Another Victory

"Why do you have to fight with me over everything?" Doug asked his wife.  "Why do you have to contradict me?"

"I don't fight with you all the time," Monique replied.  "And I don't contradict you."

"Well you are driving me crazy.  You sure know how to push my buttons!"

Monique continued polishing her lengthy nails a lovely shade of jade green.  "I do nothing.  You push your own buttons.  You drive yourself crazy."

"Oh....never mind.  I have a really bad headache," Doug mumbled.

"You mean you choose to have a really bad headache."  Monique smiled sweetly.  Picking up a copy of Therapy Today she fanned the hand with damp fingernails.

When Doug left the bedroom for the night she gave a happy sigh.  One more victory.

The Cockatiel and the Sparrows

Once there was a cockatiel who lived with humans.  They kept her in her cage most of the time, but cared for her, fed her, watered her, and bathed her.  Despite this she continually longed for the freedom of the great outdoors and envied the sparrows who flew by the window she looked out every day.

One day she made her escape.  The woman had taken her out while she cleaned the cage.  Just then, the man came home.  Because they had neglected to clip her wing feathers, the foolish bird flew out the door.

Some months later, she gathered with some sparrows around a feeder in the dead of winter.

One of them asked her,  "Why did you leave your comfortable home?  I looked in on you last winter--warm and secure.  To be honest I always envied you."

Moral:  You only want it cause you ain't got it!

Standing on the Corner

I said that we were through.
I lied--
or did I?
I left you standing on the corner.

My skin hungered for
the touch of your
rough sweater.
I came back....

but
you left me standing on the corner.

Making and Taking Time to Write, Part One

Now that you have seen some samples of my creative stuff, I am going to share some practical tips on how I find time to write.  I plan on doing this every Monday from now on.   Wednesdays and Fridays will be BAU (business as usual.)    For one thing I don't have a full-time job or any kids.  I always wanted to have children, but Mr. Right never materialized and I didn't want to be a single mommy.  It has worked out well for developing my writing style though.  Maybe something bad has happened to you that might be turned to similar advantage.

Have you been laid off work?  Instead of spending the day on soap operas, concentrate on your writing.  Did your spouse leave you or did your boyfriend/girlfriend break up with you?  Instead of crying or reading syrupy romances, concentrate on your writing.  Are you finally realizing at 40 that you will never experience the joys of motherhood?  Instead of envying all the happy families, concentrate on your writing.

I have decided to become a "professional" rather than a hobbyist and spend more time writing.  Despite my single status, I will have to say "No" sometimes to friends and extended family members who imagine I have too much free time on my hands....

Here are five tips on how to streamline your schedule to make room for your novel, book, or other writing of choice.

1. Don't spend more time on your personal appearance than you have to.  Get a nice, low-mainenance haircut that you won't have to  spend much effort on in the morning.  Cull your jewelry down to 2-3 favorite pieces, so you won't have to spend so much time deciding which to wear.  If you wear makeup, concentrate on highlighting your best feature.  I have nice smooth skin that I use just a splash of water and a light lotion on.
2. Incorporate exercise into your daily routine.  Instead of spending two hours at the gym, clean your own house and save on gas by walking everywhere.  Do your own yardwork.  Do your own workout routine at home, by dancing to music and lifting heavy reference books for weights.
3. Cut back on your television.  Better yet, eliminate it entirely.  Cable costs too much anyhow.
4. If possible, refuse overtime at work.  You might even ask for part-time hours if you have read up on frugal living and are daring enough to live below your meager means.
5. Make a priority list of the top five things in your life in order of importance.  Say no to anything that isn't at least related to one of the things on that list.

I hope these things will come in useful for anyone who wants to write or engage in some other meaningful art form.  Are there any other time saving suggestions you would like to make?

The Vampyre

As you lie in your bed
it comes--
your prayer half-uttered
but not to Heaven.

Through your window the
vapor appears
then coalesces
in form most hideous.

His oversized canines
bear down
on your jugular--
you try to scream,
but can't find the breath.
He'll leave you a Wraith when he's drained you to death.

If this horrible seems,
it's the fruit of your dreams!

The Bird-Cat

Our family cat
grew grotesque with age.
At eighteen
much of his fur had fallen out.

His coat was covered with
skin cancer sores--
oozing constantly.
What fur was left reminded me of feathers

on some strange bird
without the power of flight.
Like a bird, too,
his bones stuck out every way.

His cataract coated eyes stared
off into the distance.
One day he did take flight.
I think he has a warmer coat now....

Prisoner of the Mirror

I never thought a piece of glass--two dimensioned
could hold my entire being.
Don't I have three?
Maybe more, says H.G. Wells.

Push chest out, stomach in;
narrow eyes--wish self away.

If only
i had brown eyes....
if only
i were taller....
or maybe shorter....
if only
i were ever thinner!

or recently,
if only
i were younger....

Those gray hairs can be dyed.
Dim the light--
i can almost pretend
away laugh lines.

Oscar Wilde was right.

When i was young i wished i were pretty
wasting what looks i had.

The glass looks on mockingly.
A cruel moon to my tainted sun.
Who can break me out?