Tag carpediemseries

One Word by Stephen House

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Carpe Diem Series

I cannot think of a more elegant piece of work to end the Carpe Diem Series than this inspirational poem by Stephen House! What better way to seize the day than to put our attention towards love!

My Favorite Line, “ocean wander shares deep thought
hold all said in one word read
appreciate the gift to grasp
know well the word arrived by wind”

one word

stop my walk on empty beach
sit to rest on flat rock seat
breathe in fresh morning air
sun and waves give calm relax
gaze out horizon blue green frame
white cloud sky on glimmer sea
screwed up ball of paper blowing
stops soft against my foot

pick up the paper not sure why
maybe drawn to colour lemon
unscrew scrap dry faded torn
smooth out straight on naked knee
first notice image tight embossed
a flower i think a rose
top left corner slightly ripped
words hand-written underneath

can’t make out smeared ink scribble
only one word clear remains
love it says unmistaken
then blurs into greying swirl
the spelt out single message
reminds of love in my life near
the special ones friends and family
that without my life hang barren

paddle slowly in icy shallows
ocean wander shares deep thought
hold all said in one word read
appreciate the gift to grasp
know well the word arrived by wind
but also sure was meant for me
for in the weeks preceding here
a struggle in my days sat heavy

and just the chance to reflect upon
those ones dearly close to me
brings a smile and warm of heart
at how fortunate i am
the crumpled paper piece i hold
feel it gently in clasp fingers
fold it twice a treasure now to keep
slip it in my pocket cherished

Artist:

Stephen House is an award winning Australian playwright, poet and actor. He’s won two Awgie Awards (Australian Writer’s Guild) , Adelaide Fringe Award, Rhonda Jancovich Poetry Award for Social Justice, Goolwa Poetry Cup, Feast Short Story Prize and more. He’s been shortlisted for Lane Cove Literary Award, Overland’s Fair Australia Fiction Prize, Patrick White Playwright and Queensland Premier Drama Awards, Greenroom best actor Award and more. He’s received Australia Council literature residencies to Ireland and Canada, and an India Asialink. His chapbook “real and unreal” was published by ICOE Press Australia. He is published often and performs his work widely.

Destination Unknown & Other Poetry by Ann Christine Tabaka

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Carpe Diem Series

Wander through the mystical and exciting words of Ann Christine Tabaka! When I read her work I feel a strong sense of freedom and intrigue that eagerly pulls me into the next phrase.

My Favorite Line, ” Fantasies that never were
are now forevermore.”

Destination Unknown

Turnstile gate swings open
commuter trains rush by.

World weary travelers face another week,
never knowing one day from the next.

She stands on the platform,
watching and waiting for her train.

Dreams of far-off destinations,
holding a crumpled ticket in hand,

imagining all the places
she would like to go.

Visiting exotic worlds,
timeless visions fill her mind.

Eyes closed to wonderment,
she looks inside herself.

Golden cites rise above clouds.
Purple meadows stretch on forever.

Sparkling diamond seas,
white ibis soar overhead.

Suddenly the ticket becomes her escape,
as she boards a train to everywhere.

A whistle blows and she is gone,
riding into the unknown.

The Heart of Winter

December shed her wings and flew away
giving room for January to grow anew
sunlight shimmers in frosty air
crystals sparkle from every branch
ice laced winter morn
pristine snow covers all
time is frozen – in a whisper
enchanting beauty of a harsh season
slowly waiting for spring thaw

Lost Afternoon

Pinwheel afternoon
spinning on a breeze.

Sun smiling down
on a lazy day.

Woven dreams
spun of gold.

Grand escapades of imagination
floating on a whisper.

Fantasies that never were
are now forevermore.

I never put that much into life,
life just seemed to happen.

Standing here too long
I lose my way.

We Live for the Night

Nocturnal sky,
starlit filled.
You took my hand in yours.

Path well worn
beneath our feet.
We’ve walked this way before.

Legends live within us.
Heaven opens its vault.
Blackness cloaks us in its sheltering arms.

A whip-poor-will calls our names.
We vanish into
a star-studded night.

We dance among the galaxies
never looking back.

The night goes on forever.
We live for this.

I Want to Hide Away

I want to hide away inside the warmth of your smile,
the softness of your touch.
I want to crawl inside your skin to be one with you.
to fly into your arms – safe and sheltered in your love.

your comforting voice cooing from the nest,
inviting me to enter in.
climbing ever higher – we reach the clear blue sky,
to soar above peril and atrocity.

I want to hide away to become lost upon the breeze,
carried within the storm.
a whirlwind of desire,
never letting go of what I found in you.

as time distills imagination into being,
we become the sanctum that we seek,
shutting out all that is not fair and true.
hiding forever in each other’s love.

Artist:

Ann Christine Tabaka was nominated for the 2017 Pushcart Prize in Poetry. She is the winner of Spillwords Press 2020 Publication of the Year, her bio is featured in the “Who’s Who of Emerging Writers 2020,” published by Sweetycat Press. Chris has been internationally published, and won poetry awards from numerous publications. Her work has been translated into Sequoyah-Cherokee Syllabics, into French, and into Spanish. She is the author of 13 poetry books. She has been published micro-fiction anthologies and short story publications.  Christine lives in Delaware, USA.  She loves gardening and cooking.  Chris lives with her husband and four cats. Her most recent credits are: The American Writers Review, The Scribe Magazine, The Phoenix, Burningword Literary Journal, Muddy River Poetry Review, The Silver Blade, Silver Birch Press, Pomona Valley Review, Page & Spine, West Texas Literary Review, The Hungry Chimera, Sheila-Na-Gig, Foliate Oak Review, The McKinley Review, Fourth & Sycamore.

Follow:

Website: https://annchristinetabaka.com

Going With the Flow by Rifa Tasfia Choudhury

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Carpe Diem Series

Rifa Tasfia Choudhury’s sensational painting captures current time struggles, acceptance, and joy all in one! Take a moment to feast your eyes on this majestic piece of art and let it move you.

Going with the flow – 8x10inches, acrylic on paper 

Artist Statement:

This pandemic made me realize that not everyone and everything in life is meant to be. Not everything we own are ours. Once we leave this world we are leaving everything but ourselves. So my piece “going with the flow” represents the cycle of life itself. We are all humans flowing and floating away, always rushing and not truly living. But once in a while we must enjoy. Enjoy this little time we have here until it’s gone. 

Artist:

Rifa Tasfia Choudhury

Follow:

https://instagram.com/tazflea?igshid=548on37dvc9g

Spooning Time by Dr. Christine M. Du Bois

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Carpe Diem Series

Sway to the rhythm of this delightful poem by Dr. Christine M. Du Bois! Let her words bring excitement to you on this happy monday!

My Favoirte Line: “I play with
gravity, the way cool metal
pressing lightly on my flesh”

Spooning Time

This spoon balances between
my two fingers better
than all the other spoons.
The weight of it, the slow dance
the spoon and I play with
gravity, the way cool metal
pressing lightly on my flesh
tells secrets to my nerve
endings, or beginnings –
this spoon, emissary
of the heavens,
epistle of yes,
answers simple, birthright questions
I’d forgotten to ask.

Artist:

Dr. Christine M. Du Bois has published three non-fiction books, Images of West Indian Immigrants in Mass Media (LFB Scholarly, 2004), The World of Soy (University of IL Press, 2008), and The Story of Soy (Reaktion Press, 2018). She is a new poet, having published three poems at BourgeonOnline.com, and one on the blog of Prospectus magazine (April 2021).  She is an anthropologist of immigration, race relations, and food cultures, and also a precinct Judge of Elections near Philadelphia—where apparently bad things happen.

Minimum Credula Postero by Kate Meyer-Currey

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Carpe Diem Series

Seizing the day is not always a simple task. I love the way that Kate Meyer-Currey describes it as a fight and a battle, because often times that’s what it feels like. She highlights the determination and fire of spirit that is required to get through life.

My Favorite Line, ” He pulls no punches and
I take those, too. Desire
Cheers me on when I
Hit the ropes, so I get
Back up on my feet before
The bell. “

Minimum credula postero

I must seize the day before
It grabs me in its strangle-
Hold, wrestle its hands
From my windpipe before
It blocks my airways and
I suffocate as duty kills
The breath of desire. It
Is a constant struggle as
We are well-matched in
Our weight of experience:
Neither wins as we slug
It out in the ring together.
Duty keeps my feet on
The ground and stops me
From being a lightweight
With my head in the clouds.
He pulls no punches and
I take those, too. Desire
Cheers me on when I
Hit the ropes, so I get
Back up on my feet before
The bell. It’s a fair contest
And every day brings a
Fresh bout. I live for those
Moments in the ring, as
They might be my last:
There are no guarantees
In the game of life; so I’ll
Ensure I go down, fighting,
Not regretting tomorrow.

Artist:

Kate Meyer-Currey was born in 1969 and moved to Devon in 1973. A varied career in frontline settings has fuelled her interest in gritty urbanism, contrasted with a rural upbringing. Her ADHD also instils a sense of ‘other’ in her life and writing, whether folklore feminism, urban myth or social justice. 

Publications 

Chapbook County Lines (Dancing Girl Press, forthcoming 2021) 

Other poems include Family Landscape: Colchester 1957 (Not Very Quiet, September 2020), Invocation (Whimsical Poet, February 2021), Dulle Griet, Scold’s Bridle, Recconnaissance, (RavenCageZine, February 2021), Fear the reaper, (Red Wolf Journal, February, 2021), Stream: Timberscombe (A River of Poems, March 2021), Not so starry night (SheSpeaks, March 2021), Dimpsey (Snapdragon, March 2021), Mask (Disquiet Arts, March 2021)

Cailleach (SageWoman, forthcoming) Dregs (Seinundwerden,forthcoming), Gloves (MacroMicroCosm, forthcoming), Phases of the Moon (Hags on Fire, forthcoming), Anthem for the Contaminated (TrainRiver, forthcoming), Hilly Fields (Pure Slush, forthcoming), Scorpio rising (Noctivagant Press, forthcoming), Maman Brigitte (Albany Poets, forthcoming), Challenge (Poetry and Covid, forthcoming), To the manse (Dunbar, 2019) (Young Ravens, forthcoming), Scrapheap Challenge (Handyuncappedpen, forthcoming), New perspective (Planisphere HQ, forthcoming), Daffs (Blue Heron Review, forthcoming), Kintsugi (Aurora, Kira Kira, forthcoming), Supplication to the Morrigan, Wolf Ridge, (Quail Bell, forthcoming), Tessellation (Quillkeeper’s Press, forthcoming), Magnolia Stellata (Constellations, Literary North, forthcoming) 

Pants by Mehreen Ahmed

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Carpe Diem Series

Follow a day in the life of a couple pair of pants! Mehreen Ahmed takes us through a marvelously new perspective and brings it to life.

My Favorite Line, “The legs couldn’t stay away. The stronger the winds, the closer they were.”

Pants
by
Mehreen Ahmed

Two pairs of pants were swinging in the autumnal winds alongside the clothesline. It was above the red sprawling Azealia bed. One was female and the other male pants. They were tightly pegged. The wind couldn’t move them from the waist. But fanned to wrap themselves around in the legs.

The legs couldn’t stay away. The stronger the winds, the closer they were. The male pants were over the female at one point. They were even close enough for a kiss. The female pants swung themselves higher and the male followed suit. They frolicked. The Azealia stirred. This moment underpinned by romance.

The winds whispered to the pants that time was slipping away. The pants paid heed. They did exactly as they were told. It blew a little harder, the male pants got unpegged, it flew over and landed on the female pegs. A magpie swooped in and it sat on them. It sat there for hours. The pants didn’t blow apart.

The magpie stood sentinel. It looked around with its sharp eyes, that no one came close to pull them off the clothesline. The bird was ready to gouge the eyes of whoever dared. The wind brushed the bird too. It trembled, then it took off to another clothesline on the opposite side. From here it had a better view of this sweet togetherness. This lasted a while. No shudders.

The pants stayed pinned onto each other until they were dry. The bird flew away. The winds stopped.

Artist:

Find more writings of Mehreen Ahmed at: https://www.amazon.com/Mehreen-Ahmed/e/B005L6HMHM%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

A Client Who Originates in Outer Space by Ndaba Sibanda

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Carpe Diem Series

Come read about a fascinating scene inside a bookstore in Ndaba Sibanda’s poetry! He creates spectacular imagery and quickly brings you into the space with him.

My Favorite Line: ” I want a book that will soar and swing with me to its sky
one that captures, coaxes and coerces one`s mind’s eye”

A Client Who Originates In Outer Space

she was on the verge of spewing out something
raw like shut the hell up, hence her heart was burning
however, she had been taught that a client is always right
the potential buyer in the shop was like a creepy meteorite
the bookshop clerk`s look was a film of utter astonishment
the lanky lady, the comet in the shop was odd & insistent

I want a book that will soar and swing with me to its sky
one that captures, coaxes and coerces one`s mind’s eye
one whose pages will drive me to make an unrest
of a yell like hell as I freeze & freefall into its crest
one that will daze me with its turns and chases
one whose words are warm & crazy cuddles
one so touching that tears will be a torrent
a book whose word choice is an absorbent
a breeze that will brush away all my tears
and make me laugh out loud on its stairs

Ndaba Sibanda

Artist:

Sibanda is the author of Notes, Themes, Things And Other Things, The Gushungo Way, Sleeping Rivers, Love O’clock, The Dead Must Be Sobbing, Football of Fools, Cutting-edge Cache, Of the Saliva and the Tongue, When Inspiration Sings In Silence, The Way Forward, Sometimes Seasons Come With Unseasonal Harvests, As If They Minded:The Loudness Of Whispers, This Cannot Be Happening :Speaking Truth To Power, The Dangers  Of Child Marriages:Billions Of Dollars Lost In Earnings And Human Capital, The Ndaba Jamela and Collections and Poetry Pharmacy.  Sibanda’s work has received Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net nominations. Some of his work has been translated into Serbian.

La macchinazione (The Machination) by Analia Adorni

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Carpe Diem Series

To start our work week we have Analia Adorni to provide us with a marvelous piece of artwork to observe and let sink in. This piece focuses on contemplating a woman’s role and the immense amount of work it takes to accomplish what is expected. Take a look below!

Artist Statement:

“Is cooking the woman’s place? Western culture educated us women to be good mothers, good cooks, good housewives. This series of works talks about the role of women in the kitchen and the partition of the day in schedules to develop housework, routine, synchronization”

Artist:

Analia Adorni was born in Argentina and studied at the National University of Arts of Buenos  Aires. She winced the fellowship for artisans of Tuscany Region and moved to Italy where she continues the studies at Visual Center of Pietrasanta (Tuscany)and Il Bisonte (Center for  Printmaking in Florence). She participates in collective exhibitions in Argentina, Italy and  others countries of Europe and America and she maded solo exhibitions in Island (Lhistus Art  Gallery), Italy (Casa di Dante, Florence) Spain(Cal Gras Residency of Arts) and Argentina  (University of Social Sciences) . She developed residencies of arts in France and my artworks  are in Museums in Italy, Argentina and Ukraina. 

Follow:

Bienvenido | Analia Adorni | Artist

http://www.facebook.com/analiaadorniarts 

http://www.instagram.com/analiaadorniarts

Forever For Now & Other Poetry by Judy DeCroce & Antoni Ooto

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Carpe Diem Series

A beautiful wife/husband duo have teamed up to make exquisite poetry for us to delight ourselves with this morning! Come read the dancing rhythm of Judy DeCroce & Antoni Ooto!

My Favorite Line: “I’m glad…but, I don’t really want to know
Everything.”

Forever For Now

I had a rope for climbing, true…

tied to a soul and times to come

I was looking at the fading side of day,
memories –all friendships stitched

making my way impatient
across this dream

that day,

on this island, from this tower—

thoughts climbed two different worlds,
far away coming in,

finally, a pull toward a finish line
right to my right, and for now,

a thank you
forever.

An Invitation with Conditions

Nothing says you don’t belong.

But please…please keep something back.

I still love you—
even those unshared parts;

invite you into my life
but there are some secrets to keep.

Yes, you are here, and

I’m glad…but,

I don’t really want to know
Everything.

Now Gone

that dream of light or dark
is all there is and all there isn’t

stories breaking away on clean pages
fragments sliding in with a chill

cold as southbound rain—
sounding the way a heart beats out

and there you are,
the best part of it

leaving again
when no one was watching

Artist:

Internationally published writers, storyteller and educator Judy DeCroce, and poet/artist Antoni Ooto are based in Upstate New York.
Married and sharing a love of poetry, they spend their mornings studying established poets, as well as, work on revising, critiquing, editing and listening to their own pieces. 

Judy DeCroce, has been  published in The Poet Magazine, Red Eft Review, Amethyst Review, The BeZine, Front Porch Review, and many others.

Antoni Ooto has been published in The Poet Magazine, North of Oxford, The Wild Word, The Active Muse, Amethyst Review, The BeZine, and both have been published in numerous journals and anthologies.

Carpe Diem by Gerald E. Greene

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Carpe Diem Series

Some days “Seizing the day” comes easy, while other days it is not all it’s cracked up to be. Gerald E. Greene shares with us today an incredibly relatable poem!

My Favorite Line, “So “carpe” isn’t what I’m meant to be.”

Carpe Diem

“Seize the day!” she said in hurried tones,
As if I didn’t want to carpe diem.
I wasn’t sure how to respond to the
call to cherish moments, or how to use them.

One cannot argue with the pristine thought
of going after what you want, achiev-
ing best results with what you have to give.
It is a fact I know and do believe.

While others work all day and stay up late,
I fall asleep while watching my TV,
and go to bed by nine, five nights a week.
So “carpe” isn’t what I’m meant to be.

Go seize, if that is what you want to do,
and use each second to its full extent.
Take control of all that comes your way
and measure with precision how each minute’s spent.

But I am lazy, have no energy
to tackle projects in a zealous way,
and so I amble, nap and take my time,
unwilling to rise up and “Seize the Day!”

Artist:

Gerald E. Greene

Author of “Kaleidoscope” poetry collection Published by CreateSpace, 2017 and “Turning Losing Forex Trades Into Winners” Published by John Wiley & Sons, 2008.

His blog is “Short Stories Rated G” on Facebook

His short stories or poems have been published in Guide Magazine, Insight Magazine, Compass Magazine, The Flash Fiction Press, Deronda Review, A Story in 100 Words, Tiny Seed Literary Journal, Glide, Not Far From Me, and Jordan Journal Collective.