DAY 5 – BlOGGING U – WRITING 101 – BREVITY

April 11, 2015April 11, 2015 lightwalker1 Just me and some words, POETRY Blogging U, creative writing, Inspiration, Muse, Poetry, The Commons, The Daily Post, writing101

The Letter

Tears roll unbound down my cheeks

I refold the page, its paper worn

Re-read many times, many years

The letter fell

Lost

Left alone and cold

On the street

I look up, around

There,

Rounding the far corner

I glimpse

A woman of a certain age

It is her name typewritten in black

Her heart held by the words

Her life bent over backward

My fingers brush her shoulder

Padded for protection

An illusion of strength

Her head turns

Our eyes speak

My tears tell the tale

She knows

Her history struck my heart

I clutch her tightly

Hold her close

Tears flowing freely

She tilts my face to hers gently

Her rough thumb

Wipes away my pain

She whispers softly

It’s Ok, – I survived

She lets go

I am left

Alone and cold

She disappears into the fracas of people

Rushing along the street.

Cheryle April 11, 2015

DAY 3 – BLOGGING U – WRITING 101

April 10, 2015May 7, 2015 lightwalker1 Just me and some words 1970's, Blogging U, Music, The Commons, The Daily Post, Writing, writing101

COMMIT TO A WRITING PRACTICE

3 SONGS OF INFLUENCE

It has taken me forever to do this assignment. Partially because I am avoiding it and partially because I am having difficulty picking the three. For some reason this assignment has me running a little scared, a little too close to me for me. It is a simple request. I’m not sure, but regardless of my hesitation I am committing to my writing practice and will push forward to complete the assignment.

As the Police sing “I was born in the 50’s”, grew up in the 70’s, attained my independence in the 80”s. The 70’s was a time after the drug craze and sexual revolution of the 60’s, when the ideals of the Hippies, the Feminists and Beat Generation began to filter into the minds of young women. Middle class women began to question their role in life, wanting more, more freedom, more independence, more equality and much more of everything.

I did not pick The Three Most Influential songs of my life. I couldn’t decide what they were. I did however, select three song which I still love to hear, continue to make me think and teach me of the big old world out there.

I am listing these in chronological order, not necessarily in the order I discovered them.

The House of the Rising Sun – The Animals – 1964

A widely discussed folk song. Some say The House of the Rising Sun is an Americanized version of an 18^th Century English ballad. The first known American recording is dated at 1934 by Clarence “Tom” Ashley and Gwen Foster. It has since then been performed throughout the years by many artists, notably, Woody Guthrie, Lead Belly, Pete Seeger, and most famously The Animals.

I was drawn to the sadness, the struggle and the failure of this cautionary tale. His mother a tailor, a strong hard working woman, raised him on her own. Yet, she loses both her husband and her son to the mysterious House of The Rising Sun. In despair, he begs mothers of the world to warn their children not to follow in the footsteps of his father and himself, gamblers and addicts. We know he struggles, yet he gets back on the train to New Orleans.

I was curious about The House of the Rising Sun it was so very mysterious and somewhat romantic to me. I imagined it as part of the hippie scene similar to Haight Ashbury, filled with stained glass windows, velvet curtains and wisps of smoke. I was a young romantic and naïve at the time.

It was also the very first “modern song” I learned on the guitar.

Musically, I was intrigued by the organs scream, the smooth pluck of the guitar, theTap tapity tap of the cymbals & drums and overriding it all, Eric’s voice of despair

Lou Reed Walk on the Wild Side 1972 – Transformer

The subjects and the raw honesty of Walk on the Wild Side were my introduction to the wild side of life. Having spent most of my first 14 years moving around Canada every few years and once to Germany and back, I was curious to know what was the wild side? What did it mean he was a she? What was the hustle? I believe by the time I heard this song, the hustle was a dance.

Take a Walk on the Wild Side showcased Lou’s raw velvet voice, poetic language, juxtaposed against a smooth pop rhythm. It inspired in me a curiosity for the other side of life and a tolerance for alternative lifestyles. It offered me the opportunity to question what I had been taught was socially acceptable.

Pat Benatar, – I Need a Lover – written by Johnny Cougar – 1979 – In The Heat of the Night

In the Heat of The Night is an important album because it is the first album I purchased in which I solely relied on my own musical instincts. No one told me it was a good album or who Pat Benatar was. I heard the music on the alternative radio station, liked it and purchased the album on a weekend holiday. I was impressed with myself for having such a musical ear. Pat Pat on my back.

I Need a Lover, is a brave song for the time, and still has a message for young woman today. It is an empowering song for women, who were supposed to go from their father’s house into the house of their husband. Something, I did not want to experience. This is a strong modern woman who chooses her own lovers, even specifies the criteria, the relationship is on her terms and not permanent. The raw desire of a strongly independent modern woman empowered to behave as she deems fit. Up to that time, only a man was allowed to behave sexually independent, without impunity.

This song intrigued me for its independent spirit. I wasn’t surprised to find out it was written by a man. When I went to Sam’s on Yonge Street in Toronto looking for more music by the songwriter, no one at Sams knew who Johnny Cougar was. We now know him as John Mellenkamp.

Cheryle April 10, 2015 citation – Wikipedia

BLOGGING U – WRITING 101 DAY 4

April 8, 2015April 8, 2015 lightwalker1 Just me and some words, POETRY creative writing, dogs, Inspiration, loss, Muse, Poetry, sonnet, The Commons, The Daily Post

DAY FOUR; SERIALLY LOST

Yes, I am posting the Day Four assignment before I have done Day Three. I am having difficulty deciding which songs I want to showcase in the commit to writing assignment.

Day Four’s Prompt: Write about a loss: something (or someone) that was part of your life, and isn’t any more.

This is to be the first of three connected posts, I therefore chose to resurrect a sonnet I wrote a number of years ago while taking classes at the Alexandria Writers’ Centre Society in Calgary. I hope you don’t mind. I plan to create two new posts in response to the serial aspect of the assignment when those segments are presented.

For Maggie

Bonnie Magnificent, Puppy Galore,

Teddy bear Beardie – not up to standard.

Picking you out of the litter – not hard!

Hide your fright. Deeper in my coat you bore

Looking for love – giving me much more.

With your wizard eyes, the soul of a bard

Touching my heart made loving you – not hard!

Seasons grow, mature and seasons expire.

A dark sun fell from the sky and stayed

Clouded your sharp bright eyes, silenced your song

Menacing tribulations set you free.

From six years of Addison’s – you – so brave

My heart reveals a hole – Maggie-dog long.

Still you teach me from beneath the pear tree

Cheryle Baker Jan 26/ 06 edited Feb 2/06 Petrarchan Sonnet

DAY 2 – BLOGGING U – WRITING 101

April 7, 2015May 7, 2015 lightwalker1 Just me and some words A View from a Window, Bliss, blogging u 101, creative writing, Inspiration, Muse, The Commons, The Daily Post, Travel, Writing, writing101

A VIEW FROM A WINDOW

The prompt for Day Two – “If you could zoom through space in the speed of light, what place would you go to right now?”

I would jump into the 1974 drivers’ seat of what I call my cabin, wiggle my little nose.

POOF! I am on the road just outside of the “Bella Pacifica Campground” Tofino, Vancouver Island, BC, Canada.

I draw in a big deep breath of relaxation and anticipation. Driving past the camp office, my heart jumps with delight, while my nose twitches at the unfamiliar fresh scents of salt, sand and seaweed.

Slowly I back into campsite 108. I scan both the ocean and the forest, a place of bliss and solitude. The whisper of the tall cedar trees as they caress each other and the splash of the waves as the salty water breaks against the sandy beach greet me in unison.

I selected this site because it is the furthest site from the entrance and at the far end of the campground road. Private, isolated and perfect for an introvert wishing to celebrate the sunshine, forest and ocean spray.

Leaving the unpacking and organizing until later, I walk down to the beach, kick off my runners and slide my socks onto the rocks on the edge of the sand.

Stepping forward, my foot sinks into the white granular crystals. I can hear the ahhhhh my toes sigh when the sand warmed by the sun envelopes them. I almost drop down and make a sand angel, I am so happy to be here. Heel, toes, heel, toes, heel, toes – curl the sand between the foot pad and the toes. The sand gently scrubs my feet, the skin feels brand new.

At the lintel, the sand is wet, cold and packed. The imprints of my heels are deep, gathering seawater. The tidal water rushes forward freezing my feet right up to the ankles. I jump back with a squeal. I land in the dry warm sand. Oh heavenly bliss!

Cheryle – April 7, 2015

DAY 1 – BLOGGING U – WRITING 101 – FREEWRITING

April 5, 2015May 7, 2015 lightwalker1 Just me and some words blogging u 101, creative writing, Freewriting, Muse, The Commons, The Daily Post, Writing, writing101

Wow! 20 minutes flew by. I wrote for 35 minutes and wrote only 2 paragraphs. I did edit and rearrange, but still! So much time so few words. In any case, here is my offering for Day 1.

FREEWRITING – BLOGGING U – WRITING 101 – 1^st Assignment

Yesterday, I visited a new friend. She greeted me warmly, welcoming me graciously into her home. To celebrate the spring season, I brought her a small pot daffodils. I had carefully selected this plant, for only a few of its’ flowers were in bloom. I wanted to make sure she had an abundance of consecutive yellow blossoms to enjoy.

She invited me into her living room. It burgeoned with plants, both living and silk. Her green thumb had grown trees, ferns, philodendrons, ivy’s, lipsticks plants and a multitude of greenery I could not name. It was early in the day, the morning sun shone brightly through the south facing windows reflecting its light on the various leaves and fronds, making the room warm and cozy. Sitting low amoung the plants and pots was a faux log fountain, gently burbling a sense of the forest into the plant filled room.

Cheryle April 5, 2015

DAY 20 – TRIUMPH AND CONTRAST

March 26, 2015March 26, 2015 lightwalker1 Just me and some words, Photography Blogging U, Muse, owl, Photography, The Commons, The Daily Post, totem

DAY 20 – TRIUMPH AND CONTRAST

I was so triumphant when I found the Owl in the tree and so much more so when I was able to capture it with my Nikon D60. Can you see it? Who Who Whooo

Every year Owls nest in this same tree, raising one Owlet. They feed it, love it, teach it about owl life, flying and let it set out to make a life of its’ own.

I have a special affinity for owls. They are beautiful, silent and can see in the dark. Owl is one of my totems.

The Owl, connected to Athena, represents wisdom, intuition and being able to see beyond deception. Often seen as being associated with the underworld, a protector of the night and in some cultures accompanies the dead to the afterlife.

I also played Owl in a children’s theatre production of Winnie the Pooh. I don’t know if I was successful or not as I scared most of the kids.

Cheryle 2015