Memorial Day

  As I’m sitting here typing, it’s Memorial Day and I wanted to do a little something special. I knew I wanted to write a poem, but I wasn’t sure if I could really do justice to those who served and died so I can sit here doing what I love.   After some carful thought, I knew I had to try, so I just started to do some stream of consciousness type writing. I think it accomplished what I set out to do after a little editing and rearranging.  

   I feel truly blessed and thankful for everything that is possible because of those brave men and women. So, if you’re so inclined, offer up some thoughts and appreciation for those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Stay Focused and Write On!

Memorial Day

There’s no way to refund 
the price you paid
Laying down your lives
For our freedom

But I’ll try the only way I can
By living up to my full potential
Even when life gets rough
Because it’s nothing compared
To what you’ve done

I won’t succumb to despair
Because I picture you there
In your fox holes
Miles away from everything you know
Holding on to hope
As hell rains down around you 

Falling On foreign soil
So we can have backyard BBQ’s
Free from the oppression of tyranny
Free to pursue our dreams
Free to spend another day
With friends and family

Thank-you
For fighting against tyrants
Thank-you
For pushing back threats to freedom
Thank-you
For breaking the tides of persecution 

And I’ll remember
Every time the flag flys
It waves on the whispers
Of your last breaths

Dark Breeze

  This week I’ve been much more productive then recently. I’m starting to adjust to the new schedule and getting back on track.  I’ve managed to get a story typed up, two other stories edited, finished a new poem, and submitted another poem for a competition. Can we say busy?

  Unfortunately, the poem didn’t win, but fortunately for you, you still get to read it.  It’s a magnetic poem. You can buy kits that go on your fridge.  In this case, I used a website that does the same thing.  Enjoy and as always, Stay Focused and Write On!

Dark Breeze

  

 

Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day to all the wonderful mothers out there.  Here’s a quick poem I wrote for my mom a few years back that I post every year.  Stay Focused and Write On!

Most

Outstanding

Mentor

The Front Lines

  This week has been much better for my writing.  I finished a poem and finished a first draft of a short story and got it typed up. I also sent a poem in for a writing prompt competition.

   The poem below is from my teacher days, which lasted a few years.  I figured I’d share it in honor of teacher appreciation week.  As always, feel free to like, share, and comment.  Stay Focused and Write On!

The Front Lines

 

I’m on the front lines every day.

 

I have to dig trenches where

I know it’s important to make a stand,

while letting students sneak past my defenses.

“You can’t win every battle,” 

but I’m told you must win the war

against poor grammar that really only chafes me 

like a too tight chin strap

while others view it as the gangrene limb

that infects others with the stink of unintelligence.

 

I’m on the front lines every day.

 

I have to fight flack jacket fire

and the mortar rounds boom

of blame placed too soon

on teachers for not doing their jobs, 

by a Society that’s forgotten its 

duty to their children.

 

I jump on “your gays”

and F-bomb grenades

before they spread like a plague 

from mouth to ear to mouth,

causing thousand yard stares

in students unaware

of the booby-traps and snares

riddling their routes.

 

I’m on the front lines every day.

 

I have to protect my students 

from the shell-shock of taking 

too many tests that only provide

a grainy shot, a moment in time

of this mine field we call 

public education.

 

I have to get them past

the rat-tat-tat-tat

machine gun blast

of growing up too fast

while  giving them the skills to survive

through the battle field of life.

 

I’m on the front lines every day!

Fellow Poet

   Another busy week is in the books.  I celebrated my 34th birthday, in grand fashion, with good food, friends, and some gambling at one of the local casinos.  I managed to get a little work done on a short story, worked on a couple of poems, and did a little editing.

   One of the other highlights of the week was being able to attend a book launch for one of the ladies in the writing group I attend when my schedule allows.  It was great to see the turnout and support for a local author.

   The night was 50’s themed, with some poodle skirts and fedoras.  It always amazes me to see the diverse group of people who attend poetry events in my area.  The event started with members of the writing group reading select poems from the book and then Nancy reading several poems. The night ended with a round of open mic and a bit of socializing afterwards.

  Nancy’s poems exhibit such a wide range of emotions and paint a vivid picture of growing up. I can honestly say that I was glad to be able to support Nancy and participate in her event.

   Go check out some of her work at,

http://nancypulley.weebly.com/

As always, Stay Focused and Write On!

Brad-ku

This weeks blog is later than normal because I’m planning on posting on Saturdays rather than Wednesdays from now on for various reasons.  But as promised, this one ties in nicely with the Haiku I posted last week.

For the most part, I never really liked Haikus. Maybe it’s the strict adherence to guidelines. You know, the 5-7-5 syllable count and usually about nature. Don’t get me wrong, there’s nothing wrong with the form. I’ve read many wonderful and brilliant Haikus. They just don’t appeal to my personal style.

In response to my feelings of Haiku entrapment, I came up with my own poetic form a few years back when I was doing poetry slams and open mic nights on a regular basis.  They were dubbed Brad-kus by my fellow poets.  They are 4 lines, usually spoken word, have no syllable count requirements, were generally something I saw, and tend to have an unexpected twist at the end, often to humorous effect.  I know, that seems like more rules than a Haiku but they’re really just guidelines.

I figured I would share the first one I ever wrote and read in front of an audience. As always, feel free to comment, like, and share. Stay Focused and Write On!

Bird Brain Dog

A big black dog with a coarse coat,

Rubs its face on a dead bird

as if trying to resuscitate it,

Then tries to lick my face

Blog Party Declared

One of the poets I’m following came up with this cool little excercise, so I’m accepting the challenge to share the love.

https://doubleupoet.wordpress.com/2015/03/26/blog-party-declared/

I’m picking someone I follow instead of a follower, but the gist is the same. I’m sharing a poet by the name of E.I Wong. His poems are usually quick, witty, and humorous; but they’re done in such a way that they really get me thinking. Check him out.

https://notesfromanarcissist.wordpress.com

A Haiku

Interesting. I was sure I actually posted this but apparently not. Or it got deleted somehow. I had a nice bunch of top notch blog going on too. Oh well, this was meant to tie in with my next post, so I’ll do this one first, then post the one I was going to do today as a bonus tomorrow, or something like that. Sometimes technology just doesn’t work like we want it to.  Stay Focused and Write On!

Does the Red Robin

Understand its escape from

The cold heart of man

Procrastination

   Last week I talked a bit about procrastination.  This week I’ve managed to get my own procrastination in check for the most part. I did a bit of editing, wrote a piece of flash fiction that I submitted, and tinkered with some poems. With a new wave of snow coming down, I hope I can stay focused.

  I’ll know sometime next week if the flash fiction piece wins the writing prompt competition I entered it into. Either way, I plan on sharing it with you, so look for it next week. In the mean time, I plan on doing some more editing, some new writing, and staying focused enough to keep the procrastination monster at bay. Starting is always the hardest part but once I get going, it’s pretty easy.

I’ll leave you with a few methods I use to getting words down.

#1 Free write: Just sit down and write for 10-15 minutes with no regards to what you’re writing. Think stream of consciousness. See what you have at the end of the time and carve something usable out of it.

#2 Get out of the house:  Go somewhere, anywhere, and do something, anything.  I tend to get inspiration from unlikely places or snippets of a conversation I overhear. There’s no better place to drum up ideas than the real world.

#3 Use a prompt: There’s no limit to the number of prompts out there designed to break writer’s block or end procrastination. Do a quick Google search or pull one out of a writing book if you have one. 

   

These are three quick ways that help get me motivated again.  I usually wind up with something I can work with later on, but the main thing is they help get the creative juices flowing. So if you find yourself stuck, try one of these. The important thing is to get writing again. Nothing ever gets accomplished by doing nothing. Stay focused and Write On.

White Knight

Well, winter arrived in full force this past week or so in Indiana. Stupid snow. I thought we would dodge it this year, but it wasn’t meant to be. Have I mentioned I hate snow.  When it’s cold, like subzero cold, I usually get a severe case of procrastination fever. I just want to bum around the house and hibernate until spring. Which is why this one’s getting posted so late. I’m sure there’s a poem in there somewhere about how much I despise snow. We’ll see, but until that works its way out, a short poem to hold you over. The title could be wintery if you like word play. Stay focused and Write On!

White Knight

I won’t play chess with you anymore 

Your white knight turned out to be a lowly pawn

Your king was daddy’s approval on fleeting wings

And the queen plays tricks with hearts