tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8594012422118889202024-01-19T13:50:29.322-06:00Writing in the BachsThere's something about poetry that saves me… ~ Martin EspadaOther Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09189646933597252108noreply@blogger.comBlogger534125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-859401242211888920.post-25450191475357677152020-08-30T08:31:00.000-05:002020-08-30T10:26:11.407-05:00Growing Pains - 55<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">There is treasure all around<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">but you
blacken and turn inward.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">You are
an ink blot<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">on an illuminated
manuscript<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">a burning
nettle<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">in a
field of wildflowers<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">a sliver<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">in the knuckle
of a pink finger<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">Let me help
you pack<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">your
blanket and suitcase.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0in; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-add-space: auto; mso-margin-bottom-alt: 8.0pt; mso-margin-top-alt: 0in;">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">You no
longer belong <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: large;">or want to be here.</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is 55 words for Hedgewitch at <a href="http://versiscape-lifesentences.blogspot.com/2020/08/friday-flash-55-for-august-2020.html">Verse Escape</a>. It's regarding a dream I had two nights ago.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i></span>
<span style="line-height: 107%;"><i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i></span>Other Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09189646933597252108noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-859401242211888920.post-52529030978163404082015-10-24T09:08:00.002-05:002015-10-24T09:08:49.137-05:00Something New(ish)!<br />
Hi Everyone -<br />
<br />
Maybe you've noticed it's been quiet here for quite awhile. That's because I've moved. I hope you will go check out what I'm doing at my new blog, here : <a href="https://othermary.wordpress.com/">In Other Words</a>.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Other Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09189646933597252108noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-859401242211888920.post-62778219238109384432015-09-07T13:14:00.000-05:002015-09-07T13:14:03.618-05:00Neighbors<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7eGkIIGOSCOLWGLBlKzBtyYAHnahRug4EhRXHXOxeXFezz0m0PsmoELrd1Qe1SiYy36F-BEk9EhBai8_57ppY_jnJP2sL_O7jiUaZAW0bBvpETFjWMz_k0Lzu4wTnhVXkP26deMV8KmN3/s1600/image+100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7eGkIIGOSCOLWGLBlKzBtyYAHnahRug4EhRXHXOxeXFezz0m0PsmoELrd1Qe1SiYy36F-BEk9EhBai8_57ppY_jnJP2sL_O7jiUaZAW0bBvpETFjWMz_k0Lzu4wTnhVXkP26deMV8KmN3/s320/image+100.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Image by Tess Kincaid</span></div>
<br />
<i>While the adage is true,</i><br />
<i>good fences make good neighbors</i><br />
<i>don't forget the gate.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
For <a href="http://magpietales.blogspot.com/2015/09/mag-284.html">Magpie Tales</a>, carried across the Atlantic.<br />
<br />
*The adage is, of course, from Robert Frost's poem <i>Mending Wall.</i><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Other Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09189646933597252108noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-859401242211888920.post-52034074069656623952015-09-06T09:23:00.000-05:002015-09-06T09:23:02.936-05:00Tracking Time<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Take <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">this day<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It is your starting block<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">to hurtle into tomorrow and tomorrow<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">and ten thousand tomorrows.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">More if<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">you’re lucky<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Minutes, hours may drag<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">but the years screech past<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">relentless as a train<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Meanwhile, you have these<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">empty days<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">to fill with <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">colors, bright or muted<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">music, <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">white noise or a<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">frantic cacophony.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">You choose<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">today<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
Other Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09189646933597252108noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-859401242211888920.post-87081025830815341302015-09-03T14:46:00.001-05:002015-09-03T14:47:24.929-05:00Night Tones<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBM7p1_PArbfByFG2vqb0jZWtm19WQmljQ-zIewCVaPhmfganQ0ms1zA6zWrh-uJsLcqdfTXT7R_l7UGXnxaIrsed6p6lVTJos_DuNcBLPZlGIHs-b4xaYd2uZoDH_1dc-wXuy_FEcgzrG/s1600/nocturne-grey-and-silver-1875.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBM7p1_PArbfByFG2vqb0jZWtm19WQmljQ-zIewCVaPhmfganQ0ms1zA6zWrh-uJsLcqdfTXT7R_l7UGXnxaIrsed6p6lVTJos_DuNcBLPZlGIHs-b4xaYd2uZoDH_1dc-wXuy_FEcgzrG/s320/nocturne-grey-and-silver-1875.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Nocturne in Grey and Silver by Jame McNeill Whistler</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<i>Dark walls of water<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i>and sea-foam lace<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i>reach up for a moon<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i>pinned impossibly high,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i>while the woods settle in <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i>to the bed of the earth<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i>with a shrug and a yawn and a sigh.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i>Then you lean into me<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i>as I reach out for you<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i>and we bid all the specters good bye,<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i> at the edge
of a world<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i>where the nightmares are curled<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i>and the stars fall away from the sky.</i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
Over in the <a href="http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2015/09/non-fireblossom-friday-finding-right.html">Imaginary Garden</a> Hedgewitch asked us to write a piece in keeping with the Tonalist painting movement, "with 'no under drawing,' by tkaing an idea, a place, a persn, an event or a mood and quickly fleshing out a portrait of it in a blur of words. Use language to mass light and dark verbal'tones' and build up our poem in dashes of description and image. The end result should be something immediate but 'misty.' Or we could use a painting from this school to inspire our writing. I'm not sure I achieved that first bit, so the painting is one from the Tonalist School. </div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><br /></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
Other Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09189646933597252108noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-859401242211888920.post-63390091627868041932015-08-30T09:53:00.001-05:002019-07-06T19:27:31.181-05:00Fine Art<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNdJlScBA6RQX_5A9zGwCubKJtxSRvxIuO0nKd5dB-ced8KgPPu47JKWNUgTmY6ma3dFpOrntC9x-b18nnJ1l-8gC_3rM7N4Bbt9vVI-vxhh0XcvgnYBpThkAs4CmfCDBYshoQa6dqH2p/s1600/artist-in-his-studio-1626.jpg%2521Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNdJlScBA6RQX_5A9zGwCubKJtxSRvxIuO0nKd5dB-ced8KgPPu47JKWNUgTmY6ma3dFpOrntC9x-b18nnJ1l-8gC_3rM7N4Bbt9vVI-vxhh0XcvgnYBpThkAs4CmfCDBYshoQa6dqH2p/s320/artist-in-his-studio-1626.jpg%2521Blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Artist in His Studio by Remberant</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Don’t you see<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>it’s the art that matters -</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>that’s what matters<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>they say,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>not the artist<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>not the life<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>not the love<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>not the heartbreak<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>not the scars<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>not the anger<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>not the joy<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>not the long hours of boredom<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>not the sinking nights<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>not the coffee-infused mornings<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>not the growing pains <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>of body, or soul, or life, or death<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>that generated them<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>but the mill, the night watch, the philosopher in
meditation</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>or the
sunflowers, the irises, the olive trees<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or guernica or three musicians or the kiss</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>...so long as it matches the couch</i></span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Sometimes I wonder about how we judge the value of art, and in this picture, provided by Bjorn at <a href="http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2015/08/weekend-mini-challenge-ekphrasis.html">The Imaginary Garden</a>, the size of the canvas relative to the aritst is what prompted this particular little musing.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
Other Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09189646933597252108noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-859401242211888920.post-80273854874555413952015-08-23T22:49:00.001-05:002015-08-23T22:50:41.543-05:00Strung Along<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Like a puppet<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>you have strings </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">attached</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>dancing </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>to </i></span><i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">another’s tune</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>until you are <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">tied down.</i><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">For Margaret's "Play it Again, Toads" at <a href="http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2015/08/play-it-again-toads.html">IGRT</a>. I went back to Mama Zen's <a href="http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2012/08/words-count-with-mama-zen.html">Words Count</a>. She asked us to write about a power image (part art, part personal mythology, part creative shorthand part art, part personal mythology, and part creative shorthand...anything that a writer imbues with a greater meaning that it would ordinarily have and adopts it as a signature symbol) </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">in 25 words or less. I'm not sure this is really a "power image" by her definition, but it is a recurring thing in my writing.</span></div>
Other Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09189646933597252108noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-859401242211888920.post-63185434824063474722015-08-20T13:56:00.000-05:002015-08-20T13:56:25.973-05:00Making Tracks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFOHPKtgoq8DRe_ppKQuInGq1TQxJ1vWZnjBkbE3oIbXMLm8HU6txxRiGZawuFjGMTZpvICWtoWthFxBnk1OG814btvxOa52q5M0qGhmC4WKhT1vjKC4YTocKS5xY7v5o3zR9Ni9v7YfT/s1600/Rail+perspective+Douglas+Salisbury.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtFOHPKtgoq8DRe_ppKQuInGq1TQxJ1vWZnjBkbE3oIbXMLm8HU6txxRiGZawuFjGMTZpvICWtoWthFxBnk1OG814btvxOa52q5M0qGhmC4WKhT1vjKC4YTocKS5xY7v5o3zR9Ni9v7YfT/s320/Rail+perspective+Douglas+Salisbury.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo by Douglas Sailsbiry</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">My mind, my heart, my thoughts are racing;<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">it’s time to leave this land of lacking,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">cause now it's clear, what I am facing.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">My mind, my heart, my thoughts are racing<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">all night, awake, I spend it pacing.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">With morning light to finish packing<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">my mind, my heart, my thoughts are racing.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It’s time to leave this land of lacking.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">For the <a href="http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2015/08/bits-of-inspiration-photography-of.html">Imaginary Garden with Real Toads</a>.</span></div>
Other Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09189646933597252108noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-859401242211888920.post-49246328769105134832015-08-16T14:00:00.001-05:002015-08-16T14:00:25.515-05:00On Time<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I have this skein of time <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">to knit into a </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">life </span></i><i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">unraveling</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">faster and <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">faster each year <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">each season <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">each day</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">tangled at my feet</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This if for Karin's challenge to write about some aspect of time, at the <a href="http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2015/08/weekend-mini-challenge-poetry-time.html">Imaginary Garden</a>. </span></div>
Other Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09189646933597252108noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-859401242211888920.post-15214717639080496532015-08-02T12:08:00.000-05:002015-08-02T12:08:43.271-05:00Lil<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMoFQRHOb84daZMJzKQFK61amU4UueDF4VajrieAR_17xQXrZE_GU30jgFu67n08jjbMSSm2EqYVecqLZPVcgScHXAtzvGNW6RcfxLCzAso3nJ2N69YBjBPrlg4P_8VgT1IV-4GtfdTGM/s1600/imagegreen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMoFQRHOb84daZMJzKQFK61amU4UueDF4VajrieAR_17xQXrZE_GU30jgFu67n08jjbMSSm2EqYVecqLZPVcgScHXAtzvGNW6RcfxLCzAso3nJ2N69YBjBPrlg4P_8VgT1IV-4GtfdTGM/s320/imagegreen.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Image from Tess Kincaid</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Do not wake me <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>from my green dreams.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>In them we are blameless<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>perfect, and the garden is ours.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i> </i></span></o:p><i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The marbled world, blue and new</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>grows through me<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>like the pit of a peach<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I cling to, <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>fruit sweet and ripe <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>and dripping<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>with juices.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>No, do not wake me</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">from my green dreams.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Here are 55 words (including title) for the toads at the <a href="http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2015/08/flash-55-plus.html">Imaginary Garden</a> about the picture from <a href="http://magpietales.blogspot.com/2015/08/mag-281.html">Magpie Tales</a>. </span></div>
Other Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09189646933597252108noreply@blogger.com31tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-859401242211888920.post-20297392615742802332015-07-26T21:32:00.000-05:002015-07-26T21:32:15.813-05:00 Dylanw<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxPw0pLlI5-qtT1YJeGalzatjGgGFHXefiNwWzShHcI7wX4px8JV-8iKJ6vZ18iLMaWsrpE8tLqEVM64GSwzI-ceD4aucWLxKhA-z-7C8CTEyhTGM4Hhr6v2y49m9JCPjIKldc6mwdbrx/s1600/image100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxPw0pLlI5-qtT1YJeGalzatjGgGFHXefiNwWzShHcI7wX4px8JV-8iKJ6vZ18iLMaWsrpE8tLqEVM64GSwzI-ceD4aucWLxKhA-z-7C8CTEyhTGM4Hhr6v2y49m9JCPjIKldc6mwdbrx/s320/image100.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: x-small;"> Photo by Tess Kincaid:<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> <span style="border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 18.2000007629395px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: inherit; vertical-align: baseline;">Merchant Seafarers' War Memorial</span><span style="line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">, Cardiff</span></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Where <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">are we?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">blinded
and<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">betrayed
by time,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">endless skies
press down<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">with the
weight of water.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Sanded and
salted, preserved,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">we thought,
like a pearl of great price<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">lamented
but unfound and scattered<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">so my ribs
no longer know each other.</span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<o:p>Over at the <a href="http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2015/07/play-it-again-toads.html">Imaginary Garden</a> Margaret asked us to "play it again" with a previous prompt. I chose a form called an</o:p> Etheree, an unrhymed syllable
counting form, beginning with a first line of one syllable, and continue for ten lines increasing
the syllable count by one each line, as follows: 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10. The image is from Tess Kincaid at <a href="http://magpietales.blogspot.com/2015/07/mag-280.html">Magpie Tales</a> and is also posted there. Please follow the links to both of these outstanding writing sites.</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Other Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09189646933597252108noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-859401242211888920.post-77503794485141798422015-07-20T20:24:00.000-05:002015-07-20T20:25:01.730-05:00On Receiving Orphaned Kittens (or How Not Being Able to Say NO Can Lead to Becoming a Crazy Cat Lady)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbbxmerxTiI4RyETYKkZ06Tc5A3POS2nyCMGhTL33rB755QKxb2FGGSeusJ5kx17bbdNqVV8uKegXSrYATyNe4qMffj7lJjCuROM6MofOdRw8m4EAyHwYcYlKS87wVlIUMUOIeBBnYtj7/s1600/DSC05050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqbbxmerxTiI4RyETYKkZ06Tc5A3POS2nyCMGhTL33rB755QKxb2FGGSeusJ5kx17bbdNqVV8uKegXSrYATyNe4qMffj7lJjCuROM6MofOdRw8m4EAyHwYcYlKS87wVlIUMUOIeBBnYtj7/s320/DSC05050.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Photo by Mary Bach</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Meditation time <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">is confined to the bathroom<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">and my Zen sand garden <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">is a litter box<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">tended between loads <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">of laundry.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">My life is filled with <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">dry, crusty milk replacer<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">and grace.</span></i><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When Karin asked us to write about grace in the <a href="http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2015/07/sunday-mini-challenge-goodness-gracious.html">Imaginary Garden with Real Toads</a> I thought I could tell about recent events at my house. </span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My husband is a vet and we own a rural, veterinary practice that mainly serves farmers. And in our small community I'm known to be a push over for orphans and waifs, so every once-in-a-while when a farmer runs over a mother cat the babies somehow find thier way to my house. My son insists we are one litter away from being featured on the show "Animal Hoarders," but in spite of everything... I still feel this (sort of) falls under the category of grace. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJ2lRi5cg-kCfwtrc1M9opfYavV66e75WiXCuYZhQ4UNv-WjHOsr9G3l1GeE8EwJRr_vPDsBDmNSZ84irxpawT4Oi48GT538fGGuMvcRNdc06KDwc8fEETlEZUmxY8n5ZQvzhu6Xr-XOj/s1600/DSC05039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrJ2lRi5cg-kCfwtrc1M9opfYavV66e75WiXCuYZhQ4UNv-WjHOsr9G3l1GeE8EwJRr_vPDsBDmNSZ84irxpawT4Oi48GT538fGGuMvcRNdc06KDwc8fEETlEZUmxY8n5ZQvzhu6Xr-XOj/s320/DSC05039.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Look at this adorableness!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I'll close with a quote: "Don't forget to spay and neuter your pets." -Bob Barker (and me!)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
Other Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09189646933597252108noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-859401242211888920.post-82016802117522846212015-07-05T11:52:00.000-05:002015-07-05T21:25:28.892-05:00Apology<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7p8qniz8NFLf40DxY_B_DBjK8ihYBgqUqfaPdptPjIOGfS1R8Sbs5ouURvg_6cqykA-nDmLGLgeQ90vWCEZl43YpRQL_v7KBCUzexEIpCYFEzR-1H4F1nvg-qbvYKSL1yUnLs6aLOXLB/s1600/800px-Dante_Gabriel_Rossetti_-_Beata_Beatrix%252C_1864-1870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe7p8qniz8NFLf40DxY_B_DBjK8ihYBgqUqfaPdptPjIOGfS1R8Sbs5ouURvg_6cqykA-nDmLGLgeQ90vWCEZl43YpRQL_v7KBCUzexEIpCYFEzR-1H4F1nvg-qbvYKSL1yUnLs6aLOXLB/s320/800px-Dante_Gabriel_Rossetti_-_Beata_Beatrix%252C_1864-1870.jpg" width="249" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I</i></span><i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">n my dreams</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I am brave and patient<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>waiting there for you, always,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>to leave me.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I am a pillar<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>at the shoreline<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>not moving</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>not wavering</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>not receding.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Time does not exist <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>and we are caught <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>in the amber moment </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>when shadows draw long <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>and day becomes
night<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>not inhabiting
either,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>but balanced
between</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>the two </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>together.</i></span><o:p></o:p><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Over in the <a href="http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2015/07/flash-55-plus.html">Imaginary Garden</a> we are challenged to write 55 words, PLUS, if we choose, to use this image of Beta Beatrix by Dante Gabriel Rossetti, which I did. We could also use the words of Canto 17 by Dante Alirghieri. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
Other Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09189646933597252108noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-859401242211888920.post-89031339663825814052015-06-15T10:41:00.000-05:002015-06-15T10:41:03.390-05:00Call Waiting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSxQklpuSYG5SSNrGrzlxn_UI2cB-4VWjLalO2igirufW18uXcROW2zowo92s9UgwF0pit8ZAw6LY7h1WJ44fwiut_LHANb_PaXyJnHcylrhd2CWKbTpwG7U-EwSsjeu62gBdJKWahS9MO/s1600/ban%252C+sarolta+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSxQklpuSYG5SSNrGrzlxn_UI2cB-4VWjLalO2igirufW18uXcROW2zowo92s9UgwF0pit8ZAw6LY7h1WJ44fwiut_LHANb_PaXyJnHcylrhd2CWKbTpwG7U-EwSsjeu62gBdJKWahS9MO/s320/ban%252C+sarolta+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Image by Sarlota Ban</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>There is no
one on the line</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>no one to
talk to<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>no one to listen<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>when I call your name<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>There are no more wires<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>no strings<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>attaching source to end point<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>sender to receiver<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>me to you<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>What can I do <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>with these antiquated emotions?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Box them up,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>in a plain brown wrapper<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>sealed with packing tape<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>to be placed safely in the back <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>of a rented, storage unit?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Or do I save them <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>to an external sorage device<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>forever safe<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>able to be accessed <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>at some future date?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Or do I write them out, longhand…<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>in cursive<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>on heavy, scented parchment<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>then roll it up<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>and slip into a bottle<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>to be stoppered <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>and thrown to the sea?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">When I call your name<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">there is no one to talk to<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">no one to listen<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">After a VERY long dry spell I am glad to be back and linking this to <a href="http://magpietales.blogspot.com/2015/06/mag-274.html">Magpie Tales</a>, the weekly, creative writing prompt.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
Other Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09189646933597252108noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-859401242211888920.post-79558794623794591342015-04-30T09:05:00.002-05:002019-07-06T19:09:38.483-05:00Final Words<div class="MsoNormal">
Over in the <a href="http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2015/04/bang-whimper-hiss.html">Imaginary Garden</a> Izy presented us with the following writing prompt:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
A few minutes from now, you will lose all means of
communication with humanity. You will not die, but will no longer be able
to interact with the world. What’s the last thing you say? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Quite a bit, as it turns out! I've been having trouble finishing up the 30 poems in 30 days, but it turns out with this prompt I came up with a couple of very different responses. (And yes, I'm counting this as three poems for NaPoWriMo.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The first thing that pops into my mind is the song from the Carol
Burnette Show, “I’m so glad we had this time together, just to have a laugh or
sing a song. Seems we just get started
then before you know it, comes the time we have to say so long.” </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then I wrote the following:</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">If I couldn’t <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">communicate<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">with the world<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">anymore<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">how <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">would that <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">be any different?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i> ~~~~~~~</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">If I couldn’t communicate <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">with the world <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">anymore<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">would I want to scatter<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">all my pearls of wisdom,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">my humor<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">my clever, profound ruminations<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">that the world simply cannot live without?<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Look out for the military-industrial complex<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">tell the people you love that you love them<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">but keep the people you hate guessing<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">be kind, be fair, be generous<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">use your parking brake on hills<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">remember the stories your parents tell you<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">time rules your life<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">be kind to animals<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Earth is the only home we have <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">(so far)<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">show her some respect<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Remember to water the plants<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">tell your gods to stop fighting<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">hang up your wet towels <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">and the answer is<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">42<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> ~~~~~~~</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">When I can no longer talk <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">to you<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">perhaps it is time to listen</span></i><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<o:p></o:p></div>
Other Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09189646933597252108noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-859401242211888920.post-91260693448166498242015-04-24T20:30:00.000-05:002015-04-25T06:21:11.923-05:00My Wish for You<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxNygFpv9e57cdzkGQoGV00ASu4F6cPW8vHVpDiZX33nEkDjdh41X0hoO4ZgxRdSUyMLrQURYH1K4TyZz9ftQlWurTh-Ab8J7XS7VUceABzI3NU9Narn5HdemQH_wYGR_waNKHqlg5JPy/s1600/0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuxNygFpv9e57cdzkGQoGV00ASu4F6cPW8vHVpDiZX33nEkDjdh41X0hoO4ZgxRdSUyMLrQURYH1K4TyZz9ftQlWurTh-Ab8J7XS7VUceABzI3NU9Narn5HdemQH_wYGR_waNKHqlg5JPy/s1600/0.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Wistful and wishful</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">what more can I give:<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">a ladder to reach <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">and a screen to sieve<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Then twine your fingers<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">through a meteor tail<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">and whatever lingers<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">collect in your pale<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">palms and drop through <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">your colander,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">gather what’s true.<o:p></o:p></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">That's my advice </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">for as long as you live.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Wistful and wishful</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">what more can I give?</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Over in the <a href="http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2015/04/go-grimm.html">Imaginary Garden</a> we have been asked to write about fairy tales or with a "wishful" quality these stories often have. The first poem is one I wrote today, and the second is several years old, but fits the prompt so well I couldn't resist adding it here. The image is from what I believe is an open source, article.wn.com. If you know this to be incorrect please contact me via email and I will remove it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><u>Bedtime Stories</u></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Somewhere out in Nowhere
Land a songbird waits for me, <br />
and sings of things that never were, and that will never be.<br />
I’m smitten with the music that he warbles sweet and clear.<br />
He’s in the treetops high above, and yet he sounds so near;<br />
and if I close my eyes and rest<br />
I feel wings flutter in my chest<br />
and magic places far away in space and time seem near,<br />
like they’re more real than my home, and what’s around me here.<br />
<br />
Princes bright and dragons bold fight battles round my bed, <br />
and giant ogres want to grind my bones to make their bread.<br />
Witches cackle, donkeys bray and cats wear leather boots, <br />
Children run through forests, and play tunes on magic flutes.<br />
Then knights and trolls and goats come out to skip across the floor, <br />
and Irish women selling clams clap hands and call for more.<br />
So bears and pigs and wolves join paws and dance ‘round in a ring, <br />
and mermaids swim up to the shore to hear the sirens sing.<br />
Old men grow young, and strong and straight, <br />
whilst black birds argue and debate.<br />
<br />
And it does not seem strange to me; I do not feel perplexed.<br />
I shake my head and laugh and wait, to see what happens next.<br />
Then the moon smiles down at me and asks me to come swim.<br />
The stars agree. ”The air is fine,” they say, “so come on in.”<br />
I dip my toe into the sky, and it does feel just right<br />
and so I close my eyes and dive head-long in to the night.</i></span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 16.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
Other Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09189646933597252108noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-859401242211888920.post-66463132914156070842015-04-24T15:30:00.001-05:002015-04-24T15:30:58.742-05:00Perspective<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>people of ash<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>despair in the wind<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>rituals broken<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i> ```````</i></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>people of ash<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>dance with the wind</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">ritual opened</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">For PAD Day #24</span></o:p></div>
<br />Other Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09189646933597252108noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-859401242211888920.post-66031037945964913842015-04-23T18:53:00.001-05:002015-04-23T18:54:17.006-05:00Food for Thought: Are You Pulling My Leg? or Does this Bug You?<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Why my darling, <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>your legs are<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>long<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>elegant<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>glistening <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>succulent<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">said the spider to the fly.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>~o~</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I’ve<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>always been<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>a leg man<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>said the caterpillar<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>sadly<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>to the<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>butterfly<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>~o~</i></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>The average chocolate bar contains eight insect
legs. –Yahoo Answers(and you KNOW it must be true if it was on the internet)<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: center;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="text-align: left;">
<o:p><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Over in the <a href="http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2015/04/lsst-legs.html">Imaginary Garden</a> Karin has asked us to write about some aspect of "last" and/or "legs". I really couldn't think of anything, so I did what I usually do in such situations - I went for absurd, gross, adolescent humor. Really, that's all I could come up with, so apologies to Karen and the rest of the toads. </span></o:p></div>
Other Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09189646933597252108noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-859401242211888920.post-83564946939888184392015-04-22T15:56:00.000-05:002015-04-22T15:58:00.869-05:00The (Im)perfect Love Poem<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Over in the <a href="http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-perfect-love-poem.html">Imaginary Garden</a> we were given</span> the
formula to write "The Perfect Love Poem." It is as
follows: x (p + b + c + o), where P = Pattern (meter and rhyme,) B =
Brevity, C = Comparison (describe the love or lover with a
comparison), O = Obstacle (the difficulties inherent in a love
affair), X = Mystery</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
But I was told there would be no math, so I didn't quite follow the formula. Instead I give you two imperfect love poems: </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
My first love poem is more like y(p+b+c+o), where y = humor.<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Love Poem #1</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Your love is like the bite of a tick<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>unnoticed at first, then making me sick<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>with fever and chills, aches and pains.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I hate that my heart doesn’t have any brains<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>when it sees this disease <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>that brings me to my knees.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>If there was an injection <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>to stop this infection<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I could save my heart from your rejection.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>but I seem to be a philosophic waxer,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>and a crazy, wild-eyed anti-vaxxer.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">And my second love poem is sort of x(b+o)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Love Poem #2</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">You are </span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">the feel of wind<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">on my face,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">the moon’s reflection<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">in my eyes,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">the lens through which<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I see the world.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">You live <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">in the hollows of my bones, <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">in the lining of my skin,<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">in my dark center,</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">patient, waiting.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
</div>
Other Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09189646933597252108noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-859401242211888920.post-29312702622135663892015-04-22T15:19:00.001-05:002015-04-22T15:19:24.197-05:00Poetics of the Road<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6qyK1-dTFrvMcRnfLz372gpw2MP0ZokJQ_LQ_laYOZmBDNQCiNP1zquchLLk7B0hWPVJeLGGrOCFY_LiIjmqDdy-f8GXC4WopGSUNpRNSHdZaVHlkTIXVnuSi-yVaetRS8vgcnD0Akxr/s1600/278.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx6qyK1-dTFrvMcRnfLz372gpw2MP0ZokJQ_LQ_laYOZmBDNQCiNP1zquchLLk7B0hWPVJeLGGrOCFY_LiIjmqDdy-f8GXC4WopGSUNpRNSHdZaVHlkTIXVnuSi-yVaetRS8vgcnD0Akxr/s1600/278.JPG" height="195" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"> Image: Northern Ireland by Mary Bach</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Step out my dear and don’t look back<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>adventures gather ’round the bend,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>and they’ll make up for what we lack.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Step out my dear and don’t look back<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>with sturdy shoes and rain-proof pack,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>a map, a compass and a friend.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Step out my dear and don’t look back</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">adventures gather ‘round the bend.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
Over at <a href="http://dversepoets.com/2015/04/21/poetics-of-the-road/">dVerse</a> Poets'
Pub we have been asked to write "poetics; of the road" in eight
lines. I've chosen the eight line form called Triolet, which is defined
as a stanza poem of eight lines where the rhyme scheme is ABaAabAB, and
often in iambic tetrameter: the first, fourth and seventh lines are identical,
as are the second and final lines.<o:p></o:p></div>
Other Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09189646933597252108noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-859401242211888920.post-27893959804674735102015-04-20T14:02:00.000-05:002015-04-20T14:06:00.974-05:00Half-Life<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Here I am, <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>half way through <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>(if I live to be a hundred)<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>and what have I accomplished?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Not a lot…<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>a half-time job that <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I only half hate,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>a half-assed attempt<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>at a novel and a poetry book,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>half a dozen children<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>and a husband who’s <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>a half-wit, <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>but <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>gives me a full measure<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>of loving.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Meh…not half bad.</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Alrighty then, over in the <a href="http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2015/04/going-halvsies-19th-day-of-april.html">Imaginary Garedn</a> Karin prompted us to write a poem that somehow used the word or concept of “half.” Sorry, I was only half serious about this one. ;-)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In the interest of whatever interest there might
be, I have taken some poetic license in
the above poem to incorporate the term “half,” i.e. I have two children, not
six and my husband really isn’t really a half-wit.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Other Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09189646933597252108noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-859401242211888920.post-24913831909234114882015-04-18T11:29:00.000-05:002015-04-29T10:03:45.919-05:00Supporting Actor<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">“If you don't turn your life into a story, you just become a
part of someone else's story.” </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">-Terry Pratchett</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">She is a minor character,</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>the sidekick<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>the wingman<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>her job:<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>to serve as contrast, support.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>she will never sparkle In the spotlight<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>but that’s ok.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>She’s grown comfortable here,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>in the wings<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>with less pressure,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>less attention.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>She comes from a from a family<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>of safety seekers.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Her dad used to say,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>“Bid ‘em high and sleep in the streets.”<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>So she will stand aside,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>and watch the big drama<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>splash across the stage,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>lend support when needed ,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>then disappear to the wings<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>during the grand finale. </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6666669845581px; line-height: 16.8666667938232px;">In the <a href="http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-legacies-of-nimoy-pratchett.html">Imaginary Garden</a> we have been asked to use a quote from either Leonard Nimoy or Sir Terry Pratchett as a jumping off point to inspire our writing. I have used a quote from Sir Terry. While I adore his humor and satire I didn't that direction with this. Perhaps another time... RIP to Terry Pratchett and Leonard Nimoy. The the world is a bit bleaker and weaker without you. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span>Other Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09189646933597252108noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-859401242211888920.post-30494624690499363662015-04-17T20:54:00.001-05:002015-04-17T21:00:41.589-05:00Transforming Skies<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEX83gtpOwBuZaKWMsdhSalO4wxottRtcH-hYG-abxLX4Gt9-G_yEZzlEL6dk1Ce7HUkVCNgClJOx_37fCBcvYl3XQwcUNvGvyf6E7csNunrHz8QTyOyNyLM5tkafXkE5qhhZEWIlw0ARK/s1600/clouds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEX83gtpOwBuZaKWMsdhSalO4wxottRtcH-hYG-abxLX4Gt9-G_yEZzlEL6dk1Ce7HUkVCNgClJOx_37fCBcvYl3XQwcUNvGvyf6E7csNunrHz8QTyOyNyLM5tkafXkE5qhhZEWIlw0ARK/s1600/clouds.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Wiki free images</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Sun-shot, spun gold clouds<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>graze the morning sky above <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>stratospheric flocks</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"> +++<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Grey-stained spitting sky <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>crackles with power and life<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>sending out the winds<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-V-6oAW8uhP5uW4NpBwchhqdY10On6U2wmWfJXqpT7-WsGoCby2dn711k0mQZwc-X90bxYhWsISr8CyrPMs1SKljWQms5xmq0BcDZ5CQ_2KI2rSLQ9e0glAfmW_A1XPKdql3I-2nQD0Bn/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-V-6oAW8uhP5uW4NpBwchhqdY10On6U2wmWfJXqpT7-WsGoCby2dn711k0mQZwc-X90bxYhWsISr8CyrPMs1SKljWQms5xmq0BcDZ5CQ_2KI2rSLQ9e0glAfmW_A1XPKdql3I-2nQD0Bn/s1600/download.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i> </i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> Open source image</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
In the <a href="http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2015/04/transforming-fridays-with-natures.html">Imaginary Garden</a> we have been asked to write
haiku for Transforming Fridays with Nature's Wonders. This is National Haiku Day, so go crazy in 5, 7 and 5 syllables!<o:p></o:p></div>
Other Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09189646933597252108noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-859401242211888920.post-87093615643473831762015-04-16T21:23:00.000-05:002015-04-17T06:14:05.314-05:00Cosmic Egg Roll<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQ7bzn3EgzJTfrKdQMfpdVJG5txxggKYHXenxQxOji4IHVTVElaTdyL6Xkkj-NBIXi29L3P3OBTonTPETC9ScUJ4u_WYBr35zsjEUHAVljZ9EUvEd2iKzm6CqPI04wQRkCT72hKaKM3Rz/s1600/mosaic+egg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQ7bzn3EgzJTfrKdQMfpdVJG5txxggKYHXenxQxOji4IHVTVElaTdyL6Xkkj-NBIXi29L3P3OBTonTPETC9ScUJ4u_WYBr35zsjEUHAVljZ9EUvEd2iKzm6CqPI04wQRkCT72hKaKM3Rz/s1600/mosaic+egg.jpg" height="320" width="228" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;"> Cosmic Galaxy Egg by Andrew Logan</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Time
swirls across the cosmic egg;<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">what
wonders will it hatch?<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">and
what came first? the question begs.<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Time
swirls across the cosmic egg -<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">come roll with me on this next leg,<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">grab
all the moments we can catch. <o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Time
swirls across the cosmic egg;<o:p></o:p></span></span></i></div>
<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">what
wonders will it hatch?</span></span></i><br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i><span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Over in the <a href="http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2015/04/whats-your-vision.html">Imaginary Garden</a> Lolamouse asked us to write a visionary poem about an image from <a href="http://www.avam.org/">The American Visionary Art Museum</a> in Baltimore, MD. I chose the Cosmic Galaxy Egg and wrote a sort of Triolet. This is a stanza poem</span></span><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> of eight lines.
Its rhyme scheme</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> is </span><i style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">ABaAabAB</i><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">: the first, fourth and seventh lines are identical, as
are the second and final lines, and</span></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 18.3999996185303px;"> often all lines are in iambic tetrameter (though not this time).</span></div>
Other Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09189646933597252108noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-859401242211888920.post-37258703961286140552015-04-15T21:41:00.002-05:002015-04-16T15:07:49.615-05:00AnOther Folly<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I started my project years ago,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>with great enthusiasm.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I began without a blueprint<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>but as time went on<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I dreamt up ever more <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>elaborate and outrageous designs.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>But it seems the walls were built<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>without</i></span><i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> enough support</i><br />
<i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or a proper foundation.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Corners didn’t meet and<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>dovetails didn’t slide together<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>but from a distance it looked so lovely<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I couldn’t bear to tear it down<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>and start over,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>so I’d just add the next bit,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>assuring myself this part would be better<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>until the haven I intended <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>was empty and labyrinth-like,<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>echoing with the sound<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>of broken promises <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>and better times that never were.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>I tried staying there, <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>but it couldn’t hold up to the last big storm.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>It’s been condemned;<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>declared unsafe.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>From now on</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<i style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I think I’ll just rent.</i></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle">
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">This is for the <a href="http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2015/04/history-is-twistery-folly.html">Imaginary Garden</a> where Hedgewitch asked us to write about a folly; the kind that is, "...a building constructed primarily for decoration, but either suggesting through its appearance some other purpose, or merely appearing to be so extravagant that it transcends the normal range of garden ornaments or the class of building to which it belongs." - <i>Wikipedia</i></span></div>
Other Maryhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09189646933597252108noreply@blogger.com14