We Reap What We Sow
We reap what we sow Undemocratic maelstrom Un-Christ-like mindset Sectarian discord triumphant This is not who we should be
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the road to harlan
the road to harlan silo conveyor hopper warn do not feed bears history overhanging verdant tunnels fog frosted knobs
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John 13:35
And they’ll know we are Christians We are one as we pray We are one as we sing We are one as we worship And they’ll know we are Christians We love the children We love the weak We love the others And they’ll know we are Christians We work to sustain our…
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I found a poem in a Wikipedia article
I try to write in my journal regularly because life is hard and I need a safe outlet but also because I know that many seeds must be sown. I write a lot about my daily life, worries, and troubles because I’m human. The struggle is real, but none of these things are unique. There…
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One Who Eats at the Table of Another
They do not kill their hosts Living on the host’s surface Living inside the host’s body Reducing their fitness Stealing their food Obligates completing their life cycle Castrators diverting the host’s energy Often close relatives Taking advantage of interspecific interactions Modifying host behavior Exploiting their hosts Sooner or later they will kill their hosts …
Read MoreAt What Price
A poem I read this morning inspired my morning journal entry. I focused on that one simple question: “At What Price?” David St. John’s poem “Before Dawn” was brought to my in-box by Poem-a-Day. And I was struck by that question and further inspired by the meditation behind his poem: “inadvertent accountings of what’s been…
Read MoreThe Games We Played
One of the most common writing themes is to explore our roots: the people and places and events that shaped (and still shape) our lives. I spent a delightful morning walking down memory lane and writing about the games of my youth and the friends who once played with me. I was fortunate to grow…
Read MoreWriting About Loss
Whenever I work with a group of writers one common theme that always appears is loss. As humans we have all lost people and animals and places and jobs — and those losses have also caused elemental changes within us. Perhaps that is why we so ache to write about the loves we mourn. Or…
Read MoreConsider “The House That Built Me”
One of the most common writing themes is to explore our roots: the people and places and events that shaped our lives. There are many different ways we can explore our past in writing but today I want you to consider this simple prompt inspired by Miranda Lambert’s “The House That Built Me.” Write about the…
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My #OLW for 2018 is Question
I have made no secret of my love for the one little word (#OLW) concept rather than focusing on a New Year’s Resolution. I find tremendous comfort choosing a focus word to guide me. However, every year I struggle greatly with the choice of the right word. Perhaps because my life is such a mess.…
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Freewriting May Seem Crazy, 2 Reasons You Should Do It Anyway
“Freewriting may seem crazy but actually it makes simple sense,” Peter Elbow notes in Writing Without Teachers. Freewriting does make sense, because every piece of writing advice I have ever received boils down to one simple rule: you need to write to become a better writer. Freewriting is one of the simplest, and yet most…
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What is your gift?
I recently read Gary Jackson’s poem “Fly” and I have been thinking about that poem ever since. It touches me on so many levels. I first read it as a parent. The parent who wants my child to fly, but fears the man with a gun and knows I have not done enough to give…
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