February 27, 2021

Winter Oak

~ Watching Winter Oak Leaves ~


Because that oak leaf landed gently on my hand last fall

which a friend kindly memorialized in a sweet painting

and I preserved, pressed in my hard cover copy of

The Complete Poems of Emily Dickinson


the few remaining leaves still dangling from their branch

outside my window, seem to dance and wave at me

each time I look up from my writing chair.  In just

the right breeze they skitter and prance - like

frisky kittens reaching for each other then

pulling back teasing to be caught


and when the wind is strong

I marvel at their tenacious grip


*********


I’ve read of prisoners in isolation making friends

and playing with the spiders on their cell wall

I fear I’ve thus befriended old oak leaves

still  dancing at my window  as March 

winds unfurl. Somehow they make

me think of John - now gone

no longer hanging on 


JoMae

2//27/21


February 17, 2021

Echo Prayer

Photo: VectorStock.com 15874148


 ~ Praise for Provision and Protection ~

with gratitude for provision of our daily needs

 and protection against evil and temptation

<><><><><><>


Beloved Parent in the Heavens

Holy is your majestic name

may your reign come

your will be done

on earth  as it

is in heaven


Please grant us our daily bread

and forgive our trespasses - as we

must forgive those who sin against us


lead us not into temptation we pray

rather, deliver us from evil for

yours is the whole realm,

all power and all glory

forever and ever

Amen



My echo of The Lord’s Prayer for today - JoMae

        2/15/21

February 15, 2021

My Writing Chair


      John with great granddaughter Violet       
~ My Writing Chair ~
(with echoes of Winnie the Pooh)

Of all the seats in this old house

this is the one  that holds me best

it isn’t in a bedroom, it isn't on a stair

it isn’t anywhere at all -except right here 

in the corner of the sitting room where

I can stare past two windowed walls

while pondering the perfect word

to set down next


or gaze into the past, remembering pooh stories

and small children listening -- or not


It isn’t soft. It isn’t hard. It doesn’t rock nor can recline

It holds me firm, keeps me alert so I can think and 

dream and write -- and sometimes even pine


So. This is the chair where I always sit

there isn’t any other chair quite like it.


But it isn’t really mine at all -- 

this golden chair in whose lap I muse


left on a curb many years back, too good to throw away

it found a home with us.  Settled in and soon became

John’s favorite spot to rest from hours in the garden

or in his basement shop. I’d settle on the couch to

break from working in the office he’d built for me

- a child’s bedroom became Mom’s book room

in our shrinking nest.


long years ensued as we danced alone together in our

old place until age took its toll and John was gone 

My carpenter was gone. Gone was his voice

his whistle wafting from below, his hugs

his gardening boots at the back door

his old favorite chair sat empty

his well worn gold colored

wingback chair


Slowly I began to settle here with my keyboard on my lap

Gradually it drew me with my morning cup of coffee

a good fit, it soon became my daydream place

my writing space - with kindle close at hand

It feels like home, this chair of mine


Now this is where I always stop to

sit. There isn’t any other spot quite like

it. It isn’t freshly new, it isn’t falling down

it’s in our city home where I happily live on

with words on the wing in the air all around

to capture and sort and pin on the page to

ground my illusions and settle my rage

to sort out confusion in this odd stage

on this mountain I’m climbing - 

now part way up


<><><><>


Half way up the stairs isn’t up and it isn’t down

it isn’t in the nursery, it isn’t in the town

and all sorts of funny thoughts run round my head

It isn’t really any where, it’s some place else instead...


...So this is the place I always stop….


-Christopher Robin in A. A. Milne's When We Were Very Young


JoMae

2/15/21




Spent my day playing with some fun frivolous notions - Enjoy!

February 10, 2021

Words

~ Words Words Words ~

At times I’ve followed writing prompts to discover my word for the day. One word to ponder, carry with me and/or write about. Then there are periods such as this past year with long unframed days at home, when I’ve fallen into the habit of waking each morning tuned in for an idea heard or read to jump out at me as a prompt destined to become the subject of my daily free write.  It may be a totally fresh notion or hit me as the perfect addition to round out yesterday’s unfinished effort. 


Think of all the people on their own for hours, days on end and consider all the quiet musing going on! Remembering, imagining, worrying, figuring things out.  And as we sort out life’s blows and blessings, a lot of insight occurs. A lot of learning happens. Some ponder while making puzzles, doing handwork or various hobbies, working in the kitchen, the woodworking shop or garden. Those of us who favor phrases, write words down so we can look at them again - or simply to anchor their ideas more firmly in our minds.


Today’s prompt came while reading Kathy Swaar’s blog post, ‘Give me a Word.’ Halfway through I stopped to jot down thoughts of my own which came to mind. Then back to finish hers. Join me if you wish. I always learn something from Kathy's work. You might too! 


Give Me a Word - 2021 Edition - “Hold” — kathyswaar.com  


And yes, I’ll give you a word as well. My word for this season is HOPE. Spelled T.R.U.S.T.  But that is another post!


JoMae

1/15/21

February 06, 2021

Replanted

~ Replanted ~

In the valley, in the shadow

sheltered from the storm

my lines have fallen in

a pleasant place for

one to grow and

blossom once

again


Thanks be to Godde

-JoMae

                    2/6/21