"Intoxication", a Shadorma style poem

Low Country

Painted with fragrance

Senses reel

Peace tingles

Tempting further imbibing

Intoxication

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens, 4-15-11

Kell's daily poetry prompt for day 15 is: Write a poem that describes the wallpaper on your computer or the image on the last postcard you received.  The photo above graces my computer screen and I took this at Magnolia Plantation in South Carolina.    I learned about the "shadorma" style of poetry from One Stop Poetry's "Monday One Stop Poetry Form".   

"Fading Images", a poem 195-197/365

Fading Images

Barking dogs signal it might be time.
Bare feet slap against hardwood floor,
"Love you, I'll be back early afternoon"
rings in his hopeful little head.

Coolness presses against soft cheek.
Steam collects upon the windowpane.
Slumping shoulders indicate no such luck.
Feet tread a woeful retreat.  Again.

Time drudgingly marches on
weighing heavily upon his youthful heart.
"Love you, I'll be back early afternoon"
Deeply desired, is this timbered voice's return.

Daydreaming of guiding hands, teaching hands;
of conquering "shiny red", together.
Balancing and gliding on wheels of two.
Images of dad flicker.  And start to fade.

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens, 4-11-11

This is in response to Kell's (see my sidebar)  daily poetry challenge day #11.  It is:  Write a poem that begins with the last thing you can remember someone saying to you today or yesterday.  See if you can use that line two or three times.

My husband uttered the words "Love you, I'll be back early afternoon" to me early this morning.  I was still sleeping and they barely registered.   He is a GREAT dad and despite his long work schedule seems to always come through for the kids (and me).  So this poem is not about him (just wanted to clarify!)

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One Stop Poetry's "Monday's One Stop Poetry Form" is hosting Anne Welch Shadorma.  She is introducing the poetic form "shadorma".  It is similar to the haiku and tanka, but of Spanish decent.  It has no rhyme scheme (yeah!) and is a syllabic poem with the following syllabic structure:  3/5/3/3/7/5.

I took the above poem and gave it a whirl!

Fading Images (2)

youthful heart

time weighs heavily

hopeful still

for bonding

images of dad flicker

slowly fade away

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This is my first photograph taken with my NEW CAMERA!  (and that is why I have selected this for this week's "Creative Exchange" entry)  I was saving up for a Canon 5DMark II, but finally decided to go with the Canon EOS Rebel T2i.  I was given some advice that this is a great camera for the price and to focus on collecting a few great lenses. As I have been itching to get into manual mode, I think this will be at least a great starter camera for the next couple of years.  From what I can gather, this camera was used to film "Black Swan".  

So, my cranky kitty was rudely bothered from his "nap" to be my LAST "autofocus" photograph with my new camera.  I am now entering the world of ISO's, RAW, Aperture...  Wish me luck!

And one last macro with my "old" camera for "Macro Monday".

"A Legacy", a poem

The above book can be ordered "HERE".

"Kells" daily poetry prompt for today is to write a poem to our favorite letter of the alphabet.  I selected "S".  I have very little time to ponder this promt as we have a guest AND it is my oldest son's high school prom and we are excited to go visit him at school and take photographs!  The following "poem" is VERY free-form!

A Legacy

“Sally sells seashells by the seashore

She sells seashells on the seashell shore”

Olive and Lulu, born in 1882 and 1887.

As a youngster I couldn’t get enough

of their master storytelling and

tongue twisters.  At their feet I sat, listening;

“The seashells she sells are seashore shells,

Of that I’m sure.”

laughing and enjoying their frivolity.

Innocent fun, two uniquely educated

woman, inspiring a generation to live

life to it’s fullest.  To embrace the mind.

“She sells seashells by the seashore.”

A fascinating mixture of ladylike manners

and snappy, intensely focussed minds.

Worlds of imagination lurked behind 

Lulu’s laughing eyes and dancing voice.

She hopes she will sell all her seashells soon.

Olive a bit more demure, laughter a bit softer

was not outshone by any means.

Sweetly she matched her younger sister’s wit;

both master storytellers, they.

If neither he sells seashells

Nor she sells seashells

Life cloaked them with eternal youth

as their legacy is one of uplifting hearts. 

To this day when I hear “Sally’s Seashore”

tongue-twister of letter “S”,

Who shall sell seashells

Shall seashells be sold?

Olive Ruth & Lulu Belle Beckington live on.

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens, 4-9-11

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These two woman never married and devoted their lives to education and teaching.  They bought a house and lived together, teaching in the state of Oklahoma.  (If a woman got married "back in the day", they had to give up their career.)  They were my grandfather's cousins. As I recall, the tongue twisters were NO problem for them!

"The Apology" a poem

Photo Courtesy of Google Images

The Apology

2 large doses of bitterness

1 quart of embarrassment

1 cup of light excuses

1 tablespoon of regret to garnish (optional)

Cut the bitterness in half, remove the extreme venom, and mash the sarcasm.  Put the sarcasm on hold and let it go with determination into a more tolerant state of mind.

Gather the awkwardness with the excuses into your heart.  When the feelings are in control, not paralyzing, combine it with the tolerant state of mind.

Season to perfection with compassion and persistence.  Offer it immediately, sprinkled with regret, if possible.  The apology may be e-mailed (optional).

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens, 4-7-11

Todays daily Kell's poetry writing prompt is:  Find a favorite recipe.  Now write a poem or in the style of that recipe about a family secret, yours or someone else's.  I tweaked it a bit and turned it into something most of us have a hard time doing.

Soothing Sounds, 193/365

Soothing Sounds

The gentle rain tumbled rhythmically
upon the bright umbrellas,
a delightful morning symphony:
Pitter patter, splish, splosh, drip, drop!
A bird's staccato chirp chimed in.
An oak tree gently swayed.
Creating a lovely morning rhapsody,
which cleansed and soothed our souls.
And when into the kitchen I walked
what sight beheld my eyes?
Kitty enjoying my comfy chair
and Puppy tucked beneath.
Forego my morning coffee clutch
I must, as how could I
disturb these two
relaxing in my favorite spot?

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens, 5-6-11

Day 6 - the poetic writing prompt for today from "Kells" (see my side button) is:  Write a poem in two sections about two completely different things.  Have the title link both items today in a surprising way.

Well, I twisted it a bit and used two photos that had nothing to do with each other and hastily created a poem from it.  And not to be left out is the little guy below.  His nickname is "MiniMe" (He resembles the big dog above).

"The Dandy", a poem, 191-192/365

The Dandy

Quite the dandy drake is he.
With emerald green hat
and orange painted toes
he poses and preens
upon the hillside for all to admire.
Fancy white neckband
atop a chestnut colored vest,
he is sure to please the ladies.
His dappled gray suite of fine quality
is adorned with a hanky of smashing blue.
But all of this is fickle indeed,
for how nice would it be
if he didn't fly off but stuck around
to help with the raising of the babies!

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens 365, 4-5-11

The poetry prompt today from "Kells" daily writing prompts is: Write a poem about facts (or wierd facts) that you know.  Well, I was shocked to find out that Mallard ducks do not mate for life as I loved the book "Make Way for Ducklings" when I was a child and it made it seem the pair lived together "happily ever after"!   But no, the male abandons the family (when the eggs are laid) and sometimes starts another relationship.  After mating season, the male "relaxes" during molting season in a secluded, food-rich spot leaving the female(s) to incubate and raise and protect her 8-13 ducklings.

The following photo is for "Black & White Wednesday" and "Weekend Reflections" which I will hook up with later this week:

"An Old Acquaintance", a poem and "An Old Flame" another poem

I adore this horse next door.  Such spirit and energy!  The left eye is blue, just like my pony when I was a kid.  It is often referred to as a "glass" eye.  It works perfectly well and I love a horse with one.  Some people hate them.  This is my submission for the "Sunday Creative"; the prompt word for this week is "glass".

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"Photo courtesy of India Hobson for One Stop Poetry"

The Sunday Photography Interview over at "One Stop Poetry" is with India Hobson.   The above photograph with it's beautiful coloring is the poetry-prompt challenge.  The following poem is for "One Shoot Sunday".  Stop over to see the other entries.

An Old Acquaintance

An old acquaintance I can not shake,

always peering over my shoulder;

creating self-doubt and insecurity.

Ignore her at times, I do,

but rather persistent is she.

There are times she has a point,

making me rethink my strategy.

But mostly, this self-doubt of mine

is better ignored and replaced

with another muse, Ms. Creativity.

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens, 4-3-11

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The poetry challenge today for Kells' New Daily Poetry Prompts ("button" on my side bar) is:  Write a poem that is really a love letter to an old flame.  To make sure it doesn't slip into sappy, make sure one or more of these words is in the poem:  dung beetle, politician, nuclear, exoskeleton, oceanography, pompadour, toilet. ... (this is getting hard!)

An Old Flame

The "love of my life", I did meet today

I, with no makeup and hair in disarray!

Caught in the grocery store's ice cream aisle.

A flash of recognition, and a faint smile..

(His grand pompadour; a comb-over! Here's

the real tragedy of sixty years!)

Recalling passionate promises whispered

earnestly.  "Soul mates forever" we declared

off to college we went; to speak no more...

until today, standing by the freezer door.

Gallantly he bowed, offered me the last 

"double fudge" ice cream. "Are you sure?" I asked.

Tentatively he inquired of me, "My sweet,

are you possibly free to share this fine treat?"

So, here I am all atwitter; the same

butterflies of years ago for this "old flame!"

A lifetime of happiness and joy to share

of memories, timeworn.  And now a new affair

perhaps to pick up and once again pursue;

It does seem I have a "thing" for eyes of light blue.

By Margaret Bednar, Art Happens, 4-3-11

Too bad comb-overs aren't as adorable as this:

Image courtesy of Google Images

Day 2 Poem Challenge

Courtesy of Google Images

OK, today the challenge is to write about a superhero coming to my house and I have to state what my superpower is too!  A bit silly of an idea and it really had me going crazy...  This poem is not my usual topic nor is rhyming something I do well, but this month is about trying new ways to THINK and attempt things I am not necessarily comfortable with.  If you click on the b&w Poetry Month button on my sidebar, you will see this month's poetry prompts.

A Long-Suffering Super Hero

The day I banned "Mr. Super Clean",
my kids cried and said, "You are mean."
He swooped in, that hero of theirs
to clean the four bedrooms upstairs.
A modern-day "Cat in the Hat";
even cleaned the dirty bath mat!
Sang while he got the hard work done.
Making it seem easy and fun.
Happily asked "What else is there?
I can do more, I swear!"
Away from here, I had to send
that indulgent superhero.
Responsibility taught: ZERO
My children must learn to take pride
in their own diligence applied.
A different kind of hero, I.
Super Mom?  Well, not to their eye,
but I believe I'm guiding the way
for them to make a difference one day.
And that means responsibilities
must be done to their best abilities.
Today, no popularity contest won
but I think my odds are good in the long run.

by Margaret Bednar, Art Happens, 4-2-11

"High School Graduate", a poem, 185/365

I will be a participant in April's National Poetry Month through the website "NaPoWriMo".   Click on NaPo and find a TON of poetry websites that are participating!

I will be utilizing Kelli Russell Agodon's "Book of Kells" (blog) writing prompts to help me successfully write 30 poems in 30 days!  (If you click on the b&w "button" on my sidebar, you will also be transported to the writing prompts. 

April 1st Writing Prompt:  Grab a book.  Go to page 29.  Write down 10 words that catch your eye.  Use 7 of the words in a poem.  For "extra credit" have 4 of them appear at the end of a line. 

I grabbed an old book entitled Jack London's Stories for Boys, published in 1936.  The particular story I pulled from is entitled "Love of Life".

   Page 29 Words:  soul, bound, memories, saturating, miserable, unfamiliarity, deliberately

                                     excitement, emptying, and vague.

High School Graduate

Excitement looms, future unsure;

saturated with hopeful

unfamiliarity.

Disappointment and crippling doubt

deliberatley cast aside;

boundless zeal a young soul's guide.

Toward the horizon he races,

in pursuit of an exciting dream;

life's memories in the making.