2015 in Review

By now, every news outlet has an article about 2015 in review where we look back at most talked about topic of the year etc. Why do we look back before we enter the new year? Why does Janus have two faces?

As we approach another year, another intersection, I leave you with "Intersections" (both I and II):

Intersections (1) Life is full of intersections, Waiting on me to choose: Go straight ahead, turn right, turn left Or make a U-turn and go back. Sometimes it is hard to choose And looking in the rear view mirror Is not looking back like Lot’s wife But watching to prevent side swipes. While I ponder how to get to my destination Go straight ahead, turn right or turn left, I catch you eyeing my ride and revving your engine And I find myself at another intersection. Now, I don’t like to lose and as a teen People said, “You drive with a lead-foot.” Yes, I’m tempted to race when the light turns green But I’m more mature now, so I’ll let you go. Waiting at that red light reminds me of a time I could have, but failed, to accomplish. So now I’m back in South Florida, a “U-turn” In my work life and I arrive at an intersection.

Intersection (II) Life is full of intersections And it is not a mere coincidence That I ponder life when I drive As the road as claimed so many lives. Each time I take that curve of road, I reach another intersection And want to start a petition Because I am still angry. Then I rationalize to calm myself down That it happens to other vehicles types And ordinary places. It’s that type of intersection Which we don’t get to choose.

from Seventieth Avenue (ISBN: 1507693629), Copyright © 2015 Suzzette Dawes

Aging

As I approach another birthday, I think of the times I used to want to be older (mostly to be 21). Now that I am older, I wish I was younger (mostly to be 21 again).

I know they say that age is a matter of the mind. Then why won't my joints stop aching and believe me.

"There is a fountain of youth: it is your mind, your talents, the creativity you bring to your life and the lives of people you love. When you learn to tap this source, you will truly have defeated age."–Sophia Loren

Read more at http://www.beliefnet.com/Wellness/Health/Healthy-Living/Aging/Quotes-on-Aging-Gracefully.aspx?p=2#DR1oxgYMv9PIK25a.99

Your poem today is my gift from The Collection and/or Seventieth Avenue at

http://www.amazon.com/Seventieth-Avenue-Suzzette-Dawes-ebook/dp/B00UY38SCK/
http://www.amazon.com/Collection-Suzzette-Dawes-ebook/dp/B00C91OPP4/

by the way, the Kindle app is free to download and the books are free up to December 20, 2015.

Time

This past Wednesday I watched a movie FLOWERS (at Cinema Paradiso Hollywood) that made me think about flowers (because of the gorgeous bouquets featured in them), death (impact on others) and time (how spent by the characters). It was interesting how the story unfolded and we discussed after watching the movie then looking up a review to compare with our findings. 

Time is an interesting topic and I've battled with the topic in my poetry on various occasions:

In The Collection, "I’m drifting through time" where high school friends are memories then college friends are happening. Next graduation and college friends will become memories and who knows about the workplace.

A bad work experience leaves me with "Nothing But Time" in Tortured Souls which occurred after failing to navigate workplace politics, culture and colorful characters.

In Adventures In The Courtyard, time is an undertone and more subtle as in pausing to admire the various blooms such as "Hibiscus" while fear of running out of time sets the tone of "Detour" in Seventieth Avenue.

I think at some point everyone thinks about time so here are the poems:

Rain

As I lay in bed, I could hear the rain pouring down as it was quite loud on the roof, beating down rhythmically as God played drums.

As I sit in my den, I can hear the rain as drops leave the eave to hit the grounds and the cars probably splashing passersby as they slosh instead of whizz by.

I think of the time that I wrote a poem about driving through the blinding rain to see my teenage crush perform. Then I also think about my more recent poem of being drenched at a bus stop by a speeding car. When did the rain lose its romantic appeal and become a nuisance?

written in 1995

written in 2012

written in 2014

Well, I guess my love-hate relationship with rain is nothing new.

Who Are You Fooling?

Writers sometimes make up their own world but whether or not it is believable is a task for the reader. Similarly, lawyers may present their case but jury (or judge, depending on type of case) decides the credible facts. However, how is it that advertisers present early Black Friday on Thursday? It befuddles my mind because when they have a sale on Memorial Day is called a "Memorial Day Sale" so if they have a sale on Thanksgiving Day, then why not call it "Thanksgiving Day Sale?"

Even writers have to face the readers' wrath (or skepticism). For example, if a writer uses a known town then that writer should know that some readers will fact-check and call him/her on errors in describing that town.

With that spirit, here's a poem:

When I first saw him 

I had my camera waiting for nature’s perfect autograph
In the dense, lush vegetation near Lauderhill’s City Hall;
I was looking through my lens for that perfect photograph.

This is where I first saw him, glistened in the rays of the sun
That reflected on his taut skin and highlighted his firm body

As he relaxed under one of the trees towards Inverrary
And the sun shone through the canopy of leaves,
A sweet breeze reminded me that the day is done.

He then turned his head towards me and I stood still…

I stood still, hoping he wouldn’t notice me
Hoping I could blend into the background
But his eyes found me and he expanded his dewlap
So I knew that he saw me and then he scurried up the tree.

 from Seventieth Avenue, copyright 2015 Suzzette Dawes

What Makes You Thankful

Let's be thankful. No, I'm not in a cocoon nor bubble. Yes, I've heard the news!

Yes I had planned and set up a giveaway based on a date that sounded cool to me. What were the odds that other groups found the numbers intriguing too and had their own plans which were quite evil. The date "11/13/15" will be remembered for Paris as "9/11/01" has been remembered for New York.  The news have had round the clock coverage of events and the aftermath. My sympathy is with the families of the victims.

If you follow the news, you'd think there is nothing left to be thankful. Yet the news is thankful for disasters and tragedies for their ratings. Recently my father died and I was very sad and angry. Angry at the  hospital because I really felt they killed him so they could give another body to their contractual funeral home. I still find it a conflict of interest for a hospital to have a contract with a funeral home.  Sad because I didn't call my dad enough. My friend reminded me to be thankful because I always knew some gem of wisdom that I had learned from my dad.

We do have things that bring joy to our lives which we should take some time to be thankful. We should spend some time in our day to be thankful. Fear, stress and paranoia can not only overwhelm us but can affect our health over time. See these articles:

http://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/how-worrying-affects-your-bodyhttp://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1299209/
http://www.healthline.com/health/anxiety/effects-on-body

We could find several ways to reduce fear etc. One way that I found is writing especially poetry. Another way is to be thankful and spend some time where I focus on people or things that have a positive (or neutral impact when having a bad day) impact on my life. 

I'm thankful I can find my way home through poetry. What makes you thankful?

11/13/15

Numbers often fascinate me and today notwithstanding because the date is 11/13/15. You've got to love your odds consecutively. For some folks, it may be a sign when the numbers are so aligned. Whatever your take on 11/13/15,  Seventieth Avenue, the poetry of road signs and directions in life, is free today 11/13/15.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00UY38SCK

Here is a sample of the poetry from Seventieth Avenue: