Falling Leaves

It was the end of Fall
As I recall
And from my perch in
the old, old Birch
Near as I could see
there was only me
in that old tree
and one lonely, only
red-gold leaf.
And the leaf fell down
to the ground
without a sound the leaf
fell down.
No one to push
no real rush
the leaf just fell in a hush
succumbed to
sleep

Night and day

pale eyes watch her wash
dust and dross of day away
to night's dark embrace

Cats prowl

verdant green long gone
replaced by dark caves of steel
cat prowls the rushes

distant memories
built into the DNA
stirs cats' grass prowling

True upon the page

some moments are true
only on fiction's pages
spring is fleet of foot

My novel on the other hand oft has feet of clay. Edit, edit, edit. I intend to launch the eBook this coming weekend.

I'm enjoying fiction. To see words I write build lives and worlds - oh my. It's exhilarating.

All I want for Christmas – A Material Girl Moment.

Christmas cards are written, addressed, stamped and ready to go; a small token inserted in a few of them; will mail on Friday the 30^th.

Now, in the tradition of Eartha Kitt’s ‘Santa Baby’, it’s time for my my annual over-the-top, material-girl-moment, Santa’s lap wish list…

All I want for Christmas is…

pearls

real pearls

real black pearls

a cameo or two or six

a long black silk nightgown

a black silk camisole or two

a pair of silk 40’s style pajamas

anything silk

another little black dress

black high tops stilettos

black cowboy boots

a black convertible

a Mercedes convertible

a personal trainer

a male personal trainer

a diamond ring for my right hand

a magnum of Veuve Clicquot

a case of Veuve Clicquot

a diamond ring for any hand

a large cozy country house

a country house at the beach

any large cozy house at the beach

a maid

perfume

obsession perfume

Does the end time loom

if arguments prove
true the whole world should know it
never forget it

pole shift dread event
perpetuate the knowledge
keep us from the cave

How do we find destiny's door

fresh from the shower
she walked unfamiliar streets
moistened by sea mists

at the prodding wind's
insistent whispered promise
of destiny's door


Do you ever feel drawn to or driven by an unseen force?

Christmas trees, holiday cards, Black Friday

Black Friday - The day after Thanksgiving - the single largest shopping day of the year - historically the day most retailers go well into the Black.  My main purchase is always Holiday cards and a this year I picked up a small token to insert into the card.

People will be out getting their Christmas tree and decorations. Thanksgiving day, mom had the kids, grandkids put up the tree, I watch and take pictures.

I don't do the tree thing, and my blue party (xmas) lights stay up year round - homage to a ritual of mine and a friend now passed, Mark Roberts.  I' searching for more of the blue icicle lights - they're scarce this year, don't know why.

The day after Thanksgiving is my day to write Holiday cards and letters.
pondering the end
that 2012 end of the Mayan calendar
poleshift

I love a Parade

music, marching bands
themed floats and balloons on high
talking heads report
let the games begin
bowls followed by malls shoppers
armed and dangerous
Note: 
I love a parade - shopping and games - not so much.

My Thanksgiving day begins with coffee in front of the TV watching the Macy’s parade and perusing the Sunday-thick holiday newspaper that came out at 9pm Wednesday night.  Mainly, I love a thick newspaper, and I do need to do a little shopping, so I need to see what the deals are.

We don't eat until 7, so there's no rush to get anywhere until later this afternoon.  I'll spend the rest of the morning on my e-books that I'm hoping to launch by Saturday or Sunday; calling friends to wish them well; chatting on facebook; the old 'Miracle on 34th Street' playing in the background...

Life is good and I am grateful.

Holiday Migrations

thanksgiving eve day
the gatherings begin now
students scatter to
far flung parents’ homes
neighbors’ drives spill onto streets
christmas lights appear

Note:
Driving to the store today for last minute supplies for Mom, I notice that my young downstairs neighbors (students both) are gone.  There are a lot of students living in my neighborhood.  Other neighbors driveways are populated with out-of-state plates.

I’ll head out tonight for Mom’s in Hoover, 15 minutes down I 65, to help her and my sister with food prep for tomorrow.

Forks in the Road

"You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose" - Dr. Suess

ah yes, but which way
even the yellow brick road
has forks and oh my
I have trouble with
opinions’ many voices
forks many choices

Notes:
I still have a day job, so I’ve no choices to make today. I’ll go to work. But 2013 is just around the corner and I’m going to retire from that ‘day job’ and oh the choices then.

I just have to remember I can’t go in all directions at one time. I need a plan and at the moment I don’t have one other than the list. More on that later.

Recalling ‘dolce far niente’

monday and I have
no special place to be
such a free feeling
I want more like days
where the only one I must
consider is me

Notes:
Selfish?  Yes, but I’ve worked all my life since I was 17.  I raised an exceptional child til I could not, a husband with cancer, a failed business with a friend – no longer friend, and the list goes on.

Laid off in 2007 when Saks corporate went back to NYC, gave me a 2 year taste of ‘dolce far niente’ (how sweet to do nothing).

I didn’t do 100% nothing.  I did what I wanted, when I wanted:  Walked the neighborhood every day; wrote and published stories, essays, book reviews; painted and hung 3 art exhibits; etc., etc., etc…

I will be revisiting those days by retiring one way or another  in 2013 by or before March 20, 2013. Spring equinox, the first day of Spring – Rebirth of earth and rebirth of me.

Lessons unlearned

simple ideas
true upon the lined page
saved for tomorrow's

lessons yet unlearned
marching cadence armed for war
moths still drawn to flame

Seasons change

​the gauntlet was thrown
spring waited watched and listened
the very wind held

back his very breath
no leaf nor creature dared to
stir lest winter stay

No to do list on Friday

Oh my to do list

I’ve ignored you royally  

My only excuse is

Friday and pleasurable

Things  lured me away

It all started Thursday night with open house at PepperPlace.  Bought a great magnet for the fridge which at $6 dollars was a bargain as the much larger painting was $325.  Then off to Frontera's open house for great Mexican appetizers, more to drink and I found these wonderful metal crafted roses.

This morning after a leisurely breakfast and reading on the balcony, I attended a free seminar at Hoover Library on making your dreams reality, pizza was served. Later off to Forest Park for shopping at Zoe's - got a sparkly hot pink beret.   Then to Naked Art to check out the unique Christmas ornaments. and then the best, we were off to Daniel Day Gallery for their Christmas Art show and terrific food, good conversations with friends and Sally Belle crooning on stage.

I'm with Scarlet on that to do list  'I'll think about it tomorrow. tomorrow is another day.'  Night y'all.

TGIF on Thursday

I should post this tomorrow, but I'm not going to the office tomorrow. I traded my Monday off with JG for her Friday so this is my TGIF this week and I'm gifted with a 4-day weekend.

TGIF.

life should be balanced
work given its due all week
this eve set aside
now it's time to play
dance like no one is watching
greet the new season

Mine for gold

mine the gems later
from streams of consciousness writ
nuggets midst the chafe
you're a miner now
chip that rough gem from the ore
bloom where you're planted.

Difficult place love

difficult place love
arrival denied by fear
ignores spring's promise

The wheel turns

summers loosed her hold
miasmal humidity
now diamonds strewn
cross the browning grass
shimmering in morning sun
mind candy hearts balm

Falling into the gap

you meditate long enough
you fall into the gap between thoughts and
you are one with the one and for
you all things are possible like the quark,
you are now both here, and there.

Destiny knocks

I never really
heard the knocking at the door
destiny waltzed by
old manuscripts lie
fallow In dark drawers dust motes
only sunshine kissed

Bank the embers

happiness is not
a continuous stream, it comes
in draughts, drink deeply
savor every one
of memory's warm embers
banked against the storm

Once upon

----

​Lays of doom always had a hint of hope. For we knew, yes we knew, we would make it through to the other side.  And, here we are. Darkest night looms; Spring is not promised this year.

Life in progress

I keep beloved things
in disarray around me
mingling with shadows
in dusty corners
of my life's work in progress
scattered golden leaves

Harlequin & Mime

I am textured oils
she is soft watercolor
spring melts winter's frost

me the harlequin
seen dancing through beveled glass
she the sent mime

Night's Tears

Day 2 of my magical gratitude practice.  The gratitude rock is small and white and I like the focus for meditation.  Although I much prefer the flame, the flame stays with the candle and the small stone nests warmly between silk and the girl closest to my heart. It’s flat enough not to mess with the line of my blouse. 

Night came early with the fall back to central standard time, so when the rain came I could hear it but not see it just beyond my window.


Night's Tears

it’s raining beyond 

my darkened window soothing

yet perhaps bad news

makes melancholy 

what I feel most at the sound

of night’s unseen tears 

Journey to gratitude

 “When you arise in the morning, give thanks for the morning light, for your life and strength.  I give thanks for your food and joy of living.  If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies with yourself.”
- Tecumseh, Shawnee Chief

I read The Secret by Rhonda Byrne and loved it's message.  Recently bought her book The Magic and am embarking on her 28 day magical gratitude journey. 

I read it straight through and it seems like a practice that would do me good at this point in my life.  I've set new goals for the new year and 2013 is a stone's throw from this moment.  I remembered that I kept a 'gratitude journal' (read Simple Abundance by  Sarah Breathnach), but lost it to the fire that destroyed my home on 2/12/11, and I never replaced it or the practice. 

So from The Magic - Today is
Day 1 – Count Your Blessings List 10 – Do every day for 28 days & beyond.

1. I am truly happy and grateful to have a good paying job working with good people because the income pays for the necessities and more in my life. (Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.)
2. I am truly grateful for my family because they are loving and supportive of me and my life.   (Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.)
3. I am truly grateful for my good health because it allows me to be active in the world and not dependent on others. 
   (Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.)
4. I am truly grateful that I can read because I can be an armchair traveler and voyeur of lives I’d otherwise never know.
   (Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.)
5. I am very grateful that I can write because I can share ideas and earn income by selling stories, poems and books.
   (Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.)
6. I am so very grateful for eyes that see because my brief bout with double vision was one of the most scary things I’ve encountered and there is so much beauty I would miss had I not recovered full use of my eyes.  (Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.)
7. I am grateful for ears that hear because I love music, and conversations with friends, bird’s songs and the wind in trees.
   (Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.)
8. I am grateful for sturdy legs that can carry me for miles because I love to walk and watch the day wake.  (Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.)
9. I am grateful for my modest apartment because it is spacious, airy and on the second floor and provides me a private aerie with a view of trees and street below.   (Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.)
10. I am grateful for the money I earn because it allows me to pay my way in the world.   (Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.)

Tomorrow is Day 2 - Gratitude Rock - already have one.

Train child

a woman now she
lives each day that is given
past has no import
to a young farm girl
nor the woman she became
husband, ten children
it would change nothing
the moment is what matters
today’s crop is all
the long train ride west
just words from a past long gone
that child’s tears long dried
lineage of blood
incarnations of the soul
paint her here and now

Did you ever

did you ever feel
that you could fly just to find
that you never could

did you ever feel
that he's the best just to find
that he never was

Time is a river

yesterdays and some
of possible tomorrows
enable today
without history
with no imagined future
spring never flowers