What really matters?
Work. Work. Work. Project. Project. Project. Deadline. Deadline. Deadline. Yes, it matters. But bigger picture, what am I here for? To share even the smallest act of support and kindness. To be fully present for those in my work and personal life. To remember I can't be the best for others if I'm not taking care to be the best for myself. To breathe the spring air and notice the goldfinch has returned to the front yard garden after a long cold, gray winter. Wishing you a day filled with what matters most. (Mike Barzacchini photo)
Mike Barzacchini photo
Return of the Finches
Springtime and the yellow finches have returned to our front yard. May father’s favorite bird, and mine too. This one enjoyed feeding in the late rain today (Mike Barzacchini photos).
Poem-A-Day, April 2022, Day 6
The day 6 prompt asked us to write a “blank in the blank” poem, and we fill in the blanks. I adapted this to a “blank on the blank” poem and wrote these lines, inspired by Susan.
WORMS ON THE SIDEWALK (RAINY-DAY GRACE)
After the rainstorm
She walks the neighborhood
Delivering earthworms
From sidewalk peril
To soil salvation
Poem-A-Day Challenge, Day 5
The first “two-for-Tuesday” poetry month prompt, write a sense or nonsense poem. Of course, I chose nonsense because sometimes that makes the best sense of all. This one is inspired by the beautiful Mila Kay.
BABY TALK
I delight in her
Gurgles and gasps,
Bubbles blown
With sweet breath,
Syllables tried out
For the first time
In random order,
The beautiful music
Of baby talk.
Poem-A-Day-Challenge, Day 4
Day four’s prompt, write a “catch-up” poem. It seems like I’m always trying to catch up to something or something’s trying to catch up to me.
CATCH
A falling star
That won’t fit in my pocket.
More flies than honey.
But who wants sticky flies?
A break,
Before it’s broken.
My breath,
While I’m still able.
Honestly, I’m just
Trying to
Catch up
To yesterday.
Poem-A-Day April 2022, Day 3
Today’s prompt, write a smell poem. There were so many directions to take this prompt. The smell of breakfast coming from Mom’s kitchen on school mornings. That new baby smell of our son and now our granddaughter that’s like no other joy. The distinct smell of each of our dogs. Even their stinkiness has its charms. But there’s a smell I’ve experienced a few times in Athens, Ohio, walking along the Hocking River in the middle of the night. The days have still felt like winter, but then there’s something in the wind, blowing down the river corridor, it hits me full in the face like a refreshing kiss. It smells like spring coming from another place, the smell, taste, and feel of this invigorates and promises warmer days ahead. This poem does not fully capture that experience, but I’ll keep working on it.
MIDNIGHT WALK
Midnight walk
Along the river.
March wind
Fills me with the
Taste and smell
Of spring.
Here’s an alternative version of the poem, written more as a haiku.
Midnight river walk
March wind
First taste of spring
Poem-A-Day April 2022, Day 2
The prompt for day two was to write a “second-chance” poem. I took a second chance on this year’s PAD challenge since I started a day late. I’ve always been a fan of second chances. Here is a poem about a few of my favorite second chances.
SECOND CHANCES
Offensive rebounds.
Morning-after pizza.
Betting on the ninth race
After losing the eighth.
The forgiveness
Of your smile.
Poem-A-Day April 2022, Day 1
I've started the April Poem-A-Day Challenge from Writer’s Digest again, despite my worst intentions and procrastination. Looking forward to having fun with it and maybe even writing a decent poem or two.
The day one prompt was to write an “F” title poem, a poem with an f word (not necessarily THE F word) in the title. With our early April snowstorm and still the urge to get out to plant and get things growing, I thought about how Mother Nature with her snow surprises can make us play April’s fool.
APRIL’S FOOL
Planting flowers
In the snow
April’s fool
Sunflower Peace Shirt
A few summers ago, I took this photo of a field of sunflowers near Richmond, Illinois. I digitally “painted” the photo and designed the art for this shirt. I’m selling it on my Etsy shop with proceeds going to the Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund by Global Giving. Promote and practice peace every day, everywhere.
May Your Monday be Filled with Kindness
Happy Monday. Here’s hoping the kindess radiates around you.
10 Years Gone
Thinking of you, Dad.
Ten years gone from this earth.
“Does it feel like that long?”
Sometimes it seems like yesterday.
Sometimes, a lifetime ago.
I carry my memories of
Our shared adventures.
How much of it happened?
How much is a dream?
“Do you ever wish you
Had one of those
Complicated fathers
Who gave mixed messages
And taught by hard examples?”
No, I am grateful for the gentle man
Who flexed humor and kindness
And showed me how to solve
Life’s puzzles with grace.
Yesterday's Poem: If I Carry My Father by Marjorie Saiser
Only three days into my poem a day and already the journey is enlightening. I’m letting these poems find me: Flipping pages, browsing randomly, no particular direction or plan.
Both In Sum from two days ago and yesterday’s poem, If I Carry My Father, were found near the 10-year anniversary of my father’s death. But I didn’t realize this until I’d read and reread the poems. Then I read them again. I wonder what brought me to these poems at this time. Poetry has always been like this for me. The right poem at the right time. Just what I needed. Just when I needed it.
I found If I Carry My Father by Marjorie Saiser in the collection How to Love the World: Poems of Gratitude and Hope, a gift from my sister Kay this past Christmas.
Note: This post includes an Amazon Associates sponsored link.
5 Things
This week’s 5 things:
The Slow Horses Trailer. Can’t wait for this series to begin April 1 on Apple Tv
Crowdsourcing childrens’ books. Wonderful recommendations from colleagues on Twitter, LinkedIn and Swell.
Reading a poem a day. That’s one of my March goals. The journey so far, enriching and enlightening.
Bandcamp Friday. That’s today!
Letters in the mail. Real, physical, tangible letters from far-off family and friends.
Yesterday's Poem: Last Rites by Rosa Alcalá
Death. A part of everyday life. Yet we lack the language to talk about death, especially as it’s happening. Last Rites by Rosa Alcalá helps: “does lemongrass go with grief.”
This poem is about the tenderness of grief, the painful beauty of letting go. Read more about Rosa Alcalá.
Yesterday's Poem: In Sum by Rüstü Onur
Reading a poem a day in March (hopefully more than one somedays). I started the month with In Sum by Rüstü Onur, translated from Turkish by Hüseyin Alhas and Ulas Özgün. I found this brief, beautiful, melancholy poem in the March 2022 issue of Poetry. This poem, written to a mother, is about loss and what’s not left. You can read In Sum here.
Children's Book Recommendations
Wonderful book recommendations, some known to me, many new. Thanks to everyone on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Swell who shared their favorite children’s titles.
The Peace Book
Wonky Donkey
All the World
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
Jamberry
Big Green Monster
Angelina Ballerina (series)
And the Rain Came Down
Here We Are: Notes for Living on Planet Earth
Criss Cross
Brown Bear Brown Bear
Grandma Loves You
Grandpa Loves You
Guess How Much I Love You
Goodnight Moon
Disney classics, including Bambi and Lion King.
We’re creating quite a library for this young lady already. So grateful for these suggestions.
Building a Library for Our New Granddaughter
We recently welcomed our new granddaughter to the world. Reading has been an important part of my life and was so important to us as parents. I'm planning to keep that practice of books and reading going with our grandchild. Share your favorite children's books. And I’ll be sure to list recommendations in a future blog post. Cheers and good reading to you!
Mila’s Moon
Mila’s Moon. February 23, 2023. Welcome Mila Kay. The moon shines brighter with you in this world.