I’ve never seen a flower like this before. So beautiful in its unfolding. Is it a chrysanthemum? A large white marigold? I’m waiting to be taught. It was very large, like a mum. Yay!! Within minutes, John Hric identified it as a dahlia. Thanks, John.
For Cee’s FOTD
Ode to the Las Vegas Buffet
After some poker and roulette and craps,
we return to our rooms for some well-deserved naps.
The gambler in me has been curbed at a cost.
One poker chip memento, and the rest has been lost.
As I sink into bed, worries float away,
heavenward-bound as I doze in the hay.
Tomorrow’s buffet—that iconic repast
will insure our regrets over losses won’t last.
We’ll pile our plates, then come back for more
until we pop out of the clothes that we wore.
We’ll recoup our losses, for the assets we left
we’ll take home again in our bodily heft!
Prompt words today are float, gambler, memento, repast, heavenward and iconic. Images by Aidan Howe and Kenny Eliason
Druthers
Exemplarily patient when dealing with cats
and rabbits and dogs and hamsters and rats,
trivial matters dealing with mankind
more often than not unsettled her mind.
People toyed with emotions and also, I fear,
were petty and often grossly insincere.
They closed off emotions or tried to be clever—
duplicitous acts that a cat or dog never
would dream to display, for they were what they were,
be it kitten or tiger or show dog or cur.
When out in public or behind a closed door,
pets are what they are and they are nothing more.
Be they lazy or edgy or tame or unruly,
it will be their true selves on view to yours truly.
People can be puzzling, but not so a pet,
What you see with an animal is what you get!
Prompt word today are toy, closed, trivial, exemplarily. Image of parakeet by Den Trushtin. All others by me.
I tried to resist this beautiful acrylic painting of a lotus by Mia Pratt at the ASA show at the Garden of Dreams in Ajijic, but it didn’t work. Now the problem is to find room enough to hang it. It is two or three feet high and needs some elbow room around it.
Want to see more of Mia’s work? HERE is her website.
For Cee’s FOTD
Purple Passions
These purple flowers, blooming in profusion,
create a sharp tang, and at first some confusion
until I remember that purple on lips
painted by numerous slurpings and sips
of grape-flavored Popcicles, iced Koolaid,
andgrape jelly sandwiches that my mom made.
Then they rekindle other metaphors
for long-ago youth: those much-slammed screen doors,
watermelon pickles and lemon ices,
as substitutions, nothing suffices.
Withdrawal from these childhood passions
created lusts for other things— fashions,
Jewelry, shoes and purses and joys
even more luscious, resulting in boys,
contradicting beliefs that naught else would suffice
for grape jelly sandwiches and lemon ice!!!
Thus may a color rekindle fond thoughts
and return us to passions we had as mere tots.
Prompt words today are purple, rekindle, metaphor, contradict, withdrawal, lemon ices.
This beautiful little tree has already filled in the space vacated by the Royal Poinciana I had to have removed. It isn’t very tall but spills out into the entire empty space left at the entrance of my house. Thanks, nature, for filling in the gaps. But, once again I need help. I planted this years ago but it has always been a bit smothered out by the other trees and I can’t for the life of me remember the name of it. Can anyone help? The flowers are 1/2 inch wide. Thanks to Nesfelico, Sam and Dennyho for identifying this little tree for me!
For Cee’s FOTD
Groupie
Pardon me if I point out that you’re so very very.
When you’re sad, disconsolate, ecstatic when you’re merry.
You put pizazz in all you do.Your humor is pervasive.
Week-by-week it’s passed along, most comically invasive.
Your life must read like fiction, it’s so novel and so varied.
I’d hop up on your bandwagon, but, alas, you’re married!!!!
Prompt words today are pizazz, week, pervasive, novel, fiction and very. Image by Simon Maennling @ Unsplash.
Kiddie Lit
Kids’ writers should not share advice or issue proclamations,
give retorts to news reports or deal with exclamations.
Pervasive thoughts that they promote should be more of the soul.
Promoting thoughts of mermaids should rather be their goal.
Reality will find us no matter where we look,
in news stands or on Twitter or in every printed book.
It’s fantasy that needs support in this day and age
when bad news is what we get on every written page.
Early on, a kid is taught to exercise and hustle,
but it’s equally important to develop other muscle.
A brain needs exercising, too, and after its gestation
is best served by means of an active imagination.
Prompts today are mermaid, writer, pervasive, retort, advice and proclamation.
It all started with the shadow of my watch. For some reason, it intrigued me, but I didn’t think I’d ever find a place to use it. Next came Cee’s CFFC prompt and “Zing!” Had to add some companions as well, however. Thanks, Cee.
lifelessons - a blog by Judy Dykstra-Brown 