I love this. I always tell people that poetry is like abstract art. Yes, the creator had a specific idea. But you, the reader, ultimately decide what it means or to you, how and whether it speaks to you.
I once had a pastor who said that he absolutely hated all poetry. But he was a musician who enjoyed lyrics. And as a pastor, he enjoyed reading Psalms in the Bible. I reminded him that they were both forms of poetry.
What a bizarre most ma way to get out of something you hate to do.
Most malls have approved entertainment and schedules for that entertainment. It's a wonder that eventually they didn't have the police take him to the hospital for an evaluation.
I wonder how his family would feel knowing the truth.
You appear to be good at writing flash fiction. This contest entry is no exception. I enjoyed reading it.
I can imagine being the children able to pull off such an event. And I can imagine the embarrassment of the mom for not having a pristine home for the surprise.
If this truly is a personal experience, as one who experienced similar issues many long years ago, I would offer some advice. If you are always thinking about someone, let him know.
I'll never forget the first time that I attended our high school reunion. I learned about 2 fellows who would have loved to ask me on a date. How sad to discover that over 20 years later.
It's always interesting when someone can communicate what they want in life. You did that well in your poem.
Grandma said that it was important to learn something new every day. I'm not embarrassed to say that I had to look up one word that you used. But you also used two words that are horribly overused - physicality and positivity.
Thanks for sharing. I hope that the dreams that you have for life are achievable for you.
Wow. That was difficult to read as someone who has COPD and uses an inhaler, and as a woman who had a massive heart attack and the only symptom was not being able to breathe.
I can visualize teenagers bullying a kid that way too. It could happen.
As I was reading, I came across something that I was going to point out to you, but I couldn't find it later. It must not have been important.
I'm glad that you included the best, the only, real definition of love from the love chapter in the Bible, 1 Corinthians 13. When I run across people who are struggling in their relationships, I point them there. If the person you think loves you treats you badly, it isn't love.
But the writer of this letter isn't there yet. She is, however, doing exactly the right thing by expecting her relationship to match what the Bible instructs. No one should settle for less.
As always, you have provided some interesting word choices, making the reader ponder. As you penned these words, you had no way of knowing that soon the idea of wearing a mask would not mean just hiding one's self, but also physically protecting against disease.
Your last verse really resonated:
Maggot moments, the slimy times
when truth is twisted
to fit personal adjendas;
fool no one for long
except, perhaps, others living
in twisted mindsets:
who hear and see
only what they want to -
ignoring the reality,
covering up
the cannot be
What a great story about the perfect 80s outfit. I laughed as I read that her excitement "zinged when she rested her hand on the houndstooth rayon shorts".
I also realized that I didn't know what was "in" in the 80s. I was a regional sales director for a Christmas company. I was too busy wearing red or green suits and shoes.
This truly made me sad. You are definitely enough. Long ago, a wise woman told me that God didn't make any junk. We are all enough. Sometimes we just haven't found the proper niche where we are not only enough, but perfect and much, much more.
What a beautiful prayer of Thanksgiving for your mother. It made me tear up, thinking about my own mother and how much I miss her.
It's important that we thank God for all of our blessings, especially the wonderful people he placed in our lives. It's also important that we remember to tell them how special they are.
That's a good story with a great advertising idea.
I've always thought that it was a shame that more companies don't follow the brainstorming idea like advertising companies have.
I love that the youngest provided this idea. In the real world, often the young team members are not included in meetings and their bosses take credit for their ideas.
You actually have had some adventures in Haiku. How cool. My only adventures in teaching about poetry was in a few assisted living centers long before I was of the age to live among them. I spoke to them about free verse, we wrote one as a class together, then they wrote their own.
Your essay was quite educational and will definitely be helpful to anyone wanting to write Haiku poems.
Ken, this is beautiful. ( You did say that even praise would be welcome.)
As I read it aloud (remember, I always read poetry and lyrics aloud) I could imagine some clapping and foot stomping going on with this one.
I want to be singing this chorus:
I'm thankful that my Momma's voice
is with me every day.
I hear her words of wisdom as
I kneel each night to pray.
"Do your best, love this land,
don't be afraid to take a stand,
and when you can, lend a hand -
help someone along the way."
I have to admit that I thought about my own mom and grandma as I read this.
This is a beautiful story. I love stories about families sharing of themselves.
We had a pastor whose family spent Thanksgiving and Christmas at the local soup kitchen. They ate there every year and that was their holiday experience.
My mom used to give gifts to unappreciated people, like the janitor who kept having to unclog the toilet in the store where they both worked. Or the crossing guard the farthest from the school who probably only helped a handful of people every day but who faithfully stood at that corner, rain or shine, for 2 hours every morning and 2 hours every afternoon.
I enjoyed reading your work of heart. In some places the word choices almost made me giddy.
Like:
...we’d scatter like dandelion fluff in the breeze
I love that!
Thanks for sharing.
Blessings,
Kenzie
P.S. I also got a wonderful gift in 1965. That's the year that my youngest sister was born, when I was 13.
Thanks for sharing your story, your faith. That's such a simple thing that we are supposed to do, but something that many neglect.
Like you, I prefer worshiping God at least one day per week in church. I feel close to Him there. Sure, sometimes there are people in churches who are flawed. But I learned a wonderful phrase in a lay speaking class. The idea was to pray when you arrive in church, that you will come closer to God in the worship service because of or in spite of the pastor, the choir, and the people around you. Because of or in spite of. They were not important. That makes it so easy to worship wherever you go, to visit other churches if you travel.
That first part of the Psalms that you shared really touches me. I can remember reading that with my grandmother.
As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God
Hi, Monty! I haven't read anything of yours lately, so I was thrilled when the "Read and Review" button brought me here.
I love your title. Your description implies that we might read about a dream and your thoughts.
As I read your poem aloud, the rhythm and rhymes are perfect. And it appears that you have told us that life is often not what it seems whether we are awake or dreaming. That certainly can be the case. We are surrounded by people...
There are certain things that bees and other bugs like. I used to wear a cologne that attracted mosquitoes. I'm glad that it didn't attract bees.
This story made me chuckle. It also reminded me that when I told my son when was a teen that he could only dye his hair real hair colors. So he went from bleached blonde to auburn to black. Then one day, he shaved his head and never dyed it again. And he claims that he doesn't remember why.
Thanks for sharing this story.
Blessings
Kenzie
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