“…one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower”

not-quite Journaling, 24

near the hospital,
a bee kisses sun-drunk blooms
and I grow in smiles

11/16/2021: I can’t say that I enjoy hospital visits (mostly because I’ve yet to reach that level of insanity), but I do delight in the blooms bedecking the courtyard—thank goodness for small pleasures.

 

11/27/2021: My house is a mess, I’m behind on pretty much everything, and my doctors have yet to figure out what caused the stomach pain and swelling that sent me to the ER. But… my tummy does not hurt (right now), soon I’ll be able to eat more than broth and yogurt, and I just cut my hair and took a delectably long shower--life is good.

 

In the sky,
nature and humans
display art—
my soul is grateful
for the gift of sight.

11/28/2021: I have never been able to take an okay picture of the moon… Then I tried to photograph two hawks fighting (or flirting *cough*), and completely missed the birds. But I accidentally captured a nice pic of the moon and a plane. Found art? Maybe. Or, perhaps, it’s the Universe, telling me, “Look, witchy woman, you didn’t miss the prize! You were just rewarded differently.

 

“Just living is not enough…
one must have sunshine,
freedom,
and a little flower.”
~ Hans Christian Andersen

12/9/2021: When one has been chronically ill for what seems like forever, it’s hard not to be hypervigilant about one’s health. Not so paranoid that one doesn’t enjoy life, but watchful enough to avoid getting kicked in the teeth by all the random f*ck yous the chronic illness monster throws one’s way. The monster’s latest kick got me in the liver and the gallbladder. Or, at least, that’s what we’re hoping. Because if it also got me in the duodenum (upcoming tests shall tell), then my crohnie butt will be in real trouble. Sigh.

In darkness, light!

- for Poets and Storytellers United--Friday Writings #6: The shorter the sweeter?

Mouthless; or, an Interactive Retelling of The Little Mermaid

Watching him through a wet veil, she thought, He’s perfect. So, the decision to exchange her voice for his touch wasn’t difficult to make. Not while his tongue warmed her blood.

They had some good days, better nights.

No, there was no happily anything. Mouthless girls rarely get an ever after. They get foam, unless_____________.

Yes, that “unless__________” is an invitation to change the mouthless girl’s fate. An invitation which you, of course, don’t have to accept. But if you do, then I would love to read your ending to this retelling in the comments. 

detail, from “Morning Walk”, a photo by Mario Azzi - on Unsplash

this interactive retelling (which I’m linking to Poets United Pantry of Poetry and Prose #7) was inspired by the frothy water in two of Kerry O’Connor’s paintings