Breathe

breathe in

breathe out

calm my mind

quell my thoughts

another breath in

another breath out

assuage my fears

ease my doubt

in through nose

out through same

found a lump

play waiting game

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I attempted to write a post for Monkey Man's 160 (story/prose in 160 characters). This is the poem that wanted to be written. It's a tad over 160...174 to be exact. What triggered this topic? Well, it is that time for my annual mammogram and for some reason I always stress about it. Also, I recently received a packet for Avon's Walk for the Cure (a 2 day, 26 mile walk). I am seriously considering participating this year. 

I must be off to work now. Please allow me to thank you, in advance for dropping by. Unfortunately, on my work weekends, I do not have the luxury of visiting you or personally replying to your comments. Have a great Sunday!

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Image found on Google Images

Flash Friday 55: The Dance

Plan in place:

give her roses,

ask for dance.

Simple, right?

Easy? Not so much.

Courage finally summoned

towards night’s end.

“These are for you”

he awkwardly mumbles.

Speechless, taken by surprise,

she smiles,

giving hug in return.

He stumbles back

in shy retreat

only then realizing

he had forgotten

to ask for that dance. 

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My 55 word treatise was based on a true story.

(Sorry G-Man...I know you prefer this to be fiction 

but I did take some liberties with the loose facts)

No names were used to protect the innocently awkward.

Now, honestly, who could be afraid of her?

I wish you all a marvelous weekend. 

Please think of me as I begin my usual work weekend of 3 12's. 

If you don't here back from me, you'll know why. 

Alphabe-Thursday: P is for It's Personal

Princess ponders her pea

such a puny, plucky thing

purchasing prestige through pain

procuring royal ring

Parson preaches from pulpit

pleas with piety

praying, pardoning, purging

peccabilities

Paramour provokes passion,

pleasure in lover’s embrace

promising perpetual affection

time pauses, hearts race

Pen belongs to poet

painting portraits with words

in polished, pleasing phrases

perceptively pondered

People, perhaps, are prey to "P"

personal, private and yet

P's pervasive,penetrating push

pierces psyche’s net

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Tuesday's Truth: Hiding (and other Tidbits)

I thought I would try something different today. I learned a new form of poetry from my friend, Eric Alder, (aka "Bubba"), called a rictameter. This form of poetry begins with a 2 syllable line. With each subsequent line one adds 2 more up until you reach 10 syllables. Then you work backwards and end the prose by repeating your 1st line. You all probably already knew this but it was new to me!  

Anyway, I've been thinking (and literally dreaming) about my hair quite a bit lately. I am nearing 50 and it seems society frowns upon long haired "seniors". I have never liked how I looked with short hair. Subsequently, I've been hanging onto my length for as long as I can remember. But why should I abide by the dictates of society? Or is there another reason for hanging onto my hair? Regardless, I plan to keep my long locks.

Feel free to critique and/or tell my your personal opinions on the topic. 

hiding

beneath her hair

looking out upon the world

through long strands of wind blown tresses

what was once vanity became her veil

femininity’s auburn badge

masked truth…false strength…feigned charm

tousled tendrils

hiding

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Things I've learned recently:

1.  A little added weight hides the wrinkles. Since my weight loss and attempts to gain some of it back I've been taken aback by the number of laugh lines I can suddenly call my own!

2. My daughter has grown into a beautiful, intelligent, honorable young lady. It baffles me that she can't see both her inner and outer beauty, but then I remember back to that age. I believe insecurity must be one of those stages of youth. Too bad some never manage to overcome it. 

3.  My dreams are not "normal". I've been Facebooking dream snippets here and there and am really surprised at the responses I receive. I can only gather most people either a) do not recall their dreams, b) are afraid to face their dreams or c) are simply sane. 

4.  I am stronger than I realized.

5.  The "Battle of the Gray" is never ending. 

6.  I'm not as busy as I think I am.

7.  Daily prayer and meditation keeps me centered, grounded.

8.  Although easy and convenient, crock-pot food all tastes the same.

9.  My spinach and cheese ravioli with creamy sun-dried tomato basil sauce is a hit at the local pot luck circuit. My goat cheese quesadillas are not. 

10. I have a tendency to talk too much, to ramble, to carry on, to banter, blather and chatter... oh well, you get the picture. 

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I must take my leave now and go about my day. I have lots to do but you know something? It'll all get done. Take care my friends!

Microfiction Monday #67: Memories

Memories

light the corners of my mind

misty watercolor memories

Egads Babs!

Must you sing that blasted song

each time we visit The Way We Were?

Saturday Centus: Dichotomy

That Ms. Jenny certainly keeps on our toes. This week's Centus adventure has us exploring the genre of science fiction. The following is my 100 word essay (minus the prompt in GREEN). Science fiction or reality? You decide. 

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Inter-Galactic Star Date 2758.122

We arrived on this alien planet

in the name of peace.

In order to keep accord,

armed forces were dispatched

to occupy this foreign land.

Their primitive society

and governments

did not conform to

standards as set forth

by the Articles of the

United Federation of Planets.

It was deemed necessary

to instill puppet regimes

on sovereign soil

to make way for progress.

Technological medical advances

were introduced

to this strange world.

These were no help

to the many natives

who succumbed to diseases

in which they had

no natural immunity.

“Beam me up, Scottie.

My work here is done.”

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Alphabe-Thursday/Flash Friday: O is for Ordinary

ordinary were days

of ordinary life

obliging, obedient

was ordinary wife

What really happened

within orderly house

overwhelmed by demands

of obstinate spouse

tears shed, not one, not once

no tantrums, no fits…

seeking solace instead

in obscure stash of opiates

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Sensational Haiku Wednesday: Deception

secrets burrowing…

mind deaf to truth’s silent shouts…

memories altered

secrets burrowing…

beguiling, bewitching, bold

binding battered soul

secrets burrowing…

sneaky,  sleazy,  nesting near

Ever present threat

Soul’s awakening...

divine intervention lifts

fog from hazy mind

soul’s awakening...

seeking vision’s clarity

to lies’ deception

soul’s  awakening...

breaking free from captive’s chains

one link at a time

Catch Up Time: Saturday Centus, Sunday 160, Micro-fiction Monday

I have been busy working at my "real job" the past several days and have had absolutely no time to keep up with my blog. This morning I arose before daybreak to play a little catching up with my favorite memes!


First shall be Ms. Jenny's Saturday Centus, combined with Susan's Micro-Fiction Monday. 


Susan, from Stony River, leaves us a unique, unusual picture each and every week for us to design a 140 character story (spaces included). It is definitely a challenging exercise in brevity and one I've come to really enjoy.


Normally, Ms. Jenny gives us a 100 word essay limit for her weekly Centus. But not this week. Never to be one to do the same ol' same ol', our dear Jenny decided to mix things up a bit abbreviated and limit our essay to a minuscule, measly, 25 word flash fiction using a word prompt. (Her prompt will be in red in the story to follow)


140 characters usually approximate 25 words. What better way to challenge myself than to use both as prompts. Right? Well, you all be the judge of that. 

Koeru-San

I shall be your escort

as you redeem the lottery ticket.

Never mind that, Tamotsu-San.

Go fill my parasol, to the brim,

At Benihana’s.

Note: Koeru means to “grow fat” and Tamotsu means “defender, protector” in Japenese

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Next shall be Monkey Man's Sunday 160. Since I am still recovering from a crazy busy work weekend this is a short piece belaboring an unfortunate truth about hospital work.   

Nothing.

Hot soaks,

Massages,

Nor even a brand new pair 

Of top of the line work shoes

Will prevent foot pain

Or leg cramps

When one is on their feet

For over 36 hours!

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Alphabe-Thursday: Nighthawks and Nightingales

Nightmare is the nighthawk,

nefarious, nesting near

gnawing at necrotic flesh

from heart immobile with fear

Nightingale, nature’s love song

whose nuanced notes shall heal

nursing neglected wounds

narcotic for memories revealed

The nemesis that is Nighthawk

is necessary, though painful he can be

nibbling away those damaged parts

is necessity to becoming free

Way made clear for Nightingale

 nurturing numb-struck soul

nimbly mending a once tattered life
a novel mosaic: uniquely, newly whole

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Snowbound

DAY 2

It appears it will be another day trapped in the old homestead. 

Our only means of escape has been rendered useless 

by several inches of snow and ice.

The driveway is nothing but a sheet of ice.

As are the streets.

Good thing I stocked up on plenty of milk, bread, and toilet paper.

It appears that we may be homebound for awhile.

The natives already grow restless. 

Send help. 

Microfiction Monday #65:

Fly me to the moon

sweet Silver

she softly sighs

My dear Blue

 light-though tempting

is my demise

Heartbroken

they murmur

reluctant goodbyes

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Micro-fiction Monday is the brainchild of Susan, over at Stony River. 

You have up to 140 characters (spaces included) 

to pen your story to go with the photo prompt.

Today's attempt used 134 characters total.

Want to give it a try? 

Click on the link below to read other stories and to get started. 

Sunday 160: Kansas Dreaming

Fluffy tufts of cottonwood trees

on gentle breezes flew

joins soft scent of prairie grass

wet with morning dew

add memory of meadowlark’s song

is when I dream of you

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Kansas has been on my mind of late. It is where I grew up. I often long for those days long past. The simple beauty of the prairie tugs at my heartstrings. The strength of its people give me hope. However, my memories will always remain with me. 

ad astra per aspera

To the stars with difficulty

This motto refers not only to the pioneering spirit of the early settlers, but also the difficult times Kansas went through before becoming a state. I embrace this motto for myself. For if it were not for those "difficult" times, I would not be who I am today. I am a Kansas girl, through and through.

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I frequently participate in Monkey Man's Sunday 160 where the only rule is to write a short story or poem in 160 characters total. It is a fun challenge and really stretches the mind of a would be writer. To read other entries or to participate, please go to his site. 

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All images above came from Google Images. 

Saturday Centus: Mama

The miracle happened on a cold, dark January morning.

You see, Mama left Daddy an eternity ago.

The cold Nor’easters of the New England coast never

agreed with her native Floridian blood.

That was her excuse.

My best guess is Daddy’s cold hearted affections,

his stormy temper,

left an unbearable, icy chill upon her soul.

Not long after, she died

from a cancer kept hidden from us.

I had planted the orange sapling

as a symbolic gesture

near her headstone the day she was buried.

I never considered it would actually grow,

let alone bear fruit.

Mysterious are God’s ways.

 

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This week Ms. Jenny changed things up and hit us with a photo prompt, instead of a word phrase, for our 100 word essay. She's a sly one, that Jenny! I had an inkling of an idea before I left for the morning's responsibilities.That inkling developed into the story above. If I had more words, maybe I could have woven a more complete tale. But for now, this will have to suffice. 

Flash Friday 55: The Road

Wheels spinning

wildly out of control

digging deeper

ever deeper

into self made pit

of despair

Waving white cloth

surrendering

willingly

completely

to hidden truth

haphazardly evaded

until now

Gratefully grasping

knowing hands

reaching out

offering peace

handing out hope

pulling me back on track

Now trudging

road towards

destiny of

God’s will...

not mine 

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Alphabe-Thursday: M is for Moonlit Madness

Madness in the Mangrove swamp

greets our maiden fair

within the mystical marsh

meandering into minstrel’s lair

Mellifluous melodies

erupt from mandolin strings

a mesmerizing minuet                                  

mindful of her misgivings

Mimicking the mantis

praying meditative chants

Keeping time with meter

of mayflies’ buzzing rants

Hypnotic strains masquerade

as medication for tortured soul

intoxicated by maestro’s medley

she loses self control

Musing on how it happened

in middle of moonlit moor

the night she became mistress

to minstrel’s musical score.

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Microfiction Monday #64: Lubricante

Señorita need help?

Allow Pablo to assist, por favor.

For beautiful lady I require only 

bulging muscle & small can of lubricante

No service fee

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Okay...so this was a wee bit naughty. 

All who know me know that this is completely out of character for me. 

I don't know what's come over me!

I have no excuses.

 I will try to behave better next time. 

For other takes on the prompt, 

please visit Susan at Stony River

Saturday Centus: Unresolved Resolution

(This week's prompt is in yellow)

Sirens broke the silence of the night in the sleepy little suburb. Police scoured the subdivision in search of the suspect.

Meanwhile, prying her crumpled up list of resolutions from the cold, lifeless fingers that held them, the detectives carefully unfold the wadded parchment in search of clues. Words, penned with crayon in a childish scrawl, are what they read:

Maybe if I am good he won’t hurt me anymore.

Just in case I resolve to find a better hiding spot.

She never had a chance. The following day the coroner placed her time of death to have occurred at approximately 1:00 a.m. January 1, 2011. 

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I have not written much these past few weeks due to the hectic pace and general all around "busy-ness" of the holidays. So what better way is there to begin anew then participating in my favorite lady's weekly meme. I know it's rough but be kind...it's a new year and a new start! 

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I would like to wish each and every one of you a New Year's filled with peace and joy! You all have been such a blessing to me as I struggle to find my true voice in these loud and raucous times in which we live. I pray that God deliver you all abundant blessings as you, too, find your own unique way in life's grand journey. Thank you and God bless you!