I tinker with my obligations before the day begins shuffling them like Scrabble tiles considering their perfect placement on my game-board of hours plan my drives to count both ways combine lists for family and work to do double duty – like using X to make OX and AX pray each move will be efficient… Continue reading Scrabbled Day
Lately the old mothers have been slipping from their places falling, dying vacating strategic positions leaving gaps in the front line. A new generation of matriarchs is needed to organize the family dinners the baby showers and the anniversaries and send the birthday cheques There's a call for fresh recruits a newly commissioned troop of… Continue reading Changing of the Guard
Lord, I put the hours of this week like loves and fishes into Your hands. Multiply each crumb of time. Help me hear Your voice above the babble of the crowd saying, “Sit, don’t stand. Here, eat this food of trust and peace that lasts and satisfies eternally.” And when all tasks are done there… Continue reading Monday Morning Prayer
Scratch 'n' sniff yellow aroma of angel food and jelly roll when you wake up Saturday-morning-warm. Hurry down to claim bowl and beaters dripping with batter to lick. Scratch 'n' sniff white perfume of just-washed frozen diapers softening beside the heater. Laundry makes Mom tired. "Read!" you call as she dozes off again, mid-story at… Continue reading Love’s Scratch ‘n’ Sniff
Yesterday’s fever broke in the evening This morning cool soothing air bathes face arms legs the neighborhood refreshed as if it slept deep and exhausted after sickness But sun’s warm hand upon my back warns temperature is rising and burning heat will soon again blister the brown grass make bright-eyed impatiens and roadside chicory droop… Continue reading Heat Wave
Not a Cat-, Dog- or Bird-lady she scours the neighborhood for Furniture abandoned at the curb – chairs, hutches, footstools, lampshades – brings them home to brood and dream over then transforms and restores with sandpaper, paint, stain varnish and varathane re-upholsters with velvet and brocade nourishes personality with painted heart or flower, glued on… Continue reading Kingdom of Castaways
Jette welcomes me to her class. Around the room before-and-after photos garden books, stacks of old 'Garden Wise' to give away. She tells stories of rescuing roots from roadsides extols the benefits of manure the nutrition of seaweed. She is a woodstove ablaze with garden enthusiasm. I am warmed by her fire recall my old… Continue reading Garden Yang-yin
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 by Violet… Continue reading Summer Serenade
It no longer matters that I'm not good at basketball. Who cares that I'm the oldest of nine. Don't follow my example now! University is the place to discover myself. Who cares that I'm the oldest of nine? My high school dates were awkward and pimply. University is the place to discover myself and ace… Continue reading U-days
Sonia is from the sandbox, from Cabbage Patch dolls and sidewalk chalk. She’s from the cul-de-sec where she rode her pink bike around and around in spring break rain. She’s from camping and reading along with taped storybooks, under the slanting canvas of the tent trailer. Sonia is from strong coffee and getting up early… Continue reading Where Sonia is From
Violet Nesdoly 