tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-141604542011-11-07T18:14:46.817-06:00"Reflection is the liturgy of this landscape." Terry Tempest WilliamsTexas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.comBlogger6371100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-32582488099397039872011-11-07T18:00:00.003-06:002011-11-07T18:14:46.892-06:00

After 6 years of living in near-Nirvana, I have moved to the city and am experiencing all that a city has to offer.Last Saturday, it had to offer:1. Me running a red light2. Mocha getting so over-stimulated at Petsmart she peed a wide swath from the front door to the car3. Aggressive posturing in the Krogers parking lot...and that's when I thought it was best to retreat to the safety of four

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-45529543556342233602011-04-09T17:20:00.001-05:002011-04-09T17:25:09.325-05:00

for two, maybe three seasons of flight,his absence has left a shadow on the heartstill, the eye scans the shallowsfor a glimpse of the arched neck,the poppy-colored beakmade famous in another poemabout Swans,how their grace causes the breathto catch in the throatlike the memory of a lost lovewho too has left a shadow on the heart

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-12210737766958880222011-04-09T17:18:00.002-05:002011-04-09T17:20:03.938-05:00

plastic orange flagsflap frantically in the breezebetween newly-leafed treesand sweet spring grasswho know,in their state of natural beinghow to bend, to sway, to swoonat the touch of a breeze,their fickle dance partner

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-78496313159043449872011-03-26T19:59:00.003-05:002011-03-26T20:14:36.660-05:00

Hello! Is there anyone out there? I don't blame you for walking away from this rarely-updated, dull-as-dishwater blog. I have a bag of cookies and I'm going to drop crumbs all over the Interwebs and see if you can be lured back. Yes, they're chocolate chip.This blog has been a wonderful place to house my poetry and photos and occasional observations and rants for the past 6 years. Funny thing is,

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-66994022498511141102011-01-09T11:53:00.004-06:002011-01-09T11:57:54.966-06:00

Just a random list of names of dwarfs who didn't make the cut for the iconic Snow White companions:SniffyDrippyFluffySquishyFeel free to expound.

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-16730498716380870412010-11-17T07:27:00.003-06:002010-11-17T07:44:42.043-06:00

A few new poems by yours truly written at a retreat led by Nevin Comptom Trammell.The Irregular HeartThe irregular heartknows not the confinesof chamber walls or rhythmsof the lub-dub doctrineLook there, in the cornerwhere pigments swirlbirthing a fifth chamberan irregular heartmade newfor a new waya new daya new doctrine****************************************************************************

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-56697933570437111062010-11-15T19:04:00.006-06:002010-11-15T19:28:17.168-06:00

I'm standing at the Kangaroo Mart in Ashland City pumping gas, minding my own business and this disembodied voice floats over my head from behind. I don't know, I must have been daydreaming because I realized he'd said it several times before I turned to see an aged black man handing me a business card. His pea green cap was emblazoned with "Koren War Veteran" along the crisp creased side.I look

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-49358578311480814112010-11-04T20:26:00.001-05:002010-11-07T07:52:11.020-06:00

On our way to Beaufort, we couldn't resist stopping for this photo op at the Gay Fish Co. in Port Royal.Have mercy! This Southern Belle is draped over the porch railing of the oldest home in Beaufort, SC. This is just one of the ghostly residents portrayed on the annual Ghost Tour. We traveled by horse-drawn carriage beneath ancient live oak trees dripping with Spanish moss. As daylight turned to

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-85422295863515611942010-10-27T19:09:00.005-05:002010-11-07T07:52:53.937-06:00

An unimposing sign read "Dataw Island" with an arrow pointing right. Linda and I looked at each other and said, "I'm game!" so down the road we turned not knowing we'd stumble upon a treasure trove, one discovered by Spanish explorers in 1514.Here, you see one of the many winged inhabitants, a Great Egret. Sir Bird was wading casually through the marsh grass shopping for a snack. He turned his

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-57123578039154360132010-10-22T06:54:00.004-05:002010-10-22T08:08:07.939-05:00

The lighthouse on Hunting Island State Park stands 132 feet above ground. Originally built in 1859, the Confederate Army destroyed it to prevent the Union Army from navigating by its beacon in the night. Luckily, the lighthouse was rebuilt in 1879 and has witnessed a much greater enemy, erosion.A modified spiral staircase of 167 steps is the only means to get to the top and experience a 360 view

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-49108744335642754952010-10-21T06:49:00.008-05:002010-10-21T08:04:27.126-05:00

For weeks, the muscles across my chest and shoulders have been tight and I've not been able to breathe deeply. I've come to understand that this tightness is not an illness (of the medical variety) but of the spirit. A physical prompt to let me know it's time to seek the landscape which feeds my soul, clears my mind, loosens muscles and lets me breathe deeply. That landscape is the horizon. To be

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-70161243333934520732010-09-23T08:55:00.002-05:002010-09-23T09:19:10.852-05:00

It's my birthday and I'll swing if I want toSwing if I want toSwing if I want toYou would swing toif'n you could too!Yes Blogosphere, today is my birthday. It's also the first day of Fall and the first day of the sun sign Libra. Quite an auspicious day to be born, don't you think?Here's my agenda for the day:1. Sleep until 8:302. Work for a few hours in the office3. Put on wandering clothes4.

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-75432116429530214082010-09-19T09:22:00.004-05:002010-09-19T09:57:02.910-05:00

I can feel Miss Mocha sleeping soundly behind my big comfy chair. No, she's not snoring or moaning or chasing bunnies in her sleep, she's simply there. Her birthday is coming up in October and she'll be 12. She's always been a strong, healthy dog only going to the vet for annual vaccinations. As more whiskers start to turn white on her brown nose, she's slowing down a little, showing some aches

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-45808676515946321942010-09-18T11:15:00.002-05:002010-09-18T11:19:30.935-05:00

What I saw on my morning walk:a butterfly and a beedance on the faceof a flowerit bows its headin ecstasyand I pausewonderingif they arewilling partnersand who leadsand who follows?

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-43136890925819729762010-09-09T08:45:00.006-05:002010-09-09T23:01:16.833-05:00

Red morning glory atop soon-to-be unfurled goldenrod dueling hummingbirds against a morning-glory-blue sky

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-13098896837993828342010-08-31T06:12:00.003-05:002010-08-31T06:28:30.944-05:00

I don't know why I was reminded of Erma Bombeck today, but as I was walking across the room I sneezed and peed on myself simultaneously. That's never happened before. I must be moving into the exert and squirt stage of life.

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-59588106352979178952010-08-17T09:46:00.003-05:002010-08-17T10:20:42.489-05:00

What a surprise! During Mocha's morning constitution, we did not walk into a wall of heat and humidity. Dare I say there was a cool breeze, a hint of fall?!? It's much too early to wish for fall-like weather, but this brief respite from the oppressive heat (110 degrees with the heat index) is welcomed with open arms.I promptly went inside and opened the windows to breathe life into the stale,

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-58896063100041046122010-07-23T18:17:00.004-05:002010-07-23T18:31:46.912-05:00

There are days when it seems I have an ok handle on IT and Social Networking applications. And then there are days when trying to get: 1)this tag or 2)that button or 3)a blinking link on the Penuel Ridge website or email marketing campaign or Facebook page makes my head explode.When will the cranial plug-in be functional so that what I think will appear on the screen? Is there an app for that?

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-59605752675637513392010-07-21T08:37:00.002-05:002010-07-21T09:01:32.825-05:00

Do you feel it too, a presence in the air that doesn't have a shape or form, but is there nonetheless? A few days ago, someone referred to "it" as "shadow selves" coming out in people so they can be seen, dealt with and released.Maybe more explanation is warranted. I see people acting in ways uncharacteristic to their normal way of being. I hear people saying things they would not normally

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-2242063699454673642010-07-11T13:26:00.003-05:002010-07-11T13:45:16.858-05:00

The summer reading programs of my youth are to blame for the glutenous manner in which I consume book after book while the heat and humidity rage outside my window.It also helps to have been invited into a long-standing book club in the area where I live. With them, I recently read "A Gathering of Old Men" by Ernest Gaines. If you haven't read it or it's been a while, I highly recommend it. Be

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-21626942245560222242010-07-05T11:29:00.002-05:002010-07-05T11:46:32.212-05:00

Stuck in the muck of mediocrity. That's how it feels to be me at the moment. This is the time of year when I go deep, to shine light on that which is ready to be released, a declaration of independence of sorts.This usually results in a list, a renewed sense of purpose, swelling passion to propel me to the other side of now.Problem is...it's not coming to me as readily as in years past. This

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-69176845167929762072010-06-22T07:36:00.003-05:002010-06-22T09:29:55.334-05:00

It's 7:36 am and I've been up for hours. The first hint of morning light hit my brain like a laser beam, so I acquiesced to the new day. Miss Mocha had other ideas, ones that involve sleep and mamma's bed and sleep and "oh isn't this the best pillow ever?" Needless to say, I would be companionless until she was good and ready.Seems the day wanted to ease in gently, so I resisted the urge to make

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-42753840823922817222010-06-17T07:11:00.003-05:002010-06-17T07:16:50.076-05:00

At writers group last night, the prompt was "my hell is no worse than yours". Sometimes, I'll write a few haikus to get the juices flowing. Here are a few:My hell is no worse than yoursexhibit one: breathmine goes in and out...yours notMy hell is no worse than yoursor so I believeas daylight turns to darknessMy hell is no worse than yoursan autumn leaf fallsas do your sins on the ground

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-51251508068054145012010-04-30T14:30:00.001-05:002010-04-30T14:33:11.128-05:00

Yesterday I became a great aunt. Today I found a hair growing out of my chin. It seems I'm entering the Crone phase of my life. Then why am I still ovulating?

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-42804131428029179962010-04-30T09:28:00.002-05:002010-04-30T09:32:45.673-05:00

listenfor a voice in the windto speak your name,an invitationto anchor you in this momentthat belongs to no onebut this momentreachfor a growing thingto feel its pulsebetween your fingersa validationof a lifeconnectedwalkfor as long as it takesto see with shuttered eyesthe path to the water’s edgea homecoming through the solesof your feetyearnfor the white iristo unfurl before yourevealing its

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-41935436864175724422010-03-27T18:12:00.003-05:002010-03-27T18:15:52.258-05:00

there will come a momenta pausewhen your bones will rememberwhat it’s like to be embracedby the night skyand in that momentyour heart will whisper“flight”and your hand will reachfor the keythat takes you backto silenceand peaceand stillnessand the cold night airon your facethere will come a momenta pausewhen your bones will rememberwhat it’s like to be wearyin the bodyand in that momentyour heart

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-66419223236555993302010-03-17T08:28:00.004-05:002010-03-17T09:01:02.536-05:00

The foremost topic of conversation with anyone these days is how sick they are of winter and where the hell is Spring? If red buds, Japanese magnolias, dogwoods and forsythias don't bloom soon, I swear people are going to start rubbing gravel in their hair and rending their garments.Yes, we are all weary of enduring the gray, frigid, snowy, wet, foggy days that have dominated the winter landscape

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-65389505312575268292010-03-08T10:45:00.003-06:002010-03-09T07:33:09.677-06:00

What do I want to do with my time? to walk untethered in the world  to wander without a compass only to find my way home at the end of the day  to carry only that which feeds me wholly  to embrace silence until the language of the land becomes my own  to pause when the bones say rest under the outstretched arms of a forest green  to honor the hoof prints of the doe with words rippling down

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-37078805134648390302010-03-03T11:01:00.000-06:002010-03-03T11:02:11.927-06:00

Do strains of music stop at the border's edge?What of the windof the rainof the sunand its healing raysshining downon the Mother, this native land?A nomad's foot pauseson the cartographer' s linebetween nations.Does the soilfeel foreign to the heelbut home to the toe,or does he walk on,one horizonone world outstretched?These imaginary borderswe bump intoon our way to somewhere elsecut us off from

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-91880007586801376342010-02-15T09:03:00.003-06:002010-02-15T09:07:35.970-06:00

I finally saw Julia & Julia, so how appropriate to get a call from a reporter writing an article about cooking for one.Here's the article.Bon Appetit!

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-60249334011646616052010-02-15T08:57:00.004-06:002010-02-15T09:40:03.433-06:00

It's good to get ink...behold, a recent article in the newspaper about the dial-up dilemma.

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-62144301639723673322010-02-08T09:22:00.002-06:002010-02-08T09:29:31.085-06:00

Laughter floats infrom one of the roomsat my backto find me sitting alonein my high chair at the kitchen tableWatermelon red with chrome trimshiny enough to reflectmy pink chubby toesI don't mind being alonewith disembodied toes to keep me companyBut what do toddlers knowof the push-pull theory?Still the laughterstill alonebored with "this little piggy"I peer over my shoulderlean back as far as I

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-53455818665809122562010-02-05T15:01:00.002-06:002010-02-05T15:34:16.925-06:00

Despite my silence in the Blogosphere about my tango with Comcast, much has been happening. For the most part, I've been passed up and down the food chain several times. Had some encouraging conversations with folks on their payroll who truly sympathize with the situation and conversly, had some very infuriating conversations with folks on their payroll who spoke to me with condescension and

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-64279373007895816232010-01-11T10:45:00.006-06:002010-01-11T10:52:03.823-06:00

My goodness but a flurry of phone calls came pouring in on Friday afternoon from all manner of folk representing Comcast.Here's the problem though...my request was de-escalated to the local market, not escalated to decision/change makers up the corporate ladder who have the vision and authority to say "yes."One of my favorite quotes from a local representative for Ashland City was, "not only

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-56278805607689933912010-01-08T07:44:00.003-06:002010-01-08T08:16:00.791-06:00

Some of you may have noticed a comment left two days ago by someone from Comcast offering to help. My first reaction was elation, my second reaction was suspicion. How did I know this person was a representative from Comcast and what made him think I would divulge my address to someone on the internet? It also gave me the willies to think that a Corporate Giant is trolling the internet daily for

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-89373968311815455842010-01-07T07:15:00.005-06:002010-01-07T12:04:39.283-06:00

You're probably wondering how I made the mental leap from my "Dear Jane" email from Comcast to contacting the Executive Director of the Economic Development Office of Cheatham County. In short, the brain is a wonderful tool.Somewhere in the back of my mind, I remembered receiving a survey several months prior from the Office of Economic Development about the countywide need for high-speed

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-26059217566501187152010-01-06T08:55:00.006-06:002010-01-13T11:36:33.359-06:00

Where were we...ah yes, Comcast has been courting me for "Triple Play" service. I begged the sales person not to use that phrase when talking to me, but a script they must follow and follow it he did.After an initial conversation with Mr. Sales Person it truly appeared that high speed internet access was within my grasp. I dreamed of spending [wasting] hours cruising You Tube, ITunes and adding

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-4130441879844763722010-01-05T07:14:00.002-06:002010-01-05T07:41:01.717-06:00

There are conveniences I knew I'd give up moving from a city in Texas with a population of 2.2 million to a small county seat in Tennessee with a population of 4,000. Living in the middle of a thriving metropolis can be invigorating however as an aspiring writer, I craved a quiet, slower pace in which to create.One of the conveniences I didn't think I'd give up was access to high-speed internet

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-17947667315882354702010-01-04T09:13:00.004-06:002010-01-04T09:23:28.627-06:00

Miss Mocha hunkered down with her new toy, the Ant Eater. It has a wonderful squeaker that has a voice like Lauren Bacall. Fun times are ahead in 2010 for the Brown One.

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-18352844154564746342010-01-03T15:40:00.006-06:002010-01-03T16:35:53.588-06:00

The Texas horizon allows me to breathe deep, my shoulders to relax, my mind to wander. When a trip home and a steady diet of flat land, long-reaching horizons and sapphire sky aren't possible, then the views from atop Skyuka Mountain serve as an hors d'oeuvre.Winter is best for horizon-seeking on Skyuka Mountain. In other seasons, the dense growth of hardwoods and their foliage create an

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-74926395761781957952009-12-19T17:44:00.000-06:002009-12-19T17:46:05.102-06:00

a river, swift and darkcreeps closer to an asphalt ribbon,the one with a parallel nameone raindrop, joined by othersa watershed gestating until eventuallyit has no choice but to unleash its torrentscattering remnants of sodden liveson unfamiliar shoresthe fine silt of our ancestorsa button, a bone, a seedor the shard of a porcelain cuponce carried in the belly of a shipi want to dangle my

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-56186260969093132362009-12-16T09:03:00.004-06:002009-12-16T09:21:50.502-06:00

Carolina Wrens are known for their antics and big voices, disproportionate to their tiny bodies. I love to watch them year round, but especially during nesting season. A pair of wrens built a nest above the porch light this year and raised their family right before my uplifted eyes.This year the fledglings didn't want to venture far from the nest so each night, they perched as close to the nest

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-47726213852831645072009-12-14T07:49:00.015-06:002009-12-14T08:08:59.936-06:00

On Thanksgiving, neighbor Kathryn and I walked at Radnor Lake. It was a cold, blustery morning with a sky threatening rain, but we were not deterred. Fallen leaves no longer held any autumnal crunch after weeks of rain, but flocks of Canadian geese on the lake lent a picturesque quality to an already bucolic setting.We chose the Spillway Trail which meanders through the woods, across the spillway

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-60319809988083473502009-12-13T17:12:00.003-06:002009-12-13T17:27:37.134-06:00

Since moving to the retreat center in 2005, silence has become a welcomed part of my daily existence. Having moved from the center of the nation's 4th largest city, it took a while to embrace silence, both aurally and emotionally. But embrace it I did, except for today.When there's a retreatant in the main retreat house who chooses to be in silence during their stay I too am in silence by default

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-71298692724038095882009-12-12T13:51:00.005-06:002009-12-12T14:17:08.835-06:00

A wet fall and bitterly cold temperatures have resulted in spectacular hoarfrost events over the past few weeks. It's hard to describe and even harder to photograph, but here's my latest attempt at capturing the magical explosion of white ribbon candy along meadow edges and road sides. Enjoy.

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-6090942631926119192009-12-11T16:34:00.002-06:002009-12-11T17:14:35.032-06:00

It's taken a while to get all the gears of my life moving again. The cogs and wheels and whirring things that spin round and round have sorely lacked attention while I've concentrated on LaLaKnee.Good news...a clog may still slip now and again, but all-in-all the engine of my life is running pretty smoothly.Here are a few highlights:1. 12 weeks of physical therapy came to a natural conclusion

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-31568170621044607252009-11-08T10:44:00.003-06:002009-11-08T11:09:10.976-06:00

That last two months have been all about LaLaKnee, the adventure in knee replacement surgery. Do you want to know the most common question I'm asked?Here it is..."You just had one replaced?"For the record...Yes, I only had one knee replaced. The surgery is debilitating and I can't imagine having them both done at the same time. I know it's common practice these days, but let me tell you

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-85723899073399700482009-10-10T07:12:00.003-05:002009-10-10T08:14:26.403-05:00

I love sitting in my big comfy chair, watching the day evolve from the dusky blur of pre-dawn to the first rays of golden sunlight setting the multi-colored leaves afire. With the window slightly open, a crisp breeze wakes me from the toes up and makes the first cup of coffee that much more delicious.Fall is my time of year. I was born on the Autumnal Equinox and have always felt the tide of

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-26656167970979829572009-09-03T02:34:00.001-05:002009-09-03T02:37:47.859-05:00

When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don't blame the lettuce. You look for reasons it is not doing well. It may need fertilizer, or more water, or less sun. You never blame the lettuce.Yet if we have problems with our friends or our family, we blame the other person. But if we know how to take care of them, they will grow well, like the lettuce. Blaming has no positive effect at

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-77992502186051646302009-08-30T02:42:00.002-05:002009-08-30T03:02:30.207-05:00

It finally happened, a date has been set for knee replacement surgery. Show time is September 10th at high noon. There's so much to do between now and then that the Blogosphere, Facebook Nation and Twitter World are going to have to live without me for a while.Speaking of living without me, it occurred to me there's the possibility (slim at best) that I might not wake up from surgery. Like I

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-2401795463405257522009-08-11T08:12:00.005-05:002009-08-11T08:22:57.733-05:00

each morningi raise the window,a small part of the dayslides inwith its bent rays of lightor notits riot of coloror notits stretching, yawning soundsor noteach morningi raise the windowto gently rock my life awakesome days are clear,on this morningdew clings to the glassthe tell-tale trail of a snailwho’s crossed the great panein the nightloops left to rightor is it right to left?each morningi

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-7910295630528772552009-08-09T11:22:00.002-05:002009-08-09T12:46:57.014-05:00

41.5 million pieces of tesserae were used to create 83,000 square feet of mosaic in The Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis. Spanning 75 years, three generations of artisans shaped the images depicting faith, history, art and architecture. Recently, the Lovely Linda and I traveled to St. Louis to celebrate the 25th anniversary of dear, dear friends Larry and John. On our way to the Saint Louis Art

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-62127139993986428582009-08-02T07:55:00.002-05:002009-08-02T08:07:25.140-05:00

It just happened, one of my favorite experiences. Sitting in my big comfy chair on a Sunday morning, I am aware the retreat house is bathed in silence. No equipment is humming, no footsteps upstairs, no road noise filtering through the window, just the gentle breathing of a sleeping dog.These are the moments I cherish, the moments I hold deep inside as a reservoir of calm. These are the

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-45884165778241868432009-07-28T09:24:00.003-05:002009-07-28T09:36:52.297-05:00

Scansion, macron and breve...OH MY!I'm up to my elbows unlocking the door to reading and writing metrical verse. I know, stop with the sexy talk.Seriously, this is fun and it involves math and maybe even a little music. Anything that can make me buddy up to math isn't all that bad, considering I've held a grudge against it since the 2nd grade."Rules for the Dance", a book by Mary Oliver, is

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-73377177271784162942009-07-16T19:23:00.005-05:002009-07-27T23:51:15.506-05:00

if my heart did loiteron the pretenseof the metaphorit was onlyfor a summer, lostunder the flaming sanguine skyintent on blisteringwhere oncethere were soft placesreaching,reaching,reaching to an other worldWritten in response to Read Write Prompt #83

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-30141376774569598032009-07-14T08:16:00.003-05:002009-07-14T08:25:58.962-05:00

a grasshopper sets off your car alarm.Yes, while enjoying an unusually cool summer morning in Middle Tennessee, I heard the sound of a car alarm in the distance. Odd...that's not something you usually hear at the Retreat Center. Up the staircase and out the door, I realize it's my car...hmm. Go back downstairs to get the keys and the alarm thingy that hasn't worked in oh...2 years and go back

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-36705777332737538622009-07-13T06:38:00.004-05:002009-07-13T07:18:08.185-05:00

My love for tchotchkes has been rekindled by neighbors Joanne and Kathryn. As a thank you for taking care of Mr. Zito, they gifted me with this: The Marie Antionette Action Figure, with ejectable head! Whether in her queenly robes or various states of undress she is, in a word, D-I-V-I-N-E. And don't knock the educational qualities of the blisterboard on which she was packaged. Every inch is

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-2792408229592531672009-07-09T08:58:00.004-05:002009-07-09T09:08:24.584-05:00

when a cloudeclipses my facea brow raises, the eyes narrowso as to see better in the darkwhen full lipsstretch into a thin linethe head tilts, slightly to the rightso as to hear the unspoken meaningyou may thinkmy piercing gazethe sign of an inquisitive mindyou’d be wrongit’s the little man,awakened by yournear truths, your masked emotionsclawing his way to the surfaceto get a closer lookso he

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-33058893938620712252009-07-07T08:54:00.002-05:002009-07-07T09:16:23.027-05:00

Say good morning to Clematis Viorna aka the Leather Flower.This sweet, nodding flower greeted us on the trail as we walked into the woods this morning. Isn't it lovely? A native vine, it's scarce in the lower mountains and I've never seen/noticed it at Penuel Ridge before today. It looks as if fairies might live inside its bell-shaped mouth.

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-76618832901641237962009-07-04T11:52:00.003-05:002009-07-04T12:19:34.778-05:00

The hamster wheel has spun 360 degrees and it's time to take a dive into the recesses of me. What am I looking for? Evidence of things I allow to hold me hostage. It's pretty easy to spot since I put down the tar paper a few years back. I just look for dark, sticky footprints on my insides and follow them till I find the little bastards in the dark crevices of my spirit. The miner's hat with the

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-58342235752574901572009-07-02T09:52:00.000-05:002009-07-03T10:04:34.626-05:00

our desireto be coupled with othersillusorywhen all-the-whileour desire isto be coupledwith ourselvespairing the best in uspairing the worst in usparing of the virulentthrough a shrinking lensHow much to cut awaybefore you get to the truthof who you are?Written in response to ReadWritePrompt #81Photo Prompt Credit: XX by oncle Jim

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-32697787130564497212009-07-01T19:42:00.004-05:002009-07-01T20:13:04.250-05:00

Hello pals of mine! We've been without a contest at Texas2Tennessee for quite some time. I guess I was waiting for the right image to come along and lo and behold it appeared in my garden this very day.I've offered a haiku to capture my delight in picking the first ripe tomato of the season. Your challenge is to craft one of your very own. Please leave it in comments along with a link to your

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-29939381133944865502009-06-26T08:22:00.001-05:002009-06-26T08:24:57.499-05:00

Can you tell your life story in six words? You can browse my six-word memoir and that of others here.Laugh outloud today. Go ahead, I dare you.

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-5805524039369754052009-06-23T18:59:00.002-05:002009-06-23T19:29:08.956-05:00

The Shit Fairy laid a big one last week and sent me into flight mode. A typical Libra trait, it means dropping everything and getting the hell out. Luckily I already had a weekend planned with the lovely Linda, so the timing was good.I threw the dog and some stuff in the car last Thursday and pointed us east through the Great Smokey Mountains and beyond. We played tag with a vicious storm

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-69889029731241038912009-06-21T20:01:00.003-05:002009-06-27T01:55:17.309-05:00

For all the timesyou dangled me in front of your friendslike chattel, thank you.Your willingnessto trade my innocencefor some small measure of acceptancehas made me the woman I am today.For all the timesyou berated me, my mother, sister and brother,thank you.Your proclivityfor choosing a public forumto trumpet your disenchantmenttaught us the meaning of shame.My inheritance from you is rich…

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-87629657239826496802009-06-17T08:54:00.006-05:002009-06-17T10:06:45.664-05:00

Yesterday, I was evaluated for vocational aptitude. The testing took 3 hours and covered math skills, spelling, reading comprehension, vocabulary, spacial relations, hand dexterity skills, etc... Believe it or not, this is part of the a program I've applied to that would pay for knee replacement surgery. It's really a proactive program based on the premise that the state would spend less money

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-4217221330171945732009-06-11T11:52:00.004-05:002009-06-11T12:07:46.119-05:00

you register firstas the sound of gravelyielding under the weightof deliberate stepsthe cadence of your paceacross the promenadeinforms the beating of my heart,my trembling handWhat does the writer careof scandalin the City of Lights?a wisp of dust risesfrom the toe of your bootas you haltat the hem of my skirtthe arch of a raised eyebrowarticulates your advantage,me sitting on a park benchyou

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-45842874534084219322009-06-09T09:33:00.004-05:002009-06-09T09:35:19.750-05:00

Day 5 of Home Again...Home Again is on it's way. Really. Could use a wifi connection out here in the woods.Stay tuned.

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-50064771112974678902009-06-07T09:26:00.009-05:002009-06-07T18:56:17.810-05:00

Day 4Celebration DayOuch! Driving a stick shift on Day 3 took a toll on my knee. It was a tough night that pain meds barely touched. When I woke up the morning of Day 4, it wasn't much better.Leanne had risen early to retrieve Venus and Emma, so it was puppy love all around once they hit the door. Emma is a chocolate lab that's a month younger than Miss Mocha. Thank goodness they were playmates

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-65398707632059173612009-06-06T07:37:00.002-05:002009-06-06T07:39:36.037-05:00

You knocked the wind out of melight played golden noteswith your wordson the grassAll I could do was walk,until music awakeneduntil white noisea warm hallelujahstopped roaring in my headin my soulAll I could do was fly,it was then I knewreaching for the cabin doorthe prayer inside meand freedom from painhad been answered

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-10444783890535869952009-06-06T07:35:00.000-05:002009-06-06T07:36:48.936-05:00

Light played golden noteson the grassuntil music awakeneda warm hallelujahin my soulit was then I knewthe prayer inside mehad been answeredas the words, “I love you”poured from your lips

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-77906248777104470822009-06-04T05:58:00.003-05:002009-06-04T07:11:15.266-05:00

Day 3The Lovely Linda has an inquisitive mind and likes geography, not just a pinpoint on the map or a collection of stories, but the place itself. What it looks like. What is smells like. The color of the air and the people. The way towns are laid out.For this trip, she had a request. "Show me where you grew up." She's been hearing stories about Brookshire and Katy and Hockley and Waller

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-34454129050256664342009-06-02T01:08:00.014-05:002009-06-02T03:09:10.488-05:00

Day 2 After a 12+ hour car drive the day before, we awoke (in Texas) to a morning filled with gentle, cool breezes bird song, blue skies and the possibility of coconut cake for breakfast!Mom was up first and it was the sound of her tidying the living room that woke me. It got suddenly quiet, so I knew she'd slipped outside were I'd find her tending to her plants. The woman never sits still.I

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-44015849235926347722009-06-01T11:16:00.001-05:002009-06-01T11:20:49.995-05:00

You knocked the wind out of mewith your wordsall I could dowas walk,walk until the white noisestopped roaring in my headAll I could dowas flyfly into the nightwith my handreaching for the cabin doorand freedom from painWith my handgrasping the luggage(they’d bought us for our honeymoon)all I could dowas stumblestumble into the waiting carthat would take me To the alone placeaway from youand the

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-72314576830154970572009-05-30T09:58:00.008-05:002009-05-31T20:41:05.793-05:00

The road led to Texas and back again.Along the way, the Universe threw in a few speed bumps so we'd slow down and get a chance to appreciate what was outside the car window.Day OneA hearty breakfast at the Loveless Cafe to fortify us for the long drive. Those folks know how to bake a biscuit.Creeping along I-40 for an hour gave us a chance to roll down the windows, feel the morning air on our

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-15905648717785522962009-05-19T08:32:00.003-05:002009-05-19T08:37:07.828-05:00

Greetings Blogosphere. I'm off to Texas for some overdue rest and relaxation. I'll be back blogging in a week or so. In the meantime, keep reaching for that next good feeling and have a little fun!

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-62537611537055213972009-05-14T06:00:00.002-05:002009-05-14T07:21:00.820-05:00

I was introduced to Read Write Poem during National Poetry Month. Their idea of creating a supportive community of poets aligns with my own, so I have joined. Each Friday, they offer a prompt. Sometimes it's a word or a group of words. Sometimes it's an image. Sometimes it's a challenge to revisit old work and give it new life.This is good.

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-38566859271822851602009-05-13T20:14:00.008-05:002009-05-13T20:27:55.584-05:00

She falls softly into sleepa mosaic of words, sublimeebbs and flows through her dreamsthe guard of consciousnessnods at his post,leaving them free to associate,disassociatefrom anotheruntil at last they come to rest,each glyph carved in reliefon the dome of her skull

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-74237863116314993962009-05-09T08:45:00.002-05:002009-05-09T09:02:18.237-05:00

ligustrum in blooman allergist's dream come truebreath at your own risk

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-27337945776923864932009-05-08T09:59:00.004-05:002009-05-08T10:40:50.826-05:00

Show of hands...how many of you sat in Philosophy 101, freshman year of college, pondering the following:"If a tree falls in the forest and there's no one there to hear it, does it make a sound?"OK...you can put your hand down now. The answer is........NO!My enlightenment unfolded as follows:Driving home last Sunday, I was anticipating pulling into the gravel drive to see a herd of deer grazing

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-76719382855776003372009-05-02T09:41:00.005-05:002009-05-05T14:29:37.381-05:00

Walking in search of,I stub my toe on a blossomfallen in the middle of the trail,this orange and yellow bell-shaped flowersits weighty in the palm of my handlike an engraved invitationto look uphigh, in the canopy of hickoryand persimmon, sycamoreand beech,whose leaves thwartmy aching gazeI move onin hopes of a revelation,but none comesso I return to stillnessin the cabin at the edge of the

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-67263873007211079652009-04-30T08:16:00.000-05:002009-04-30T08:17:39.619-05:00

the fallen feathersilent riot of coloron tender spring grass

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-43196473672563419672009-04-29T10:13:00.010-05:002009-04-29T11:53:42.230-05:00

Your common name, fire pinkmisleadingas to your true color Like many labelsput upon,one size does not fit all There is comfortin category, in recall,but surely there is roomfor the heartto namewhat the body sees and feels,without benefitof language,foreign to your tongue.

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-85265346823363099922009-04-28T15:47:00.002-05:002009-04-29T16:30:23.032-05:00

I stew about the “rules” of poetry,wondering if my pot of wordsis sustenanceor merely palatable.This whirl of lettersand punctuation,metaphor and imagery;a rolling boil of expressionthat if tendedwith a patient and loving handwill simmerto a fine consommé.Enough?Or would you carefor a second helping?

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-21367711882494899112009-04-27T09:52:00.002-05:002009-04-27T09:57:11.548-05:00

I raise the window in hasteso as not to shut outthe song of morningthe ebb and flowof wind through the leaveseasily mistaken for rainmessages tapped outby the chickadee,releasing a kernelfrom a safflower seedbees bobbing curiouslyat the window screen,the drone of their buzzinga sedativethe faint chirpsof newly hatched bluebirdssafe in the nestall commanding my attention,demanding nothing of

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-83937113768937433752009-04-25T22:13:00.006-05:002009-04-29T09:37:27.523-05:00

Words, breath, emotionscatapulting across airwaves,teeth, tongue, lips, mouthso close to the microphoneyou can taste plasticThere's a staircaseI walk in my sleepshadow and light playmake every other stepa guessor an act of faiththat when you putthe full force of your weighton the footsomething solidwill hold you uplike words, breath, emotionsspoken in truthin a small roomthe taste of plasticstill

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-40690824648346264532009-04-24T08:06:00.003-05:002009-04-24T08:34:46.114-05:00

La Luna, La Lunaa lyrical mothin form and colora surpriseas I stumbled outin the deep of nightwith no reasonto look up, exceptthe whisper of your wingsbroke the silence as they unfurled,as they unfurledin this protected place

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-47237497239853390632009-04-23T04:29:00.002-05:002009-04-23T04:33:11.175-05:00

To awake hungry,you must lie downwith the memory ofa feasta handful of warm berrieswho leave their mark on your fingersa handful of airgrasped in a moment of ecstasyreaching for the pinnacle cloudwith the tip of your toesas the arc of the swingtakes you higheruntil you come full circleto the familiar,the starting placeit all began...the memoryof being bornhungry

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-14523475088758812252009-04-21T12:59:00.000-05:002009-04-21T13:00:55.502-05:00

Warbler's yellow throatsurprising burst of sunshinegales of birdsong, Spring

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-69944184075630736952009-04-20T20:17:00.006-05:002009-04-21T13:01:45.552-05:00

a yellow throated warblerpasses throughimpressive markingsaround the eye and cheek,a masked banditin search of foodand fodder for the nesthe chittles,he chortles happilylooking up to see me peeringthrough the windowhe flashes his sunny throatmy way and adds a winkjust for good measurethis is spring at its finest

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-81460217102401320692009-04-19T13:37:00.004-05:002009-04-20T08:52:51.067-05:00

a raindrop glidesdown the windowpaneso too a teardown my cheekcollecting in the hollowof my throatthat burns fromholding back the painof bone against bonewhere once there was cushionnow nerves tap urgentmessages to the braincries for reliefno longer stifledby the small oval pillonce sweet honey,coating the senses

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-75727971334668702302009-04-17T14:54:00.004-05:002009-04-17T15:05:10.747-05:00

This is my big sister and me looking cute. We're all grown up now, but when I visit her, we sit side-by-side on her front porch talking, drinking something cool and sometimes holding hands.She had surgery today and is in recovery. The doctor said everything went well and she's going to be fine. It's a long way from Texas to Tennessee and it feels ever longer today. I hope she knows I'm sitting

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-3498575310158342242009-04-16T13:05:00.004-05:002009-04-16T13:27:44.414-05:00

Yes, today is your day.A day for me to say 'thank you' to those who have stopped by, left your thumbprint on a page or two of these musings and when so inclined, a comment.For nearly 4 years, I've littered the Blogosphere with poetry, rants, wonders, photos, joys and heartbreaks. Put another way, what it means to be human. I often wonder who you are. That's why I put a little widgit on the

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-44361558146137978042009-04-15T08:59:00.002-05:002009-04-15T09:11:16.434-05:00

Quiver,the tender leaveson a morning breezeno longer winternot quite springQuiver,the yellow violaswhose facescrowd cheek-to-cheekforming a new sunQuiver,the weathered barkslappedby wind and rainice and snow Quiver,a clutch of bluebird eggsunder a brood patchtapping their wayto life and flightQuiver,the tender placestouchedin the early morning hoursasleep, awake, alive

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-65891644450894511522009-04-14T10:50:00.004-05:002009-04-14T11:26:59.828-05:00

Into the looking glasswater tumbles.How deep the pool?A hungry lap never says noto the fallor what may manifest from thefalllike a whirlpool,or a trapped podtoo delicious to releasespinning round and rounduntil all that’s leftis right for the feastthat falls from the skyagain and againsinging a raucous melody,seducing the onlookeruntil

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-48884969879392176642009-04-13T12:12:00.004-05:002009-04-29T11:26:41.604-05:00

Excuse me for stubbing my toe on the doorstep of National Poetry Month. Yes, I committed to write a poem a day for all in the Blogosphere to enjoy. Little did I realize the pressure, THE PRESSURE that commitment would place on this particular poet. I seized up and sat staring at a blank piece of paper, then a blank screen, then a blank piece of paper. It wasn't pretty folks....but I'm back

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-41368562387114649682009-04-06T22:37:00.000-05:002009-04-07T01:50:33.110-05:00

creamy petals pausetheir ritual unfurlinghail, dogwood winter

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-53729044264716950792009-04-05T12:53:00.000-05:002009-04-29T11:30:54.857-05:00

i welcome the greeningexcepti’ll missthe fishermen,their knee to chest gaitthrough the muckthey don’t mind the intrusionexceptthey’re pulling the curtaininch-by-inchacross the stageof my gazeuntil the eye rests here,at the edge of a thicketinstead of there,along the shallowsof a meandering creekwhere fishermendine in privateexcept,here i siton the other side of waitingfor the fall,wanting memory’

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-37706380161407495722009-04-04T16:52:00.004-05:002009-04-04T16:57:32.446-05:00

Bending but not breakingbreaking but not shatteringshattering but not clatteringas I hit the groundGathering but not mendingmending but not tendingtending but not nurturingfragments foundWeathered hands swirl the panIn sunlighthungry eyes search murky soupfor glints of goldReflecting but not shiningshining but not glowingglowing but not radiatingfrom withinStepping but not dancingdancing but not

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14160454.post-3388147009767349092009-04-03T12:01:00.001-05:002009-04-07T01:03:22.850-05:00

dew carpets the lawnevery drop a jewelsuspending from the tipof Spring’s tender shootsevery drop a tearcleansing the film of winterfrom my eyesevery drop a prismbending morning’s lightinto a haloI raise the windowinviting colors to drift inon a gentle breezeevery breath a feastoffering sustenanceto the hollow placesevery breath a stepascending from nightonto the plane of a new dayevery breath a

Texas2Tennesseehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12974564782664702279noreply@blogger.com1