Tuesday Slice: Reader's response

I am a book-juggler; I very rarely read just one at a time.  Right now, I have a kidlit book, an adult novel, two personal growth books, and two professional books all in various stages of being read.  My Muse decided that today's Slice will be reader's responses in verse to three of the books.

The Book of Longings by Sue Monk Kidd 

If one is bereft of longings

     No hopes, no dreams

     No inner voice straining to be heard

Is one truly alive?

The Elephant's Girl by Celesta Rimington

What wisdom lies

   in an elephant's eyes?

Ghosts don't just say "Boo!"--

   they can be helpful, too.

Families are found in the heart.

Think Like a Monk by Jay Shetty

Exposing my negativity

Excavating my fears

Exploring my intentions

This is bibliotherapy.

Now I am thinking this might be fun for our students, too...

Tuesday Slice: Fall vibes

 

Fall vibes

Fuzzy socks 

long-sleeved pajamas

extra blanket

at bedtime

So-dark mornings

one more snooze button

chilled kitchen

warm cinnamon-scented coffee

Crisp sunrises

invoke deep breathing

skies of pale blues

or stormy grays

Warm sunsets

last of the mosquitoes lurking

fewer birds at the feeder

plants dug up by hoarding squirrels

Children focused 

on costumes and candy

adults already shopping

for Christmas

Calendar checks

trips planned

who's-cooking-the-turkey

pumpkin pie, apple, or both

Cardigans on rotation

coats at the ready

hats and mittens

not far behind

Fall vibes.

Tuesday Slice: Taking time for me

 

We had a staff development day yesterday, with a whole hour for lunch--educators know what a gift that is!  We sat in our overly-air-conditioned cafeteria for three hours in the morning, and I felt the need to warm up after eating in my office...so I went for a walk outside.  

I rarely venture outdoors during a workday, my usual schedule prohibitive of such activity, and it felt a little scandalous to do so.  I slipped out a back door and immediately felt the sun's warm rays on my shoulders.  Conscious of the time, I walked briskly around the cul-de-sac behind our school, empty of delivery trucks at the moment.  I made my way around the side entrance, and stopped at the garden planted on the front lawn.

Giant stalks of who-knows-what were bent to the ground.  I noticed tiny green cherry tomatoes here and there, and sprawling vines snaking through dried mulch with leaves as big as my hand.  The vines intrigued me, so I followed them with my eyes...and spied not one, but two watermelons!  Not quite ready for picking, so I let them be.

An orange butterfly--a fritillary, by the looks of it--fluttered from one flower to another.  I spent a few quiet moments just watching it feed, marveling at its colors and long, spindly legs.  Something made me look at my watch, and I realized it was time to get back to work.

Warmed up, back at my desk in my windowless library, I said to myself, "I should do this every Monday."

Where am I?--Spiritual Journey Thursday

Ramona has given us the prompt of exploring the concept of "here" for this month's Spiritual Journey reflection. You can find her own post here.

I am challenged to be present

Be here, in the now

With my bleary, tired eyes squinting at the screen

My stomach slightly roiling from today's uncouth eating

My head fuzzy with fatigue.

Before this

I paid a bill

listened to a podcast

while Christmas shopping with an hour to spare on a coupon,

and signing up for yet another self-help newsletter.

Was I there for any of that?

Before that

I was nodding off on the couch

phone in hand

husband seated across the room

new show on the television, half watched.

Was I there for any of that?

It is hard for me to be present

with a mind that tends to the future

and a body that protests for more sleep.

And when I sleep

will I finally be here

or will my mind decide to roam fields of dreams?

What is so wrong with the present

that makes it so hard to be here?

Tuesday Slice: Dance party of one

Some mornings

I turn the radio on, volume down low

Search for a station with a beat

Feet starting to move, then hips

Arms start swinging--

Moves from ancient aerobics tapes surface

(Who cares?  No one else is awake!)

Hands in the air, stretching overhead--

important for people of a certain age, so I'm told

Occasional slick shimmies from clubbing days

Conjure memories of sticky sweet machine-made fog

Carefree nights with friends...

The song trails off.  Do I have time for another?

Check the clock:  no.

This dance party ends with workday prep

Instead of a 2am run to Denny's for fries and a coke.

Three to five minute dance parties have become my mini-workout of choice most workday mornings.  Bonus mood booster if I happen upon eighties dance music.