Tag: giving

#NaPoWriMo Day 3: Poem — Lauranelle — “Blackened Antics” #amwritingpoetry


For NaPoWriMo Day 3 the prompt is as follows: “First, make a list of ten words. You can generate this list however you’d like . . . Now, for each word, use Rhymezone to identify two to four similar-sounding or rhyming words. For example, if my word is “salt,” my similar words might be “belt,” “silt,” “sailed,” and “sell-.” . . . ” [W]ork on writing a poem using your new “word bank.” You don’t have to use every word . . . but try to play as much with sound as possible, repeating  sounds, echoing back to others using your rhyming and similar words.”

Aba bcb cdc Ded efe fbf ggA1 ggA2 – Laurenelle

Word List:

1. Luminescence — effervescence, quintessence, essence

2. Hope — cope, tightrope, isotope

3. Darkness — dark, sharpness, sparkle, arctic

4. Support — comport, assort, short, purport

5. Giving – living, forgiving, bidding, misgiving

6. Brilliance — resilience, gilding, thrilling, minion

7. Guile — style, meanwhile, lily

8. Fashion — ashen, rationale, passion, happen,

9. Truth — youth, bloom, soothe, booth

10. Falsehood — could, good, make good, misunderstood

Credit: Victor Freitas via Unsplash.

Luminescence and effervescence, light of —

Enthusiasm, a search for the intrinsic.

We’ve got evanescence, fading from above.

An instant shot of hope, of light scattered frantic,

We attempt to cope and tiptoe the tightrope;

Darkness surrounds, in defiance a spark’s lit.

We try to comport, assert ourselves, find hope,

But somedays it’s too much; we all need firm support;

To purport more than falsehood, not slide down the slope.

So, fly in winning brilliance, the enemy to thwart,

Can we rebuild? Or, are we still misunderstood?

If we can’t make sense, is resilience a truth?

To find rationale and without guile, make life good;

Alter all falsehood, not let evil minion’s twist.

Let’s hang onto life’s essence, love what’s noble and good.

Perhaps, in the dark there’s forgiveness, and giving;

A sense of right, when wrong is the fashion; survive —

Push limits of guile, return to truth intrinsic.

Let’s bloom, soothe, hold truth fast — surpass blackened antics.

©️Amanda_AM. 2020. All Rights Reserved.

Day 3 – NaPoWriMo/A to Z Challenge: Poem – Elegy/Couplets – “The Traveler Reaches Home” #poetry #NaPoWriMo #AtoZchallenge


Today’s NaPoWriMo prompt is  poem type called an elegy – a poem that mourns or honors someone dead or something gone by. Center the elegy on an unusual fact about the person or thing being mourned. ” An elegy generally combines three stages of loss: first there is grief, then praise of the dead one, and finally consolation.” Please see Literary Devices for more information.

I’ve paired this prompt with The A to Z Challenge quote, having the author/quoter’s name begin with the letter C. 

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Credit: Danika and Peter via UnSplash

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“We are all the pieces of what we remember. We hold in ourselves the hopes and fears of those who love us. As long as there is love and memory, there is no true loss.” ― Cassandra Clare, City of Heavenly Fire

——-

Here we gather, today it finally hit —

Me, you won’t be coming back; such grit —

You displayed, at the crux, as death grew near.

There was no “going gently” for you dear.

I always admired that you were strong,

At the finish you groaned your last song.

The pain was so great, it hurt us to see,

A candle flame who flared, flickering free.

Death was not easy, nor was your young life.

But you always shouldered through the strife.

A kind, giving person — philanthropist,

With death, you became a minimalist.

Objects hold memories, the Stone’s song we know —

well: “You Can’t Take It With You When You Go.”

As we remember, we wonder why —

Three-years ago you left, disappeared wide —

Across the world, sending postcards to —

Us all, as you adventured across through —

Every country you could see with no —

Face Time, Skype; we were scared you wouldn’t come —

Back; but you knew how sick you had become.

That’s why you left, returned, with all of your —

Stories to share as you withered, poorly —

Weak and fragile, all your living used up.

No matter we were so afraid it’s just —

We didn’t understand your reasons ’til —

You said, “I’m dying fast, I have no more will —

to live, my time is drawing near, I see —

God’s blessed glory shining, in front of me.”

We forgive you for leaving twice; we know —

Your Heavenly home, will now shelter you.

It’s hard how it ended, but we’ll see you —

Soon — in the peace, Heaven granted for you.

——



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©Mandibelle16. (2017) All Rights Reserved.


B&P’s Shadorma and Beyond: “Hallelujahs In Loss” #amwriting #poetry #Hallelujah #shadorma


Thanks to MindLoveMisery’s Menagerie for hosting this week’s challenge.

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Credit: National Post

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You wrote words, 

That crossed human hearts. 

United us, 

Made us feel;

We’ve all been hurt and broken, 

Your words understood. 

—–

A heartfelt —

Song to carry on, 

Though you’ve gone, 

On with the —

Lord of song where you sing your –

Hallelujahs. 

——

We felt your —

Loss in the words left, 

Behind in, 

Your songs;

Poetry style, your lyrics, 

Wrote for all. 

—–

But mostly, 

We feel more pain, you’re —

gone; we feel —

Your absence–

Clear; as baffled King David, 

Who wrote Psalms. 

—-

A cold and —

A broken cry to —

God; we sang —

Your tune, said —

Hallelujah, through all —

Our our pain. 

—-

Praising God, 

Joyfully when wrecked. 

Whenever, 

Wherever. 

Saying Hallelujah, 

Lord guide us. 

——

Though love in —

Life, tears us apart, 

We still say, 

Your words wrote —

Hallelujah –every

Single breath. 

——

Myself I —

Know when I’m —

Shredded in —

My heart, I cry to God at night, 

Hallelujah. 

—–

I praise him, 

When I’m miserable, 

I praise him, 

When I’m glad, 

Truthfully, I lift my voice —

Most when sad. 

—–

You’re gift of 

Song, one day —

I’ll hear more, 

In heavens —

Grace; our ardent praises ring, 

Hallelujahs

——

We’ll sing on, 

Or praises loud clear, 

No more pain,

No crying. 

Paradise not haulting joy — 

Hallelujah

Hallelujah 

Hallelujah

Hallelujah. 

——

©Mandibelle16. (2016) All Rights Reserved. 

Photo Challenge: Poem – Free Verse – ” Yaya Mockingjay” #amwriting #poetry 


Thanks to MindLoveMisery’s Menagerie for this week’s photo challenge: 

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http://www.pixebay.com

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Have you cast all your doubts? 

Decided what’s best? 

An old women has regrets, 

There is no life without them. 

It’s difficult, knowing what’s right, 

I just tried my best. 

Listened to my elders, 

As my mother always said.

But there are days I know, 

My best is not enough.

I’m pushing and pulling,

No strength in my bones. 

I’m yelling and shouting, 

But my words aren’t enough,

“We don’t speak your language Yaya.” 

My grandchildren laugh. 

They always need more,

More than dry-bones can provide. 

I feel drained and drowned, 

In lost potential. 

Yaya down and she can’t raise herself up. 

Drenched in such evil, 

Of those with no conscience;

Their knowing looks, eyes that know nothing.

They’re missing my years, my wisdom learned, 

But I’m stuck in thick sticky mud, 

And no one helps an old woman up. 

There’s no hand to help comfort Yaya, 

Her life was tough and unsparing. 

The mud is the only spa I know or ever have, 

A facial mask of sludge and worms. 

An archaic beauty mask. 

Somebody hear, what I’ve learned — listen: 

Your mistakes and your ills you repeat, 

Each day I try to tell you but it’s not enough. 

You smile at me empty eyes, 

My words pass through your ears, 

The wind blows loudly there.

What’s enough? 

Until I’ve drawn my last breath? 

Until I’m lying here still — dead, 

Knowing some journeys such as mine, 

Must be made alone and for naught. 

A solo expedition, my entire culture lost, 

Must I stay on the roads of antiquity? 

Can I grow with the changing world? 

Give me a reason to deviate: 

I must stop the mudslide from coming.

Spitting sludge from my lips, 

Lord, why don’t they hear? 

The roar of doom and pain approaching. 

It will wash them away, 

When I’m safe in the heavens. 

Does being old make me invisible? 

The crevices of my face are a map, 

And my eyes the lights to yesterday. 

Learn from the past, I pray. 

Where is the light? 

Where is the hope? 

I’m just an old bird, a simple sparrow, 

How do I become a Mockingjay? 

I saw her fight in the movies, 

We need a Mockingjay today, 

A bird of pray who acts, 

Not sleeping through each day. 

How do I bring hope, become a symbol? 

How do I teach my young, 

To mimic a wisdom long past. 

You won’t like what I have to say I know, 

But you would hear, a Mockingjay. 

—–

©Mandibelle16. (2016) All Rights Reserved. 

Photo (Collage) Challenge: Poem – Tankas – “The Mountain’s Wrath” #amwriting #poetry 


Thank you to MindLovesMisery’s Menagerie for hosting this week’s double prompt:

Laura Bloomsbury

———

Black and white can change, 

Become the most flaming bright of —

Colours; yet we’re like —

Dorothy on her Kansas —

Farm, not realizing life is grey. 

Never seeing technicolor.

——–

If mountains are but smoke, 

No one who said those words knew, 

How burning orange and —

Yellow looks when your skin is —

Seared; the mountain spit lava clear.

Blew her top, melted downwards. 

——-

On to the town who, 

Had little idea but should —

Have known this day, 

No technology clued.

Their mountain could release Hell,

Sulphurous smelling, burnt Hell.

—-

Poisonous gases, 

Leaking down to the town folk, 

No chance had they when, 

Ashes fell like snow.

The worst kind of snow signals, 

The ire of the mountain’s breath.

——-

In stores, on boardwalks, 

Going about their day the same.

When she erupted, 

No one cared at first.

But the ash and gases came, 

Killing to begin, before —

—–

Lava reached familiar,

Buildings, the library.

Homes, grocery stores, work.

Yet the sky was filled, 

She billowed out her smoke rings, 

And she was just beginning.

——-

Threy should’ve known to —

Leave earlier but no one, 

Takes responsibility;

To late to lay blame.

Run far and fast, lava spews.

Keep going magma flows, kills.

——

No Dante’s Peak is —

This; only mother nature’s, 

Roaring and giving, 

Life as she takes it.

Many die unaware, don’t see, 

Never knew today would be —

—

The end: waiting done, 

Here comes the promised one near.

Yet some survived it.

Never took lightly, 

Those words: A Mountain is noth –

ing but smoke — they lived through it.

—–

Those who rebuilt knew, 

As the lava and fire burnt their —

Homes, loved ones to crisps. 

Beware the mountain;

Geologists trained don’t know, 

When she’ll yield furious wrath.

——

©Mandibelle16. (2016) All Rights Reseved 

Poem: Acrostic – ” Loyalty of Friendship”


The prompt for Poetry 101 is friendship in an acrostic.

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http://www.quotesgram.com

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Laughing, my confidante, you never tell my secrets.

On travels everywhere, we were in awe by history’s splendor.

Young and free we were once; before love, and life, pets, and kids.

And the friendship has shifted; the laughter at adult adventures.

Loving how we always come back to exactly where we left off talking.

Trust is a bind woven between us; the threads of life keep us honest.

Years pass, though distance parts; our friendship stretches, never breaks.

——-

©Mandibelle16. (2016) All Rights Reserved

Sunday Photo Fiction: Horse Kisses


It was taking my mixed junior high class two-hours to arrive at the Ranch for the Deaf. There was several different activities to do there that could be done by those deaf or not. The Pastor who greeted us signed his words as he spoke to us and shared a devotion.

We ate hot dogs and roasted them on metal sticks over a fire pit. My teacher took our junior high class on a walk through the wilderness. I wasn’t to happy about this. If you know me, you know I am mostly an indoors girl due to allergies to fungi, grass, trees, other molds, and pollen. I swallowed my Bendryl with regret as I knew how tired it would make me later on.

We made walking sticks out of smaller trees, peeling the bark off them and rowed a boat in a body of water on the ranch. We learned how to shoot riffles. I remember the bruises I had on my shoulder from the kick-back of the guns.

Lastly, there were the horses who followed us behind wire and wood fences as we walked. I stopped for a moment and laid my hand on the nose of pretty brown chestnut horse. She sniffed me then laid her head on my shoulder as I stroked her snout and scratched behind her ears.

She was beautiful and breathtaking. She followed me as we continued to walk. When I came close to her she hid her nose in my hair and gave a few wet kisses to my neck. I didn’t and still don’t know a lot about horses. But as I found with certain dogs, I realized horses know something about people. They are drawn to certain people for whatever reason they are. They see in people for their souls and they adore you without requiring anything but a nice scratch and perhaps a carrot. Their’s  is a love that gives without regret.


Thanks to  Alistair Forbes for hosting!

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©Mandibelle16. All Rights Reserved.

Writing 101: Day 12 – Being Thankful and Shopping Sales.


Prompt: Critique something.   
I know that Black Friday is coming. Last year I avoided it, most of my Christmas shopping was done by that point. But from online shopping emails,  I noticed how great the deals were from both Canadian and American stores. I remember going to Banana Republic Canada’s website and seeing all clothes were 50% off. That hardly ever happens at Banana Republic! The best price you can get is 40 % off and that’s not often. In fact, it was odd to me that Canadian websites and stores were giving deals that were so good on Black Friday and they were better then the Canadian equivalent, Boxing Day deals. I like to shop, that’s not a lie. But I also have this part of conscience that is telling me that whether we are shopping crazily on Black Friday Week or Boxing Week, we are missing the point of the holidays these shopping marathons are based around.

The largest difference between Canadian and US Thanksgiving is when we hold our festivities. Canadians celebrate the second Monday in October and Americans the third weekend in November. But I know for both nations, it is a time for us to be thankful for all God has provided us with in our lives. For the plenty we have in our wants and needs. We remember so many do not have ‘plenty’ in other places in the world. We give thanks to be alive and for the relative peace we find living in our countries, especially when places so close to our hearts such as Paris, are attacked by terrorists. We eat large meals and see our family, whom we may not see all year. But to be specific, Wikipedia tells me, the first thanksgiving was celebrated in the US after the pilgrims first harvest in the New World in 1621. The feast lasted three days and in attendance were fifty three pilgrims and ninety Native Americans. In Canada, we simply celebrate the harvest and other blessings of the past year during our Thanksgiving celebration. But I wonder how such a time of thankfulness has become a shopping race, to find the best deals. To think of all we ‘want,’ instead of all we have. 

Every Black Friday or Cyber Monday we see Americans literally fighting over electronics and grabbing items from each other as if they were toddlers. People are pushy, loud, and not nice to each other. They think that if they act how they act, they’ll get all the items they want. It is all about “me” and “I” or “my family.” I have to say it is worse on Black Friday in the US, worse then it ever gets in Canada even though Black Friday is gaining force here. But I’m not sure deals will be as great this year with the fall of the Canadian dollar from near parity.

 What ever happened to being a decent person, sharing, and being thankful for what you have? You may get a great deal but at what immoral price? What are you teaching the younger generations when you gorge on food, say that everyone should be thankful, then push and shove in Victoria Secret over a bra, of which you have ten or more? Or, was it worth it to battle through bodies and buy a TV at a hundred dollars saving?

I know some of you Black Friday shoppers are kind. And that every person just wants nice things for their families or theirselves at a good price. Maybe you can only afford certain items on sale, so these shopping days are important. Things are pretty tame in Canada but there is always the exception. And it’s just my point of view, but I wonder how being thankful and all this merchandising, advertising, and worked up shoppers fit together.

 In Canada, we celebrate Boxing Day after Christmas. It’s origins lie in people boxing up their leftover food from Christmas meals for the poor. But instead, we shop with our gift cards and Christmas money for more of what we have, for stuff, instead of celebrating family and Jesus’ birth; instead of celebrating people being together. I just find it a bit difficult, putting Christmas and shopping hauls together. I still shop and I still celebrate with my family. But I try to remember that when I’m out buying merchandise there is a way to treat other shoppers with respect, not like they’re the competition. I remember that buying stuff is fun but only temporary. “You can’t take it with you when you go,” as the saying goes.Whether you can buy a lot of things or hardly afford any, in death we leave all our junk behind.  We need to remember that there  are people who can’t afford are grand celebrations at Thanksgivings and Christmas. We need to give money and our time to those in need. To give presents to kids whose parents can’t afford, or food to the family who can only go to the food bank.

 I think if we were more thankful we could see how it is for some people to have so little, while we have a lot. For some people a tiny gift or a helping hand is worth so much. Little things like God, family, good friends, and health should matter the most. Without them all the ‘things’ in the world are worthless. So, be happy if that is what you have and if your basic needs are met. Happy Thanksgiving Americans and start of the holiday season for many of us. May you be thankful and gentle when you shop and generous with your time and donations to those less fortunate. May you cherish the life you have because you’re a priceless person to many people you know and loved very much. 

  

Writing 201 – Found Poetry/Chaismus –  Saving Face 


(The following is taken from Facebook posts and my own words)

Hysatirical, I laughed out loud; this is what courage looks like, not this – face it. 

I was invigorated today as I seemed to fly over and down the mountain face, what a perfect time to stop and reflect on the gifts in my life.

Wearing the cosiest sweater, my pal Lemon stripes introduced me to it and I rub my skin softly against it, it whispers cashmere on my face. 

For safety’s sake, travel in pairs; when you’re stressed float awhile; it doesn’t make sense to hire smart people and tell them what to do; we hire smart people so they can tell us what to do (some face saving advice from Noah’s Ark and the late Steve Jobs!)

None of us is getting out of here alive, so please  stop treating yourself like an after thought; you are the beauty of your face and your face makes you beautiful; be silly, be kind, be weird. There’s no time for anything else.

I am stressing about saving face for absolutely no logical reason; the kids living in today’s world  will never know this struggle.

The weapons that make us super heroes, just when you thought you’d seen it all, you haven’t seen it all because we have to face facts — you can’t really have faced it all.

On Friday, the First Day of advanced pills, 850 000 people voted — that’s a 90 % increase from 2008; they did it so can you, show your face go out and vote!!

Some people create their own storms, we have too much to be thankful for; is your soap doing you more harm then good? Face every challenge with grace, grace will help you face every challenge. 

You felt he was better just because he gave you more. But he had two- hundred dollars, and all I had was ten. A river cuts through rock not because of it’s power but because of it’s persistence; when you go to face the world do not worry about how much power you have allotted be persistent and give generously.