Friday, July 31, 2020

PAD Challenge 28-3 looking back


Early Memory

One of my earliest memories
is when my aunt made me a birthday cake
with red roses and green lettering.
She held it down low so I could see it.
I said, “It looks delicious.”

She and Mom laughed,
expressing their surprise
at me saying such a big word.
I wondered, “How stupid do they think I am?”
Ever after, I wonder if there are times
when I make a child feel that way.

Thursday, July 30, 2020

PAD Challenge 28-2 looking back


Memory Gifts

I love to look back
and write poems about my childhood
and pass them off to unsuspecting relatives
at family reunions.
It’s interesting to get different perspectives
of the same people and events.
And when someone does actually remember
the same thing it makes my memories
less like a dream.

Wednesday, July 29, 2020

PAD Challenge 28-1 looking back


Milestones

During the times I feel like
I’ve accomplished precious little,
I like to look back and try to remember
everything I did manage to pull off.

And for one freeing moment
I forget the regrets,
botch ups, boo boos
and all the stupid things
I’ve surprised myself with
over the years.

Patting yourself on the back
once in a while is healthy.

Tuesday, July 28, 2020

PAD Challenge 27-3


Grizzly Bear

If a grizzly bear stood at lake’s edge,
growling at its own reflection,
would it scare itself?

Monday, July 27, 2020

PAD Challenge 27-2 massive


Blue Whale

The sun shone through blue waters
showing the silhouette of a blue whale
in a graceful pose, its long head pointing forward,
less than half way back its flippers curved as if in a dance.
The tail tapered back ending in a full mustache-shaped fluke.
The whale’s length is about three school buses
and its heart, the size of a car.

Sunday, July 26, 2020

PAD Challenge 27-1 massive


Sequoias

She felt like an ant standing beside
the giant reddish-brown sequoias.
A skyscraper’s length above her head,
they appeared to be conversing with one another,
their leaves whispering ancient secrets
that she would love to hear.

Saturday, July 25, 2020

Change 26-3 change


Spring Changes

Rain falling
Sun shining
Bushes greening up
The possibility of lilacs in bloom
Praying they won’t freeze in May
Like last year.

Friday, July 24, 2020

PAD Challenge 26-2 change


God’s Voice

Let my voice
Agree with Yours
And change the world

As You spoke into existence all creation
May my writing, art and music
Carry Your voice
And change the world

Thursday, July 23, 2020

PAD Challenge 26-1 change


Real Change

We put on our Sunday best
And our smiles
We greet each other
Sing, listen, and give
And we sometimes forget
Real change happens on the inside.

Wednesday, July 22, 2020

PAD Challenge 25-3 remix


From free verse poem on day 6 “trap”

The Little Things
(triolet)

Or they can make your day worthwhile
Niggling thoughts like cheese to a mouse
Little things can steer your day south
Feeling trapped and down in the mouth
Or encouragement, kindness, faith, a smile
Little things can steer your day south
Or they can make your day worthwhile

Tuesday, July 21, 2020

PAD Challenge 25-2 remix


From a free verse poem on day 23 “social blank”

Social Distancing
(Shadorma)

Repelling
Magnetic marbles
In a maze
Bumped about
When shopping for groceries
Social distancing

Monday, July 20, 2020

PAD Challenge 25-1 remix


From a villanelle from day 8 “future”

Steps into the Future

With things like holograms and flying cars,
the future may inspire and astound.
By moving step by step, we can go far.
New mysteries are waiting to be found.

Ideas flow, from wise to the bazaar.
The visionaries skillfully expound
on rocket-ships that soar beyond the stars.
What wonders lie ahead and all around.

But future’s subject to the here and now.
The big and small mistakes we make abound.
Let’s contemplate our actions and take pause.
Toward fruits of daily choices, we are bound.

Sunday, July 19, 2020

PAD Challenge 24-3 nature


Grace

A large elephant
walked down a dusty road
as graceful
as a sleek model
on a fashion show runway.

Saturday, July 18, 2020

PAD Challenge 24-2 nature


Commonalities

In a large field of pink and red tulips,
two orange tulips popped up side by side
as if excited and delighted to find each other
in a world that was different from them.

Friday, July 17, 2020

PAD Challenge 24-1 nature


Spring at the Nature Center
(alouette)

Pines softly swaying
Outdoors we’re staying
The sky’s Colorado blue
White, fluffy clouds drift
Sweet blue bird songs lift
Tucked in their houses on cue

The farm pond’s brimming
Fish gently swimming
The children are flying kites
Their laughter’s ringing
It’s joy spring’s bringing
With wonderful sounds and sights

Thursday, July 16, 2020

PAD Challenge 23-3 social


Social Distancing

When I go to the grocery store
practicing social distancing,
I feel like a little marble
getting bumped about in a maze.
I wish they’d put up arrows
in Wal-Mart like they do at Safeway
so you don’t have to pass anyone.

Wednesday, July 15, 2020

PAD Challenge 23-2 social


Social Intelligence
I didn’t learn the phrase till recently,
“the ability to know oneself and others.”
I feel smarter saying it,
though mine’s still a bit low.

Tuesday, July 14, 2020

PAD Challenge 23-1 social


Social Misfit

S ociety has a way of behaving together
O nly I don’t quite get it.
C ollectively, some people seem to know their ps and qs.
I didn’t seem to get the memo.
A ntisocial seems to work for me.
L et the crowds take care of their own.

M y friends don’t come in batches.
I like to hang out with one to a few at a time.
S ocial distancing isn’t hard for me.
F riends and socializing are important for an
I ntrovert, but just like Brylcreem, a little dab’ll do ya.
T wo or three social contacts a day is my quota.

Monday, July 13, 2020

PAD Challenge 22-4 quirk


My Quirks

I guess one of my quirks is that I sing all the time.
Everything reminds me of a song.
I sing songs from childhood:
“Camp Granada” “I Laugh When I Think of the Small Armadillo.”
“Why Doesn’t My Goose Sing as Well as Thy Goose?”
The songs my kids sang when they were little:
“Bill Grogan’s Goat” “I’m My Own Grandpa.” “Mares Eat Oats.”
Songs from my mother’s era: “Hey Big Spender” “My Way”
“I’m Looking Over a Four Leaf Clover” “Rag Mop.”
Dad’s favorites: “Wabash Canon Ball” “Big Rock Candy Mountain.”
I sing Sunday School songs: “Jesus Loves Me”
“Jesus Loves the Little Children” “The Lord Said to Noah.”
Church choruses: “Come Now is the Time to Worship.”
“Shine Jesus Shine” “Open the Eyes of My Heart.”
Hymns, “Love Lifted Me” “It is Well With My Soul.”
Songs from the seventies. “Close to You”
“Seasons in the Sun” “You Light Up My Life.”
Sometime I don’t know why songs pop into my head
or why they stick and I can’t get them out. They just do.

Sunday, July 12, 2020

PAD Challenge 22-3 quirk


Taxi Ride

She thought she was jinxed when her taxi was number 13.
And it was red, not yellow or checkered.
The driver seemed peculiar, too, dressed up too nicely.  
He tended to drift off the road when he talked.
She wished that his driving would hold his attention.
Their eyes met in the rearview mirror and she knew.
She demanded to be let out, paid the fare,
ignored the puzzled expression on his face, and ran.

Saturday, July 11, 2020

PAD Challenge 22-2 quirk


Quirks

She found herself in a sticky situation.
She was tiny and asked out by a giant.
He had his quirks, too, a real odd ball.
It defied logic for her to agree to date him.

She took out her orange pen from her purple hat
and replied that she’d go out with him
as long as she could take her poodle Fifi,
eat only fruit and wave at everyone they passed.

Friday, July 10, 2020

PAD Challenge 22-1 quirk


A Cloud

A cloud caught my attention on my walk today.
It was gray when others around it were puffy and white.
I marveled at the oddity.
Did a cloud decide to trade its puffy white dress
for some shadow it found lying on the ground.
Do we do that as people sometimes—
trade hope for doom and gloom?

Thursday, July 9, 2020

PAD Challenge 21-3 love anti love


Engaging Conversation

In a posh restaurant
A quiet corner
A flickering candle
The small gold gift-wrapped box
Sat conspicuously on the table
She sat, imploring him with her eyes
To quit talking about
The goings on at the office
The traffic
The…on and on
And propose already!
Then she caught the glint in his eye
He knew what he was doing
Driving her to distraction
Okay then
She suddenly became interested
In the workday, the traffic, the on and on
Until that ring was on her finger.

Wednesday, July 8, 2020

PAD Challenge 21-2 love/anti love



He Loves Me

I’d get out of this slump of clouds and gloom
Embrace yellow daffodils and red-orange tulips
Juggle, skip, jump, dance, whirl about for fun
Play, laugh and sing in joy and enthusiasm
Snuggle in comfort, bliss and warm fuzzies
If I really understood how much You love me

Tuesday, July 7, 2020

PAD Challenge 21-1 love/ anti love


Love Lost

Her face haunts him.
She left a chasm in his soul.
Thankfully, the scent of roses has faded.
He blinks, not allowing intruding tears.
If he could, he’d put all his feelings into print,
then burn it.

Monday, July 6, 2020

PAD Challenge 20-3 isolation


Freedom

No more isolated islands
A gentle wind blows free
There’s a sweet stirring
On the wings of liberty

All the fences tumble
All the hugs abound
When the walls of COVID-19
Come tumbling down  

Sunday, July 5, 2020

PAD Challenge 20-2 isolation


His Grace

Plunging in His mercy
Swimming in His grace
Along the path He lights
Winning the race

Wearing a robe of righteousness
Approaching His throne
Not knowing isolation
Even when alone

Saturday, July 4, 2020

PAD Challenge 20-1 isolation


Mourning in Isolation

It’s hard to mourn in isolation  
Letting words echo off walls
With no one to hurl anger at
To weep with no one to comfort
To feel ignored even when others care
To lose the zeal it takes to grieve
It’s hard to mourn in isolation

Friday, July 3, 2020

PAD Challenge 19-3 wordle


The Piano

He stubbed his toe on that blasted fixture,
the piano that he bumped one too many times.
He howled in anger and resolved it had to end.
He remembered her embrace when he bought it for her.
She said, “If you get rid of the piano, you get rid of me.”
It would be lonely without her.

Thursday, July 2, 2020

PAD Challenge 19-2 wordle


Obsessed

She felt like howling in misery
when she thought of his embrace.
She resolved to think of him no more,
but he remained a fixture in her mind.
In her loneliness, she obsessed over him.
Emotionally, she had to bump him aside,
like a billiard ball in a pool table pocket.  

Wednesday, July 1, 2020

PAD Challenge 19-1 wordle


Lonely No More
(Cywydd Llosgyrnog)

She felt just like a fixture there.
So lonely with no one to care.
Her hair tingled at a “Bump!”
And a howl outside her front door.
She resolved, “I’m lonely no more.”
Embraced poor pup that went thump.