Sunday, January 30, 2011

Word Throw Down # 7

I know there are people out there who would shy away from snuggling a newborn until they are a bit older and less fragile, but most would agree that there is something so adorable and precious about looking into the face of an infant. I am one of those people who absolutely loves everything about babies, and I am so lucky to have 2 special infants in my life at the moment. Very close friends just had a little boy named Blake and my brother just had a little girl named Makayla. So the word throw down this week is to make up a little poem/song that you could sing to an infant to calm them or put them to sleep.



GOODNIGHT MY SWEET

Goodnight my sweet it's time for bed.
You have to rest your sleepy head.

Let's sing a song to say good night.
It's time for you to close your eyes.

Tomorrow is a brand new day
When we can learn and laugh and play.

So cuddle warm and fall asleep.
I love you baby, goodnight my sweet.

I sing this song as if I'm a softly bellowing Etta James, but you can create a short soft tune to any music, and why not try it out on your spouse when you are snuggling before bed if you don't have a tiny infant around. It's nice to smile before you fall asleep.

Sunday, January 23, 2011

Word Throw Down # 6

This next word throw down challenge is to take an idea or theme from a movie and write a poem. My inspiration is the last movie I just watched this evening called SALT. Loved that movie.

The sleek sophisticated
salient character
lures the lulled eye
watchers. We love her
and then crush ourselves
over being fooled.

The undergird actors
are gulled just as much.
But we pin our hopes
on the lovely lips
and soon revel in our secret
cognizance until all villains
are no more and the one good
player sees it clear
in her true eyes.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

Commitment to myself

I have been inspired by 5 days in a row of my self prescribed, easy morning, wii fit yoga sessions to go for the real deal and join a class. This means doing yoga in front of everyone. Well, not really because I'll go early and secure a spot at the back, but inevitably we'll be doing a move that forces us to turn around. I figure I should probably find out if I am doing the poses even remotely properly.

The last and only time I did yoga in a class was about 10 years ago while visiting friends in Penticton, BC. I was young, slim, and generally athletic, so my friend invited me along. Well, to my surprise volleyball, squash, tennis and my other favourite sports did not automatically make me instantly able to do yoga. I found it quite difficult to hold poses without shaking and completely lost my balance in front of the whole class. Back then, I was slightly mortified, but now, as seasoned as I have become in life, I'm sure I would just laugh my face off and try again. So I'm off to tighten up my buns.

Find all the real food
that you love most
and eat some of that
but not too much
every meal, every day.

Exercise your heart,
mind and body,
and be a good human
to yourself
and others.

Oh, and laugh...a lot.

Thursday, January 13, 2011

Word throw down # 5

This challenge is about taking one small thing that you've been meaning to do and being assertive with yourself about it so you are more likely to succeed. My doctor once told me that for health and well being I should try to do some yoga every day. What I found was that by the time my day was done I had used up every spare moment and just wanted to relax in front of the TV with a cup of tea. I actually love doing yoga, so here's my poem...


My alarm is set,
thirty minutes before
my services are required
by any person
or any pet.

I've blocked the entry
to my closet.
I can't fall in
to the usual attire,
the jeans,
the sweater.

No, the ironing board
is there, I can't
get through.

Laid out for me,
the lulu lemons,
the sporty tank.
My yoga time
has come.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Word throw down # 4

Word throw down # 4 is to write a poem about letting go of something that has great meaning to you, but you know you should really let it go.

A tiger to Daddy
with triangle stripes,
a flower pot dotted
and cutely smudged,
a pastel sketch
of small yellow Mommy,
and big green Daddy
with our red round dog
in the yard, a cityscape,
a fishbowl, a butterfly
of pom poms, a digital flower,
and a junk pile car.

It was the junk pile car
that caused the distress.
It was rather large,
overly fragile,
sharp and cranky.
He wanted to keep it,
this 3D chunky tumble
for the art wall.

Every time he touched it
pieces fell off.
He glued the broken bits
and in that brief moment
of wholeness
we took a photo
for the wall.

He took his time,
came to terms,
picked it up,
it fell apart.
He said, "it's not working out,
won't stay together,
can't hang it on the art wall,"
and he tossed it in the trash.


It's staggering how a child can grow in body and mind!

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Wonderful Words

Sometimes over the holidays friends and family go out of town or get so busy, that you just can't see everyone. So sometimes I meet with my best friend Gail for lunch before the holiday rush or in the early days of January to exchange gifts. This year she gave me the most thoughtful gift! What a wonderful idea to give a writer the gift of inspirational words. Thank you sweetie!

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Bulletin Board

This being my very first year to state a resolution, I have found a curious result. There can be plenty of naysayers out there. This was a complete surprise to me. Someone actually said, "if you put something on your bulletin board and you don't accomplish it, you might be tortured by it as you walk by." Well, to that I say, you have to put your dreams out there because they just may happen. Having a dream bulletin board is different than buying a pair of jeans that are too small because you hope to fit them next week. Now that would be tough! The real accomplishment for me was to CREATE the bulletin board. So I have already achieved my New Years Resolution. Now anything else positive that comes of it is just a bonus.

Pillow Talk

The hard red hurt
comes back.
Exhaustive doubts gnaw
at the back of my eyes.
They speak a language
I can't deny.
There they are
those soft sly words,
whispered to me.

If anyone else was listening,
they would think it was so absurd.

I call to the memories
with moist burning cheeks,
of my friend, my child, husband, parent.
I believe in you.
I miss you.
I love you.
I am proud of you.

But still, the fears haunt me
as the cotton pillow
hugs my face.

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Word throw down # 3

Happy New Year everyone! I can't possibly have a word throw down on New Years Day that doesn't have something to do with my New Years Resolution. So here goes.

Write a quick bit about your resolution and to make it even more fun, make it a brief poem that leaves us guessing as to what your resolution is. Yep, it's an old fashioned riddle poem. Have fun! If you take on the challenge be sure to post the answer to your riddle at the bottom and your resolution!

I am naturally born from a tiny acorn
under controlled nursery conditions.
At 25 I reach my prime
and I am hugged by man.
The careful touch of the highly trained
strips my outer sheath, no pain,
but a brief debilitation.
I begin to flourish again underneath.
Regrowth comes on strong
and they're gone for 9 years.
Those parts of me gone
will rest with your wine
or hold your brief notes
all tacked in a line.

What am I?

A CORK TREE - Happy New Year!

My resolution is to put up a new cork board in my home that holds my goals and my dreams. It will be in a place where I can glance at it every day to be reminded of the small things I can to do each day to lead to the greater goal. Here's the first note that I'll tack to the board - my values statement.

Brandy Lynn Shares the notion of living the life you've imagined. She lives a healthy existence of creativity, emotional well-being, family goodness and constant learning that allows her to explore life in a peaceful and plentiful way.