Tag Archives: inspiration

Poetry, Writing

Impossible Peace  House of the Dragon

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(Poem 197 for 2024 – I am writing a poem a day)

AI Generated image I prompted on Gencraft.com https://gencraft.ai/p/BcZSjF

The Hatfields and McCoys-like family feud
that was the Brackens and Blackwoods
paled in comparison to the bodies used
for fodder by those fighting for the throne.
The Dance of Dragons has begun in earnest,
despite the unspoken awareness by all that
bloodshed of kin by kin is a most appalling
form of violence to the gods of their ancestors.
While the men gnash their teeth, and their
dragons chomp at the bit, the women kneel
before alters of stone lighting candles and
whisper of impossible peace, the intent of
kings, and the wishes for undoing wrongs.

@Home Studio – 197th poem of the year (after watching House of the Dragon Season 2 Episode 3.)

Condal, Ryan and George R. R. Martin, creators. House of the Dragon. HBO Entertainment and Warner Bros., 2024.

Runner ups for the Queen Prayers photos to accompany my poem:

Poetry, Writing

Austin Grind

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(Poem 196 for 2024 – I am writing a poem a day)

https://images.app.goo.gl/A45HMcJgMDfrc3XK9

My grind began with driving  
my grandfather to the hospital,
then trying to find a coffee shop
where I could set up and work.
The first big chain location
was full of people like me with
their laptops open on tables,
steaming cups of coffee at
each elbow, the essential
fuel that powers commerce.
Siri found me another option,
and she did not disappoint.
Austin Grind welcomed me
with open arms, an empty
table, tea, and a tasty scone.
Later, at lunch time, a chicken
panini hit the spot to keep me
nourished, comfortable, and
working steadily on my hot-
spot until time to rescue my
grandfather from his ordeal.
Five stars, first class, top notch,
superb, blue-ribbon, stellar,
as reviewed by this remote
worker who will be sure to
revisit next time I need a safe,
inviting space with good food
and tea for the daily grind.

@Home Studio – 196th poem of the year

Runner ups for the Austin Grind photos to accompany my poem:

Poetry, Writing

Bear

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(Poem 195 for 2024 – I am writing a poem a day)

AI Generated image I prompted on Gencraft.com https://gencraft.ai/p/MsPzoq

Man or Bear, easy choice,
especially when my Bear
gives hugs and kisses and
is always happy to see me.

We’re the best of friends;
we understand each other.
Our weekly seal our bond,
my protector, my bodyguard.

She reminds me to use the
restroom when I need to,
to take care of myself and
simply enjoy time together.

@Home Studio – 195th poem of the year

Runner ups for the Bear photos to accompany my poem:

Poetry, Writing

Sissy

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(Poem 194 for 2024 – I am writing a poem a day)

Photos taken by Erica Smith.

Sissy says it’s breakfast time,
affection is only welcome from
the lone matron of the house,
and lack of treats is a crime.

She’s sassy, demanding, and
extra verbal when annoyed,
she prefers to be left alone,
and likes her cat food canned.

Each of her insults is hurled
from the back of her chair,
and her perches are plenty
because this is Sissy’s world.

@Home Studio – 194th poem of the year

Poetry, Writing

Lesson 19 The Way of the Wizard

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(Poem 193 for 2024 – I am writing a poem a day)

“Look upon desire as the willingness to receive what God wants to give.” – Merlin, The Way of the Wizard    

AI Generated image I prompted on Gencraft.com https://gencraft.ai/p/N7hzab

The only way to escape perpetual
immaturity is to ache to go beyond
the boundaries we have set for
ourselves as acceptable, normal,
safe, and comfortable in the now.
We must stretch outward through
the discomfort of reaching for what
we do not yet recognize as reality
to grasp ahold of our destiny and
allow desire to materialize again
and again and again until we see
that the direct path to God has
been our longing all along in the
form of wishes and needs we did
not even understand as yearning
for the perfection of pure love.

@Erica’s – 193rd poem of the year

Chopra, Deepak. The Way of the Wizard: Twenty Spiritual Lessons for Creating the Life You Want. New York, United States of America, Harmony Books, 1995, pp.129-135.

Runner ups for the Arthur crown photos to accompany my poem:

Poetry, Writing

Old Friend

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(Poem 192 for 2024 – I am writing a poem a day)

AI Generated image I prompted on Gencraft.com https://gencraft.ai/p/zE8jZQ

Lunch with an old friend
is always a nice time to
catch up on family and
career, health and goals,
to reconnect over tales
of the past, memories of
the trials by fire and joys
we endured, tolerated,
and survived in the line
of duty that is a niche
experience most cannot
fathom, nor relate to.

Something about talking
through the time spent
in the trenches of yesterday
reminds us that the alternate
reality that was our daily
existence was real and vital,
and still being here to
talk about it confirms that
we are okay, our sacrifices
mattered and are not forgotten,
at least by us, as long as we
whisper our stories out loud.

@Erica’s – 192nd poem of the year (After lunch with Debbie Rice-Hutchison.)

Poetry, Writing

Summer Bouquet

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(Poem 191 for 2024 – I am writing a poem a day)

AI Generated image I prompted on Gencraft.com https://gencraft.ai/p/xvH8ZZ

Interlaced stems braided
to create structure beneath
the surface soak in nutrients,
nourish new opening buds,
hold strong fully-flared,
freshly-ripened flowers of
cerulean, cardinal red, plum,
violet, magenta, tangerine,
and pops of bright sunflower.

@Erica’s – 191st poem of the year

Runner ups for the bouquet photos to accompany my poem:

Poetry, Writing

Uter-Us

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(Poem 190 for 2024 – I am writing a poem a day)

AI Generated image I prompted on Gencraft.com https://gencraft.ai/p/Sa2iIv https://gencraft.ai/p/WKPxbw   https://gencraft.ai/p/pOcgWm

The uterus is a universe
of endometrial enchantment,
a whispering womb,
a reproductive realm,
a cervical sanctuary,
and the cradle of life;
the hormonal harmony
in that pelvic paradise
creates menstrual magic
from the ovarian orbit
and fallopian fantasy that
results in a cycle symphony

…until it becomes something else…

a pelvic painscape
due to hormonal havoc
that creates womb woes
due to cervical crisis,
ovaries who are outraged,
frustrated fallopian tubes,
endometrial eruptions,
menstrual mayhem,
cycles of chaos,
a fertility fiasco,
and the reproductive riot
that brings only destruction.

@Home Studio – 190th poem of the year

Runner ups for the Uterus photos to accompany my poem:

Poetry, Writing

Bloody Mary

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(Poem 189 for 2024 – I am writing a poem a day)

AI Generated image I prompted on Gencraft.com https://gencraft.ai/p/YhrjGf

Catoptromancy
Dark room
Single candle
Running water
Spin 3 times
Look in the mirror
Ghostly corpse
Chanting her name
Bloody Mary
Bloody Mary
Bloody Mary

 @Home Studio – 189th poem of the year

Runner ups for the Bloody Mary photos to accompany my poem:

Poetry, Writing

Playing in the Creek

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(Poem 188 for 2024 – I am writing a poem a day)

AI Generated image I prompted on Gencraft.com https://gencraft.ai/p/uVDhyu

I remember the sound of cicadas
as we found frogs in the mud on the
banks of the creek we weren’t really
supposed to be playing in because
my father was certain we were going
to somehow drown in the three feet
of water that trickled and pooled
and invited us siren-like to the middle.
I remember pretending to like fishing
because my older cousin Tim was
collecting worms, and I wanted him
to think I was mature for a little girl
and not squeamish at all about the
wriggling, squirming, slippery, slimy
bits that had to be impaled tip to tail.
I remember the grown-ups always
sitting around sipping sweet tea in
the most boring looking way and
doing nothing but talking and eating
and occasionally laughing or yelling
at one of us to shut the door or quit
coming in and out, and I was certain
I would never want to sit around like
them and be boring when I grew up.

@Home Studio – 188th poem of the year

Runner ups for the Creek photos to accompany my poem: