365 Creativity Project-Day 140

Journal entry:

Missing

She told me he will
Leave for Afghanistan soon,
I asked exactly
When and she said she could not
Tell me, so it is secret.

I am only his
Mother now and not privy
To things going on,
She is his wife so she knows
What I can no longer learn.

It makes me worry
No less that I am left out,
The information
I used to be the first to
Know has departed from me.

I am now banished
To the outskirts of knowledge,
He is my one child,
My failure to obtain truth
Is just a part of his growth.

I am so misplaced
In this new life of his choice,
My outstanding fault
Is the continuing need
To explain I still MISS him.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Monday, May 28, 2012

Photographs:

My great-niece, Jayden…

Jayden…

I am grateful:

1.   I finished reading the Song of Solomon today.
2.   Jeremy came, cleaned the gutters, and took off the trash.
3.   I spent some time with Jayden.
4.   We had hot dogs and French fries for supper.
5.   Carrie Leigh and little Jesse came to visit.

I hope you all have had a Happy Memorial Day. Take some time to do something creative before your day ends.

Please leave me a comment to let me know your thoughts.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project-Day 139

Journal entry:

Today’s poem is derived from The Sunday Whirl. I hope maybe you will take time to create something from this wordle.

The Reunion

I scrape off the rough barnacles
That cocoon my flinty tongue,
The words brittle like old chalk
Blur in the austere presence
Of those drenched in the cold hate
Splattered upon me by their slander
Which burnished my youthful days,
And yet I speak soft syllables
Of generous friendliness
Accepting them without regret
Moving beyond the fallen tears.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Sunday, May 27, 2012

Photographs:

A few books for inspiration…

Hope…

Mom’s plant I gave her for Mother’s Day…

Mom, Hope and Ko-Ko…

I am grateful:

1.   Laura and Alex had some time to spend together before his deployment to Afghanistan.
2.   I can rely on God to make life worthwhile.
3.   The internet allows me to stay connected to others for whom I care.
4.   Tomato soup and toasted cheese sandwiches made us a good supper.
5.   Writing is an honest joy.

I hope you are enjoying this Memorial Day weekend, and that you remember why we celebrate. I believe creativity honors our time here, so do something creative today.

If you enjoyed this entry, or have suggestions for improvement, please leave me a comment.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project-Day 138

A retrospective story start:

The prompt that inspired the above and the poem below was found at Poetry Jam. I have much material on the subject of bullies. Unfortunately, those memories of being victimized have never faded.

Inhumanity

They want to be friends
Now so many years after
The damage was done,
I suppose they believe it
Easy to forgive meanness.

The scars I carry
Are deeper than the surface
Of my tender skin,
The cruel words still remain
Echoing loud inside my mind.

I am a victim
Of their youthful savagery
Even in this time,
The atrocity keeps me
Bound by their brutality.

Maybe they forgot,
But my memory is fresh,
I face it each time
I look into a mirror
And am bedeviled anew.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Saturday, May 26, 2012

Photographs:

Ko-Ko…

Hope…

Penny…

I am grateful:

1.   I got up early.
2.   Sherry, our groomer, came and sheared our dogs.
3.   I finished reading The Distant Hours by Kate Morton, which was a very entertaining novel.
4.   The green beans we bought recently were surprisingly good.
5.   Hope allowed Sherry to clear out her ears better than usual.

I hope your Saturday has been filled with happiness. Make some time to get creative. You can produce something wonderful if you only make the effort.

Your comments are as always welcome and appreciated.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project-Day 137

The second exercise in What If? is to use one of your first sentences and take your story in different directions by adding a second sentence. I found this interesting. I had never thought about how each sentence could change a story so drastically.

My thoughts are concentrated on other places:

Reluctant Explorer

I rarely travel away
From home preferring my own
Environment to any
I have opportunity
To visit on a journey.

Sometimes other places call
With sweet majestic voices
That make me want to venture
Far from my comfortable
And familiar residence.

Mountains, forests, beaches, all
Entice me with their beauty
Cajoling me with their songs
Of rare untamed adventure,
Life is unpredictable.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Friday, May 25, 2012

Photographs:

Lucy and Max…

Angel Bear…

Hippopotamus…

Angel Dog…

I am grateful:

1.   I slept in today.
2.   Laura, my daughter-in-law, called to say she had gotten home safely from her trip to Okinawa to see Alex, my son.
3.   Alex works in a support position in the Air Wing of the Marine Corps.
4.   The hot dogs and French fries I cooked for supper were very good.
5.   I enjoy reading, writing, art, and photography.

I hope each of you had a fabulous Friday. If you have one, I hope your long weekend is enjoyable. If you feel so inclined do something creative with your time. It will help you feel joy.

Let me know your thoughts by leaving a comment.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project-Day 136

A few more story starts that I may explore in depth in the future:

The prompt for today’s poem came from The Sunday Whirl. I am going back to earlier prompts on this site because they are so engaging. You might enjoy giving some of them a try.

Uncertain Deity

Even a goddess is hounded
By demons who visit sacred
Rituals without intention
Of adding real significance.

They string along her followers
Distracting from indigenous
Culture elaborated in
Text that defines divinity.

She communicates her desires
From the summit of her mountain
Where graceful flags fly quite untamed
Tousled by vicious winds of change.

A goddess doubts significance
When sacred rituals are viewed
As useless despite intention
To celebrate true devotion.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Thursday, May 24, 2012

Photographs:

Day Lilies…

Yucca blooms…

Can crusher…

What If? is an inspiring book chock full of writing exercises that will have you creating material of which you have never dreamed. I purchased it from Amazon.com What If?.

Writing Magic is a book for younger writers, but you might find the exercises spark ideas as well. I purchased it from Amazon.com Writing Magic. It is a very quick read and can be passed on to inspire a youngster in your life.

I am grateful:

1.   I woke up early.
2.   The UPS driver delivered my package in a timely manner.
3.   I was able to order Iverhart for Penny since Interceptor was not available.
4.   Jeremy says he will try to come out and clean the gutters this weekend.
5.   I may be able to have a vacation next year.

I hope your Thursday has been a good day. Take time to do something creative before your day is over.

If you have thoughts to share please leave me a comment. I greatly appreciate your input.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project-Day 135

I often say I am very good at beginnings, but middles are a problem. Today I submit these story starters that I may attempt to develop into something more in the future, or maybe not.

I used the prompt at Poetic Asides to write the following poem:

Unstructured Mane

Hair is glorious,
Yet it can also be more
A trial for caring
When it chooses to go its
Own way without good guidance.

I wear my hair straight
Because that is how God chose
To make it for me.
Curling does not suit my style,
But sometimes I would like it.

Nowadays white threads
Wind their way throughout tresses
That no longer grow
As quickly nor as thickly
As they did a few years past.

I hesitate to
Go to the beauty salon
Because I cannot
Seem to make it understood
What exactly I want done.

So therefore I am
Convinced hair is both blessing
And unruly curse
To be worn in pure lovely
Freedom without much control.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Photographs:

Day Lily…

Cactus…

Cane Mill…

New figs…

Weathered chair…

I am grateful:

1.   I woke up fairly early this morning.
2.   I remembered to mail the power bill today after forgetting yesterday.
3.   Mom was able to shop with me at Wal-Mart.
4.   Because my order was damaged in shipping Amazon is sending me replacement books.
5.   I had money to purchase all the things I needed.

I hope your Wednesday has been especially rewarding. Take a few minutes to do something creative.

If you have anything to say I would love your comments.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project-Day 134

Journal entry:

Today my poetry prompt came from Carry On Tuesday. You should try their site if you are looking for inspiration.

After All, Tomorrow Is Another Day

These things you say I should do,
You have no real conception
What you are asking of me,
Nor how ill prepared I am
To take on additional
Tasks beyond my regular
Responsibilities now.

My disorders render me
Unable to accomplish
The many things required on
Ordinary every days.
It is God’s grace providing
All the care I am able
To give my full attention.

I do my personal best,
But eventually there
May come a crisis in time
Where someone else has to take
On accountability
As incapability
Might overcome my usefulness.

For now I am still enough,
After all, tomorrow
Is another day and it
Is all in the hands of God
Come whatever will He sees
Fit to bestow upon us,
But do not expect the most of me.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Unfortunately, that poem made my Mom cry because she knows how easily I could have problems that incapacitated me. I have both Schizo-Affective Disorder and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Either one could render me unable to care for her and the dogs for a time, but I hope God will continue to see fit to bless me with strength to do the things I must. My sister-in-law, Linda, indicated I should do something that I cannot manage and inspired the content of the poem. My family should back me up so that all the responsibility is not mine, but they don’t.

Photographs:

Mom close up…

Mom…

I am grateful:

1.   I woke up early.
2.   There were Oreo cookies for breakfast.
3.   I finally found a parking space at the hospital.
4.   The printer cartridge was the right one.
5.   We were able to skip Wal-Mart today.

I hope your Tuesday was less problematic than mine. Try to do something creative before you retire tonight.

If you feel moved, please leave me a comment.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project-Day 133

Journal entry:

Today I found my poetry prompt at http://sundaywhirl.wordpress.com/. If you are in need of a bit of inspiration, perhaps you might find it there.

Near Departure

Perhaps there is a window
That opens on the secret
Of my very soul’s marrow,
Bypassing the grief that holds
Me by hand in the stillness
Where flower the crocuses
That bloom in rainbow colors
With truly massive clatter
Making my hips scream mutely
As a person caught dreaming,
Or mayhap the window is
Closed capturing my whole heart.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Monday, May 21, 2012

Photographs:

Penny, Hope, and Ko-Ko hoping for a bit of a treat…

Mug…

I am grateful:

1.   I asked for help with inspiration in MNINB Platform Challenge group on Facebook.
2.   I was able to get some extra sleep.
3.   I had leftovers from yesterday’s feast for supper.
4.   I am adding more followers to my blog.
5.   I have an income though it is small.

I hope your Monday was not too much a hassle. If your day has been difficult take some time to do something creative to ease your frustration. Even if you only write about what passed during your day it will help you wind down.

Let me know what you think of today’s entry by leaving a comment.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project-Day 132

Journal entry:

Gracious Benevolence

Freshly laundered clothing touches
My skin with the gentle caress
Of a lover who was missing
During the long exhausting day.

I sigh at the sweetness felt when
Freshly laundered clothing touches
My body with the tenderness
I have been seeking all day long.

The enchantment of cleanliness
Spreads its allure over me when
Freshly laundered clothing touches
Me like whispered kisses at night.

I am reminded of other
Nights when I was softly fondled
With heavenly kindness on skin
Freshly laundered clothing touches.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Sunday, May 20, 2012

Photographs:

Jo and Ton…

Ton…

Ton following Jo…

Holly bush grown into a sizable tree…

My Dad’s D-8…

Jo…

My Dad’s D-8 overgrown, but not forgotten…

I am grateful:

1.   Mom reminded me to use Deep Woods Off before going for my walk.
2.   Hope was very well behaved while we walked in the pasture.
3.   The horses were down where I was able to see them.
4.   Jeremy bush hogged the property yesterday and told me I could go anywhere on the place I wanted.
5.   I cooked barbecued beef ribs, turnip greens, baby carrots, and stuffing, which were delicious.

I hope you are enjoying your Sunday. Get out your camera and take some pictures, or write a poem, or draw a picture, or write in your journal. Just do something creative. It will enrich your day and make you smile.

The poem I wrote today is called a Quatern. This form is very fun to work with. You write four, four line stanzas, with eight syllables per line and you repeat one line from the first stanza in each following stanzas. It is not easy, but the reward is well worth the challenge. This is the spotlighted form in Writer’s Digest’s July/August issue. Since it was counted syllables I had to try my hand at it. You might enjoy writing one…

I would love to hear whatever you have to say, so by all means leave me a comment.

Always,
Jo Ann

365 Creativity Project-Day 131

Journal entry:

Autobiographical Poems:

I Am…

I am a verbose poet and amateur photographer
I wonder if my work will ever see wide distribution
I hear the cries of countless adoring fans
I see myself rewarded as poet laureate
I want to see my photographs published
I am a verbose poet and amateur photographer.

I pretend it does not bother me that I have no lover
I feel unicorns should never be ridden
I touch the heart of the universe
I worry that I will never be good enough
I cry over the loss of my childhood innocence
I am a verbose poet and amateur photographer.

I understand that I can never have everything that I want
I say that my fondest dreams can come true
I dream I am successful in all my endeavors
I try to always do my best
I hope to make my family proud of me
I am a verbose poet and amateur photographer.

#2

Jo Ann
Loving, generous, talented, joyous
Daughter of Joyce and George
Lover of poetry and puppy dogs
Who feels inadequate to accomplish much
Who needs forgiveness for grievous faults
Who gives from the heart
Who fears ultimate failure
Who would like to see overwhelming success
Resident of Whitesburg
Jordan.

Jo Ann J. A. Jordan
Saturday, May 19, 2012

Photographs:

A framed poem…

Votive candle holder…

Mug…

I am grateful:

1.   I found writing courses in my email folders last night.
2.   I cut the whole yard today.
3.   There is warm water for showers.
4.   I have my dog, Hope, to snuggle with.
5.   There was something easy to prepare available for supper tonight.

I hope your Saturday was enjoyable. Please take a few moments to do something creative.

Let me know what you think or leave suggestions in the comments.

Always,
Jo Ann

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