Nov

30

By Blossom

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Squirrel Harvest

2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 24

For today’s prompt, write a gathering poem. The gathering could be a family gathering, but also about any other gathering–whether human or not.

squirrels gathering
hickory nuts not acorns
oaks have failed again

Another acorn shortage threatens the squirrels’ harvest this year, though the hickory trees are doing their best to make up the difference. Apparently, black walnuts are helping to fill the gap in some other areas as well.

Nov

30

By Blossom

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whenever it’s time for bed

2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 21

For today’s prompt, take the phrase “Whenever (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then write your poem. Example titles could be: “Whenever I write a poem,” “Whenever something good happens,” “Whenever never,” etc.

whenever it’s time for bed
always something else comes up
a news article to read
one more youtube video
poetry needing expressed
photographs need editing
checking online finances
some website code needs tweaking
web surfing for unique gifts
searching cyber trails for friends
just one more blog to visit
wikipedia browsing
blue glow of the internet
night-time procrastination

Nov

29

By Blossom

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Kiwi

2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 22

Today is a Tuesday (but not the last one of November), which means there are two prompt. They are:

Pick a fruit, make it the title of your poem, and write the poem. Example titles include: “Banana,” “Kiwi,” “Lemon,” etc.
or
Pick a vegetable, make it the title of your poem, and write the poem. Example titles include “Pickle,” “Potato,” “Asparagus,” etc.

like so many things
even a fruit prompt
reminds me of Tim:
six foot four kiwi
“The Alan Brough Song”

Continued…

Nov

29

By Blossom

1 Comment

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Travel Knitting

Still catching up. Hitting the prompts out-of-order as they’re just not speaking to me at the moment. Or my brain is still addled with tryptophan.

2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 23

For today’s prompt, write a travel poem … You can come at traveling from any angle you wish, just be safe out on the roads.

traveling knitting
prevents snoring and sleeping
constructive hobby
lets me view the countryside
throughout the hours of road trips

Nov

29

By Blossom

1 Comment

Categories: Photography

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Jetta

Jetta
Jetta is very photogenic for a black cat. This was taken over the summer; I just found a folder of unedited pictures.

Nov

27

By Blossom

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Categories: Cooking

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Meat Loaf

For Small Business Saturday, Greg and I stopped at Eye of Nuit where we picked up a few presents for the holidays. Another stop was Schramm Farm & Orchard Market. I found a jar of apricot butter for my grandmother for Christmas. Knowing we were actually both off the next day, we bought fresh potatoes, green pepper, and onion with the hopes of cooking.
I found a recipe for Slow-Cooked Meat Loaf at All Recipes, I love that site, and sent Greg out for last minute ingredients this morning.

Ingredients

1 egg
1/4 cup milk
2 slices day-old bread, cubed
1/4 cup finely chopped onion
2 tablespoons finely chopped green pepper
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 1/2 pounds lean ground beef
1/4 cup ketchup
8 medium carrots, cut into 1-inch chunks
8 small red potatoes

Directions

In a bowl, beat egg and milk. Stir in the bread cubes, onion, green pepper, salt and pepper. Add the beef and mix well. Shape into a round loaf. Place in a 5-qt. slow cooker. Spread ketchup on top of loaf. Arrange carrots around loaf. Peel a strip around the center of each potato; place potatoes over carrots. Cover and cook on high for 1 hour. Reduce heat to low; cover and cook 7-8 hours longer or until no pink remains in the meat and the vegetables are tender.

I can’t ever make a recipe straight from the book. Our ketchup was off, so I skipped it. We’re not big on veggies, so only two carrots went in, cut closer to quarter-inch chunks. The potatoes were big & white, and we peeled and cut them into chunks. So just mild adjustments. Threw it all in the crock pot and headed out for the day.
After a cool, rainy day visit to the Good Zoo in West Virginia, we came home to a hot, delicious supper. I could have made a few more carrots, they disintegrated a bit. There’s enough for a good dinner again tomorrow. Greg approved, so we have another keeper!

Nov

24

By Blossom

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Fire and Ice Meet

2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 20

For today’s prompt, write a best ever poem. Now, don’t stress out. I don’t expect everyone to write the best poem ever written–however, you’re allowed to aim for that if you wish. No, I’m asking you to write a poem about the best ever something. For instance, the best ever kiss, best ever dance, best ever party, best ever comeback, best ever moment, etc.

This is the true story of the first meeting between Darkfire and White Knight during a Mutants & Masterminds campaign several years ago.

Best Ever Superhero Meeting

Fire demon with a water phobia
Ice powers granted by a battle suit
Risking their lives for what they feel is right
Each responding to the warehouse alarms
Assuming the stranger is the culprit
Nova of flame erupts from the demon
Disipline fails her as ice surrounds her
In a cage he meant only to contain
Causing instead a fear-fueled blinding flare
Ensuing battle finally subsides
Mission delayed is resumed together
Establishing trust and understanding
Evildoers face a greater challenge
Team of superheroes joining forces

Leppa

Nov

22

By Blossom

1 Comment

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Suspicion

2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 19

For today’s prompt, write a “suspicious minds” poem. When I assembled these prompts more than a month ago, I considered this one of my more unusual (and more creative) prompts… Anyway, I’m thinking there are a few ways to go with this prompt. One, write a poem in which the narrator is either suspicious of someone or is the actual one under suspicion. Two, write a poem that plays with repetition–as this song does. Three, write a poem that is a performance poem spectacular (as this song is here). Of course, you can always bend and blend the prompt as you see fit.

suspicion lingers
shattered trust slowly rebuilds
with loving patience
lengthy process to replace
past abusive memories

Nico 阿薰
photo by Nisa Yeh, found on flickr

Nov

22

By Blossom

1 Comment

Categories: Poems, Poetry

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Too Late

I left Friday to travel to Philcon, Philadelphia’s Science Fiction Convention. Road trips always derail my writing schedule, so here I am catching up again.

2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 18

For today’s prompt, write an “it’s too late” poem. Nobody likes a quitter, but sometimes you have to “know when to hold them, know when to fold them…” There are times when it’s just too late, and today is the day to write that poem–before it’s too late, of course.

weekend vacation
packed, mapped, reservations made
still online dawdling
delaying until too late
caught in Friday’s rush hour snarl

Nov

18

By Blossom

7 Comments

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Revealing Treasure

Theme Thursday for November 17, 2011 – TREASURE

2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 17

For today’s prompt, write a poem that reveals something. Maybe it’s something physical (like light revealing an intruder or pulling back a sheet to reveal a new car). Or maybe it’s something psychological, emotional, or spiritual. Today’s the day to reveal.

simple brown husk cracks
revealing treasure within
white coconut meat

Olha o coco aí, gennnte... Ralado na hora! - Coconut in the market street.
photo by Flávio Jota de Paula, found on flickr

Nov

16

By Blossom

2 Comments

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Once upon a …

2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 16

For today’s prompt, take the phrase “Once Upon a (Blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem.

once upon a horse
confidence and self esteem
seem second nature

Darginka & Emma
photo by Kerri-Jo Stewart, found on flickr

Nov

16

By Blossom

1 Comment

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Excess

2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 12

For today’s prompt, write an excess poem. In today’s culture, there seems to be an excess of excess–even with the state of economy. From an excess of advertisements and political posturing to an excess of electronic gadgets and debt, there’s an excessive number of ways to attack today’s prompt.

an oxymoron
I can’t wrap my brain around
chocolate excess

Chocolate
photo by Aurore D, found on flickr

Caught up on the November Poem a Day Challenge!

Nov

16

By Blossom

1 Comment

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Kindness

2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 13

Today is World Kindness Day. As a result…

The prompt for today is to write a kind poem. My interpretation of this prompt is that the poem should either be kind or somehow involve kindness in it–one way or the other. I suppose the poem could also involve cruelty–as long as there is some form of kindness somewhere. But if you feel the need to stretch the prompt, go for it.

random acts of kindness
showing a heart sincere
gentleness of the deer
bringing out love

Deer Totem: gentleness, love, and kindness

Loving Kindness
artwork by Cornelia Kopp, found on flickr

Nov

16

By Blossom

1 Comment

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Deadly

Playing weekend catchup!

2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 14

For today’s prompt, write a deadly and dangerous poem. Or you could write just a deadly poem. Or you could write a just dangerous poem. Feel free to poem on the wild side today!

beware the Irish
seeking deadly adventure
down in Australia
avoid the snakes and spiders
they are not the thrill you want

Irish slang:
Deadly – Really good.
This does not mean something will kill you, it means that something is fantastic.

Nov

16

By Blossom

1 Comment

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Love

2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 15

For today’s prompt, you have two options:

      Write a love poem.
      Write an anti-love poem.

love
you
despite
frustrations
misunderstandings
shared hopes and dreams are still stronger
than any annoyance or hindrance life throws at us

Nov

16

By Blossom

6 Comments

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Meditate

At Sensational Haiku Wednesday, this week’s theme is: Meditate

dawn meditation
sun rise illuminating
day starts with clear mind

Dawn Clouds of Glory
photo by Tom Raven, found on flickr
if you click through, he also matched this beautiful sunrise to a poem

Join the fun!

Nov

11

By Blossom

9 Comments

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Mystery

Haiku Heights – Prompt #93 – Mystery

mystery stalking
darkness beyond the windows
the night presses closer

Trying to sneak this one in right under the wire, linky says submissions close in just half an hour. And my sister asks why my muse gives me so many procrastination poems.

Also submitted to Thursday Poets Rally Week 56.

Nov

11

By Blossom

1 Comment

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Wolverine

2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 11

Today is 11/11/11, so today’s prompt is to write a poem involving math and/or numbers (I realize the higher you go in math the more abstract it gets).

Is this a cheat? The numbers are in the form, piku: 3 lines of 3-1-4 syllables.

wolverine
ghost
northern phantom

Nov

10

By Blossom

9 Comments

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Pumpkin Head

2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 10

For today’s prompt, write a different perspective poem. There are a few ways a poet can tackle this one. First, write a poem from a different physical perspective–like from the top of a building or at the bottom of a hole or in the trunk of a car. Another possibility is to write from a different person’s (or animal’s or object’s) perspective–a tactic that has interesting results in fiction (think Grendel or Wicked). If you have an even different perspective on this than me, feel free to roll with it.

Some other prompts/memes played into the creation of this poem as well: Theme Thursday for November 10, 2011 – GOURD and The Thursday Think Tank # 74 – Winter. I tried squishing it into several different forms, before it finally fit into a double etheree.

snow
floating
early storm’s
pristine first fall
reawakens me
laughing child’s creation
reborn again each winter
to be a fleeting companion
in a world of snow angels and forts
but wait, something is different this time
I’ve branches for arms, and a snow belly,
but I’m too early, I’m on green grass!
my eyes are not made out of coal!
and where is my corn cob pipe?
there are leaves in my snow!
Halloween mischief
still in the air
trick or treat!
pumpkin
head

Scariness in our neighborhood
photo by pjmorse, found on flickr

Nov

10

By Blossom

1 Comment

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Trick or Treat

2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 9

For today’s prompt, take the phrase “(blank) or (blank),” replace the blanks with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem.

I am apparently still in a Halloween mood. I revised the title as “things that go bump in the night or my overactive imagination” was a bit unwieldy.

Trick or Treat

haunting
in the darkness
just around the corner
things that go bump in the night or
my overactive imagination
playing trick or treat with my mind
exaggerating sounds
twisting shadows
haunting

Nov

8

By Blossom

2 Comments

Categories: Poems

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Poltergeist

2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 8

Here are the options for today’s “Two for Tuesday” prompt:

      Write a paranormal poem. In case you’re unsure, click here for a thorough definition of the term “paranormal.”
      Write a normal poem. I’m not sure what a normal poem is, but if you do (and you want to write one), go for it!

dancing will-o’-wisps,
broken dishes, slamming doors,
poltergeist chaos,
psi activity released
as adolescence erupts

Nov

8

By Blossom

8 Comments

Categories: Poems

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Feathers, Fidelity, Figment, and Fables

Week 12 of the Poetry Picnic over at Gooseberry Garden brings us Feathers, Fidelity, Figment, and Fables

faith
flows
feathered
fantasies
flickeriing figments
featuring fabulous fables
forestalling fidelity’s forbidden frustrations

Transparent dove
photo by cenz, found on flickr

This “F” flavored fibonacci poem joins my “F” haiku and my “F” abhanga.

Nov

8

By Blossom

1 Comment

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Deadlines

2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 7

For today’s prompt, write a “what won’t wait” poem.

time’s march will not wait
despite procrastination
deadlines approaching
whether or not I finish
expectations still remain

Nov

7

By Blossom

1 Comment

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Addiction

2011 NOVEMBER PAD CHAPBOOK CHALLENGE: DAY 6

For today’s prompt, write an addict poem. There are lots of possible addictions out there–some of them serious and some of them not so much

only one more page
let me finish this chapter
reading addiction
persuasion fails, sent to bed
flashlight under the covers

Nov

5

By Blossom

1 Comment

Categories: Poems, Uncategorized

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breaking

2011 November PAD Chapbook Challenge: Day 5

For today’s prompt, write a broken poem. The poem can be specifically about something breaking or just include something (or someone for that matter) that’s broken.

Earth’s climate shifting
natural cycles breaking
traumatic changes
violent storms, fires, earthquakes, droughts
planet crying out in pain