Merely Day By Day

It's here!  It's National Poetry Month!  I fizzled.  However, I'm going to end with a poem today thanks to the young writers I visited today.   Today's inspiration:  young poets 

It's here!  It's National Poetry Month!  I'll hoping to write a poem every day this month.  I've decided to keep it simple this year.  I'm going to write about whatever strikes me each day.  I suppose it will be like a rollercoaster ride of poetry.  You'll never be quite sure what you're in for from day to day. Today's inspiration:  writer's block  Photo by  Jan Kahánek  on  Unsplash Poems do not come as easily, when your pencil has been resting in a drawer, your notebook slumbering on a nearby shelf. Poems do not come easily, when your eyes have been closed, ignoring the beauty that encircles you: the budding trees, the blossoms dancing, the robins nesting. Poems do not come easily, when you no longer pause to listen to the sounds that surround you: the spring peeper's song, the cheery chirp of morning, the babble of the creek. Poems do not come easily, when you no longer notice the stories tha...

It's here!  It's National Poetry Month!  I'll hoping to write a poem every day this month.  I've decided to keep it simple this year.  I'm going to write about whatever strikes me each day.  I suppose it will be like a rollercoaster ride of poetry.  You'll never be quite sure what you're in for from day to day. Today's inspiration:  the crazy robin who has nested in a tree by our sidewalk Robin tormented, crashes into glass, collides with windows, thumps against mirrors. Each morning the fight begins to protect the nest.                                   defending, guarding, his only enemy... himself.

It's here!  It's National Poetry Month!  I'll hoping to write a poem every day this month.  I've decided to keep it simple this year.  I'm going to write about whatever strikes me each day.  I suppose it will be like a rollercoaster ride of poetry.  You'll never be quite sure what you're in for from day to day. Today's inspiration:  the stories that have been silenced  The world will work to silence you, to tuck your stories into a corner. It will mute your cry, overlook your challenges, turn away, as tears fall down your cheeks. Reach for your pen and paper, learn to tell your stories, start with the simple, so later you can raise your voice. Sit down beside me, tell me about the tooth you lost, the pet that stands by your side, the tales of your childhood. When the world refuses to listen, rise above the silence that surrounds you, tell your truth. Your stories are welcome here. © Cathy L. Mere, 2019 ...

It's here!  It's National Poetry Month!  I'll hoping to write a poem every day this month.  I've decided to keep it simple this year.  I'm going to write about whatever strikes me each day.  I suppose it will be like a rollercoaster ride of poetry.  You'll never be quite sure what you're in for from day to day. Today's inspiration:  weeping cherry blossoms (more signs of spring!) 

It's here!  It's National Poetry Month!  I'll hoping to write a poem every day this month.  I've decided to keep it simple this year.  I'm going to write about whatever strikes me each day.  I suppose it will be like a rollercoaster ride of poetry.  You'll never be quite sure what you're in for from day to day. Today's inspiration:  a stop by Mary Lee's poem, After the Fire . Like Mary Lee, I still think about the fire.  What stays with me is the way spokespeople for the cathedral insist on staying focused on what was saved.  I can't imagine what might be possible if we all focused on the strengths of all around us.   what was saved? Images flashed, fire raged, hearts broke, as the cathedral burned. Journalists raced to the scene for the story, asking: "How much was lost?" Cathedral personal refused to talk about dollars, damage, loss. Instead turning their eyes to what was saved, salvageable.  ...

It's here!  It's National Poetry Month!  I'll hoping to write a poem every day this month.  I've decided to keep it simple this year.  I'm going to write about whatever strikes me each day.  I suppose it will be like a rollercoaster ride of poetry.  You'll never be quite sure what you're in for from day to day. Today's inspiration:  a challenging puzzle 

It's here!  It's National Poetry Month!  I'll hoping to write a poem every day this month.  I've decided to keep it simple this year.  I'm going to write about whatever strikes me each day.  I suppose it will be like a rollercoaster ride of poetry.  You'll never be quite sure what you're in for from day to day. Today's inspiration:  Tiny Pleasures calendar Tiny Pleasures morning coffee, time to read, sunrise. quiet drive, a favorite song, extra time. lunch with a friend, a surprise text, friendship. good conversation, a smile, laughter. heron spotting, a hummingbird, patio-time. family time, dinner out, joy. tiny pleasures abound. © Cathy L. Mere, 2019

It's here!  It's National Poetry Month!  I'll hoping to write a poem every day this month.  I've decided to keep it simple this year.  I'm going to write about whatever strikes me each day.  I suppose it will be like a rollercoaster ride of poetry.  You'll never be quite sure what you're in for from day to day. Today's inspiration:  our backyard opossum who seems to move from one home to another (okay, maybe there's an extended opossum family in my yard, but that's a different poem)  Possum Paradise I'm living the life, just so you know. With a home for the spring and a home for the snow. An abandoned nest tucked underneath of the shed: the perfect location for my warm cozy bed. When winter gets icy I've another fine place, just under the house, once a deserted space. When the days fill with sunshine, it's off to the wild, to my retreat in the woods where the sticks I have piled. I've got a waterside vie...

It's here!  It's National Poetry Month!  I'll hoping to write a poem every day this month.  I've decided to keep it simple this year.  I'm going to write about whatever strikes me each day.  I suppose it will be like a rollercoaster ride of poetry.  You'll never be quite sure what you're in for from day to day. Today's inspiration:  surfing poets and poetry on the web  The Rabbit Hole of Poetry  This morning as the rain   pitter-pattered on the window   I fell into the rabbit hole of poetry. Words danced across pages,   tap-tapping in my ear.  It wasn't long until   I found myself learning of poets:   those I've loved always,  those new to me,   those shaping the poetry world for all.  As the rain danced on the patio in a gentle waltz,  each line of poetry glided  in perfectly arranged stanzas  causing me to pause in admiration. ...

It's here!  It's National Poetry Month!  I'll hoping to write a poem every day this month.  I've decided to keep it simple this year.  I'm going to write about whatever strikes me each day.  I suppose it will be like a rollercoaster ride of poetry.  You'll never be quite sure what you're in for from day to day. Today's inspiration:  the sudden change from brown to green

It's Poetry Friday.  Today's roundup is hosted by Irene Latham at Live Your Poem .   It's here!  It's National Poetry Month!  I'll hoping to write a poem every day this month.  I've decided to keep it simple this year.  I'm going to write about whatever strikes me each day.  I suppose it will be like a rollercoaster ride of poetry.  You'll never be quite sure what you're in for from day to day. Today's inspiration:  a picture book moment She opened the book, page after page turned in silent contemplation. She slowly looked up, a deep pause settled around her. Her outstretched hand moving back and forth on the smooth cover. Her brown eyes fixed on mine, exchanged a thousand words in silence. Words from the pages taken in, bared stories long forgotten. Confirmation that she was not alone in her experience. Affirmation that she mattered found in the pages of a book. © Cathy L. Mere, 2019

It's here!  It's National Poetry Month!  I'll hoping to write a poem every day this month.  I've decided to keep it simple this year.  I'm going to write about whatever strikes me each day.  I suppose it will be like a rollercoaster ride of poetry.  You'll never be quite sure what you're in for from day to day. Today's inspiration:  arrival of our daffodils...the start of the spring parade of color

It's here!  It's National Poetry Month!  I'll hoping to write a poem every day this month.  I've decided to keep it simple this year.  I'm going to write about whatever strikes me each day.  I suppose it will be like a rollercoaster ride of poetry.  You'll never be quite sure what you're in for from day to day. Today's inspiration:  a few challenges in the lives of my twenty-somethings Nobody tells you about twenty-somethings, when you're busy changing diapers, chasing toddlers around the house, when you flop into bed exhausted. Nobody tells you about the challenge that lies ahead waiting. Nobody tells you about twenty-somethings, when you're getting everyone ready for school, making sure breakfast is served and lunches are packed. Nobody tells you what it will be like, all those years beyond your now. Nobody tells you about twenty-somethings, when you're rushing from work to transport kids from one event to another, t...

It's here!  It's National Poetry Month!  I'll hoping to write a poem every day this month.  I've decided to keep it simple this year.  I'm going to write about whatever strikes me each day.  I suppose it will be like a rollercoaster ride of poetry.  You'll never be quite sure what you're in for from day to day. Today's inspiration:  a colorful sunset 

It's here!  It's National Poetry Month!  I'll hoping to write a poem every day this month.  I've decided to keep it simple this year.  I'm going to write about whatever strikes me each day.  I suppose it will be like a rollercoaster ride of poetry.  You'll never be quite sure what you're in for from day to day. Today's inspiration:  a peeper chorus Backyard Chorus The sun slides, slipping out of sight. In the gray-blue of in-between the chorus erupts. First one peep, then another. Spring peepers serenade. Until the chorus echoes in the dark night. © Cathy L. Mere, 2019

It's here!  It's National Poetry Month!  I'll hoping to write a poem every day this month.  I've decided to keep it simple this year.  I'm going to write about whatever strikes me each day.  I suppose it will be like a rollercoaster ride of poetry.  You'll never be quite sure what you're in for from day to day. Today's inspiration:  a new flower pops!

It's here!  It's National Poetry Month!  I'll hoping to write a poem every day this month.  I've decided to keep it simple this year.  I'm going to write about whatever strikes me each day.  I suppose it will be like a rollercoaster ride of poetry.  You'll never be quite sure what you're in for from day to day. It's also Poetry Friday.  Today Karen Edminsten is hosting the roundup.  Stop by for today's dose of poetry!  Today's inspiration: the night sky A Wish Lost The black night has a lure of its own. In this deepest dark the stars call to us; the sky given its moment to feel more important than the earth below. In this dark of night, it's impossible not to look up, not be drawn into the shimmer of stars. My eyes, captivated by the glistening pins of light, note movement. A star shoots across the night sky. "What's your wish?" it asks as it slowly draws a line on the ebony canvas. My wish?...

It's here!  It's National Poetry Month!  I'll hoping to write a poem every day this month.  I've decided to keep it simple this year.  I'm going to write about whatever strikes me each day.  I suppose it will be like a rollercoaster ride of poetry.  You'll never be quite sure what you're in for from day to day. Today's inspiration: coffee For years  I sat beside grandpa stirring chocolate milk. Grandpa  added  a bit of cream to his coffee; another detail to his story. He was the only one I knew who changed  his coffee  from black to tan. Grandma,  her coffee always black, added ice cubes, making iced coffee before it was cool. At my mother-in-law's the coffee pot was always on. She could pour a late night cup, drink it, and then go to bed. Grams liked her coffee hot. She loved when the waitress returned  with the pot of coffee to warm her cup. Here I stan...

It's here!  It's National Poetry Month!  I'll hoping to write a poem every day this month.  I've decided to keep it simple this year.  I'm going to write about whatever strikes me each day.  I suppose it will be like a rollercoaster ride of poetry.  You'll never be quite sure what you're in for from day to day. Today's inspiration: an evening walk The sun shines its evening light, dancing in skies of blue. The grass, once brown, begins to show signs of green. The ground, once empty, now popping with hints of daffodils. The air, no longer cold, invites everyone out for the evening. The stream, no longer frozen, gurgles and sings of spring. Finally, an evening walk. © Cathy L. Mere, 2019

It's here!  It's National Poetry Month!  I'll hoping to write a poem every day this month.  I've decided to keep it simple this year.  I'm going to write about whatever strikes me each day.  I suppose it will be like a rollercoaster ride of poetry.  You'll never be quite sure what you're in for from day to day. Today's inspiration comes from Mother Nature --- and the calendar. Each spring Mother Nature plays a cruel joke on duck pairs passing through. She sends buckets of rain from the sky  until the backyard fills  with water unable to escape. In the evening sun, it looks like a small pond; perfect for  a quiet summer home, finding food, raising a duck family. Duck pairs stop,  sure they've found the home for them. Unaware that the water  isn't here to stay.  It's Mother Nature's  April Fool.   Cathy L. Mere, 2019

Let's say this year, I've had a little trouble finding my new word.  Last year, I chose reach  and, to be honest, I never quite found the love for the word.  This year, I considered not choosing a word.  I wondered what it might be like if I could find a phrase or a symbol that might give me guidance.  I tried on words like:   hustle, seek, clarify, simplify, margin, shape and envision.   For a bit, I considered symbols and really started to come to like the symbol of a wolf: "Wolf is a symbol of guardianship, ritual, loyalty, and spirit. Wolf has the ability to make quick and firm emotional attachments, and often need to trust their own instincts. Thus they teach us to do the same, to trust our hearts and minds, and have control over our own lives ( Pure Spirit )."  Unfortunately, I think when we think of a wolf, we go all fairy tale. The wolf doesn't symbolize happily-ever-after. Instead, we've given it this identity of trickery and ...