Writing from one’s heart
Without artificial means—
Old-fashioned journey
Writing every day
Wide world always opens up—
Pen never runs dry
Writing notebook poised
Taking in morning’s first sip—
Empowers each thought
The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.
When you catch an adjective, kill it. No, I don’t mean utterly, but kill most of them–then the rest will be valuable. They weaken when they are close together. They give strength when they are far apart.
Mark Twain (1835-1910) was an American author and humorist. He has often been praised as one of America’s greatest humorists, and American writer William Faulkner called him “the father of American Literature.”
Life begins much like an empty book
Pages waiting as a tranquil brook
How will daily life compose each page?
Breathtaking words at every age
Words starting with childlike, joyful prose
Sentences fill with love, head to toes
Paragraphs arrive, smiling each day
First page finishes, much like crochet
Chapters now gather, picking up speed
Transmission accepts each tender reed
Pages adding up, never afraid
Days, weeks, months, years gather . . . no charade
Life reaches the twilight of its time
Not pausing, not even for halftime
Who will ever read this manuscript?
There’s time to add a final postscript
With empty pages, life’s book began
Words maturing, always in God’s plan
Originally published September, 2020.
A speech is poetry: cadence, rhythm, imagery, sweep! A speech reminds us that words, like children, have the power to make dance the dullest beanbag of the heart.
Candor is a compliment; it implies equality. It’s how true friends talk.
Peggy Noonan (born 1950) is an American writer who contributes regularly to various news outlets. Her past experiences also include serving as a speechwriter for President Ronald Reagan in the mid-1980s.
Life is accepting what is and working from that.
Not only is your story worth telling, but it can be told in words so painstakingly eloquent that it becomes a song.
Gloria Naylor (1950-2016) was an American novelist.
Time is the longest distance between two places.
There is no pleasure in the world like writing well and going fast.
Tennessee Williams (1911-1983) was an American playwright and screenwriter. His written contributions to dramatic productions are evident in classics such as “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” and “A Streetcar Named Desire.”
Searching for quiet respite
Following dreams, each detail
Escaping from mankind’s noise
Finding narrative’s hidden trail
Crossing nearby forest bridge
Forgetting work’s last email
Arriving at paradise
Sweeping away narrative’s veil
Discovering prairie ahead
Saddling up, each thought exhales
Envisioning where time stands
Framing narrative’s rhythmic scale
Scanning landscape’s tranquil scene
Treasuring every inhale
Climbing each majestic peak
Flying narrative’s parasail
Grasping reins tightly in hands
Riding forward to prevail
Looking for more tomorrow’s
Writing narrative’s precious tale
Morning now surrounding
Feeling never alone
Confidence shining through
Harboring writer’s backbone
Questions’ answers stirring
Knowing mind remains full
Sometimes sweetness arrives
Savoring every spoonful
Reality writing
Filling story’s plotline
Harmony’s cautious breath
Sailing to distance shoreline
Silent voices hiding
Reaching out to each one
Script drawing from choices
Hanging out with wordsmith’s fun
Interactions blooming
Finding forgotten time
Pages empty of gaps
Coaxing distant thoughts to climb
I want to write books that unlock the traffic jam in everybody’s head.
Writers may be disreputable, incorrigible, early to decay or late to bloom, but they dare to go it alone.
John Updike (1932-2009) was an American novelist, poet, and short story writer. In his generation, he was considered by many to be one of America’s most gifted writers of fiction.
Waking up early
Greeting from full moon
Dawn, few hours away
Harmony’s sweet tune
Stirring black coffee
Adding some sweetness
Careful, not too much
Gathering up thoughts
Transcribing each word
Quietness, dear friend
Each breath shares what’s heard
Capturing moments
Penning one more line
Steady, without pause
Searching mind’s landscape
Unlocking each view
Terrain, coming clear
Every prompted cue
Finish line ahead
Reaching for sunrise
Writing’s journey ends
Big Sky Buckeye 