Unique Moments

This thing has taught us
There are moments things almost
Seem reasonable,
But no one is yet prepared;
Reality packs a surprise.
Everything devolves, goes
Crazy,
Many lose something basic,
Then there is a rewind
Setting the needle in the groove,
Things appear manageable.
The moment authorities say,
“Shelter in Place,”
The deadly foretaste of contagion
Grows large as the threat of
Nuclear annihilation ever became.
People unprepared to isolate
Accustomed to their busyness,
Business
As was usual
With limited skills for
Self-containment, individual
Entertainment, but learning.
Over time we become at ease
With the quiet, adapting, evolving,
Able to practice talents,
Discover
Gifts previously unknown,
Growing into the persons
This moment of invention
Has allowed us to become.

 

Yesterday fled before I could get this written down. I was involved in the laundry, which could become a real beast if I am not careful. The PAD Challenge prompt on Poetic Asides was “A Moment.” Robert always says we do not have to adhere to the prompt strictly, so I stepped a bit away.

I suspect everyone is fighting some personal monsters in this pandemic. If you are struggling, I encourage you to lean over your well of creativity and draw some motivation up to carry you forward.

I never thought when I started this 2020 Creativity Project, it might become a life preserver, but little did I know. Working here every day, even when I cannot do it, when I have other things to do, when I feel like nothing matters, when I am nobody, somehow keeps me going. The beauty of recognizing and drawing on art, creativity, imagination is they give us hope, resilience, and strength.

God be with you and bless you magnanimously from the abundance of His LOVE. Continue to shine bright all you glorious ones meaning each of you. If you knew the beauty of who you are, it would overwhelm you. Peace. Stay Whole & Well.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

Follow Creativity

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On the unknown road
Toward futures we traverse
There is only love,
Prayer, faith, creativity,
To lend us needed balance.
Those who we love most,
Prayers we to Heaven post,
Faith we are not lost,
Things we can create to
Help us through those times
It seems we are losing the edge
Of our mental acuity and are
Striving hard to be ourselves
In a world loosed from its moorings;
These we must follow, revere,
For else dismay convinces us
Everything leads to nowhere.
There are times betwixt times
We find ourselves adrift, drowning,
But God knows our battles,
And He is our sword and shield,
He is a fortress to win our wars,
He blest us with ability, ingenuity,
Skill, talent, knowledge, and does
Not leave us unprepared,
He stands with us and coaxes
Us with His gift of creativity
To find our confidence and strength
To move beyond our trouble
And live love out loud,
That we may conquer perplexity.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

I went up to get the mail. The silence, the emptiness, it is over two weeks since I went up there, many changes since then.

This is an answer to the prompt “Follow______________” on Poetic Aside for today’s PAD Challenge. The world is changing. I wonder how ready we are.

Millions’ Space

Should the need arise
I might give a look inside,
But I would close doors
Regulate you to spaces
I consider safely exposed.
I am well aware this mind
Of mine is awkward
A bizarre landscape
In an alien multiverse
Where mutated creatures
Roam amid dragon fantasies.
These thoughts by millions
Circulating at a million mph
Dump me into molten spaces
Where I hardly find enough energy
For escape velocity and then
Drop me in oceans of clarity
Again swallowed up, but eject
Me into forests where I flee.
There is no scale on which
To map the vastness where
You might make yourself
Sojourn, perhaps coffee, cake,
Then off and away, to more
Comfortable tenancies among
Those more likened to who
You are prepared, meant to be.
Trust my knowledge, stay clear,
Avoid this devastating destitution.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

This is in answer to the second day (yesterday) PAD Challenge prompt, “Space” on Poetic Asides. I am a bit behind due to some turbulence with the poetic engine on board, but I hope I have it recalibrated into a modicum of functionality now. The prospect remains somewhat uncertain. I need a bit of the “Scotty” touch.

Life Cycle

As day begins pain
Arising like the sun hours
Ago; now, let go
Find the power to persist,
Suffering, positivity
Do not co-exist,
The will is stronger; survive,
Thrive fully alive.
Be bigger than the challenge
Sink the free-shot, all net, whoosh.
Play like the champion
No one knows in these plain clothes,
Name always unknown.
It is the will which
Drives achievement, victory,
The self knows what must be done
It harbors no moment for defeat
Competition is against no other,
What must happen is proving stronger
Than yesterday’s best effort
Over and again, without pause,
Living to be a better person
Never content to give up
Never willing to contemplate
Quitting, forcing the pain small –
To relent enough to strive,
Finish all that was begun
With a conquering flourish,
One can overcome and grow.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

Yesterday’s prompt on Poetic Asides was “cycle.” I am experiencing a bit of difficulty right now and felt I could do no poetry yesterday. The pain is not gone, but I am more forceful than my pain. I have never let it stop me. I wrote this today. Thank God for music. I might not make it without my Inspirations.

Hope Despite Plague

Busy, stay busy,
Converse with loves far away,
Read something, then more,
Celebrate this fragile life,
Do things to make the dogs happy.
Sing like you know how
No one is listening, just music be,
Do not cry that your job is gone
Hopefully only temporarily,
Recall so many better times.
Remember God is in Control
His love is eternal, never fades,
No tragedy can prevent Him
From being Lord of Lords and
King of Kings, these wrongs we suffer
This casting us into night, Christ
Knows and He will in time
Set it all right, He is our Hope
Our Defender and I will turn
To Jesus and I shall stand
For no virus, calamity, power of man
Can ever remove my soul
From the Master’s hand.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

Today’s prompt on Poetic Asides is “Hope.” I am a bit preoccupied with circumstances at the moment, but I have Hope.