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Digging In The Dirt

The warmth of the sunshine rejuvenates my soul
Along with digging in the dirt
Till my fingers hurt!

Up and down
Off the ground
Pulling weeds
Planting seeds.

Digging in the dirt till my body screams!

Distracted by birds jumping limb to limb.
I try to flirt
But they’re super alert!

So I stay away
Leave them to play
And I revert to

Digging in my dirt

Now I won’t be distracted by indoor chores
Dishes and laundry
Can pile up some more.

In fact,
You’ll find me with
Muddy knees and
A sweaty shirt.

I’m in my happy place…

Digging in the dirt!

This Page Is Lit

“This page is lit by candles of the past.” Billy Collins

A friend shared notes from a Master Class presented via Zoom by Billy Collins, poet laureate (2001-2003) This quote was his parting last line. And there is was…the title of my next poem.

 This Page is Lit By Candles of My Past

Words seem to spring out of nowhere
If I don’t grab them
They vanish like dust
Into thin air

I hear things in rhyme
Moments measured in beat
Frustrated with odd endings
Pacing, I retreat

Then I hear it…

Everything rhymes
Then sometimes nothing fits
But it’s never a problem
Just move things around a little bit

I go back… and sit

Somehow, it seems
I’ve been drawn to this time
And it’s my job now
To make the words rhyme

And they dance.  But they’re not all mine.

Remember, this page is lit
With candles of your past
It’s your turn to paint with words
Carry on. Make the images last

JEP (3/2021)

This Page Is Lit Painting With Words

The title inspired by American poet, Billy Collins.  The entire quote goes like this: "Your page is lit by the candles of the past, all the writers that have helped you to write."
  1. This Page Is Lit
  2. It Takes A Village
  3. Word Magic
  4. It's Time
  5. Winter Woods – The Year Of COVID, 2020

It Takes A Village

This Page Is Lit Painting With Words

The title inspired by American poet, Billy Collins.  The entire quote goes like this: "Your page is lit by the candles of the past, all the writers that have helped you to write."
  1. This Page Is Lit
  2. It Takes A Village
  3. Word Magic
  4. It's Time
  5. Winter Woods – The Year Of COVID, 2020

It Takes A Village To Raise A Child
(African Proverb)

“It takes a village to raise a child.”
No truer words ever spoken.
It’s taken a shutdown, a pandemic
To understand. Eyes wide open.

Together, we nourish a child’s brain
It’s the village that helps them grow.
The world becomes much smaller then
As we work together to show…

The wonders that surround them
The beauty and the beasts.
So many things to discover
By the children at our feet.

Unfortunately, a pandemic
Shut the village down.
Parents, alone, have carried on
Though, impossible to get around.

Children need the village;
Museums, libraries, the zoo.
Different experiences, other children
And trained teachers in a school.

Children need to experience
Dancing and singing and competitions too.
It was the village that gave children
So many things to do.

It takes a village to raise a child
Words so profoundly true.
It’s up to us to make it safe
So these children can grow up too!

In honor of all the parents who have worked to carry on during the pandemic of 20-21 and to all the children who are waiting…waiting for their time to explore the world.

Word Magic

This Page Is Lit Painting With Words

The title inspired by American poet, Billy Collins.  The entire quote goes like this: "Your page is lit by the candles of the past, all the writers that have helped you to write."
  1. This Page Is Lit
  2. It Takes A Village
  3. Word Magic
  4. It's Time
  5. Winter Woods – The Year Of COVID, 2020

This poem, Word Magic, was written earlier in January when so many news stories were focused still on the November election, the insurrection on January 6 of the Capital, and the upcoming inauguration. The news was filled with stories; some deemed to be false but still passionately held as beliefs, so were stories of the growing number of hate groups that few of us knew existed. This poem is my plea for people to pay attention to their words. Understand the harm that is caused by them if not kept in check.

Word Magic

“In the beginning was the word…”
And the word was planted
Like a seed in the fertile ground>
And it created a world.

The world, so powerful,
Like pure magic
Strung together, it formed
Beautiful dreams.

But people were not careful
With the word.
They did not choose wisely
Instead words spread anger, hate, judgement, and lies.

The word is magic;
The greatest gift of all
Yet if misused
It creates a dream of Hell.

Black Magic
Puts spells on people.
Opinions and lies
Spread like invasive weeds.

We, human beings, own the power
Of the word.
We need to own the seeds
Planted by us as well.

Our seeds, Our garden.
Plant with care.
Control the weeds and
Beautiful flowers will grow.

2021, let this be the year of the word.
Rid your garden of gossip and
Conspiracy theories
Intended to sow fear and distrust.

Instead spread sees of acceptance
And understanding.
Speak with love, truth, and inclusion.
Watch pure magic bloom.

It’s Time

February Love

I wrote this poem, in February after listening to Amanda Gorman deliver her poem at the Inaugaration on January 20 called “The Hill We Climb”. It was such an incredible moment. Our poetry group talked about it at our next session. Each of us has some piece that stood out to us. My focus was on her timing for reading each line – how she’d flow from one line to another without pause and then stop on a specific word as emphasis.

I then wrote “It’s Time” as a way to try her approach but share it now as a way to honor the end of Black History Month with a hope that we keep working on equality for all. It’s Time!

This Page Is Lit Painting With Words

The title inspired by American poet, Billy Collins.  The entire quote goes like this: "Your page is lit by the candles of the past, all the writers that have helped you to write."
  1. This Page Is Lit
  2. It Takes A Village
  3. Word Magic
  4. It's Time
  5. Winter Woods – The Year Of COVID, 2020

It’s Time

Sitting awhile to rest
Thinking// on my feelings today.
In the background plays Neil Diamond’s songs
to //Jonathon…Livingston…Seagull.

You know that bird who
Had// to do things his own way
And// was filled with soaring above
The normal// and endlessly// dull?

Well today// the sun is shining
Through windows// of previous pain
But like Jonathon, we can not rest in this moment
Because// there’s much more ground to be gained.

So// I hesitate to be grateful
But I do feel like// we’re soaring again.
And now that we’ve learned more about ourselves//
It’s time// to get to work, my friends.

We have to demand better of ourselves
What//have we done of late?
“We’ve learned quiet isn’t always peace.”
So we// have to bust through it.

What have we done
To counteract// our ugly history of hate?
To rectify ignorance? Speak truth to lies?
It’s time// to measure up. // It’s our time// to do it!

Waiting For Inspiration

Having some fun with words

(Saturday)

Waiting for My Muse To Arrive

Waiting on my muse to arrive
In the meantime I’ll stay busy
Maybe get some fresh air
Go out for a drive.

Words are floating
All around
I just need to
capture
some.

I’m waiting,
Inspiration
It’s
time
for
you
to
come.

(Sunday)
I Have Nothing

My words are coming in scattered
This week, no poet in me.

Fragmented thoughts
Silly images
Nonsense words are all I see.

Rambling
Bits and pieces
No focus, this week is a mess.

My muse has
Gone on vacation, I guess
And left me here while she rests.

If nothing lasts forever
Then nothing it may be
Unless that muse returns
With gifts of words for me.

(Early Monday Morning)

Seriously?

I waited around for Inspiration
But she was nowhere to be found
Then I called out to my muse
And she seemed to be out of town.

“Oh well,” I thought, “maybe another time
I’m sure they’ll return again.”
But I didn’t expect banging on my brain
At 3 A…M…! Why then?

My muse had been on a vacation
And I know this will sound absurd
But there she was on my bed
Dumping out a souvenir bag full of words.

“Here ya go, Sweetie. I didn’t forget.
I collected these while I was away.”
Well great! I’m glad you came back to me
But it’s 3 AM. Leave me alone. Go away!

Then Inspiration pops her head in
And says, “Can I come in bed with you too?
I have this great idea
And I just couldn’t wait to tell you.”

Oh, for goodness sake.
I guess I might as well get up!
I’m going to go make some coffee.
Anyone else want a cup?

Winter Woods

Walking alone in the COVID Winter

In the year of Covid, 2020

This Page Is Lit Painting With Words

The title inspired by American poet, Billy Collins.  The entire quote goes like this: "Your page is lit by the candles of the past, all the writers that have helped you to write."
  1. This Page Is Lit
  2. It Takes A Village
  3. Word Magic
  4. It's Time
  5. Winter Woods – The Year Of COVID, 2020

Winter woods
Ground hardened, strewn with decay
Silence surrounds

Listen

Barren trees
All bumps, knots, scars exposed
Reaching up to the energy from the sky

Listen

Frozen pond
Yesterday, a popular watering hole
Now protecting itself and others

Listen

Once a rushing waterfall
Hangs…suspended…waiting
Uncertain

Listen. Can you hear it?

One small trickle
Seeps through
A glimmer

Listen

Life still flows
A sign of hope
Believe

Listen

The Woods Symbolizes This Pandemic

Now go back and read it again.

Stanza 1: represents all the people who have died from COVID

Stanza 2: all the systems, stockpiles, etc. that hadn’t been replenished, doctors/nurses working not stop. Praying for help

Stanza 3: Businesses (bars, restaurants in particular) that had to shut down for long periods of time

Stanza 4: People with lives so busy, rushing from one thing to another, suddening put in lockdown

Stanza 5: Word of a possible vaccine being distributed slowly

Stanza 6: Hope returns