27 Comments

unexamined lives

will eventually haunt us

dig the trenches now...

I applaud your sharing Julie. You are pregnant with another book. The gestation period has no due date so keep taking deep breaths and time. There is no substitute for your willingness to do the hard work now. And perhaps the budding artist within you will help make the digging a bit easier...

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Clark, This first two lines are powerful and so true. I truly enjoy your haikus and what you will respond back with. :) Thank you for the encouragement and support. I needed this reminder.

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Love this poem!! Reminds me of all that I have been through and I survived!! I am still doing what I need to do but I am getting there, thanks to you!!!

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Keep going Faith! You are amazing and an inspiration. I'm so glad I've been helpful to you in some way. Makes my day. :)

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Love this poem and post. It has all the things. You showing up in so many ways. It has resonance for me. Thank you for digging the trench every day.

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Thank you so much Linda. I'm grateful I'm willing to do the work and face myself (not always pretty)

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Buoyant logs nice to float

Kapok trees to carry me

Floating with myself

The moats surrounding us aren’t always protection. I like how you portrayed that in your writing this morning. Lash up the logs, have a fine float, before the moat’s iced over.

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Good morning, Gary. Excellent poem in response! Thank you for your insight and yes soon I will be ice skating...HA!

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As a young boy we had several ice skating ponds to choose from. Remnants of strip mining for coal. The surface of the ice could be very rough, so we learned to cut a hole in the ice allowing room to lift out buckets of water to freeze a new layer of ice.

The reaction of usually sub zero ice to 32°+ water sounded like the groans of a large strange animal. Sometimes the original ice formed cracks.

Then we skated.

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How clever! and fun. We had a pond behind our house (2 fields away) growing up. I remember my mom walking me and my sisters down through the snow covered fields to skate.

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I can see that in my mind. Moats be damned! Did you skate til your feet felt like the temperature of the ice?

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Ha! That's right...

Oh yes— feet and fingers! :)

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Nicely drawn!

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Thank you for the encouragement Gail! It's a great feeling to create a imagine and words together.

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Yes!!!

Multi-dimensional creation. Depth!

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I love this...depth! Thank you Gail. I am willing to learn.

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I didn't know you had so many books. How exciting! I will have to see which one I want to order from you. Keep writing and running! XO

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Oh thank you so much Tracy for taking a peek to see. I have copies here and would be happy to deliver them to you if you think there is a book for you. I hope your week is off to a great start. Will you be traveling for Thanksgiving? Safe travels if so.

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What a very beautiful post, Julie, and you've illustrated it absolutely perfectly!

I loved this:

When I’m tired

I fill the ditch with water

Throw in my raft

And float along

You've reminded me of a lovely moment I'd had in September when we went to the beach after a very stressful day. I didn't swim, but just lay in the sea and floated with my eyes closed - it was absolutely glorious.

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Thank you so much Rebecca for sharing your glorious moment floating with eyes closed. Isn't it wonderful when we take moments to do that...be still and close our eyes with all the hustle/bustle about us. Thanks again! Have a fabulous evening.

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I love this poem. Such a great visual it put in my mind as well as your drawing. Keep digging! ❤️

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Thank you Mom! :) Love you and glad all is well.

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This is so thought provoking Julie! Loved it✨

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Thank you so much Khushi. I'm happy to know. :) Enjoy your day and thank you for being here.

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You too enjoy :)

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Ah, yes.

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Good morning Nancy, I hope you are off to a great start. :)

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