I’m bossy because I’ve been told that I am. I’m a narcissist because I’ve been told that I am. I am ugly, unkind, impatient, selfish, weak, overly emotional, irrational, and an ignorant liar. And those people are right. I have worn every one of those hats at some point in my life. I know how…
The words on the door said Only rule: Don’t sit with sinners And it was a room without chairs Just a room full of people Thousands pointing at each other Arms tired Fingers bloodied and raw Stitching scarlet letters Onto wrinkled, worried foreheads Everyone wore one None could read their own They called it justice…
Somewhere in the middle it stops making sense. The painting turns muddy. The story forgets where it was going. The project looks nothing like the vision that kept me tossing and turning at night. I think this is where I most feel like quitting. Not because I can’t do it but because it no longer…
POET BIO: Sophia has a daring heart. Anxious, full of dreams, and endlessly persistent. She watches as her fears circle the drain and then instead of following them she renews her hope and chasing the small opportunities in each day. She may look soft but she has a fierce determination to get out of her…
POET BIO: Claire is a very colorful person. To her living life in “full color” represents emotional richness, diversity, and authenticity. She may seem aloof but only because she gets lost inside the vibrancy of life all around her. Her mind moves like watercolor turning ordinary moments into art. She doesn’t just see color she…
Sometimes the news gets to me. I mean how could it not? I’m trying to hold onto joy but it’s like a slippery trout trying to jump from my hands into a frying pan. Some days I still wake up Inside the ache Of remembering Of something I’d promised I’d outgrow It sits on my…
Summer was born on the hottest day of the year in a field of weeds in the middle of a family reunion. She is like a weed in so many ways. She embodies growth, freedom, and colorful rebellion. She doesn’t wait for permission to belong she just grows into the spaces she wants to be…
POET BIO: Meet Camilla. She is deeply respectful of her heritage. She is the keeper of her roots and a collector of memories. She gathered the stories of strength from the generations before her and carries them each as a whisper in her heart. This respect for her culture is the grounding force that shapes…
POET BIO: Wilma was born in a garden under the soft amber light of the Harvest Moon. She believes everything we feel can be seen in the Earth’s rhythms. The rain reflects our tears, thunder echoes our rage, flowers bloom with our joy, and still water mirrors our peace. She is steady, nurturing, and quietly…
It’s that time of year again. I am making the creative commitment to blog with the Cheer Peppers #nanopoblano2025 again as I have for the last several years. This year I am hoping to have three new blog posts each week for the next month. Over the next four weeks, I’ll be blending my passion…
I haven’t been here much because I’ve been dreaming big. And I don’t mean passive dreaming. I mean the kind that keeps you awake at night. The kind where you’re learning, creating, solving, and staying up late chasing something beautiful that doesn’t quite exist yet. Trying to bring dreams to life is hard and passionate…
Where “woke” came from and went to
The bleary comes To meet the weepy Before sitting down Next to sleepy So I try to find A place to rest Where peace And calm exist But all to often Moody comes With sad To steal Whatever’s left
There are a few things I’ve learned in my 54 years of life. I feel like I should have learned more but I got a few truths I live by. 1- If someone doesn’t love you or like you don’t spend energy trying to change that. The only exception is if there was once love…
I was thinking about friendships and relationships and how I gravitate to those who aren’t afraid to carry light into the deepest darks. Those who aren’t afraid of tears. Who help you back up when you have no strength left. People who help you fight the lies and hunt for truth. I fell in love…
HASTYWORDS 