Mainely Write

Words found in order from the KJV Bible in Hebrews 4: 12-16.  The knowledge that I can come boldly has been such a wonderful comfort to me. In Need The Word is quick and powerful piercing the heart; Come boldly obtain mercy and grace. by Donna JT Smith

Here's a repost of something posted earlier in the year, that I thought worthy of another look, or a look once, maybe you missed it. DL Hammons is hosting this Deja Vu Blogfest , so go on over and check out the links to the best posts of 2017 that you may have missed.  Sign up yourself!  Find your post you thought was missed by many or deserves another look and read! Here's mine from October 9, 2017: Good Morning, Sunshine! When I wrote the title, it suddenly came to me that my mother used to say that to me in the morning when I awoke.  I could almost hear her happy voice saying, "Good morning, Sunshine!" to me.  I wonder if I was "sunshine" in the morning, or if she was just trying to "make it so"!  Ah, we'll never know. At any rate, I'm sitting here in the dark of morning, having just brewed some coffee atop our billowing painter's wrap countertop.  And I am going to go have me some... Note paper cup...I don't

My found poem this Sunday, is from Psalm 92: 12-14 in the King James Version of the Holy Bible.  Please enjoy it with me here first.  Then my poem follows with words taken in order from the verse to make a new poem, always attempting to keep the meaning and truth of the Bible intact. Psalm 92:12-14 King James Version (KJV) 12  The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13  Those that be planted in the house of the Lord shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14  They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; Flourish The righteous  shall grow planted in the house of God; In old age they shall be flourishing. by Donna JT Smith, 2017 My word in 2018 for my year-long focus is "FLOURISH".  (So far, anyway - I think it is going to work!) Have a blessed and joyous Christmas.  If Santa comes to your house tonight, that is truly wonderful.  If Jesus comes

I've been contemplating a new word for my 2018 focus.  Two years ago it was BOLD.  Last year I had REACH.  I had words a couple of years before that, but I mostly forgot them mid-January until I struck BOLD. I'm mulling now, what the future holds and what would be an appropriate focus for me, and I am almost ready to sign up to foster a word. Starbucks has an ornament this Christmas that says "FLOURISH", and I keep being drawn to it.  I'm not sure I like it yet, but it almost seems to have chosen me.  I wonder why?  Am I to flourish or find ways to flourish - to grow even though I'm at a time of life when you don't really think of growing or branching out.  Am I to add a flourish to things - a bit of a wave of the hand, a curlicue, a cherry on top?  Am I to help others to flourish?  And then there's the musical flourish. I bought the ornament.  It's on my tree now. And I'm trying out "flourish" this week.  Let's see if C

On Sunday's I take a part from the KJV Bible and basically cross out, until I find my poem, in order, but do not change meanings. Today's found poem is from Luke Chapter 2, verses 1 through 19. Luke 2: 1-19 To shepherds in the fields The angel said, "Go, see." When they had seen, they told. All that heard wondered; But Mary pondered. by Donna JT Smith

On Tuesday, I had been sick, and though I felt better, I remained sick until yesterday morning.  I ate my first real food since Saturday afternoon.  It was a glorious breakfast.  I like how good food tastes and feels when you haven't had much more than juice and tea and maybe a bit of applesauce and a handful of Cheerios (oh, I'm so glad those are gluten free - though they don't work on a low carb diet - but who cares when that's all that wants to be in your tumbly). At any rate, at some points I felt a little better and wrote.  This write was one response to a picture I'd seen of high heels.  You may have been here on Tuesday , in which case I apologize for putting you through the poem again.  If not, here you go, sans apology! This also was put in my head I think, because of what a dear teacher friend had said to me once years ago.  The first day she saw me, I came into school for my interview.  I had on open toed heels (I was young and wanted to make a good i

Ginger is in a duplicate of my chair.  She likes it, too. I sat awake in my winter chair all night, unless I was pacing or going elsewhere...  for the second night this week, and it's only Tuesday.  I am going to be ultra careful of what I put in my stomach today.  I'll wait until something has been in there for at least an hour before I try something light and new.  And I'll nap.  Lots. The thing I am struck with though, is that a number of lines came to me that were supposed to be written down in a poem.  They just suddenly showed up and flowed through my brain, but I had nowhere to write and nothing to write with, and I just didn't have the sense to hold onto it for long at all.  I had to just let it go.  But I know it was, well, I remember feeling like it was good at the time.  But it was somewhere between 2 am and 3:30 am I believe and my mind wasn't holding onto much.  I wish I'd been able to write it down to keep, but at the same time I

It is Monday and there is snow on the ground.  It is cold.  I have been sick again.  Feeling quite a bit better this afternoon.  Tired from staying up all night Saturday into Sunday.  Slept well last night though.  Still catching up on sleep and may take a nap in just a bit.  The sun is beautiful today.  I like how it is warm through the windows. Haiku to the winter: its sun and my chair: Winter Chair Blanketed in sun Winter chair fits to a tea Warming words and heart.  It is not yet winter, and not yet 2018.  I had a year to write a poem a day, and I got off track.  I am going to go back over the year and see how much I got off track, and how much I actually did write.  Oh, I should count all the poems I did for the two books I wrote.  That is a fair number right there.  And I need to remember what I wrote and put on other blogs throughout the year.  So maybe I'm not terribly, horribly awful at keeping my resolution of a poem a day.  It may not have been a poem a day

Psalm 139 Thou knowest my thought Made in secret, unperfect; Precious are thy thoughts! by Donna JT Smith Found poem: a haiku from Psalm 139, KJV Bible.

The moon is gorgeous tonight. I'm feeling better. So good day all around. A lemon haiku for today: lemony moon rose tonight's journey well crafted across starry maze by Donna JT Smith I had a package from my Winter Exchange in the mail when I returned from PA!  Michelle Kogan sent me a too-cute package which I meant to take a picture of before ripping it open.  It was red tissue with straw raffia ribbon.  I set it aside to take a picture at least with the wrapping, but before I could do that, my cat discovered it and ate half the straw.  Then he threw it up on the basement stairs for me since it didn't settle well he said.  So I didn't get a picture of the wrapping.  It was gross by the time I got to it. But the insides are still wonderful! So I took two pictures... Inside was a small handstitched journal with a beautiful picture by Michelle on the cover.  I am going to have to decide carefully what it is that I want to write in it.  I don&#

Today's hostess, Irene Latham, is gathering us to reflect on our OLW for this year.  Mine is REACH. It was a "stretch" for me to pick this word.  I don't see myself as a "REACHER".  And now looking at that word - with the er - it reminds me of the word "TEACHER", and perhaps I am wrong.  Perhaps I've always been a reacher, at least as soon as I became a teacher. This past Sunday at church a boy, about 10 years old, sat next to me.  He had intended to sit in the pew in front of us as he usually does, but it was filled.  He is one that sometimes comes to church with another family, and he has energy to spare, and not many boundaries in his life.  When he comes to church, he sits in the pew with two other boys right in front of us.  Having him sit in front of me is always a challenge, to me - he's fine with it.  I want to tell him to sit still, be quiet, stop poking others, etc.  But I resist. I'm always quiet and try to focus on the m

I know it is not Friday.  It is Saturday.  But all day yesterday I was driving back from PA alone, and could neither post nor write.  I did write these two poems to go with Laura's 15 words or less on Thursday with the picture of the empty bike rack.  I was busy that day too, so never got to put them on her site.  And I'm kind of sick today, so this is getting late in the day.   It's hard to concentrate. First thought was of why a bike rack would be empty in summer... then fall.. Summer Bike Rack Feet pumping Heart thumping Tangled hair Without a care - Empty rack Till they're back! Fall Bike Rack Empty rack, Winter's back! Sled replaces, Bike races; Leaves swirling No whirling Wheels And steel! Well, let's see who's hosting today.  I just have to hold it together for a few more minutes, and I'll have a  post. Okay, got it!  Mary Lee Hahn is hosting the roundup at A Year of Reading .  Please treat yourself to some tea a

Psalm 116 I love the Lord ,  He heard my voice; Gracious, merciful Lord, I offer thanksgiving. Praise ye the Lord ! by Donna JT Smith

Today's found poem is from Psalm 100: 1-5 in the KJV Bible.  It developed nicely into a Haiku today.   Psalm 100: 1-5 Make a joyful noise,
 Serve with gladness, Come singing: His truth endureth. I hope you have a wonderful day!  Do something good or fun, or both, that you have fond memories of for a long time - perhaps for even longer than the winter!

I told you I'd tell you about the Metaphor workshop today, but unfortunately I was only able to attend for about an hour.  I kept hearing an insistent buzz from my cell phone across the room, and finally went to see what was up.  We had a family emergency that I couldn't deal with there.  It would require extended time out of the class, so I had to excuse myself.  Rachel said she would send me the comments on my poem, as well as the comments on the other participants' poems.  So I am awaiting those in snail mail. Meanwhile this week I helped a friend compile a book in Blurb, and because I was going to help her, I refreshed my skills in Blurbify by writing and assembling the book I was going to make for my 3 year old grand daughter for Christmas.  Here's a page from it: Chicks Just a little while ago Some eggs were slowly hatching Now you see chicks everywhere Pecking, eating, scratching! I am now editing out the dedication page and making it available f

Acts 1: 4-11 wait for the promise it is not for you to know the times ye shall receive power and be witnesses unto the uttermost part of the earth. when he was taken up out of their sight they looked stedfastly toward heaven two men in white apparel said “why stand ye gazing  up into heaven? Jesus shall come as ye have seen him go” This was an answer to prayer this morning.  I love when that happens. THIS morning (Monday), I looked at it again, and decided to tweak some more, just for fun and see if I could condense further.  And I like it better now. Acts 1: 4-11 wait for the promise - it is not for us to know the times - receive power, be witnesses unto the earth; Jesus shall come as seen go  And He is still a help to me.

Today I have a metaphor workshop . As preparation prior to the workshop, this past week we were sent some readings to do about the topic, and copies of all 12 participants' poems.  We are to find positives in each poem, making note of rhythm, line breaks, word usage, etc. As I read, I am getting a better handle on what they are talking about in writing poems of metaphor.  As I read the other poems, I am getting scared.  Mine is nothing like the others.  The others are more "grown up", more sophisticated; and some I just don't understand.  I feel like the Grandma Moses in a group of Rembrandts! I'm already thinking of edits to my poem, not Rembrandt quality, but at least more to the point of the workshop!  I have written a couple or three short poems using metaphors that I think may be closer to what I should be trying for. This growing is painful, or exciting...I'm not sure.  Ha!  I think I had those emotions in childbirth, too!  Now there's the begi

Sunday's Found Poem from the KJV Bible: 2 Peter 3: 1-28 I stir up  remembrance: The Lord will come as a thief in the night; heavens shall pass, earth burned. What ought ye to be? Diligent, without spot, blameless.  Grow in grace, and the knowledge  of Christ -  to him be glory for ever.  By Donna JT Smith, Sunday, Nov. 5, 2017

It is Poetry Friday. It is Poetry Friday whether you have electricity or not. (Update:  WE HAVE POWER!)  Ours went out at 2:30 am on Monday... see yesterday's post . The storm we had was called a bomb cyclone .  They are caused by a sudden drop in atmospheric pressure.  I guess it was instigated by Tropical Storm Philippe that merged with a cold front (I'd call it  collision, not a merging...but hey, I'm not a weather expert) right over Maine. But it is still Poetry Friday.  And on Wednesday, I had time to be at Starbucks with lots of other cravers of WiFi and coffee. I had time at LL Bean's coffee shop on the first day of no power.  They had WiFi and iced coffee and iced tea.  No lights.  Just the essentials. Here's my storm poem.  It's been fun hanging out watching people starving for the Internet and coffee. Power We are tethered to the wall, Power surges feeding all; Lifeblood's concourse, should it fall, As a leach minds nature'

Gratitude Fourth day with no power.  Still have to be careful of trees resting on wires, closed roads, etc. I am so sorry for making this long, but I started writing it when I found out the topic, and it so nicely coincided with the storm, and all the things that happened that, though on the surface seemed difficulties, were actually blessings and true reasons for deep gratitude. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Colossians 3:15 - And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This should be an easy one.  On the first Thursday of each month Irene Latham has arranged for us to post and be hosted about a topic selected by the host of the day. Today's hostess is Karen and our topic is Gratitude, the roundup is Here on Irene's site . This week has been full of reasons to be grateful, to have a heart filled with gratitude.  We started off the week, on Sunday, at church, where peopl

Sunday's Found Poem from the KJV Bible: Deuteronomy 31: 6-13   Fear not,        God        will not fail thee. Be of good courage,        The Lord        will be with thee As long as ye live.      by Donna JT Smith

In November I will be going to a writing workshop given by the Maine Writers & Publishers Alliance.  It is over an hour away, but (or should that be "and"?) I think it will be fun. The workshop is called "The Magic of Metaphor" and is being given by Rachel Contreni Flynn. For the workshop, each participant must submit one poem for critique, a week before the class.  So here's mine.  Started yesterday, tweaked and expanded this morning.  I think I'm done.  I hope so.  I'm at least finished. Caught in Cotton My life, a quilt, With coffee spilt, Hand stitched, it holds, Pieced new and old Some thinning parts And softer spots A mix of hues And scattered knots. Most threads are taut Though some uncaught. Uneven seams That capture dreams. And over there A little tear. Or was that a tear? A tear or tear; it isn’t clear Unless you hear. True blue, blood red, In layers spread. I wrap myself in Undone frays, But shed Each threa

It's Sunday 2 of my "Found Poems" in the Bible - a bit of experimental poetry from verses of the KJV - snippets in order as found in those verses. Genesis 1: 9-16 God made Heaven Land, Seas; Grass, herb, And tree Day and night Signs for seasons, Two great lights And     stars         also. By Donna JT Smith

Last week we drove through Damariscotta, where they were having their annual pumpkin fest... There was a huge crane hoisting a giant pumpkin for a weigh-in and a huge crowd was gathered - well, huge for Maine anyway.  There were a few hundred people there and more roaming the main road to view decorated pumpkins on the sidewalk. These are not your run of the mill giant Jack-o-Lanterns - these are huge, unglobal fruits that take on personalities.  And the grower of each pumpkin goes with whatever the pumpkin is calling out to them as they decorate it and turn it into the something grand it was yearning to be! Here are a few examples: We usually see the Regatta, where they have carved out the inside of the pumpkin to make a boat.  Then they attach a motor and try to ride around the bay with it.  Some work quite well.  We missed that this year, unfortunately.  But if you ever get a chance to see it, I highly recommend this Fest and Regatta! Oh, Pumpkin!

Yesterday I got part of a thought with Laura's 15 Words or Less , but didn't get back to share there.  So I'm posting today to go with her awesome image of a rescued owl. Whooo's Night mapping, Mouse trapping, Feather wrapping, Talon tapping, Beak snapping, Wing flapping, Day napping? Owl. by Donna JT Smith Yesterday they installed my countertop in the house we are in now.  I love them!  With the new steps we built and installed ourselves,   the redone driveway, and the new countertop - it has green, white and touches of garnet - I don't want to move now!  Things are coming together here!  I know I'll feel better once the kitchen in Friendship starts to come together, too...another story, another day... it is a long story. Back to Poetry Friday at Irene's place !

When I wrote the title, it suddenly came to me that my mother used to say that to me in the morning when I awoke.  I could almost hear her happy voice saying, "Good morning, Sunshine!" to me.  I wonder if I was "sunshine" in the morning, or if she was just trying to "make it so"!  Ah, we'll never know. At any rate, I'm sitting here in the dark of morning, having just brewed some coffee atop our billowing painter's wrap countertop.  And I am going to go have me some... Note paper cup...I don't have a sink in the kitchen, so we're minimizing the inconvenience of washing dishes when and where we can! Okay, I had to change to a real cup...I'll go to the trouble of washing it.  Coffee is more welcoming this way! Welcome, Fall Morning The dark Is so much Later in the morning; My coffee stares up at me With its large unblinking brown eye Wondering why I would wake it up Before the sun; And I have No Answer, Except that