Margaret Simon is our host today at www.ethicalela.com, inviting us to write etymology poems, or definito poems. I chose the word Quirky for today, since I will be the host tomorrow for Quirky poems.
As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Chris Goering, songwriter from Arkansas, inspires us to write songs of our origins today at http://www.ethicalela.com as part of VerseLove! For my poem, I consulted my 23 and Me Report to see where in the world I came from. Since I was born in Georgia, I changed the lyrics of Georgia on my Mind to reflect my DNA Report. Now I understand the constant pull to travel and see parts of Europe. My roots are calling. With a nod to the one and only Ray Charles……
Europe On My Mind
London, Dublin
The whole strand through (the whole strand through)
23 and Me
Keeps Europe on my mind (Europe on my mind)
I sing now Ireland, Grandma
Your red hair explained (image of you)
Comes as understood
As Celtic knots of strength
Family roots extend to me
Tree leaf traits wave tenderly
In cradled branch of oak I see
My heart beats back to you
Oh Scandinavia! Germany, France, too….
Footprints I feel (footprints I feel)
Now I understand, too
Why travel’s on my mind (travel’s on my mind)
Family roots extend to me
Tree leaf traits wave tenderly
In cradled branch of oak I see
My heart beats back to you
Woah, Europe, Europe
Footprints I feel (footprints I feel)
Now I understand, too
Why travel’s on my mind (travel’s on my mind)
23 and Me
Keeps Europe on my mind (Europe on my mind)
Genesis 9:19
These three were the sons of Noah, and from these the whole earth was populated.
Day 6 of 30 of VerseLove (my April theme is Poems)
Mo Daley of Michigan is our host today for National Poetry Month in #VerseLove at http://www.ethicalela.com. She inspires us to write a Cherita with these words:
The cherita was created in 1997 by UK poet ai li as a tribute to her storytelling grandparents. In Malay, cherita means “story” or “tale.” The form consists of three stanzas- one line in the first, two in the second, and three in the third. You may link your cheritas if you wish. The poem is simply designed to tell a story. So I wrote one, entitled Oomph!
An oomph! at 3,446 feet can’t be good.
Atop Black Rock Mountain, I heard her –
She’d fumbled her phone.
But did I stop recording?
Heck, no!
I laughed – and we haven’t stopped since.
The actual oomph! where she says, “I ’bout dropped my phone!”
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.”
Denise Krebs of California is our host today for National Poetry Month in #VerseLove (my theme for April is Poems). She inspires us to write a 4 x 4 today. The 4 x 4 with its repeating line is one that I will add to my more frequent writing. It has four stanzas of four lines with four syllables in each, and the refrain moves in each stanza from position 1 to 2 to 3 to 4.
journeyer’s heart traveling shoes climbing mountains rapt in wonder
mailing postcards taking photos traveling shoes soaking it in
living each day finding my way forging new paths traveling shoes
Postcards ready to mail Windows and mind open to the journey at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NCWith special thanks to Two Writing Teachers at Slice of Life
Jennifer Guyor Jowett is our host today at wee.ethicalela.com for VerseLove. She inspires writers to use burrowing seeds from other poems to inspire an original poem. I have taken a line from Jennifer Jowett’s poem and one from my writing group buddy Kevin’s this morning to inspire my writing as I sit just feet from the two rooms at the Grove Park Inn where F. Scott Fitzgerald summered as a place of respite as he wrote The Great Gatsby. Fran Haley, another of my writing friends, has a photograph of her sitting in his room at his desk. Oh, how I would love that experience. I strolled Gibbs Gardens in Ball Ground, Georgia yesterday and was inspired by Jennifer’s line Turn Seed to Stem, and write this morning hoping F’s fingers are ghostly guides of mine this morning with Kevin’s lines Keep watch for dust, falling in flight as I keep peeking for orbs or shadows of F.
I touched F’s door, April 4, 2022 at the Grove Park Inn
Keeping Watch for F
Turn seed to stem Bees buzz on a whim
Tulips yellow, tulips red Tulips tucked in loamy beds
Daffodils yellow, orange, white Grove Park Inn on moonlit night
Drinking mules by stone fireplace Kicking back, vacation pace
Across the hall from Fitzgerald’s room Gatsby ghosts in Grand Ballroom
Thoughts when scattered germinate Writing fingers celebrate
Turn seed to stem, touch his door Write the morning on F’s floor
Keep watch for dust, falling in flight And ghosts in hallways, orbs of light
Are his fingers guiding mine? These sacred moments – – so divine!
On March 21, our ethicalela host Chiara inspired us to write a Looking Up poem. I’m sharing my poem from March today. My mother’s last coherent words to my father were “You take care of these dogs.” I think about those words this morning as I write.
Christening Wild Onions
stepping out into the cold morning darkness with the boys not heeling pulling like Iditarod dogs off the porch racing toward the grass to sprinkle the wild onions
roosters asking roosters answering throughout the countryside
the distant sound of tires on pavement faint steam rising from christened onions
I look up
Good morning, Mom! I’m taking care of these dogs. I smile at the stars
Lori L. and Gae P. also challenged us to write a collaboration poem using a line from another poet and saying, “You’ve been poemed!” Here is my collaboration poem for this day, having taken a line from Gae’s poem – growling, rawr, rawr, rawr. Gae and Lori, what a beautiful form born out of friendship! Thank you for inspiring us! We have indeed been opened today! I’m taking a line and running with it!
morningsounds
my stomach growling “rawr, rawr, rawr,” splatter of water in the shower Tingle jingle of dog tags Tick tick tick of paw feet Lick lick lick of grooming Hummmmm of refrigerator Drummmmmm of rain on the roof Whirrrrr of hair dryer Slide glide of pocket door Creaking of floor, house settling Throughing of Keurig brewing Plop plop of Kcup drops Whish-splish of toothbrush scrub
Day 2 of 30 of #VerseLove (My theme for April is Poems)
Emily Yamasaki, our host for Verse Love today, uses a mentor poem Things I Have Memorized by Maria Giesbrecht to inspire us to write a list poem of things we know or have memorized or any similar list of things. In the mornings on my way to work, I don’t listen to the radio. About five years ago, I declared my car my prayer chamber for my work commute. I pray my way to work with a fairly memorized order of prayer, adding and rearranging along a basic prayer list. I like the ACTS method – Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication, and some days I use that as a guide when I’m in between meetings or feeling the need for a quick prayer hug. And thought I shouldn’t be, I am continually amazed at the peace that this brings to my heart.
My Prayer
Thank you, Lord, for this day – for our health, for our blessings, for our family, for your love.
Forgive us of our sins and all those bad thoughts I sometimes think and words I mumble.
Be with our MAMA children – with Mallory, Marshall, Ansley, Andrew and the ones who love them – the other Andrew, and Selena and any you are preparing to join our family.
Be with our BRASS Grandchildren – Beckham, River, Aidan, Saylor, and Sawyer, and keep them healthy and safe. Help them grow in Your love and wisdom.
Be with Dad and Ken, help them to make good choices, and be with us, too Lord, helping us to love and be patient and kind to one another. Help us to stay healthy and safe. And loving. And knowing how to respond to others and to situations.
Be with all those who are sick and suffering, who have lost their way. Bring them peace.
Guide us in our work that we will be good servants and good stewards.
Guide us with lights along the path to keep us focused on the trek you have planned for us.
Stay by our sides and keep us focused on the purposes you have for us.
Stay close and hear us as we pray throughout the day.
Common Threads 