In front of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Mauston, WI.
from Flickr http://flic.kr/p/hX11Po
Friday, November 29, 2013
Blessed Are You When They Insult You
In front of St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Mauston, WI.
from Flickr http://flic.kr/p/hX11Po
new poem - Cleaning List
clear out junk cupboard
dump out catch-all drawer
give away poor fitting clothes
throw ratty sneakers
sell lonely guitar on Craigslist
cash in gold with jeweler
give away rock collection
You might find room for the unexpected.
burn old greeting cards
donate a box of random
isolate photos in one box
toss wilted bouquet
fling musty blankets
put empty vases aside
bundle papers for pulp
You might find room for the unexpected.
Life expands to fill every void.
un-bury secrets near tree roots
air dirty laundry
shake lose unseen pests
walk skeletons out of closet
sweep cobwebs everywhere
open doors for breeze
show fears the sun
You might find room for the unexpected.
Life expands to fill every void.
Anticipate all the newness to come.
dump out catch-all drawer
give away poor fitting clothes
throw ratty sneakers
sell lonely guitar on Craigslist
cash in gold with jeweler
give away rock collection
You might find room for the unexpected.
burn old greeting cards
donate a box of random
isolate photos in one box
toss wilted bouquet
fling musty blankets
put empty vases aside
bundle papers for pulp
You might find room for the unexpected.
Life expands to fill every void.
un-bury secrets near tree roots
air dirty laundry
shake lose unseen pests
walk skeletons out of closet
sweep cobwebs everywhere
open doors for breeze
show fears the sun
You might find room for the unexpected.
Life expands to fill every void.
Anticipate all the newness to come.
Thursday, November 28, 2013
Grateful Today For...
Love's return;
she is great to be around
though she often brings her
bitchy friends, pain and confusion.
Crow calls
and snow flurries
over a peaceful field
that remind me my senses
are sources of beauty.
Friends who
make demands of our time
which we welcome because
we know they will answer
when we too are in need.
Thinking, creating
and wondering;
my often over-active mind
is the tool I use
to sort, experience, and
use the world around me.
Family can
sometimes help with
a cliche phrase like
"It will be okay"
when I am
most confused.
My healthy body;
I never know when
this will change.
-----
Note: I gave one group of my students a prompt yesterday to write about what they were grateful for. I think of gratitude as being more significant and deeper. Thankfulness denotes appreciation for what happened because it was expected or appreciation that what was feared didn't happen. Gratitude is about being appreciative of what you are given/have regardless of whether it was expected or not.
Yesterday I didn't have the time to sit down and write this out with my students like I wanted to. I'm actually kind of glad for that because I definitely need to remind myself of all of the good things in my life whether I expected them or not. I also like the idea of being grateful because since it takes our expectations out of the equation it is an act of letting go of our illusion of control.
The way I explained it to my students is that you can be thankful for warm fuzzy slippers while what you are grateful for should be the things that bring a deeper meaning to your life and add to the richness of your life.
though she often brings her
bitchy friends, pain and confusion.
Crow calls
and snow flurries over a peaceful field
that remind me my senses
are sources of beauty.
Friends who
make demands of our time
which we welcome because
we know they will answer
when we too are in need.
Thinking, creating
and wondering;
my often over-active mind
is the tool I use
to sort, experience, and
use the world around me.
Family can
sometimes help with
a cliche phrase like
"It will be okay"
when I am
most confused.
My healthy body;
I never know when
this will change.
-----
Note: I gave one group of my students a prompt yesterday to write about what they were grateful for. I think of gratitude as being more significant and deeper. Thankfulness denotes appreciation for what happened because it was expected or appreciation that what was feared didn't happen. Gratitude is about being appreciative of what you are given/have regardless of whether it was expected or not.
Yesterday I didn't have the time to sit down and write this out with my students like I wanted to. I'm actually kind of glad for that because I definitely need to remind myself of all of the good things in my life whether I expected them or not. I also like the idea of being grateful because since it takes our expectations out of the equation it is an act of letting go of our illusion of control.
The way I explained it to my students is that you can be thankful for warm fuzzy slippers while what you are grateful for should be the things that bring a deeper meaning to your life and add to the richness of your life.
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
New Poem - When Can I Say?
Afraid to, even though
in this moment I'm tempted.
When is it no longer too soon?
Caring about someone means
giving up control, while
being wanted gives strength.
Do I wait until after Thanksgiving?
After you've met family,
understand more, and
still choose me.
And what about your family?
I can get away with telling you
"I'm falling" and "What if he's
madly in love with you?"
But why bullshit ourselves?
We know it now; so, we can say
it when we choose, say it when
the words will mean something new.
Is that on Christmas day?
Our lives might be without precedent
for such a situation but
life is full of examples.
I think the world is patient enough for that?
Our new year could start with
a new phrase in our relationship.
in this moment I'm tempted.
When is it no longer too soon?
Caring about someone means
giving up control, while
being wanted gives strength.
Do I wait until after Thanksgiving?
After you've met family,
understand more, and
still choose me.
And what about your family?
I can get away with telling you
"I'm falling" and "What if he's
madly in love with you?"
But why bullshit ourselves?
We know it now; so, we can say
it when we choose, say it when
the words will mean something new.
Is that on Christmas day?
Our lives might be without precedent
for such a situation but
life is full of examples.
I think the world is patient enough for that?
Our new year could start with
a new phrase in our relationship.
Monday, November 11, 2013
New Poem - Too Right To Be Scared
The last woman in
my arms was dying.
Now, your response
to my touch reawakened
the joys of mingled flesh.
I feel vulnerable, but I'm crying
happy tears.
I want so much, but I thought
I had quit trying.
Met you months ago and
never thought we'd be here.
Now, being in each others'
arms seems inevitable. How
lucky to have this chance.
I feel exhausted, and I'm writing
weepy poetry.
I want so much, but I thought
I had quit trying.
That you are possible and real
is why I stayed up all night.
Now, I have memories of
you trying to sleep and of
how close we can be.
I feel anticipation, and I'm saying
"Thank You."
I want so much, but I thought
I had quit trying.
my arms was dying.
Now, your response
to my touch reawakened
the joys of mingled flesh.
I feel vulnerable, but I'm crying
happy tears.
I want so much, but I thought
I had quit trying.
Met you months ago and
never thought we'd be here.
Now, being in each others'
arms seems inevitable. How
lucky to have this chance.
I feel exhausted, and I'm writing
weepy poetry.
I want so much, but I thought
I had quit trying.
That you are possible and real
is why I stayed up all night.
Now, I have memories of
you trying to sleep and of
how close we can be.
I feel anticipation, and I'm saying
"Thank You."
I want so much, but I thought
I had quit trying.