2010 Ensues

2010 Happy New Year by ~phoenix-karenee on deviantART

another number
changing years
a new fold
in the garment of time
as it drapes the edge
of eternity
slowly slipping
to the floor

Shaped

Touch the luminescent burn of patience
with cold fingers.
Pain.
Conform within long-tended bands of flowing flame
a slow-warmed bow
again.
With sudden cooling or blast of heat,
concussion and stretch
grow.
Grated against rough, then smooth,
through tactile time.
Know.

Taste

Snowflakes
delicate and intricate
pattern themselves within
a chill blanket
sinking slowly into the earth
to pool against tendrils of deep-grown root.

Branches bare and stark against glazed skies
sleep in worship
raised up toward the heavens
in silent wonder
while a stalactite of captured sunlight
glistens with the secret promise of its nature.

Dreaming together of the coming warmth
to join harmoniously
in joyful song
and drip, drip
upon blooming faces
who open parched lips and taste.

---

Writing prompt -->

A Christmas Card - to you

Poinsettia Flies by ~phoenix-karenee on deviantART

---

Have you ever seen a poinsettia tree?
They grow tall and blossom beautifully.
I didn't know, when I was young,
that they were part of Christmas tradition.
I walked beneath their branches and plucked petals without a thought.



And now, I admire the structure of their design, and think about the Creator who made it all possible. Not everyone knows poinsettias can grow tall as trees, since they're seen only in small Christmas displays in most homes.

What of the fulfilled promise that flows through time, which we too often celebrate only for a season? Christ our Redeemer isn't merely for Christmas, and he's far larger than a baby now.

Have a merry Christmas!

Christmas Attack

This time,
Christmas crept along the sloping floor
and tiptoed through the gaping door
to tangle tendrils of my hair
through long-branched thoughts of, I don't care,
then caught me up, quite by surprise,
to thrust me out before sunrise.
So out the window, to the snow,
I tumbled through reflective glow
and clashed my head against a tree ...
where at last it dawned on me,
though decorations grate with shine,
beneath it all still lives good pine.
Time's story reaches through the glare
to remind that Christ is there.
This truth is worth a merry smile,
I cared for Christmas, all the while!

---

Well, I actually do appreciate decorations and lights, but it's rather depressing to be thrust into the cultural rush and expectations.

Being Is - The Art of Philosophy

?
choose
to factor in
the  drivel  of
minds unbending

beyond the norm of speculation

straight and spear-like in direction

distracting from their essence, like a pending

change in being toward opposing forces of equal strength

forward, onward ... always moving at new angles, unexpected

and often contrary to all that is said to be known as they delve

into deeper caverns of all that is to anchor cornerstone thoughts

upon the shadows of substance they deem strongest and

look out on the perimeter from within

the passage, close around their

intent perspective

focused upon

that which

couldn't

be
.

and

actually

it truly is

so all their effort

found the roots of meaning

for a tree that never grew upon

the rich-tilled fields where all that exists

simply pours into open eyes, a clear scene painted

upon the flexing screen of time as the strands stream and tangle in

a pattern broader than existence, like an ocean
shattering minds unbending

i

n

t

o

f l o w i n g  s a n d

---

Stream of consciousness, too late at night, waiting for the laundry to dry. We'll see if there's sense in here in the morning. (Lightly edited in the clear light of day to remove distracting repetition and strengthen the alignment of the layout.)

Travel

There is an art to being in a car for many hours
Sitting still for so long must take super-human powers
But I know it can be done
And it even can be fun
If you laugh through the passing scenery and neon signs;
If you capture new beauty all the time.

---

I was gone for the weekend ... resulting in the above travel poem based on the rhythm of a popular Christmas carol. Can you tell which one?

This week will likely be a little sparse in the posting arena due to celebrations beyond my control, but efforts will be made to maintain a steady habit of posting into and throughout the new year. Thank you to those of you who attend my blog and even comment from time to time. I consider it a valuable gift!

(Stay tuned for the official "posting of the Christmas card, from me, to you" sometime this week, the beginning of a tradition which I hope will continue for many years.)

Testing? Testing! 1...2....3....

Testing? Testing! One, two, three...
A diagnosis you must see.
Give us some blood,
Just a glimpse,
And finance us.
(We don't give hints.)
We can read your history.
Testing? Testing! One... Two... Three.

---

I just found out that, if I hadn't had insurance, the genetic testing I just went through this summer would have cost me $16,000. Let's just say if my insurance wasn't this good I wouldn't have gotten the test.

HMSN* sounds like a ship, but actually it's a new label stuck to my forehead for the edification of all those who like initials to summarize long lists of whiny symptoms.

*Hereditary Motor Sensory Neuropathy

Amazing Artist - Hanasu

Hanna is amazing at illustration. I love so much of her work that there's really no way to post it all here, so you'll have to stop by her gallery for full visual inspiration.

Have you ever thought of what it would be like to dig to the other side of the world?

Hole to China by =Hanasu on deviantART

Have you had morning tea in the woods?

Tea Time by =Hanasu on deviantART

She can build websites,... or even paint portraits, like the one posted below. If you ask whether she can fly through the air or see through furniture, she won't admit to it, but for any other questions you can visit Hanna-Sandvig.com! Isn't she amazing?


Comm - Katie by =Hanasu on deviantART

Reflecting to the Blind

Inspired by "When I met you I was blind" by Rachel. Do stop by and read what she wrote. It's lovely!

I found an orbit and traced a path
through the dark side of shadow,
touching emptiness
with every thought ...
till you wandered through my path,
gleaming,
and for the first time,
I saw light.

I found vision near you
yet you wandered away
erratic,
unstable
in all your ways,
unaffected by my existance.
I was always pulled by your gravity
toward light and hope and dreams.

I found change through the irregular tug,
my orbit adjusted by every
glimpse of your powerful presence,
until, eventually, my path followed yours.
Too far ahead of me
to ever catch up, yet
I thrust away emptiness
to pursue your light.

I found new blindness today
in blazing revelation
that took away darkness from my eyes,
and I lost sight of you
as I stepped from the shadow
and found myself shining as you had done
in unexpected reflection of the force
of the sun.

I would find you, still,
and pursue your way
to thank you
for leading me into the light,
bright beacon of more
than I knew existed
when I was blind
on the dark side of shadow.

Adam and Eve Forever

What did you think as you reached
tentative fingers?
decisive grasp?
to touch the fruit dangling so temptingly upon the branch
that you just said you shouldn't touch

Did you feel the presence of a negative
do not!
wrong choice!
in the back of your soul as you inquired of your heart
what you would choose to do

Did you notice when that voice vanished
empty ...
vacant ...
as your teeth touched the decision
your heart had made

Knowledge you sought, to make your own choices
right?
wrong?
and you discovered what it was to no longer refer
to a source of wisdom outside yourself

In essence, burning the library you had not yet read
the manual!
the insight!
in favor of writing your own pitiful volumes
and stocking the shelves with childish scribbles

---

Yet still there remains a promise
eternal.
unchanging.
that your decision can be revoked for those
whose access to knowledge you also destroyed

And the knowledge of the Creator will
someday.
forever!
permeate the world and our lives once again
changing more than we could imagine

For now we have a tendril of connection
Christ-Redeemer.
Wise Counselor.
and it wasn't the library that burnt
but the steps of humble acknowledgment that led to the door

Creative People Feature

Caleb Foster finds beauty through the lens of his camera and isn't afraid to have some fun in the processing.

She can build websites or even paint portraits, but if you ask whether she can fly through the air or see through furniture, she won't admit to it. To see the whimsical art of this excellent illustrator, visit Hanna-Sandvig.com!

Maylar lives art, writes poetry, and illustrates for publishers. Her drawings and writing are thoughtful and full of interesting perspectives. She also makes incredible, miniature books, with real pages and binding, which you can view or even purchase at her etsy shop.

Brian is a poet and philosopher who will challenge your view on life and make you think as he examines the choices and emotions we encounter as this busy world rushes through us.

Kathleen is a poet and a treasure of a friend. I recommend visiting her blog Almost Paradisical to enjoy the playful interaction that never fails to have a depth of reality and truth that nourishes the soul.

In a world where transparency is too often cast aside for the safety of false impressions and veneered masks, Kelly Langner Sauer writes every day faith reflecting the Christ who lives in us on both the good days and the bad. Her lifestyle photography is so gentle and beautiful that you may end up traveling just to purchase her skill.




Nancy is a photographer and a poet with a kind heart to match the lovely words she shapes in poems and prayers.

Encouragement, insight, and poetry make up Glynn's blog, Faith, Fiction, Friends. I recommend you stop by and see what new thought has inspired him recently.

True/False - List Poem

(Idea from Harriet - a blog from the poetry foundation)

1. Imitation is sincere.
2. Life begins before you think.
3. Perspective knows how to change your mind.
4. Effective thought is provoked by looking past the obvious.
5. Evidence comes with implications.
6. Original comes from an originator.
7. Obvious answers can lie.
8. This is blank.
9. You knew.

---

Hmmm... perhaps I don't like lists, but this doesn't feel like poetry. Oh, well...

Experience

Captivating moment,
anchored in life,
When I reach out to touch,
you vanish into vapor
leaving only the memory
of your scent
your flavor
and a lingering joy
that
you
existed.

Govern Meant

This ... thing ... makes a certain amount of sense if you sound it out right ... then there are all the other ways to read it.

---

All though
Den tall ye old
In vest or all most lee gall....
Some how ever lasting
Over sight
Deem and sub or din ate
Ed you Kate Ed
Gate or,
Sharp end
Grim mass sieve or.
Forth with in vest!
There for in vert
For wren dead,
To pay men tall.

---

So, what do you think this means?

Two Thousand Answers

Two thousand answers
To questions I didn't ask

Reveal what was never hidden
Before my eyes

Delusions of disillusion

A virtual extravaganza

of lies.

I sold my first card!

Right, so I made a total of $.56...

But, I sold a card! This is my first sale of artwork, ever. My toe has touched the edge of the ocean, and now I plan to figure out whether I'm going to swim to the other side or catch a boat.

So, celebrate with me, if you would, because those of you who are here, now, are the ones whom I will credit as being my support and strength once the ocean surrounds my swimming form (or better yet, my boat, since Phoenixes have issues with large amounts of water. It has something to do with asthma ... or quenching flames ... or something.)

Of course, you want to see what card I sold, right? Hang on, I just happen to have a link right here!

Chill Season

I felt the change,
cool air pressing on
barometric pressure gauge
of skin and bone.
Darkness closing
narrow sunlight
beam defined
by shadow's tone.
Day and night
pause the elements
as they rule the world
one blade of grass at a time.
Just take the pleasure
of touching light
caught within a flake
of intricate design.

Fractal Dream

This sphere, a world of gems
that soar on wings of light
to touch the stars
with mirror hope
and flare against the night.

---

Above poem inspired by the fractal below.
Please go through the artist's gallery if you have the time. He has designed many amazing images.


Anomalous CCIII by =montag451 on deviantART

Hope

Dreamer,
building fragile castles in the clouds,...
why you don't crash to the earth
I'll never know.
Perhaps it is simply because
you are made of moonlight
and rainbows.
Even when you do touch the ground
it somehow becomes
a blessing.

---

I want to tear the imagery of this one apart a bit, if you'll forgive me. If you don't want to hear why I wrote it this way, feel free to run, now, before I spoil it for you.

1. Both moonlight and rainbows do "crash into the ground". They are created through the reflection and refraction of light, and are never their own source of beauty.

2. Rainbows need a lot of input to exist. Clouds, rain, sunlight,... all part of a cycle that permeates the flow of the seasons and pours through the life of the world. We often complain about many of the things that are a part of the rainbow.

3. The cool glow of the moon is a reminder of the sun. Unlike rainbows, it is a dim reflection of the light, only visible because of the deep darkness that covers the world when it turns it face away from the sun. Moonlight can easily be obstructed when the earth comes between it and the sun.

4. Dreamers are often just people who look to the Light no matter their circumstances. They are probably more damaged by all they encounter than you know. The reason you see a rainbow, or the cool light of the moon shining within their lives is because God is a healing God, and he has promised to redeem even suffering and darkness in the lives of those who focus on serving him.

Right. So that's the starting point of my thoughts. Feel free to talk with me about what you see. I love learning how poetic imagery affects others.

When I See You

I see the strength in your style
the life that pours through while
you stretch your hands and touch the world
a beacon-flag unfurled.
This is what I admire in you
a part, a portion, it is true
yet it extends more every day
through all you do and say.
A fault? A flaw? Do not deceive.
Yes, those portions I perceive.
They only help to show you live.
Transparency has much to give.
The path you walk now as you grow,
stubborn passions we all know,
a past survived to be redeemed,
eyes that know more than it seems,
all this and more is part of who
I accept and see in you.
And against a jealous flare
I cling to joy that you are there.
Without you I would still be blind
to so much that I might find
and still remain dependent on
"What if?"
"What was,"
and
"That went wrong!"

Not Sleeping

It was for a story,
not involuntary rejection of sleep,
and I couldn't have put it down
without somehow tearing out my heart and
letting it beat beside me through the darkness
bleeding with waiting for the answers
to the questions I ask for myself.
But this time
there was an ending to reach
and I wouldn't wait
because I've been waiting through my own story
for so long.
It was a story of love forcibly separated
on twining paths of suffering
where the peaceful goal was the same
yet the hearts shattered against one another
then still beat as one,
while interrupted by a demanding half-love
tearing the two apart for selfish goals.
There was understanding
forgiveness and compassion
in the midst of the fury.
And the battle never ended.
She simply became strong
and loved more than before
accepting the path she had walked.
And I realized
through tears
that I knew the answers all along.
It was worth it ...
not sleeping.

---

Err... for clarification's sake. The story of separated lovers is not the point, but the frame. I appreciated the way the author handled suffering, unconditional love, and forgiveness in the face of betrayal.

 ---

The story? Err... It's a comic, actually. I'd rate it PG13+ visually and for mature teens or adults thematically, full of politics, war, etc.  "Legend of Nereid" by Hwang Mi Ri This author has a good understanding of the interactions between people, but all of the relationships are complex and have severe problems. Don't read if you don't want to see sinful relationships set out in a positive manner.

The Year of Dented Rooftops

It all started with the peanut butter and jelly sandwich Josh made for a pre-work snack. After eating half, he left it on a plate on the table. "For the Headless Horseman!" he said, but we all knew he planned to finish it for breakfast, despite the inevitable stale, dry exterior and gooey interior. We had long ago decided it was his mission in life to make our guts quiver in ways reminiscent of viruses and too much gaming at grandma's house.

When the telephone rang at midnight, we already knew who was on the line. Old Grumps hadn't missed a year yet in his general revelation of goodwill to mankind, and Josh was always the first one he'd call after the spirits left him. Josh was useful that way, looking up the markets that would be open early on Christmas morning so Grumps could charge off to buy the goose and be the hero.

Josh didn't seem to mind. These nights were his favorites of the year, full of frantic calls from various regulars. A certain forgetful reindeer who never remembered to order the specialty bulbs for his nose-piece in time would beg for the home phone numbers of local suppliers; the old Red-Coat, himself, would frequently stop by for a dose of something stronger than the children's manual prescribes, and enjoy a bit of a break while listening to Josh's mimicry of his various clients. Josh depended on us for top-level assistance at these times, and due to his expert maintenance we were up for the job.

But this particular year, he had set out the sandwich. He might have thought of the possible consequences, given enough time.... Ducked over our screens, answering the long list of last-minute requests and panicked pleas for aide, he didn't notice. Even Josh is forgetful sometimes; that's why we're around. But the sight of that sandwich would make anyone squeamish, and we had mutually agreed not to pan in that direction till after morning breakfast, due to the high demand Josh was putting on our systems.

So, when the power went out, we were all caught off-guard. Josh's frustrated yelp was something to be heard, though we only caught the end of it as our backup power came online. In the pale glow of our screens, the culprit could clearly be seen, smacking his lips in satisfaction.

Everyone knows that the Spring Rabbit loves PB&J; it's common knowledge. But his addiction to gnawing wires for a jolt of electricity is less well known. It was our misfortune to have offered a beacon to that bored, benighted bunny on the one night of the year we could least afford his mischief.

Josh spent several hours rewiring our power, but the ultimate ignominy was watching old Red-Coat roll with laughter when he arrived on the scene. Josh didn't have time to relax; valued clients were on the line and he was further behind than he'd ever been in the last seven hundred years or so. While he was distracted, Red-Coat took opportunity to make off with several of Josh's best bottles; and thus that year became known world-wide as "The Year of Dented Rooftops".

---

And, a snip of poetry just because...

'Twas an industrious evening, when nearing the house, a creature was stirring, but it wasn't a mouse. The screens were lit up while Josh researched with care, not knowing the Spring Bunny soon would be there. When out of the office there arose such a clatter, that one third of the world would hear of the matter, for the bunny had eaten a sandwich out there, then gnawed, for dessert, the wires to our lair. But he ran off, startled, when Josh rose with a yell, leaving chaos ... along with a clear, metal smell.

---

The official writing prompt for this was, "Holiday Disasters" at Forward Motion.

---

My ultimate goal was random insertion of the unexpected. My rabbit does chew live electrical wires for some reason. Josh is generic because then it could be anyone.... *grin* 'Twas fun...