I Cursed The Farm — a poem

I Cursed The Farm

and the 15 miles

that stretched

forever

between it

and my dreams

of gymnastics,

ballet,

and later on,

the teen parties

I thought I’d die without.

Now…

I thank the farm

for its sweet hay

on golden hills,

for potatoes,

tomatoes,

Dad,

Mom,

my daughter

and for everyone

who lives and loves

up there and everywhere.

That was a little story in 55 words for our FFF-55 host with the most — G-Man.

Let G-Man know you’ve posted a 55 and he will skippity-hop on over to you with a big smile and some awesome words.

And one more photo of the farm I so erroneously cursed long ago…

Posted with love by…
Jannie!
xoxoxo

(all photos from 2006)

The Blog Marm — a poem

The blog marm dispenses pencils,

some fancy with rainbows, others

plain and yellow, yet dependable.

She also makes checks in her planner

on who gets a special gold star today

and who gets a lick and a prayer.

The blog marm rings her bell after recess,

pied piping all the rosy-cheeked children

to new adventures in posts yet untraveled.

They bring her apples. And donuts. And tea.

They sit quietly at circle, wide-eyed at her tales.

They all get popsicles the last days in June!

 
(And there’s never homework!!)
 

All students are treated with equal respect,

each gets a turn beating dust from the erasers

and writing the date at the top of the board.

Don’t worry — blog marm’s ruler is not for rapping fingers,

but for measuring out yards of funsterment in the finest

of satins, silks, leathers, laces, denims, and linens

— linens as luscious as sunlight through leaves.

 
End of poem
xoxoxo

Speaking of sunlight through leaves…

These 3 pix are what my iPhone 3GS recently saw somewhere near Ladybird Lake here in Austin.

(me stretching on an outdoor yoga platform.)

xoxo (agin)

When I Think Of Barbara Swafford…

… I hear teaspoons clinking,

smell apple pie baking,

see lupines blazing on an ocean hill.
 

I think of a caring hand

on a feverish forehead,

chicken soup on a tray. 

But mostly I think of 

pine shavings

floating into drifts 

at the feet of

happy angels

whittling

wondrously whimsied wood

into the wisest of wishes.

(An FFF-55 for the G-Man) 

Happy Barbara Swafford Appreciation Day!

Barbara is a kind soul who teaches how to blog better.

She is so giving, I want to give too!

To YOU!!

Today!!!

No matter where in the world you are!!!!

7 commenters on this post, chosen by random comment number, will receive…

hand-written letters from me on these Mary Powell 5×7 Bermuda notecards…

  and these Jill Amos Raine Bermuda notecards…

All 7 notecards are made of cotton paper.

I’ll use these envelopes…

these return address labels…

and these stamps…

AND…

in the not-too-distant future I will have a giveaway for 6 of my song Cds…

and another giveaway for these 6 poetry books…

(But THIS POST is for the 7 letters only.)

(If you don’t want a letter but still wish to comment below, be sure to say “No letter, thanks.”)

Winners announced next week!

Posted with love by Jannie, who is preparing to head into the woods very soon for 3 days, with a tent, 17 wieners, 21 donuts and 15 beers.

[And COFFEE — thank you, Katherine for that all-important reminder in your comment below!!]

See you soon!

xoxoxo

Already Spoken For

The money’s already spoken for,
of course (as money often is)
— blog upgrades, Amazing Camera,
laptop for someone, donuts, beer,
stretch pants with nary a hole in the rear.

Hark, what treasure through yonder
eBay window doth beckon and thrill,

but no gold ever matching
the green leaves of trees
and the Sweet Pea’s knees.

That was a Friday Flash Fiction 55 for the G-Man.

(That was me drinking wine in the tree recently.)

(That was the Sweet Pea in the tree when she was wee.)

A very fine tree, planted it myself  in 1994.

But I digress. The point is…

G-Man and his Friday Flash Fiction 55 are fun — and free!

Let him know you’ve posted a 55, and all your dreams will come true!!

from Jannie.

xoxoxxo

Is It Okay To Be Gay? (A poem in 55 words)

Is it okay to be gay?

Of course! Why wouldn’t it be, if you are?

Is that 55 words yet?

No but seriously,

All you really need to know is love is love,

the great equal opportunity rainbow refractor

of well-meaning hearts and minds everywhere.

Love — always the way to go, in sun and rain and snow.
 

****************************************

Thus sayeth Jannie in a  Friday Flash Fiction in 55 Words hosted weekly by the G-Man.

Who is the G-Man?  Galen in Michigan — a fun, nice, sensitive, burly, ass-kicking blogger. 

(Photos of Umbrella Girl — my shiniest rainbow ever, taken this morning.)

Umbrella Girl turning 9 years old this Saturday!!

Hope you will pop back in for her special birthday post — it’ll be extra cute!

xoxoxo

 jazmeene, kan pleze you clime the tree to resskue my new kite?  thanks yoo!