Palate

Two striped shirts walk into the coffee house
one white and navy, one black and white and tweedy
It's so cute in here! (Their first visit)
Loud voices, bright and happy
Friendly, unpushy sales (after ordering coffee)
Like approachable cheerleaders
Saying y'all
More casual than business, but still professional
Friends and colleagues
Easy laughter and a short sing along
Swirling sugar and cream
Sharing a little brightness on a rainy day



Palate is a local coffee house that I love visiting, and they're actually a non-profit.

Simply Receive

ABC Wednesday features the letter S this week. Thursday is Thanksgiving in the US. Here's two version of the same four line poem reflecting on themes of thanksgiving. The second includes more S words.

Simply receive the earth's blessings.

Be thankful for the harvest's bounty.

Treasure true friendship and of love

that lasts a lifetime in all its forms.

Simply secure in Earth's sacrifice,

Be satisfied with the harvest's surplus.

Sing of sincere shipmates and of love

sustained for a lifetime, in all its shapes.

Truffula Tree Haiku

Poor truffula trees

made into useless thneeds

for the Onceler's greed.

Do you remember

truffulas in November,

our dancing: limber.

Today's prompt from Patricia K. Lichen, Author
Weekend Haiku & Limericks: truffula trees

As to the second one, it's about my college's homecoming-type event, Cornhuskin'. My senior year, our class's theme was Dr. Seuss.
Our class sweatshirt:

Photo by Meghan Laurin

Another poem about Cornhuskin' here as well as some more info on Meredith College's most unique of events.

Last Night

Poetry Jam suggested writing a poetic still life, whether one set up and captured by yourself or one found and enjoyed. I looked about my living room, and these objects jumped out at me, telling at least part of a story.

We decided on coffee and dessert.

Those two pair up quite nicely.

I think that you and I

pair quite nicely.

We had run out of coffee and

shouldn't eat a whole pint.

We had a few drinks

and kept talking.

We talked for hours about nothing

and everything while our

chatter blended into 

one great night.

Submitted to Poetry Picnic Week 14: What I'm Thankful For

I'm thankful for my friends and boyfriend who inspired the spirit of this poem and the beer, iceream, cute martini glass and coffee that make up the story.

Corn Parade 2011

2010

back again.

Here to wish

our lil sis

the best of luck.

Shuck, girl, shuck!

Yesterday, Meredith College had it's annual Cornhuskin' competition. On a very simple level, Cornhuskin' is what we do for homecoming. Meredith is an all women's college, so there's not football game and no associated pep rally or tailgating parties. There is, however, a spirit week. On Friday night, the main event draws family, friends, staff, faculty, and alumnae to the ampitheatre to watch skits, dancing, apple bobbing, and giant talking props.
We also have a tradition that every other class has a special connection: Big Sis & Lil Sis. A member of the big sis class shows her lil sis around school, helps them learn about the many traditions, and even takes them around town. Evens are with evens and odds with odds.
I graduated in 2010. Our lil sis class, 2012, is the senior class this year. As the big sis class, we come back to campus to cheer our lil sis class on. It was a fabulous time! I got to see some friends, watch some awesome skits, saw an amazing apple bobbing performance, and enjoyed being back on campus again.

If you're still curious (or a bit confused), some of our students put together a lovely webpage about the history of Cornhuskin' here.

Gravity Gave Up On Me

Earlier this morning,
I fell into the sky.
It started without warning,
and I can't figure why
gravity
gave up on me.

I swerved around a tree limb
and nearly hit a bird.
Clouds were all around me
when suddenly I heard,
"Hey there, you!
You're floating too?!"

Just as I came to a stop,
I saw a smiling face.
"We're kids gravity forgot.
You'll get used to this place.
My name's Sly,
let's share this sky."

And so I settled in
to live atop the clouds.
The air is a bit thin,
but at least it isn't loud.
Gravity
gave up on me.


Inspired by Shel Silverstein's "Falling Up".
A new book of his poems came out recently, and I'm excited to read it!
Every Thing On It

Three Years Between Us

It was my whole lifetime,

unimaginably long.

Then it was just enough 

to be amazingly cute,

my own real live babydoll.

For a while, it was quite

intolerably annoying.

You were always on my nerves.

A few years more brought

friendly cooperation

and increased peace.

For now, we still feel

the difference,

but only occasionally.

Over our lifetimes, 

the same three years will

become increasingly smaller.

Eventually they will be

unimaginably short.

I have a younger brother who was born on my third birthday. I've always loved him, but there were long stretches where I didn't like him one bit. Fortunately, we've grown closer over the years and even enjoy spending time with each other's friends.
BlogHer Prompt: talk about siblings

Beer Haiku

Unfinished beer:
the story too good
to stop for a drink.




Recently a friend of mine was telling us such a crazy story, she forgot she had a beer waiting to be drunk. I found the half-full beer in the morning. 

Entertaining Friends

It's not a formal event.
No need to fret,
but it is their first time over.

The house is clean,
the drinks made ready,
and dinner started.

They arrive, bearing gifts.
Drinks are quickly served
and dinner is finishing up.

The presentation:
imperfectly made food
but still delicious,
maybe more so for the mistakes.

Friends often prove
all the more lovely
because they're real people,
imperfect.

Dew

Dew clings to the window screen,

blurring my view. Not that I care.

The only thing that interests me

is wallowing in my despair.

The new day only serves to remind:

my best friend died last night.

Planning

How many ways can one wear white?
tulle, chiffon, lace, silk
beaded, embroidery, buttons
mermaid, empire, a-line

All the colors of an extra-large crayon box
available for dresses and vests
You do have a color scheme, don't you?

You'll need a cake (or maybe two):
modern or classic?
vanilla, chocolate, lemon, or lavender
All are edible art!

Don't forget the gifts:
favors, parents, friends
Register now and get a free gift yourself!

Maybe we should elope...


On Sunday, I accompanied my college roommate to the Southern Bridal Show. So many brides. So many vendors. So many decisions. I wanted a nap after, and I'm not even the one getting married!

Who am I?

I am more than words can describe,

yet I can't find any good words to write.

I love circles, blue, rubber duckies, and friends.

I believe in conservation education.

My poetry expresses my thoughts and wants

but can be fiction, a story I thought up once.

Hopefully I can inspire others

to love and protect the Earth Mother,

to want know more about biology,

and maybe to create their own poetry.

Write what comes out based on the prompt and just post it. 

You can always clean it up later.

Free Write Friday: Do You Know Who You Are

Mutual Aid

Winners right history.
Warriors write history.

Day to day life
never makes it
into the annals.
Only numbers do:
births,
deaths,
taxes.

But how many people in a town
and how rich they were (or weren't)
doesn't tell anything about their
life,
love,
support.
Even our stories of helping hands
are framed during conflict.
Most of life is not fighting.

Life is love.
Daily love of neighbors
working together
to keep each other
healthy,
fed,
happy.

We need sociality.
We just forget to write it down.




I have just finished reading Mutual Aid, a factor in evolution by Petr Kropotkin. Sadly, Kropotkin's scientific contributions are largely ignored because Darwinism caught on so well, in part because it helped justify the power held by the government and the rich. I don't think life doesn't include struggle, but cooperation within and between species should be recognized for its part in evolution.
If you're curious, the book is available for free as part of Project Gutenberg, a wonderful program providing free ebooks due to copyright expiration.


Included in Jingle Poetry Potluck Week 47

Found in Grammar

An action is in itself a signal,
a new step.
Reach for the relationship.
Circumstances would then
no more be discussed.
It may be a single change.


Words found here:
The Elements of Style
Strunk & White
III. Elementary of Principles Composition
9. Make the paragraph the unit of composition: one paragraph to each topic.


Found Poetry Review prompt
Grammar On

Klepto Friend

Your kleptomania
should be your problem.
Didn't our friendship
enter your cranium
before you ran and
left me here alone
holding the bag?!
Guess not. Friendship done.


Part of the Alpha-Omega Challenge: Kappa