F ire
I ncinerates
R iches
E ffortlessly
.
Centuries of history
Countless artifacts
Mountains of memories
Up in flames
.
The crown of thorns
The cross of David
The historic instruments
Some saved from flames
.
The majestic steeple
The Gothic cathedral
The iconic landmark
Mostly gone in flames
.
But the faith remains
The love remains
The determination rekindled
Rebuilding has already begun
.
Prayers for Parisians –
and the world 🌎
I tried my hand at
An English (Shakespearean) Sonnet
An English sonnet is:
14 line poem
3 quatrains (4 line stanzas) followed by 1 couplet (2 line stanza)
Rhyming scheme of ABAB CDCD EFEF GG
Cord of Love
I’m gonna live so
God can use me
Everyday glow
So you see
.
The Holy Spirit
In my soul knows
How to clear it
So He shows.
.
I can feel it
In my heart, Lord,
How you seal it
With Your cord.
.
It’s the cord of Love
From my God above.
.
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And here is an English Sonnet from poet Tynea Lewis:
.
All We Will Be
He sits, paying no attention to me.
I wonder what is going through his head.
It hurts knowing friends is all we will be.
His unexpected glace turns my face red.
.
His mud brown eyes are so piercing and deep.
Then a smile fills his flawless, tanned face.
If only into his heart I could creep.
The slow motion moment makes my heart race.
.
Our time together is a dream come true
But I fear he can see into my heart.
When I am with him, I don’t feel so blue,
But something new won’t be able to start.
.
Since nothing will be, onward I must go.
These feelings I have to hide and not show.
.
Now it’s time for you to try your hand at an English Sonnet.
Learn more here:
Source: https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/article-poetic-forms
It’s easy to get caught up
In the  ABBAABBA  CDECDE
Rhyme Scheme and Rhythm
Of the Italian (Petrarchan) Sonnet
That I have written below.
Petrarchan is fun!
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
I chose the Italian Sonnet as an exercise today
Because I do love Italy!
My maiden name is DeAngeles, afterall …
“Of Angels” – always seeking higher ground!
I remember a “step to higher ground”
My husband and I took a few years ago:
To this beautiful city of Venice …
A step out of reality
Into a dream world
Where only the blessed tourists and
The residents struggling to make
A livelihood seemed to venture out.
Here’s my step into the higher ground of poetry,
Trying my hand at a Petrarchan:
What’s Your Next Step?
A text from a friend of more than fifty years:
“What’s your next step?” she wrote to ask.
I’m retired, I thought, find sunshine in which to bask.
But, though she’s my age, I sensed some tears,
And figured she’d missed some steps in her latter years.
I wondered if she had some sort of task,
A favor perhaps, but her question was a mask,
Designed to seek help while hiding her fears.
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So I waited awhile to send her a reply,
Didn’t want to be flippant or seem like a jerk.
“What step do you have in mind?” I inquired.
She picked up the phone, and I heard her cry,
“I just lost my job. I can’t live without work.”
What help could I be to a friend who’d been fired?
Photo by Nashua Volquez on Pexels.com
It was fun to try and create a “Petrarchan.”
You should try it!
This was a fiction account,
With a shred of truth;
For indeed I am blessed
With health and security
And a choice of next “steps,”
While I know friends who
Indeed are not and cannot!
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Who will you reach out to today?
And will you try a Petrarchan?
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Heavy on the evergreen branches,
.
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
.
.
Photo by Hichem Deghmoum on Pexels.com
Green paths of creation’s gladness.
Photo by PhotoMIX Ltd. on Pexels.com
.
.
My Heart Aches
and
I’m hanging it out to dry.
.
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Let Him Out!
There are days
And then there are
Advent Days.
Days of Waiting –
Days of Unknowing –
Days of Sorrow.
Your life feels
Oppressive.
Hope eludes you.
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This Christmas Eve
Let’s recall
Mary’s waiting.
Let’s remember
Mary’s sweet song –
Her ready acceptance.
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Thousands of years
Later, we need
Her true faith.
Wouldn’t it be
Super great if
All news was good?
Wouldn’t we love
All suffering
To instantly cease?
What joy if
All war and hunger
Were eliminated now!
We’d like God
To bring us
The Promised Peace.
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But, His Way
Is not our way.
His definitions differ.
We look at basics
With greedy eyes.
We look for Plenty.
God defines PLENTY
In heart-felt ways.
He needs “Let Out!”
So, open your heart.
Invite God out
Through your heart.
See your PLENTY
Through God’s eyes.
Focus on others.
Like Mary, sing of
God’s grace, and
Birth His Light.
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God bless you!
Merry Christmas Eve.
Follow that star!!
Photo by Tomáš MalÄŤo MalĂk on Pexels.com
Thank you, Abigail Gronway for sharing on your
Blog: Dark Side of the Moon, this poetry idea:
Scansion – a Than Bauk
This Burmese form is shorter than the haiku, but more structured.
It is written in three lines, with four syllables per line and a descending step rhyme:
XXXA
XXAX
XAXX
Government hype:
Crazy type news.
Let’s gripe loudly!
?!!!! 420,000 government workers – working without pay?!!!!
Wake up, America!
Day #24 in my A-Z series of “What Makes Me Happy?”
XANDER
He lives five minutes
Away from us in Ennis
I see him seldom
My heart aches for the happiness my great-grandson, Xander, brings into my life. I want to see him regularly, to be a positive influence on his life. But, it’s not my call. I can’t force it. All I can do is pray my granddaughter will see the light, accept my invitations, and bring him here more often (every six weeks or so just doesn’t do it). Keep my heart open. Keep inviting. Keep praying.
Join me in that prayer, will you?
You can see that Xander makes me happy.
Bob, my hubby, said, “X-ing.” Crossing is better than stagnation, he reasoned. “Keep moving forward in life,” he advised. Yes, wise forward X-ING brings happiness.
What’s your “X” word for happiness?
Life is fragile!
On this day when another mass shooting occurred,
and 12 people were innocently shot down
in Thousand Oaks, CA,
we need this book,
“I’ve Been Thinking” by Maria Shriver.
A friend of mine, Gloria Wilson, shared a few pages from it on FaceBook.
The prayer below is one that resonated with me.
I hope it speaks to you,, too.
I am grateful for my faith
which helps me know for sure,
my future is in God’s hands.
God help us as a nation… as a world.
Help us to JUST LOVE ONE ANOTHER.
Photo by Ivandrei Pretorius on Pexels.com
When will the atrocities end?
When will we as a nation send
A clear and strong message to say
“Stop these mass shootings today”
.
Our hearts are hurting for the ones today
Who lost their lives; hate killed Jewish friends who pray.
They were brutally killed because some looney man
Chose to open fire on innocent folks. He had a plan.
.
But I believe and so do you, my friend,
That this insanity has got to end.
If our legislators can’t ban assault weapons today,
Then we need to vote them out – send ’em on their way.
.
Armed guards in our schools or worship places
Won’t stop the carnage or remove antisemitic traces.
More guns is not the answer to stopping hate, I know.
Initiate better gun control – increase mental health – help love grow.
.
Each of us has a role to play; we must shout out now.
Raise our voices in protest and outrage and figure out how
America can regain its heritage as a Land of the Free –
Safe for everyone – regardless of the color or religion we may be.
Photo by mali maeder on Pexels.com
This week a young life was lost. Tragically, the brother of a dear friend who goes ATVing with us was killed in a two-car accident right here in our Madison Valley. He worked in our local nursing home. A compassionate, caring, handsome young man with so much to give. All loss hurts, but untimely death is so devastating.
I was looking forward to introducing him to our grandson who is coming from Switzerland next month to live with us for awhile. I know they would have been fast friends.
My heart is hurting. And especially for the family and friends he leaves behind. Pray for his brother, Joe, and the residents and staff at our nursing home, will you? I know they are grieving. I wish I could help.
The following Haiku was prompted by this tragedy:
One moment in time
Never to return again
So treasure each breath
.
God bless you, my blogging friends. Live in the NOW. Love, Laugh, and treasure one another. Live in love and gratitude. We just never know what each day will bring.
Hugs to You !!
Inspire to Love
Let the SonShine!
You inspire me to respond
Learning to Live; Living to Learn; Learning to Love; Living in Love
