Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Day 31 - OctPoWriMo: Mysteriousness

Mysteriousness

Mystified, stunned about New
York, yet drawn to
See what the hell
Transpired. I wonder how we’ll
Explain to our children
Reassure them about this world
In which they must make a life
Of meaning, a life that encompasses
Unwavering goodness and love.
Squeeze them tight
Never let them feel our despair
Enable their childhood’s rightful
Sweetness, their trust undiluted, Help them grow
Strong     Sincere    Undeterred

Photo from Public Domain



Monday, October 30, 2017

Day 30 - OctPoWriMo: "Forbidden"


Photo from the Public Domain. npr.org 


Forbidden

Remember the days of Jim Crow
and lawful segregation?
I’d always lived in the north
in a jewel of a city, Detroit
the Motor City
Motown
where hundreds of thousands
of Black people landed
those who fled
the south during the Great Migration.
They carried their fears and truths with them
to the new land
passed them along to future generations.
And we quaked
though now we can drink
from any fountain
choose any trolley seat
shop in J.L. Hudson’s.
Until we look for housing
nothing is Forbidden.

Photo from the Public Domain.
priceonomics.com

Sunday, October 29, 2017

Day 29 - OctPoWriMo: Breathtaking


Swinging Bridge. Photo by Annis Cassells (c) 2010


Breathtaking

Soul seeks adventure, heart fills with fear
But soon fear dissipates
I’m lucky to be right here

Ziplining in Juneau, with all proper gear
I’m tempting the fates
Soul seeks adventure, heart fills with fear

Head’s in the forest, air fresh and clear
Nature’s magic radiates
I’m lucky to be right here

Steeped in the beauty of all we revere
This impulsive caper delights and elates
Soul seeks adventure, heart fills with fear

I imagine returning year after year
Consider possibilities, future dates
I’m lucky to be right here

My quest for excitement is truly sincere
With thrill after thrill, it never abates
Soul seeks adventure, heart fills with fear
I’m lucky to be right here

Photo by Judy McDole (c) 2010 Used with Permission

Today's Theme: Breathtaking

Suggested Form: Villanelle - a 19-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme The first and last lines of the first stanza are repeated, in turn, in subsequent stanzas. This is my first attempt at a Villanelle. xoA

Saturday, October 28, 2017

Day 28 - OctPoWriMo: Friends

Photo by Judy McDole (c) 2010


FRIENDS
All rise
To belong

Claim the title Friend
Know deep commitment
Connect with kindred spirits

“Earned their spot around the campfire”

Today's Theme: Belonging

For nearly 20 years, I've belonged to the best darn Relay for Life team in Bakersfield, Bob Miller & Friends Pull Together to Find a Cure. We shared many nights around the "campfire" as we stood vigil and walked the track during what was the largest Relay for Life event in the world. Kudos to our captain, Scottie Miller.

Suggested Form: Clarity Pyramid. A seven-line poem. Two triplets and one additional line. Syllable count: 1, 2, 3 then 5, 6, 7, then 8. The final line is in quotation marks because it is a quote that defines the title.









Friday, October 27, 2017

Day 27 - OctPoWriMo: Tulips

Tulips

Among the tulips
We rejoiced, beauty and hues
Coloring our world

Alaska Tulips,
2010 Photo (c)  Annis Cassells 

Today's Theme: Scent of a Flower (or Flower Memories)

Suggested form: Haiku

Thursday, October 26, 2017

Day 26 - OctPoWriMo: Meditation, First Foray

Image from Public Domain
psychology.com


Meditation, First Foray

Our mantras chosen at random from a basket
It was my first time at group meditation
I was one of a dozen invited to attend

The leader modeled the mood, set the tone
Her velvet voice urged finding our way to say
Our mantras chosen at random from a basket

The mantra I held was Shan-ti
Each recited their unique phrase or word
It was my first time at group meditation

Energy emanated from the circle
I felt a peace I’d been seeking for so long
I was one of a dozen invited to attend



Today's theme: A once and unruly mind

Suggested form: An invented form called Cascade. Each line of the first stanza is repeated as the last line of the successive three stanzas.

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Day 25 - OctPoWriMo: "Satisfaction"

Today's Theme: Taste of Satisfaction

Form: A pair of Cinquains

Public Domain Image


Satisfaction
Full of sweet pride
Squeezing between your teeth
Like cream from a cream puff
Contentment

Satisfaction
Just out of reach
Tantalizes, then fills you up
But only 'til tomorrow
Reparation

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Day 24 - OctPoWriMo: Travelers

Arches National Park 2010

Travelers

The solo traveler
Sings adventure
not loneliness
Meets no strangers
as she makes her way
Unencumbered
Along roads well-worn
or not taken
Wanders
Encounters compadres
fellow seekers who
Momentarily connect
Become consequential strangers
or maybe friends
Their destinies
to traipse the world



Santorini 2015



Today's Theme: When Lovers Meet


The prompt asks us to consider types of lovers beyond the usual idea when we hear the word. I love to travel: alone, with one other person, in small groups, on tours. Discoveries and connections delight me.

Monday, October 23, 2017

Day 23 - OctPoWriMo: The Message

The Message

Shifty-eyed and timid, he stumbled
O'er the unwelcome news he’d break.
I requested he repeat.
The Home Ec teacher
Gets top English
Classes. Kids
Get the
Shaft


Unfortunately, this poem is autobiographical. 

Today's Challenge: Write a nonet, a nine-line poem. The first has 9 syllables and each successive line becomes one syllable shorter.


Sunday, October 22, 2017

Day 22 - OctPoWriMo: Tell Me

Today's Theme: Purposeful Passion

Bandon, Oregon 2017


Tell Me

Tell me everything
Everything you want me to know
Know I will hear your words
Words that slice or soothe
Tell me everything
Everything to unburden, to free
Free your mind to live, to love
Love yourself and tend to your heart



The prompt asked us to write about something we’re passionate about. So I asked myself this question from Natalie Goldberg: "What is it mine to do?"

Saturday, October 21, 2017

Day 21 - OctPoWriMo: Requiem for Justice

https://pixabay.com/en/scale-gold-weigh-balance-weight-1108316/


Requiem for Justice

Ancient memories thrust
beckon, tease
cast themselves forth
determined to intrude their
eloquent entreaties
force entry
go against my attempt to forget, they
hack into the present
ignore that everything is different now
justice lost its purchase, had the wind
knocked out of it with punches and blows
lead by the enforcers
masterminded by the spinners
no lawful recourse for
opening the system, no
peace
queries go unanswered
raised concerns
stomped down
traction of the idea of justice skids
uncontrollably          what’s
vital to restoration, to healing?
watch and wake
eXamine and act
you and I are the ones to change the course
zero in    then welcome ancient memories’ return


Today's Theme: Nothing Remains the Same

Suggested form: Abecedarian, a 26-line poem, each line beginning with a successive letter of the alphabet, A-Z.







Friday, October 20, 2017

Day 20 - OctPoWriMo: Braving New Land

Today's Theme: Desire and Remembering


Braving New Land

In rapturous anticipation I volunteered,
waved both hands skyward
Everyone who lives in Michigan
Wants to move to California
Leaving family and friends behind
Makes no difference, doesn’t matter
We dream 
expect movie life
Hollywood,
Malibu,
San Francisco
Never Bakersfield
Never the desert
Never thermometers reaching
such heights as one hundred twelve
And when faced with loneliness
Faced with strangers who dismiss you because of how you look
And the never-turning leaves of unfamiliar trees
My most ardent desire
became to go home
Home
Where my heart had stayed


Thursday, October 19, 2017

Day 19 - OctPoWriMo - Homage to Redd

Today's Theme:  Fox or Foxy
Form: Florette
Inspiration: Jenni Astramowicz, who showed me how to step out of the box.

Photo from Internet


Homage to Redd

A story man, comedian, bard
Growing up, St. Louis proved hard
Born Sanford, he switched to Redd Foxx
And struggling out of a box, never dropped his guard

Early days his schtick was to shock
Racial issues were his to mock
A trendsetter paving  the way
Foxx ‘s  humor , his jokes, held sway, inspiring Chris Rock

Today we think of comedy
Recall Redd’s knack for parody
His genius entertained generations
Caught attention of a nation, his rhapsody





Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Day 18 - OctPoWriMo: Homeland

Photo by Judy McDole (c)


Homeland 

Children
taking care
the fact of matter
A homeland trait
Comforting, undeniably
--Loving--
Undeniably
Comforting trait
Homeland
A matter of fact
The care-taking children



Today's challenge was to write a Palindrome, a poem in which the second half mirrors the first half. A little tricky, but fun.




Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Day 17 - OctPoWriMo 2017: Knowing You


For today’s challenge: Choose 50 words. Write a poem using only those words, repeating and rhyming as you see fit. You can use the words as many times as you like, but limit yourself to just the 50 words.The prompt also mentioned a dragon. But they are not really my thing.




Knowing You

No one knows who you really are
Unless you show them true
The folks who love you, love you
The rest will watch and decide

Their views and yours may well collide
And when you show them true
Some still won’t know who you really are
But the folks who love you, love you

Don’t worry about the rest


Photo from Internet


Day 16 - OctPoWriMo: A Lifetime of Fear



A Lifetime of Fear

The fears of youth have long passed
Would I 
    be loved
       find meaningful work
           be solvent

The fears of mid-life have faded
Could I 
  retire in comfort
    afford to travel
         maintain my home

The fears of aging are present 
Will I 
   remain independent
      retain my good health
          be able to care for myself
             leave too much undone
                 become a burden

The fears of aging are persistent
   
  huge
      
     real
    

Today's Theme: Losing Your Fears and Tears

Sunday, October 15, 2017

Day 15 - Fighting the Urge to Vomit

 Fighting the Urge to Vomit

There was so much I wanted to tell them
I had bullet points
diagrams
Words of Wisdom
all ready to infuse
into their fertile minds
There was so much I wanted to tell them
So much they needed to know
These brand new teachers
So much about classrooms
So much about kids
So much about parents
So much about themselves
There was so much I wanted to tell them

But I had been where they were
So instead of vomiting
My entire New Teacher 101 script

I thought
               All this can be saved ‘til later

I said
              Everyone take a deep breath


              We’re going to meditate


Photo from Internet



Saturday, October 14, 2017

Day 14 - OctPoWriMo 2017: Word Collage



Word Collage

A collage of words
Bursts upon the plain white page
Turns it firey red

With words igniting
A firestorm of feelings frought
With desperation

What do I do next?
I won't know until I read
The words I’ve written

Friday, October 13, 2017

Day 13 - OctPoWriMo 2017: Wayward Minds

Wayward Minds

Drawn to the weird ones
Creativity unleashed  
Showed me to myself

Then I realized
I'd found my rightful people
Communed mind to mind


Thursday, October 12, 2017

Day 12 - OctPoWriMo 2017: Imagination

Imagination

Radio and books
Ultimate imagination
Stimulation
of my youth
Whisked me away
from a neighborhood
some feared to visit
Opened new worlds
and sections of my mind
Built by books
primed by pen and paper
shaped by pursuing
and practice
It’s still growing
My butterfly brain
                  My Imagination







Wednesday, October 11, 2017

Day 11 - OctPoWriMo 2017: Blueprint

Trying out the Joseph's Star form today. This one's a double. Each stanza has seven lines with a prescribed number of syllables per line: 1-3-5-7-5-3-1



Blueprint

Live
Dance in wind
Uninhibited
Be like tumbleweed chasing
Ghostly sky riders
Across fields
Search

Seize
Each moment
Capture life. Each day
Dole out words of love and peace
Fetch smiles, radiance
And respect
Live





Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Day 10 - OctPoWriMo 2017: Power of the Pen

Power of the Pen

I understood the power of the pen
my eighth grade year

when I wrote that petition
on behalf of all the girls,

called for a school policy change.

We just want to have an opportunity
We just want to retain our dignity

We just want to have a choice
We just want to play soccer,

to have the chance to shine.

Writing meant speaking up
Signing meant standing up

Listening meant opening up
Saying "yes" meant evolution

And when the "yes" came
we felt heard.
.
We recognized our power, 
and reveled in it.









Monday, October 9, 2017

Sunday, October 8, 2017

Day 8 - OctPoWriMo 2017: How Could I Know

How Could I Know

How could I know
of her resolve, her tenacity
How could I know
of her perceptive powers,
her good sense of the world
and her place in it
I should have
when I looked
into my second-born’s face
that August morning at 2:22
when she grabbed the world
and me
her black eyes focused
taking stock 
Almost saying “Mama”





Saturday, October 7, 2017

Day 7 OctPoWriMo 2017: If You Know What's Good for You

Today’s Theme:  And then I went too far


If You Know What’s Good for You
(A 4-Haiku story)

Back-pedaling now
Your sole response to my eyes,
Widened by your spew

But words can’t undo
My lurching, pretzeled stomach
The anger in my brain

Best course? Walk away
Let the cortisol subside
Get out of my reach

If you know what’s good
for you, run while I count slow.
One, Missisippi ...

Photo from Internet: (Vixen Daily 2015)

Friday, October 6, 2017

Day 6 - OctPoWriMo 2017: Pacing

Pacing

While I paced
the seaside labyrinth
Circles in the Sand*
Time evaporated
Serenity engulfed me
Cleansed me
Suspended
every negative thought

Bandon, Oregon 2017 

This summer, we made the early morning trip to Bandon, Oregon to experience the labyrinth on the beach created by labyrinth artist Denny Dyke. Known as Circles in the Sand, over 10,000 pairs of feet have walked his sandy paths. It’s truly a peaceful time in a beautiful setting.

 


 Both photos by Annis Cassells. (c) 2017

Thursday, October 5, 2017

Day 5 – OctPoWriMo 2017: Revelation

Today's theme: Finally I Understand


Revelation

It took the birth
Of my first child
Her weight in my arms
Before I understood

Before I understood
The depth of my parents’ love
Before I understood
Their profound sacrifices

Their profound sacrifices
So I might thrive
Grow into the woman 
They hoped I'd become

Detroit, Michigan 1943

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

Day 4 - OctPoWriMo 2017: Where Poetry Hides

Where Poetry Hides

Poetry hides in my drowsing reverie
Leads me to wonder why
Peer within
Imagine peace
Unlock love
Stop hate in its tracks
Snaps me awake
To reality

But never far from what could be

Poetic Morning in Wallisellen, Switzerland

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Day 3 – OctPoWriMo 2017: Cherita

Cherita

“Cherita” is a Malay word for "story,” hence the golden rule about a cherita is that it tells a story, usually untitled.
Cheritas are a stanza-based form containing three stanzas.
1 line stanza
2 line stanza
3 line stanza
The lines can be any length the poet chooses.
Today’s theme: The Taste of Metal


The flavor of platinum lingers

Cradled by my tongue
In remembrance

Of your vibrant laugh now silent
Of your skin encircled
By this ring, this testament to our love

Photo from Public Domain