Progression of Buts

I shouldn't be saying this but — Typically the majority stand for it but — They assumed we'd go on being quiet but — They said that moral courage was at a minimum but — They thought we'd go on stunned in the grey TV glow but —  They thought we were flies on the screen forever but — Even we believed we had no wings, no grandeur but — They thought our outrage was dead but — There’s supposed to be limits on how long you can push it push it push it but but but — We thought we'd lost each other but — They believed that silence was assent forever but — It looked like it was going to be World War III but — They said that faith was not a well, not a flow, not a channel but — I was telling…

A portrait of Woolf by Roger Fry c. 1917 – Leeds Art Gallery / Public Domain

“How much better is silence; the coffee cup, the table. How much better to sit by myself like the solitary sea-bird that opens its wings on the stake. Let me sit here for ever with bare things, this coffee cup, this knife, this fork, things in themselves, myself being myself.” Virginia Woolf, The Waves

The New York Public Library just announced the acquisition of an extensive Virginia Woolf Collection. This collection provides a rare glimpse into the life of the iconic writer and, merged with existing Library collections related to Woolf, formulates one of the world’s most complete and important collections of Virginia Woolf material.

The Library has acquired by purchase and gift this collection of rarely seen Virginia Woolf material: correspondence, rare printed books and unique material such as photographs, original artwork and ephemera…

FREE TODAY THRU TUESDAY. On AMAZON, or email me if you’d like a free pdf or word doc: [email protected].

https://www.amazon.com/WINGS-Journey-Faith-Sample-Miracles-ebook/dp/B00BMW8Y7Q/ref=sr_1_15?ie=UTF8&qid=1547858605&sr=8-15&keywords=wings+carolyn+molica

In this sample booklet I’ve chosen 6 chapters specifically about miracles. In our world today we sometimes get so involved in medicines and technology that we forget about the bigness of God in providing the miraculous. These stories remind us to think BIGGER.

Illustration courtesy of Frits Ahlefeldt, Public Domain Pictures.net.

“I suspect there will never be a requiem for a dream, simply because it will destroy us before we have the opportunity to mourn its passing.” Hubert Sibley, Jr.,Requiem for a Dream

Our scripts poorly written, poems stillborn.

Our music silent. Impoverished souls.

Victims of that

glib dreamscape of Madison Avenue

and Wall Street parvenu, preachers too-

We have lost our muscle and

they have built for us an iron lung.

Using it well, they line their pockets

with the gold of crippled spirits –

While we, the pedestrian heroes of

blue Mondays, stale “Pastor says” Sundays,

and Christmas at the mall, where

manufactured dreams are sold –

we buy-in, shop dead, and

are swallowed whole.

© 2011, Jamie Dedes

WEDNESDAY WRITING PROMPT

In this week’s poems tell us about values gone awry.

Share your poem/s on theme in the comments section below or leave a link…

“So, you might ask, “What’s the big deal? Why is poetry so important?” Poetry is essential for children because it is “the best words in the best order.” The rhythm and rhymes can help children develop a love a language—and a love of reading. Once kids begin flexing their writing muscles, poetry can spark their creativity and let their imaginations soar!” Sharing the Power of Poetry with Your Child, J. Patrick Lewis, PBS Parents

Michael Rothenberg, co-founder of 100,000 Poets (and friends) for Change, has created a special initiative this year, “Read a Poem to a Child.”

Readers have asked for suggestions: Toward that end, I’m putting out this call for your recommendations of children’s collections, specific poems or the poems you’ve written for children.  I’ll create a post with everything to be shared here and on The Bezine blog and include a link to your website, blog or…

…the other day, I read a post from my Facebook friend, the wunnerfully prolific Authoress, m’Lady, Charity Parkerson, in which she shared her annoyance at seeing some authors viciously ravaging other scribblers’ books…

…I am solidly in her corner with that sentiment… since the beginning of my own journey ten years ago into the magical mystery tour that constitutes an Author’s lot, I’ve been the recipient of fabulous support for my novels from other writers… I learned the tenet immediately that I am not in competition with other penspersons… the readership WURLD is large enuff to accommodate most of the production from our collective efforts… better it is then, by far, to encourage my fellows-in-print… very few books are written in less than months – sum’times it takes years, all of which absorbs the traditional sweat, angst, and tears and a large chunk of an author’s life… I…

“The opposite of love is not hate, it’s indifference. The opposite of art is not ugliness, it’s indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it’s indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, it’s indifference.” Elie Wiesel

In 2011, The Bardo Group Beguines (The BeZine and Beguine Again) collected poems and other works that addressed the need for, the desire for, and prospective paths toward peace. We were inspired by a global movement that was founded by poets Michael Rothenberg and Terri Carrion called 100,000 Poets for Change.

The following year we connected with that global movement and hosted a virtual 100,000 Poets for Change so that folks from anywhere in the world could participate in this extraordinary event even if they were homebound or if there was no event being hosted in their area. It wasn’t long before drummers, mimes, musicians, artists and clergy…

This is a form of mindfulness meditation guided imagery/visualization chi kung.

Herein, this guided imagery will be set forth for a standing position, but it can also be done in a sitting position – sitting on a chair/stool, or in a lotus sitting posture.

Ancillary preparatory exercise: titled as a question – How Much Gratitude Does One Need to be Healthy?

Stand with one’s feet almost together (called a ‘humble stance’), and bend one’s knees comfortably. Put one’s tongue against the roof of one’s mouth (connecting the Governing and Central Vessels – congruent with acupuncture theory). Relax one’s face, shoulders, hands, and feet – it’s said, “if they’re relaxed, you’re relaxed.”

Realize that relaxation is a true skill – there is always room for improvement. Realize, we ALWAYS have some stress, no matter how relaxed we are. Be so relaxed that one is barely standing – in what we coin…

Want to start 2018 free and clear of emotional, mental, and perhaps even spiritual baggage? Then do this exercise. It will surprise you in several ways and will set you on a clean and happy path for the upcoming year.

Thanks Margo for sharing this with me so many years ago!

STEP 1: Make a list of every grief, major or minor, that others caused you this past year. List names and incidents. The more details, the more liberated you’ll get.

STEP 2: Add to the list any past hurts people have caused you that are still bugging you.

STEP 3: Go through the list and categorize the grievances. I’ve listed some of the categories I’ve addressed over the years, as examples to get you started:

-egotistical people not caring about other people’s feelings

-good people letting evil people bully them

-people getting angry when confronted with the truth and…

Welcome to a  lovely heart-warming post form Native American De Ann Townes. De Ann has long been a true friend to Plum Tree Books. She has supported and contributed to all of our anthologies, and it is with great pleasure that I introduce her poet’s soul to you. De Ann is unashamedly passionate in her words and in the way she lives her life. Thank you De Ann for being with us in the plum tree today. I hope you will also enjoy this wonderful picture of Sir Henry Taylor that I have found to accompany De Ann’s lovely post. It is a photograph by genius British photographer Julia Margaret Cameron 1815 – 1875 and is a study of  King David  ~ one of De Ann’s favourite psalmists and poets.

Why I love poetry? Let’s see…

By De Ann Townes

Poetry is the morning dew that lightly glistens on the…