Recipe For Love

November 15, 2023.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Relationships are complicated. Each generation, it seems, struggles to find the answers. My tanka is a one observation. What would you add?

Carry On

September 13, 2023.Reading time 1 minute.

For the past year and a half, my husband and I have committed to helping Ukrainians fleeing war. This has included opening our doors to house five families. We have been witness to unimaginable darkness and at the same time been deeply moved by the drive and resilience of those whose lives have touched ours. […]

Photo and Poetic Fun

July 17, 2023.Reading time less than 1 minute.

I don’t believe in hauntingignore the seasonal hypewish the woman in the graveyardwould stop wailing every night Someone get the girl a coatdoesn’t she feel the creeping cold?And when I call the police on herwhy do they look at me like I’m crazy old? (Spending way too much time wiling away the hours.)

For Ukraine

June 28, 2023.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Through The Looking Glass

June 4, 2021.Reading time 1 minute.

Thank you to Indie Blu(e) Publishing for including my work in their latest anthology. Through the Looking Glass: Reflecting on Madness and Chaos Within gives voice to those otherwise silenced through stigma or marginalization. The anthology features stories, poem, and artwork. Through The Looking Glass is available through Amazon.ca, Amazon.com, and other major online book […]

In the Aftermath

September 18, 2020.Reading time less than 1 minute.

All the fading bitsdetract – I am still alivepassion asserting. (A quick check in. I am recovering well; still needing lots of rest. Thanks for all the good wishes. Image from my collection.)

Mother Willow

August 15, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Twisted arms, Willow’swelcome – cross child’s refuge,Mother Nature’s balm. There is magic in a Willow’s presence – so many hours spent, hidden in her arms as a child. Even today, the sight of a willow pulls on my heart. Just one of Nature’s many blessings. (For Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: trees; and RonovanWrites Haiku Challenge: […]

Still Life (Sort Of)

August 13, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

The stillness of a peachis ripe with juicy promise a whisper not heldwithin a child’s toy and yet a child findsa fragrance of her own and what among usis not still life, untilmind and emotionmeets us, compelsmovement? (For Nancy Merrill’s A Photo A Week Challenge: Still Life)

Together a Tapestry

March 3, 2019.Reading time 2 minutes.

Across the miles, our wordsconvene, threads of our livesintertwining to form a tapestry. Stories of sorrow and kindness,humanity restored –of observation and empathyof inspiration through resonanceof brilliance and artistry. Each thread as colourfulas another, delicately added,thoughtful ponderings Of generations and legacies,misunderstandings contributing to tragedy,of infatuation and love’s fallacy,of childhood and noses in booksand entanglements leadingto […]

V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #23: Character

November 12, 2018.Reading time 2 minutes.

It’s a funny thing, character, the way it brands people as they age rising from within to leave its scar – Kate Morton, The Distant Hours The school board I worked for introduced an initiative to promote character education in the classroom. Acceptance, caring, honesty, respect, empathy, perseverance, and responsibility were among the traits targeted. At the start […]

This Life A Road

This life a road –the way preparedsigns to guide me,and still, I get lost. Construction, distraction,disobedience – throw me off –tendency to choose tougher routes,broken down and been sidelined And yet, the road still beckons,invites progression, thrills.A rolling stone gathers no moss,my father liked to say, and so… I push ahead, keep motoring,trust the obstacles […]

Wings

(Written during my bedbound years with ME/CFS)

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis

May is Myalgic Encephalomyelitis awareness month. Also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, this disease is characterized by exhaustion after exertion. The exertion can be physical -taking a shower; emotional – worrying or obsessing; or mental- filling out forms. The best source of information about ME/cfs, as we call it, is the Bateman Horne Center. They […]