Haiku - Evening

One Deep Breath this week posted the most beautiful photo as our prompt (and new header) along with the word, evening. Stop by their site to see the photo and the accompanying haiku. It is well worth your time, and you will tumble on links to other wonderful haiku.

Yellow refuses
to give way to maudlin gray
Orange joins the fight

~~~~~~~


Evening creeps up
folds of rolling thunder
hide its path of stealth















MeeAugraphie
08/06/07


Words and photos are mine, please do not use without permission, thank you.

Unconscious Mutterings - Oh, to sleep

LunaNiña of Unconscious Mutterings, posts ten words each week for us to free associate. It is a quick and sometimes surprising exercise. It is also a fun one. Why not play along next time? Just click on link above! Her words on left, my responses on right.

1. Voices :: in my head
   
2. Have to :: go
   
3. Machine :: ready
   
4. Seventh grade :: English
   
5. Beach :: ball
   
6. Roommate :: sucks
   
7. Cyclone :: hit
   
8. Theater :: actor
   
9. Pregnant :: pause
   
10. Phoebe :: sings
    

I cannot just stop with her meme. I love to exercise my brain, so each week I write either a short story or poem with the words, attempting to keep them in the order given in the meme. Yet, I still want to make some sense out of them. . . My result this week:

Oh, to sleep...


Voices in my head
speak softly of
all I have to do --

before I go to sleep
they refuse to turn off
like a machine spinning in place
ready to take off at the touch
of a button

that never comes.

Seventh grade English,
romping on hot sand barefoot
to catch a beach ball thrown
by a roommate (for life),
moments when life just sucks
as if a cyclone hit land
and jerked trees and smashed bananas
and spit it out in my face,
theater, watching an actor
squirm from a pregnant pause that seemed
to go on past its due date,
my expertise at vocals (and sometimes words) --
comparable only to
to Phoebe as she sings
words and tones no one wants to hear
in the coffeehouse...

Someone, please push the button!

MeeAugraphie
08/04/07

Please, do not copy my crazy words,they also contain words from Lunaniña's meme, used with permission. Please do not copy hers except as part of her meme without her permission. Thank you.

Poem - Surely, Where are you?

It is beautiful, isn't it!

This is a partial view of the 48 squares knitted or crocheted by 48 different human beings that was then labored over for hours by another human being(s), crocheting them together as one stained glass effect afghan for the Share A Square Project.

It is one of 140 afghans needed so each of the children who will attend Camp Sanguinity next summer can wrap themselves in our love and their own well-honed imagination.

Surely, Where are you?


Surely, you have a maiden aunt
or a boss that knits behind a rant?

Surely, your instincts are like radar
to detect a crocheter from afar?

Surely, someone owes you a favor
that knows a talented crocheting raver?

Surely, the young poet next door
would rather knit than clean a floor?

Surely, you know someone that rocks
to crochet a square smaller than infant frocks?

Surely, you know someone who knows someone
who will say "No problem, I'll get it done today, hon!"

MeeAugraphie
08/03/07

OK, enough, I felt driven to write ridiculous poetry to get your attention! Then just before posting it, I realized I had a better way to get your attention -- a simple photo of how beautiful the afghans are turning out! And, Shelly Kneupper Tucker gave me permission to use this photo. Unfortunately for you, the poem was written!

If you know ANYONE who can knit or crochet the tiniest bit, please, steer them toward Shelly at ThisEclecticLife.com. Encourage them to knit or crochet just one or two squares, tag it (with their name, town and state) -- and send them off to little old Denton, TX.

You see there, they will be joined together, to make a gorgeous afghan like this 1 of the 140 destined for the kids at Camp Sangunity. I'll leave the details for Shelly to tell, but you all do know how small 6 inches really is, right? So, it won't take long to make it. And her address is so easy, no long drawn out names of streets you cannot even pronounce -- just a simple PO BOX. . .

The idea is to have the afghan made by a minimum of 49 different people, 48 making squares plus the 1 or 2 workhorse human beings that then crochets them all together.

We can make a difference in a big way by doing a small tiny something. And it can be as tiny as finding the Surely persons!

If you are saying, "So what, what difference will an afghan make?" -- perhaps this list of 17 things to do with an afghan will explain it. Feel free to share it with others.

Read more >> Options >>

Haiku - Compare and Contrast

We welcome Jennifer back to One Deep Breath! The prompt this week was: compare and contrast. That is something many do naturally! Why not go on over Tuesday and see who else has risen to the challenge. If you check that post later, they update the list of participants as they write their haiku.

Cracked earth should crumble
beneath weight of rushed footsteps
but springs back instead

~~~~

Imagination
seeks moonlight beneath blanket
flashlight creates beam

~~~~

Horizontal rain
hiding much from view frustrates
lightning blinds all view

~~~~

MeeAugraphie
07/30/07

For a non-haiku poem on contrast (and photo), click here!

Please, do not copy my words. Thank you.

(Fiction) Friday --Something's afoot

This Week’s Theme: Afoot Something's afoot, I must say not one child's shown up to play not one tired man has cracked a beer not one young girl has shed a tear Something's afoot, I had heard not one cat has caught a bird not one dog has chewed a bone not one cat has remained alone Something's a foot, I do declare not one dragon is in his lair Oops. . . . . . RUN! MeeAugraphie 07/26/07 So , these silly words are mine, please do not waste our time by copying them.
get the Fiction Friday code	about Fiction Friday
Technorati tags: fiction, fiction

Haiku - The Comfort of Grief

Jennifer of One Deep Breath lost her father on July 18th. Susan's prompt this week for our Haiku was "dedicated to Jennifer and her family and to those who, for whatever reason, need words of encouragement and comfort."

Jennifer, my heart goes out to you and your family.



May your tears turn from raging torrents to gentle snowfall
to blanket the darkness in white reflections. . . .

The Comfort of Grief

One tear shed followed
by yet another, mixed with
visions of life led

One deep breath followed
by yet another, mixed with
loving memories

While one fleeting smile
seeks another to wrap your
heart in calming balm

MeeAugraphie
07/23/07


My words are not normally meant to be copied without permission, however, if a reader finds any comfort in this poem, please feel free to both hold it in your heart and share it with another.

Unconscious Mutterings - A Matter of Degrees

Lunaniña chose ten words for us to free associate with for the meme, Unconscious Mutterings. These ten seemed harder than usual. Perhaps it was the distraction of the steady rain that is heavier than normal and also highly unusual for summer out here. I wanted to listen to it and write. . . my mind was too tired to do both well. LOL.

1. Deputy :: Shadow
   
2. Name :: and address
   
3. Arrested :: in time
   
4. Trade :: me
   
5. Old :: man
   
6. Fingerprint :: taken
   
7. Dwarf :: man
   
8. Newspaper :: ads
   
9. Gabriel :: angel
   
10. Certificate :: of occupancy
    

See how easy that really was, you really might have fun trying it yourself.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I had to try once more to write a poem/story using all twenty words - in order without changing the tense - not part of the meme, I just love to exercise my brain.


A Matter of Degrees


Deputy (of all that is bright)
found Shadow lurking
but simply asked,
"Name and address, please?"
and went on with his rounds.

Once arrested in time, a memory
of those who trade in people
found me,
that old man -
whose fingerprint was taken
seemed, in a statistical manner,
a dwarf

compared to the man
whose newspaper ads threatened
to remove light
(from even the Shadow)
as he offered a reward to any who refused
Gabriel, or any angel, a legal
certificate of occupancy.

MeeAugraphie
07/21/07

I admit, this is really strange. . . I shall blame it on the darkness outside and the steady rain that threatens to flood the river. . . this is not the first draft, but rather the second (of a few lines, but not the main ones) as I was tired, and my mind struggled to make a story.

It anyone is crazy enough to copy this, that is a double shame. Don't. Ten are the words of the meme author, the rest are mine, so you would be doubling your copyright violation.

Date Night

We sit
side by side
for Thai,
sipping tea,
leaning into each other,
people watching,
drifting in and out
of conversation,
in and out
of our surroundings
but
never
too far from us,
a hand hold, a touch,
the teeniest playful shove
(it is a restaurant, after all)
we talk of Alaska and moves
and for just a moment he dares
to dream like me. . .

is it only because it is nearly
his birthday?

or because he remembers,
for a moment,
other dreams
came true?

MeeAugraphie
07/20/07

Please, do not copy my words. Thank you.

Fear Aftermarket, a poem

words advertised incite

thoughts swallowed once spew in foamed defamation

trepidation tiptoes quietly back inside
the safety of a bed full of pillows

hands hesitate to reach forward tuck beneath arm pits of despair

stomach shrinks as hope has been tossed repeatedly
from behind locked doors filled with peering eyes

envisioned peace sinks beneath waves of crimson tides

MeeAugraphie
07/20/07

Forget trying to copy these words, you would not be able to explain them if asked, even I have trouble deciphering them, and I know from whence they came, and it was not from the mouth of a copyright infringer, nor from their pen, or keyboard, or mind, or muse, or chalk, or written in their sand.

Straw Shots

Poetry Thursday is still taking a well-deserved vacation, so we are left to our own devices. Once you have read my some what weak attempt at relating my recent culture shock, click on the link, rush to the comments and see who else spouted poetic words this week!

Culture shock


On the other side of the mountain
I ordered an Americano
crossed my fingers

would it be hot?
watered down?
resemble coffee?

(it was, after all, a motel
of no great repute)

"Straws?" she asked
and I thought she had gone daft

hot coffee and plastic straws,
what planet had I landed on?

"No, thank you."

My mind puzzled,
it defied logic,
(the straws and coffee,
not my brain)

Moments later, I knew
(I am quick!)

It must have started
when a salesman
in his white starched shirt and pleated
pants tipped his cardboard clad cup
(filled with
triple espresso or latte -- shaken, not stirred)
dripped on one shirt too many
then whined in his macho imitation

and she, the one dressed
in immaculate white pants, shoved
the straw from her iced coffee
that never dripped
through molded plastic deep into the bowels of his tiny
cup and said, "suck it up"....

And I, the irreverent one, was paid back
for this interpretation the next morning
as the smiling barista shoved
two tiny red straws
into the bowels of my tiny cup,

I did not recognize the danger
nor associate my vision of melting plastic
with HOT or fire in the hole of my precious mouth...

the coffee
found its mark through both tiny barrels,
it was no wonder I could not taste the
heated plastic.

MeeAugraphie
07/18/07

Now, I know a rational person would not dream of copying these words; so, if you are irrational, don't copy them anyway. Thanks!

Three Word Wednesday - Three on Coping

Cope - Revealed - Stick: Three word prompt from Bone, to do with as we will.

Click on this link (after you have seen my personal craziness with the prompt, please). You will be led to a variety of writing styles, each one showing cleverness and a muse of their own!

Note to Bone: what have you done to us this week, chosing these three words? Well, to me, anyway? After writing the first two: one showing hope, one a downer, I wanted to write something hysterically funny. My muse actually laughed at me -- apparently. I am sure the silence that came was really just her laughter in disguise. And she took her sense of humor one more step and helped me write an Acrostic. . . I say she helped me, because I'm not taking total credit for words that make not a whole lot of sense. (Grin implied)

What really broke the camel's back?


"Deal with it," he said,
reaching for the remote
to change images from
decorating to guts and gore.

"Cope with it," mother said,
patting her arm,
her eyes revealed truths behind
the pasted smile on her face.

"Stick it!" she said,
with each suitcase she lifted
into the taxi in a show of bravado
while he was at work.

MeeAugraphie
07/18/07


~~~~~~~~


Intuition Ignored packed its bags


Stick to the plan
was advice given
when she revealed
her need to reorder
their lives.

He revealed no reason
for his controlling manner
nor did her instincts
rescue her from
pallid acceptance
that would eventually
erode her ability
to cope.

MeeAugraphie
07/18/07


~~~~~~~


Artistic licensed, an Acrostic


Calendar
operators
perused
each

stickman
that
Ian
Cope
killed, then

rescued,
entreating
volumes of protest,
each one
acrid, though only from
lucid and
elevated
dreams.

MeeAugraphie
07/18/07

Oh, my, I am in a weird frame of mind today, well, I'm not, but apparently my muse is! I won't tell you that I can almost make sense of that acrostic.

Remember, I rarely post other than drafts, whether first or second, and this is no exception!

Please, those few of you that see this as something, do not copy my words. People will not see you as you, but as me, and you aren't, me, that is.

Marriage Revisited

Marriage Revisited


Stolen moments multiplied
like mosquitoes in a Florida swamp

Unspoken words spoke volumes
as eyes heard them in a flash of recognition

Heat burned or simply melted ice
like pipe organs bellowing scales

I do became I won't I might We will together
I can't I can I am You are We are together

Voices rang out in duets
like bird calls over train whistles

Words tumbled in raging torrents
and floated in quiet streams

MeeAugraphie
07/17/07


You know the routine, please do not copy my strange thoughts.

Haiku - Water or Life? - plus one more

One Deep Breath chose bodies of water as their awesome prompt this week.  And as much
as I love water in all forms, these did not jump out immediately as usual. . . hmmm,
could it be just that for hours today I was trying to figure HTML and CSS? Perhaps.

Click on their link and travel to other bodies of water via the power of poetry.

Water or Life?

salt water supports
my body in cooled wetness
lost in space and thought

~~~~

time pauses as mind denies
all else but ocean's soothing
touch brings self-healing

~~~~

raging water flies
through roads meant for quiet drives
left too long unused.

~~~~

MeeAugraphie
07/16/07

I couldn't sleep, so I added one more:

Macho lions roar
as they muscle calm river
over mountain's edge.

MeeAugraphie
07/17/07

Words are mine, please, do not copy, thank you.

Unconsicous Mutterings and poem -

It's that time again! Free Association wordplay from Lunaniña, followed by my poem or story. If you want to do the Free Associations, just click on this link for her Unconscious Mutterings meme. Each Saturday night or Sunday she posts ten words for you to free associate. It only takes a minute or two. And it is fun to follow the comment links and see what others associated with the same words. It might just surprise you!

1. Situation :: sucks
   
2. Theme song :: forget it
   
3. Kelly :: Clarkson
   
4. Club :: sandwich
   
5. Swerve :: to miss
   
6. Couch :: potato
   
7. Bigfoot :: lives
   
8. Arbitrary :: decision
   
9. Inventor :: of much
   
10. Blazer :: vehicle
    

And, of course, loving challenges with words, I had to try using the words in order without even changing the tenses. Sometimes a poem, sometimes a story. I look forward to Unconscious Mutterings both for the fun of seeing what associations my mind will form in her free association and in taking it that one extra step of using them with a semblance of sense.

Life Themes


Situation sucks
doesn't it

when you choose
a theme song
and he says,
"forget it,"
and turns the radio
off and switches
on TV, watches
Club Soccer,
stuffs his Dagwood
sandwich in his mouth
and watches his player
swerve to tackle,
only to miss?

GOAL SCORED!

And the couch potato
roars in frustration
as the kids in the next room
grin and the youngest says,
"Bigfoot lives!"
as he grabs his plastic
men and returns them to
safety under the bed
away from the forest
that is daily life.

Arbitrary decision
or not the oldest
boy walks into the
lair of the hairy
creature and says,
"Manchester United
is kicking your team's butt,
eh, Dad?" and walks
out the door and into
the night where he finds
his quiet with the
inventor of much,
the blazer of trails,
the vehicle of life to come

as she eats alone in the kitchen
humming "their" theme.


MeeAugraphie
07/15/07

OK! You know the rules, do not copy my words or LunaNiña's. I asked for permission to use her words in my poems and post them here.

3WW - Rescue or Interference?

Private - Crossed - Rinse

Bone came up with those words for our prompt. We write using then all, whether poetry or otherwise. Follow the link to his site for an interesting group of writers who love the challenge. Why not join us? No time? Schedule it in as exercise, the brain needs exercise, too.
(NOTE: it looks like my brain needs more exercise than I thought. I let Muse take over as always and she had Audacity leave out the word, "rinse". How dare they gang up on me. I think they are related to Mr. Murphy. Quite Prevalent now, but hidden then, and Instinct did kick in at the end, showing itself by wanting to highlight the words used, but I couldn't decide which way. So, since I like the poem as is, well, just say I failed Mission this week, but won in another sense. So, rinse away the tears that were shed in private as I crossed the line from being successful to losing -- grin. There, I've got them all now.)

Rescue or Interference?


It was
a private moment,

would have been

had he not crossed the line
of propriety

and stepped
around carpeted
dividers

to scrape the pills
I had not yet swallowed
from my tongue.

MeeAugraphie
07/11/07


This is fiction, y'all, not reality, just written in first person for effect.

My words are from my imagination or life, please don't copy them. Thank you.

Haiku - Feathered Friends

One Deep Breath chose feathered friends as our prompt this week. Please, click on the link to their site to find the other poets who tackled or flew with this subject -- You will most likely be treated to interesting photos as well!

Work 'n Play

hungry mouths open
fed by beak not eyedropper
nature is winning

~~~~~
bird of red tipped black
buried in green waxy leaves
playing hide 'n seek

~~~~~

camera ready
sun peeks over my shoulder
black bird sneaks away

MeeAugraphie
07/09/07

Ok, this is the part the wonderful people can ignore as usual, but those few who aren't: a simple reminder that my words are meant to remain here unless you have asked me - in writing. And -- yeah, that also means a response from me in writing is required.

A stream of thought - minus opening remarks

Future Plotted


waNe
pLan
leaP
Stop
reGroup
suRge
gAin

~~~~~~

Only a Game


one two
four six
twenty-nine
thirty-six

four two
fifty-seven
thirty-nine
holding

~~~~~~~~

Just Thinking


bookmarks
activate
thought
trading
yesterdays

~~~~~~~

Head and Heart


song
in head
bursts
into flame
cooled by
nature

fresh air
uses leaves
as instruments,
their melody
accented by
gas engines
decelerating
before ascent

while sun
joins forces
to turn leaves
into flashes
of light
and contrast

song
of nature
swells
heart
into receptacle
warmed by
nature

MeeAugraphie
07/06/07

~~~~~

Leaf Song

wind blows trees
leaves sing out
in celebration
for it is not
an angry gust
that blows

yet
within
melancholy
stirs
and spills

not celebration

because
(or not?)
there is no
one to raise
joyful voices
with - today -
at this moment
I'm bored with
my silent voice

or because
(most likely)
leaves singing
calls up
those moments
passed over
or through
or by
many
years
ago

when loneliness
seemed forever
unlike today.

MeeAugraphie
07/06/07

The opening remarks missing here is the first poem in this group. These actually followed the one posted here: Self-Validation, a tighter poem.

Hey, you! (No, not you honest people, ya'll don't need to even read this.) Don't bother copying,
my style of writing will not reflect well on your personality. Copy yourself.

Poetry Thursday - Independent Solidarity

Independent Solidarity


One man
one woman

two thoughts
two opinions

mixed conclusion

unbroken dreams
realized fantasies

advantage taken
compromise given

union holds

MeeAugraphie
07/04/07

Poetry Thursday is taking a break. We are on our own to play. Please, click on this link to visit Poetry Thursday and see who played, we are listed in the comments.

Copying is not nice. So, please don't, you few who would even think about it. If you like my words, then feel free to link.

Haiku - Shadow and Light

I've been in a mood(s), watching sad movies and listening to sad people -- in between dreaming grand dreams and laughing out loud.

One Deep Breath's prompt was simply: Shadow and Light. I had to force myself to stop writing, because I just wanted to write nonstop - I think in rebellion against West of Mar's Monday Poetry Train entry written by band member Trevor - he had a lot of nothing to say about angst and poets. If you haven't read him before, be aware the F word abounds, but the timing of reading that this morning and the prompt words from One Deep Breath today just ignited my keyboard. And, I can't help it, I found Trevor's poetry attempt quite amusing, but you have to have a sense of humor and not mind the language and understand she is writing through her book characters. But first, please, stay and read my angst and humor (with only one mild damn).

Remember One Deep Breath will post links to all the Haiku poets on Tuesday. They make it quite easy for you to click away to us all.

Presented in the order they came out of my head: Shadow and Light

Sun throws playful rays
in attempt to draw me out
I refuse to play

~~~~~~

Too bright, too damn hot
bakes my skin and fries my brain
Florida sunshine

~~~~~~

He seeks bright hot light
to cast out depression's dark
Shade is my solace

~~~~~~

It is not shadows
that cloud our comprehension
but brightness unchecked

~~~~~

Tears gather remorse
to cast shadows on what was
lit candles burn out

~~~~~~

illuminated
shadows show neglected tears
not heard in the dark

~~~~~~

angst lives in shadows
until poets pen the words
others dare not share

~~~~~~

to say lives are spent
without care, or abandoned
means shadows not viewed.

~~~~~~

MeeAugraphie
07/02/07

Words are for sharing, not copying. Thank you.

Unconscious Mutterings - Opportunity Knocks

http://subliminal.lunanina.com/


LunaNiña of Unconscious Mutterings posts ten words each week for us to free associate. Who hasn't watched them do it on TV or done it at home clowning around. That is all there is to the meme, but somedays it can be quite revealing, and it is always fun. You should click on the link and play along each week.

Now, I can't just leave it at that. I use the 20 words in their given order and attempt to write a poem. Afterall, exercising the brain is good for us.

1. Partner :: Leon
   
2. News :: paper
   
3. Foam :: rubber
   
4. Paycheck :: spent
   
5. Me :: too
   
6. Eight :: is enough
   
7. Dairy :: products
   
8. Exciting :: life
   
9. Hockey :: puck
   
10. Socialite :: rules
    

Oh, I don't love my answers this week. I try to play fairly and really use the first thought and not the second or third. . . but combinations like this, well, they didn't feel conducive to a poem, but, hey, I tried. Remember unless I state otherwise all my poems are just drafts - as they came out.

This week's attempt:

Opportunity Knocks

He was my partner in crime,
this Leon man. Made news
when he found paper
stuffed with foam rubber
(the day after
his paycheck was spent)
and turned it into
an empire.

He included me, too,
in his get rich scheme
told me "Eight is enough"
would be a company that would
outsell dairy products,
that ours would be an exciting life
as we marketed paper pillows
and a papier-mâché hockey puck
to the rich by night.

We traversed society and
I could act the Socialite,
while playing by my own rules.
Eight was enough to charge
for our brilliance,
eight hundred for eight,
that is.

MeeAugraphie
07/01/07

Yeah, I've lost it. And if you want others to think you have lost it, copy this, but then you will have lost it completely, financially - since they are my words and not yours.