Oh Yes, Books

“…However formidable they are, books, my dear, are just sparks. The fire is only lit where there’s wood to kindle, so to speak.” – The Binder of Lost Stories by Cristina Caboni

These are a few books that travel to the common areas and back to the bedroom every day because I am sometimes reading them.

Against the Storm

They say I have too
Many books, I say there would
Be more, could I afford another.
They say give them away,
Would it not be pleasant for others
To get the benefit of reading?
I say, maybe had I read them all,
And were not most writing, art,
Creativity tomes that I always need.
They say you can get them on Kindle,
I say and pay again, oh, not these
First editions, they are priceless.
They say if you have not read them
By now you will not ever do it,
I say I am getting around to them
Over time and time again,
They say the floor is going
To collapse and you fall through,
I mean, it has not yet, and I doubt
Sincerely it ever will.
The argument goes on and on
And even the Supremes could not
Declare a winner, because part
Of what holds me together is reading
Books when my mind is stormy weather.

I figure if I leave off reading library books, I might read all of mine in a hundred years, maybe two hundred. I give some I finish away.

Without Measure

In love and beauty
Strength is found to pass the days,
A welcome treasure;
Bringing delight, inspiration,
Courageous will to explore.

There are miracles
Where love and beauty abide,
Touching open hearts;
Soothing every worried mind
Inclined to rise above fear.

May each of you find joy. Be well. Remember, you are adored and precious.

51 In A Month – Be LOVE

Be LOVE

Moments and moments,
Sourced by the Savior, precious
Beyond our counting,
We only gain what we can give
In loving others who need.

Opening hearts, minds,
In service gives us riches,
Money cannot match,
People, everyone, priceless;
Called as vessels of Light.

Shine day-bright before
Those hidden in the darkness,
Help captives break free;
We must be the hello, where
Some never dare to reach, go.

Let every woman,
Child, and man, understand Love
Is with them always,
No matter what sunken depths;
There is a plan, Love, freedom.

Not one forgotten,
Not one without care, nor lost,
We bring peace, hope, Love,
Because we were once without
Help, but we were rescued, found.

No matter our place
We can be kind, reassuring,
To someone yearning
For a friend, confidant; Love
Is the greatest gift we share.

Then Jesus can step
In, and through Love bring one
To Him over time,
We sow Love, sometimes harvest
Comes by infinite degrees.

The purpose of my 2020 Creativity Project is to work creatively every day. I did not set out to do multiple posts. It amazes me that some days I churn out material like a milkmaid. Honestly impressed, though I know some posts went unread. I try to decide what is wrong with those, but I do not get it. I have no magic to force visibility.

As a prompt, I challenge you to lay aside your dejection, depression, or bad mood, should you have one. Go out of your way to brighten up someone’s day. Maybe the drive-thru employee, the overworked clerk, the stranger who looks too sad, put on a smile and a bit of cheer and treat them like a celebrity. Afterward, see how you feel and create something about your experience. You know, all of us have baggage, we just need to help each other carry on.

I am grateful:

Sometimes I can believe in me, even though I under-achieve and fail to live up to my potential.
God does not create any junk.
Things work out better than planned once in a while.
I have a wonderful son, even though I irritate him. He is a good one.
It is Friday, and I may or may not post again.

Pens, Tanka, Joined Tanka Poems; & More

Most people I know who are writers are pen aficionados, and I am guilty. I have been collecting pens for an age. I like to put them at the top of my website, but their provenance varies. The one up there now is one of a bunch I picked up during the time Target had exotic pens. I could afford to spend very little on them, and there they were. I do not think any of them were over $10.

The thing about those pens is that many of them are just as beautiful as costly ones today. I try to control my obsession.

Behave, stop looking,
Now, do not go there, be good,
Avoid, remain free,
Go look at the collection
No pen do you need, require.

I once thought if I had a Mont Blanc, I would have arrived as a writer. Sam’s Club used to sell them in the 2000s. I had worked for a while, then wound up hospitalized. While working, I got my pen. My thoughts on arrival were erroneous. I begin to doubt ever arriving. My investment in becoming a competent and self-educated writer, though, has been intense.

Alex is after me to get rid of books and clothes, and I am not reacting docilely to the suggestion. He has not gone after the pens, though. I can hope he has not noticed, but more likely, being trained in military tactics, he is biding his time and wishing to obtain those other objectives before attacking another front.

He told me today, for the first time in my life, I wish you were normal. I wish I were normal, it would be so much easier. I have never been normal. I do thank God I am at least partially functional.

Today, I got the call par excellence, Monday, is my trip to the psychiatrist. As usual, I would love to instead send someone else, attend by proxy. All-day, it takes all day.

Love Holds

I think of you, blue,
The sky, sea, the heart of me,
Without an answer,
I think my incompetence
Yet I dream you, many things.

Did I say too much
Or provide you too little,
I was way off stride,
So much depends on the words
Yet, sometimes language evades.

I fought crystal tears
Light icicles, waterfalls,
Wonder if I am
Anything, anyone, one
Better than imagining.

I step back into
Shadows, blue-black and opaque,
If it is, maybe,
Time freely given, settles,
Around these forsaken feet.

Time is a captor
Of hearts, loves all meant sublime
Whatever will be,
Will be, times without number
At my organ, I sang and played.

I thought to have left
Uncertainties behind, but
I find the circle
Wheels round, round, over again
But I scarce remember why.

As a prompt: Our hearts and minds often overwhelm us. If you feel your emotions, thoughts, adrift in a whirlpool, put a hook in, and pull out something. Then take it, elaborate, gnaw at it, and create a work in your chosen art. Let it be random. If that means a computerized randomizer or a jar with slips of paper, it might be just what you need.

I want you to know you are beautiful, worthy, talented, and you have a purpose. Do not give up. Many people believe you are precious, even if they do not express it. You, you be the one to express love and sow hope. I believe in you.

When we open our eyes to nature, even the weeds are beautiful. God creates paintings if we choose to see.

How/Now

This is not the time
To give in, give up, become
Quaking shadows of ourselves,
This is a moment to be
Bold, courageous, undefeated,
Unstoppable in our bargain.
If we quit, the present, future,
Will never know our hopes,
The world will not realize
The goals we have often dreamed;
We are creators, innovators,
Of shining fortunes only
We can bring unto fruition
Born into this reality.
We must continue tenaciously, now,
Dismiss doubt, fear, negativity,
Bring the best of who we are
And who we are meant to be,
We are those who can, and will,
Practice creativity with love
Enough to change our lives, others,
Into tapestries of bright positivity.