Artfully

Bookmark and Poetry © Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

Life Does Sing

At the Tennessee Aquarium
©Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

Life Does Sing

What is this fond thing
A haunting that enfolds us,
New yet, familiar
Like the breezes’ gentle kiss?
Since encouragement to Love
Is a melody
Quieting contentious thought,
We swim into song
All beauties, surrounding – still
Shadows – knowing every name;
Life embraces Loving
Wrapping our core uniqueness
In almost comfort,
But restlessness inspires reach
To achieve, complete, receive;
Adventure whispers
Never hesitate, embark.
Moments so fleeting –
Do not give up this striving,
For excellence commissions
Toward performance,
Rousing harmony stellar
Turning inside out
Our hearts’ dear feelings become
An ocean, emotion, Love
Beckoning each day,
Life does sing.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

On Friday, August 12, I drove to Chattanooga to visit my son, Alex. I took him a few supplies since he will be starting college at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga campus soon. He gave me a tour of the campus, and I was amazed.

We ate some scrumptious food and we visited both portions of the Tennesse Aquarium.

I wrote the poem at the beginning of the post, longhand in my journal today. My only significant change was bringing it from the first person to a universal third when I typed it on my phone.

I wish I could attend college. It would be an incredible adventure. I hope Alex has a tremendous academic experience in studying Data Science. There is much on that campus to keep him interested and busy.

I am grateful I found the courage to drive up to see Alex. I am so honored to have such a talented young man who has accomplished much as my son. God blessed me abundantly in the gift of a child with his aptitudes to offer the world.

Alex at the Tennessee Aquarium
© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan

Prompt: Create something that engenders positive feelings. Share it if you choose.

Thank you for visiting Haphazard Creative. Please leave a like, a comment, and share the site with someone who might find it to their taste.

Be steadfast, be excellent, and find joy in the blessings surrounding us. God be with everyone always.

All work on Haphazard Creative and my other site, Chronicles, is my own work,
copyright Jo Ann Joyce Anita Jordan, unless otherwise cited. If you choose to copy or use my work, don’t hesitate to contact me for permission.

Turn Me In (Sedition)

I am an old-time
Rock-N-Roll, Church Gospel,
Contemporary Christian;
Blue jeans, Poet shirt, Writing geek,
Photographer, Artist, Designer,
Intellectual Property Rights promoter,
Who will give anyone my time of day,
Caring about each word you say.

I tend toward the Moderate,
Shoot straight down the middle –
I love deep, as oceans, wide,
Though it has been some years since
Someone stood by my side,
(All my own;)
I can write, edit, publish, design,
And you can find me reading
Most anytime – my interests
Cast wide: run beyond so many lines.

I like going fast – but enjoy
Doing things right, taking my time,
It is never unusual my words rhyme;
I have lived the bad and the swell,
More often, I choose good as better…
I love so much, so many,
And intensely dislike division –
I am a U.S. Marine Mom,
An American,
I will stand; my colors shall not run.

Sunday’s Thoughts

I wrote these with a fountain pen, which is not my best instrument. These are my journal pages. If you read them, you will get insight into where and what my state of mind is.

I would have scanned them into the computer, but my equipment and the program did not cooperate with me. Therefore, I did the phone as I have for the past months.

Showing journal pages is a level of openness I can do, but it is a bit uncomfortable. I have no idea how this audience will react, so it is a gamble.

How revealing can you be? Consider that a prompt.

Blessings, I hope, always find you. Jesus, lend you peace. Live, alive, and Love cause that is why we are here on Earth.

Poem and Tanka

Empty Spaces

When a life departs
A body, only remains,
An assortment of
Discarded things, relationships,
Without breath or animation.
Memory struggles, fades,
As ensuing days
Go on with whoever
Contains the treasure, hard
To guard, uneasily measured.
A longing persists
To catch a glimpse, hear a phrase,
Sweet visage, clear voice
Held dear, but lost from here.
Never, never, until some
Future, Divine Presence gives
Overdue reconciliation
Uniting those who, wander,
Later in, with kith and kin.
No need can find all,
Disembarking space and time,
Leaves suddenly adrift, behind;
What had meaning, without beholder
Begins to decay and molder.
Oh Death, how unjust your taking
Leaving Life to spoils shoulder.

Tanka Explore

1.
Heroes are only
These dreams we greatly esteem,
But may never meet,
No love we share between, yet,
We hope their joy is replete.
2.
Blowing up his phone –
A need I cannot postpone,
But no rainbows come;
Talking to me is a chore
He rather not, anymore.
3.
I love you more now
Than when first I invited
You to share my heart
Knowing over time how grace
Has greatly forgiven me.

© Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Saturday, June 25, 2022