Tag Archives: family

Poetry, Writing

Rise

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(Poem 124 for 2024 – I am writing a poem a day)

https://images.app.goo.gl/wJTsFk2Qgnv5pQiQ6
https://images.app.goo.gl/iVqjuik4pPKu2j639
https://images.app.goo.gl/ta3x13DZD917NHcZ9

Anyone who has ever parented a surly teen or
held a baby and felt their entire dependence as
your responsibility can relate to the poignant family
dynamic scenes in Rise of the Planet of the Apes.
Caesar’s coming of age trauma hurts us mothers
and fathers because we watch our own babies
suffer the slings and arrows of this world unprotected.
No matter our desire to rescue them from the pain
of growth, the journey is theirs and theirs alone.
If only the world could be a softer place for our
children, but alas, we must limp along and support
each other, for “alone…weak. Together…strong.”

@The Writing Barn: Buddha Hall (after watching Rise of the Planet of the Apes at Greg’s house with Greg and his family, Debbie, Celinda, and David on 5/4/24) – 124th poem of the year

Rupert Wyatt, et al., Rise of the Planet of the Apes, Beverly Hills, CA, 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, 2011.

Poetry, Writing

Mema Day

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(Poem 123 for 2024 – I am writing a poem a day)

I took this photograph on Mema’s front porch 5/4/24.

My sister bought a box
of butterflies to release in
honor of Mema’s birthday.
We gathered, all five
generations of us, and
watched in awe as they
emerged from their sleepy
coldness to warm to the
overcast heat of a May day.
Each butterfly took its own
time exploring this new
brightness of air and space,
flitting from tiny human to
big human to ground to
metal rooftop and beyond.
The last Painted Lady
dilly-dallied and decided
to rest a while on a potted
plant on Mema’s porch.
None of us really knew
what to expect and were
pleasantly surprised at the
loveliness of the little
creatures Mema loved so.

@The Writing Barn: Buddha Hall (in honor of Mema’s birthday that was on May 2nd and the butterfly release that was on May 4th. She would have been 89.) – 123rd poem of the year

Poetry, Writing

Matilda

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(Poem 110 for 2024 – I am writing a poem a day)

The evil Miss Thrunchbull (Emma Thompson) and the brilliant young Matilda (Alisha Weir) square off in “Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical. (Courtesy of Netflix)
https://www.amazon.com/Matilda-Puffin-Modern-Classics-Roald/dp/0142402532

Matilda was dealt an awful hand,
the most neglectful parents in all the land.  
When finally caught by the powers that be,
she went to school, which filled her with glee.

Sad to say, the school was the worst,
run by a tyrant who believed kids were cursed.
Poor Matilda was viewed as an evil child,
so she made up stories that were truly wild.

A librarian was her biggest fan,
who encouraged her to take a stand.
Then her teacher Ms. Honey cheered her on,
and eventually all the threats were gone.

Now Matilda has a family and friends,
a happy school, and love that never ends.
She even has a house and a yard,
so she can continue her role as a bard.

@Home Studio – (after watching the musical Matilda with Debbie and Celinda) 110th poem of the year

Warchus, Matthew, director. Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical film. TriStar Pictures, 2022.

Poetry, Writing

Life Is Hard

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(Poem 65 for 2024 – I am writing a poem a day)

Kenji, Aiko, Beauty (Starting at 12 o’clock and going clockwise)

Life is hard for protectors
who must bark endlessly to
deter potential enemies.
Anything could be a threat-
that leaf fluttering menacingly
toward the fence line,
the plane flying over head,
even the car passing on the
street that can’t be seen,
only heard and understood
to pose a danger to all.
It is only right that well-earned
naps take place at regular
intervals throughout the day.
How else will they manage
to continue their missions,
patrol every inch of property,
smell every conceivable
danger before it could
possibly occur, and protect
the peace with dignity?
The cat just likes to nap for
no good reason; she has not
honorably earned her sleep,
nor has she contributed in
any way to the security of
her family beyond gazing
disinterestedly at the hard
workers as they tirelessly
performed their duties.
It is a thankless job with
only contentment as reward.

@Home Studio – 65th poem of the year