Common Threads

Today at http://www.ethicalela.com, Susan Ahlbrand is our host of the Open Write. She encouraged us to write a poem to something about which we are passionate as our poem today.

Dear travel, you keep

me looking forward to our

next planned rendezvous!

Rockport last fall break

Salem witches, Gloucester whales

hopeless wanderlust…..

San Antonio

and Texas Hill Country this

break……where to next? -Kim

Glenda Funk, a February host at http://www.ethicalela.com’s Open Write, inspired us to write Kitchen Ghost poems, inspired by her own reading of Crystal Wilkinson’s poetry. Today, I write this poem in memory of my oldest living aunt, Jeanie Haynes, who died on February 2, 2022 at the age if 95.. She drank Dr. Pepper and loved her family!

Kitchen Ghostangels

Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord

Sometimes when I open the recipe box, the ghostangels march out to the

He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored

strains of How Firm a Foundation and In the Garden, and I’m taken back

He has loosed the fateful lightening of His terrible swift sword

to the caramel and chocolate layer cakes hidden beneath the dented

His truth is marching on

silver metal cake cover to those kitchens in South Georgia where my ancestors

Glory, glory, Hallelujah…..Glory, glory, Hallelujah…….Glory, glory, Hallelujah

cooked chickens alive that morning and baked cakes with fresh-fallen pecans and

His truth is marching on …..

rolled red and green candied fruit in flour to put into our Christmas fruitcakes and

In the beauty of the lilies, Christ was born across the sea

sometimes I think of those dishes with the Cherokee Rose pattern along the edges

with a glory in His bosom that transfigures you and me

that once stood in the cabinet with all that carnival glass and milk glass some of which

as He died to make men holy, let us die to make men free

now lives here with me as I wonder about its next stop and sometimes I open an ice

His truth is marching on

cream sandwich and think of the time I ran past Meema to the freezer without hugging her

Glory, glory, Hallelujah

hello first and how that didn’t end well at all and somewhere in all of this, I know

Glory, glory, Hallelujah

they are still strong spirits who come at will and find their way back to Heaven through

Glory, glory, Hallelujah

their own timewrinkled handwriting on the cards in my recipe box

His truth is marching on…..

Today, Glenda Funk has inspired us to write Pedagogy Poems as part of the Open Write at http://www.ethicalela.com.

Pedagogical Travel

Pedagogical 

leanings take us places to

see the world, to know

Geographical 

footholds (On Clouds, size 7)

bring flat maps to life! 

Cultural studies  

immerse us in food, music

art, literature 

Philosophical 

beliefs propel wanderlust 

to explore the world 

Political lines 

fade, humanitarian 

connections strengthen

Kaleidoscopes of

understanding that far is

near, that there is here 

Pedagogical 

travel viewpoints empower 

experiencers 

Trailblazing footprints 

discovering difference

is conceptual 

Natural light

diffused through a window

is not a good lunch date.

A friend double-took a

look at my lip line,

so I daubed my mouth –

saw no napkin stain.

She did it again.

I found a

wayward whisker

(okay, a couple)

to pluck when

I got back

to the office.

We swapped seats

next time – my back

was to the glass,

and I saw

good reason

to keep that seat.

I came home

from work and

tossed my own can of

Pearlessence Bombshell

that absorbs impurities

while adding next-day

texture and volume,

now firmly resolute that

my dry shampoo days

are over.

So much

is seen

in a certain

slant of light.

Sharing their stories

Offering hope for miracles

God is still at work

They’ve known deep trenches,

dark alleys, places of doom

They know there is light

They know there is hope

When all seemed hopeless, God worked

miracles in them

This week’s topic on sharingourstoriesmagic.com is quiet. The golden silence sets the tone of the day for me. No radio, no tv…..medicinal space for reflecting and writing. Solitude. Peace. Stillness. Coffee.
Thanks to Slice of Life and SOS for giving writers space and voice!

Quiet

the whirr of the fan 

faint hum of the fridge

     quaint strum of the heat

whispery paper turning a page

  flutter of leaves 

      on trees 

           in the breeze 

hush of misty

soapy shower steam 

a snore of a snoozer

  a schnoodle, asleep 

the peace of the house 

   without any stirring 

save for one spoon 

   in the coffee I’m swirling 

morning solitude savored, fleeting

moments of peace 

……..before workday greetings

rustic cabin window shelf

Mason jar blush bouquet

faintly perfuming the air with

springtime memories

of carefree days

walking barefoot

through grassy meadows

to a snow-quilted picnic knoll

blanket of sunshine

draping shoulders

drifting off to youthful adventures

on distant hills

sledding in a red coat

waking to yellow butterflies

Japanese cherry blossoms

and bluebirds

Today’s post is written by my father, Reverend Dr. Felix Haynes, Jr., whose birthday is February 13th – the day before Valentine’s Day. As Ken and I celebrate our Dad today, he celebrates his schnoodle, Kona, who nuzzled her way into his life one year ago. And oh, the difference she has made!                                

 IN GRATITUDE FOR KONA – AND APPRECIATION TO MY CHILDREN
Kona came into my life one year ago on Valentine’s Day, the best Valentine ever, a love expression from my children. This schnoodle was 9 months old at the time. She was “rescued” from a home where she was loved by her owner, who was in the midst of an unfortunate situation and was unable to keep her. She got to St. Simon’s Island by relay from Tallahassee, Florida to Albany, Georgia (where Kim received her), then to Tifton, Georgia (where Ken took the baton) and on to St. Simon’s Island late Sunday on Valentine’s Day 2021. Ken and Ginger walked into my home toting this canine bundle. I was undogged and not in the market for another because of the responsibility and emotional dynamics of dogdom.

I had warned my children not to do such a thing. Ken said, “Dad, Kim rescued this puppy, and you have 48 hours to make a decision.”

Kim fell in love with her from Albany to Tifton. I quickly fell in love with this cute little bundle of fur also. No pressure! We walked Kona and played a bit.  Less than an hour later, I had a dog – or, perhaps more truthfully, a dog had me! I knew immediately I would not change her name because I love coffee (Kona is the leeward side of Hawaii where they grow coffee). She sits in the chair with me every morning when I have coffee.

The Florida State University former owner from whom Kona comes, who was wearing his Seminoles t-shirt when he stepped from his truck with her, suggests a bit of Miriam (once a FSU student herself) steering Kona to me. I don’t know.  Maybe. Probably. But I am sure I was meant to have this cherished friend, no doubt.  I would rather have Kona than a brand new Mercedes. She is the best gift.

Kona is appealingly persuasive. She can win the heart of anybody she meets. She does not discriminate and brings a bright spot all over St. Simon’s Island and beyond. She gets 3 or 4 walks a day: pre-dawn (usually 5:30 a.m., to the Pier and back) — 11:00 a.m., around the ballpark (getting a treat at the Recreation Office). She pulls like a dog sled to get through that door—then, at 2:30 p.m. to the dog park. She knows how to tell time.  She has dozens of friends there and has brought so many new friends into my life. We have occasional gatherings at restaurants – a great fraternity. And we meet many people and breeds of dogs from all over the country. This is an enriching dimension to my life – and Kona is responsible for it!

Kona transmits love and joy because she has a divine spark. She has distinctive barks: (1) A shrill woof-woof—let’s play!  (2) a yelp- “Let’s go” (3) a SWEET WOOING WHINE- “pick me up.” (4) A louder repetitive bark –she isn’t happy about something.

She can jump amazingly high and impresses everybody who sees this. It is her eager enthusiasm! She could win the high jump in the Canine Olympics. You must see this to believe it. She can walk on her hind legs in such a way that she could be on Dancing With the Stars. Her tails wags like the flutter of a hummingbird’s wings.

She is an amazing dog, and people who see her give her treats beyond the Recreation Office at the ball park. She gets treats at Parker’s convenience store. She gets a puppy cup (of ice-cream) at Frosty’s. We share it.

She is devious and delightful. When she gets in trouble, she has the most appealing scamper and turns her trouble into a game. She is smart. When she sees I am upset with her, she turns on the charm, looks me in the eyes and pleads, “I didn’t mean to.” There should be more people like Kona.

Kona is total energy with skin pulled over it. She is JOY personified. She is LOVE in the best sense of the word. She is PEACE on my pillow. She warms my bed, brightens my day, challenges my patience. She is an unfailing friend.  I am convinced this sweet little gal is an angel.

One year later, THANKS!

ten feet from our driveway – a bloodbath!

scraps of fur, one tiny claw left

suspect: our resident hawk

victim: baby squirrel?

bittersweet feelings:

we cheer for one,

mourn the wee

furry

catch

***
ask

ourselves:

did it fall

to its death from

the towering pines?

fly talon-pierced away?

little one taken too young

plucked from the warmth of its mother

nourishment for our majestic hawk