Dark-eyed Lyla is a girl with heartShe has a big smile and enjoys a good giggleShe swims like a fish and loves her artDark-eyed Lyla is a girl with heartShe loves screen time and is very smartBut if she’s in a car too long, she’ll start to wiggleDark-eyed Lyla is a girl with heartShe has…

Today, my writing group at St. Thomas the Apostle in Hollywood had our first-ever reading during coffee hour after the 10:30 Mass. Eight writers read their poems, essays, novel excerpts, songs, short scenes, and musings. (One member couldn’t join us because of the loss of her beloved cat.) We had a roomful of people who…

The Original (American) Cinquain created by Adelaide Crapsey This version is based on syllables, not word count: · Line 1: 2 syllables  · Line 2: 4 syllables  · Line 3: 6 syllables  · Line 4: 8 syllables  · Line 5: 2 syllables  Here’s mine, based on the above syllable count: Dark nightstarry designsswirl of the Milky Wayconstellations traversing timespace art

Ten-year-old Nico plays soccer to the maxHe is smart, sensitive, and sweetHis friends and family know he always has their backsTen-year-old Nico plays soccer to the maxOn and off the field, Nico is never known to slackHe’s there for others in a win or a defeatTen-year-old Nico plays soccer to the maxHe is smart, sensitive,…

Snuggled with my boyfriend on the glideron our screened-in porch Warm skin, sweet kissesplayfulness shifted to heavy breathing A shadow through the French door’s panemy father’s slow walk and loud cough Instant rearrangementclothes, positions When the door openedwe sat in the dark, holding hands “Hello, Daddy,” I said.

Blond-haired Ethan is busy at threeHe’s sweet, then bossy, then tearyHe has a mind of his own and wants to be freeBlond-haired Ethan is busy at threeHe runs like a deer, then scrapes his kneeHe goes from happy to mad to wearyBlond-haired Ethan is busy at threeHe’s sweet, then bossy, then teary

Gustsrain’s heraldwind chime ringerleaf and limb jostlersquall

We had a family celebration at the orange grove for both Ron and Rachael, who had birthdays on April 17th and 18th. Ron turned 39, and Rachael turned 35. This was baby Milo’s first big outing, and his mom and dad wrote tonight that he may have to sleep for two solid days to recover….

Today, my son-in-law Ron turns thirty-nineHe’s loving, patient, and smartTomatoes, squash, and peppers, he harvests from the vineToday, my son-in-law Ron turns thirty-nineHe loves to cook, his food’s divineHe lives his life with a wide open heart  Today, my son-in-law Ron turns thirty-nineHe’s loving, patient, and smart

I am practicing with this tough form of poetry. With the guidance of Chat GPT, I am learning how to write one of these. Chat does not write it. I ask, “Help me with the process, step by step.” Here’s my effort. I am in learning mode. Beyond My Door There is such suffering beyond…