What Do You Owe?

A couple years ago I saw some quotes about fathers in a newspaper. There was one quote that grabbed my attention and it has had a resonating effect on me since then; possibly, more so than any thing has ever before. On impulse, I cut the quote out of the newspaper and I have had it in my purse ever since. With Fathers’ Day just around the corner, I think it is fitting to share this quote. I won’t write about my father. I won’t write about a father figure in my life. I won’t write about a father I admire. In fact, I won’t write anything else after I share the quote. Think about it and, of course, feel free to share your thoughts…

Henry James once defined life as that predicament which precedes death, and certainly nobody owes you a debt of honour or gratitude for getting him into that predicament. But a child does owe his father a debt, if dad, having gotten him into this peck of trouble, takes off his coat and buckles down to the job of showing his son how best to crash through it. – Clarence Budington Kelland

The Post-NaPoWriMo Post

NaPoWriMo ended 12 days ago and I have just had the opportunity to write about my experience as promised. Had I not said I would then I probably would have forfeited this post altogether but I like to keep my word. So, here’s a summary of my first ever NaPoWriMo experience.

I really do not know what exactly prompted me to take on the challenge but, whatever it was, I’m glad it hit me because, overall, I enjoyed the experience. I’m usually one who is content to sit on the sidewalk and clap as the heroes go by even though I’d sometimes wonder what it would be like to be in the parade. This time I knew the feeling marching along day by day, poem by poem with other bloggers. I must admit that there were days when I felt that not another drip of poetic juice was left in me. I felt I had written all I could and I’d just have to give up then and there. Then, out of nowhere, a word, a scene, a phrase, something pops up and it seems even my simplest thoughts begin take the form of poetic verses.

Through this experience:

I have discovered some truly talented writers that I probably would not have otherwise encountered. I am not able to list them all here but I must make special mention of this blog, The Poet Laura Ate. The poems here are truly spectacular. They are very witty and entertaining. You’ll love them.

I have made new blogging friends. Let me just say right here, right now, thanks a million to everyone for the support by reading, commenting and liking my posts and also for subscribing to my blog. These seemingly little gestures were great instruments in motivating me to write something each day. I really, truly appreciate it. I must also say thanks to Elliebloo for nominating me for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. Due to time constraints, I was unable to fulfil the “nomination requirements” but I am indeed grateful to have been considered. Thank you.

I have learnt so much about poems! I’ve learnt about different types of poems and how to write them, for example, cinquains, tankas, haikus, etc. I have also learnt various techniques that can be employed in writing. I have learnt a lot.

I now have lots and lots of ideas for future posts. The daily NaPoWriMo prompts were quite interesting and though I didn’t always follow them I have gotten lots of ideas from them that I plan to use in the future. The prompts posted daily by Jo Bell on Twitter were very thought-provoking.

All in all, NaPoWriMo was a good experience for me. I wonder if I will be have the courage to attempt it again another year… I know I posted some really crappy “poems” but I know some weren’t half bad. These were my personal favourites:

1. NaPoWriMo #3: My Drowning Heart

2. NaPoWriMo #5: Alive

3. NaPoWriMo #14: The Arcade of My Skin

4.NaPoWriMo #22: Earth Day

5. NaPoWriMo #26: Meet The Parents

Once again, thanks for sharing in this experience with me.

Oh my! I almost forgot! To all the wonderful mothers out there…. HAPPY MOTHERS’ DAY!!!! I thank God for persons like you. I hope you will have a wonderful day.

NaPoWriMo #30: When Was The Last Time You Cried?

I did it!!! *happy jig* I actually did it! 30 poems in 30 days! Wow. I didn’t have a clue I’d have seen it through but I have and today’s 30th post is evidence. I will blog about the whole experience very soon.

For today’s post, I share with you, dear readers, the very first poem I ever wrote. This was almost three years ago. I have decided to use it as today’s post because it is of such significance to me. Also, Jo Bell’s prompt for today was… ” Write about love. Write it plain and deep and true, as you find it now – giddy or hurtful, weathered or fresh, absent or entire.” So, here goes poem 30 on day 30…

I cried a lone tear today,
‘Cause it’s been a year since you walked away.
You left me with a shattered heart,
And that’s when my life began falling apart.

I cried a lone tear today,
But it did nothing to wash away
The hurt I felt when I found out
I was no longer the girl you dream about.

I cried a lone tear today,
And with this tear I firmly say,
“This will be the last tear for you!”
Besides, I wouldn’t have cried if I only knew…

That today I’d have someone so dear,
Who genuinely loves me, who genuinely cares.
Someone who appreciates the little things I do,
In short, someone who’s nothing like you.

Besides, when was the last time YOU cried?

NaPoWriMo #29: Before I Die

The days are soooo busy and keeping up with NaPoWriMo can be quite a challenge. But! There is only ONE DAY left! Wow! Time surely flies. Today’s NaPoWriMo prompt was to use foreign language in a poem. I had a brilliant idea (from my perspective) for this prompt but I really don’t have the time to develop it. I will save that idea for future use. Today’s poem has been hastily written but it is a poem, nonetheless, and that is the whole aim of NaPoWriMo.

Life is short
And before I know it
My time here will be done
So before I die
There are some things
To do and have some fun

Climb Blue Mountains
Go sky diving
Cliff jump at Rick’s Cafe
Go parasailing
Scuba diving
At Ocho Rios Bay

Take a road trip
Round the island
Go Air J Jazz and Blues
Meet John Legend,
Johnny Depp,
And Morris Chestnut, too

Raft on a river
Write a story
Make love beneath the stars
Buy a house
Good furniture
And some really fancy cars

A trip to France
Je reviens
Then take a trip to Spain
Maravilloso!
Find un esposo
And come back home again

(I think it’s fair to note that this poem is not a true reflection of my bucket list. Some things were added just for rhyming sake.)

NaPoWriMo #28: Clouds

The sky has been really lovely these past few days – both at night time and at daytime. That’s the inspiration for today’s haiku.

Like wisps of white hair
they stretch across the blue sky.
Simply beautiful.

A view of a portion of the sky as it was yesterday in Jamaica.

NaPoWriMo #27: Friends

Since I forgot to write a poem today and the day’s almost done Since I wanted to, I wrote a tanka just now for today’s post. Better late than never

Time spent with good friends
can be compared to nothing.
The love, laughter and
the camaraderie leaves
behind a permanent smile.

NaPoWriMo #26: Meet The Parents

Sometimes some prompts really pique my muse. That was the case today when I saw a prompt on Twitter from Jo Bell– “Today’s #NaPoWriMo prompt – write about your parents in a rough sonnet. Six lines on your mum, six lines on your dad – two lines on you.” I took this challenge and this is the “rough” result.

If they wanted her life I’d give them mine.
That is the love I have for my mother.
She’s my biggest fan, she’s there at all times,
I would never trade her for another.
She shows me she loves me in her own way,
Her actions speak her feelings so loudly.
My father’s footsteps would lead me astray,
Yet these crooked steps he takes so boldly.
He was a supporter financially,
But that’s as far as his fathering went.
We’ve never related cordially,
His talks being centered on how much he spent.
I’m thankful my mother’s heart is my home.
My father, I thank for his chromosomes.