It’s National Poetry Month. I love April for a variety of reasons: spring in the air, a fresh spring snow storm yesterday of sixteen inches and poetry!
Yes, you all know I write poetry and prose. I love that combination and have used it in many of my books, but as of late, I have focused more on poetry. My favorite poet right now is Mary Oliver, and these words from her poem, Sometimes, have inspired and shocked me:
“Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell About It.”
~Mary Oliver, “Sometimes”
These instructions shock me because I have realized that’s what I do with my poetry and have done it for years. Right now, I’m working on Book #2 of my four-book poetry series that spans my poetry from 1986-2025. Yes, unconsciously I have followed her advice.
Because I’m in the recording mode, I decided to record Oliver’s instructions for living a life.
So I wanted to share some of my poems this week from recent book, Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry which is book #1 in my four-book poetry series.
Somehow, I let April 1 and 2 slip, but I recorded poetry the last four days and shared them on various social media sites, but today I’m only sharing two of my poems and recordings.
Two Poems from Was It a Dream?
Playing With Words
December 8, 1995
Catch a word and drag it by the leg—
hold on tight. Don’t let go!
Hold on! Don’t let it bite you— you might die from its
poisonous bite or worse—
YOU MIGHT WANT TO WRITE MORE!
The Laundromat
Spokane, Washington
June 18, 1998
Ingenuity of children Big Brother sees it as a race car.
Mom sees it as a laundry basket on wheels.
Little brother takes advantage of
big brother’s imagination.
Down one aisle Down another
Little brother’s eyes glisten.
Smiles and giggles filled his face.
For a moment, it was a race car— they raced
and won, but mom interrupted the fun!
“Boys, stop that!”
Finally,
I plan on packing a lot of my poetry in April, so I hope you’re ready for the ride—from my books. See—I have poetry in seven of my nine books, so I have a lot to choose from! Also I will share haiku I haven’t published yet, so April will be full!
If you’d like to sample some of my poetry, click on the link below!
With her Panda hat on!At a Branson-Trinchera Reunion! With horseshoe sunglasses
Can we ever write too much about our moms? I continue to honor women in my life for National Women’s History Month, and Mom is a natural to share today.
Today is twelve years since Mom died. I feel melancholy and I yearn for her familiar presence in my life! As I struggle with this anniversary, I remember the multiple moments that explode in my memory of our last day together.
I feel a poem coming on! This is a rough first draft, so let me know what you think! You’re going to get to see how I write my poetry: thoughts come to me and then I go with it, massage it, enlarge it and then possibly delete the whole thing. I’ll share the final copy with you in a couple weeks.
Can You Ever Write Too Much About Our Your Mom?
Your mom, mine Our first playmates, The familiar heartbeat that we knew! She looms large in our lives And then the day comes— She dies! Can you ever write too much about your mom?
Today, twelve years after her death, I wonder— Can I ever write too much about Mom?
Here I am 71, remembering her at my age. I don’t feel old, But I remember her older, Vibrant, A large part of my life!
I circle back to her daily, With a thought, ‘she’d like this. She’d laugh at that!” That’s how she lives with me!
My mom, like yours, holds a special place in your heart. Anniversaries come and go— I’ve cried over the years, But the earthshaking pain Has lessened. Why is today different? Melancholy A deep yearning for her. Why?
I have called my brother several times today, The anniversary of her death, About the NCAA tournament Never mentioned Mom and today’s loss, But I needed him! I needed the connection to her!
As I’ve lived these twelve years Without Mom, I missed sharing my triumphs, My first book, This Tumbleweed Landed, self-published. She never held a brand-new copy in her hands And sobbed with me With my success With tears of joy!
I missed talking about the actual writing, The book awards, My journey And her influence in many of them.
As I researched background for When Will Papa Get Home?, She would have enjoyed a visit to the Philly Place And reminiscing. Mom would have loved Maria and her whole family But cried at the prejudice and injustice they endured.
Actually, she did read my first two books, Because I wrote them before she died. She read everything I wrote, Flooding me with compliments and suggestions to change.
Mom helped me write my book, Let Me Tell You a Story, With Dad in 1992. He dictated the stories to her and she wrote them Out long hand. Then I typed them up— A family production. So, she saw that book published For my dad’s 75th birthday.
Dad and Mom danced to Marshall Flippo So, she would have loved the stories Of our conversation. If she would have read Just Another Square Dance Caller, They would have danced to many of Flippo’s caller friends. Her laughter would have rung out loud at the hilarious Stories and Flippo’s “Dirty joke.”
My grief memoir, Time to Grow Up, about her death and Dad’s, Would have overwhelmed Mom. She was shy, unassuming, never wanting to be On the center stage. So that book would have been too much for her, But I can see her finishing it with a sigh And a comment, “Good job! You captured your pain!”
I am so glad she didn’t experience the coronavirus pandemic, Isolated alone in our home In a small ranching community. Before she died, I called her daily, But I would have called her more often. If she would have read my book, Coronavirus Reflections: Bitter or Better? She would have answered every question At the end of every chapter And thanked me for the comfort And challenge of the book.
With my book, Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir, Mom would have laughed out loud at the humor, And thanked me for the deep spiritual message I offered the reader.
My new book, Was It a Dream?: Navigating Life’s Journey Through Poetry, Would have thrilled her with reading poetry about George Strait.
And today, Mom would be saying, “ Where’s the next book? I’m ready for it! Come on, girl!”
I keep saying “would have,” but she walked beside me On every book, Sat next to me as I wrote every word.
As I’ve grown in my faith, I miss our deep spiritual talks Driving around the ranch.
Her laughter and sense of humor blessed any time We were together.
For twelve years or longer, I miss her cooking, her rattling around in the kitchen, knowing a delicious meal would be coming soon!
When someone owns a deep space In your heart, Their absence leaves a hole.
I’ve spent twelve years Healing Crying Writing Dancing Healing
But here I am, twelve years later, Missing my mom! Her smell Her laughter Her presence.
Do we ever get over the loss of mom? Can You Ever Write Too Much About Our Your Mom? I can’t!
Finally,
Writing about all the “would haves” for my mom, once again has helped me deal with today. What’s your thoughts?
VOTE PLEASE!
My book, Was It a Dream?, is in 8th spot in the final round right now. Your vote would really help. Last year, my book, Hair on Fire: A Heartwarming & Humorous Christmas Memoir, won this contest.
A lead magnet in the book marketing industry plays a key role, but what is it? And why is it important? I’m creating one for my four-book poetry series.
Lead Magnet Explained
“For authors marketing their books, giveaways (which we shall refer to as ‘lead magnets,’ for reasons that will become clear) work on multiple levels. They will:
Make readers more aware of your work and your ‘brand’;
Operate on the psychological principle of reciprocity — people innately wish to “pay you back” when you give them something for free; and
As I have listened to my book coach, Derek Doepker, and book coaching group, I realized I needed a lead magnet for my new poetry series. In the book industry, the lead magnet is usually is an e-book.
At first, I was going to make Book #1 of this series (the one I’m about ready to release) the lead magnet and have it FREE to entice poetry readers to join my email list. But another poet in our book coaching group gave me an idea—she created a chapbook as her lead magnet.
So what’s a Chapbook?
A chapbook is “a small book containing ballads, poems, tales, or tracts.”
A chapbook’s size varies, but usually isn’t more than forty pages.
“From where would this chapbook come?” I wondered one day as this idea took root and sprouted. I have enough poetry I’ve written and more for the three other books in this series. Could I grab some from those three books not finalized yet? I needed a theme—something to organize this chapbook around!
Then it hit me! As an English teacher, I taught a poetry unit each year and wanted to grow as writer/teacher. So in 2002 & 2003, I attended poetry classes put on by Continuing Education, affiliated with University of New Mexico. These classes stretched me as a teacher/writer and ultimately as a poet later.
What a great theme! The teacher becomes the student! So, I sat in those six weeks classes and at time wondered—what was I doing! I had never been a poet who wrote rhyming poetry or formatted poetry. These classes focused on formats and forms. I had embraced Free Verse as my poetry of choice for writing. In this class, I felt challenged, stretched and wondered about my creations. The teacher encouraged me; my fellow students did, too, so it was an affirming experience. That’s why I wanted to feature them in this chapbook.
Help Me Select My Chapbook Title
Because you support my writing, I want you to have a part of the selection process for the title to my chapbook. Remember, it’s a short chapbook featuring poetry I wrote for two poetry classes I took.
Here’s the title possibilities:
Two Poetry Classes, One Lesson: A Teacher’s Poetic Enlightenment
Two Poetry Classes, One Insight: A Teacher’s Journey to Poetic Enlightenment
Chalk Dust and Stanzas: Lessons from Both Sides of the Desk
Chalk Dust and Stanzas: Lesson from the Other Side of the Desk
Help me decide! I like all of these choices. Make a comment in the Comments section and identify which title you like the best by the number.
Finally,
this chapbook will be the lead magnet for my four-book poetry series and will be permanently FREE on Amazon as an e-book. I will let you know when it’s available—probably next week or so!
Historical Fiction & Family Saga Book Giveaway!
This giveaway expires October 9, so jump on it today!
Write poetry about a dog attack? I’ve written poetry on every topic possible. And yes, I have written poetry about the dog attack.
Today is eight weeks—two months since that horrible mauling. I’ve been robbed of my normal life and living. No dancing, dancing, dancing! Finally, we planned to go to Rendezvous in the Rockies square and round dance festival next weekend. No way! No Driving to my meetings, getting groceries or just going shopping. Driving to Branson twice to visit my brother and enjoy our family ranch—NO! NO DANCING, DANCING, DANCING FOR 2 MONTHS! I’ve never done that my whole life. My 1st poetry book in a four-book series was supposed to be out a month or so ago!
After all this time, it’s not over! The wound is still open and needs dressing. The nerve damage in my foot and ankle rages on. I’m having to adjust to taking Gabapentin again which makes me feel foggy! I took it for the neuralgia after shingles—I hate how I feel on it!
The one positive is the unbelievable support I’ve received from family and friends. I appreciate it more than you know. My niece and her family sent me a beautiful fleece blanket and shower steamers! I’m anxious to try the shower steamers because I’ve never heard of them.
Haikus Since the Attack
Usually, I write multiple haikus often in response to my online meditation, but I haven’t been able to attend as regularly as I like. I have three journals full of those inspired haikus.
Here’s a some I have written since the dog attack:
August 12, 2024
Gratitude saves me.
It keeps my eyes on the prize.
The prize is my God!
August 19, 2024
Is “walk in beauty”
In my future? Will I limp?
With God’s help, I won’t!
September 2, 2024
I danced in a cast
From my ankle to my thigh.
But I was 15!
Am I resilient?
Will this dog attack define?
I will come back strong!
September 6, 2024 – I led the international online meditation and chose a reading, “Transform It or Transmit It” from Father Richard Rohr’s devotional book, just this. He talks about “sacred wounds” which resonated with me with my wound. Could my God make it sacred? My haiku response:
Sacred wounds still hurt.
But Jesus helps transform them.
I give them to Him!
Make me willing, please!
(Remember the importance of the third line! So I provide an option here!)
The choice is mine now.
Negative, bitter or not?
I chose Jesus’ way.
Embrace your body!
God’s miraculous artwork.
Healing flows in me.
Sacred wounds abound.
With God’s help, I’ve transformed them.
Help me transform this!
Poetry, haiku, life’s experiences provide a rich source for topics for me. However, this is one I didn’t want to write about.
When Mom died, my poetry dried up for six weeks—I had nothing to say. Then at six weeks, the poetry flooded my notebooks about everything I had experienced. The same thing has happened with this tragedy except for my haikus shared here. The first six weeks, I cried and cried and focused on healing.
Then a couple weeks, I grabbed a journal and wrote my first poem about the experience, so know there’s more poetry coming about this experience.
Here’s possible topics:
The initial mauling
The owner’s reaction when he lifted my pant leg and saw the wound
My first reaction when I saw the wound
My brother’s response when he first saw my wound
My brother’s loving care when he drove me the 50 miles to Trinidad to the ER
The ER experience and the caring staff there
Lin’s first experience of seeing my wound
Walking with a cane
My visits to my primary care doctor when I returned home and her response
My visits to the Wound Clinic
Doing everything wrong for three weeks
Couldn’t stand watching what the nurse did
Showering with a cast cover
My visit to Urgent Care with fear of a blood clot or an obsess
The Wound Clinic nurse specialist testing for an infection and then the high-powered antibiotic
My reaction to the antibiotic
Burning toes
Hosting Hot August Nights and not getting to dance to my favorite caller and cuer
My adjusted schedule
Trouble sleeping
Toes, ankle and foot hurt
Wound hurt
Postponing the release of my next book, Was It a Dream?
As you can see, there is a lot of poetry percolating inside of me with this dog attack. I will take my time to focus on this, and I will share them with you when it’s appropriate!
Finally
This whole episode has broken my heart, but I will survive! I’m a survivor! And to write poetry will save my life, once again!
Podcasts & My Interviews
Listen to an interview released Wednesday, August 7, 2024 on Hump Days Calls podcast
