Author: kimhaynesjohnson

 

Getting Ready: Prepping for Thanksmas 2020

making plans 

checking lists 

shopping for toys 

crafting a menu 

wrapping presents 

(cornhole included) 

playing Christmas music 

feeling festive 

doing laundry 

sharing recipes 

ordering Clicklist 

cooking ahead 

sampling the fudge 

testing the smoke alarm programming the TV 

grooming the dogs 

adjusting harnesses 

gathering games 

packing the camper 

coordinating clothes 

mounting the hitch 

loading picnic tables 

folding tablecloths 

sharpening the carving knife

sprucing up the table tree 

nogging the Evan Williams 

nipping the peppermint schnapps 

labeling foil pans 

counting utensils 

stocking the pantry 

sheeting beds 

fluffing towels 

mixing hot Russian tea 

chopping pecans 

measuring ingredients 

thinking through details 

anticipating merriment

withdrawing Christmas cash 

choosing audiobooks 

fueling up 

voting for paper plates 

looking forward to the fun

praying for a safe trip 

sedating schnoodles 

setting Waze 

buckling up 

 

Dead Worm Haiku

one groomed Schnoodle and 

one groomed Schnauzer both seeking 

dead worms to roll on 

 

Spirit 

the day 

after Halloween 

the world 

lit up for Christmas 

Facebook directed, 

“we’re all 

fast forwarding 

to the Christmas spirit 

for 2020” 

we watch, wondering 

why we’d want 

to speed up a season 

as if Covid will drop 

like the ball 

in Times Square 

at midnight 

New Year’s Eve 

we watch, wondering 

if November 1 

will become 

the new 

black shopping day 

wondering 

if the spirit 

can be manufactured 

by lights,

         music 

               trees 

                   gifts 

                        food 

because togetherness 

has new Covid rules 

about who belongs 

in a household 

and who doesn’t 

we watch, wondering 

whether some believe 

faith 

     hope 

           joy 

               peace 

                      love 

can be plugged 

and unplugged 

like tree lights 

we watch, wondering 

why all the rush 

when miracles 

happen all around us 

every day 

we wait, praying 

for His return 

Oh, what a Christmas 

of togetherness 

THAT will be! 

Blue Kazoo

A Blue Kazoo Pantoum 

a kazoo?!?!

weightless blue musical flute

seized from your suitcase at luggage inspection 

on a family Christmas trip to New York City

weightless plastic toy

just who were you? the Pied Piper?

2004 tsunami zoom to The Big Apple

a simple kazoo- not illegal drugs or weapons

who were you now? the Pied Piper? 

were you to groove and kazoo through the streets?

a kazoo – neither bong nor bazooka

booming voice scarring sweet souls, ruining memories

were you to flitter and flute-toot through the streets?

a kazoo – looted from your suitcase

other too-heavy baggage ruled the truth of the doom

a kazoo?!?!

 

Home from the Rodeo

September 1993 

you were four

your baby sister 

wasn’t a week old yet 

you left with your dad 

and older sister 

for a rodeo 

at Midway Farms 

2 miles away 

down the highway 

down a long stretch 

of dirt road 

but halfway through my “nap when the baby naps,” 

I got a phone call 

from a subdivision neighbor 

“Mrs. Meyer, 

we found your son 

on Highway 46”

I panicked! 

then he added 

“he got lost….

a lady saw him running alone 

on 46

and tried 

to pick him up 

but he wouldn’t get 

in her car 

so she’s riding 

alongside him 

until he makes it home 

safely” 

alive, not dead 

     tears of relief 

           deep breath

that may have been 

the day 

you became a runner 

you were well-oriented 

you were cautious 

you were determined 

you still are 

you made it home on your own terms that day

with an angel

in tow

 The river property sale closes today at 10 am 

Ode to Sapelo River

your marsh and river 

at dawn and dusk

ever-changing palette 

of brilliant hues,

whose back we scratched 

on novice skis,

whose arm we tickled 

casting lines, nets

whose oaks 

huddled family gatherings 

and 

sheltered peaceful togetherness

you picked up 

the dinner check:

deviled crab, 

steamed shrimp, 

fried fish

and lulled us 

in a dock hammock 

as we listened

for playful dinnertime dolphins

your trees and river breezes 

brought cleaner air 

to clear 

the lungs 

the mind

your heart our refuge 

from demands  

and deadlines

well done, friend! 

now you’re ready 

to 

fully embrace 

and care 

for a new family 

who’ll take 

your empty shell 

and 

breathe new life 

into you

you have so much more 

to give 

and you’re long overdue 

for a makeover 

and 

the laughter of family 

flooding your veins

we’ll never forget 

the joy you brought us! 

so long, old friend! 

the memories live on….

 

Choices

Today’s list writing was inspired by a poetry group member to live intentionally – to make good choices and think about the blessings and consequences of choices. I chose a quote from a book I love – Simple Abundance.

 

“Your life at this exact moment is a result of choices you made once upon a time – 30 minutes or 30 years ago…..wrong choices should never be confused with bad choices.” –  Sarah Ban Breathnach

5 of the Good Choices I Made Yesterday

1. I had conversations with all three of my children and my brother – some deep, some reflective, some funny. All uplifting! 
2. I came home for lunch to walk the dogs in the sunshine and enjoy the beauty of the day and the serenity of the country woods. 
3. I worked hard and was productive for my employer, preparing well-chosen literacy materials as Christmas gifts for our grant partners.
4. I kissed my husband and told him I love him. What a fabulous choice he is!  
5. I wrote in the morning and read in the evening.

Good choices drive a more meaningful life. A car doesn’t choose  a driver. A driver chooses a car. 

 Today’s prompt was to churn up moments from the past about healing. This one’s a Pantoum for my 27 year old daughter Ansley, who jokingly recalls the day her mama abandoned her in the bookstore. Thank God we can joke through all the “coulda been.”

Abandoned

it was all a scary mistake
abandoning her at Barnes & Noble
she asked to go to the van as I checked out
she said she was sleepy

abandoning her was my fault
I told her to stay on the sidewalk
(we’d parked on the curb) but she was sleepy
she was supposed to stay on the sidewalk to the
           van parked straight out front 

I said, “stay on the sidewalk” because the van was
            ten safe feet from the door
but she followed my only directions
she was supposed to go to the van
but as I drove away she stayed on the sidewalk 

she did what I asked – but never made it to the van
she wanted to go nap in the van on the third seat
but as I drove away she stayed on the sidewalk
it was all a scary mistake 

I had a meltdown when I realized I’d left her
I’d stopped for milk and bread at Food Lion
I called to wake her but her siblings said,
           “she’s not here”
she wasn’t there – I’d left her on the sidewalk 

I’d stopped for groceries 20 minutes away
I called the bookstore: “yes ma’am, she’s here”
I’d left her on the sidewalk
her pre-K teacher worked evenings at the bookstore 

“yes ma’am, she’s safe in the children’s section”
TOTAL MOM FAILURE! would DFACS take her?
Miss Maury was reading her a story
my meltdown shifted from panic to gratefulness 

I’d failed her – but she’d known exactly what to do
I’d called out to wake my four year old who wasn’t
            there
panic turned to peace when I got back to her
I’d unknowingly abandoned her and we’re still
           healing 23 years later

 

Today I’m thankful for the simplicity of enjoying nature, breathing fresh air, and living a relaxed weekend pace before Monday arrives again for its weekly stay with all its luggage. Here is a nonet- a nine line poem of descending syllables.  

Simple Life 

A majestic mountain view of leaves
red, green, brown, orange, and yellow
camping at Vogel State Park
just you and me – and time
time to breathe fresh air
time to cherish
what we choose:
simple
life

 

Nothingness

all sorts 

of vise grips 

tightening freedom 

hindering lingering 

clamping rest

choking life 

keep me on the move 

doing something else 

to check another box: 

done! 

I want some 

nothingness 

and with it 

I’ll take 

a cup of hot tea 

a book 

a journal 

a pen 

a comfy chair 

and two wet noses 

by a blazing fireplace 

savoring each moment 

cherishing the warmth 

of the deep 

peace