Food for Thought #poetry

We tend to forget that happiness doesn’t come as a result of getting something we don’t have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have.

Life is a promise; fulfill it. – Mother Teresa
Generosity begins with our recognition of our debt to others.

A person’s true wealth is the good he or she does in the world. Mohammed

Gratitude is the memory of the heart.

When love and skill work together, expect a masterpiece.
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Believe, when you are most unhappy, that there is something for you to do in the world. So long as you can sweeten another’s pain, life is not in vain. – Helen Keller

Seek to do good, and you will find that happiness will run after you.

Kindness is like sugar, It makes life taste a little sweeter.

God made the world round so we would never be able to see too far down the road.

At first we hope too much, later on, not enough.

The time is always right to do what is right. – Martin Luther King, Jr.

 

Life is a food bowl jumble how do we begin?

kindness and hope might be a good start

like a fragrant flower, a ripe white peach

blessings flow from each

next a piece of belief and gratitude

fits so nice side by side

in the compote dish

sweetness daily we remind

I waver between what comes from the heart

I’ll pour a bowl of goodness

sprinkled with unpretentious love

in the lives of others do not be remiss

look down the road

but never too far

a hand full of willing

children, reach close to the stars

work each days tapestry

as if its your last

give deep down to the needy

never be greedy

there’s much food for thought

today I’ve tasted a little

pass a morsel to another

never be hard like peanut brittle

 

Today’s prompt at Poet’s United is Food. I am trying to get back on track getting away from the thought of food (the holidays are a bad influence). “Food for thought” seemed like the kind of basket I could reach into and be well nourished.

All the quotes above are from people or proverbs that have been passed down and were shared on the blog: Every Circle .

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A Drop of Water… #poetry #unity

Were I a bird on the wing

I would perform

an aria I would sing

you would marvel

at the tone

on the limb

I perch alone

*

Were I a fish in a stream

I would dazzle with colors

blue, red, green

against the current

I would go

never motivated

by the flow

*

 

Were I a drop of water in a lake

formed together

community we’d make

linked together

you and me

beautiful ripples

flowing toward the sea

 

 

*****

 

“He that commends me to mine own content
Commends me to the thing I cannot get.
I to the world am like a drop of water
That in the ocean seeks another drop,
Who, falling there to find his fellow forth,
Unseen, inquisitive, confounds himself:
So I, to find a mother and a brother,
In quest of them, unhappy, lose myself.”
― William Shakespeare, The Comedy of Errors

 

Today’s prompt at Poet’s United is Unity.

The Beauty in Difference #devotion #poetry

I was wild  a little daring

boldly wearing magenta in a sea of green

standing tall at the close of spring

the thing was no one knew my name

they knew the pansies, marigolds, lobelia

I heard one flower proclaim

“she’s a beauty for a weed

she should be removed

who knows if she will infect you”

I wasn’t refined, knew little what to do

hard to define, but I like who I am

I heard the master gardener say:

“don’t stop being who you are

a time will come I will cut  away

do not dismay you will endure

long years you will smile and sway”

It’s difficult standing among a crowd and being different. Perhaps while everyone wears blue and yellow, you like orange and pink. Your shoes are tall while everyone else wears flats. Were we made to be all the same? Apparently not. Some people are petite others are large. There could be one hundred people with dark hair and that hair would be long,  straight, short, kinky, medium, bouncy, shiny, red tint, or dull with some grey. God made us this way. We are different not so that we can point out that we are the best flower in the garden but so that we can give food or shade to a certain creature, offer a rare fragrance in mid-day, cheer up someone who is downtrodden, or shine our faces in a smile to the sun. We each carry a gift that like a bouquet is an offering of beauty to our maker and to our world.

“Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit.”

John 15:2

 “ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”  ~Psalm 139:14

“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

Ephesians 2:10

Shared today with Poetry Pantry at Poet’s United and Godinterest

Rabbit Hole #poetry #photography

Scampering off toward life’s forest

wily fox in hot pursuit

 I, more than casual onlooker

as your steps affect lasting fate

*

innocence may be your destruction

nibbling away at fresh grass

darkness lurks in the shadows

you look aware much too late

*

what I watch from the screen door

 hopes of holding back the rain

unheeded are warning’s whispers

lesson’s lost beyond garden’s gate

 

What lurks beyond the garden gate???

Tribute to a Smile #poetry #photography #smiles

If only I could cast away the pain

with a word

or a phrase

 holding back the rain

with a red umbrella

If only I could lie here

surrounded by down pillows

candlelight glow

 catching every tear

in a crystal bottle

If only we could dance before the moon

white cascade

billowing at our feet

snowflakes in silver spoon

reflecting smiles

If only I could scatter like confetti

rain, tears, snow

like laughter it would go

starlight always ready

into a joyful world

My youngest is a child no longer. Happy Birthday H!!!!

The Moon’s Glow #poetry #life’slesson #amwriting

Ah the harvest moon

filled with amber glow

release your source

unveil your love

pour dust upon my soul

*

gazing down she softly smiles

her radiant all the more

adore me not

you star fazed one

gaze upon life’s shore

*

I smile into childlike eyes

I but a mirror grand

I gather light into my self

joyous to sit

upon sun’s night stand

*

look up into radiant  light

take in his daily glow

bask in his warmth

no matter what the day

his love for you will show

The harvest moon shot is by Shironekoeuro ck the site for more amazing photography http://www.flickr.com/photos/shironekoeuro/

Traversing Autumn’s Path #poetry #photography #loss

Her hands clasped to mine

we walked along autumn’s path

crunching beneath our feet

the remnants of yesterday’s glory

she picked up a leaf

what I thought was dew was a tear

“why do you cry, my love?”

my eyes thoughtful

“life is perishing beneath our feet

we are crushing aged spring

we walk the burial ground of the seasons”

“press this amber leaf against your heart

feel its resonating warmth

hear him tell you his story

let it be a reminder of the past

then welcome the new season

a time for ends and reflection

reach your hands to grasp the snowflakes

purity falls over barren trees

and spring returns to remind us

of that which we have lost

and of that which we might gain”

“another year of this loss?”

I saw her eyes pool

“I don’t think I can bare it”

“but another year of promise as well

life, love and new beginnings

those too will grow in the coming year

one day we will look back

the skeletons beneath our feet

will not sound like death with each step

I will once again look up

and see life blossoming in your eyes”

This week marks the second anniversary of the death of a child in our neighborhood  who was tragically swept away by a flash flood The lights represent candles and sentiments that lined the family’s driveway last year. Blue ribbons hang, year round, on our trees, sign posts and mailboxes in memory of this loss..

What of Life? #questions #poetry #photography

To know everything implies that I know something

“what” I ask of myself  “do I know”?

When the sails of life luff I may not be going anywhere

When the umpire emphatically cries “You’re out!” – I am

When the doctor tells me I have cancer I have no questions

What about those times in which I know nothing?

When the first  thunder booms can I get under cover in time?

When a patient squeezes my hand  for the last time is there more I could have done?

When my child makes a bad decision can I change it?

But there are those moments…

when feathery leaves dance with the dawn, I can’t contain the wonder

when a young dolphin squeals as if it is laughing, I must laugh

when I’m held lovingly through  life’s storms, I am comforted

“no” I answer myself  “I do not know anything”

with each day I cherish life and people a bit more…

At Poet’s United,  Verse First Kim Nelson has prompted the poet today. In Writing Down the Bones, Natalie Goldberg says, “In writing you can know everything.” So today, be omniscient. Be a know-it-all, an expert; be the last word. Write a poem with a voice of authority.

Here is my last word then – I have to agree with those who have gone before me “The older I get the less I know.”

Photograph: “The Last “Ha” © L. Moon 2013

Quirky #atozchallenge #life’slessons #photography #napowrimo

Violet had one leg that was slightly shorter than the other

so she hobbled in PE class

one eye was half brown half blue

her accent was English/ other times German

when the sun caught her hair it was golden then fiery red

she told interesting stories about her life

everyone laughed no one believed

“they hold a parade in my honor each year at my home

my name is a household name,” so she said

the girls roared on the ground as they heard this silliness

 the half brown half blue eye got a tear

Violet invited me to her home

“you will be my guest of honor”

Not sure what to expect I went because she was my friend

now my name is a household name in her home town as well

This is a fictionalized story about a real person. There are those who are out of step with their  community, school, or workplace; society too readily draws the line ostracizing  people even bullying them. I like quirky, non-conformist; they make life spicy where otherwise everything would be just the same.

Photography: “Violet” copyright L. Moon 2011

This year for  A to Z challenge, I am using the Nautilus as my inspiration all month. The shell has many chambers (at least enough to fit all the letters.)  You will find poetry,  You will find some dark stuff (as I am attempting to branch into the horror genre), You will also see a smattering of short stories or prose (some with children in mind) others as lessons that we can all learn from. I look forward to  meeting you and getting to know some talented writers over this month long writing journey. Please check over at the A to Z challenge and see what they are up to; they are a fine bunch of folks.

The Girl With Many Kindnesses #atozchallenge #life’slessons #photography #fantasy

One day a little girl was sent on an errand for her mama.

“The road will be long but you will be safe as long as you extend kindness along the path.”

“Of course, mama,” the girl smiled knowing this would not be a difficult task.

In her head she recited the things she needed to buy: “Milk, butter, flour, and a ham hock for making soup.”

She met an old frail woman on the path. “Oh, she looks like she might trip and fall on that root.” The little girl rushed to aid the woman.

“Goodbye,” she waved after helping the woman to an even part of the path.

A little further along, she heard sobbing. She noticed a young woman with her head bent so low she might fall into the waters below. Without thinking, she bobbed over with a cheerful face and gave the young woman the bouquet she had been picking for her mama. “One so fair, let the beauty of the day drive away your cares,” She said as she skipped off.

Just outside of the village, a scrawny lad leaned against the tree. “He looks so hungry.” A tear formed in the girl’s eye. “There must be something… ” She remembered the bite size sandwich her mother had made for her journey. “I know it’s not much, but I hope you will gain  strength from my small lunch.”

“But what will give you strength little one?”

“I have plenty of strength to get me safely home.”

As the man at the market loaded a canvas sack, he noted that it was too heavy for the girl. “How will you manage?” he implored. He had knowingly added some medicinal herbs and a jar of medicine for the girl’s sick mama.

“Sir, I don’t know” her face showed concern ” I am suddenly feeling tired from my journey.” The man smiled “Eat this; it will be enough.”  As she ventured out, she knew she must be swift, her mama needed these things.

As she left the store, someone handed her a walking stick. “This may to you strength bring.” She smiled in “thanks” as the gift giver hurried off.

“I must be lost for I do not remember the huge tree in the way of my passage.” The tree tried to scoop her up. She waved the stick like a fly swatter and the tree shrank in size. “I hope the boy, who ate my lunch, is safe, ” she thought.

“The path can’t be right for there was no raging river in my way.” She looked and looked for a way around. She waved the stick and the river became a brook once again. “I hope the girl is free from the water’s pull.”

“I’m so tired,” the little girl huffed and puffed. There was a small donkey standing just up ahead. “I don’t remember you,” she said as she climbed gratefully on his back. “You are a wonderful creature,” she whispered in his ear.

A howling wind, accompanied by a blizzard, blocked her pathway home. “No you don’t,” she scolded as she raised the stick high. “We must get home to help mama.” The storm turned to a misty, much needed rain.

As she bounded into her small, warm home, she noticed her mother was pale and almost blue in color.

“Oh mama, take some of this that the nice man sent to make you feel well. I will make these herbs into a tea.” She raised the stick. “You have taken care of me. Please help my mama.”

The girl’s mama rose from her couch with her strength restored. As she gathered her girl into her arms, the little girl became a young woman, kindness beamed in her deep blue eyes.

“Thank you stick.” she whispered. She knew not that all along it had been her many kindnesses that had given the power to the stick.

Life’s Lesson: Remember to give a kindness today; you never know how it may be repaid.

 

Photography: “Walking Stick” copyright L. Moon 2013

I am participating in the A to Z month long Blog Challenge – Today’s letter “K”