PA Prompt Preparations

Procrastinator 

I think my brain is broken.

In my preparing

I don’t prepare.

I work on my priorities

from the bottom up,

putting off what’s important

till it’s screaming through my veins

rattling around between my ears

demanding to get out—

when the weight of missing it
is almost too much to bear.

Travels

North Dakota

Driving down long stretches touching the sky

Fields of canola greet you from the side

Beaming yellow smiles as you pass them by

No more cars in sight, looking far and wide

Plain, but North Dakota does have its Pride

Helping businesses market their fine wares

Soaps, candles, berry jams, cards, barn wood chairs

A land of Sioux and Teddy Roosevelt

Unique rock formations and teddy bears

Its strong, enduring spirit clearly felt

Together, snowflakes provide life-giving water

or killer avalanches.

It’s all in the company they keep.  

Poetic Bloomings Vacation

Orlando Vacation 

My daughter and I did Orlando

after her college graduation.

Sea World, The Epcot Center,

Universal Studios, The Blue Man Group,

an Arabian Knight show.

The weather wasn’t warm

or cold, it was as if Florida

thought that the other states

would be jealous if it got too hot

so it made its guests

keep their sweaters on.  

Decorated Christmas trees

stood by Micky Mouse shaped hedges.

 Christmas carols played on loud speakers

giving it an other-worldly feeling. 

By the time we headed east

toward the Kennedy Space Center,

we were exhausted and ready to go home.

We would have skipped it

if we hadn’t already purchased

the tickets. So glad we went.

 The IMAX Hubbell Space program

was the highlight of the trip for me.
Truly looking at other worlds.
Feeling very small.
Overwhelmed, with the thought
that despite human puniness
God still loves us.

Poetic Bloomings Vacation Poem

It Would Have Been a Vacation

It would have been a vacation.
Packed bags, airplane flight, eating out,
staying at a hotel, shopping,
and getting away from it all.

Seeing old friends, meeting new ones.
It would have been a vacation.
Family sharing memories,
looking over old photographs.

Lots of hugs, eating, listening.
Together, working toward a goal.
It would have been a vacation,
but there was one person missing.

We helped bear the weight of her grief,
which cruelly threatened to crush her.
If the warehouse hadn’t fallen,
it would have been a vacation.

Quatern

Casting Cares

Lord, I’m casting my cares on You,

for Your Word says You care for me.

So I give You my fears, worries

and overwhelming to-do lists. 

You are mighty and powerful.

Lord, I’m casting my cares on You.

All things are possible with You,

and You know what is best for me. 

Like boulders, fear can obstruct paths.

And worries can weigh even more.

Lord, I’m casting my cares on You.

I’m tired of getting blocked or crushed.

To-do lists—thousand-piece puzzles:

Hard to sort out, all look the same.

Can’t find edges, muddled middle.

Lord, I’m casting my cares on You.

Poetic Bloomings Trolaan

Having a Ball 

May as well take a risk, she said with a sigh.

Might be our last chance to do this after all.

Must, sooner or later, all up and die.

May as well go while having a ball.

After she said this, we leaped from the plane.

Air rushed by us, as we fell toward the ground.

And I wondered, by this time, if we were insane.

As I said my prayers on the way down.

Falling so fast, it was now time.

Fingers quickly found the life saving chord.

For a moment I thought things were just fine.

Fine, I knew now, wasn’t the word.

Amazing to think what my last thoughts were,

As I bolted past her as she floated along.

A risk? Having a ball? Maybe for her.

Ah, but for me something went wrong.

Poetic Asides Prompt Risk

Risk

Going to the point of emptiness

Giving all

No safety net
Danger at every turn
One false move—ruin!
Venturing forth
Eyes on the prize
Opportunities

Adventures

Fulfillment

Taking the leap

A leap of faith?

Or stupidity?

Time will tell

Quatern

Friends  

Friends come and go like spring flowers.

Something once bright and delightful,

fading into a memory.

Surprisingly temporary.

Despite best efforts to nurture,

friends come and go like spring flowers.
They require time and energy,
as flowers need rain, soil and sun.

Some--roses, lovely yet thorny.

Some—tulips, short in duration.
Friends come and go like spring flowers.
Few are stubborn perennials.

They add color, beauty, fragrance.

Sadly color and beauty fades.

Fragrance lingers but a moment.

Friends come and go like spring flowers.

Boisterous rock song pounds on my brain

Outside, brilliant blues and whites beckon

Regardless, I squeeze truth out my fingertips

Poetic Bloomings photo prompt

Then and Now 

Running barefoot through the grass

Splashing in cold creek water

Whirling on a tire swing in the shade

Scrambling up and sliding down hills

Climbing trees

That used to be a recipe for fun.

 Now we have our children

play in the hot sun and gravel

and let them slow bake.

#4 PA Prompt What Blank Think

What Chocolate Thinks 

I’ll show her

for locking me

in this dark cupboard.

She doesn’t know

of my super powers.

I know she’s sitting there

watching TV.

I can beam a picture

of my scrumptious self

into her mind,

clearer than the show

she’s watching.

She sees my creamy brown skin.

She can almost taste

my sweet kiss.

And now I start calling.

“I’m here!

“Come get me!

“Next commercial!”

She heard me.

She’s coming.

She opens the door.

I see the light.

I’m free at last!

What?

She’s going to eat me?

Aaaah!

I’m melting!

#3 PA What Blank Think

What My Neighbors Think

I see him quite often

And the two they care for.

Their son comes and goes.

But I haven’t seen her for a long time.

Wasn’t he carrying a shovel the other day?

Better check the back yard. 

(In other words, I need to get out more.)

#2 PA What Blank Think

What a Snowflake Thinks 

I am so very small.

No one notices me at all.

My time on earth isn't long.

So very brief—the snowflake song.

If only my life would matter more…

And then the snowflake hears a roar.

An avalanche or a waterfall!

Things add up, even when you’re small.

Poetic Asides What blank think, cascade poem

What I Think 

The sky is bluer than it ought to be.

Though February, the sun shines brightly.

The air is fresh and spring-like, but no wind.

I walk, clearing my mind as autos pass.

The call has gone out early this new year,

the yearning to go beyond the mundane—

my life I somehow unwittingly made.

The sky is bluer than it ought to be.

I deal with my stuff and the world still spins.

Each day the sun rises and life goes on.

I feel dull, alone, insignificant.

Though February, the sun shines brightly.  

I’m grateful I don’t have major problems.

I drift along on an untroubled sea,

no turbulent stressors rocking my boat.

The air is fresh and spring-like, but no wind. 

I must learn to have patience with doldrums,

keeping steady, knowing wind will pick up,

when I’ll sail along adventurously.

I walk, clearing my mind as autos pass.

February 14 Poetic Asides Quatern

She Stood Alone 

She stood alone and faced the crowd.
The dam of tears about to break.
Smiling sadly and shaking hands
of friends from all stages of life.

She highlighted his finer points.
She stood alone and faced the crowd.
To her—the words just a caption
of a complicated novel.

Flashes of feelings, memories,
good and bad times passed through her mind.
She stood alone and faced the crowd.
She wondered how she would go on.

She felt guilty knowing she could.
Grief wrestled with thoughts of freedom,
of hope and joyful days ahead.
She stood alone and faced the crowd.

Daily poem

Monday Moanings

Lord, nothing moves me right now.

I’m tired of doing the same old things,

even if they are usually enjoyable activities.

I hear the clock ticking down the hallway

as I write this poem.
And all that I can think right now
is that noting moves me.

Even what’s truly exciting

doesn’t stir anything in me.
Because I know I’m going to do
the same old things today.
Alone.

But I know You are with me.

I know that You love me.

So I invite you in

to put music
and color
in my soul.

May Your Holy Spirit move me.

Poetic Bloomings Children's moral poem

Starting Small 

Two children pled with Mom and Dad

Please, can we have some mice?

“They’re so small, no trouble at all

And such a bargain price." 

At last, their parents said okay.

They told the clerk, “Be sure

They’re brothers OR sisters because

We don’t want any more.”

The kids took their tiny friends home,

Cared for them with a smile.

But Mom knew the pet man was wrong,

After a little while.

One mouse’s tummy got bigger.

And then early one morn,

The kids peeked in the cage, surprised,

Seeing ten mice were born. 

Taking care of a dozen mice

Didn’t seem quite as fun.

To make things worse, the mice got out.

They had to catch each one.

It didn’t seem like much time passed

Till the mice family grew.

Now there were aunts, uncles, cousins

And some grand children, too.

The two children couldn’t keep up

With the chores to be done.
Taking care of so many mice
Had set them on the run.

After mouse fifty-two, Mom said,

“We’ve got a mess, I fear.
They’re dirty, stinky and smelly.
Get these mice out of here!”

So they boxed up the little mice
sadly, by the dozens:
Sons, daughters, brothers and sisters
Aunts, uncles and cousins.

Temptation may look thrilling but

you may need to confess,
though it seems like harmless fun, it
May end up a big mess!

Septet

Bluish snow scene

Red barn, bold arrow

Against snow, pure and clean

Snowed-in drive, curved and narrow

Country’s lovely marrow

Pine trees, quilt like frills

Cover lovely hills

Feb 9 Catch up with a rambling poem

Not a Poem Poem

This is a rambling poem

As I sit inside my home
Trying to think of a rhyme
It happens all the time
So I just sit here and think
And maybe sip on a drink
Until the poem is done
And now it’s time for fun

Feb 8 Wednesday Poetic Asides Dead End

Dead End

The light at tunnel’s end is a train

You use the last of your skein

You abruptly hit a brick wall

Your efforts lead to nothing at all

Your road ends in a cul-de-sac

You have no option but to pack

You conclude there is no hope

You reach the end of your rope 

You sit at the back of your class

You come to a stagnant impasse

You’re at the bottom of your cup

Your only choice--Look up!

Feb 7 Tuesday

Majestic Mountains

Vast mysterious oceans

Dense shady forests

Colorful rocky deserts

Declaring Your character

Feb 6 Monday

Come Into My Trap 

Lord, somehow I’ve trapped myself

into doing what I don’t want to do.

Each day is filled with must-do tasks

inside the house alone, stifled,

when all I want to do is go out

and have some fun in fresh air.  

And when I have time for prayer

I crowd it out with useless things

like watching TV or rechecking email.

Why am I avoiding You?

Is it because I’m afraid

you’ll tell me everything I’m doing

is wrong and I’m wasting my life?  

God, I look to You

and place all my to-dos in Your hands.

You are my hope and strength.

You are all that really matters.

Yet, because You are so important,
You make small things valuable. 

So I give to You the small things.

And I ask that you dwell in them.

When I make breakfast.

When I write a poem.

When I clean the toilet.

When I go shopping.

When I take a walk.

When I make plans.

When I help someone.

When I breathe in and out.

I ask that You dwell in it. 

May Your perfect will be done.

And Your name be honored

in all I think say and do.

And whatever I do, may I love

whoever you put in my path

in whatever way possible.

I love You,  Holly Trinity.

Feb 5 Sunday Poetic Bloomings Old

Old Book 

Pages, smudged and yellow

Binding, loose

Copyright 1927, price two dollars

Electric Refrigerator Recipes and Menus

Specially Prepared for General Electric Refrigerator. 

Author Miss Alice Brady extols

the advantages of the electric refrigerator,

with so many possibilities she compares

it to a magic Aladdin’s lamp, and
not knowing which way to rub it. 

She assures readers “the refrigerator

requires no attention, not even oiling,

and is surprisingly easy to keep clean”

and “offers health and happiness

to homemakers across America.”   

I can picture my Great Aunt Ruth

bustling about the big box

now taking up a corner of her kitchen,

wondering what they will think of next.

We really do take things for granted, don't we?

Feb 3

Freedom 

Galloping through the fields

Mane flowing

Nostrils flaring

Hooves thundering,

So my soul

is powerful

and free in You.

Feb 2

Not Amused

Sometimes

I write a poem

for the sake of writing poem.

I have no insights

No wisdom

Or longings

Or Pain

Or questions,

I’m just a poet

and poets write poems.

Feb 1 PA prompt Habits

Habits 

H ow do you form good habits?

A nd why do you make bad ones? Were

B ad ones once good ones gone awry?

I s it possible to maintain balance?

T o keep all things in check? I’ll try.

S o hard to not let good ones slide.