Downy woodpecker with an itch. I woke up at 6 this morning. On my own. No alarm. And I did something I hardly ever do. I lay in bed. And. Did. Nothing. Well, I closed my eyes and breathed deep the cool breeze through the open windows. I pushed all thoughts of what I ought […]
Five Minute Friday: I Didn’t Expect
I never expected to have children. I never dreamed of a family. I didn’t play love and marriage or stuff my shirt with pillows. I did dream of caring for others. Maybe in far countries. I even used to hope I’d find an injured animal so I could take care of it. But I never […]
Spiritual Seizures, Surrender, Starvation, and Possibility
It’s an Indian taco spread, and I’ve heaped my plate. I’m munching homemade tortilla chips while I watch the birthday girl in the air-filled jump house. And one of my daughter’s friends, he says those words. “You’re a good writer, right?” I stare a minute, and mutter quiet. “Um, I write.” Mentally I smack myself […]
Poetry by Erasure
Kimberlee Conway Ireton wrote this morning at Tweetspeak Poetry about Wave’s Erasure Poetry Page where they present a piece of writing. You take out words to create a poem. It’s kind of like the black-out poetry we did at Laity Lodge last fall. Here’s the black-out poem I created then. You can’t read it well […]
Anger’s Invitation
I wake up angry. And I’m angry about it. I’m angry that Lyla’s making us do two whole chapters at a time, and I know I’ll have to go through this book again and take my time, and I’m afraid won’t. I’m angry that I can’t answer even one childhood question–the ones Julia says will […]
Five Minute Friday: Sacred Sod
“I need to go plant flowers at the cemetery this weekend,” I said. “When you and Dad are gone, will I have to do that?” My daughter brushes a blond strand off her forehead. “You don’t have to,” I smile. “I mean, is it my job, my responsibility?” I shrug. “I like to do it. […]
The Artist’s Way: Descent into Ashes
I’ve written about the story before. The one I wrote and sent to the local paper–just like Jo in Little Women. How the newspaper sent it back–rejected. They might have sent an encouraging note, but I don’t remember. I only knew they didn’t want it. It wasn’t good enough. I wasn’t good enough. I threw […]
Five Minute Friday: The Lace of Life
My baby dress–crocheted by my Aunt Esther in 1949. “Grandma! Grandma! A worm. A worm in my room!” She sounds hysterical. I leap out of bed. “I’m coming! I’m coming!” She’s reacting to a new medicine. Not so well. “Don’t open the door! It’ll fall on your head! It’s moving!” She’s sobbing. I run to […]
Rumors of Wine
There are rumors of water. And Time winds down hidden hallways, sips tea with feathered memories and eats bagels with Imagination who sees beyond what is to what can be in gaping holes and medieval laundry baskets and berry-colored bottles. In time, Time whispers words and songs that rise in some kind of prayer […]
It’s the Climb
We called it a salt lick, the stand in the woods behind our house. I never saw salt, and I never saw deer licking it. But it made a great platform to climb up on and belt out words to a standing-room-only crowd. This audience swayed to the melodies, whispered their appreciation, and clapped […]
