Daisy

This poem is dedicated to my sister Daisy. Tomorrow would have been her 75th Birthday. 

 

 

I am reminded

of her everyday

in so many different ways

especially at dawn

as the sun slowly sneaks up

on us to help us watch

daisies dance with buttercups

she was the sunshine

of the night

and made our lives

feel just right

She was my confidant

and keeper of my hopes

she never let me down

and taught me how to cope

with life’s imperfections

Daisy was my sister dear

when around her

I never feared

I could tell you so much more

of the things that made her special

but as you know

of daisies sweet

the bees converge upon their feet

My sister Daisy

spread her love

and made you believe

that angels looked down on only you

from the heavens  above

I am reminded of her everyday

in so many different ways

and when I see a garden near

I look for daisies among the rest

because of all the flowers on the earth

daisies are the very best.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Be Happy

There are as many nights as days,

and the one is just as long as the other

in the year’s course. Even a happy  life

cannot be without a measure of darkness,

and the word ‘happy’ would lose its meaning

if it were not balanced with sadness.

-Carl Jung

 

 

After reading this quote, I thought about the things that make me happy and better still what I can do to be happier. I believe the secret is this: be unafraid of change, savor the moment when big things happen but be the happiest in small ways. Small events happen every second of the day that may bring a smile to your face. Accept happiness unconditionally. Restore what childhood and youth provided which is the ability to see beauty in many things. Most of the time beauty is present in the small things. Happiness will sneak up on us and we must learn to keep it close by. Thoreau said to “keep pace with the drummer you hear, however measured or far away.” That  drummer announces the happy and the sad and there lies the balance we need. So like the song says, “be happy, don’t worry.” Happiness is never far away.

These are a few of  the things that make me truly happy:

• waking up to a gorgeous sun rise
• watching the trees sway
• children’s laughter
• my grandsons’ smiles
• my daughter’s eyes when she is happy
• my son when he calls just to say hello
• my family
• my husband’s tender look
• a field of aromatic lavender
• sincerity
• a conversation with my best friend
• knowing I have been helpful to someone
• cooking for family and friends
• oldies but goodies
• a crunchy apple
• my favorite flowers
• Painting
• Writing

 

What makes you happy? Please post your thoughts on Twitter or right here at Poemattic. 

 

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Thinking

This is dedicated to my infant grandson. I see them mostly in photographs and short video clips his parents sent me. And sometimes it seems he is in deep thought.

 

It’s hard to tell what you are thinking about

all day you are snug in your bed

or being swayed in your mother’s arms

or being fed,

 

What is it that you think about all day?

What are you beginning to understand?

Are you marveled at the world you see?

Do you have some thoughts about improving it?

 

What do you think about when you look into your mother’s eyes?

Do you wonder what everyone thinks about you?

Do you know you are so cute?

 

Thinking is a tedious task sometimes.

But a word to the wise,

Thinking should be done very carefully.

It should always be thoughtful.

Thinking should be purposeful.

 

You are just a few months old

I would love to know what you think about but,

now it does not matter.

 

what I want you to know is that

we love you so much

and that we

grandma and grandpa

think about you all the time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Flowers Bloom

Flowers bloom in May

Their beauty is here to stay

Daffodils, Tulips, Lilies like Callas,

and Stargazers, Orchids and Paper Whites

Fressia, Gerbera,  and Irises

Peonies, and of course the Red, Red Rose

All of them knows

They bloom to bring cheer

to mother dear.

 

 

 

 

”The perfume of sandalwood,the scent of the bay

 

 

 

 

 

 

“The perfume of sandalwood,

the scent of the bay leaf and jasmine

travel only as far as the wind 

but the fragrance of goodness travels 

with us through all the worlds 

Like garlands woven from flowers,

fashion your life as a garland of 

beautiful deeds” –  Buddha 

Love Will Teach Us All Things Or Will It?

Love will teach all things

it will teach us forgiveness

it will teach us to understand

the deep pain some people

suffer in silence

“A loving heart is the truest wisdom.”

 

Love will teach us all things

the things that truly matter in life

It will teach us to  accept others

It will teach us

“Peace is not a season but a way of life’”

It teaches us that we must learn

to cultivate human relationships

and the ability to live and work together

on this planet

because it is all we have.

 

Love will teach us  all things

like being faithful to ourselves

it will teach us

the greatest love of all

is learning to love yourself first

It will teach us that sowing just one seed

might bring us a love song strummed on a guitar

 

Love will teach us all things,

like Sam says to Molly

in the movie Ghosts,

“It’s amazing Molly,  the love inside, you take it with you”

It lasts forever. It is eternal.

It is aligned to the Divine.

Love teaches us all things in time.

 

 

 

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Nothing is more delightful than one’s own pillow

one can squeeze it without

it protesting

the sweet aroma that remains

of the dreams

you wish would come true someday

but hope deep inside

you keep dreaming about them anyway

 

soft and fluffy

like clouds be

filled with foam or feather

especially in cold weather

one can puff it

plunk it

or drape it over one’s head

hug it and hug it again or

flatten it out

like a pancake

shape it

to suit your fancy

like southern comfort;

it’s home.

 

Nothing is

more delightful

than one’s own pillow

on a plane

in a car

on a cot

in a hammock

on someone else’s guest bed

It is just the perfect spot

to rest one’s head

because of course now

pillows have a memory.

 

 

 

A Love Poem Found in the Attic

A dried rose

marks the place

in her poem book

where underlined

verses were once

read aloud

by a lover

no one knew

her secret then

only the rose

he gave her

one sweet day in spring

the rose was once deep crimson

before it became imprisoned

the verses spoke of an infinite love

of a passion so intense,

as immense as the sea

and blue as the sky above

and now on another

beautiful day in spring

roses bloom to remind her

only a memory survives.

 

Photo by Melba Christie (c) 2012

 

 

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In Remembrance of My Grandmother

She barely smiled

but when she did

it was like she smiled

for all of us, all at once

 

She sequestered herself

away from the world outside

her humble home

soon after my grandfather died

 

I never met him

but she made him come alive to me

with stories of his exquisite chivalry

His portrait sat on the table

beside where Grandma sat

to fold the laundry and fine linen

Each fold she made

was purposeful

and perfectly aligned

her wrinkled hands

caressed the fabric

with great tenderness

a pillow case could not

possibly appreciate

 

I felt her love

one day

when she gently brushed

my hair for the first time

(I could remember)

and wrapped it in a bun.

 

She told extraordinary stories

about her childhood, my grandfather

and the things that according to her

every girl should know

about life in general.

 

She smoked cigars

which I found unreal

but she did it with the grace

of a queen.

 

What I remember most

is her love for her pets

although not the traditional

dog or cat.

 

She raised chickens and hens, and roosters

gave them all names at that

Had short conversations with them every day

about the weather and what was on her mind

Then on any given day

at any given time

when she felt they were fat enough

she’d decide

to cook one of them

for us to dine.

 

As I remember the many conversations I had

with my beloved grandmother

we all called Mita

and do not ask me why

I think about

the things that my grand children

will remember about me after I have died.

 

I hope Mita knows how

much she influenced

me as a storyteller and poet.

I could almost see her smile.

and once again it warmed my heart

because when she smiled

it was like she smiled for all of us.

 

*My grandmother passed away 37 years ago.

 

 

 

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May Day Memory of A Friend

Memories galore

of the things I adore

rush into my mind

to remind

me 

to remind 

you

about the things 

that really matter in life

like friendship for example

I see my best friend 

holding on tightly

to her bright pink ribbon 

giggling uncontrollably 

when she notices

I am tangled up in a ribbon 

of  sky blue

I point to her 

and chuckle too

because what she does not 

realize is that she also is 

wrapped inside a cocoon 

We were only eight and a half

free to laugh, 

happy to take turns being so silly.

It was a May day to be exact

when we promised 

to be friends forever

and to never, ever

forget the happy times we shared.

My friend has suffered much 

more than anyone can bear

when we talk 

I make sure she knows that I will always care

but her heart is broken

beyond repair.

So now I hold on to her ribbon

hoping she finds solace somehow and somewhere

and learns to laugh again

I see her in my mind

untangled at the Maypole 

where we once 

danced round and round

as she giggled so care free

I’ve become her memory 

she counts on me

to bring her back 

to that beautiful May day

when she had not one worry in the world

she smiles and grabs my hand real tight

and looks into my eyes

to tell she is alright

and won’t give up the fight. 

Melba Christie

 

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Haiku #41

Keeper of secrets

only this paper and pen

will know the truth

 

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Getting the Most from Yourself

If you know yourself well

then you need not read any further

You probably know

how to get the most from yourself.

No one should be allowed to get more than you do

Getting the most from yourself

requires for you

to have frequent conversations with yourself

Really learn about what you want

make sure your inner compass is fine tuned

so that you are going in the right direction

at least most of the time

but do not be afraid to ask for directions

Replenish your stamina

know your limits

don’t disappoint yourself

don’t be your worst enemy

Be still and in the present

remember the saying,

“tomorrow’s another day”

Make it your mantra

Dance the dance

Sing the song

Relish the moments that count

Love, Love, Love

yourself

consider

sending yourself a note

about the things

you actually accomplished TODAY!

Live your life without regrets

you may make mistakes

along the way

but be the camera in your life

do a retake and crop out what

you do not need in your life

Keep yourself healthy

Heal yourself everyday

by getting rid of the thoughts

that make you someone else.

Do not be anyone

you do not want to be

you have the power

to attract the best

Practice makes perfect

only you can get the most

and the best from yourself

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Haiku #40

Simply put is this

nurture love for others every day

Robins sing in Praise

 

- Melba Christie

 

 

 

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Quotes that could have been poems

Photo by Melba Christie   (c) 2012

 

Learn to get in touch with the silence within yourself and know that everything in this life has a purpose.”

Elisabeth Kubler-Ross

 

“I merely took the energy it takes to pout and wrote some blues.”

- Duke Ellington

 

“If you are yourself at peace, then there is at least some peace in the world. Then share your peace with everyone, and everyone will be at peace.”        -Thomas Merton

 

“I am very happy, very enchanted … for  I am surrounded here by everything I love… My desire would be to stay just like this forever, in a quiet corner of nature. -Claude Monet

 

“Just living is not enough,” said the butterfly. “One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.”  -Hans Christian Anderson

 

 

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Happy for Watertown!

Relief at Last!

It is a BEAUTIFUL THING

Happy for Watertown!

Seige

 

What siege of our minds is this?

Fear infused with every megabyte of information

transmitted over every device imaginable

because we need to be connected to the surreal of our lives

 

Barriers block our logic

Our emotions cordoned off from our hearts

with yellow ribbons directing us to

“Do Not Cross”

might as well be bloody red

confirming our reality

“We Cannot Live in Peace”

Cause craziness prevails

 

Our ability to understand restricted

Check points drain our energy

Lives changed forever

childhood lost.

 

What siege of our minds is this?

 

 

 

 

A Poem in Your Pocket Day

Poets.org sponsors Poem in You Pocket Day (which was celebrated today) and which offers a wide variety of poems to use for the celebration of the day. Someone surprised me today with a beautiful poem she had written about the latest acts violence and terror  that caused chaos in the city of Boston. She did want me to post it but the truth is that the poem was written with her heart. To those of you who read a poem to someone today I applaud you. Here is a poem I wrote:

A muse lives in the silence of a busy mind

where dreams connect to each other

and daffodils dance

a centipede relaxes and kicks off its shoes

to listen to the hummingbird  who seemed amused

A muse lives in the silence of a busy mind

and eavesdrops in on a conversation with itself

where there is talk of rebellion

just because.

and it decides instead to go to bed.

Melba Christie

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Marathon

By definition

marathon was

“A village and plain of ancient Greece

northeast of Athens.

It was the site

of a major Athenian victory

over the Persians in 490 b.c.”

 

It is also means the test

of endurance

and great strength.

The latter meaning

can be applied 

to the tragedy

in Boston.

 

The crowd was deep on

the city’s streets

with Blue skies above

Everyone filled with great expectations

as the  runners sprinted  hard

to reach their final destination.

 

Not one of them would have dreamed

that as fate would have it

chaos, confusion and commotion

would disrupt the harmony

and extend such agony

and grieve

to a great New England town.

 

One child’s heart beat faster

in anticipation of watching

his dad cross the finish line.

Now he’s in heaven

meeting the Divine.

 

So many more,

some of  whom had never been

to Boston before

met a fate not commissioned.

 

A marathon it will be for all of us

 

most certainly

the longest run on faith

for years to come.

 

 

We must stand united

to build our stamina,

for the Marathon ahead

and help to heal our

broken hearts

and finish gloriously

putting mind over matter,

body and soul.

Let us go

the distance for peace.

Let us go the distance for non-violence.

Let us go the distance with faith.

 

God Bless all the victims of the Boston Marathon.

 

 

 

 

 

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I should have been an opera singer

I should have been an opera singer

like my daddy said

I should have been an opera singer

but now I am a poet instead

 

don’t get me wrong I could hit

those high notes as high

as the best

but to write a poem a day

gives me the greatest test

 

I love Nessum Dorma

like Pavarotti used to sing it

and I also know

the meaning of the word Vincerò!

 

I really should have been an opera singer

like my daddy said

but I decided to be a poet instead

 

Poetry is a beautiful thing

you can either

recite  it

and if you have a Gibson guitar

you can make the words just sing.

 

I could have been an opera singer

like my daddy said

but I will write poems

the rest of my life instead.

 

So the next time

you hear my favorite aria

“Nessum Dorma”

you might think of me

and what I was supposed to be

 

I could have been an opera singer

like my daddy said

but I chose to be a poet instead

and I hope I am a good one

and get into your head.

 

 

 

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National Poetry Month: Web 2.0 Poetry ~ Mixbook

Reblogged from BloomingEducation:

• 
• 
• 
• 

One tool that I loved using with my students was Mixbook. While there are many uses of mixbook, one of my favorite was creating Poetry Books.

What I loved about this tool was that students could completely personalize their books. They have the ability to add text, pictures, backgrounds, and "stickers". I gave my students several options for adding illustrations to represent their poems.

Read more… 152 more words

Another interesting resource.