world

March 13, 2013 Image

I’m finally mailing our Illinois state taxes.
Snail mail is necessary, to send extra paperwork required.
Doggone Tax Time.
Stapling W-2 then mailing.
Just a week or so after finishing…
There is a grape jelly smudge on them.
Oh well.
A l’il sign of Food, Family and Life.
That about sums it up.
For these are the things that go “in between” the famous Ben Franklin quote, “In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.”
So we learn to savor each day and happy moment we are given, even as we dutifully see to the need to fulfill all legal requirements.

March 13, 2013

February 28, 2013

chit chat

I’ve been a bit o’a chatterbox today.
Me?!
Well, yes…
My friends and family keep callin’, to check in and see how I am.
It’s still a loaded question, as tears are as likely to be the answer as a bit o’sass, but the easiest answer is, “I’m still alive and kickin’.”
So watch out world!
Fair warnin’.

February 28, 2013

February 15, 2012 Image

my heart socks from yesterday
are on inside out this morning
sometimes life feels like that
when your heart is closer to the surface
and everything hurts a little more
because you’re feeling
turned inside out too
I hate feeling like that
but on the flip side
that’s where the poetry comes from
for we experience the world differently
than those turned right side out
and feel compelled
to put those feelings into words

December 6, 2011

child of whimsy

baby mine

I love you so

my daughter

mine to raise

alone

just you and me

out in the world

we’ll dance in the rain

splash in puddles

and jump in leaf piles

in the fall

we’ll throw snowballs

make snowmen

and swing so high

on the swings

in the park

we’ll pick bouquets

in Grandma’s garden

chase butterflies

by day

and fireflies

by night

laying in a hammock

we’ll watch the clouds 

move across 

the summer sky

we’ll laugh

skip

and fill one another up

with joy

I’m smiling as I write 

this poem for you

my daughter

about to be born

due one month from today

these promises

I make to you

we will go adventuring

I will be there

always

loving you

my firstborn 

child of whimsy,

romance, laughter and love

Ella Bella will you be

now and forevermore

© 2011 Turquoise Tangles

jayarrarr’s story about Ella Bella:

http://jayarrarr.tumblr.com/post/13708111427/ella-bella

jayarrarr’s Ella Bella Poem Challenge:

http://jayarrarr.tumblr.com/post/13709329881/ella-bella-challenge

December 5, 2011

the power of touch

he touches me

gently

sweetly

lovingly

close enough

at bedtime

to share my pillow

hand in my hair

arms around me

sitting close

on the couch

hand in mine

as we walk outside

or listen 

side by side

in church

wiping my tears 

as they fall silently

sometimes

my youngest son

what a good man

he will grow to be

loving

thoughtful

insightful

a poet himself

who knows already

how to 

heal a hurting heart

soothe frazzled nerves

and show love

with small touches

that mean the world

in the moment

and in the memories

simply using

the power of touch 

© 2011 Turquoise Tangles

November 19, 2011

my thirsty soul

novicepen:

You offer overflowing love
to everyone else and
leave nothing for yourself

You hope to save
a lost soul
but you don’t even
know how to save
your own

You give too much
water to the thirsty
and forget about
the thirst in your throat

Now look in the mirror
and see what you’ve become
Remember that the
things you offer to people
you can offer yourself too

novicepen,
THANK YOU MUCH, for this beautiful reminder to feed our own soul. My mother’s advice is, “Put yourself on The List”. Several friends advised, “Boundaries”, when they noticed my thirsty soul, and then encouraged me to pursue the things that water it. Making and teaching art, and writing poetry and prose, is The Best Thirst Quencher In The World, for me. Art and Writing are My Oasis In The Desert.
~ Janean