Poetry Friday ~ Theme Prompt

Welcome to my blog, everyone!

It’s the fourth week of the month! Are you ready for a theme prompt? Donna Matthews from D J Ranch.org picked the theme:

EXPEDITION

***

There is no Frigate like a Book
To take us Lands away,
Nor any Coursers like a Page
Of prancing Poetry –
This Traverse may the poorest take
Without oppress of Toll –
How frugal is the Chariot
That bears a Human soul.

~Emily Dickinson

This week I chose to write a Shadorma (syllabic poem with a 3-5-3-3-7-5 sequence) about the transcendent powers of reading, inspired by one of Emily Dickinson’s poems.

I opened

a book and entered.

The words spread

out their wings,

and took me on a journey

far from where I’ve been.

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

NOTE:

My short story Memoir of a Mad Woman is on sale for 99¢ through the weekend. You can get your copy here.

BLURB:

A novelette from the award-winning author of The Fall of Lilith and Son of the Serpent, Vashti Quiroz-Vega.

Who can explain how madness begins?

This is the story of Emma. Reared by a religious fanatic, orphaned at a young age and sent to a mental institution and an orphanage. Molested and betrayed by the people who should be watching over her…

Who can say that madness has no logic?

During a fight, Emma’s best friend punched her in the abdomen. Since then, Emma has believed there’s something damaged inside of her.

Every month… she bleeds.
She tries to fight it all her life, but the pain and the blood return twenty-eight days later… and the cycle begins again.

But Emma, even in her madness, knows how to take care of herself.
She knows how to make things right…

You may not agree… 
But, who can reason with insanity?

Read this tragic but fascinating tale and traverse the labyrinthine passages of madness.

Thank you for your visit! I hope you enjoyed the post.

Poetry Friday ~ Mermaid

Hello, my friends! Welcome.

Colleen Chesebro’s Weekly Poetry Challenge

Colleen says: This challenge explores Ekphrastic writing inspired by visual art (photographs). Annette Rochelle Aben from last month’s challenge has provided the photo for this month’s challenge. Remember, it’s not so much about describing what’s in the photo. Look beyond the obvious to find new meaning.

Photo by Annette Rochelle Aben

MERMAID

Don’t mistake songs in the wind for wind songs

Don’t confuse figures out at sea, that

sit on distant rocks for sea lions

She dwells where worlds hide in the

deep, and emerges to

the wild call of the

running tide to

warn us, “let

the seas

be”

photo by Sandra Bittmann

If it doesn’t come bursting out of you
in spite of everything,
don’t do it.
Unless it comes unasked out of your
heart and your mind and your mouth
and your gut,
don’t do it.

Have a great weekend and never give up on shooting for the stars!

Poetry Friday ~ Poet’s Choice

Hello, everyone! I hope you’ve all had a wonderful start to your day!

Poet’s Choice! It’s the first of the month and that means we choose our own syllabic poetry form, theme, words, images, etc. It’s up to us!

If you’d like to participate check out Colleen Chesebro’s Poetry Challenge here.

Even the lone writer who has wandered this far into summer with her books, notepads, laptop case knocking her knees—even she wishes to enjoy the warmth of the sun caress her skin, feel the fresh seasonal showers wash away concerns, hear the songs in the breeze on sultry summer evenings.

“Let me live, love, and say it well in good sentences.”
—Sylvia Plath

Thank you for stopping by!

Poetry Friday ~ Poet’s Choice

Hello, everyone! Welcome to my blog!

Happy JUNE! It’s the first of the month and you know what that means! Word Crafters can choose their own syllabic poetry form, theme, words, images, etc. It’s up to us! Colleen Chesebro’s Poetry Challenge!

Today, I will be sharing my review of Colleen Chesebro’s book, ‘Fairies, Myths, & Magic: A Summer Celebration,’ and I will also be sharing a couple of her poems from the book.

The Magical Tree by Colleen Chesebro

In Spring—
the Lady wears a crown of
yellow blossoms
whose sweet scents tease and tantalize
on warmer days soon to be.

By Summer—
her Majesty dons her most
beautiful apparel
with leaves a bright verdant green
shiny with midsummer dreams.

In Autumn—
the Lady shows us her splendor
whose bright orange leaves herald
the darkness of another winter slumber.

In Winter—
her Majesty lays naked
barren leaves shed like tears
awaiting the hope of a new year.

Blooms heavy with dew—
stretch toward the rosy dawn,
spiritual bliss.
Fairy nymphs hover and flit,
spreading their magic for you.

My Review:

This book is a collection of entertaining poems and short stories along with interesting facts about fairies and magic. The author also shares her own beliefs and experiences, which makes this book delightfully unique.

Author and poet Colleen Chesebro includes a varied selection of poetry styles inspired by magic, fays, and the summer solstice. Some of the stories and poems will make you laugh while others will inspire you, enchant, and even haunt you.

Although I enjoyed all the stories and poems in this book, “The Leaving” and “Halloween Havoc” were two of my favorite stories, and “The Magical Tree,” was one of my much-loved poems.

I recommend this book to lovers of fairies, magic, nature, poetry, and engaging stories.

***

Colleen Chesebro has a new book out called Word Craft: Prose & Poetry: The Art of Crafting Syllabic Poetry Check it out! Colleen is an expert when it comes to writing syllabic poetry, so if you’d like to learn more click on the link and get your copy. I got mine!

Thank you for visiting my blog. Have a fabulous day!

Poetry Friday ~ Photo Prompt #Etheree

Hello, everyone! Welcome to my blog.

It’s the third week of the month! Time for an Ekphrastic #PhotoPrompt from Colleen Chesebro’s Weekly Poetry Challenge

This challenge explores Ekphrastic writing inspired by visual art (photographs). When you write poetry based on a painting or photograph, we work with symbolism and metaphors. This week, don’t just describe what you see in the image. Check out How to Write Ekphrastic Poetry and apply some of the techniques used in the article to your own poem.

Trent McDonald from last month’s challenge has provided the photo for this month’s challenge:

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

I’m sharing an Etheree poem today.

Gentle drops, like a myriad of thoughts

gather in streams, tumbling recklessly

down a vagrant course to begin

its journey toward its end,

crashing on moss-strewn rocks

Its song vibrating

deep in the earth

no one can

stop the

flow

Thank you for stopping by!

Poetry Friday ~ Springtime

Hi, everyone! Welcome to my blog.

Photo by Sergey Shmidt

This week at Colleen Chesebro Poetry Challenge, SALLY CRONIN selected the words:

Eager & Hope

We are only allowed to use a synonym for each word.

Winter waves goodbye

Gentle breezes awaken

all our senses

Impatient we look forward

to the delights of springtime

Photo by Manuel Amir

Daylight Saving Time 2021 begins at 2 a.m. on Sunday, March 14. That means we “spring forward” by moving our clocks ahead one hour. I will be changing my clocks Saturday night before going to bed.

Colleen Chesebro

Thank you for stopping by, and have a lovely day! ❤

Poetry Friday ~ #CinquainPoetry

Hi, everyone! Welcome to my blog.

This week, Colleen Chesebro from Tanka Tuesday Poetry Challenge selected the words to get us going. These words are opposites with many synonym possibilities:

Loose & Tight

Photograph by Kat J (Unsplash)

Heavy

days devoid of

love, smiles or kind remarks

I wait, fingers closed in tense fists

for him

***

Hopeless

Out of my mind

with desire to escape

but too stiffened with fear to move

I’m doomed

Photograph by Alexander Krivitskiy

Traffickers use force, fraud, or coercion to lure their victims and force them into labor or commercial sexual exploitation. This is a real problem in many countries including the United States. I realize we have a lot going on right now with three different strains of the corona virus out there and a world wide pandemic. I understand you may not want to think about anything else going on in the world right now. But put yourself in the place of anyone of these young people for a moment. This could be anyone’s child, sister, brother, girlfriend, cousin . . . suffering torture, debilitating fear, and hopelessness every single day.

Human Trafficking Indicators

While not an exhaustive list, these are some key red flags that could alert you to a potential trafficking situation that should be reported:

• Living with employer
• Poor living conditions
• Multiple people in cramped space
• Inability to speak to individual alone
• Answers appear to be scripted and rehearsed
• Employer is holding identity documents
• Signs of physical abuse
• Submissive or fearful
• Unpaid or paid very little
• Under 18 and in prostitution

Thank you for stopping by today! Stay safe and healthy.

Poetry Friday ~ #Etheree #Poetry

Hi, everyone! A warm welcome to my blog.

It’s the first of the month and that means we choose our own syllabic poetry form, theme, words, images, etc. for Colleen Chesebro Poetry Prompt Challenge!

This video brought tears to my eyes. What a brilliant collaboration! I loved the poem these children created together. It’s filled with so much hope and love. They inspired my Etheree this week.

A virtual hug can’t replace your warmth

And “i-contact” is not eye contact

We’re forced to live differently

Animals venture further

while the streets are empty

We stay in our homes

And the skies clear

Birds sing songs

Nature

speaks

Photo by Karina Vorozheeva (@_k_arin Unsplash)

I hope you enjoyed today’s video and poem. Have a happy day!

Poetry Friday ~ Gratitude

Hello, everyone! Welcome to my blog!

As some of you may know, I recently published the third and final book of my Fantasy Angels Series. This has been a very busy week as my book, The Rise of Gadreel has been making its rounds throughout the blogmosphere. I am beyond grateful to the kind, generous, and supportive authors who featured my new release on their awesome blogs. If you haven’t visited any of the stops on my book tour please consider doing so. Thank you for your support.

Book Tour: The Rise of Gadreel

D.G. Kaye, Writer – Sunday Book Review

Welcome To Harmony Kent Online

Fiction and life . . . from the desk of Gwen M. Plano

Writing and Music – Jan Sikes

Author D.L. Finn

D.G. Kaye, Writer – Q & A with D.G. Kaye

MARK BIERMAN | Blog

The above blogs are all wonderfully entertaining, please take the time to check them out.

“At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us.” — Albert Schweitzer

Thank you

my lovely friends

I’ll prove myself worthy

of all the things you’ve done for me

Grateful

My heart is conscious of my treasures.

Colleen Chesebro Poetry Chanllenge – Poet’s Choice

Thanks for stopping by!

Poetry Friday ~ Image Prompt

Hi, everyone! I hope you’re all safe and healthy.

It’s the third week of the month! Time for an Ekphrastic #PhotoPrompt. Colleen Chesebro from Colleen’s Weekly Poetry Prompt Challenge chose the beautiful watercolor art piece below.

Artwork by Barbara A. Lane (Pixabay)

When I saw this watercolor I immediately thought about dreams. You know, I thought by now someone would have invented a device that could record our dreams. Many of my short stories were inspired by my many bizarre dreams, so it would be a handy tool for me. I hope you enjoy my Etheree.

What are dreams if not our wishes and fears
sheer colors slowly spreading on the
canvas of our dormant minds
forming watercolor shapes
delightful and fearsome
sometimes inspiring
us to jump out
of   bed  and
write, write
write  

Thank you for stopping by. I always appreciate your visits and comments. Also, remember you can pre-order The Rise of Gadreel for only 0.99¢!

I wish everyone a merry Christmas Eve and Christmas! Don’t forget to look to the sky on 12/21/20 to see the Christmas Star! The best time to see it is about an hour after your local sunset time. I hope it’s a clear night for all of us.