About Carolyn Dennis-Willingham, Author

Author of two published books – No Hill for a Stepper, 2001, and The Last Bordello, 2016, and numerous children's books. Her third novel, Distilling Lies is set in 1928 and will be released on May 9th. A former early childhood specialist, she taught bias-free education to teachers at the local, state, and national levels and applies this fundamental principle in her writing. Whether writing for adults or children, her stories revolve around empowering the readers (and listeners) to believe in their potential, to appreciate diversity, and to believe in the power of imagination. When not on her laptop, she willingly serves as the lap-top for her five young grandchildren. In addition to writing, she enjoys boxboxing, hiking, dancing, strength training, and traveling. Occasionally, she pulls out the oil paints to see what emerges on a blank canvas. In addition to her blogging website, cdwcreations.com, you can find her on Facebook and on Instagram @cdwwrites .

The Waterfall’s Encore

Posted on October 23, 2017 by Carolyn Dennis-Willingham, Author

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I would loathe to be a waterfall

shed constant tears or’r worries wall

A heart of sadness would entail

a final curtain call

waterfallchick

But I’d sit on top a streaming run

in early morn ‘fore day’s begun

to feel the soothing water flow

awaiting for the sun

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Each day that passes I’d proudly stand

to watch the torrent, water fanned

and listen as it plays the tune

of nature’s gift well planned

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But to live beneath the fountain’s pour

unbroken moments of encore

inhale the mist of motioned life

I’d want for nothing more

photo 1: credit by Jim Warren Art

photo 2: credit

photo 3: painted by self (after another artist who’s painting I unfortunately can’t locate to give due credit)

photo 4: credit

I measure every Grief I meet

Posted on October 22, 2017 by Carolyn Dennis-Willingham, Author

I measure every Grief I meet (561)

Emily Dickinson, 1830 – 1886

I measure every Grief I meet
With narrow, probing, eyes – 
I wonder if It weighs like Mine – 
Or has an Easier size.

I wonder if They bore it long – 
Or did it just begin – 
I could not tell the Date of Mine – 
It feels so old a pain – 

I wonder if it hurts to live – 
And if They have to try – 
And whether – could They choose between – 
It would not be – to die – 

I note that Some – gone patient long – 
At length, renew their smile –  
An imitation of a Light
That has so little Oil – 

I wonder if when Years have piled –  
Some Thousands – on the Harm –  
That hurt them early – such a lapse
Could give them any Balm –  

Or would they go on aching still
Through Centuries of Nerve – 
Enlightened to a larger Pain –  
In Contrast with the Love –  

The Grieved – are many – I am told –  
There is the various Cause –  
Death – is but one – and comes but once –  
And only nails the eyes –  

There’s Grief of Want – and grief of Cold –  
A sort they call “Despair” –  
There’s Banishment from native Eyes – 
In sight of Native Air –  

And though I may not guess the kind –  
Correctly – yet to me
A piercing Comfort it affords
In passing Calvary –  

To note the fashions – of the Cross –  
And how they’re mostly worn –  
Still fascinated to presume
That Some – are like my own –

EmilyDickinson

photo credit of Emily Dickinson, my FAVORITE poet.

Daily Word Prompt: Enlighten

Don’t Take My Mad

Posted on October 22, 2017 by Carolyn Dennis-Willingham, Author

I like my mad

it suits me just fine

Don’t try to take it, or break it

it’s mine.

I’m Tarzan on a swing

Foreman in the ring

my ire shoots out

like a natural spring

I like my mad

it keeps me sane

Don’t try to grab it, can’t have it

That plain?

I’m the big Head Cheese

master of the seas

call me Poseidon, Zeus

or Hercules

I like my mad

it’s something to do

not bored, this chord

strikes a charge or two

I’m a fine deal breaker

head dough maker

truth be told,

an emotion faker

I like my mad

what’s wrong with a vent?

Just bent not knowing

where everyone went.

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photo credit

Spect-ables

Posted on October 22, 2017 by Carolyn Dennis-Willingham, Author

In retrospect

if you inspect

my spectacles

I expect you

to be respectful

and circumspect

since my perspective

is spectacular

on any spectrum

daily word prompt: Expect

To Plant Again

Posted on October 20, 2017 by Carolyn Dennis-Willingham, Author

A meager end of one’s desires

Helpless, falls within the fires

Softly heard the silent pleas

For targets reached with greater ease.

Bemoan the loss of relinquished goals

That lay defeated upon the coals

As sparks take flight and seconds clash

They cruelly wither and turn to ash.

Rising yet above the flame

Release of who or what to blame

To plant again a seed accrued

From hopes of life and dreams renewed.

journal plans

(My poetry made into a painting)

Daily Prompt: Release

White Girl Dancin’

Posted on October 20, 2017 by Carolyn Dennis-Willingham, Author

Small town Mississippi

visitin’ a friend

stayin’ in a shotgun house

tilted on one end

Main Street short

railroad long

light’nin’ bugs flicker

with their own torch song

Blues man playin’

me ‘an cook staff laughin’

holding’ our bellies

at this white girl dancin’

White girl dancin’

White folk glarin’

Happy don’t care

jus’ keep on starin’

visiting Miss “Mississippi’n Me”

Speaking out against bigotry

Posted on October 19, 2017 by Carolyn Dennis-Willingham, Author

I was never a fan of George W. Bush when he was our U.S. President. In fact, I was very angry with him at the time. Time changes things.

Five or so years ago, I saw him and President Clinton speak together at a forum about education. Bush was not only likable but funny and quick witted.

Today, George W. has spoken out against bigotry and white supremacy.

“Our identity as a nation, unlike other nations, is not determined by geography or ethnicity, by soil or blood. … This means that people from every race, religion, ethnicity can be full and equally American,” he said during remarks at the George W. Bush Institute in New York City. “It means that bigotry and white supremacy, in any form, is blasphemy against the American creed.”

“We’ve seen nationalism distorted into nativism — forgotten the dynamism that immigration has always brought to America,” Bush said. “We see a fading confidence in the value of free markets and international trade — forgetting that conflict, instability, and poverty follow in the wake of protectionism.”

“Bullying and prejudice in our public life sets a national tone, provides permission for cruelty and bigotry, and compromises the moral education of children, the only way to pass along civic values is to first live up to them,” he said.

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He never mentioned the current President by name. But it was there, between every line.

Way to go, Mr. Bush. Way to go!

To see the speech, click here.

The Way of Things

Posted on October 19, 2017 by Carolyn Dennis-Willingham, Author

I remember this, my last conversation with Papa.

He, trying to alleviate our pain.

But I heard, through his bravado

the saddened beat of my heart

submerged in deep water

no knowledge of how to stay afloat

grief no words could express

He said,

“Remember the sandhill crane?”

How could I forget?

Long necks

the sound of their rattle calls

broad wings flying over

ancestral farmland

He said,

“She’s like the hourglass that drips the sand of time

replenishes herself by picking leftovers from the field

She keeps moving forward.

She never stops.

She is you

and she is me.

Our fields, too deep to forget

Too vast to go away.

I will never truly leave you”

“Is this the way of things, Papa?”

“Ja, mein liebes.”

“It is,” he smiled.

sandhill-cranes-dancing-jon-janosik

Prose adapted from my novel, “Naked, She Lies”

Photo credit

Express

The Nestling

Posted on October 19, 2017 by Carolyn Dennis-Willingham, Author

I woke to morn, mouth open wide

yet not in feathered bed

but in a nest atop a tree

and reaching toward the sky

Perched high from ground to take the fruit

wearing but my skin of birth

abrupt and swiftly wisdom flowed

awareness taking root

I wake to morn and wonder meaning

of a message kindly sent

by some wise spirit who had appeared

while I lay deftly dreaming.

enlightenment

(I sketched this the morning after so I would not forget)

Why worry for tomorrow?

Posted on October 19, 2017 by Carolyn Dennis-Willingham, Author

We know what happened yesterday

we know our present stint

but what shall come tomorrow, we

have not an ounce of glint

Perhaps that’s for the better, thus

we live life as bestowed

no worry of what if’s and how’s

just watch as it unfolds.

For isn’t it a grander scheme

eyes upward toward the glow

to cast anxieties aside

and let the worries go?

Weekly Photo Challenge: Glow

Carolyn Dennis-Willingham

author perfectly flawed

Author Archives: Carolyn Dennis-Willingham, Author

About Carolyn Dennis-Willingham, Author

The Waterfall’s Encore

I measure every Grief I meet

I measure every Grief I meet (561)

Emily Dickinson, 1830 – 1886

Don’t Take My Mad

Spect-ables

To Plant Again

White Girl Dancin’

Speaking out against bigotry

Today, George W. has spoken out against bigotry and white supremacy.

The Way of Things

The Nestling

Why worry for tomorrow?