Abecedarium, Form poems, People, Poetry Friday

Bullied Abecedarium

Bullied Abecedarium Alone now I am bullied, bruised, battered crushed, crying, closed for love. Don’t look at me. Even my Facebook friends are fiends. Go away so I can hurt myself. I hate myself— I am an idiot, there is no justice for me just kicks, no love just more menacing messages. Never thought one,… Continue reading Bullied Abecedarium

Book Reviews, Non-fiction, Uncategorized

Eyes to See (review)

It was an afterthought that prompted Becky Keep to ask the nurse practitioner to check five-week-old Jesse’s eyes. An observant grandma had commented that those baby eyes didn’t seem to be following normally. That last-minute request set the Keeps on a four-year journey that they never dreamed they’d be taking. Eyes to See: Glimpses of… Continue reading Eyes to See (review)

Book Reviews, Non-fiction

Stopping Words That Hurt (review)

Stopping Words That Hurt: Positive Words in a World Gone Negative by Michael D. Sedler My rating: 4 of 5 stars We all know it’s not a good thing to gossip. But have we ever considered that listening to gossip, negative talk or an “evil report’ about an individual or situation might be just as… Continue reading Stopping Words That Hurt (review)

Book Reviews, Children's, Fiction

Mrs. B. Has Cancer (review)

Tristan has ADHD and goes to Mrs. B.’s for help with his schoolwork. They’re right at the start of Mrs. B.’s goldfish naming contest when Mrs. B. makes a sad announcement. She will have to stop tutoring for a while because she has cancer. “Cancer” is a frightening word for Tristan. He doesn’t know much… Continue reading Mrs. B. Has Cancer (review)

nature

Summer Serenade

Summer Serenade Summer’s orchestra plays woodwind overture of a bird-filled morning. Viola hum of bees quark of oboe ducks blend with bowing violins of an insect-busy refrain. Trombone slide convertibles show off the flashy third movement. Clink of cutlery and crystal are percussion tremolo laughter the piccolo trills of a pitch-perfect finale. Encore! © 2009… Continue reading Summer Serenade

Book Reviews, Fiction, Historical fiction

East of Eden (review)

East of Eden by John Steinbeck My rating: 5 of 5 stars This isn’t a proper review, just a list of things I noticed / liked / disliked about the Salinas Valley California family saga East of Eden by John Steinbeck. The book started out like books written in the middle of last century do—slowly,… Continue reading East of Eden (review)

Writing Prompts, Writing resources

July prompt: flowers

It's July and the season of flowers where I live. One look through my photo collection will show you how much I like them (maybe it's because I'm named after a flower!). Not many flowers are mentioned in the Bible, though, but there are a few.. For example: The shape of almond blossoms was to… Continue reading July prompt: flowers

Book Reviews, Christian fiction, Historical fiction

Trouble In Store (review)

Trouble in Store by Carol Cox My rating: 3 of 5 stars When Melanie Ross is sacked from her job as a governess in Ohio, she decides to take the most appealing option available. She will move to Arizona to collect the belongings of her only relative, deceased cousin George Ross. Maybe her cousin’s friend,… Continue reading Trouble In Store (review)

Ottava rima, Personal

Summer Plans

Summer Plans My mom has signed me up for summer camp. That’s twenty-one meals in the dining hall. It’s shivering in a towel that’s always damp and taking dares to scale the climbing wall. It’s harnessing to be the zip line champ contests of shooting with the basketball. Can’t wait for campfire and those yummy… Continue reading Summer Plans

Quotes, Writing Life, Writing resources

Write! Canada 2013 – 2

In my last post, I talked about Write! Canada, describing the continuing class I took as well as the three workshops I attended. There was more! Keynotes We had three Keynotes, with a different speaker for each: Keynote 1 - singer, songwriter Ali Matthews Matthews spoke of inspiration. She said: Be yourself; everyone else is… Continue reading Write! Canada 2013 – 2