As daylight hours grow longer, spring stretching toward summer, the hum of a lawnmower is ever-present in my little neighborhood. Yesterday my younger son mowed our lawn. When I arrived home after work, there stood Banjo, our yellow Lab, with his front paws on the wooden gate leading to the backyard, barking his welcome. As … Continue reading Fresh-cut grass
Winter morningsin the half-lightI leave home for work out on the lawna stirring of birdsso smallI can’t quite see if they’re actually birds maybe they’regray-cloaked fairiesperforming secret rites or the grass itselfsprouting feet for a nightand ethereal wingsfor breaking awayat dawn of day tiny tuftsof earth, unboundwith promise ofheavenward flight For a couple of months … Continue reading Juncos
As host of my fellow Spiritual Journey writers on the first Thursday of this new month, Bob Arjeha asks: What colors make up your life? Do you shine bold…? Are you a more quiet light…? Are you a combination of both? What colors do you shine so that others may follow? How creative, Bob. Thank … Continue reading Colors of my life: Spiritual Journey
If the writerobserves the worldthen the artist recreates it and the poetpreserves it all Knowing yesterday was a milestone anniversary of my father’s death, a friend created this digital image as a gift. She took lines from one of my blog posts, Fresh-cut grass, written in his memory: Grass, though cut, always heals itself and … Continue reading Slices of life recycled
Late June afternoon on the porch. A long-settling stillness, the day’s brilliance deepening to amber, shadows slanting across lawns and pavement, a cool pre-dusk breeze riffling trees and wind chimes, carrying the sound of a child calling in the distance. It’s not a child; it’s a little goat from a neighbor’s pen, hidden in a … Continue reading Out of the shadows
For Day Ten of National Poetry Month blossoms hang like grapeswisteria decadencethreaded through the trees finches chirrupingfive pale blue eggs in the neston the front door wreath grass, fresh-cut fragrancegreen carpet for morning sunnot yet grown brutal Wisteria decadence. Took this photo four days ago. I love wisteria and its whispers of bygone days. I … Continue reading April in North Carolina haiku
An offering for the Spiritual Journey group, comprised of faithful friends who gather on the first Thursday of each month. Today’s theme is “all things new.” Spring arrives, clad in rich new vestments of green. Every day, more of the color ripples across the landscape. Here in the central part of North Carolina the Bradford … Continue reading All things new: Spiritual Journey
Grab hold! Jannes Pockele. CC BY Just hold on loosely,but don’t let goIf you cling too tightlyyou’re gonna lose control. —38 Special/D. Barnes, J. Carlisi, J. Peterik The draft of this post has been sitting here a long time, gathering cobwebs, while I considered how to write it. The idea began with seeing connections between teaching, instructional … Continue reading Hold on loosely
Elizabeth, Elspeth, Betsy, and Bess They all went together to seek a bird’s nest. They found a bird’s nest with five eggs in, They all took one and left four in. —Mother Goose It’s the summer of birds. They became a recurring motif in my summer writing workshop. 2018 is actually The Year of the Bird, marking … Continue reading Sanctuary
In recent years, I’ve written lots of short stories, beyond those as models for students or posted here on the blog. Some of my stories are realistic, usually centering on a character making a self-discovery or a difficult decision. Other stories are more ethereal, with a slightly supernatural element. “Wisteria” is one of the latter. … Continue reading Wisteria
lit bits and pieces 