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Co-creation
Prompted By Parenthood
/ Stories
Co-creation My children birthed me many times through our time together; we have labored over Our relationship Our independence Our interlocked destinies. We have adventured as “family,” fought as friends do, with our least selves held in honor at some core level, while our higher selves offered bridges of joy and…
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Third Grade Move
Prompted By First Day of School
/ Stories
Third Grade Move We were late. I was horrified. The kind of fist-in-the-stomach tense that had tears trying to find their way out the burning rims of my eyes. I kept blinking, as we hurried toward the numbered door. Our new home’s construction was delayed and so this September day we had to cross…
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Revising the Editor
Prompted By Something Wild
/ Stories
Revising the editor Limits, rules, restrictions, guidelines, walls, trigger my auto-response of arising fierce Kali-spirit that demands the shaking off of the yoke burdening my shoulders, spitting out the bit between my teeth, severing the ball and chain cutting into my ankle, and pulling the barbed wire from around my throat, to run wildly into…
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The Edge of Aging
Prompted By Those We Miss
/ Stories
I keep stumbling over The edge of aging This wrinkled hand This creaking hinge This blank spot In the file cabinet That held the treasures And torments of a life A story That is still unfolding With a few missing Pieces But relentless ticking And the sounding chimes Of a heedless clock A blur…
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Prom Night Memories
Prompted By Prom
/ Stories
My soulmate/boyfriend/future husband and father of my future children worked on me with words until I willingly released the traditions of high school to embrace the rebellion of making different choices. Despite the Gunny-sax hippy dress that was the uniform of proms in those days, that I had shopped with mom and best friend…
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Moving Poem
Prompted By The Things I Keep
/ Stories
So I am thinking… I need to look at everything in this house that holds 31 years of marriage and two grown children’s archives, and ask this 51 year old almost single self what do you need? Which books of 5 full book cases do you have to have near you? Which wall hanging/photos…
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Without a Word
Prompted By Pets
/ Stories
Without A Word Warm muzzle Cold nose Contented purr Protective bark Joyous wag Tempted twitch Raised eyebrow Leaned into leg Animal aromas Soft fur comfort Welcoming greeting Apprehensive parting Soundless song Intertwined with mine Constant companionship Chores of service Enigmatic puzzles Bewildered apology Comic curiosity Demandless conversation Provocation of patience Eager pleasing…
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Turning Point
Prompted By Faith
/ Stories
“I don’t know what you have experienced to make you “know” but I haven’t, so don’t give me that crap!” My husband was expressing his dismay over my encouragement to keep his heart open to the love that surrounded him, and to remember that the door to his heart opens from the inside. He is…
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