Tag Archives: despair

by

Namaste

I had studied karate at a local dojo in North Western Ontario for three years, but because of a bad bout of mononucleosis and an injured hip decided that I needed to retire my gi for stretchier pants. Also, I will admit, I had reached the point in martial arts where I either needed to develop a more competitive attitude or get out. With a blue belt, there could be no more avoidance of sparring, breaking blocks of wood with a bare hand, or training for longer hours than I had time. Thus began my inner questioning. What exactly did I love about martial arts? Where could I get the same fulfillment without the stress of competition?

Continue reading →

by

My 250 Word Challenge

The Door

Only in the dark, could a glimmer be so bright. Or so Davis thought, when the door swelled beneath his fingers then burst through the grass like a budding mushroom. It drew him to his feet. Beneath his aching hands, the cool metal pulsed with the promise of release.

(Continue reading at Indies Unlimited, Flash Fiction Entries and vote here for your favourite.)

On Christmas Day, I read a blog by Martin Crosbie, whom I met at the Rural Writers’ Retreat in Smithers this fall. He reminded me through his article on Charles Dickens’ self publishing journey for A Christmas Carol  that even those “greats” began somewhere. That those classic authors we teach in school succeeded because of hard work, confidence, and a belief in their creations. Most of all, I guess, our writing and artistic heroes make it because they make a point of creating and publishing. Thanks to my Christmas lesson (even though I thought I was on holidays), I joined the writing site Martin recommended called Indies Unlimited, AND, my first New Year’s Resolution to publish comes in the form of entering a flash fiction contest. Learning to tell a story in 250 words or less is quite an experience! Although it was a bit painful to slash 100 words from my story I decided that it was worth the experience of (1) actually sitting down and writing and (2) putting myself out there in a competitive context.

Please, check out Indies if you haven’t already. Although I am very partial to my own story I promise you that the other submissions are creative and thought provoking, You might even be inspired to try the next writing challenge.

by

Into the matte jumble

clouds

Into the matte jumble

of thumb-pressed cotton

the shadow fell

through

fell

too slowly for the eye to notice

still

there was a sense

a notion of change

in the pulpy towers of cumulous

a cumulative knowing

that some Other being

was there.

 

It was

Not the green-yellow palette

Of pre-apocalyptic sky

 

although more reasoned minds

would wonder at this blindness

this unwillingness to see

what was so obvious –

nor was it the pinprick

of explosive force

that shattered preconception.

 

It was the subtle immersion

into the light-well

the realization of drowning

that brought her to life.

by

I’m Good

Technique:     Free Verse Poetry

Focus:      Experimenting with word play, metaphor, and personal point of view

I’m good

until 6:00 p.m.

puttering in creative content-

ment

playing teacher, mother, confidante

and teaching myself

new distractions

I overload my plate

in an orgy of busy-ness

mask my gluttony

with small helpings

of surface chat

…

but evening always

arises

as surely as the battery on my machine of self distraction

flickers and dies

too soon

time to sleep

or not

by

A Million Reasons

Technique:     Free Verse Poetry

Focus:     Developing an analogy; contrasting long and short lines to create rhythm and emphasis

I read

about love, heartache, loss

and the teen dreamer in me

recognizes the story

as a reflection of my own

… losing yourself in fantasy

in the Harlequin sensuality

of the rabbit hole

is more seductive than the amber liquid

of adult escapism

yet

underneath it all is recognition of

the cancer

the tumour upon your consciousness

too bad

removing yourself from your imagination

is as difficult

as a divorce from nicotine

by

After

Technique:     Free Verse

Focus:     Point of View (present tense)

– present tense –
wishing for the connection
the golden line
the soft sense of communion
between two opposing views
maybe not in words
but feelings
reaching for clear sight
to look between worlds
inner and outer

breathing in the moment
and releasing possibility

let go the sense of failure
the disconnection
the broken lines of
voided
opportunity

be in the moment
even now