The Art of Pretend

Hold up your chin

Put on a happy face

Give an acceptable semblance

Of a genuine smile

Appear to listen intently

Respond as if you truly care

Say the right thing

Keep it lighthearted

Be an extrovert

Even though you’re not

Winners are outgoing and friendly

Everyone loves the welcome wagon

Love what you hate

Interruptions are pleasant interactions

There is no such thing as a stupid question

Answer them all with compassion

Done right

No one has a clue

You are the master

Of the Art of Pretend

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A Space for Me

What is it about creating a space

To sit

Think and write

That brings such pleasure

What is it about a coat of paint

Four walls, one ceiling

Of calm, soothing color

That stirs satisfaction

What is it about window hangings

That temper the light

A finishing touch

Icing on the cake

What is it about creating a space

A place to spend all my time

That makes me feel so fine
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Forever We Shall Stand

I have been treated to a special guest post by my son, Michael, who has written this song.


Verse 1:
Remembering those work days
First week with our selfish ways
Now we're like family
Together we are happy
Hiking to the work sites
Dealing with mosquito bites
Getting through our fights

Chorus:
Now and Forever
We'll love one another
Like sister and brother
We'll stand hand in hand
Together we weill ban
Forever we shall stand

Verse 2:
While working on the trails
Words said that remain stale
Getting past the harshness
Making it into wellness
Turning it into laughter
Happy ever after
Departing in September
One thing to remember

(Chorus)

Verse 3:
Mourning that day to come
Guaranteed to get feelings out of some
We'll do our best not to cry
Might be a first for us to be shy
But still carrying these memories
Telling all our stories

(Chorus)

Verse 4:
Last minute hugs
Sipping water from our mugs
We'll all be dreaming
Our thoughts will be free-streaming
Missing the quality
This we can say with sincerity

(Chorus)
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So I Think I Want To Write Poetry...

I'm not a poet.  Yet I find myself thinking things in poetic verse.  My knowledge of poetry is just a smidge above zilch.  Still, I feel its pull.  So I re-tooled my Blogger page and will use it for the occasional burst of "poetic" energy.
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Check Out My New Website

I finally have my own website up and running. Please stop by and check it out:
www.emilythorne.com


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Surely Drowning

I’m surely drowning.

The tide of life too much, for I am weak.

Unable to keep up, too weary to try.

They mock and disparage.

A cast off no one wants.

Irrelevant and unworthy.

Who would care, should I choose not to be?

Only One.

Without them, I cannot be hurt.

Overwhelmed by desolation.

Wallowing in self-pity, surely I’m drowning.

Descending the depths.

Nearly immersed, He comes.

“Don’t give up. I’ll give you strength.”

He takes my hand, and I feel foundation.

He tends to my wounds.

Whispers consoling wisdom.

Sweet peace, neverending grace.

Despair replaced by perfect love.

With Him, I walk on water.

Without Him … I am surely drowning.

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What Have I Been Doing???

Wow! It's been nearly two years since I started writing my novel. Guess what?!? I'm still writing -- sorta. I had a huge gap in writing the book and have ultimately decided to start over. I've been busy, but just not spending my time writing. Life certainly gets in the way (or so is my current excuse!).

While I would like to have finished this novel by now, I'm glad I didn't. These past two years have given me a LOT of time to work through my characters and the plot in my mind. I think my original concept is good, but it was a bit shallow. On this go 'round, I'm attempting to delve deeper into the issue of emotional abuse and a woman's choice to walk away from family to save her own sanity. I haven't quite figured out how I'm going to navigate around the fact that my heroine walks away from her family and still remains a likeable person, but I'm getting there.

As I said in an earlier post, writing most certainly does take a full measure of self-discipline to carve out time and write. Hopefully, I get further along this time around!