The One Who Left

John's Legacy

~ The One Who Left ~

the one who left walks with me still

his smile in every daffodil planted long ago

in every flower his garden grows year after year

in every poem I write, in every peaceful night

- lingers deeply rooted in the soil of my life

nurtured so long with love
I too will blossom on

JoMae

4/10/20

#aprpad 10 - Poem-A-Day prompt: write a the-blank-who-blank poem.

Trapped

~ Trapped ~

The face is old, the heart still young

the mind not keen as once it proved

old roots still stir around the bend

yet  are now locked  soul deep

within what might have been

for you, my love

are ever gone

JoMae

4/6/20

#aprpad 6 Poem-A-Day prompt: write a trap poem

Slow Lane

~ Slow Lane ~

the older I get

the shorter the future

the wiser I grow

the dimmer the past

the livelier me is

now in the slow lane

happy to watch

the world rushing by

JoMae

4/8/20

#aprpad 8 - Poem-A-Day prompt:  write a future poem

Small Blessings

~ Small Blessings ~

I’m lucky to be at ease with solitude in

this interlude of home bound isolation

as the world hides from our invisible

enemy lurking in the air -anywhere

JoMae

4/7/20

#aprpad 7 - Poem-A-Day prompt:  write a lucky or unlucky poem

Corona Moment

~ Corona Moment~

a knock on the door

grocery bag on the porch

kind neighbor waving

JoMae
4/5/20

#aprpad April Poem-A-Day 5 prompt: write a moment poem

wishpoem

Remembering John's Garden

~ wishpoem ~

a lot of wishes

swishing through the air today

not one stays to play

JoMae

4/4/20

Tomorrow would have been John's 85th birthday. Today's Poem-A-Day prompt is: Write a wish poem. So my page is full of wishes yet not a one to share except this small haiku. 

Unpolished Opinion

My Laughing Daffodils

~ Unpolished Opinion ~

I follow the instincts that live in my gut

learning to test and trust them a lot

with large matters and small, rely

on their nudging in pondering all

manner of judgement -all open

responses for good or for bad

Our hearts learn life lessons 

by failure and strife -by trial

by error, winning or losing

we strengthen our gifts, hone

confident answers and tuck

instincts to turn to deep in

the gut

JoMae

4/3/20

Today's Poem-A-Day prompt: Write a follow your (blank) poem

Vision of Hope

New Season - New Leaves - New Hope

      ~ A Vision of Hope ~

Our space has been invaded by an invisible enemy

 - the closest we have ever come to war nearby

where some must hide away while the brave

among us fight and die for the future of all

all with a part to play yet health care and

delivery folk and so many who provide

necessities have become our heroes

displaying care and courage for the

rest, protection and help amid this

deadly scourge advancing along

our land from state to state, bit

by bit conquering, holding us

hostage, taking our lives

while many from their 

sheltered spaces, delve

deep into their gifts, finding

new ways to fight the enemy

sharing kindness and hope and

offering their ability to sew, design

new answers - new armor to help in

this battle. Creating an informal army

of resistance true as found in any war.

Teachers quickly mastering new ways of

teaching. Parents learning with their children

between the lines of working with their spouses

from their homes. All of us learning new patience.

In spite of great losses, winning the war in the end,

our lives and the space we occupy forever changed

- enriched by our own creativity, blessed from above,

may we carry the strengths born of this struggle into

the world of tomorrow. Into the future we continue to

build together.  Built from the ashes of this viral war.

JoMae

4/2/20

Today's Poem-A-Day prompt: Write a space poem.

New World Plague

New World Plague

Our world has come undone

old patterns gone awry

new rules are in play

to remain alive

for each may carry an invisible virus

we don’t know who so must behave

as if we have it and stay away from

friends - to isolate, alone at home

to stop the spread and

halt the rampant dying in

this surreal new way of life

this most dangerous of games

JoMae

4/1/20

#apad 1 - April Poem A Day challenge 

Today's prompt: Write a new world poem.

Living On aprpad 9

Remembering John's Garden

~ Dear Heart ~

two years past your death

I’m like a shattered vase

still finding where the

scattered pieces fit

JoMae

~ Living On ~

some visit head stones

some sleep with a lover’s

soft garments left behind

my comfort lies between

the covers of my blog

there I curl up blanketed

with warm words revisiting

verbal snapshots of our life

and all it means, how true

love’s strength sustains

Beyond The Dying

JoMae

4/9/19 

#aprpad 9 - Two for Tuesday prompt: 

 Write a love poem and/or an anti love one.

Winter Envy #aprpad 7

Dreaming of Spring

~ WINTER ENVY~

It’s been a long cold winter

people like me have largely

sheltered in place, staying put

rather than chance slipping on ice

by February I was jealous

of folks living down in Florida

until I thought of how I’d covet 

the rhythm of the seasons were I to move

JoMae

4/7/19

Today’s #aprpad prompt: Write a jealous poem.

Roses in November Snow

After Winter

~ AFTER WINTER ~

After the winter was over

and days became longer

the sun beamed warmer

that dark cocoon of waiting

for more light began to soften

then break open to the magic 

of springtime with its signs of

new life and spirit of hope

as we shed our heavy coats

our hearts became lighter

our worlds a bit brighter

our steps a tad faster

anticipating

~ SPRING ~

JoMae

4/6/19

Today's #aprpad prompt: Start with After the (blank)...

Final Photograph #aprpad 5

#aprpad 5 Prompt: Write of something stolen

John's 80th
Easter Sunday 2015

~ Final Photograph ~

I didn’t take a photograph

(that may have offended some)

but I have that  picture  so sharply

graven on my mind I do not need one

You are imprinted in my heart

along with memories of your touch

but that coffin image means so much

as you lay freshly cleaned - and waiting 

I have your ashes atop Pop’s book case 

(and a few inside my pocket - a small sachet)

but the photo of you resting there, sleeves rolled

back ready for refinement for your next assignment 

…

I have boxes full of prints and photos

I’m surrounded by the artifacts you made

All remind me daily of your absent presence 

Yet one vivid image provides loves closure for

My Fond Farewell

JoMae

3/30/19

4/5/35

John’s birthday today (and I have the yellowed telegram to prove it) So here is another unpolished piece to commemorate the day.  Enjoy.

Their Dad #aprpad 4

John's Tree

~ Their Dad ~

Not a famous painter, but he loved

to capture action in a hasty sketch to

catch the baby dumping his spaghetti

save a vacation moment or draw a silly

birthday card

He’d sketch next year’s garden

lay out  a new kitchen cabinet

explain old dreams on napkins

design a lovely Christmas tree

or simply think in illustrations

on the back of an envelope

Scraps of paper now a treasured

Legacy of Love

JoMae

4/4//19

#aprpad 4 Today’s prompt, pick a painter, make him or her the title of your poem, and then, write your poem.

Animal Poem #aprpad 3

Today's poem-a-day prompt: Write and animal poem ~

Cookie Artist: Jean Spoelhof

~ Animal Poem ~

I’m hard pressed to come up with an animal poem

no pets but the bunnies and squirrels in the yard

lost kittens - who scamper to play in the garden

while robins hop hoping for worms in the lawn

but springtime is here and artists are busy

with cookies so dear, too lovely to nibble

chickens and lambs - all over the plate

bunnies galore might pop in the door

beautiful bunnies that I most adore

Prized art work by Jean the

Gingerbread Lady who’s

exquisite sweets iced

in delicate designs

are treasured

creations

one of a

kind

JoMae

4/3/19
#aprpad 3 - A small tribute to my favorite cookie artist ~

Prompt: write an animal poem - 

Cookie Artist: Jean Speolhof

Silence

A Blue Cocoon

~ Silence ~

The worst case scenario had happened: 

her world seems deaf, his voice now mute

the silent void a thick foam block encasing

a cold suffocating absence -- his presence

No whistling drifting from his workshop now

gone was the sound of footsteps in the door

garden tools dropped to the floor and more

a death she first deemed unable to endure

until one day, out of the silence rose a thought

sparked by a comment she had heard or read

her nature was to savor it to further ponder

she made a note and then another line until

her old familiar joy of writing took a hold. Tiny

bursts of words at first - her heart became ajar

lighting frail new blossoms rooted in old soil 

nurtured by the gift of quiet, time and place

~ Silence ~

The best case scenario had happened

for in her loss she found her voice

harsh gray silence softened to a

blue cocoon filled with words

JoMae

4/2/19

An April Poem-A-Day challenge #aprpad
The day's prompt: Write a worst case and/or best case poem

Winter Mornings #aprpad 1

April Snow

Winter Mornings

Coffee in my most comfortable chair

swimming in the wake up brew

treading an ocean of words

reading, thinking, writing 

until I look up and see

it’s mid afternoon

JoMae

4/1/19

Another April. Another Poem A Day Challenge. 

Today’s challenge: Write a morning poem

Challenge Ending #aprpad 30

Spring Bouquet 2017

April Challenge

The end has come, what shall be done?

April is over, her challenge is finished

I shall miss her but not be forlorn 

- at least not for long

For May is arriving with colorful warmth

lilacs and tuliips, soft gentle breeze

new beginnings and endings

to challenge our days 

 - and bring joy

JoMae

4/30/18

#aprpad 

30. Prompt, write a poem in which something is coming to an end

A Gift of Aging #aprpad 29

A Gift of Aging

I love to catch glimpse of my dear grandmother

peekiing from the smile of our great granddaughter

playing in the kitchen 

A vantage point one cannot achieve except by

Aging

JoMae

4/29/20

#aprpad

Prompt: Write a response poem

My response to my day 2 portrait poem: At 80
      Photo by JessicaKate Miles

Grief's Wave #aprpad 28

Chef's Birthday Treat

Grief’s Wave

In grief’s drowning void

dive deep into loved hobbies

to soothe the yearning

JoMae

4/28/18

#aprpad

Prompt:  take the phrase “(blank) Wave,” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem,