Ronovan Writes SIJO Wednesday Poetry Challenge #45. Use EMBRACE as your inspiration this week.

Pixabay.

From the second you arrive either clinical delivery suite
Or cosily at home or even a paddy field
That first embrace with mother or father, Gaia enfolds them all .

PART OF RONOVANWRITE’S WEEKLY SIJO CHALLENGE.

Happy Christmas Everyone.

I wish all my lovely friends and followers here on wordpress a very happy Christmas may you all be blessed with a happy time.

Yule tide is upon us and yesterday was it’s eve. No doubt you have all been very busy. Well it’s time for you to sit down and have a break. So let’s all raise a glass to eachother and shout Happy Christmas.

Below is a little Christmas poem and some Christmas music.

Thanks for all your patience I love you all

It’s A Miracal

Black, black the sky, cold the winds blow

Across the sand by the light of the stars progress was slow.

She was slight but with child. Tired and near her time.

They had to travel though, the census to sign.

They arrived late after many days travel and there was no place to stay.

She was too tired to chide her man for his incompetence

A Miracle

Her time was near, she urged him to find a place she could lay.

He found a stable bare and full of the animal’s stench.

He did his best to make her comfortable as she began her labor

She was so young and a virgin she knew not what was happening

Finally a child was born as promised a boy to the world a saviour.

From outside came a gentle light and the sound of singing.

People came from far and wide, rich and poor bringing gifts

No one knew why they came but come they did

All saw the beauty of the family and felt their sorrow lift.

Image from Pixabay.

Love and kindness is for every day , not just for Christmas.

HAPPY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE 💜💜💜

TankaTuesday Weekly #Poetry Challenge No. 300, 11/29/22, #ShareYourDay

WELCOME TO #TANKATUESDAY!

Colleen said “This is the last poetry challenge for 2022. I’ll return on January 3, 2023, with a new year of poetry challenges.”

This is our 300th #TankaTuesday Challenge!!

It’s the fifth Tuesday of the month! #ShareYourDay is a way to get to know each other better. Take a photo and write a syllabic poem about your day. Don’t think on it too hard. Make it fun. The photo does not need to be a selfie. If you don’t have access to a camera, find an image on Pixabay.com (please add the credits) that best describes your day.

© willowdot21.

This Reflects our life
The kitchen is our true hub.
Life turned upside down.

PART OF COLLEEN’S TUESDAY TANKA CHALLENGE

Wordless Wednesday: Congratulations.

PART OF WORDLESS WEDNESDAY.

A review of Marjorie Mallon’s new book. Do What You Love .

Marjorie sent me her wonderful new book to read. When I say wonderful I mean it is a book full of wonder. Marjorie takes us on a journey through her life from when she was a small child up to now where she is on verge of yet another life adventure.

In this little book of delights Marjorie introduces us to the three sisters of fate who basically are in charge of spinning out life, measuring the length of life and the ending of life. I won’t tell you anymore about them Marjorie will introduce them to you and then you can eavesdrop on their conversation and their jokes.

I really enjoyed this very personal book by Marjorie, her past, present and her future, her family and her friends . The magic she finds in the every day, her love of insects, creatures and trees her love of life. Don’t be put off by the word personal, this book is so welcoming. I strongly recommend it to you all.

Blurb

Do What You Love Fragility of Your Flame Poems, Photography & Flash Fiction is a personal poetry collection celebrating how the fates may have a part in all that we do.

With special poems and short reflective moments inspired by family, flowers and nature, love, scrumptious morsels, places I’ve visited, lived and intend to live in, the friendships and hopes I have for the future.

The overarching theme is to live a life well lived… And to do what you love.

float along with me

create clouds of sweetest joy

to do what you love

hold fate’s hand as we venture

near and far on life’s journey.

🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁

You can preorder the kindle via the following link:

Release Date: 25^th November 2022, able to preorder via the following links.

Buy Links Do What You Love:

Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BKLC9DYY/

Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/What-You-love-Fragility-Photography-ebook/dp/B0BKLC9DYY/

Amazon Canada: https://www.amazon.ca/What-You-love-Fragility-Photography-ebook/dp/B0BKLC9DYY/.

Exciting news from Marjorie.

“I am thrilled to say that two of my poetry collections, (Mr. Sagittarius and Lockdown Innit,) have been requested by prestigious libraries in the UK: The British Library, The Bodleian Library Oxford University, the Cambridge University Library, National Library of Scotland, National Library of Wales and Trinity College Dublin for Legal Deposit.

Woohoo!! Marjorie great news.

Add the book to your TBR: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/63114445-do-what-you-love

The cover of the paperback and kindle have been designed by Colleen Chesebro who has a new service for authors which I can highly recommend. Colleen also designed the interior and cover of The Hedge Witch And The Musical Poet.

https://unicorncatspubservices.wordpress.com/my-services

Portfolio:
https://unicorncatspubservices.wordpress.com/portfolio

https://wordcraftpoetry.com/unicorn-cats-publishing-services/

Other poetry/flash fiction collections:

Kyrosmagica Publishing

The Hedge Witch And The Musical Poet

https://books2read.com/u/mv1OeV

Mr. Sagittarius Poetry and Prose

http://mybook.to/MrSagittarius

Anthology – This Is Lockdown, (poetry, diaries and flash fiction – kindle)

http://mybook.to/Thisislockdown

Poetry during Lockdown – Lockdown Innit

 http://mybook.to/Lockdowninnit

Poetry also features in my highly acclaimed YA Fantasy series.  Each chapter begins with a short poem. The Curse of Time Book 1 Bloodstone and Book 2 Golden Healer are published by Next Chapter Publishing.

https://www.nextchapter.pub/books/bloodstone

https://www.nextchapter.pub/books/golden-healer

https://www.nextchapter.pub/authors/mj-mallon.

Author Bio

M J Mallon was born in Lion city Singapore, a passionate Scorpio with the Chinese Zodiac sign of a lucky rabbit. She spent her early childhood in Hong Kong. During her teen years, she returned to her father’s childhood home, Edinburgh where she spent many happy years, entertained and enthralled by her parents’ vivid stories of living and working abroad. Perhaps it was during these formative years that her love of storytelling began bolstered by these vivid raconteurs. She counts herself lucky to have travelled to many far-flung destinations and this early wanderlust has fuelled her present desire to emigrate abroad. Until that wondrous moment, it’s rumoured that she lives sometimes in the UK, and often times in Portugal.. Her two enchanting daughters have flown the nest but often return with a cheery smile to greet her.

Her motto is to always do what you love, stay true to your heart’s desires, and inspire others to do so too.

K.L.Caley’s#writephoto: Woodland.

For visually challenged writers, the image shows a shallow stony river meandering through some woodland.

Woodland – Image by KL Caley.

They had stopped on the way home and had a good meal and several Bacardi and Coke’s . Gail had been driving and Morgarna was impressed that she’d learned to do so, so quickly.
It was late when they got back to the house and as Gail was locking the car she felt a presence. “Merlin is that you” she asked into the darkness as she felt a shiver down her spine. Pressing the button on the keyfob Gail grabbed her bag and ran through the front door!
“What’s going on” asked Merlin looking up from making coffee, “you just ran through the door without opening it Gail. It’s not a good look when you’re trying to be human? “
“What? Err, well yes but there’s something out there Merlin and it touched me” Gail answered visibly shaken.
Just then an alarm went off in the large hallway.
“What’s the darn racket Merls I am trying to have a relaxing soak!”
Shouted an irritated Morgarna from upstairs..
” It’s the new entity alarm I installed while you were away…..and its obviously working.” Merlin replied.
Morgarna stood up and heard a sharp intake of breath. Quickly she grabbed a large towel and wrapped herself in it. “Okay she said you may as well reveal yourself now as I know you are here, I heard you!”
Slowly the stream in the bathroom gathered together forming the shape of a young man…a good looking young man … covering his eyes!

---

Sitting in the kitchen Gail was chatting to the lad, he had been rather taken with her.
“So what made you follow us from the cemetery in Darlington? ” Gail asked.
“I just was drawn to you well all of you especially that braison one who exposed herself to me!”
“Hang on laddy ” Morgarna said as she entered the kitchen….” You actually snook into my bathroom , I didn’t invite you in!” ….. though she thought to herself I wouldn’t kick you out of bed and smiled to herself.
Merlin walked in and in a loud voice announced ” Let’s all be kind and try some of the cake Gail made earlier and then.. what’s your name lad? “John…. sir”
“Right John what is the story?”

---

The mood in the kitchen had become much more relaxed after everyone had, had a slice of Gail’s cake. Full of Gail’s special ingredient!
“Right John what are you doing here? Asked Morgarna, ” I assume it not just to snoop on me in the bath or brush pass our Gail here? ‘
John looked Morgarna in the eye, “no mam but it was Gail and Merlin’s conversation about ghosts and time travel that made me hope , then you arrived from nowhere and I knew I had to ask for help.”
“What do you mean” asked Merlin looking curious
“Well ” replied John. “Three hundred years ago the love of my life was cruelly snatched from me.
We were so in love but Annette was the daughter of the Lord and I was just the blacksmith’s son. Fate was against us from the start, then we found out her father had promised her hand in marriage to Sir Hugo a rich and landed knight from the next county. We decided to run away and get married, we arranged to meet in the woods by the stream. When I got there I found her waiting for me. She had her back to me so I crept up to her and kissed the back of her head.” At this point John put his head in his hands and tears fell from his eyes.
Taking a deep breath he continued. ” Suddenly she slumped back into my arms, she was covered in blood. Her throat was cut , I was so shocked I couldn’t move. …. They found me in the morning sitting by the stream with my love in my arms dead. They took me away and threw me into the cells, next I knew it had been decided that I had killed her, I never had a trial, I never got to tell anyone of my innocence! I was dragged out to the centre of the village and in front of my family and the whole village I was branded with the sign of the devil and then hung.”
“Oh! No John that’s so unfair !” said Gail her eyes wide.
“I get it” said Merlin “you’d like to know what happened “
Yes Meriln I would so when I saw two sourcerers and a Ghost I knew I had to follow you and ask for help.”
Merlin got up and went through to their library and got out his old magic and history books, he also turned on his laptop!
“Morgarna and I will start now, and hopefully John we should be able to see what we can find out what happened”
“And if we can find you some closure” added Morgarna.”

---

---

Early the next morning Morgarna and John saw the Anomaly above the patio in the back garden. They both jumped together and landed by shallow stony river meandering through some woodland.

This is part of K.L. Caley’s #writephoto : Woodland.

K.L Caley’s #WRITEPHOTO – Fledgling

Fledgeling – Image by KL Caley

For visually challenged writers, the image shows a tiny bird hiding in a plant pot.

This week Gail and Morgarna return to the new house and they all learn happy lessons in humanity….well in Morgarna’s case for now!

*******

Morgarna and Gail were sitting on the Castle wall drinking mead , “What is that smell Morgarna”
“It’s the smell of the castle, body odour, urine,and animal dun all human life! “
Just then the Anomaly appeared, “Right Gail time to jump , I have had a blast”
As they both jumped Gail could be heard saying ” So has my nose , it’s honks enough here to cure blocked sinuses! “

---

Merlin was in the kitchen making coffee when he heard Morgarna and Gail as they landed in the lab. “Coffee is on the brew” he shouted.
“Oh! I could murder a cup” Gail shouted, “can I have it in the bath, this new body of mine is stinking..and I need to change my clothes, I’ve not done that for years”
“Good job for you that there is more one bathroom here there was only one at the old place…as a treat you can use the big one in my room. Just this once mind and you can use any of my potions they are all safe …ish” Morgarna ended on a grin.
Gail didn’t need telling twice she was off and running up the stairs with the mug of coffee Merlin had handed her.

---

Morgarna had her bath and washed her hair reluctantly, how strange she thought how much she missed those dark and dirty days of cold draughty castles ….

---

“That was uncharacteristicly kind of you to let Gail use your bathroom and potions…are you sure they’re safe babes? ” Merlin asked as Morgarna joined him in the sunny living room…”How did she do”
Morgarna lit a cigarette and poured herself a large Shiraz and relaxed. “She was amazing we met her David, she and he thrashed out the whole story he didn’t know all of it. She helped him by showing she was at peace now, and he told her about his life with May. We even met one of the grandchildren, well I did.” Morgarna paused to take a sip of her wine. ” Gail convinced Dave that suicide was not the answer and if he’d killed himself and one of his family had found him it would of been as painful as what had happened to him.”
“So it went well then ?” Merlin asked.
“Yup Merls it did and with a little help from me” she waved her hand, ” I think everyone is at peace with the past. Then I took Gail back to our time where she had a good time…even had some fun with Garth, you know the Blacksmith..” Morgarna winked.
Merlin’s face lit up, “Indeed I do..and that means Gail’s body works well…good for her …good old Garth… perhaps she can learn there’s good in life….even if it’s post mortem “
Morgarna nearly choked on her Shiraz , “Bloody hell Merls are we becoming sensitive…dare I say more human….” They both erupted into laughter.

---

Fledgeling – Image by KL Caley

Outside in the garden Gail was enjoying the warmth of the sun, clean clothes and a really welcome feeling of piece. She heard Morgarna and Merlin laughing and she felt really happy…. Almost as happy as she was on her seventeenth birthday, she put her hand to her neck and held the locket.
Just then she heard a little tweeting and flutter of wings. Following the sound she found a tiny bird hiding in a plant pot. “Hello little one’ she said. “Don’t be afraid, have you lost your way? I know how that feels but with help from kind people you can get back, well almost to where you should be. ” She bent down and looked at the little chap who seemed to be listening to her every word she was saying.
Gail sat by the flower pot chatting to the fledgling until the light began to fade . Just when Gail began to think she’d have to sit here all night the little chap came out of the flowerpot in answer to a call from the tree opposite.. his mother was calling him in to roost…. After his second attempt he took off and disappeared with his mum.
Gail sat there and felt tears on her cheeks. Oh! tears she thought for the second time that week after years of none…these though we’re tears of joy.

---

“Gail, Gail where are you? ” Morgarna was calling from the kitchen door.
“Merlin wants to take us out for dinner and he’s paying you can choose where we are eating! “
Gail took a deep breath wiped her heavily made up eyes and smiled!
“Steak ” she shouted, “I fancy steak” as she ran back to the house like a fledgling to her parents !

One Liner Wednesday. Cement.

© willowdot21

“If a house is home, family are the cement that holds everything together. ” © willowdot21.

Part of LindaGHill’s One-Liner Wednesday.

Dear Mum and Dad.

I was so inspired by savoringsixtyandbeyond‘s post this morning that I am reposting a letter I wrote to my parent’s full of the words I wish I had said to them more when they were alive. I loved them ,we all did and do and they knew that.

© willowdot21

Dear Mum and Dad

I don’t think I ever made it clear enough how much I appreciated what you did for me. It is only now as a parent and grandma that I see what you must have gone through.

© willowdot21. Some but not all of the gang

Nine children you had, nine. You lost three but that was never your fault. How did you cope Mum it must have been hard, and Dad worse for you because in those days grieving was not the done thing. I lost three babies too I could not openly grieve either but you knew you silently gave me strength.

© willowdot21

I am in awe of how you always managed to feed and dress us all. There was always food on the table and somehow the doors were always open to waifs and strays who needed help. No one was ever turned away from our door without help of some kind. I can remember there being an endless stream of family friends, or distant cousins with problems arriving on our doorstep. Some stayed longer than others but no one was ever turned away. I really don’t know how we all fitted into that three bed roomed terraced council house, it must of been like the TARDIS.

Who helped you, did anyone or did you have to struggle through, learning haphazardly! You, no doubt had to and that is why you were both such helpful parents. I am amazed at the sacrifices you must of made to keep us in clothes, shoes and food.

Dad, you worked as a body maker for LT making seats on the buses and tubes! Off to work at 5am and home at 5pm for dinner then 6pm the BBC News … silence reined! You then spent most of your evenings in the front room either at the table or your desk with your ancient typewriter. You had men and women visiting you , sometimes one sometimes more all coming for help and advice because you were a union rep and congressman for the NUVB ( National Union Of Vehicle Builders). The last visitor was about 10.30pm. At work you were a union rep you gave so much to others and yet you always saved so much for us. When you retired you were tapped out the length of the factory. ( All the men stood by their machines spanner or hamer in hand and tapped you out of the building, a sign of respect. ) You only live a year or so after retirement.

© willowdot21

Mum you were such a gentle soul I miss you so, You left your body long before you died and that broke my heart because I could not reach you. I used to bring the boys to see you at the nursing home you spent your last years in… although I loved to see you it hurt that you did not know me and you did not see the boys growing up . I think you missed Dad so much that you left in soul leaving your shell behind.
Mum remember Wimbledon week we had salad every evening because you loved the Tennis , funny thing Mum I can’t stand tennis! 🙂

You have both been gone so long and I miss you both so. I need you here to give me the strength , kindness and love. See even now I am asking for your help. I am so selfish, I was so angry when you died Mum because you were not there to talk to me and help me, do you know it took seven years to accept that you had really gone. Then the flood gates opened.

I have so many wonderful memories of you both. Getting up at 4.30am and sneaking down stairs to find you dad shaving in the kitchen, we would share your breakfast, porridge or boiled egg before you went off to work. Going with you to Chiswick Park on the tube on a Saturday. You would have a haircut while I sat and watched then maybe you would buy me an ice cream. Walking Steve the dog in the park … you always called him Brother …because of your union work no doubt .

© willowdot21

Mum you were always there when I came home from school, always played with me , I was the youngest of the family and by a good while so I was almost like an only child but not because everyone else was around but I was too young to join them . I remember you telling me stories and teaching me to knit sew and crochet sadly all of which I am useless at! As I grew you helped me with life and although I never lived that near to you you always came to my aid if I needed you . When our first boy was born premature and unable to breathe you came down to stay with me when P finally came home from hospital. He did not know how to suck so you helped me to spoon feed him until we got him to use a teat. So many many things to thank you for .

Mum and Dad you took all six of us and taught us everything you knew. How to face the world, how to love how to be friendly, caring and honest. I like to think that you are watching over us all and hopefully being proud of us…. well mostly. . I like to think that our beautiful sister Mary is with you both after horrendous illness and death five years ago.

© willowdot21 Mary sitting and me.

I miss you and I love you !

willow xxxxxxxx

Ronovan Writes Sijo Wednesday Poetry Challenge #22. Use ACHIEVEMENT as your inspiration this week.

© willowdot21

All our lives we strive to succeed, but mother nature teaches us to grow.
Some feel to attain certificates proves their worth
I feel to be told “I love you Grandma’ is my greatest achievement.

THIS IS PART OF RONOVANWRITE’S WEEKLY SIJO CHALLENGE.