Blogging Downtime–Monday Meanderings

Last week at dVerse Poetics, Fred Rutherford posted a prompt titled Unplugged. I urge you to take a look at it, if you haven’t.

When I learned only that the theme would be “Unplugged,” my mind went to the world of music, and my poem turned out to be a Cento taken from lines of music from some of my favorite performers from the 60’s to the 80’s. But Fred took it a lot further–addressing the value of leaving the smart phone, the computer, all the i-thingy’s in the off position for a while–a day, a week, or whatever you feel works for you. Fred offers some really valuable ideas.

I’ve been struggling with time management lately. I’m in the process of adapting a collection of poetry for the Kindle format, while trying to keep up with my domestic duties, making time for the hubby and kids (of the canine variety), gardening, blogging, and my publishing project. Oh, and an occasional round of (really pathetic) golf.

That being said, I need to take a break from blogging for a week, perhaps less, perhaps more, to focus on that poetry collection. If you don’t see me next Monday, you’ll know where I am.

 

Coming soon to a Kindle near you…and eventually to Create Space

Cover Photo: David Slotto
Cover Art: Victoria Slotto

 

Check this out: a couple of photos of our yard taken earlier this week, after a brief, but brutal hail storm…it looks like snow in August. Have a wonderful week.

Photo: David Slotto
Hail Storm: August, 2013

Photo: David Slotto
Hail Storm, August 2013

Un-Plugging Poets

Photo Credit: David Slotto
All rights reserved.

Un-Plugging Poets
A Cento

Here you are again—entertaining angst.
Pull the plug on pain, my poet friend.

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see.
It’s getting hard to be someone but it all works out; it doesn’t matter much to me.

Here you are again—entertaining angst.
Pull the plug on pain, my poet friend.

It’s getting hard to be someone but it all works out;
it doesn’t matter much to me.

Here you are again—entertaining angst.
Pull the plug on pain, my poet friend.

Hello, darkness, my old friend, I’ve come to talk to you again.
I cry for my darkness to come upon me.

Here you are again—entertaining angst.
Pull the plug on pain, my poet friend.

I have my books and my poetry to protect me.
I am shielded in my armor, hiding in my room.

Here you are again—entertaining angst.
Pull the plug on pain, my poet friend.

Hiding in my room, safe within my womb,
I touch no one, and no one touches me.

Here you are again—entertaining angst.
Pull the plug on pain, my poet friend.

Take me to the garrets where the artists have died.
If we’re all going somewhere, let’s get there soon.

Here you are again—entertaining angst.
Pull the plug on pain, my poet friend.

Just like the driftwood of a dream, left of the seashore of sleep.
Just like the words that wouldn’t rhyme, lost in the desert of time.

Here you are again—entertaining angst.
Pull the plug on pain, my poet friend.

The mist is slowly lifting, I can see the way ahead.
I don’t like this lonely feeling, it wasn’t meant to be this way.

Life isn’t meant to be that way, my poet friend

Music Lyrics:
The Beatles: Strawberry Fields Forever
Moody Blues: I Know You’re Out There Somewhere, Driftwood
Simon and Garfunkel: The Sound of Silence, I Am a Rock
Elton John: This Song Has No Title
Eric Clapton: Bad Influence

I didn’t expect to be able to post today, but when I first heard that the theme would be “unplugged,” I thought of an album of that title by Eric Clapton. This morning I plugged into some music to entertain me while doing chores and was struck by the lyrics from Simon and Garfunkel’s “I Am a Rock.” ( Yes, I’m really old.) These are the ones: “I have my books and my poetry to protect me.” I started paying attention and realized how an undertone of angst is a recurring theme in the poetry of song-writing. And thus, this Cento. If you want more information on this form, you’ll find it here. And please join us for Fred’s prompt at dVerse–Unplugged. But I’m glad I was plugged in to music this morning.

KeeeRak

KeeeRak, KeeeRak. Two snaps
open the black garbage bag.
“Anyone want this? No?”
Thhhlunk.
The business of after-death.

Photo Credit: Stand Up Guys

Written in response to Fred’s prompt for Saturday at dVerse Poetics dealing with short verse and linked to dVerse OLN. Hope to see many of you there! Brian and Claudia’s talent in  incorporating onomatopoeia is exceptional and pushed me to see what I could do with it. 

Hope you will join us and while you’re there check out this Monday’s  Bullfight and Pretzels, an interview with Fred by Laurie Kolp.

Wow! WordPress informs me that this is my 700th post!!

The First Time

Photo Credit: lomalindahealth.org via Google Images

The first time that I witnessed birth,
saw the crowning of the head,
that shock of thick black hair,
heard the melded cries of mother
and her son, the pain and ecstasy
in resounding dissonance,
the joy and fear and victory
of shattered boundaries—
that first time I beheld the
mystery of newborn life
I shuddered in the face of Awe.

The first time that I prayed in silence
without words or thoughts and stood
like Moses by the burning bush
that would not be destroyed and
offered (to the One who is and was
and will be) all that I have been and
am and shall become without limit
that first time I embraced
the mystery of the divine
I shuddered in the face of God.

The first time that I tasted love,
sought urgently to touch and hold,
looked into eyes that knew
my secret sacred spaces,
longed to please before receiving
pleasure, lost track of time, luxuriated
in the scent of passion,
that first time I received the mystery
of you, of all we could become,
I shuddered in the face of Bliss.

The first time I attended death
and held an old man’s icy hand and
looked into his eyes that saw beyond
me, wiped a brow expressing
nuances of sorrow and of joy,
the scope of everything we can imagine,
that first time I received a dying breath
and closed those eyes
I shuddered in the face of the Unknown.

The last time that I said hello, goodbye
I shuddered in the face of Wonder.

Linked at dVerse for Fred’s First Prompt. Stop by and bid him welcome, post a poem and enjoy the company of amazing poets. If I’m slow at commenting or just click “Like,” it’s because I’m having to limit keyboard time due to “Poet’s Elbow.” Thanks for understanding. I will, however, read and sip the fruits of your creative efforts.