Merely Day By Day

W e made it! This month I have been on the quest for joy. I've managed to write about a bit of joy each day.   The month has reminded me that joy is often found in the simplest of moments. Here is the final poem for National Poetry Month.  Joy Awaits Poetry books line shelves. Words tumble on pages. Placed in perfect arrangement. Arranged. Rearranged. Small moments captured. Quest for meaning. Days of dreaming. Arranged. Rearranged.  Soothes souls. Tells truths. Rights wrongs. Sings songs. Arranged. Rearranged. Syllables,  Words, Lines, Verse. Arranged. Rearranged. Poetry heals hearts.  Provides fresh starts.  Arranged. Rearranged.  Poetry.      Joy.           Found.  © Cathy L. Mere, 2021 It's Poetry Friday!  Today's roundup is hosted by Matt Forrest Esenwine at Radio, Rhythm and Rhyme . Stop by to enjoy some poetry and/or leave a link.  It's National Poetry Month. Th...

  April finale. The daffodils step aside. Tulips promenade. © Cathy L. Mere, 2021 It's National Poetry Month. This year, I selected " CHOOSE JOY " as my One Little  Word  Phrase. Since I'm on the lookout for JOY, it makes sense to share a poem each day this month about what I find. 

  Afternoon Ride pedal,  pedal,  go. follow the trail. enjoy  paths of green. afternoon  bike  ride. railway reimagined.  © Cathy L. Mere, 2021  It's National Poetry Month. This year, I selected " CHOOSE JOY " as my One Little  Word  Phrase. Since I'm on the lookout for JOY, it makes sense to share a poem each day this month about what I find. 

Well, I awoke just after sunrise to find the moon still hanging and the sky returned to blue. Moon was in my backyard now and shining brighter than bright. It had managed to radiate an entire extra sphere of light that doubled it in size. I couldn't get a good picture with my phone, but trust me it was glorious. I think moon must have decided to wait on sun's return so I thought I'd continue their game in today's poem. Check out yesterday's Evening Show  for last night's game. Morning Radiance  "I'm ready to play,"      sun says to moon. As she returns to the sky      not a moment too soon. "I've had some good sleep,      and I see you're still here. Let's play a game      that will bring the world cheer." Moon stayed awake      just for this chance. The two look at each other      and start the grand dance. "Let's play Shine,"      says sun as she rises. "I can d...

  It's always something to see the full moon rise in the blue sky of evening. It's National Poetry Month. This year, I selected " CHOOSE JOY " as my One Little  Word  Phrase. Since I'm on the lookout for JOY, it makes sense to share a poem each day this month about what I find.  Evening Show "Play with me sun,"      the moon pleads from afar. Shining so bright,      it feels like a star. "Let's share the blue sky,"      moon says with a grin. As her circle of light      takes night for a spin. The sun smiles brightly,     i n orange and in red "It's been a long day,      I'm going to bed."  © Cathy L. Mere, 2021

  To Paint a Day dawn breaks.     opportunity abounds. blank canvas     a waits the first stroke. the artist     pauses to consider a color palette     of possibility. © Cathy L. Mere, 2021  Photo by  Mohamed Nohassi  on  Unsplash It's National Poetry Month. This year, I selected " CHOOSE JOY " as my One Little  Word  Phrase. Since I'm on the lookout for JOY, it makes sense to share a poem each day this month about what I find. 

  Weeping Cherry was the first to know,      a s it witnessed spring's final, fluffy white snow.  With vigor it shook its soft pink blooms,      a nd said goodbye to the gray and the gloom.  It shared the good news with Crimson King,       who swayed with delight and started to sing.  For the occasion she'd saved a perfect red dress,      w ith green all around, she was sure to impress.  Crimson told Sugar, and they cackled with glee      a t the anticipation of what would soon be.  Sugar Maple smiled, as she looked down,      a t the beautiful flowers that covered the ground.  Old Oak watched the celebration with a steady eye;      s he noted the warmth and the bright blue sky.  The rumor among trees was most definitely true      s he reassured all as the gentle breeze blew.  The flowers heard Oak confirm the good news...

  Pause Go ahead. Reset. Reboot. Breathe. Recharge. Restart. Unwind. Renew. Refresh. Relax. Rediscover. Revive. Center.  Revitalize.  Rejuvenate. Be. © Cathy L. Mere, 2021 It's Poetry Friday!   Today's roundup is hosted by Catherine Flynn at Reading to the Core .  Stop by to enjoy some poetry and/or leave a link.  It's National Poetry Month. This year, I selected " CHOOSE JOY " as my One Little  Word  Phrase. Since I'm on the lookout for JOY, it makes sense to share a poem each day this month about what I find. 

  It's Earth Day. Here's a little haiku to celebrate.  It's National Poetry Month. This year, I selected " CHOOSE JOY " as my One Little  Word  Phrase. Since I'm on the lookout for JOY, it makes sense to share a poem each day this month about what I find.  Backyard Chorus  woodpeckers tap, tap song birds add some melody backyard sounds of spring © Cathy L. Mere, 2021

Snow Day!  White blankets the ground      adorns the trees. Fluffy flakes float      from            the                morning                     sky. "Snow Day!" I announce,      to no one but myself; I glance once more, then      go            back                 to                      bed.  © Cathy L. Mere, 2021 It's National Poetry Month. This year, I selected " CHOOSE JOY " as my One Little  Word  Phrase. Since I'm on the lookout for JOY, it makes sense to share a poem each day this month about what I find. 

Yeah, it's a reach. Limerics are for March - until it's April and you're feeling a little whimsical (and desperate). I'm just going to follow the advice of my Sunday poem and get something down . Bahahahaha.  You can read more about this little gadget at today's Slice of Life post.   It's National Poetry Month. This year, I selected " CHOOSE JOY " as my One Little  Word  Phrase. Since I'm on the lookout for JOY, it makes sense to share a poem each day this month about what I find.  There once was a boy named Kareem, Who just loved to eat lots of ice-cream. But his hands would get cold, If the truth were to be told. Now with his koozie he's living the dream.  © Cathy L. Mere, 2021

Whatever you do, don't go out and get one of these! No, I mean it. Once you purchase one, your life will never be the same.  In fairness, I didn't purchase mine. My daughter gave it to me as a gift. It's one of those things I didn't know I needed until I had it. One of those things I probably shouldn't have because it isn't good for me in the long run. One of those things that now that I have it, I couldn't imagine life without it.  What is it you ask? (You should scroll away now. I'm telling you.) (Really, you shouldn't continue.)  Are you sure you want to know? Really sure? Okay, I'll give you a few hints, since you're still here. It's the least I can do.  It fits nicely in your hand. It's thermal to keep things cold. You can use it for your cold treats. It's an...            i ce-cream koozie. That's right. A koozie for ice-cream pints. Who knew? Am I right?!  Let's face it. We've all picked up something new in our ...

The Magic of Poets Poets       sit by their windows,           pen in hand,                notebook open,                     attentive. Carefully       smoothing the cacophony            of sounds                into gentle rhythms                     for tired souls.  Collecting      beautiful words           as they float by,                weaving phrases into                     alluring tapestry. Crafting      with a precision            of vision,      ...

Do you get Jess Keating's EPIC Email ?  If you don't, you should go right to her site right now and sign-up. I enjoy them. You should check out her site while you are there. Last week's email was a reminder not to apologize for your art. I think it was perfectly timed. I decided to take her letter and create a found poem with it - because art. Ha! As we round the second half of this month's commitment to write a poem each day, I'm guessing we can all use her message. Thanks, Jess, for the permission AND the inspiration AND the fun. Make Art found poem from Jess Keating's EPIC Email 4/16/21 all words belong to Jess don't apologize for taking up space. share your work, your voice, what matters. don't apologize for getting it wrong, imperfect art. be human; "perfect" isn't reality. stop apologizing. be seen, heard. don't apologize for shitty art; even if it doesn't lead to  better art, progress. nobody needs to  validate what you make...

  pink blossoms appear spring dance:  a summer promise hope for tomorrow © Cathy L. Mere, 2021 It's National Poetry Month. This year, I selected " CHOOSE JOY " as my One Little  Word  Phrase. Since I'm on the lookout for JOY, it makes sense to share a poem each day this month about what I find. 

  Joy Awaits Some say joy hides tucked inside  the smallest of places, hard to find, difficult to hold. Joy doesn't shout or dance around you. It doesn't demand  that you look at it  or make itself known. So let me give you some tips, dear friend, to help you find joy in your busy days.  Joy is waiting in little moments  unexpected as you walk  your daily path. Joy can be found  hanging out with your friends, laughing at their jokes, listening to their stories, joining in their fun. Joy stays in your house, drinking coffee, reading books in your living room, resting in tiny spaces, right there for you. Joy can be found at the end of your day in quiet pauses as you look back: memorable moments. You see, dear friend, joy walks beside you, waiting for you to notice; the ever steady  companion.  © Cathy L. Mere, 2021 It's Poetry Friday!   Today's roundup is hosted by Jama Rattigan at  Jama's Alphabet Soup .  Stop by to en...

I just finished  Counting Descent by Clint Smith. My daughter gave it to me upon my retirement. It is truly one of the best poetry books I have read in awhile (and I've read a lot of good poetry books). I'm still not quite over it. One of the poems I enjoyed was "Shout Out". In this poem, Smith takes aim at the cause and effect of little things in life. Here are two stanzas from Smith's poem on page 64.  "Shout out to the light of the city           for deafening the stars    Shout out to the splintering floorboard            for announcing my entrance to every room"                                                                      Today, I thought I might give a few joyous shout-outs borrowing Smi...

  A Million Sunrises I was disappointed  to learn  I would have to live to be 2,739 to see 1,000,000 sunrises. As orange bursts pink pops yellow slips across the sky,  I consider this.  Even after 2,739 years would I have seen them all?  © Cathy L. Mere, 2021 It's National Poetry Month. This year, I selected " CHOOSE JOY " as my One Little  Word  Phrase. Since I'm on the lookout for JOY, it makes sense to share a poem each day this month about what I find. 

  Garden Stroll, First Posted on Instagram Being retired certainly has me in the mood for adventures. It was a beautiful morning when I randomly decided I was going to pack my lunch and visit Dawes Arboretum . The drive would be about an hour there and another back so the adventure would take a considerable chunk of my day, but I knew it would be worth it.  I walk into the kitchen to find Grandma busily packing our lunch. She has her tennis shoes on today so I know we were headed for an adventure. Sandwiches stacked on the counter, chips in baggies, and watermelon cut in neat rectangles. Grandma arranges our lunch in her cooler. I wonder to myself what treat is tucked away. Her lunches always have some little delicious surprise. Grandma places everything we would need for the day in her trunk. We all pile into the backseat of the car ready for adventure. I got in my car, turned on my Amazon playlist, and headed toward the freeway. Driving to the other side of our city always r...

  pens Click. Select. Words flow. Strokes grow. Choose. Compose. Writers play. Phrases stay.  Jot. Note. Write few. Discover new. Ink Joy! © Cathy L. Mere, 2021 It's National Poetry Month. This year, I  CHOOSE JOY  as my One Little  Word  Phrase. Since I'm on the lookout for JOY, it makes sense to share a poem each day this month about what I find. 

Yes to Not This morning  I decided  not. Not to run. Not to clean that closet. Not to listen to my head full of shoulds: the chorus of ought. Instead I grabbed my book, made another cup of coffee, and gazed longingly at the sunshine; who smiled her knowing smile, and affirmed  my decision to NOT.  © Cathy L. Mere, 2021 It's National Poetry Month. This year, I  CHOOSE JOY  as my One Little  Word  Phrase. Since I'm on the lookout for JOY, it makes sense to share a poem each day this month about what I find.