Sunday Whirligig/ 14 Carat Day

14 Carat Day

today is a special day       as is every day           but today is circled on the calendar

plans were made sometime ago                    today we lay before you

for you to see       what has long been sleeping inside of us          now on the outside

we made them visible by the sequencing of the paint     we hope you will find them nifty

if we look back                 we see all the events                    that have led up to this day

a golden chain            everything connected                         that day last summer

we met by the river              the sun was warm on the skin                         we separated

going our own way             on different sides of the bridge                 we picked our spot

we wore sun hats               we sketched until it was late          we ate cherries for a snack

soon enough it was hot                                        we looked for shade

we were beginning to boil in the hot sun                        too much for our lily white skin

there were other experiences        we painted             it was a 14 carat day

one of many in the chain                that led to this day                                   we'll pause

we'll wear our best shoes                we'll take a look                   we have invited you to see

today is a 14 carat day

May 29, 2015

Writer's Digest/ A Learning Poem --Poets United Midweek Motif/ Weeds -- Imaginary Gardens with Real Toads

A Learning Poem

each day like a page in a textbook       an opportunity to learn something you didn't know

you awaken to a new world          if you look at the past           you will see

indeed each day is an opportunity       it is said        the universe doesn't care if you get it

if you don't        the lesson will come around again       so we can be sure to get it this time

sometimes learning is fun       sometimes hard                     so hard you will swear

your insides are filled with razor blades                               at least that is how it will feel

this life is definitely for higher learning           and all we have to do is pay attention

 now i am not saying the learning will be easy        it is my experience that it won't be

but nothing that is really worthwhile         comes easy

May 27, 2015

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Weeds

weeds are the ones we don't want                        the grass that grows in my garden

that tries to choke the flowers i planted          the flowers struggle to make purchase

the weeds thrive          they serve as a model for me       i would like to be like a weed

i'll take what you give me               i will thrive with little care

it is not about what is happening around me                   i have all that i need

sunshine and shadow                     a little space to call my own...                and you

May 27, 2015

Sunday's Whirligig/Summers at my Grandparents / Poets United Poetry Pantry #153

Summers at my Grandparents

my grandfather                       charlie                               loved to play dominoes    

once he took my little sister and I to the domino parlor          my grandmother        

alma                                  who did beautiful needlework                   was very angry

called charlie a fool                   for taking two little girls                 to such a place

the rift was soon mended         he promised never again         we often laughed about it

my grandparents lived in a small rural texas town            where fences were made of stones

robert frost said                  good fences make good neighbors  

                                                         ... and they keep the sheep from leaving

down the road was a little white country church                        on hot days

the windows were open             wide eyed                           and the bees were buzzing

we would hear humming          from the church         and the scent of honeysuckle in the air

it all seems so long ago         cherished memories no longer sharp        bleached and faded

May 23, 2015

May 22, 2015 Imaginary Gardens With Real Toads/ A Check List

A Check List

(here is a check list of things an artist might ask himself as he looks at his painting)

scan the edges perhaps covering the rest of the painting (are the edges interesting?)

check the corners (because the eye will automatically go to the corners, we don't have to put interesting things there)

like reading, we 'read' a painting from left to right

move into the painting (a path is created on the lights, or on the darks)

the center of interest is created near the center but not directly in the center (this is for a regular painting or regular design, be it realistic or abstract – even abstract painting need to be aware of the rules of design, the center of interest is not for an all over painting - some rules follow us everywhere)

the rest of the painting should also be interesting (nothing should lead the viewer out of the painting)

does the painting before us resonate for us

is it fresh (a balance of bright and dull)

does it have mystery

is there a dominance (of a color, temperature, value, forms)

the artist might ask himself, again, what is he trying to say? Does the painting say it?

May 22, 2015

Writer's Digest #306/Childhood --dVerse #149

Childhood

a time wishes came true      and happy endings      sing a song of six pence

the tooth fairy always came      left a penny under the pillow      pocket full of rye

parents and grandparents      would always be here      ashes      ashes

a small child      with a child’s world view      we all fall down

May 21, 2015

Note:  The prompt today was Childhood, in thinking about my childhood, I realize I don't remember too much, it was a long time ago.