A Poem From 2020

For Fandango’s Flashback Friday, I have a poem written on this day in 2020. I titled it “Succulent,” and it was in response to the JusJoJan prompt of that day. Linking with today’s JusJoJan prompt.

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I wake, and does it seem a normal day?
Yet dazzling moments need not be in lack.
Let gratitude and open eyes allay
All fears of scarcity which hide in back
Of mind; let little, happy moments stack:
Begin with sunlight streaming through this pane
Of glass, and greenery in stark terrain.

Photo by Jonathan Borba on Pexels.com

Ideal

Life is hardly ever ideal, but it can always be good.

— one of my happy thoughts from yesterday

Yesterday was not an ideal day, and I didn’t even post for JusJoJan (although now I’m using the word). However, there were several aspects to be happy about, and by the end of the day, I felt very loved. Fun fact: I only wrote 2, very cruddy poems yesterday, but today I have 5 1/2  already.

For One-Liner Wednesday.

Joy

Today I decided to share a short and sweet Chaucerian stanza that I wrote the other day.

Through sun and rain, it is a shining day
Because of all the jewels unearthed therein,
Smell petrichor, and see the rainbow ray
Even when some colors remain hidden.
Joy is not binary, all loss or win.
Give thanks to God the Father through the Son,
Perhaps not for all things, but through each one.

Connecting the Starlight

For Thursday Inspiration (on a Monday). The given word is begin, and there’s also this picture:

In addition, I am posting for both FOWC ( 🙂 ) and JusJoJan.

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I am both happy and sad,
Bored out of my mind and excited:
Writing makes me come alive
And explore this constellation of emotions,
Hoping that in the darkness that is
Sure to come this year,
I can see the stars and connect the dots
To recognize a bigger picture.

New Year Cake!

My last photo for December, and for all of 2022:

A New Year’s cake that my mom made, along with the lasagna that she made for our celebratory dinner

Happy New Year

Little steps:
Something to be proud of
As the world begins something brand-new

A new job
The world sees as little,
But gives me and others happiness

Broken up,
I am hoping to be
Put back together somehow better

Linda is hosting JusJoJan again this year — thank you, Linda! The prompt word is “resolution.” I don’t have any resolutions, other than to participate in JusJoJan, i.e. to post every day in January.

This poem was written this morning after reading some encouragement from a friend. I had been feeling down on myself because I didn’t get as far as I wanted to get in 2022. She reminded me that even “little progress” is “something to be proud of.”

Here’s some smiley-face pancakes!

Sijo: Gifts

As usual, here is my sijo for this week’s prompt, “gift,” the night before it is “due.” 🙂

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About a dozen gifts for me, wrapped under the Christmas tree:
There is much to appreciate, but among my favorites are
A book to take me far away, and a blanket to keep me warm.

(Another favorite was a very squishy and cute plushie cat, which I have decided to name Squishy.)

For a Friend

It’s okay to cry. It’s okay to be sad and happy at the same time. It’s okay to have your heart hurting while another’s is bursting with joy.

I’m writing this for a friend. That friend is me. That friend would probably want to die, if not for the psychiatric meds that keep her alive. The only present she wants is love and to feel special, but that can’t be bought or fit under the tree. She wants to be worth a diamond ring to somebody.

Her heart hurts, when she wishes she was happy, and that has to be okay.

Best of 2022

This week’s Cosmic Photo Challenge is “The Best of 2022.” I’m torn between having another existential crisis at the passage of this year and being at peace with it. In any case, I’ll celebrate the good times. 🙂 

I found this painted tree stump on a walk in March.

Would any post about 2022 be complete without including the kangaroo?

I got to go to this BEAUTIFUL abbey church in October.

I really like this photo of the Joy Advent Candle, taken last week, especially the symbolism behind it.

Praise Anyway

I’m not entirely pleased with how this turned out but will share it for SoCS anyway. 🙂

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Praise:
Sometimes
Difficult.
There are always
Tiny little gems
Which shine throughout the day,
Despite lingering darkness.
To be thankful for in the end,
Reminders of God’s enduring love.

I have depression but can have many happy days anyway. I can have a really hard day but can call it a good day anyway (I don’t really believe in bad days, only hard days).