Lyric Fire

Laughter & The Lord: Praising Him With a Smile!

Image credit: Vladim Vilain (vladimedia.com)

I grew up in Detroit and was raised by a southern mom whose roots were in the Baptist church. So you know what that meant for me. Sunday School, Bible Study, choir rehearsals, church concerts on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and especially on Sunday! 

If I don't know anything, I know church and I know praise! So when I saw a recent social media posting from one of my favorite humor bloggers, Luvvie Ajayi better known as Awesomely Luvvie, using hashtags and colorful alliteration to give the Lord his due, I had to get involved! 

If you like to laugh and you're not connected to Awesomely Luvvie something is just wrong with you! She will have you in stitches. Any woman who takes pleasure in lifting the Lord's name up is alright with me! 

Oh and BTW, the new season of Scandal will be back on later this month. If you're a fellow Gladiator, our girl Luvvie writes some of the best show recaps! Follow her on Twitter! 

Since we're focusing on praise today, what are you thankful for? Share in the comments! 

Have a blessed day! 

The Life-Box Collection (A Poetic Short-Stack Trio Set) Vol I.

 

In life we're driven by desire, loss and the need to be long-lasting. The following pieces pay homage to these factors. 

 

IMPRINT (desire)

waking up to whispers

as dreams fade to remnants of memories

melodies follow me

traces of a song

flashes of pillow

between my teeth

like a sandwich 

then

daily grind

scientific reports and strategies

brain is wired

overloaded

close to crashing

like waves

coursing through the mainframe

of my middle

 

LAMENTATIONS (loss)

walking barefoot backwards

saline puddles 

in my wake

driving on the wrong side of the road

red lights trigger

a heart 

broken down 

by time

I'm lost

the side of the road

is a respite

colored vehicles pass

captured in black and white

then transformed into

blue

 

RELEVANCY (longevity)

a meat -filled diet 

now morphed into seeds

hemp covered thighs

and feet

a life's footprint 

extended out

hair follicles

once coiffed to death

now wild

free

sunshine pours in brighter

eyes begin to see 

the end

fight

scrap

tear the ties loose

hold on

don't 

let 

go

 

Losing My First Mom. Twice. - A Memorial to Francine Williams

Written with assistance from my inner child. She created the above image. 

 

I thought about her almost every day of my life. I wondered what she looked like, what she sounded like. Whether she loved to write like me. Was she tall? Short?

Who? Oh, I'm talking about my mother.

You see, when my mother had me I went home with her, but I didn't stay. I was given up for adoption or as some in the adoption community say, "I was lost in adoption." 

The reasons vary based on who is telling the story. But this I do know. My mom was very young when she had all of her children. She also had a substance abuse problem. My sister died of crib death and my two brothers were also lost to adoption. 

But when I was younger I didn't know any of this. All that I was told was that I was adopted. I was in the foster care system for a few years and then I was given new parents around age four and that other life ceased to exit. Most of my memories of my first mom and dad were deleted. Save one. I remember a cold winter day. A man was carrying me and a woman was with him. My mom. We were in a blue car. That's where the recollection ends. 

So all my life I daydreamed. I thought about both my mom and dad but mostly of mom. I created a inner world where she existed. I spoke to her. I sought her out in the eyes of strangers. True story. Right before moving to New York for the first time I worked as a cashier and hardware associate at Builder's Square. I was working toward saving money for my move to The Big Apple. One day a lady came through my line. She looked like me! Or so I thought. My longing for my first mom was so deep that I whispered to the lady. "Can I ask you a question?" I said as I picked up her items and started to scan them. She was so kind. She leaned in and said, "Sure baby. Ask me anything." Still ringing her items and now shy, I said softly, "Did you give up a child for adoption? By any chance, could you be my mother? See, I was adopted and you look a lot like me." The lady's face broke into a smile, but it was outlined in sadness for me. "No, honey. I didn't. I'm not your mom. But, I wish I were. You seem like a sweet girl. I pray that one day you'll find her and that she'll love you like you deserve."  The longing had no shame. It permeated my being. I needed to know my mother. 

My mom who raised me was volatile. Abusive. Then loving. Then abusive. She drank. Or rather had an alcohol problem. She was an alcoholic. So as an escape from her abuse I idealized a fantasy mother. This woman who floated on clouds and wore pretty pink dresses. I was kidnapped I told myself. She was rich and someone stole me from her. She was somewhere desperately looking for me. She would arrive one day and rescue me from mean old lady Lillian. She'd arrive in a tiara and silver high heels and she would carry me away. She never came. So, I went searching for her. 

After I graduated from college I began looking. The building with the adoption records had burned down I was told. The records were missing. I waited. A year passed. Then another year passed. I gave up hope. Then. A phone call. We found. Your brother. He chose not to meet me. I hurt. More time passed. I hired a court intermediary. I went to visit my other mom in Detroit for Mother's Day. It was May 2000. I called home and checked my messages and the investigator had called. They finally found my mom and she was in Detroit too. It had taken two years and some change, but it had happened. 

It was a rainy May day and accompanied by my dad, he took me to see my first mom. I was so nervous. When we arrived at the building, we were announced and then given my mother's floor number and directed to an elevator. Before we could press the up button, this woman had bounded out of the stairwell and literally tackled me. She had ran down almost 20 flights of stairs. I couldn't see her face, I just felt her engulf me in her warmth. She smelled of cigarettes and beer and faint perfume. 

When she let me go, I looked into the eyes of my mom for the first time since I was a baby. This woman had lived. She had seen some things. Not all good either. She wore the hardness of the world on her. But there was a warmth. A child-like excitement. An innocence. There was love, guilt and regret. No tears like you see on the TV reunions. I stood quietly, shocked, but happy. I was home. 

Over the next 13 years me and my mom would try our best to forge a union, to connect. In that time, I saw her only on a few occasions. That first reunion only lasted two days because it was impromptu and I had to return home as I was in the middle of job hunting. I then took two weeks to visit Detroit so I could spend more time with her and my family, then several holidays afterwards.

The visits were not all I wanted them to be. We were apart more than we were together and I now know that it wasn't because she didn't want to see me, it was just so damn hard. Looking into the face of the child who is now an adult that you didn't get to raise must have been so painful for her. There were times I was able to tap into that pain and be understanding, but it still hurt. I was still that little girl, that baby that wanted her mom. I was selfish at times. I wanted that fantasy I had constructed instead of accepting the reality that she could give me. 

On August 26,  2013 my mom, Francine O. Williams died. We hadn't been in contact much, but I did speak to her on Mother's Day and earlier in the year on her birthday. The love was still there, but a lot of the energy we had to connect and repair our relationship had fizzled. I was tired of being disappointed and she was tired of being the one that was always letting me down. I had a plan though. Me and my sister were going to surprise her during the holidays. To see if we could build back up some of the ground that had been lost. But it was not to be. She's gone.

In the wake of her death I have cried, screamed, sobbed, shouted, wept silently and rocked myself to sleep. This is the deepest pain I've ever felt in my life. You see, I'm an achiever. I had a goal. To not only find my mom, but to make up for lost time. Reconnect the dots. Perfect the imperfections. Heal the wounds. Make my mom better. Make myself better. Heal me. Heal her. But I couldn't do it. Sure I healed myself along the way by going to counseling, I sent her books on adoption and first moms but she told me they were too hard for her to read. I backed off at times and then I'd go at her again, wanting her to be this mom that she just couldn't be. Once I realized and accepted that she couldn't it was too late to go back and spend that time better. Now all I have is our limited memories. And her laughter. Oh that laughter. She could light up the darkness with that cackle. She laughed from the soles of her feet on up. It entered you and tickled your funny bone. It rings in my ears so loudly at times when I see something funny. She's still with me that way. 

I also saved a bunch of emails that she sent me at the beginning of our reunion. Thank God. They are better than voicemails because I can hear her voice as I read them. They take me back to those first precious moments of our adult time together. There was hope and anticipation and apologies and love. 

I know as I breathe she is still alive in me. I have her laugh, her shape, her sense of humor, love for good food and good loving and her mean streak. I lost her in adoption and now in death, but I'll have her forever as my mom. My first mom. Forever and always. I love you Francine Odella Williams. I will see you again. I will. I know it. I feel it. I will it to be. I miss you. 

An Email From My Mother to Me - Early Reunion Stages:

Shades of Green and Gray: Embracing Challenges to Become a Better Artist

Colors and their meanings have always intrigued me. A fleeting purple sky, a blue moon and fuchsia rain are imaginative visuals that can be rendered in the mind or on canvas to create out of this world scenarios, but in reality we are often faced with less thrilling colors.

Lately the themes of green and gray have been popping up around me and actually gave me the idea for this post. I was walking leisurely one day and noticed an abandoned lot. It was filled with gray gravel, most likely to eliminate the growth of weeds, but not to be outdone, the weeds were bursting through those rocks with a vengeance. Upon seeing that, it reminded me of my journey to become a published author. Now when we think of weeds we usually dwell on the negative. Unsightly and un-pretty, they can take a stranglehold over gardens, lawns and walkways and throw our carefully manicured existence into disarray. But if we look closer at weeds there is positivity to be found. To me a weed is a neglected plant longing for attention. Look at me! It seems to say. It never gives up! The persistence of a weed is legendary! No matter what chemicals you use, or how many times you pull them up they always seem to rise up again.

Just like weeds, we should always be POSITIVELY persistent about our art. As writers and artists, we were born to be told no so we could defy the odds. I recently made a decision to self-publish my novel as some of you are aware. I had finally made peace with myself that my writing was good enough to be sent out into the world even if an agent or a publisher had not yet agreed with my assessment. It actually felt good to be seizing control over my work. My mind was where it should be, in a positive place and moving forward. So pardon my surprise when this week I learned that my manuscript is being considered by a small press publisher! I had sent my novel to them a while back and had forgotten about it. Now I'm a "finalist" in a group of six other writers that may get the chance to be nurtured and published. 

I wasn't even sure how to take the news. I was shocked and thrilled of course, but it made me go deep into analysis mode to think about why this was happening now. I have concluded that once I released the negative energy I was holding around being "rejected" by the establishment, it allowed new energy to come in. I stopped focusing on why someone didn't want me and put my attention on how I could still achieve my goals in spite of it. I was a weed poking through gravel! 

Another green and gray theme of sorts also recently came to mind as I was watching my grand "old" Boston Celtics battle for position in the NBA Playoffs. In 2008 they were a team with vigor as three future hall of fame players (Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett & Ray Allen) converged after some blockbuster trades brought them all together to play on the same team. They won the championship that year and realized dreams that they all had been longing for their whole careers. The color of the team uniform is green which symbolizes growth, health and vitality and the mascot is Lucky the Leprechaun. How is that for a theme? Now four years later, after being plagued by injuries and some streams of "bad luck," they are trying to deny the notion that they are old and gray and too slow to run with the young legs of other teams. What I've learned from watching my favorite team is this, they too are like weeds, rising up when all around them thought they were dead. 

It remains to be seen if the Celtics will win another championship this year or if I will garner a spot on that small press author roster, but all be revealed in time. I do know this about the both of us, we will never say die, we won't give up and we will always stay true to our talent. It's never easy being green, but when we refuse to fold, we stand out brightly in between the shades of gray. 

NOTE: I will keep you posted about the status of the small press publisher. Stay tuned!

POST DISCUSSION: When was the last time your persistence paid off? Share with us! 

Designing Your Destiny: Which "Interior Design Of The Mind" Style Fits You?

 

 

It's been said that you can tell a lot about a person by how they keep their home. A cluttered environment supposedly points to a level of disarray in the mind or emotions. Some would argue though that people who may not be the neatest might just be more creative than the rest of us. As a neat freak who is also a creative being, I would have to disagree with that though. 

I thought it would be fun to correlate specific interior design styles to ways of thinking and use them as a guide to look at how we can design our destiny using these mindsets.

There are many interior design styles so I chose to focus on five: Shabby Chic, Garden, Contemporary, Traditional and Eclectic.

Here is how I have broken them down into mindsets:

SHABBY CHIC

A person with this mindset often starts off with a clean blank canvas and mixes traditional ways of being with more modern ideas. Often brought up in strict religious families, they respect time-honored modalities, but long to make their own mark in the world. Shabby Chic personalities make good business partners as they can set milestones for long-term goals and reach them and also go for the quick wins. In love they are willing to compromise and are usually fun and engaging partners.

How they design their destiny:

They build on their success with diversification. They may wind up working in quite a few fields before settling on one career and even then, they will call on their previous experience in other areas to achieve goals. They know how to build healthy personal and professional relationships that will serve them well in all areas of their life.

Challenges: Spreading themselves too thin and completing the many projects they undertake as well as learning how not to make too many promises they can't keep. 

GARDEN:

A garden being is a walking, talking hot mug of green tea. They passionately adopt a zen-life existence and are very capable of shedding any outdated ways of thinking passed down by their parents. They can disagree with you without even speaking a word and will leave you with a feeling of calm even when you are very angry with them. In their professional pursuits, they seek out work that makes them feel like they are making the world a better place and will often do pro-bono projects. Their creativity is off the charts and they are often in great shape.  

How they design their destiny:

This personality type uses their positivity to attract business partners, friends and relationships and can build huge networks that will tirelessly work on their behalf no matter the objective. The key to their success is making each person they come into contact with feel like they matter. An intern is treated with the same respect as a CEO in their world, and by modeling this treatment, they make everyone around them better.

Challenges: Staying relevant and not alienating others who may not understand them. 

CONTEMPORARY: 

People who wear the comtemporary label are usually on the cutting edge of everything that is popular and trendy. They are early adopters of technology, know all of the best places to eat, travel and worship and dress to the nines. They are driven beyond compare and will not apolgize for their love of the finer things in life. To know someone with this mindset is to either love, hate or envy them and they probably don't care either way! 

How they design their destiny:

They make it their business in the beginning of their lives to know the gatekeepers in their chosen fields of interest and it is their life-long goal to be the gatekeeper in the long-run. They are world-champs at networking, schmoozing and being seen at the right time with the right people. They build their fortunes and date cards by taking risks, spending money and aligning themselves with the stars. 

Challenges: Being true to themselves, modeling authenticity and fostering true and meaningful relationships. 

TRADITIONAL: 

These fine folks love security and will often attract professional positions and relationships that last for decades. Often they are lovers of the status quo, movie nights at home with their sweetie and are usually married in their early twenties. The traditional mindset is one that believes if you work hard and long enough you will achieve anything. They are most often judges, school teachers and sometimes work in the clergy. There are many Republicans in this group, but Democracts are also known to reside in this house. 

How they design their destiny:

They keep close counsel of their parents, childhood pastor and college sorors and frat buddies. Within these familar ranks they are able to build strong bonds and allegiances that can take them from waiting tables and tending bar all the way to the White House. They also depend heavily on personal favors and will often respond in kind. They are often able to retire young as they start saving money very early on in life and often forgo the material things others crave during this time.

Challenges: Being tolerant of others with different mindsets and staying in step with the changing times.

ECLECTIC:

You can spot eclectic personalities a mile away! They wear colorful clothes, their hair is big and their ideas are even bigger. They don't believe in the words "I can't," "No," or "Maybe." Some of them were raised by strong single moms who pushed them to be better and others were raised in households with two parents who stressed achievement at all costs. Sometimes bucking their traditional upbringing, they go to the extreme in expressing themselves in art, business and in love. 

How they design their destiny:

These mavericks think way outside of the square! They apply for business loans and max out their credit cards on get-rich quick schemes, build businesses with money given to them from friends and family and often break the bank and end up broke. They can rebound just as quickly though and get up without a scratch while others watch in amazement. Taking chances and risks is how they live, breathe and survive.

Challenges: Knowing when to hold them, fold them, when to walk away and when to run!  

Do you recognize yourself in any of these intricately decorated houses? Which "interior design of the mind" style are you? Please share in the comments section. Let's have fun with this! 

Admission: I am a mix of Eclectic and Shabby Chic! 

For more info on the aforementioned interior design styles mentioned, click here: Interior Design Styles 

 

Lyric Fire: Pinpointing The Pain - (This Is Not A Poem)

I'm sure a lot of you are puzzled by the title of this post. I usually pontificate about pain in my poetry and in the stories that I write and I don't often speak about it from an obvious personal place, but some things have been on my mind lately and I want to write about them in this fashion for a change.

The start of the year for me usually brings an excitement and a sense of newness which I can get lost in. I just know that wonderful things are on the horizon. But this time around, the old seemed to blend in with the new, diluting the experience. 

The weight of last years disappointments and failures followed me into 2012. There I said it. Whew, feels good to let that out! I am usually the person who tries to uplift my network with my poetry and lyrical sayings and most times they come to me in a whisper. I transcribe them more than I write them. I do believe God speaks to me in those times telling me things I so desperately need to hear. He has given me the talent of writing, communication and expression so some are fooled into thinking that I thought those gems up on my own, but I can not take all of the credit. Without he, there is no me. I write because he supplies the pen and the words. I am blessed to be credited with the byline though. Thank you Jesus! 

I am finding myself recently going back and re-reading some of the things I've written for guidance in my life these days. You see I'm a person who thrives on winning, achieving and getting the things I work for, long for and hope for. Honestly lately I've been striking out on all levels and it's been a challenge. I am usually able to shake off setbacks and move on to the next goal, but not these days. I have been feeling staggered by the pain of it all. So not like me. I had been wondering why certain losses have affected me so deeply recently and in a conversation with a dear friend I had a breakthrough.

It all goes back to the beginning when I was given up for adoption. As a child I felt confused and abandoned, but only for a short time as kids adjust and put things aside. Intellectually as an adult I KNOW I am good enough. I am educated, personable, talented and some people have even said that I'm cute! Okay beautiful! See? No lack of confidence over here! But that child, that little girl deep on the inside comes out when I don't get the things that I want. She yells and screams why me? Why not me? Aren't I good enough? My adult self pushes her to the side and scolds her. "What? Of course you're good enough! Don't let me ever hear you say that again!" 

The little girl then goes away sad and still feeling some kind of way. In talking to my friend about the root of recent issues, I tapped into how I feel about my natural mom and how hurt I am over our not being able to connect. My little girl me feels like she thinks I'm not good enough for her and that's why she isn't in my life the way I'd like. Also, a recent situation in my life left me feeling the same way. I know that it's not true, I am MORE than good enough, as my friend repeatedly told me. Thanks girl! I so needed to hear that. Not me, but the little girl in me. That's why I was feeling so much pain! 

As adults we are expected to just brush off disappointments and failures and keep moving without a period to reflect, mourn or be sad. There is no time in an adult life to do that we tell ourselves. So untrue. We NEED that! If we don't take the time to heal our hurts then we can never truly be happy. It's okay to be upset over a loss or when something or someone we truly want is out of reach. In pinpointing the true meaning of our pain over the loss, we can then see our way to the next goal and leave the pain behind. 

So I'm going to challenge myself to truly reflect over setbacks and disappointments to pinpoint any lingering feelings of pain that may be coming from a deeper place and do what I need to to heal because a healthy and happy writer is a successful writer! Hmmm, I might even incorporate some of that pain into some characters. What do you think?

QUESTION(S): Are there situations where you were let down and it affected you more deeply than you expected? What happened? Did you give yourself enough time and space to reflect on the true meaning of the pain and it's roots? If not, why not? What will you do in the future to bring healing to your situation? - Feel free to share in the comments the things you're comfortable with talking about.  

If you like the content of Lyric Fire, please vote for me to win a Shorty Award: Shorty Awards: Honoring The Best Producers of Short Content On Social Media.

Lyric Fire: My First "This Moment" Post!

{this moment}

"This Moment" is a ritual on Life inspired by the Wee Man adopted from SouleMama which was introduced to me by Melissa Tandoc of Depth.

 

 A single photo, capturing a moment. - A simple, special extraordinary moment.

 A moment that I captured during not such a pretty time in my life. It inspired me to continue to believe in beauty.

Tameka Mullins for Lyric Fire - 2011 - Click on image to get the full effect. 

If you wish to participate, post your picture on a Friday and leave your link in the comments.

Remember, it only takes "a moment" to have your soul set on LYRIC FIRE!

Lyric Fire: Diamonds For December!

Eleven months later and we are here! What an amazing journey! 2011 has been a year of movements, revolutions, revelations, devastation, restoration and regeneration. For all that we have faced as a country, a nation and a world, we continue to try to make sense of things and keep it moving in a positive direction. 

December is very special for many reasons and one of them is because it's my birth month! Happy Birthday to me! Whoo hoo! People often felt sorry for me because they thought I got shortchanged on gifts because my birthday resides in the same month as Christmas, but it's not true! Having the gift of life in December is the best treasure of all!

As you settle into the holiday season remember to reflect on all of the success and happiness you've had this year. Things may not have worked out like you wanted them to or thought they would, but hey, you're HERE! That means that anything and everything is STILL possible! So from me to you, here are three diamond gemstones to grace your holiday stocking: 

Delicious Decadence: After a long year we could chose to focus on all that went wrong or shake it off and make magic happen! I challenge you to treat yourself or someone you love to something delicious and decadent this December. End the year with a bang! Take that trip to an exotic locale of your dreams if you can. If you're watching your funds, no problem. Decadence can be enjoying a rare chocolate dessert with a friend, splurging on a new fragrance or techie toy you've been coveting or simply sharing a romantic shower under candlelight! It also could be a conversation with someone you've been admiring for a while. Take a chance! Pick up that phone, send that text message or tweet! Get it popping! 

Delightful Dalliances: With the holidays upon us there are so many fun and interesting things to do! Go see the tree lighting ceremony in your city. Many people host parties or concerts for charity that may wind up being the place you can meet a future business partner, friend or significant other. Put on your party shoes, sneakers or high heels and get out and enjoy all that the wonderful month of December has to offer! Can't find anywhere interesting to dawdle off to? Throw a party of your own! Gathering together with friends is key to keeping connections strong! 

Dynamic Determination: The days, hours and minutes of trying to make our dreams come true, keep our families and friendships together and maintain our sanity can take a toll on us for sure. Sometimes holiday lights, egg nog and singing Christmas carols just isn't going to cut it for us. We are fried and tired! I get it! Trust me! So in those times we have to challenge ourselves to not give up and stay on course. Nothing you've ever achieved came easy, so you have to dig in deep to hit those energy reserves! They are there! It's okay to take a few days or even a week or so to rejuvenate your spirit if it's down. But don't stay down! If it takes listening to one inspirational song a day while you are in this period of reflection or reading passages from the Bible to help you get your bearings, it's your responsibility as the fabulous creature you are to make it happen! We are meant to succeed, to thrive and to turn clay into castles! Believe it! 

It has been a pleasure and a challenge exploring my own life and experiences as I brought you these Tamstarz Tools for 2011. Every tip, piece of advice and affirmation I have offered has come from a personal place of need for myself as well as wanting to help you. I certainly hope that you were enlightened and helped in some way by these inspirational nuggets each month. I am planning on creating a book out of the posts I've written this year and will share details about it's publication in the months to come. 

Happy Holidays and make December the best month of the year! Blessings! 

 

Lyric Fire: Turkey Ice Cream???

Sorry! There is no such thing as turkey ice cream! Ha! But I got your attention didn't I? I think November may be the month that we eat and drink the most. Everywhere we go we are bombarded with pictures of food or people are talking about what they are going to cook. Even as you walk into your apartment buildings or homes you can smell the wonderful aromas wafting beneath the door frames. Turkey is being basted, hams are being glazed, pie crusts are taking shape and vegetables that will go in salads, dressings and soups are being chopped and prepared. 

It sure is a wonderful time of year. We are blessed to be able to take some time to stop and think about what we are thankful for in our lives and also be with friends and family that we have been too busy to see. This is the reality for a lot of people at this time, but let's not forget others who may not have a grand meal or people to spent time with on Thanksgiving Day. As you say grace before you eat your meal later this week, say a prayer for someone who may not be as fortunate. Trust me, your prayers will travel and reach them where they live and they will be blessed! 

I wish each of my readers a glorious holiday filled with love, warmth and delicious, filling food! If anyone finds some turkey ice cream, please let us know how it tastes! 

Happy Thanksgiving from Tamstarz! 

 

Lyric Fire: Nolana's For November

For this month's Tamstarz Tools piece I want to change it up. I'm feeling poetic so instead of my usual narrative, I will feature a poem that sums up how I feel about November. The picture above is of a Chilean Bell Flower which is also known as a Nolana. It's blue color reminds me of winter which can be cold but offers great beauty. 

 

Nolana's For November

 

fading warmth

colors changing

no longer vibrant

now subdued

 

calendar pages

turned

flipped

dates x'ed out

obligations met

some ignored

we can only do so much

 

sand and grit from the beach

line the bottom of tote bags

scents from ocean's essence

linger

taunting us

 

remember the sun

ice cream trucks musical melody

hard wood floors soon will be encased in ice

inviting glints of silver against frost

 

long curls will hide under hats

fingers take cover from the cold in gloves

curves covered in wool and leather escape critiques

car tires spin out 

dancing on black diamonds

 

goals not met

packed away for another day

eyes framed by tears

will soon dry

 

nolana's for november

makes the mouth curl upwards

yes you get a prize

you made it

 

we are much more

than what we accomplish

good deeds are gold

being determined to try is priceless

 

congratulate yourself for playing the game