Category Archives: Artful Life
Poultry Poetry Slam
I wish I could give credit where it is due, but I’m not sure who created this. I just know every time I see it I giggle and guffaw, so I thought I’d share it with my poet friends and all others who might need a laugh. UPDATE: Do I feel dumb or what? (Dumb.) The copyright notice is on the right side of the picture! 2012 Scott Hilburn/Distributed by Universal Uclick. Please forgive my inability to see that this morning!
Happy Wednesday everybody!
Chaaaaanges!
Everything changes: people, places, seasons, addresses, and sometimes even names, phone numbers, and hair color!
I like change. I like to keep things new, fresh, and exciting. I like to learn, be inspired, grow, and share what I’ve learned and been inspired by so others can maybe learn, be inspired, and grow too. So, I’ve made some changes on my blog to reflect the changes I’ve made over the last year. I changed the design and I imported another blog of mine into this one, too, for simplicity. Finally, today I changed the name of the blog from Pocket Full of Words to Pocket Full of Sun because I use more than words to try and inspire others.
I use art, photos, and crafts to inspire and encourage others. I have a fully voluntary life coaching ministry where I listen to, encourage, and pray for others.
I know that many times people assume that the older we get, the less we like change. Not every “older” person hates change or resists it. Some of us embrace it! I hope that the many changes I’ve made don’t scare you, the reader, away. Keep coming back! My favorite part of having a blog is all of the people I’ve “met” from all over the world. I hope I don’t lose touch with any of you!
Dear Poems|NaPoWriMo Day 15
Dear Poems,
Here are some flowers
of spring for you, to
say thank you for putting
up with me.
Why do I write you?
Why do I think that
words I put together
join forces to
describe my chaotic, quixotic
thoughts and feelings?
I’m a 53 year old
who has always overthought things,
analyzing everything I’ve said,
or done, or will be
saying or doing tomorrow.
You see, everyone thinks I’m
this wild and crazy free spirit,
but I’m not, really.
I think about every single word I
say, even the tone in how I say it.
I’ve always kept those thoughts
and worries secret,
except when I write you,
dear poems, then all kinds
of things just bubble right out.
Sometimes when I write you, poems,
the words that express my thoughts
and emotions flow just right.
Sometimes, when I write,
the weirdest, funniest things come
out in a stilted, awkward,
sing-songy way that sounds like
a first grader who has had too
much red Koolaid!
So, dear poems, have I improved at all?
Should I cease this ridiculous idea
that what tumbles out of my mind onto the page
could actually make someone’s day
happier, lighter, more gentle and kind?
Please let me know, dear poems,
should I stop or should I go?
Waiting anxiously to hear from you!
Sincerely yours,
The writer of your verse,
Elaine Wood-Lane
© 4/15/15
Today’s prompt was: Today, I challenge you to write a poem that addresses itself or some aspect of its self (i.e. “Dear Poem,” or “what are my quatrains up to?”; “Couplet, come with me . . .”) This might seem a little meta at first, or even kind of cheesy. But it can be a great way of interrogating (or at least, asking polite questions) of your own writing process and the motivations you have for writing, and the motivations you ascribe to your readers.
I’m not sure I was that sophisticated, but this did allow me to express some of my thoughts, doubts, and quixotic thoughts!
No Wise Words to Say–NaPoWriMo Day 9
Jackson Pollock, Convergence, 1952
I have no wise words to say
on this most usual Thursday.
So far this morning I’ve read
countless poems
by brilliant poets participating
in NaPoWriMo just as I am this month.
I’ve watched a video of a nun
visiting great art of the 20th century
and heard her describe the significance
of Jackson Pollock, Willem de Kooning,
Mark Rothko, and Andy Warhol.
I’ve read new messages about
my sponsored Compassion children
in Peru and Rwanda and in my heart
compared my life of relative wealth
to their lives of hardship and loss.
All these things are what I love.
Walter de la Mare was the first poet
I learned about and loved.
Then came Robert Frost, Mary Oliver,
William Carlos William, and Billy Collins.
Somewhere along the way,
I decided I wanted to write poetry
that would be read and inspire
others like they inspire me.
I’ve seen Jackson Pollock, Rothko,
and Warhol’s art live and in person
at the Chicago Institute of Art.
Pollock’s painting was so large and
had such depth of expression,
that when I saw it, I sat down in stunned
silence, tears sliding down my face as
the full experience and meaning
touched my soul.
My Compassion children,
Dayana and Niyonkuru,
have my heart even though
I’ve never met them, seen them,
or touched their little faces.
They’re so grateful and loving,
and the letters and pictures
we exchange have connected
us across thousands of miles,
different cultures and experiences.
The common theme this morning,
for me,
is the beauty to be found in life,
in poetry, art, people, and God.
I have no wise words to say
about these things.
You have to open your own eyes,
your own mind, heart, and soul,
to see beauty in everything yourself.
God made so much beauty in
the world for us to appreciate.
Try to find some today, enjoy it,
relish it, breathe it into your soul,
and say, “Thank you,” for the beauty.
Peace and love,
©Elaine Wood-Lane
4/9/15
NaPoWriMo-Day One
NaPoWriMo sounds like so much fun,
I’ll write a poem a day and lay out in the sun.
Well, probably not tomorrow,
for the sun is disappearing.
Warm weather is shy, you see,
in the Colorado Spring.
The first year I lived here,
I thought spring would never come,
I thought I’d freeze to death,
before the lilac bushes bloomed.
Never mind all of that, though,
April is the month of poetry,
which I have always loved,
and so I am committing to
write a poem each day,
until we reach the end and
the merry month of May!
©Elaine Wood-Lane
4/1/15
Honestly, I hardly ever write poetry in rhyme these days, but I just realized today was the start of NaPoWriMo and this is the first year I’ve participated. Since it’s 9:44 at night, I just did a quick free write. Hopefully, tomorrow’s offering will be better! I’m so excited to be participating this year!
(This is in Texas, not Colorado. It is still mostly brown in Colorado, unfortunately.)
Gratitude for My Readers and Followers…
See this ridiculous grin on my face? That’s how happy it makes me to know there are people who read my blog and even follow my blog! I can’t tell you how excited I get every time I get a new follower. When I get new followers, I must admit it makes me teary eyed, but also very curious as to why they would follow ME. As I’ve heard somewhere on TV, “I’m not worthy!!” 😀 Truly you honor me with your interest in my writing and I am so appreciative. I’m glad I’ve met so many interesting people here and I love reading your blogs too!
I’m a bit eccentric and write about a lot of different things, but my main goal in writing is to share love, hope and encouragement with others. (The world needs a lot more of those things in my mind!) Poetry seems to be my strong suit, which is good because I absolutely love writing poetry. Poetry is one of those things that transforms my day from routine to mystically beautiful. Anyway, thanks for stopping by and reading my meanderings! I truly do appreciate it!
Peace and Love,
Elaine
Stories…The Fabric of My Life
Stories really are the fabric of my life, both stories told and stories written. I love to read, listen to, and tell stories. I think I come by this honestly. Mother was a natural born storyteller and would tell anyone anything they wanted to know about family history, old or current, including things we didn’t want her to tell! Imagine my surprise when I realized several years ago that I am just like Mother. I can talk the socks off of people without even trying, telling stories, giving examples of similar events, or just being excited to meet someone new. This drives my sons, daughter-in-law, and husband nuts sometimes. Somehow I’ve gone from being a quiet, shy little girl to a middle-aged woman who never met a stranger. I’m one of those women who can see an interesting person at the grocery store and just start visiting with them OR, and this has happened a lot too, someone will just start visiting with me! It’s delightful! There are so many wonderful, interesting people out there in the world and each and every one of them has a story. I guess I love listening to their story. Sometimes they just need to tell their story because no one has ever listened, or they are in a very stressful or sad time in their life, or they are so excited about something new in their life that they just have to tell someone!
In the interest of preserving good relationships with my family and friends by not driving them crazy telling stories, I’ve decided I am going to write them here and share them with you. On the plus side, the people who have shared their stories with me, just to be heard, will be heard again, anonymously of course, because most of them never even told me their names or I’ve forgotten. I find it interesting that often I don’t recall names of people who have told me their stories, but I never forget their face or their story. So, without further ado, later today, I will post my first short story about a woman I met at Walmart many years ago on Christmas Eve. I hope you come back to read it!
Sing! Sing! Sing!
The best way to start the day (after prayer or meditation) is to sing along with some of your favorite songs or to just sing! Good for your spirits and your physical body too! (Singing in the shower at top volume clears up your lungs and sinuses!)
So, my charge to you today is SING! It doesn’t matter if you’re tone deaf, the point is to sing and express yourself! If so moved, dance along with your singing! Pretend you’re 5 years old again, singing like a rock star, while you’re swinging on the backyard swingset. (Yes, I did that. My best friend and I used to make up our own songs while we swang and sang.)
Regardless of your current physical health, state of mind, or where you are along your spiritual journey, singing a good song at the top of your lungs will bless your day and make you feel like a new person.
Some of my favorite memories are when I was crooning to my babies, singing goodnight silly songs to my growing little boys, singing to the sick and dying, and singing to my honey in the car on the way to work while seat-dancing. (I didn’t say that was their favorite memories, but they are mine.) Singing is one of the best things you can do in life, especially with others. I remember singing with my Dad when I was small and also when he was very old. One afternoon he was trying to remember the words to a hymn he wanted sung at his funeral. We ended up singing that song (If We Never Meet Again This Side of Heaven) and then other hymns together. His voice was rough and aged, but he could still carry a tune well and mine was the alto/soprano confusion it always is. That moment was so good, however, that I will never forget it.
Music is a great blessing, especially when we make it ourselves! Don’t just listen to the “stars” sing. Sing yourself! Do it by yourself if you’re self-conscious about it. Well, on that note, I’m going to go sing in the shower! Happy Saturday!
The Tradition of the Christmas Amaryllis
When I started working on the main campus at Texas Tech, my boss’ wife, Willie Haragan, would give all of us in the office an amaryllis bulb to grow for Christmas. I had never seen one before and quickly fell in love with the tradition. The boys and I especially enjoyed watching the magic of the quick growing amaryllis which bloomed, usually, right on time for Christmas!
Today when I saw this pink amaryllis kit at the grocery store, I had to buy it!
I am restarting an old/new tradition. Maybe someday I can share the tradition of growing an amaryllis at Christmas with my grandchildren. Next Christmas our little grandbaby will only be 11 months old, but who knows? He/she might still like it!
Sunshine Lane 
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