Patchwork Prose and Verse
Jessie
her servant’s heart embraced their broken hope
her gentle spirit wielded toughest love
such prayerful presence resurrecting souls
her intercessions strong on their behalf
(and even in their healing, they could laugh)
in restoration, re-learned how to cope
with Jessie‘s guiding wisdom from above
If I were giving
you a gift basket
I’d make it a summertime sensation!
you’d receive
a skin-safe clean sunscreen
to keep you scorch-free and silky
a pair of sunglasses with readers
to soften the sunbeams
and a splishy
lightweight water tumbler
to saturate your senses
a basket sure
to make a splash !
I find inspiration in the lids of the yogurt I eat. I buy this brand not just because it’s delicious, but for the messages and the pure glass containers that will root new plant life for me to share with friends. Here is a poem inspired by Say Oui to Time Off!
Say Yes
we said yes because
what we know about us
is that we like a big window
and gray and white
and newness and matching
towels and linens
not odd assortments
and light,
plenty of light
and good music speakers
front, back, and outside
for good 70s tunes
and fifteen trips to France but
not going there
instead, staying close to home
but still away, oui?
and time off
to enjoy it
One of the things I love to do when I have a little spare time is read the blogs of other writers. I noticed that Donna Smith of Mainely Write was part of the same KidLit Progressive Poem that I was writing for 2025, so I checked out her blog and discovered a new poetry form – – a Rictameter. You can check out Donna’s blog here to read about the structure.
For today, I’m writing a Rictameter to celebrate the beginning of summer.
School’s Out!
school’s out!
what will we do?
camp in state park campgrounds
take family trips to the beach
have watermelon seed-spitting contests
read books in a hammock all day
count stars on a clear night
take a night swim
school’s out!
In the spirit of tiny writing and short forms, today’s poem is a Shadorma (3-5-3-3-7-5) inspired by Georgia Heard’s Tiny Writing prompt calendar: A Poem Made of Questions.
A Poem Made of Questions
doesn’t have
exclamation points
periods
or hellfire
narcissism directives ~
it offers free choice
In the spirit of tiny writing and short forms, today’s poem is a Shadorma (3-5-3-3-7-5) inspired by Georgia Heard’s Tiny Writing prompt calendar: A Scent from Long Ago.
A Scent from Long Ago
White Shoulders
her scent permeates
the gold box
containing
not just jewelry but her
presence ~ memories!
In the spirit of tiny writing and short forms, today’s poem is a Shadorma (3-5-3-3-7-5) inspired by Georgia Heard’s Tiny Writing prompt calendar: What Quiet Sounds Like.
What Quiet Sounds Like
hurt hearts are
what quiet sounds like
no phones ping
no texts ding
quiet endures without peace
when hearts are hurting
In the spirit of tiny writing and short forms, today’s poem is a Shadorma (3-5-3-3-7-5) inspired by Georgia Heard’s Tiny Writing prompt calendar: A Poem that Begins with If.
a poem
that begins with if
seems open,
understands
that there must be conditions ~
criteria met
Today’s topic for the tiny writing shared by Georgia Heard on her May calendar is A Secret You Keep. I’m using the Shadorma form this month for most of these poems (3-5-3-3-7-5). My poem today is inspired by the prankish secret I’m keeping. A few weeks ago, I cleaned out the silverware drawer and put the holder back in a different direction. A week or so later, I noticed my husband had flipped it back to the original position. And so I turned it back. He flipped it again. Again, I turned it, in a different direction from either of the first. And now, this game – more of a prank than a secret – is part of the fun of the morning.
A Secret You Keep
suddenly
after 18 years
there’s a tiff
over which
way the silverware tray goes ~
so now it’s a game!
Today’s prompt at http://www.ethicalela.com for the first day of the May Open Write is by Dr. Sarah Donovan, who encourages poems related to the stages of forgiveness and pain. I’ve chosen a double haiku followed by a shadorma for today’s verse, blending madness and sadness of grief that lingers. I’m reminded that sometimes forgiveness is a long time coming.
For Today
all lies, no mercy ~
how can I choose forgiveness?
I’m still working through
things that can never
be replaced, lived out rightly
the way she’d wanted
perhaps in
time there will be a
change of heart
but for now
for this hour, for this moment
my soul can’t forget
Common Threads 