Summer is blooming here in New Orleans! It’s a hot, sunny Sunday afternoon and I’m relaxing in the A/C while catching up on some reading for pleasure. It seems everyone is beginning to come out of the Covid cocoon and … Continue reading Favorite CNF 1st Quarter 2021
“I’m an optimist, but a melancholy one—the sort who doesn’t believe that everything is great, but knows it isn’t and believes that it’ll be okay anyway. Maybe a better word for that is faith.” — Cheryl Strayed Continue reading Faith
I am thrilled that my essay, “A Bittersweet Pilgrimage”, about my recently deceased Aunt is online today in the new issue of Love in the Time of Covid Chronicle. As I was writing it I had this wonderful journal in … Continue reading Essay in Love in the Time of Covid
Holding On If only we could all be like the children we once were before we were pushed into a harsh reality by selfish adults. Our laughter and openness smothered by discipline, verbal hands covering our mouths. We gathered our moments gratefully — bits of starlight, deep woods quiet, wild violets and jonquils in Spring. We held them close, like talismans for the future. We held on until we didn’t have to. * Bonus prompt via The Wombwell Rainbow Art by Kerfe Roig So I missed the last two days of NaPoWriMo. I’m sad but it couldn’t be helped. I … Continue reading NaPoWriMo Day 31: Bonus
Pink Moon 5 a.m. & the moon looms large in my pollen-streaked window, tree branches knocking across her surface. It’s been ages since I’ve been awake in this early morning hour, I’ve forgotten how solid the night can be, empty … Continue reading NaPoWriMo Day 27
Salt Cellar Knee socks and folded paper a playground at recess a circle, a caucus, a coven magic fingers and bated breath favorite numbers whispered, counted secret messages released in the air fly off to the future, wait for us a circle, a caucus, a coven * Prompt via The Wombwell Rainbow Art by Kerfe Roig – Kerfe’s image reminded me of the paper game, called Salt Cellar, we used to play in middle school. So, it’s finally happened to me – I’ve lost the option to write in Classic Editor. I suppose I’ll have to hunt down a Block … Continue reading NaPoWriMo Day 24
Kiss Redux I need dusk ‘til dawn to turn my world particular I want extra time to talk dirty to be flirty to maybe have a good time To dance my world particular * This wee verse is a found … Continue reading NaPoWriMo Day 21
Cemetery Garden: A Cento In every room of my home, the candles had been pinched dark,(1) my mind spends much of its time reliving finished conversations. (2) I think perhaps an apple is the universe and your body is an orchard full of trees, (3) the bitter taste of half a life. What if you weren’t afraid? (4) Which shadow glittered, which shadow dimmed? I learned not to regret. (5) You strangle on the sweet air, leave little ghosts of scent behind you. You will lean to the earth alone. (6) ***** Sources: (Numbered after the line quoted) (1) Mary … Continue reading NaPoWriMo Day 19
Resisting a Steel Tsunami The cloud of her hair settling in a window, the cold blue of her eyes in the Mississippi heat, a guttural rumbling fading in the sleepy noise of small town life. She was a military brat and I was a transplant from parts all over in this town where almost everyone else had been born and raised. I didn’t even ask where her ticket would take her. For months after I thought of her every day, wondered if she was living the freedom she was seeking or trapped but too proud to call for help. I … Continue reading NaPoWriMo Day 2
Polychrome I want to snuggle into your skin, see through your eyes, tilt your nose up to the sky & take a deep drought of your breath. Is your brain messaged by Octopus tentacles, millions of suction cups kissing your cerebellum? Is your understanding prickled by the toes of earth’s creatures? Is your empathy colored with chlorophyll and seed? We are sea and forest sky and flesh, we see differently, together a world made for all. * Photo by Masaaki Komori on Unsplash Prompt via Napowrimo.net Continue reading NaPoWriMo Day 1
