Just stuff...

I have been busy with my thesis and a translation project over the past couple of weeks. Not to mention getting some cross-stitching done so I could mail them out to family in Michigan. I did manage to write a poem for a Christmas card at my sister's request. I will post it on Christmas Day for all to enjoy!

Until then, feel free to check out my other crafty blogs:

Julie's Creations
Photographs by Julie - this is a new blog!!!

And for those interested, here's the link to my thesis blog:

House of Wisdom and the Abbasid Caliphate

Poem A Day Challenge ~ Days 28-30

The Cat and the Canary

Once there was a cat

Who loved to purr and meow

And also shared a song

With a yellow canary

And though they weren’t playful

They were truly friends.

And though they were friends

This bird and this cat

All they wanted was to be playful

And so the cat would meow

Loudly to the caged canary

And the two would sing their song.

And while it was a beautiful song

That the two shared as friends

The little yellow canary

And the pretty little cat,

While the cat continued to meow,

Found a way one day to be playful.

And now they could be playful

And sing their lovely song

While the cat continued to meow

Alongside his pretty friend

The friend of the cat

Was really a canary.

And though the canary

Enjoyed being playful

With his new friend, the cat

They continued to sing their song

And continued to be friends

While the cat continued to meow.

And while the cat continued to meow

To his pal the yellow canary

And the two became good friends

And found a way to be playful

They still sang their song

The canary and the cat.

I would love to hear the cat and his meow

As he sings his song with the yellow canary

And they become more playful and lifelong friends.

April 28, 2009 ~ Sestina Poem

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Never Mind

…And I was walking along the street

Looking for just the right thing

Are you paying attention to me?

Oh, never mind!

…I was talking on the phone with my friend

And we were making plans for the weekend.

Are you paying attention to me?

Oh, never mind!

Do you like this shirt?

Would you wear those shoes?

What do you want for supper tonight?

Oh, never mind!

Why don’t you hear me?

When will you see me?

Oh, never mind!

I am leaving you anyway.

April 29, 2009 ~ “Never _____” Poem

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Farewell

There are so many ways to say farewell:

Farewell, so long, adieu

Au Revoir, adios, goodbye

Cheerio, aloha, ma’a’salama

Well, you get my meaning.

Farewell is not forever, but for now

We will meet again, I am sure

So until that time arrives for us

I will simply say, “’Til then…”

April 30, 2009 ~ Farewell Poem

Poetry Challenge 2009

...I decided to give it a try this year. I thought about posting them on this blog as well, then thought "Nah!". Well, I decided to do it anyway. This initial post will be rather long so I can get you up-to-date. From here on, I will post every single day. Here are the first 11 poems for the Challenge:

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Kid

Baby

Child

Infant

Tot

Bother

Dupe

Jest

Mock

Even a baby goat!

April 1, 2009 ~ Origin Poem

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From the Outside Looking In

Looking through the glass

An abundance appears

Hot and cold, sour and sweet

An array of trays and aromas abound.

Looking through the glass

A vision appears

Swirling ball gowns and tails

They dance with glee and blissful sounds.

Looking through the glass

Tears begin to fall

As she stands in the cold

From the outside looking in.

April , 2009 ~ Outsider Poem

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The Problem With ______

The problem with life

It is cyclical in nature

The problem with love

It really never lasts

The problem with rain

Can we ever have enough

The problem with this poem

It just makes no sense.

April 3, 2009 ~ “The Problem with (blank)” Poem

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Mrs. Beasley

Some might think she’s a doll

Just by hearing her name

In reality, she’s a cat

Yet a doll just the same.

I went to adopt a new kitten

When I lost my dear old friend

(I had her for 17 years)

I had my heart set on another

But she chose us instead.

When the kennel was opened

She leaped out with a bound

I watched in amazement

With the bond that she found.

Mrs. Beasley is now

Just shy of a year

She’s fun and she’s playful

And has filled a void right here.

April 4, 2009 ~ Animal Poem

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The Old Man

He sat proudly on top of the mountain

Watching all of the action below

His face is worn from the years

Of exposure to the elements

The sun, the rain, the snow.

A day came along

When he grew weary

From the years he spent there

And the Old Man of the Mountain

Slid silently from his perch atop Mount Washington.

April 5, 2009 ~ Landmark Poem

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The Tooth ~ A Haiku

Born with only gums

We grow into our teeth

And then we lose one.

April 6, 2009 ~ Something Missing Poem

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Mud Pies

Excitement grows as the rain falls

Anxious to get out and play

Anticipation for the mud that forms

Dreaming of the pies that can be made

Momma let’s her go outside

With a stearn warning to keep away

From the mud puddles in the yard

Knowing that she will play there anyway

An hour goes by, then two

And momma calls her little girl in

She walks into the foyer

Covered from head to toe

April 7, 2009 ~ Clean or Dirty Poem

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Morning Routine

Wake up in the morning

Brush your teeth and hair

Pick out your clothes for the day

Eat breakfast on the run

Get to the office in a hurry

Push through until lunch

Back to the grind in an hour

Then leave for home at five

April 8, 2009 ~ Routine Poem

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In Memory of Grandma “Barbie”

She had a beautiful smile

Could lighten any room

Her laugh was contagious

Made everyone laugh as well

Her love was empowering

Enough to cause a swell

She took amazing pictures

Of people, of animals, of bugs

She gave of herself generously

Until the day she was gone.

April 9, 2009 ~ Memory Poem

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T.G.I.F.

What a cliché

Thank God it’s Friday

As if it were no ordinary day.

The work week has ended

And it’s to the bars we go

To drink away our sorrows

From the previous days.

What a cliché

Thank God it’s Friday

As if it were no ordinary day.

The weekend is upon us

The parties are planned

Which one should I go to

Do I even give a damn!

What a cliché

Thank God it’s Friday

It’s no special day.

April 10, 2009 ~ Friday Poem

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The Licorice Stick

Do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do

That’s the first thing I remember

About my licorice stick

The first time I played a tune

Long, sleek and black

And a sound that tastes so sweet

Low droning tones to

High melodious sounds

Do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do

The second scale I learned

As my fingers slid over

The shiny silver keys

Benny Goodman once stated

“That’s my favorite licorice stick”

Although one might think of candy

My favorite licorice stick is a clarinet

Do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do

Now I think I’m ready

To make my licorice stick sing

And fill the room with song.

April 11, 2009 ~ Object Poem

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Be sure to check out Poetic Asides for more of the Poetry Challenge 2009!

It's finally a new year! Last year was a very difficult year for me and my family. I am looking forward to what this new year has in store for me. I am hoping to post at least two new poems each week until my complete "archive of poetry" is up. As I have been focused on other projects and school, I haven't found inspiration in writing poetry over the past few years so what I have is what it is for now. I truly hope those of you who are reading this blog are enjoying my posts.

As long

as long as there will be
four seasons
my love for you will stay true

as long as there will be
life
my love for you will flourish

as long as we’ve got
one another
my love for you will grow…

January 9, 1991

New Blog

I created a new blogspot called "Julie's Creations". This new blog will be devoted to the cross-stitch projects I create/stitch.

http://julies-creations.blogspot.com/

God Bless Our Troops

For some reason, our service men and women have been on my mind lately. I have been reminiscing about my time in the Navy during the early 1990's. I treasure that time in my life deeply. My only regret is that I didn't stay on active duty. My life since the Navy has taken so many twists and turns that I sometimes forget which way I am heading. Then again, where in the world would I be today if I were still enlisted and serving actively?



Here is a little poem I wrote in honor of our American Heros...and also those foreign allies serving alongside us in Iraq and Afghanistan (please note that the use of "he" is not gender specific and is intended to mean both male and female):

Soldier

He is there
In an unknown world
Helping
To keep peace alive

He is there
Wondering and waiting
Praying
The day will come

For the return
To his home

He is there
Protecting the weak
Protecting them all
From ruin and death

He is there
He is the soldier

January 4, 1991

Lost Friend

In July I lost my cat, Emerald, of 17 years. I got her while living in San Diego (with my ex-husband) when she was a year old. She travelled with me from there to Las Vegas, Flagstaff, Lansing, and the Florida. The following poem was originally written after the loss of a dear friend of my ex, but I feel it suits this loss as well.

Black cat

Black as black can be
With fur as soft as cotton
Big beautiful green eyes
That glow as a cat’s eyes should
Playful until all hours in the night
Yet fierce when crossed by foes
Not your typical black cat
Puts all superstitions to shame
Loved by all and loved them all
Black cat remains alive
In one’s memories

November 6, 1991

Recently, an old friend from high school contacted me. It's wonderful to have this friend back in my life! Funny thing is that I had been thinking about him, wondering what was happening in his life, just before I received an email from him. Here's a poem that perfectly fits the moment...

treasured memories

treasured memories
of years past
remembered friends
forgotten foes

treasured memories
of loves lost
remembered nights
forgotten days

treasured memories
of school days past
times spent with friends
laughing and crying

treasured memories
of years past

october 7, 1990

Other Stuff

Ok, so I am in grad school studying History and Culture of the Middle East. My primary focus is (hopefully) going to be ancient Iraq. My goal is to one day travel to this country and be able to see all of the remains of ancient sites. For now, I hold the sailors and soldiers in my prayers.

Here is one that I wrote in the earliest hours of our engagement in Iraq in 1990/1.

memory of war

a sound of drums
beating in the distance
a smell of death
in the air

the blinding sun
sets low in the sky
another day passed
another to come

the soldiers are awake
at the break of dawn
they prepare to fight
for the freedom of all

gunfire ringing in the air
a clinging memory
to those
who were there

november 6, 1990