So…

I do not get much personal mail, as I expect is true of most everyone in these times. One of the friends I know online, who is a Facebook friend, wrote me a postal letter that persuaded me to return to social media. I am still of the opinion that I may remain less engaged than in the past, but there is the thought that my posts may have some small positive influence driving my presence.

You do realize,
Of course, your words and actions
Have consequences.

*****

Life is strange, it gives,
Furthermore, it takes away;
Nothing ours to stay,
The hours rushing ocean waves –
We, notes, on a tide-swept beach.

*****

No fear, I shall not
Fear, though the darkness over
Shade every hour, day,
I know He is with me here
My Lord, God, who holds me near.

*****

The lightning rockets
Across the deepening dark sky
Sending doubt to fly.

*****

What you cannot know
Will never be clearly told,
Your high castle holds.

*****

Not a rehearsal
Love is the fully played act,
No turning away
Once your hand is dealt, your heart
Is invested, no free flight.

*****

Hiding who we are
Is opportunity for
Misunderstanding.

*****

I take my heart down
From the hidden jar to place
It here where you are,
Will you take it, do you dare?
Hearts are most precious to share.

*****

The sleep mocked me
Taking the sun far away,
Giving night for day.

*****

The chocolate is
Gone, ah dears, how shall we all
Happily go on?

*****

The music danced its
Way into every sad place,
Brushing tears away,
Calling, “Life is now present,
Follow love and be most gay.”

*****

Any art is just
An attempt to clarify
Love’s sweet majesty.

*****

And I can do these on and on, so rather than bore you, I shall stop in my tracks, getting back to the book I am enjoying and allowing you your day. Find yourself some happiness before it slips, sliding away into another day.

Again, the prompt is to write haiku and tanka. I give you enough examples, you should understand what to do. Haiku are counted syllabic poems of three lines consisting of 5 – 7 – 5 syllables. Tanka are five lines with syllable counts of 5 – 7 – 5 – 7 – 7.

I tell you now, each of you is a blessing, a unique precious gift given by the Creator to impact the world in your own individual way. Cherish who you are, for you are a miracle designed for greatness. Your light outshines every star and sun. Love, for love, is who you are.

Honey and Almond Milk

There are benefits to drinking honey and milk, and Almond Milk adds to the benefits. With the risk of Covid-19 and other respiratory illnesses, I thought I would mention this.

When using unsweetened Almond Milk, it is lower in calories than dairy milk. It is free of dairy, gluten, carrageenan, cholesterol, soy, sugar, artificial colors, and flavors. Plus, it has a higher percentage of calcium than dairy milk.

Some Benefits:

Aids Digestion – honey promotes the growth of good bacteria. It helps maintain a healthy gastrointestinal tract, eliminating bloating, constipation, and cramps. There is also evidence it helps with stomach infections.
Stamina Booster – ingesting cold milk and honey in the morning can benefit energy levels all day. There is also a boost to focusing, concentration, mental clarity, and physical abilities.
Eases Insomnia – combined, milk and honey give significant advantages toward promoting sleep.
Promotes Bone Health – milk is a contributor to skeletal systems, and honey helps get the necessary nutrients there more efficiently.
Antibacterial Properties – both milk and honey have antibacterial properties on organisms, such as staphylococcus. When taken together, their effect is more potent. Their use is effective in combating infections of the upper respiratory tract and easing colds and cough.
Stress Buster – honey and milk have a calming effect. They cause a release of serotonin, which is relaxing. Also, it lowers cortisol levels, which helps prevent the adverse impact on internal organs, including the brain. Honey is a mood lifter, so it can help when there is a need to find energy.
Athletic Performance – Drinking milk and honey before a workout can help maintain a stable level of energy, and drinking it afterward can help restore the body.
Healthy Skin and Hair – honey and milk have nutrients that bring out the glow and smoothness of skin and hair.

Need a bonus reason, honey, and almond milk are delicious together. As with all things, these should be consumed in moderation. If you are on a weight loss regimen, remember to count them in your total consumption. Unfortunately, they are not without calories.

Small Pleasures

Last weekend my mentor arranged a few hours away from his overwork, and we went shopping. This was partly because his schedule prevented our spending time on my birthday, which would not have worked for me either. I copy edited that day.

We went to Dollar Tree, and I fell for the store—everything a dollar, yes, my precious. Now, honestly, this entered my certification as a “personal money trap” to be avoided by me.

He told me to look around, and he went to get specific things. This was not a good place to turn me loose, no.

Anyway, among the things I got, the miniature organizer above. I lived with all my finds a couple of days without unpacking them. Then I took a selection of pens and put them in the organizer. The second day of looking at it unembellished, I got stickers and changed its personality.

It is so sweet that he got those few goodies for me. It does not take a lot to make me happy, a trip to a Dollar Tree with one of my favorite people.

I bet some of you know what I mean.

As a prompt, tell about a small thing that made you feel on top of the world.

Straight From Netherwheres

Not in a scanner mood, nor typing either. Here straight from the forge of my dallying mind, a bit of evidence that perfection leaves me behind.

Literary Games

I became a reader and writer simultaneously at age three. I quickly began to employ color and text and illustration together. I found in poetry a heart like unto my own and have written it continuously. I guess my hope to be a publisher was born on my mother’s knees or perhaps in the floorboard of the Buick with the dash lighting shining down on my pages.

The dreams persist.

Reading is my favorite form of entertainment, with my rarely watching television. I usually steer away from series, but I have been drawn into a few lately. The idea is commendable, but the execution leaves much to be desired. I am one who becomes immersed in a book or books. It is most disappointing to be prepared for the continuation of a tale and find that it will be a year before you can learn the rest of the story. Not an easy acceptance for a poet who must complete a whole composition in the space of a page or a bit more.

Sometimes I will circumvent the imposition by waiting until all the volumes are complete to read them, but with current works, that is hardly possible. I lately did this with Tolkien’s masterpieces again. Someday I will open the shrink-wrap and dive into Stephen King’s Dark Tower series, I suppose. I begin to wonder about it because I have had those books over a decade. There is also The Game of Thrones, which I have in series and read two volumes from the library, but have yet to break the shrink-wrap on the collector’s edition.

Bibliophiles can be characters. My family tries to encourage me to dispense with some of my literary collection, and I blatantly refuse. I find my books are comforting, and the possibilities they contain, make me feel life is still an adventure. The missives from other minds are great consolation when the world becomes difficult.

I should think with fifty-four years at the vocation, I would have some idea of how to relate to readers, but I often wonder that others must be so unlike myself. Even so, I continue. I write every day and read a wide variety. I have thought l should make some provision to get out into the world and find some worthy subjects for photographic composition. I tend to be dull and remain close to home, which may not be the worst thing with a worldwide pandemic. My dogs and I are company and family.

The Vine Witch and The Glamourist by Luanne G. Smith have me wishing The Conjurer was not to be released next year. The Library of the Unwritten by A. J. Hackwith is another I am considering following up.

I wonder, those of you who are readers, what do you like? Are you a series person? Writers, have you been at the craft for years, or are you new with beginner mind?

World symmetry
Captured in quaint syllables,
An eagle on wing.

***************

Sheltering in place
The world no more freedom’s space,
Dreams are not contained.

***************

I see you, a smile,
Broad as day, deeper than night,
Come join in delight.