Priceless Heroes

Another shift,
Will additional hours be required?
From the beginning, nurses, doctors –
Going short of peaceful sleep.
Families wondering when
All members will again meet.
The coronavirus, cruel
As a murderer, random as
A violent hurricane.
Every day at least one
Slips away in isolation
From those loved and cherished.
Caregivers struggle with guilt,
Was enough done?
Why this senseless loss?
So many battles fought,
So little medicine can do,
Hoping always for a breakthrough.
Willing hearts on fire
With love for their fellow man
Sacrificing whatever they can
To beat a disease consuming
People throughout all lands.
Loving, like angels, sharing
All their being to help those
Who continue to need them.

A poem requested by the owner/publisher of the Chapel Hill News & Views. It will appear in the February issue.

Gratitude…
I had an assignment today.
Writing helped clear my doubt away.
The day has run long, so I got things done.
Even when I cannot believe in myself, God believes in me.
The magic of music.

Prompt: Create something that illustrates your gratitude.

Thank you for visiting Haphazard Creative; I hope you found the furnishings to your liking. You may follow the site if you like or come back on a future date.

My hope for you is that you find enough love to carry you through the deeps and that many blessings keep you sweet.

Second-Hand, Not

A love second-hand
Is not, because new feelings,
Different persons;
Trigger genuine effects
Never encountered before.
The distance between
Past, present, a vast ocean,
Cruised far beyond
The knowns of close acquaintance
Seeking safety, loyalty.
Love, sweet tenderness,
Chosen with care, discernment,
Creativity,
To become cherished comfort,
Stability, each hour, day.
Love, open passion
Making life a dream come true
Entangled, fresh, two.

Prompt: How do you feel about love? What do you know of it? Can you describe it in your words? Answer one or all of these questions, either in language or artwork.

I am grateful:

Writing has been less complicated in the last few days.
I have a lined journal again.
I have good taste.
I love reading.
Losing my place in time is not a terrible thing.

Thank you for sharing your day with me. If you have not followed the site, there is a button to the right. You may instead come back on your own, I hope.

Diversity Enriches Normality

Whatever could it
Be, coming such great surprise,
From lands far away
To please fancy fantasy,
Developed in happy times?
The container gives
No clue but from whence it came,
And useless guessing
For almost anything might
Signify the producer.
Jewelry, toys, clothes,
At affordable prices,
Tools, appliances,
Fill needs temporarily
Providing a range of choice.
Without such shipping
Many would go without items,
Enriching bare days
Of impoverishment, lack,
Better being than nothing.

As a prompt, take a photograph or create a visual work of art and write something relating to your image or artwork.

A 365 Creativity Project seems daunting initially, and even later, there are times quitting might be more manageable. I did this before with a sizable increase in my creative output than if I did not commit to it. 2020 was a good year in this regard. If you want to produce more work, I recommend building an achievable goal and holding yourself to it.

I am grateful:

I have electronic devices.
It was a dry day.
Sam’s Club cooks chicken.
Music lifts spirits and inspires.
Clothes protect and conceal us.

I am still working on the site, watch out for the yellow tape.

Thank you for visiting Haphazard Creative. Please follow the site, or come back when you may. If you have thoughts you would like to share, they are welcome.

Hey, Hey, GoodBye – Welcome Hello

2020 is almost over. It is a year most of us are glad to transition from into a new year. Many of us have suffered extreme losses. The coronavirus put a pall over much of our normality. Death and loss have become daily companions.

There are reasons to hope that 2021 will bring more healthful and prosperous times. There are vaccines for the virus which will become available for many in the coming months. As there are more travel and commerce, the economy should recover.

As we advance, new and better habits will improve lives. Writing every day gives an outlet for dreams, goals, and practices. Journaling develops voice and facility with language. Creation in the visual arts can teach patience and process.

Calm and quiet help deal with chaos and discomfort. Reading is an excellent learning tool and enjoyable entertainment. Seeing characters deal with adversity can facilitate hope.

On a personal note: I am beginning a new journal and closing the book on 2020. There have been bad and good, but I am spending this evening with Richard, who is very dear. We became close during this year of extremes.

I hope all of you celebrate this thing called life because it, today, are what is given to us. Find someone or something you love and give yourself to it. Being happy is a right, and love is a reason.

Ring out 2020, bring on 2021. May the coming days be a blessing for all of us.

I think I will be carrying on my Creativity Project for another year. Do you have a 365?

Thank you for visiting Haphazard Creative. I hope you will follow or return. If you have comments, encouragement, or inspiration to share, all are welcome.

Beginning Unblocked

At times, like this, I want to write, but words escape my grasp like loose puppies run away. I do not know why it must be this disaster. I practice enough; no blocks should bar my way.

There are moments where we doubt our competence, fear we will never live up to our potential, but we make a way every day we are alive. There is need to allow the mind freedom for a spell with pen in hand, or keyboard ready. Time to pulverize the block is what letting go, making peace gives. No matter their direction, being with the words opens space to explore the workings and play with the pieces.

Every sentence may not fit the book, novel, poem, story, but each one reveals a part of the reason. If we are lucky, the puzzle comes together effectively. There is no secret; it is all a secret. Words call us to make use of them as productively as possible. If we write, we know it is all magic and mirrors inside us and the territory we must survey.

Writing every day is the best action to keep my imagination nimble and creativity flowing. I recommend the practice.