Expenditures, deposits, interest, receipts, deductions, strategy, percentage, gains— fabulous concepts when studied one by one, but roll them all up into a financial plan sushi, and the concoction is nauseating… I might even be allergic.
@Home Studio – 214th poem of the year
Runner ups for the Budgeting photos to accompany my poem:
Doctor Dear, Does your mommy know you’re here? Did she pack you a lunch and put bows in your hair? Can you stay here this late, or do you have a curfew? Are you allowed to use those shiny tools, or do you need adult supervision? You have such a big vocabulary for such a young lady. Such gentle care, Sweet Doctor Dear.
@Home Studio – 213th poem of the year
Runner ups for the Doctor Dear photos to accompany my poem:
Auspicious stone turtles stand guard, gargoyles of destiny, good fortune baked into their shells, assuring the dwelling longstanding fortune. The turtles in the pond fight for bits of mushy carrot, stale bread, and greens, unaware of the larger battle being fought in the sky pond by Grummans and Warhawks. The people swim and love, dream and hope, serve an emperor or a president who demands unwavering loyalty, and wonder when peace will fill the turtle house again.
@Home Studio – 212th poem of the year (After reading The Turtle House by Amanda Churchill.)
Churchill, Amanda. The Turtle House. Harper Collins, 2024.
Runner ups for the Turtle House photos to accompany my poem:
If Joy and Sadness go missing, Anger, Fear, and Disgust try to take control. And no matter how hard we try to ride the train of thought to the solution, it’s difficult to escape danger without sacrificing little pieces of ourselves. But the integration of our most vulnerable parts strengthens our core memories and allows us to reach out from our islands to embrace those we love.
@Home Studio – 211th poem of the year (After watching Inside Out with my grandkids and bawling like a baby.)
Kazu Music discordant at first too much stimuli for neurodivergence to tolerate without an escape plan in place unless love and patience can settle and soften and rebuild a family in all its lovely mess.
@Home Studio – 210th poem of the year (After watching Music by Sia with Debbie and Celinda.)
Sitting in the eye of the storm while the world flies past outside the windows of this steel box protective casing, heart races, sinews solidify to the point of intense shaking, and nothing but this fixed point matters because precious life rests in that axis and the breath that was held is finally released into the stillness that settles after spinning out.
@Home Studio – 208th poem of the year
Runner ups for the Spinning Out photos to accompany my poem:
Seasmoke has spoken without words, choosing a rider for himself from the Velaryon lineage. His Addam is a first among men in that he was sought out by the beast and selected for the bond, plucked from the sea of obscurity his illegitimacy destined. The gods are as wise as they are capricious.
@Home Studio – 206th poem of the year (after watching House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 6.)
Condal, Ryan and George R. R. Martin, creators. House of the Dragon. HBO Entertainment and Warner Bros., 2024.
Runner ups for the Seasmoke photos to accompany my poem:
“With the king’s promises…you can feed the mouths of ghosts.” Mrs. Hammer
While the Sea Snake grieves the Queen Who Never Was, his granddaughter must lift his gaze beyond self-pity and remind him of the duty he owes his queen who is blood and fire.
While the King Consort slowly descends into madness amidst strangers and ghosts at Harrenhal, memories and regrets haunt his dreams stealing his peace, darke magic weakening him.
While the Usurper King lays melted by dragon fire and pain, the lowborn people starve and wale and weep as one because the gates are barred and the stores are empty as a dry well.
@Home Studio – 205th poem of the year (after watching House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 5.)
Condal, Ryan and George R. R. Martin, creators. House of the Dragon. HBO Entertainment and Warner Bros., 2024.
Runner ups for the Episode 5 photos to accompany my poem:
Oh, where has she gone, Ava dear, Ava dear? Oh, where has she gone, your sweet mother? She has left me here alone with the dog and her bone. Will she come home, or leave me with my brothers?
Oh, where has she gone, Caleb dear, Caleb dear? Oh, where has she gone, your sweet mother? She has left me here all day with the cat and games to play. Will she come home to me, my sister, and my brother?
Oh, where has she gone, Jacob dear, Jacob dear? Oh, where has she gone, your sweet mother? She has left me here to starve, so a turkey I must carve. Will she come home to me, my sister, and my brother?
Oh, where has she gone, Sissy dear, Sissy dear? Oh, where has she gone, your sweet mother? She has left me here with them; my prospects are grim. Will she come home to me, and those others?
Oh, where has she gone, Bear dear, Bear dear? Oh, where has she gone, your sweet mother? She has left me here with Lou; now I think I have the flu. Will she come home, please, so I can recover?
@Home Studio – 202nd poem of the year
Runner ups for the Missing Mother photos to accompany my poem: