The Patience of a Corpse
… “for to know God's will was Martin's heart's desire, and to attain such a state of perfection - a union with God in mystical ecstasy- required the patience of a corpse." -John Irving, A Son Of The Circus
#VoiceInMyHead on April 13, 2023:
Those who are not willing to listen are not willing to learn. Walk away. There are plenty of people in this world who you can work with and love. Problem solved. *** Now think about the factions that violently divide this country….
The Power of Coffee
Waking up late on a Monday, this #VoiceInMyHead demanded a hearing, yielding this short poem and original song in honor of Coffee.
The Beautiful Attrition of Family Relics
We have forfeited my grandmother’s chair to the cat and are appreciating its beautiful attrition…
Graveyard Surprise
By Melissa Rooney. For SCBWI Carolinas “Ignite the Spark” Zoom group (18 Oct 2002). Assigned Prompts: Write a children’s story, 250 words or less, using the following prompts: 1) take a location from childhood and strip everything normal about it (if usually crowded, make it barren, etc.); 2) the starting lines, “It’s okay, they’re not as scary as they look;”and 3) the image of a sign reading, “Beware, the Trees Talk.”
Drunken Lament
I wrote this poem after a conversation with a new friend who introduced himself as an alcoholic and then offered me a beer.
Keep It To Yourself
Don’t stop writing poetry just because National Poetry month has passed. This favorite creation contemplates the scowls people wear when they are commuting, particularly on rainy days.
Perchance to Dream (my contribution to poetry month 2022)
My last-minute contribution to National Poetry month 2022 describes that space between trying to sleep and falling asleep.
Back to Me
Three Poetic Reminders. Don’t let your family or your world make you forget who you are and what you need. And when things get stressful, remember that we are all just “stardust contemplating stardust” (Carl Sagan).
Morning Thought
Regardless of my efforts to the contrary, my house is covered with dirty fingerprints and smudges. Today, I appreciated rather than yelled about it.
First Day of School
My dreams have been ridiculously stressful as my son’s first day of middle school - and first day of school post Covid - approaches. After the bittersweet drop off, my dreams suddenly make sense. Hindsight truly is 20/20 - sometimes immediately so.
On the occasion of my son starting college...
Yesterday, eyes wet and heart full, we drove home from Asheville, NC, for the first time without our son Seamus, who is now a UNC-A student in Music Technology. From the get-go, we have tried to raise our children to be empathetic, nonmaterialistic, inclusive, generous, and happy people…
Asking for Forgiveness Later
American society has put layers of rules in place over its existence. Privileged people, who are generally white, have been permitted to bend those rules; while non-privileged people, who are generally people of color, have had to follow them to a T …
Mandolin Orange, Faith, Incompetent People and Myanmar
My #ThemeSong today is a set by Chapel Hill's Mandolin Orange, a folk duo led by married couple Andrew Marlin and Emily Frantz, both 31. Their music is relaxing, positive, and thought provoking - perfect for the drive to or from work. (Thanks bro :-) …
Everyday Addiction
I have been off Facebook (for personal posts) for 10 weeks now. Most interesting has been the diminishing absence of the sporadic jab of anxiety that accompanies each impulse to check my notifications or post a new thought or photo…
Senzenina and Calculated Risks
I first heard my #ThemeSong today when I watched The Power of One, written by one of my favorite authors, Bryce Courtenay, and starring Morgan Freeman (one of my favorite actors). Since first hearing this song, my ears perk at any mention of African musical influence, and they are far better off as a result…
Fifth Grade Poetry Lesson: Imitating the Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock
#TheLoveSongOfJAlfredPrufrock was my 10YO’s and my literary lesson today (‘Wellness Wednesday’ for virtual public school). It just kinda happened because, as we were leaving the house this AM, K said, "Let us go then, you and I." I have been using this phrase for years to signal to the kids that we are finally leaving. It’s probably my favorite stanza, though I’m adding “Oh, do not ask, “What is it?” Let us go and make our visit”…
Variation on a Tweet
A very short, poetic (in the most modern sense) introspection while trying to get back to work…
Upon being pressed to look deeper behind the Covid “smokescreen”
Looking deeper... I see a government that is fine with letting hundreds of thousands of citizens die because they refuse to impose simple medically advised procedures (masks and social distancing) that would enable businesses to open safely; I see a government that refuses to require registration, background checks, and commonsense laws to protect it’s most vulnerable population from gun deaths that profit gun sellers, manufacturers, and lobbyists; I see…
Weeding (my contribution to National Poetry Month 2020)
I've been doing a lot of gardening with the kids these last couple of weeks; and, whenever I garden with kids (I used to run a public in-school gardening club), somebody always defends the weeds. It always makes me contemplate the word and concept of genocide, which is what prompted me to write the poem below…