I grow my flowers lovingly
I touch, their pedals sigh
from knowing of their task in life
–delight and mystify.
The rose, it’s thorns protective, pierce
a skin, naive of threat
but once a droplet, red, descends
the memory’s inset
As the milkweed draws the monarchs
quite stupefied am I
to learn a universe as this
creates to gratify.
Early artwork by CD-W (I guess because of its simplicity, it’s still one of my favorites)
The world is round and I can’t stop rolling.
All I want to do is rest.
It’s risky business, first learning to paint
being creative, letting go of restraint
who wouldn’t want to see two women chattin’
But maybe not Churchill
compressed in a wagon.
(a couple of my numerous early paintings)
daily word prompt: Risky
First Movement : I started taking piano lessons when my kids were young. It was, you know, one of those things you want to try. As it turned out, although I truly enjoyed making sounds on the piano, I never could manage to really play.
Second Movement: Before Ludwig Von Beethoven was completely deaf, he composed “Quasi una fantasia,” roughly translated as “almost a fantasy” but better known as Moonlight Sonata.
Third Movement: Around this time, I was also taking art lessons. I wanted to draw something other than stick figures. So, I tucked a bunch of art classes under my belt.
Fourth Movement: I watched a a movie about the great composer who left his estate to his “Immortal Beloved” – also the name of the film. I love this movie! Especially 2 particular scenes – the one at the end (you’ll have to watch), and the one where Beethoven, in his later years, plays Moonlight Sonata with his head rested on the piano so he can “feel” the notes.
Wrapping up this Composition:
So, I took a screen shot of that particular scene. (A great idea for practicing artists)
And made my own interpretation.
As I assumed all along, we can’t all be Beethoven’s.
But in our own ways, we can play along.
(Even if it’s a play on words)
I know, I know. It’s hard sometimes to get motivated to eat right and exercise, not only our bodies, but our minds. But since I’m about to scroll down another line to hit the year I was born (lucky cursor), I thought I’d find some inspiration.
Aging is a relative term. Some might feel their life is almost over when they hit the big 30. Others, like me, understand that we knew very little at that time.
As actress Helen Mirren said, “Your 40s are good. Your 50s are great. Your 60s are fab. And 70 is f*@king awesome!”
Want to keep your get-up-and-go getting up and going? Ponder these:
— “For the unlearned, old age is winter; for the learned, it is the season of the harvest.” ~Hasidic saying
— “I believe the second half of one’s life is meant to be better than the first half. The first half is finding out how you do it. And the second half is enjoying it.” ~Frances Lear
— “None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.” ~Henry David Thoreau
— “I am appalled that the term we use to talk about aging is ‘anti.’ Aging is as natural as a baby’s softness and scent. Aging is human evolution in its pure form.”~ Jamie Lee Curtis
— “The great thing about getting older is that you become more mellow. Things aren’t as black and white, and you become much more tolerant. You can see the good in things much more easily rather than getting enraged as you used to do when you were young.” ~Maeve Binchy
— “We don’t grow older, we grow riper.” ~Pablo Picasso
— “You’re either marvelous or you’re boring, regardless of your age.” – Morrisse
— “Laughter is timeless. Imagination has no age. And Dreams are forever.” – Walt Disney
— “Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be.” ~Robert Browning
Accept and be loyal to yourself.
And remember, that WON’T and CAN’T are two entirely different kettles.
The CAN polish is free.
photo 1: Royal Free Stock Photos
Painting 2: by Claude Joseph Bail (1862-1921)
Daily Word Prompt: Loyal
No longer can I fill these shoes.
Yet I remember a time
when the patent leather formed neatly around my feet
soft, worn, comfortable
Soles carefree and made of ease
durable for playing chase and hide and seek
or freeze tag in the dark
the lining soft enough for catching fireflies
and my parents goodnight kisses
The tips firm, protecting toes that so easily stumbled.
The heels perfectly made for scuffling
for dragging my feet when it suited
Shoes, easy to pull off for bedtime stories
and tuck-me-in time.
No longer do they fit, those shoes
Yet, it matters not.
I have merely grown into a larger size
the soul intact.
art by C. Dennis-Willingham
I watched the hot air balloon ascend and nervously waited until it was my turn. Truthfully, watching them from the ground is much more peaceful.
Daily word prompt: Ascend
So much did she love her wee Sammy Crockett
she kept him tucked safely inside her shirt pocket.
He didn’t much mind the prospect at first
he never was hungry, nor parched from a thirst.
The lining was soft, the fabrics in style
He seemed satisfied, at least for a while.
But the day she took him on a long morning stroll
he started to feel like a con on parole.
He yelled from her pocket, “Enough is enough!
“Yes, I HEAR plenty, but I want to SEE stuff!”
Like bands playing songs, leaves blowing off trees,
a man at a circus atop a trapeze,
the people at market buying their wares,
the making of popcorn at our county fairs!”
Well, she loved him so much she planned to devise
something he’d like that would fit his wee size.
She built him a house from a splendid, smooth boulder
and attached the small building to the top of her shoulder.
She filled it with pillows, a couch and plush chairs
and cut out some windows to give him fresh air.
“Look dear,” she said as they ventured to town,
“The queen has arrived with her shiny jeweled crown!
She continued to talk as she traipsed over ground
But her husband said nothing, no peep nor a sound.
She turned to the silence, looked in the wee house
and there, snoring deeply, lay Crockett, her spouse.
The townsfolk could hear as she said without doubt,
“He seemed to forget that he yearned to look out!”
She carted him home, placed the house on a shelf
and decided to do something fun for herself.
first image- 123rf.com
second image: youtube.com “Walk cycle-the proud naked old lady”
If you can’t get back on the horse
– -well, you can, of course
If you can’t find your way home
you’re not alone
If you can’t lead the horse to water
then, dear granddaughter,
forget about the nag.
‘Cause if you can’t get to the cookie,
eat through the bag!“
and if you bite off more than you can chew
don’t worry, you’ll pull through
Let sleeping dogs lie
and you’ll be fine
‘Cause your guess is as good as mine.
Carolyn Dennis-Willingham 