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- TEXAS THOUGHTS - LOOKING OUT A DINER WINDOWIn Poetry·December 28, 2023Copperas Cove, Texas, The Pitt Grill, 1993 Indians used to ride here, Comanches on galloping ponies, The best light cavalry in the world, Across where an army post now stands, That trains The best light cavalry in the world. Now, instead of dusty trails and traces, A highway runs through it. Across that highway, A Whataburger sign rises in the air, Dwarfing the scrub oaks Which grow here, Shelter and shade to Settler, cowboy, Indian, Rancher, and soldier, Then and now. The land was cruel, Beautiful but cruel, The people were hard, But, hard with purpose, And need. We've conquered the land, And the other people, The first people, With air conditioning, Guns, And greed... And, perhaps, In doing so, We've conquered ourselves. NOTE: I am aware that "Indian" is not a generally acceptable term, but, I used it for the the historic weight. • Donovan Baldwin114
- ONE GIRL'S FACEIn Poetry·December 27, 2023Back story: In 1967, two army buddies and I went to Disneyland, in Anaheim, California. While walking past one of the buildings, I saw a girl, who smiled at me as I passed. I got a photo of that face. Looked at it from time to time over the years, and wondered who she was and whatever happened to her. This poem is that memory and the subsequent wondering. One Girl's Face Fifty years ago I passed, and, Tried to read in one girl's face, Two stories; hers and mine. Mine was fantasy with her as the heroine. Was I in hers? I doubt she ever saw me. I have no knowledge of her story, But, I could sense shadows of dreams Behind her eyes, which stared out Towards a place, where surely, Something wonderful was happening. Did she long to go there, In that fantastic world? Did someone ride to save her, From the boredom of daily drudgery? In her story, was her simple dress Transformed Into a gown most beautiful? Was her soft dark hair topped, With a bejeweled tiara? There are, as I was told, a million Faces I might see, and each a story, I will never be allowed to read. So, what I read in one girl's face, Was, and must remain a romantic mystery. Perhaps some day, that girl herself, Now as old as I, may tell in her own words, The story that her eyes beheld that day That only they could see, and she could read, The story told beyond, or perhaps behind, That one girl's face, fifty years ago. • Donovan Baldwin124
- Sanchin PoemIn Poetry·December 21, 2023Sanchin is the first kata or form in Uechi-Ryu Karate. It is also our "stance". I wrote this when I was teaching. Sanchin Sanchin isn’t in your feet. Sanchin isn’t in your knees. Sanchin isn’t in the tuck of your hips, not even in your elbow grease. Sanchin isn’t held in your arms, nor is it in your fingertips You might try, the look in the eye, But you won’t find sanchin. The only way to find sanchin, is to know these things combined. (Pictured below- Sanchin Stance- Mr. Uechi-) Thanks for the read! K~228
- A TV interview about my new bookIn General Discussion·December 20, 2023I recently had an interview on NJ Morning Show about my new book, Creating Your First Novel. It runs 8 minutes. You can watch it here: https://www.onnj.com/videos/creating-your-first-novel-with-hank-quense/(https://www.onnj.com/videos/creating-your-first-novel-with-hank-quense/)319
- Writer on Board!In Who am I?·December 21, 2023Hi There! My name is Kerry, and I am a new volunteer at ArtsKeeper. I'll be sharing my books and writing process as well as sharing more about all the services and creators here. I also write on mental health and wellness on another blog. My passion is writing creepy/horror, and chapter books for kids with a message within the magical adventures. I have dabbled with quite a few things, but the basic professions were a commercial cleaning business, and a karate school. Both of which I have retired from but I still practice karate. (Uechi-Ryu, which is a sister style to the Goju-Ryu in the original Karate Kid movies. The real Mr. Miagi and Mr. Uechi were best friends back in the day. I hail from the White Mountains in the state of New Hampshire, having moved from Seattle some twenty-five years ago. I have three sons, all grown, two with families of their own. My husband, I lost two years ago, but we were happily married for twenty-one years. Together twenty-three. Now I live with my ten year old German Sheppard Ellie, and her best friend, Kiff-Kitty, who is a year old. That little cat's name is constantly changing, per his latest antics. At first, he was Kiff-Hanger, because he loved to hang from the curtains, and anything else he could keep his claws in long enough. Most recently he is Kiff-inator, because he is getting into things and wrecking them all. LOL. His first name was inspired by "The Kiffness" on YouTube because the Kiffness never fails to make me laugh with his amazing talent. I will put a link at the bottom in case you haven't seen one of his videos. Completely worth a check out. Other than writing, I love rocks and gems. Go rock hounding every year, or did, with my hub. Can never get enough of being right in the heart of nature, be it in the mountains or at the ocean. Thank you for the read! Kerry AKA K~ Numnum-Cat The Kiffness!(https://youtu.be/GArzu9ttQ0M?si=qdnQNOc_x5ex0BEa) The Jolly Muse (https://thejollymuse.com/)blog Mindful Manipulation (https://mindfulmanipulation.com/)blog Books(https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B00C3GQADU?ingress=0&visitId=fb53fa54-c59a-4144-9811-fe8e0e54e40b&store_ref=ap_rdr&ref_=ap_rdr)118
- RAIN BEATS RHYTHMS ON YOUR SKINIn Poetry·December 17, 2023The rain beats rhythms on your skin A symphony of secret sin. I trace them as they strike and flow Lips and tongue behind the go. Breathless, I chase the silver sting, A thirst for wildness, on the wing. Your skin, a canvas, etched with rain, My lips, medicine for your pain. Breathless, I pursue each drop Hoping storms will never stop. Your body only clothed by rain So tempting to my fevered brain. You my feast neath weeping sky, Dance seductively as I Touch and taste and drink my fill Fingers drifting where they will. So let the rain caress your skin, Awash with past and future sin, A promise in those beating drops, Arousing love that never stops. • Donovan Baldwin115
- Invisible ThreadsIn Poetry·December 9, 2023I hear voices Reciting lovely words Woven together Into exquisite poems I don’t hear them With my ears They resonate in My heart These felt cadences Rise from my chest Ricochete through my brain Coming out my fingertips At times I see beauty In these created phrases Songs worthy of singing Gifts from the universe I must put down Songs that I hear Filling my heart With intense love Share I must and So I will Exposing what lives Inside with you218
- Late Fall AfternoonIn Poetry·December 8, 2023Solitary walker Bundled against cold Embraced by nature Feast of color to behold Stark and empty Trees stretch high Swirled threatening clouds Posing against an azure sky My eye is treated To every twist and turn Feeling content and glad Fulfilled, sure to return113
- WhispersIn Poetry·December 5, 2023Soft whispers across the chasm Lightly blowing back my hair Brushing against my face Like a soft kiss Growing more forceful Strong enough to lift my scarf And blow it off my neck Leaving me chilled Rustling my skirt with urgency Calling to me on the wind Step off the trusted trail Onto a path to new love127
- Her Own ApprovalIn Poetry·December 6, 2023No longer carrying His needs and approval Walking boldly, stoically Erect and strong Into her future Emboldened, knowing It’s hers to define To grasp To own114
- I THINK, THEREFORE... I THINK SOME MOREIn General Discussion·December 5, 2023When I'm thinking, like many people, I don't necessarily reach conclusions, or solve problems, every time. In fact, I may create more problems and leave myself with more questions. Still, that's sort of implied by the word "thinking". It's an ongoing process. Also, as we encounter "problems", things to think about, some may be new. We may not have been aware of the problem/question before, or maybe only in a peripheral way. Now, it meanders to the forefront of our mind, and, like a new acquaintance, or even a friend we haven't seen for a while, we have to learn, or re-learn, information about it. Learning is also an ongoing, open ended, experience. So, our thinking about the "thing", an ongoing process, involves "learning", also an ongoing process, which means that the "conclusion" or "solution", may become a bit of a moving target. When we read, listen to, encounter, a great thinker, that someone who makes us think, we tend to expect their great thoughts to enlighten us... solve the problem, provide the conclusion which we can then use to show ourselves to be "thinkers" as well. Nope. Tain't necessarily so. Usually they just show us how much we don't know yet, and start us thinking and learning. That's a "maybe", not a conclusion or solution. Just thinking out loud... about thinking. • Donovan Baldwin115
- WITHIN THE DARKENING WOODSIn Poetry·December 5, 2023I sit among decorations of light and dark, dancing And changing as sunlight peeks around, hides behind Gray clouds, streaming through branches swayed by wind, Varying the patterns on the hard dirt ground. There is life all around, birds singing, wind Blowing, trees swaying, shadows changing, But, not too far away, dark woods standing, Tree shadows blocking out the sun. Among all this light, activity, and life, I find myself reminded of boyhood memories, When I lived my adventures, exploring woods In sunlight, with the wind, surrounded by birdsong. Aware even in that life, of dark woods full of peace, And coolness, and silence. Silent as a tomb, They like to say, and that is how I thought Of the darkening woods somewhere else back then. Now, so many years later, I am again aware, Of the dark shadows underneath the trees, Which stand over my shoulder reminding me, It's almost time to walk into their cool world. • Donovan Baldwin124
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