February 15 – Grammatical Time
Living in the constant present tense
In absence of the past “was”
No anticipation of the future “will be”
Only the moment of “is.”
A vision is a memory
A dream is a legacy
The sundial’s shadow stalled
Held by a breath
Waiting for the second hand
In the constant present tense
Posted in Ars Poetica, Creativity, Post It Note Poetry, The Writer's Life
Tagged creativity, grammar, poetry, post it note, post it note poetry, slice of life, writers, writing
February 14 – The Runner
Plodding the painted parallel lines
Rhythm of footfall while
Running against the clock.
In circles she cycles
The seasons through each turn.
Crossing the line she starts again
The distance to the end undetermined
Posted in Ars Poetica, Creativity, Post It Note Poetry, The Writer's Life
Tagged creativity, life cycles, poetry, post it note, post it note poetry, running, slice of life, writers, writing
February 13 – The New Diplomacy
Two generals across the table
Negotiating the fate of two nations
One shakes his loosened fist
The bones rattling inside
He spills his hand, shakes his head.
With jubilation his opponent yells,
“You landed on Mayfair with one hotel!”
A final fistful of dollars flung across the table
The war is won.
Posted in Ars Poetica, Creativity, Post It Note Poetry, The Writer's Life
Tagged creativity, monopoly, poetry, post it note, post it note poetry, writers, writing
February 11 – Vision
Shifting the weight of the pack and
Shining a torch at the ground
To light the path at my feet
At first there are rough stones
Then a footpath, a road, a highway
To live without vision
Is to perish in the darkness
I will build a lighthouse
And guide you home
Posted in Ars Poetica, Creativity, Post It Note Poetry, The Writer's Life
Tagged creativity, poetry, post it note, post it note poetry, slice of life, writers, writing
February 10 – Sabbath Rhythms
Bind the hands of the clock
Be not a servant of time today
Demand the drummer desist his beat
Tomorrow we can march
Today let your heart be fallow
Your brow unfurrowed
Today we rest
And see that it is good
Posted in Ars Poetica, Creativity, Post It Note Poetry, The Writer's Life
Tagged creativity, poetry, post it note, post it note poetry, rest, Sabbath, slice of life, writers, writing
February 9 – Family Photographs
We gather and sing from the hymnal
With acetate pages
Reciting the chronology and genealogy
Of saints and sinners.
Viewing stained glass soliloquies;
Homilies of suburban worship
And holy celebration
Before returning it to the shelf
A Requiem for the Living
(Note: Yes, that is me in the photo. It’s from my 21st birthday, seventeen years ago)
Posted in Ars Poetica, Creativity, Post It Note Poetry, The Writer's Life
Tagged creativity, poetry, post it note, writers, writing
February 8 – Labels
She wears them like fashion
Paraded and branded in servitude
Discounted: For Quick Sale
He wears them as gaff tape
It keeps the cracks from widening
To hold the acronyms at bay
Each takes a blank label
Selects a pen
And writes their own identity
Posted in Ars Poetica, Creativity, Post It Note Poetry, The Writer's Life
Tagged creativity, poetry, post it note, slice of life, writers, writing
February 7 – The Toaster
A trivial argument
And the toaster
Adjusts the temperament
Of the atmosphere
Irritated
Indignant
Irate
Incensed
Incandescent
And the toast is burnt to ashes
Posted in Ars Poetica, Creativity, Post It Note Poetry, The Writer's Life
Tagged creativity, poetry, post it note, slice of life, writers, writing
February 6 – Boxes
I live within the crumpled
confines of cardboard;
a little worn around the edges.
I decorate the walls within
while you plaster them without
A resident of definition
Addressed by association
But I cut the holes
Through which I breathe
Posted in Ars Poetica, Creativity, Post It Note Poetry, The Writer's Life
Tagged creativity, poetry, post it note, slice of life, writers, writing
I am an English teacher and drummer/percussionist with an interest in literary pursuits, creative endeavours, rhythmic permutations, theological amplifications and comedic outbursts.
Here you will find my creative detritus: articles on living a creative life and writing explorations.
And other ideas I have snaffled from the papers stuck on the fridge door.
Twitter: @RevHappiness
Instagram: @handwrittenpages
My collaborative epistolary novel, "Post Marked: Piper's Reach," written with Jodi Cleghorn (@JodiCleghorn) out now via Vine Leaves Press.
Come and browse through the library; there is no need to be silent.
A Fullness in Brevity - Adam Byatt 