everything, with
laughter and excitement everywhere.

I would float with the butterflies,
swirling colors to brighten the world.

I would sing with nightingales,
trilling tones of comfort and cheer, and

I would dance like a fairy princess,
bestowing happiness with my wand.

There would be pure wonder and joy
as I looked at life through her eyes,
the eyes of a child.

 

Child smiling

Saved the Best for Last

16 Monday Jun 2014

Posted by in Inspiration, Life, Philosophy

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , ,

The most athletic were always
chosen as team captains,
so naturally, physical education
teachers never picked me.

I had high hopes, though,
that the captain would pick me first.
I held my head high with pride,
focusing until she caught my eye.
I just knew if she saw my enthusiasm,
she’d for sure pick me right away.

Had we connected? She’d looked
right at me (or so I thought).
Then she called on her best friend
to be by her side.

That’s okay. BFF’s should
be on the same team.

Now, though. Now she’ll pick me.
And she looked right at me…
and called someone else.

Okay. I get it.
She just didn’t want it to look like
she was playing favorites by picking me next.

Third? Fourth? My hopes faded and
I began to slump. Head downcast,
feet nervously shuffling the dry dirt,
I waited what seemed like forever
before I heard my name.

As I sauntered to our bench,
I heard the team captain call out
one more name. Could it possibly be!

I looked up to discover that, indeed,
My BFF and I would be sharing the bench.

It doesn’t matter if you’re first, middle or last chosen;
every position has an upside.

BFF: youngish slang for Best Friends Forever

You Would’ve Loved the Day

15 Sunday Jun 2014

Posted by in Family, Inspiration, Life, Love, Seasonal

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , , ,

A tribute to my father, who passed away last year.

The church still shone with Christmas,
and personal touches of you were there:
A handmade quilt that you made,
plants and flowers that you loved,
recognition of National Guard duty,
saddened faces of lives you had touched.

You had been called home, and after this day,
I’ll not be able to touch your face,
nor see the twinkle reflected in your eyes
when you smile. I’ll not be able to hear your
child-like excitement as we celebrate Christmas,
the season of your birth and your death.

Yet, I did not protest or fuss;
It was time that your suffering end,
and this day, well,
it couldn’t have been more perfect.

Fifty degrees, the day after Christmas,
plenty of sunshine and blue sky.
It’s as if it were provided for our benefit,
to lift our spirits as your eternal spirit lifted.

Happy Father’s Day!

My Great Ant

11 Wednesday Jun 2014

Posted by in Animals and Insects, Inspiration, Life, Nature

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

, , , , , , , ,

I watch in amazement as the ant seems to
scurry around, ferrying her quintuple load as if
it were light as a feather instead of
the weight of an elephant.

Even as the burden attempts to take her down,
she is unfazed by the enormity of the task.
Aware that I’m watching doesn’t change her, either;
She neither prances nor flounders on my account
but chooses to travel merrily along her path.

I, too, shall live like the ant,
neither whiny about my shortcomings
nor boastful of my strengths,
as I enjoy traveling my own path.