Ekphrastic

I knew it was Friday.  But I somehow forgot it was Friday.  So I had nothing on this page as of 9 am today!

Here's one of the ekphrastic poem I wrote to go with this adorable figurine Diane Mayr offered for our prompt.  Although adorable, my poem did not end up being of his adorable nature.  Go figure... some days you just have to take what you are given.

Have a happy Poetry Friday as you slither through the (s)links at SallyMurphy.com.au, where Sally Murphy is our hostess today, and offering some Terse Verse* (I think she's asleep now, sh!).

* What did we retrieve from the gull who dragged off our bag of saltwater taffy?

sandy candy...

dandy!

Poetry Friday

Groundhog Day!  Yay, groundhogs!

I am having a hodgepodge post with post cards and celebration of poetry.
Link here today to share your blog post: This month has brought a bouquet of postcards, and I've sent some out myself.  Mine were sent recently so if you know you are missing one, mine will be straggling in!

I have been concentrating this week on a poem a day, and finishing my manuscript.  So this post is going to be a bit spare on MY words, and concentrate on these!

My refrigerator...

Linda Mitchell's Map Poetry postcard

A Peace Postcard from Michelle Kogan

Diane Mayr's Haiga postcard

Sally Murphy's new year postcard

Linda Baie's sky postcard

Jone Rush MacCulloch's sandy view postcard

If you sent me a postcard and don't see yours here and think it should be here, let me know.  I'll ask my husband.  Sometimes he forgets that I want to see the mail, too!  It could be in the car!

Once in a Bue Moon First Spiritual Thursday

It is the incredible "Once in a Blue Moon First Spiritual Thursday" today!

Today, try to find a verse or passage, a snippet of something that mentions the moon.  Then write to it.  How does it apply to your life?  How does it affect you?  Has it ever helped you?
If you don't have a passage, that's okay, too; I'm sure you still have some thoughts and connections to that awesome moon!

Yesterday was the convergence of many moon happenings.  First we had the second full moon of January, so it was a Blue Moon.  Then it was also the closest it comes to the earth all month, so it was a Supermoon.   And there was a total lunar eclipse revealing to many the Blood Moon (due to the red color of the moon during the eclipse).

I am so excited to read what others have come up with today.  I'm hoping it is as exciting to you.  Did you see the eclipse?  Here in Maine it is not a very clear event, and it was early yesterday morning.  I awoke at 4:45 am (which I have been doing some lately).  I had forgotten that I even wanted to get up early to see the full blue, super, soon to be blood, moon.  I was thinking I'd get up and start the oatmeal in my little slow cooker for breakfast a couple of hours later.  When I came out of the bedroom and walked through the living room with its big windowed cathedral ceiling, there was light on the floor and shadows cast by trees and the window dividers.  I went to the window and could see the full moon shining big and bright, staring at me.

Unfortunately, the beginnings of the eclipse here were happening just as the moon was setting, or really just after it had set.  So you could only see it at a good high point that was unobstructed - so you could peek around the curve of the earth!  By the time it was starting to do any eclipsing, it was light and gone well down past our trees and the other side of the river valley.  So I didn't see it.

The moon has always fascinated me.  The lunar landing happened when I was a teen.  So exciting.  We were really on a roll with space exploration.  I expected that we would be way farther along by now.  Mars or moon living certainly would have been established by 2000, let alone 2018.  Maybe we'd also have made contact with those on other planets.

I remember as a young child, sitting in the back seat of our station wagon, traveling at night to see cousins or grandparents and seeing that moon out the window following us.  I asked my mother about it.  Was it really following us?  No?  Then why does it look like it is?

And more questions. Why did it look different sometimes?  Was it really a different shape?  How come we couldn't see all of it?  What was it made of?  Was it a sun or star?  Then how come it was lit up?  I was just fascinated by the fact that the other side of the moon had been unseen by anyone, yet this side was always there for us to see.

The moon to me is the symbol of the infinite possibilities of life and knowledge, my mother's care and the eternal care of the Lord.  It is a comfort knowing that it is our night light in a dark world, a sign that God is always there even when you can't see the sun.

It is my reminder to be a reflection, casting His light wherever there is darkness.

Psalm 136: 9 The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.

My found poem from a collection of verses with Moon in them: 

references in no particular order:
Deut. 4:19, Job 25:5, Ps 8:3, Ps 72:5, Ps 72:7, Ps 136:9

The Moon

consider the moon

precious 

put forth
for seasons
to rule by night
the moon endureth 

for ever 

Please put your links in the Padlet by clicking on this space. It will open up to the larger Padlet. Click on links in it to read other posts. If you have trouble, just put your link in the comments and I will add it:

Poetry Friday - Warm Up with Poetry

In February, a group is doing a poem a day (or as many as we can fit in or feel inspired to write), sponsored by Laura Shovan in celebration of her birthday/birth month.  She has done this for a number of years now, and this will be the first time I've participated.

I am hoping that I can keep up with the "task", as I have also been reading some inspirational books, and taken up a manuscript that I put down a couple of years ago.  There's not a poem to be found in it (yet.).  But recently, since reading parts of the books, the story has been flowing through me again, and I'm trying not to stop it.  I have just over 7000 words with perhaps a couple thousand more to go.  I've read it to my husband and son, and they liked it.  But then again, they like me and wouldn't want to make me cry.  I'm thinking of reading it to a group of fifth graders as it's probably good for grades 3-5.  Any suggestions as to how to get a decent "reading" on whether it is good for that age or as a read aloud for younger kids.

I've always been well received in classrooms reading a couple of short stories for k-1.  But being a teacher, I can't tell if they are responding to me or the actual story.  Okay!  I just talked it out enough.  I will have a different person read it aloud, and I will observe!  Thanks.  You guys give good advice!  And if you think of another idea, let me know.

Poetry is a good warm up though, for any writing, so I am going to try to keep at it until I can't fit it in.  That's silly when I listen to myself...  "can't fit it in..."  Right.  I can't NOT fit it in.

Yesterday was our first warm-up for the February challenge by Laura Shovan. We will be writing Ekphrastic poems, which are poems in response to some form of artwork.  Thursday's art was done by Joy Dickson, posted with permission of the artist.  My response is below it.

Daughter

Sometimes I look
Upon your face
And I see lace;
Sometimes I see
The fire
Behind your eyes -
Some hope
Some dream
And you have grown
In days it
Seems.

By Donna JT Smith

You will probably see other ekphrastic poetry today as you visit other Poetry Friday linkers at Carol's at Beyond LiteracyLink.

Found Poem in James

Today's Found Poem is in James 1: 19-26

Let man be

swift to hear,

slow to speak;

Doers of the word

shall be blessed.

If any man

bridleth not

his tongue

but deceiveth,

this religion 

is vain.

by Donna JT Smith, 1/20/2018

Sunday's Found Poem: Joy and Peace

Found poem from KJV is from Isaiah 55 today.

Joy and Peace

As rain and
snow from heaven
so shall my word accomplish
and prosper whereto I sent it;
go out with joy,
led with peace.
Mountains, hills,
and all the trees
shall be an
everlasting sign.

by Donna JT Smith

Isaiah 55: 10-13

10For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
11So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
12For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Frost on the Pane

I had taken a couple pictures on Sunday of some gorgeous frost on the window at church.  And I MEAN gorgeous!

See!!

On Monday, I spent time composing a frosty poem about it and was going to get this post ready for Friday by copying it here.  I opened the page up to paste the poem in, and I typed the title "Frost on the Pane".  Then all sorts of stuff broke loose.  Frost on the PAIN came into my head... an ice pack... what kind of pain?  Would an ice pack work for all kinds of pain?  What would you use for a different kind of pain/pane?  This emerged.  There is a pattern here.  Each stanza has 10 words; the last stanza is found words from the first four stanzas.   I think I will name it.  How about Five and Tensome?  That would only be funny to someone who was around for the Five and Tens...(variety stores before Walmart, Zayres)
And that is how a poem can grow sometimes.  Like frost on a window pane.  It can start as something else entirely and then a little thing happens and it turns around and makes you write something else.  I'm not posting the other one, even though it was all rhymy, lilty and fun just the way I like them.  This is not any of that.

Comfort

An ice pack

may still

the pain

but not

today.

I bravely
choose instead

the filling
warmth

of joyful

soul.

I welcome

dear comfort,

my respite,

my care

all mine.

Selfishly

jealously,

I guard the joy

but will

share -

Not ice

but the
soul filling
warmth dear,

I share.

by Donna JT Smith, 2018

This I plunk down here.  I will be back to sing-song again!

 ************************************

plucked heartstrings swirled words

tucked away, releasing sway;

notes rising with birds.

**************************

acorns unsquirreled

unburrowed, uneaten, wait;

more trees in spring.

************************************

(Where did those come from? Huh. Two Haiku for you.)

On to more Poetry Friday!  Visit the poetry offered by our hostess, Jan at Bookseedstudio.

Sunday's Found Poem: Seek

Today's poem is found in Luke 12:22-31 KJV   Words are in order as found, and keep the essence of the Word.  Creativity is restricted to the choice of words retained.

Seek  

life is more     
     than meat,
body more 
     than raiment.
O, seek not things
     of the world;
seek God,
     all shall be added.

by Donna JT Smith, Luke 12:22-31 KJV

Here is the portion of Luke 12 from which it has been gleaned:

²² And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
²³ And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
²⁴ And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit? Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
²⁵ And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
²⁶ If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
²⁷ Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
²⁸ If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
²⁹ And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
³⁰ For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
³¹ But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 

Poetry Friday - Draft

Yesterday, and a few other days I talked about my new OLW: Flourish, so I am not going to do it again here! These are the links if you are searching for people's 2018 Word!

New One Little Word?
Found Poem from KJV
Spiritual First Thursday - Tah-Dah 

Kitchen window at night

There was a lot of strong wind last night, and blowing snow recirculated itself after it stopped emanating from the sky... it re-emanated, re-animated through the blustery winds.  It was a great night to be inside with power!

Whiteout - our front window view of the storm

As I lay in bed, the slightly ajar bedroom door (not closed because then the cat would be insulted and try to work his way in through the edge with his claws), a draft kept moving the door and making it creak.  I could feel the cold air on my face.  Nothing was open, but on nights like these, the wind is bound and determined to find a way in some little crack or knothole that isn't visible and doesn't allow air in at other times.

Draft

A draft arrived through

Squeaky door

Then swooshed around

My bedroom floor.

It rudely, crudely brushed

My cheek,

And I got up to find

The leak.

No open door or 

Windows, still

I felt the breath of

Winter's chill

Seeping through my walls

And ceiling

Sending bits of paper

Reeling.

When the winter

Air is thin

Wafting drafts can fit 

Right in;

But in my flannel

Warm as toast

I can ignore that

Win(d)some ghost!

by Donna JT Smith

More Poetry Friday goodness may be found by clicking on the links over at Catherine's Reading to the Core.

Happy New Year, All!

First Spiritual Thursday: Tah-Dah!

It is the first Thursday of the month, and so it is Spiritual Thursday!  Which means we have a topic and a host.  Today's topic is our 2018 Word for the Year, and Margaret Simon is hosting today.  She has written a beautiful description of our reason and method for being selected by a word.

A few weeks ago, my word found me.  Flou-rish, flourish.  When I first read it at Starbucks, I saw it as "flour-ish" (which, looking back, is kind of appropriate, too, if you think of "flower-ish"!  A flower is a fancy decoration, and it grows when nourished).

This "flourish" was imprinted on an ornament at Starbucks, and it fairly slapped me in the face...with a flourish, of course.  I tried to ignore it.  Walked past it to get my Latte Macchiato Venti, and bumped into it again at the register.  Sat down.  Thoughts crept into my head.  Should I get the ornament?  No.  You have enough ornaments, and besides that is like a fancy, shmancy, word for something superfluous.  No.  Sit down and drink your delicious drink and write something using this wonderfully fast WiFi... your online writing can really flourish here.  Ok, "Flourish", that's really enough. Go back to your shelf.  You are getting intrusive.

But there it was again a couple of days later in another Starbucks. I picked up the ornament.  It started to sink it, creep beneath my skin, burrow to my core... but it wasn't as solid a word as "Bold" or "Reach".  Or was it?

I decided to look it up in the Bible.  If I could find it there, then I could use it/own it. I couldn't remember seeing it there though. "Be fruitful and multiply" was the closest I could come off the top of my head... But a search showed me it was there.

On the next trip to SB, I picked up the ornament and set it on the table beside my computer.  I showed it to my husband.
"Are you going to get that?" he asked.

I bought it.

I decided to tried it out.  It flourished in a poem.

And last Sunday I tried it out again - it's flourishing in a found poem using the Bible verse in which it was found.

So, you found me, did you, you little spark of a word?  Okay, I'll let you guide my steps this year.  I'll see what growth, what flowers, what tah-dahs are in store!  I'm ready!  Bring on the nourishing, flourishing New Year!

Sunday's Found Poem

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

Deja Vu Blogfest

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 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 I want
To be there to greet the
New day
As it inches its way
Through the parting leaves of maples,
When it sends shafts of light
Between the birches,
To set their skin aglow;
And finally lifts the
Blackness to reveal the green
Of spruce and hemlock;
I will be there to feel it cut through the cold
Drafts of air to arrive at my
Doorstep
As I stand
With my
Warm welcome home
In my hands.


by Donna JT Smith

Though I don't think we will see much sun today, I'm up and waiting anyway!
Have a wonderful day!

Reflecting on a cup of coffee.

KJV Found - Flourish

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 92:12-14King 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, that is the ultimate flourish.  My wish for you is that you flourish this coming year.

Look for and count your blessings.

They surround you.

Rockland's lobster trap and buoy Christmas tree

New One Little Word?

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 Christmas can be done with a flourish.

Flourish

You wonder what there is to do?

In want of something curlicue?

Find something bleak, then give it flair;

Give it sparkle if you dare.

Embellish plain and duty-bound,

Adding glitz to what you've found. 

When there's a scarcity of cheer

Wave a hand dispelling fear.

Give a flourish, nourish souls,

In your mundane daily strolls.

We all have something more to give -

A bit of shimmer through the sieve.

by Donna JT Smith

And I shall stop there. Hershey's Kisses are always good to shut me up!

But one question still... where could you add a flourish today?  Will you?
I vacuumed today.  That was the mundane.  But I added my "Flourish" ornament to my tree... my first flourish, and it isn't even 2018 yet... way to be BOLD and REACH!
Oh, and I made sure to get outside for "flourish the frisbee" time with the dog.  Both the dog and I need it!

Found Poem - Luke 2

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

Repoemed

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 impression for my interview).  They weren't all that tall, but they were heels.  She remembered wondering if I'd wear heels to teach.  I never wore them again.  Heels to teach first grade?  That would be stupid!  Of course, sensible shoes and clothing good for floor sitting would be the choice from that day forward...since I did get the job.  The shoes did their job for that interview - or maybe they hired me in spite of my shoes...

photo credit: Tom the Photographer - Unsplash

Well Heeled

life started

frivolously heeled,

then grounded

became the norm.

Who walks on forest paths

in heels?

Who runs on beaches

drilling into sand?

Who climbs a mountain,

pushes a swing, jumps rope,

or wades in puddles

on tiptoes of patent leather?

Who sits any taller

curled in a beanbag

with goodnight story?

frivolously heeled

is for our tea party.

by Donna JT Smith

And I guess the title is kind of a play on words - and mistyped even when I first wrote it - Well Healed - because I am feeling quite well today.  No soup for supper tonight!
Let's go see what Diane has for links today at Random Noodling where Poetry Friday is being hosted!

After reading Diane's post, I thought, why do I say so much sometimes.  Perhaps I should play:

Frivolous heels

become

grounded -

my feet on

forest paths

on beaches

sunken into sand

atop mountains

kicking up over ropes

swirling through puddles

curled beneath to listen

to goodnight prayers -

until the next

tea party.

heels

first

on wooded paths

on sandy beaches

on mountain rocks

last

over spinning jump ropes

through muddy puddles

for goodnight prayers

Just some thoughts.  What do you think?

Poem and Winter Chair

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 am strangely happy that it at least came to me for a little while.

Ending this strange post today.  Needing a nap and some ginger.  Reversed order.

life started
frivolously heeled,
then grounded
became the norm.
Who walks on forest paths
in heels?
Who runs on beaches
drilling into sand?
Who climbs a mountain,
pushes a swing, jumps rope,
or wades in puddles
on tiptoes of patent leather?
Who sits any taller
curled in a beanbag
with goodnight story?
frivolously heeled
is for our tea party.

by Donna JT Smith

I used some of the thoughts I think I had and added to them.  Or I created this from scratch.  I really don't know.  Either way, I hope it makes you smile.  It is noon.  Naptime.  It is snowing.  Winter chair is waiting.

Winter Chair

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, but some times there were a number of poems in one day!

I am going to look back by Dec. 31 and see what the count is.

Sunday's Found Poem: Haiku

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.

Poetry Friday

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't know that it feels enough like a "draft" book!  I may have to save it and carry it around for "fancy lines" that come to  me on the go, or "done deals" that I just want all in one place.  Decisions!
Thank you, Michelle, for the beautiful journal!

And then there is the colorfully illustrated poem, An Ode for a Northeastern Wood Turtle:

My favorite lines:
"If you see me in the wild, take my pic,
draw my portrait, my vivid neck - quick!"
A great warning plea from the turtle...scram!

We have wood turtles around here, and I always feel bad for them as I see them crossing the road.  Most people are pretty careful though and they are slow enough to avoid, so you hardly ever find one hit by a car!  We have local handpainted signs up along the road warning people from away about the turtles.  We even have a welcome turtle who greets visitors to our town.  Many a picture has been taken beside the turtle, who also gets dressed up on occasion for weddings, birthdays and new babies in town!

Thanks, Michelle, for your thoughtful gift, and amazing ode that reminds us of the wood turtle's plight!  Thanks to Tabatha Yeatts for creating and organizing this fun winter sport!

My winter exchange partner will be waiting for a package for just a tiny bit longer... so if you don't have anything yet, it could be me for whom you are waiting!  It's coming! I haven't forgotten!

And on a side note:

I got a copy of the book of poems I wrote for my grandson this Christmas. It needed a few edits, which I did and reordered for him.  He doesn't read my blog, so I'm safe saying it!  I received the book I made for my grand daughter a couple of weeks ago.  Both are books of poems which I hope they will enjoy over the years.  I have made my "photo" book into "trade" versions and ebooks.  The picture books are large, and relatively expensive, so the trade books are the way to go it appears.  The kids got the "photo" books, since they were a special gift.  You can take peek at the book "It's in Our Nature" here, and It's All About the Little Things here. I have to talk with Amazon Kindle and get the ebook for Kindle straightened out, but the iBook transferred just right for my iPad!

 

It's in Our Nature

It's All About the Little Things

Please visit Lisa at Steps and Staircases for more links to poetry today and all week!

Spiritual First Thursday

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 message instead, despite the flurry of activity in my peripheral, and not so peripheral, vision.

But this afternoon, as he came in, he unexpectedly plunked down beside me, disappointed that he wasn't sitting in the pew ahead of me that was already filled with three boys his age.  He stretched a few times, and wiggled a bit, but for the most part was able to sit pretty still.

At the end of the service, as he was getting up, I asked him if sometimes he had trouble in school sitting still.  He said he did.  I told him some "grounding" techniques and asked if he'd heard of doing those before.  He had.  I suggested that he try them at church and told him how I appreciated how still he had been beside me and that sometimes when he is laughing and moving around during church, it is hard for me to pay attention.  He appeared to be listening.  I smiled and thanked him again and he smiled back.  Then I asked him if he had any trouble with eating chocolate.  His grin got wide, "No.  No, I don't have ANY problems with chocolate!"  Ah, he WAS listening.

I repeated my thanks for sitting so still during the service, reached into my bag and handed him the chocolate mini M & M's I had stashed in my bag for months - I guess for just this occasion!  And I told him he was welcome to sit with us any time.

He probably never will. And it may even take a few years for him to reach into the recesses of his memories and pull out this event again.  But maybe he will someday, and he will understand that someone reached out to him and tried to help.  Sometimes your reach isn't felt immediately.  Sometimes it is cumulative reaches.  Sometimes it is a delayed realization that you were reached for.

Sometimes I'm not even sure when I've reached or touched.  And I don't need to.

I've found since I had the word REACH, when in doubt about whether or not I should REACH OUT, I've begun to default to REACH.  And it feels good.  It goes well with the word BOLD from the year before, and both are beginning to mold my life into more active, fun and unexpectedly rewarding days.

Reach

When you try

to touch the sky,

sometimes you do,

but even if you don't,

you are happy that you

slowed down and stretched

up high and smiled

with the sun or rain

on your face. 

by Donna JT Smith, 2017

Saturday's Poetry Friday

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 and poetry today and all week!
Now I'm going to lie down.

Found Poem: Psalm 116

Psalm 116

I love the Lord, 

He heard my voice;

Gracious, merciful Lord,

I offer thanksgiving.

Praise ye the Lord!

by Donna JT Smith

Sunday's Found Poem

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!

Friday

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 for sale on Blurb by the end of the day today.  Of course the pictures and text are clearer in real life, since I've pixeled it down some for a web page.  Each page has an image, a short poem, and a question for young reader "audience".  I'm excited to give it to her, and will have to think about ways to separate it from the hubbub of some glittery toy so she notices it!  I should have added a princess page - that was a mistake

Michelle Barnes is celebrating the availability of her second amazing anthology of poems from her Today's Little Ditty blog challenges.  You can pick up a copy here:

The Best of Today's Little Ditty 2016 is available 

 in paperback for $9.95 or as a Kindle ebook for $5.95.

Click HERE to purchase at Amazon.com

It is beautifully illustrated by Teresa Robeson. Read her interview with Teresa here.

Today of course, is Saturday, but because I MEANT this to be posted on Friday, I'm linking it to Poetry Friday where it is being hosted by Jane Whittingham at Raincity Librarian. Go there to connect with lots of great links to poetry and poets!

My Five Word Thankful thought for today:

Brought to You By the Letters

Alphabet's versatility =

messages for posterity

 

Acts 1: 4-11

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.

Metaphor for Today

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 beginning of a metaphor for you.

The Birth of a Poem

She thought she knew
Before it grew;
Excitement brewing,
Thoughts all stewing,
Then came the clue
There'd be pain, too!
Sometimes a flow,
Then times more slow;
But this she knew,
There was joy, too.

Donna JT Smith

I'll let you know how Grandma Moses felt or did next Friday.
Until then, keep perusing the list of poems at Jama's Alphabet Soup for Poetry Friday this week!  Jama's serving some delicious doughnuts!



 

Found Poem 2 Peter 3: 1-28

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

Power

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's call,
So we'll wander
and we'll crawl
Seeking outlets
in the mall
Ere our iPad
starts to stall
With no power
All's a pall.

by Donna JT Smith


Visit more Poetry Friday offerings with the electric Linda Baie at Teacher Dance!