Mesa Verde, Colorado

The limbs and twigs

of the dead tree

like veins in an arm

stretched out over the dry valley

as if in one final hopeful blessing

before it fell.

Mud and stone dwellings

of Ancestral Puebloans,

tucked under cliffs

like wasp nests.

Dizain ababbccdcd

Spiritual Diet

This year was kind to me yet I’m afraid

 I’ve become fat and flabby in my soul

Like hungry man intent on frig to raid

My soul has dipped its fingers in the bowl

It suffers from a lack of self control

It feasted on TV and mindless games

Seduced by the old world’s enticing claims

Instead of on God’s promises and prayer

And exercise the Word, it says in James

My goal’s to shape my soul I so declare

River of Stones practice

                          The center of the cat’s eyes shone

                            like a light on the Christmas tree

                                  which she rested under.



Getting Pscyched up for January's River of Stones (not sure why I can't rotate the photo)



Moms often do weird things

when their daughters go to college:

Eat an entire pie

Get a new hairdo

Or paint prophetic pond scenes.

I think I did all three.

Her room is now occupied by a man called Froggy.

haiku

Christmas yesterday 

New Year’s Day in a week

Goal limbo

Poetic Bloominggs gift tags

Poets, I give to you encouragement

To reveal life by providing poetic clues

To give wisdom wrapped in word packages

To inspire by letting your imagery candles shine

Couplets

New Year Wishes

Wishing your year’s the best ever yet

When every one of your goals are met

When you feel satisfaction of a job well done

And you don’t feel stressed out and on the run

A year filled with sunshine and song

And solid comfort when things go wrong

For confidence and peace in pressing on

For spiritual strength as well as brawn

To do more of the things you want to do

And less of the things that make you blue

A year filled with love and laughter

And to obtain whatever you go after

When your family and friends are healthy and free

And you become all God wants you to be

Deadline

Like walking against the wind

And it stops

Meeting deadline

Now I need to pick myself up

And continue walking

monotetra

Inside the Box

My life is as common as socks

My head feels like it’s filled with rocks

So quickly fooled by tricky fox

Inside the box, inside the box

The box’s sides are tall and steep

How did I get in this far deep?

At times it makes me want to weep

Upslope I creep, upslope I creep

At last I reach bright blue fresh air

Adventure, I will take my share

Inside the box, there’s nothing there

I do declare, I do declare

PA Prompt: Box

B ox without bows

O verly boring

eX citement needed

Tuesday December 20

*

Tree

Christmas

Ornaments

Lights and garland

Bells and candy canes

Memories of children

Painted dough art creations

Photos of kids when they were small

Hand-written poems on back of cards

So much love and life hanging on a tree

Like

Christ

Monday December 19

Praise, Worship and Thanksgiving

For all the things I can afford

The fact You’re here to be adored

And that my prayers are not ignored

I thank You Lord, I thank You Lord

Your love burns as eternal flame

You heal the sick, make whole the lame

Forgiving those who are to blame

I praise Your name, I Praise your name

Your good and kind, holy and true

Your grace and mercy makes things new

I’ll stick with You like super glue

I worship You, I worship You

Last Minute Christmas preparations

On His Behalf

I keep forgetting

the guy who carries Mr. M &M around

and hands him to me

expecting pretend M & M kisses

loves his wonderful parents very much

and has no ability to wish them Merry Christmas.

So I need to make the annual calendar

featuring him each month

so he can, in a way, let them know

he loves them every day.

some kind of form poem

To My Younger Self

If I could speak to my younger self

I would say, do not be afraid

Be brave and strong

And live your song

Sing out like no other can

If I could speak to my younger self

I would say dare to learn and grow

Follow your bent

Experiment

Stretch like a Gumby man

If I could speak to my younger self

I would say rest in eternal love

Don’t fuss and fret

Neither forget

God has a purpose and plan

If I could speak to my younger self

I’d say, give and give some more

It may sound odd

Can’t out give God

He’s been giving before time began

35753

Nightmare

Lost control

Naked in public

Someone is out to get me

Forgot what to do

Alzheimer’s

Triolet

Off Kilter

My sleeping habits are messed up again

My eating habits, too

Insomnia is not my friend

My sleeping habits are messed up again

It takes its toll in the end

Balance is overdue

My sleeping habits are messed up again

My eating habits, too

Magic

Poet’s Blessing

Mood as light as angels kisses

Hope on butterfly wings

Sweet ideas as tinkling bells

Rhythm of dancing dreams

Wishing you a magical muse

Inspiration as morning song 

and whispering wishes

Words skipping along like fairies

in gossamer dresses

Wishing you a magical muse

Encouragement as sparkling dew

Rhymes like lilting laughter

Poems shining as glittering stars

Happy ever-afters

Wishing you a magical muse

Couplets

Rambling Couplets

This is a rambling poem

I write in my own home

Wandering with words

Sounding absurd

Wishing I could sleep some more

Despite the fact that I do snore

Snoring that rattles the roof and walls

And would frighten crowds at shopping malls

When I’d rather sleep quite peacefully

Dreaming of sailing on a deep blue sea

Taking a trip without leaving the room

Not sounding like a sonic boom

Oh there are many things for which I could wish

For cars and trips and clothes most stylish

But of all the things this is true

What I desire most is to worship You.

cinquain

Colorado

Fresh, mountainous

Climbing, breathing, admiring

Secure, blessed, beautiful, exciting

Red

Christmas Preparations

Christmas Preparations Then and Now

I used to get a real tree,

make decorations

and give some to shut-ins

when we caroled.  

I used to make presents,

wrap them in paper and bows

and send off packages

and hand written cards

to everyone in the family.

I used to prepare for and attend

parties, pageants and programs.

I used to bake a big batch

of monster cookies

and pass out plates

of them to friends.

I used to clean the house,

cook a huge turkey dinner

and invite people over.

Now, I have an artificial tree

and use the decorations we have.

Now, I stay home for the most part,

buy gift cards or a few presents

and poke them into Christmas bags.

Now, I type a Christmas letter

and email the ones I can.

Now, I only clean the house enough

to keep the health department away.

Now, for Christmas dinner,

I slow cook a turkey breast

and used canned,

frozen and instant

everything else

just for the immediate family.

Now, I keep it simple

so I can enjoy Christmas

instead of wearing myself out

and wishing it was over.

Acrostic

Shopping

S o at last I have a few hours to get out of the

H ouse and where do I go? To the local WalMart that’s

O pen twenty-four seven. I go up and down the aisles

P erusing the items on the shelf. And I wonder at the amount of

P roducts and offerings that I have no interest in.

I n fact, I have little desire for any of it. And I realize my

N eeds are met. It’s time to look beyond myself and

G ive to those who are less fortunate than me.

ABC Poem

A poem that has five lines that create a mood, picture, or feeling. Lines 1 through 4 are made up of words, phrases or clauses while the first word of each line is in alphabetical order. Line 5 is one sentence long and begins with any letter.

On the Light Side

Hilarity

Jokes

Kaleidoscope of giggles

Laughter

Let’s leap, twirl, dance at the joy of it all.

Prayer

Perspective Prayer

Lord, I need to make

some changes in my life,

not just mine,

but for those around me as well.

I’m feeling a little lost

and wandering.

I’m crying out to You.

I need Your wisdom

and perspective,

to spiritually climb

the high branches

and see where I’m at.

Lord, show me my path.

While You Were Gone

Like MacArthur

While you were gone

we struggled

to convince others

and even ourselves

you exist,

but you gave us

enough of yourself

faith

signs

to reassure us

you will return.

Love Poem

Love Lingers

You sat on the couch

falling asleep.

It was late,

you should go,

but we wouldn’t see each other for a week.

You didn’t want to leave.

I’ve been loved deeply

by God and other people,

but I never felt so valued.

Family--one who will be missing from celebration

Christmas Surprise

A couple years ago,

weeks before Christmas,

I was sitting at the kitchen table,

typing on my laptop,

and I heard someone

coming up the steps outside.

Instead of a knock on the door,

the doorknob turned,

the door opened

and it took a moment

before I believed what I was seeing.

You had said you wouldn’t make

the thirteen hundred miles for Christmas

and you didn’t lie.

You came early.

I guess it’s too much to hope

that it will happen again.

Traditions

Traditions at a Host Home

Our host home charge,

a childlike woman,

gets so excited about Christmas,

that at the first hint of it,

(usually a store ad in October)

begs to put up the Christmas tree.

In order not to be driven crazy,

we mark the calendar,

the first Saturday after Thanksgiving.

When it arrives, we wheel her

to the living room where she can

inspect the proceedings.

We play Christmas music,

divvy out the eggnog

and she rings her Christmas bell.

Our second host home charge,

a childlike man

who likes noise,

sits on the floor,

facing her, and listens.

After the decorations are  up,

our calico cat claims

under the tree

as her special resting place

until she’s crowded out by presents.

Haiku

A foosball

Being batted around

Christmas shopper

Gratitude

I’m Thankful For…

Typing on my laptop

Looking at old photos

Learning and growing

Dancing to rock music

Working until I’m tired

Watching a good movie

The act of remembering

Traveling to a new place

Worshipping God in song

Shannon family reunions

Shopping for a special gift

Our crocheted nativity set

Hiking in the great outdoors

When God answers a prayer

Our tree ornament collection

The sound of rain on the roof

Hugs from a man with autism

My childhood in Pennsylvania

When my writing surprises me

My son’s laugh and helpfulness

A warm blanket on a cold night

Painting with my favorite colors

Playing Scrabble with my sisters

Comfortable jeans and sneakers

A good book and time to read it

When my words touch someone

Chicken and homemade noodles

My husband’s deep voice singing

Climbing at Vedauwoo, Wyoming

My parents who are now in heaven

Belly laughs from a childlike woman

When a Bible verse jumps out at me

Colorado’s blue skies and mountains

 A hot cup of tea with cream and sugar

Phone, online and face-to-face friends

Kayaking in a bay or in a mountain lake

Playing online games with my daughter                                   

A gift that says I know and appreciate you

Being able to see, hear, taste, walk and talk

Limerick

There once was a wealthy countess

Though folks tried, they failed to impress

She’d boss them around

Till one night she drowned

No one in her realm would confess

Prompt 30 Against the Odds

This is from my nano character’s pov, and mine!

Against the Odds

Many people said it couldn’t be done,

or it shouldn’t,

that I had too much going on

to take on something so big.

Obstacles blocked my way,

but I overcame them. I grew

Doubtful

Distracted

Diverted

Discouraged

Disillusioned

I almost quit,

but I kept going

and I finished.

What did I gain from it?
Thirty poems,

a story worthy of a novel

and about ten pounds.

Prompt 29 Day or Evening

Still Traveling

It’s evening.

I’ve arrived at my destination.

I can finally rest.

I close my eyes

and see highway

as if I’m watching a movie

of what I had been staring at all day.

I may as well be on the road.

Prompt 28 Blank Story

(from nano character's pov)

North Dakota Story

When I walked into the church,

I didn’t expect to meet the love of my life.

I was just looking for some company,

some group, to join in with their cause.

But there he was,

talking about God

as if He was his best friend.

And when he smiled,

I knew

and I knew he knew.

 But the weird thing was,

we still had to start out as strangers.

Prompt 27 Tribute Poem

Theodore

Old Theodore did so much more

than what most people know him for.

He and his sister knew happy times

when his mother would chant some rhymes.

In college, he edited the Jack O Lantern

but when he threw a party, he got burned.

He contributed to the magazine just the same

by secretly using his middle name.

To be a professor, Dad sent him to Oxford,

toured Europe instead because he was bored.

But at Oxford he met his first wife, Helen.

She liked to edit and write for children.

He cartooned for Saturday Evening Post,

but he wrote Standard Oil ads the most.

He contributed cartoons to World War II

and learned animation with Private Snafu.

He wrote books filled with illustrations and rhymes.

His first big one was rejected twenty-seven times.

His big break didn’t come until he was fifty-three,

when the words he used were as simple as can be.

He didn’t die until he was eighty-seven,

then at last he went to heaven.

He wrote about a cat who was wild and loose.

So here’s to the beloved Dr. Seuss!

Prompt 26 Good Old Days

(from nano character’s pov)

Good Old Days

I long for the good old days

when we were still in college

shooting hoops

playing Killer with friends

walking on a starlit night

dancing

holding hands

making out,

all before

graduation

moving

teaching

meeting him.

Now that he’s gone,

is it possible to go back

to the good old days?

Prompt 25

(from my nano character’s pov)

Consumption

C onsuming gasoline, my motor home

O vereats like a feaster on Thanksgiving,

N o, over drinks, like the town lush. I’m

S pending a mint as my monstrosity

U ses more than its fair share. As my

M otor home ingests its daily meals, I

P erpetually spend my savings, but as I

T ravel over mountains and valleys, I

I mitate my motor home’s desire to

O vertly guzzle gallons of gas, with my

N ever-ending thirst for adventure.

Prompt 24 Gathering

I Give Them All to You

I gather up my gifts and joys

The many blessings You provide

My wants and needs and even toys

I give them gladly all to You

I gather up my strengths and dreams

My talents and abilities

I gather up my plans and schemes

I give them gladly all to You

I gather up my fears and sorrows

All my failures and my pain

I gather up my angst and worries

I give them gladly all to You

I gather up my songs and praise

My adoration and my love

I gather up my life and ways

I give them gladly all to You