Admirable Women - a poem, 152/365

Margaret Bednar's archival family photograph - early 1900's

Admirable Women


Post victorian women, 

sidesaddle adventurers,

educated and free.

Dared to partake, a bit,

in a man's world.

Exceptional individuals

who forged paths

 mostly forgotten now

except in sepia images,

looking old fashioned and quaint.

But look closely and you will see

energy, determination and spirit.

Three qualities still valued today.

by Margaret Bednar,
03/01/2011, Art Happens

For "In the Moment" Challenge
Please click to find out more about this monthly photography, art, poetry and writing challenge!

I also submitted it to One Stop Poetry's "One Shot Wednesday" Poetry forum - literally over one hundred poets tend to enter their work - it is quiet an array of talent!  I think this also fits in with "Poetry Potluck's" theme of "Idols, Role Models and Mentors"

The above is also my quick reflection loosely based on the theme "camping" for the "March Challenge".    The host noted that Yellowstone National Park was established on this day in 1872 and it sent me hunting for a shoebox of old photos.  My grandmother traveled from Northern Illinois with a group of friends when she was a young lady to I thought Yellowstone National Park.   I need to question my mother about this as I have numerous photos and post cards from early 1900 similar to the one above.  I plan on doing a future post about this.  My grandmother is front and center on the mule.

The photo is a picture taken in the "Garden of the Gods" in Colorado Springs, Co.  Click HERE to see google images of this amazing place.  I'm thinking this might be a formation known as "balanced rock".  The proportions are a bit off from what I can find on the website, but it has been over 100 years and maybe the elements have been at work.

In my very brief research, I found out that the song "America the Beautiful" was inspired by the beauty Katherine Lee Bates saw in 1893 while she journeyed in private wagon to the summit of Pikes Peak.   Katherine Lee Bates was a long-time professor at Wellesley College in Massachusetts, and lectured at the summer session at Colorado College.

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My 1st and 3rd photos below are for today and tomorrow's "Movement in March".  The second is for "The Creative Exchange".  I remember sitting and enjoying the sun as my girls kayaked in the little pond.  They had just spent a day horseback riding at Boyne Highlands Resort - 20 minutes from where we used to live in Northern Michigan. 

I have been unable to carve out time to visit all my blog friends sites and it is killing me.  I hope to swing by and see what creative energies are flourishing out there this evening.

"Footsteps", a poem

Footsteps


If stones could speak what would they say?
Would the names etched upon the rock
be honored and revered, ill-remembered, or worse?
Weather-worn and entirely forgotten?  

One fine day in the summer of 2008 
Greenwood's air vibrated with the past.
William Curtis and spunky Fanny Pailthorp appeared
upon the hill overlooking Little Traverse Bay.


Other old friends joined them, smiling and waving,
Glad once again to enjoy rolling hills and gentle breezes.
Proceeded to greet and educate the crowd about life long ago.
How hard they had worked and how soon some had died.


As the million dollar sunset hovered above the lake and
softened the shadows of sadness and death, some people
lingered, honoring the souls who had helped carve a better life.
Pondered the road ahead and of footsteps hard to fill.


by Margaret Bednar

The above is my quick attempt to put into a poetic format an event we helped implement.  Greenwood Cemetery has hosted a few History Tours - the first year focusing on the early pioneers.  My daughter and husband were fortunate to be asked to participate and portray people who's names we only recognized from the street signs about the small resort town.  It was fun and we learned so much about the early days of Petoskey, MI.  Click HERE to see a blurb of that day and admire the beautiful setting where many people truly go to walk and watch the sunset over Lake Michigan - (short slideshow in upper right corner showing the beauty of the place).


Pondering the road ahead is usually clearer once we consider the past.  Let us hope we learn from the mistakes and the triumphs of those who have come before us.


The top photo is also my entry for "Partially Seen in January".  The poem was submitted to Poetry Potluck  theme: The Road Ahead.

"A Life Together, Celebrated", a poem

A Life Together, Celebrated
by Margaret Bednar


Champaign chilled, hors'duerves out
Napkins folded like swans
Candles lit, music low
Minutes slowly ticking


Ticking, the minutes fly
Into hours, waiting 
Drooping swans, pools of wax
Time ticks on, music fades


Fades and starts up again
Her love and patience sure
His presence at their door
Reliable and true

True to his promise and

of vows twenty years past

He sweeps in the front door

No finer man exists

Exists with dignity

And love for family

They raise their glasses, “clink”

Lips connect, warm embrace

Embrace and celebrate

Joyous years together

Six children, memories

Grateful with heart and soul.

Our first few wedding anniversaries I went all out and created a romantic atmosphere... only to wait hours until my husband arrived home late at night from work.  We have been married for over 20 years now and due to his work schedule, many holidays have been celebrated early (or late), and some birthdays and school events he has been there only in “spirit”.  He works long, hard hours and gives much of himself at work but never arrives home unable to continue giving of himself.  

My husband is truly our rock, our guiding light, so to speak.  Anyone who knows him will not doubt that.  No finer man exists and I am honored that he still gives me a kiss every time he arrives home.  I don’t light the candles in advance anymore and I switched to red wine but I still, on occasion like to celebrate the quiet of the night and surprise him with a warm welcome home. After all, he is my “knight” even after all these years.  

This poem is for Jingle Poetry’s “Poetry Potluck”.  We were to reflect upon celebrations and festivities. I also submitted this to Jingle's Thursday Poets Rally Week 36. 

"Our Pony", a poem

Our Pony

Softness of heart
Velvet her name,

she of shaggy coat, gentle gaze.

Her short legs worked overtime

in front of the pack, 
the lead she always maintained.

One blue eye, one brown, 
always cautious, watchful 
babysitter on many 
a rambunctious day.

Summer mornings,  
off we went, field eagerly crossed, 
sister and I securely upon her back.

Traversing up and down quarry 

through tall cornfield 
and railroad tracks

wading along river bank, 
or forest trail;

aware of the way home, 
she always led us back.

Until the day our feet 
nearly dragged the ground

we knew our journeys 
had come to an end.

With joy I must admit 
we welcomed a bigger horse,

one eager to explore 
and take us away, fast.

From behind the fence 
we heard her indignant cry 
of being left behind.  
Never again 
did she join the pack, 
no leader she,

Resigned to wait 
until we returned.

She cared for us 
when we were small,
watched us outgrow her.  
We brushed and petted,
walked her by lead,

the big horse 
eventually moved on,

but she was family, 
beloved and cherished, 
she remained.

by Margaret Bednar

This poem is for Poetry Potluck, this weeks theme: Reflection   

The top is a photo of my sister and me with our pony, Velvet.  I am standing and my sister has our dog, Sugar in her lap.  Looking at this picture it both seems so long ago AND like it was yesterday... how can that be?  Well, as I fight the lump in my throat, I can look back and say how lucky we were to grow up in an "innocent" time when we kids didn't worry about being out ALL day, wandering around the countryside, only coming home when we were either hungry or it was starting to get dark.  And our pony was usually with us!  My horse was beloved too.  But when we moved out of the house and got our own apartments, he was sold.  My mom refused to part with Velvet - she said a better caretaker of her children she could never have found!  

This is me in my "beloved" (not really) polyester green 4-H outfit.  Velvet was a great little pony, always well liked by the judges.  She brought home the blue ribbon for both of us this day.  She knew her leads and trotted along so slowly.  Tucked her head in nicely when asked to back up.  Horse shows were not my "thing", though.  My sister, to this day does raise horses and shows them professionally (give me trail riding any day!).  Maybe I would have felt differently if I had been given a better outfit...  :)

Poetry Potluck #14, "Passion Pursued" Haiku

House lights dim, band plays

 Grand velvet house curtain parts

 Our passion pursued

by Margaret Bednar

This is my first attempt at a Haiku.  Looking up the "rules" of Haikus was a bit confusing, so I went with the basic 5,7,5.  If anyone can shed light on the correct approach to this form of poetry, please enlighten me.  

This is for Jingle Poetry's "Poetry Potluck".  The theme this week is Hobbies & Passions, Pastimes & Entertainment.  The above photo is almost a year old - My oldest son played "Roger" in the musical "RENT".