America Murdered

I know I've been MIA here for quite a while. Actually, the writer has been MIA period. I feel a twinge now and then, but nothing serious until a few weeks ago when I was truly inspired.

I have the honor of facilitating writing workshops with some phenomenal people in Chicago - the Writers of the Journal of Ordinary Thought (JOT). We just finished a partnership with Chicago Public Library's One Book One Chicago based on their 2013-14 selection "The Warmth of Other Suns: The Epic Story of America's Great Migration" by Isabel Wilkerson. If you haven't read this, you should. It's not only educational, which is very important any time, but particularly, in these times, it's also entertaining.

In my two workshops, we created word-wheels from the word "migration" as a prompt exercise, then I created wordles from the word-wheels. Another exercise was to then pull words and phrases from these word-wheels to create a piece of work. This is where the inspiration came in for me. Below is what I gleamed from their thoughts and words. Stay tuned for their complete works in the next issue of JOT.


America Murdered

This pen writes words from anothers’ life,

from a home-story about a group dream.

Where women left the comfort of a mother-corner,

the sharing of recipes and food,

child-rearing, and white-one fearing.

Left to where black thought behind black eyes

wasn’t a crime, to where blacks could age

without being white-owned, somehow.

The group dream became one of father-building

window-children, peering and peeking.

And, when mother called, they found America murdered,

when all they ever really wanted was a just home. 

Showers and Flowers

Front porch or back porch,
         after a shower,
it's not the fault of bees
         that you smell like a flower.

Where the Hell Have I Been?

Since this blog is primarily my fiction and poetry, see here if you really care to find out just where the hell I've been for the past 7 months. 

Lazy Little Bitch

Trifecta Week Sixty:
Idle: 3: a: shiftless, lazy
           b: having no evident lawful means of support

I was a bit intimidated by this prompt. I don't know why. Possibly is was because I was so energetically creative that I was afraid of "idle" being anywhere in the atmosphere. Ah, the best laid plans...

The pajamas remain, daytime TV tuned in

Chips and soda, brownies and cigarettes

Animals curled ‘round about in solidarity

Sunlight glares through crystallized windows

Vitamin D blossoms useless yet welcome

The joyful execution of unexpected inspiration

Satiated to overflowing and now requires rest

Senses to settle and gather to burst forth again

Creatively drained, artistically hung-over

Or, viewed from outside, shiftless idleness

Yes, that’s one lazy little bitch

Love Eludes me

Again, inspired by Jem's poetry at A Poem A Day - "Good Morning Love"

Love poetry eludes me

As does the thing itself

Yet, as with feathered hope

Still, it serenades quietly

Majestic Silence

Inspired by my friend Jem's "A Winter's Night," this is a an image prompt. I saw this image somewhere on Facebook, and it took my breath away. 

Pure majestic license

Commanding silence

Life Is In the Embers

The Trifecta weekend challenge is 33 words for (of) "a new beginning." This is a recycled piece for the prompt.

"Gleaming Embers' by Hameed

This day is done

A thin pink vein

On the horizon

It descends behind

Treetops devour

Images in a mind

Flames lick the timber

Moments’ ashes remain

Life begins again in the ember

A Hades Day

So, yesterday I had the pleasure of reading this delightful poem, Aspects of Winter, on a Facebook friends' blog. It was created by choosing five things that signify winter without using weather. It inspired me, so I put out a Facebook call for words. It was by far the most commented on post I've had in a while. 

In case there is a need, I've included an explanation of the title from Wikipedia:

In Greek mythology, Hades kidnapped Persephone to be his wife. Zeus ordered Hades to return her to Demeter, the goddess of the Earth and her mother. However, Hades tricked Persephone into eating the food of the dead, so Zeus decreed that Persephone would spend six months with Demeter and six months with Hades. During the time her daughter is with Hades, Demeter became depressed and caused winter. 

Photography by Jim Denham

Cocoa steam puffs from the cocoon of a down comforter

Diffusing the shortened aurorean Mie scatter

Cardinal crimson flashes against the pure whiteness

Spirits' gifted remedy for the lingering darkness

The joys of abbreviated days and extended nights

Visions of sugar plums and mountainsob fights

Cocoa traded for hot mulled wine

Fireplace glows warm and all is fine

Tomorrow is Another Day

Ah, my writing prompts seem to have me hearing the voices loud and clear lately. This is for Trifecta.

INTENTION (noun)
3a : what one intends to do or bring about   b : the object for which a prayer, mass, or pious act is offered 
This week's word is intention.  33-333 words worth of "intention."

“What I intended to do today…” she said.

“Was a far cry from what was done, I’m sure,” she replied.

Her hand shot up habitually to run through hair that hung over guilty eyes. “There’s just so much, ya know? Work, cleaning, weatherproofing this drafty old house, exercising the dog. Hell, exercising me that wasn’t done either. I’m still not even unpacked and I’ve been here four months.”

There was no reply from the other, only a shake of the head, a shrug of the shoulders, and a dismissing wave of a hand. Yet, she knew the truth. Things, the things that were intended for today and now for tomorrow, they wouldn’t be done then either. Something else will come up, other things will get done, and there will be more excuses. There are always excuses because procrastination and intention dance arm in arm down the dusty road to nowhere, and she skipped right along with them.

She flipped the light switch and silenced the reflection – for now. After all, tomorrow is another day.

Still Running Against the Wind

I've found yet another writing site with prompts that I'm thinking I'm going to like. Velvet Verbosity 100 Word Challenge. This weeks prompt word is dust.

They are whispers, 

whispers of love, hope, betrayal, and dreams

The voices of millions 

in seemingly harmful particles,

particles that many wipe, wash, wisk, 

and wish away.

They visit me, and they visit you as well.

Have you heard them?

I’ve heard them as they float 

through the bedroom.

They are there and they are real, 

they remind me

that while I may still be 

running against the wind,

I, like them, am still nothing more 

than dust in the wind,

traveling miles to touch those who will feel.

They whisper this with love, hope, and betrayal in my daydreams.

2013 Writing Goals

Writing goals? Hmm.

On January 1^st I wrote about not making resolutions rather continuing what has worked, letting go of what hasn’t, and things I’d like to do more of in the New Year. Goal setting was on none of those lists; however, after reading Sophie Novak’s article on The Write Practice blog, I think goal setting should be added, particularly writing goals.

Her suggestions include:

1. Making a plan
2. Collecting my notes
3. Starting new habits
4. Experimenting
5. Prioritizing 

I’m not a “plan maker,” and it strikes me too much as “making resolutions,” so that one is out – for me, for now.

“Collecting notes” has come up quite a bit lately. There is a Facebook post circulating about jotting down every good thing that happens and saving those slips of paper in a jar to be read and remembered at the end of the year. Sophie’s suggestion is to gather all the idea’s we writers have been jotting down everywhere into an “idea box.” This one I think is a keeper. I’ll be “creating” my idea box today, which leads me right into “starting new habits.” Perfect! I’ve got two down.

I’m going to skip “experimenting” for now although both the idea box and starting new habits may be considered experiments for me.

“Prioritizing” is something that I’ve been working on and a promise that I’ve made to myself. Blogging daily is the priority and so far, so good.

So, my writing goals for 2013 are shaping up to look something like this (in no particular order):

• Blog daily, either on ravings of dk or dk’sright to write
• Start an idea box
• Join some writing groups, first on the list is Kenosha Writer’s Guild 

There are other things on the back burners that have been simmering for awhile – my novel, my Georgia trip memoir (see 2011 and 2012 posts on both "ravings" and "write"), the poetry manuscript that may be scorched it’s been there so long, and of course, submitting. My hope is that as I work on the goals set, the others will fall into place more easily. At least, that’s the “plan” that I haven’t made.

So, all my fellow writer’s out there, what are your 2013 writing goals? I’d love to read them – and maybe steal them. :)

  

Earth

Working on the Trifecta weekend challenge which was to create a 33 word piece about the crust, mantle, and core of earth, interpreted in whatever manner. You can read my entry here. The first piece that almost wrote itself was far more than 33 words, and since I'm striving to write more in 2013, I certainly don't want to discard inspiration. 

Image courtesy of Danilo Rizzuti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Round and round she goes

The sun above, the sun below

The mighty ball of many layers

Brimming with eternity’s players

They trample through the fertile crust

Drill the mantle thrust by thrust

When the core erupts in righteous anger

They’ll deny they knew the danger

Round and round she goes

The sun above, the sun below

Such a wonder of majestic glory

Deemed merely as man’s personal quarry

Simmering

The Trifecta weekend challenge: As you'll recall from your elementary science class days, the structure of the earth can be divided most simply into three sections: core, mantle, crust. Interpret the prompt however you wish - literal, metaphorical, or somewhere in between., in only 33 words. 

Art by Brenden Sanborn

She’s a crusty old curmudgeon

Snuggled deep within her satin mantle.

Someday someone will come along

To ignite the burning embers smoldering in her core

‘Til then she simmers beneath the many layers

Imperfect Haiku

Keeping up with my promise to continue writing in 2013, hopefully doing more than in 2012, I am trying to jump on any inspiring prompt I see. 

On January 1st, the Neighborhood Writing Alliance posted a challenge on their Facebook page: write and share a haiku or other short poem on a piece in today's news. 

Here is my imperfect haiku:

Violence Against Women
Is fine in America
Happy 113th Congress

In reference to:

House GOP Lets Violence Against Women ct Passed By Senate Die Without A Vote

Happy New Year - 2013

Happy 2013

It’s 7:20am, and I’m sitting in bed with Mello snoring at my feet, Lola purring beside my head, and Rocky pacing across my torso, mad that he hasn’t been fed yet. So far, this year feels a lot like last year. Doesn’t it always? Even if you are resolution list maker, nothing really changes this first day. Of course, 2013 is slightly different thanks to the U.S. Congressional world. Things did change dramatically for some at the stroke of midnight. For us everyday joe’s, we are waking to the same old same old, albeit some with a sluggish knock in the head.

Personally, I quit making resolutions a long time ago – the last time I signed that exorbitant gym contract that was lost in mid-January. Now, I like to think about what worked in the previous year and what didn’t, things I want to continue doing in the new year. Realistically, if you keep doing the things that work, the things that don’t will automatically drop by the way side. Focus on the positive and the negative has no room.

In 2013, I want to continue learning about myself because that has brought me the biggest rewards. I want to keep growing spiritually and continue this wonderful habit of feeling great in my own skin – whatever that skin happens to look like at any given moment. Getting health and finances in order seems to always top the list, and since I’d already started that in 2012, it’s a keeper.

I plan to keep writing, adding more daily, and since it’s the first thing I’m doing on January 1, 2013, looks like that’s working. A steaming cup of joe with a dribble of eggnog, pen and paper, and it’s all off to a good start.

There are things I’d like to do more of:

• More leash time for Mello (and me)
• But since it’s 8 degrees outside, that’s not gonna happen now – reality
• More smiles
• More contact with friends
• Again, since I’m not a phone person, that’ll have to wait as well
• More new places and people
• See above

So, you see how the first day of 2013 is no different at all from the last day of 2012. It never really is. It is however, significantly different from the first day of 2012, and that is what is important. The year as a whole, one moment at a time.

As I refill the coffee mug and dribble a bit more eggnog into it, I wish you all a very happy 2013 filled with 525, 949 glorious moments. 

Seasons Greetings

To all the world who didn't receive my Holiday card

Extended Life Span Zombies - Trifextra

Credit: Zora Neale Hurston

“Tell them. They need to know, Zora. Tell them. This is what Extended Life Spans look like. Stop with the bean sprouts and garbanzo bean soufflé’s already. Eat some red meat, dammit. ”

Weekend Trifextra: 

We want thirty three words that are somehow related to Hurston's zombie sighting.  How you structure your response is entirely up to you.

This weekend's challenge is community-judged.

• For the 12 hours following the close of the challenge, voting will be enabled on links.  
• In order to vote, return to this post where stars will appear next to each link.  To vote, simply click the star that corresponds with your favorite post.
• You can vote for your top three favorite posts.
• Voting is open to everyone. Encourage your friends to vote for you, if you wish, but please don't tell them to vote on a number.  The numbering of the posts changes regularly, as authors have the ability to delete their own links at any time.
• You have 12 hours to vote.  It's not much time, so be diligent! We'll send out reminders on Twitter and Facebook.

Nothing Was Always Something

It was nothing. “Nothing there,” they said, “nothing at all.” Nothing was something. Always was.

She stood in the sinister mountain mist while silence hung on the trees. The coffee in her cup had chilled and the dampness draped her cotton nightdress so that it clung to her iced body. The dog whimpered at her feet and the cats climbed the screen door desperately seeking shelter.

How long had she stood on the rickety porch? How long since the last crunch of leaves echoed? It could be a deer, a bear, a tiny squirrel but they'd not been seen in these parts for years. Not even crows dwelled in this wasted land. Bad energy, she’d said when she moved there in the spring. Yet, she’d stayed hoping to bring life back, somehow. Now, the corn hung black and the tomatoes withered on the vine. The skeletal limbs of the trees creaked and groaned with hopelessness under the vicious winds.

Finally, it was her teeth chattering that stirred her. She slowly turned and opened the door. The animals rushed, knocking her back, and disappeared under beds and in closets. The fire was mere embers now suggesting she’d been peering into the gray for hour’s maybe. Wrapping the Indian blanket around her shivering shoulders, she poured the freezing coffee down the drain and refreshed it with the steaming. She crouched before the hearth and scratched at the embers until they caught the new log and spit flames. Then, she heard it again. The crunch, the scrape, the deep sighs beyond the garden. She sat back on her haunches and listened, waiting.

It was nothing, nothing at all. Only, she knew, nothing was always something.    

This week's Trifecta Challenge:

This week's word is:

SINISTER

1 archaic : unfavorable, unlucky
2 archaic : fraudulent
3: singularly evil or productive of evil

Please remember:

• Your response must be between 33 and 333 words.

• You must use the 3rd definition of the given word in your post.

• The word itself needs to be included in your response.

• You may not use a variation of the word; it needs to be exactly as stated above. 

• Only one entry per writer.

Wishing Stars - Trifecta

Wishing Stars

Hung tantalizingly from the wishing stars

Love, Happiness, Riches

Choose wisely, for all leave scars

One is rarely accompanied by the other

For certain rules apply

You are prohibited in trading for another  

The weekend challenge from Trifecta.  The Monkey's Paw, a short story by W.W. Jacobs, is about the strings that come with granted wishes.  We are asking you to write 33 words exactly about three wishes that come at a high price to the wisher.

Close The Book - Trifecta

This weeks Trifecta Challenge the third definition, which, in this case, is fairly specific.

BLACK

3: dressed in black

Close The Book

Satin and lace splinters the air

a toreador’s cape, a suicidal Paso Doble,

dancing with the unseen,

alone on the hilltop – fearless and free.

Dressed in black, she closed the book.