In A Wave. #RDP #poetry

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Today is where we live,

but yesterday is a place we visit

quite often, as mental time-travelers

in a wave of nostalgia or memory

of a little child’s hand in yours,

or a wave of fear

of the threat heard in a voice,

or of screeching tires,

or the shared memory

of being wedged between two other cars.

A wave of nostalgia could bring

a memory of young love

that was new, or

of climbing trees

in springtime,

scraping our knees and

running onward anyway, no care

but for the present moment.

We travel to remember

Why we don’t go certain places,

if we can trust a certain person,

or in moments we need to feel

our life has meaning.

We can forgive in ten seconds

but remember years later;

Love, regret, and fear are automatic.

But, just like swimming through the waves,

living in the present must be learned.

~~~~~~~~

**These thoughts inspired by the music of Still Corners’ song, The Trip. Comforting, yet slightly haunting.

***You may visit today’s RagTag Community prompt and challenge at https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2021/10/02/rdp-saturday-wave/

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#RDP The Path Ahead

 

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(c) 2020

The path ahead is clear

I see it in front of me.

I don’t know which turn to take

I don’t know exactly what to do;

but I do know I will just

move forward.

 

*PS- The nation is burning, many Americans are angry and hurting, and I am feeling that in my heart as well.  Still, my words are scarce and my mind foggy. I do hope you find some meaning in the poem.  I have been dealing with pain again and just saw the doctor days ago for a more specific path to healing and improvement.  I will follow his recommendations and report back.  I tend to put these things off, but I’m glad I finally sought help again.  My unclear thoughts needed the free frame of a poem today to express myself. Thank you, RDP!

 

Into the Deep..#RDP #flashfiction

“Onward,” Filliburt commanded. “We’ll find their hideout soon enough!” Deeper into the cave they went.

“Hark!” Rexi called, then turned to Filliburt.

“I believe I hear the gentle cry of a banshee,” he whispered.

“Banshees don’t gently cry, that they don’t!” Patterson scolded in his English brogue.

“What do you know , Patterson! You’ve just never met a vulnerable banshee!”

“Cut!” Marson choked through a laugh. Where did these role-players come from? The studio must have been pretty desperate this time around. If he if he had to listen to one more argument about fictionary beings…he just might lose it.

*** Posted in response to the word of the day at http://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com

Psychedelic. #RDP

Photo via Free Photo Library.

Poem (C) Pamela Schloesser Canepa, 2019

The sky covers me

With a psychedelic blanket

To cover my eyes

And warm me.

To soften the edges

Of today’s worries.

Colorful and soft,

Just like the old blanket

Grandma once made.

Grandma, with the long hair

And constant incense smell,

The tickles and hugs,

The outdoor lunches,

Afternoons with goats and dogs.

Grandma, an explosion of love

And acceptance,

A psychedelic canvas, blanket, shirt, or sky. Colors that smile.

Love.

*Visit http://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com for more entries, and follow to receive the daily prompt.

“Well, Eventually….” An Alien Observes.

 

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(c) 2019 by Pamela Schloesser Canepa

In the 1970s, the FBI learned to categorize deviant behaviours and coined the term “serial killer.”  It is part of human history, detailed beautifully in the Netflix series, Mindhunter. 

Who knew that eventually, hateful behaviors and hate crimes against others would be encouraged, that humans would willingly destroy other humans.  Why am I even here?  Oh, I am here to categorize and understand their behaviors.  It is a disturbing job.

Sometimes, it seems they will destroy themselves.  Understanding their motives seems pointless.  Sure, greed is one of the hugest motives I’ve observed, but others just don’t make any sense: the desire for the perfect cheeseburger,  the most beautiful house….Wait, those fit under hunger and, um, pride.  No, not just hunger, but, the word is addiction.  They aren’t just feeding hunger, but rather, they are seeking certain tastes that make them feel a certain way.  Yes, that’s it.  And they will knock each other down and/or lie to each other to fulfill these wishes.  But greed, it truly is the worst.

I feel that this job is finally getting to me, but I suspected it would, eventually.  It has now been three human years.

09-24-2020

Ambassador “Darwin” M2ZZTTHHem,

    of the planet ZZTTaton, Visitor 14,983.

Shuts down his communication device.  Stares at the Megan Fox poster on the wall and then the Rembrandt painting.  Tears off his Rolex watch.

Shakes his head.  “I need to burn these possessions and go get lost in the jungles in Brazil.  Maybe they won’t find me.”

 

 

“Sham.” Out of the Mouths of Babes…

“Here, honey.  Hand me the pillow sham.  Your hands are clean, right?”

“The what?”  Little Geoffrey asked.

“This is a pillow sham.  It covers the pillow.”  Shawna took it from him and inserted the pillow.

“Daddy said your diet is a sham.  I don’t get it?”  Geoffrey scratched his head.

Shawna grimaced, trying not to react.  “Okay, perhaps it is.”

“So what is a sham?”

She fluffed and smacked the pillows.  “It covers the truth.  Like this covers an ugly pillow.”

“Your diet covers the truth?”

She turned to him.  “I guess so.”  She laughed.  “It’s a sham.  Just like your dad’s and my marriage.”

This is my entry response for the Ragtag Daily Prompt, word of the day: sham.  Intrigued?  Visit https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2019/08/08/rdp-thursday-sham/

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We’re all Time Travelers. (A Passage) #RDP

   circa 1991.

(c) 2019, Pamela Schloesser Canepa

We hurtled to here

through space and time,

to a future that back then,

we couldn’t see.

 

Who knew we’d watch TV on our phones,

now we’re never really alone,

with friends halfway across the earth,

but what are they really worth?

 

I go back and remember,

picking up a phone

playing songs on a record

when I felt too alone.

Calling friends to meet up,

getting ready to go out,

instead of dressing up

for a photo for my phone.

 

Today is an introvert’s dream.

Post your status every day.

Some will respond, like or laugh,

others  ignore or stay away…

and no one need really care.

 

Who knew it would all be so simple one day?

You can fight with friends by text

find online who will be next;

In a blink, life goes on.

 

Who knew it would all be so simple one day?

I used to write poems by the sea when my heart sank, now,

we post heartbreaks and rants on our wall.

I’d gladly take a passage  back to those days.

 

 

 

Melt (Out of the Mouths of Babes) #RDP

 

 Photo via Pixabay, (c) Dustytoes

“Mama, when cheese melts, is it still cheese, or is it bread and cheese?”

“Yes, hon, the cheese is still cheese, but now it’s even more enjoyable. ”

“I love bread AND cheese, and tomatoes!”

Mrs. Vincent put two slices of tomato on his sandwich.  “You should! Now they’re all better than they were before. Such a great combination!”

“Add pepper, please?”

Mrs. Vincent added a dash of pepper.  “Is that just right?”

“Yeah.  It’s not as boring now.  Is that why America was called a ‘melting pot’?”

“It still is my dear. Remember why you love it.  Don’t let anyone tell you different. ”

(c) Pamela Schloesser Canepa, 2019.

 

*Follow ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com to receive the daily prompt!

“Take a Hike.” #RDP #amwriting

(c) Pamela Schloesser Canepa

John had been through this before.  No one understood how he processed things.  This was his third foster home in a row.

His foster dad, Mr. Biggins, spoke in a strange way., but John really wanted to know the workings of this new household and had a lot of questions.

Mrs. Biggins had shown John to his room.  There were two smaller children in the home, but John got his own room.  Mrs. Biggins was busy cooking dinner one day when John asked why there wasn’t much toilet paper.

“Oh, we try not to use too much paper.  It’s Mr. Biggins’ rules, you know.”

John went to ask Mr. Biggins, because sometimes he needed a lot more than what was rationed to him each morning.

“Take a hike,” Mr. Biggins said.

“But, but, that doesn’t answer my question.  Sir,” John added politely.

“Learn to use less.  Conserve.  Now, I’ve answered you.  Go take a hike.”

So, being a person who tried to do just as he was told, John did.

John suffered for a year in that home, with people who did not understand his needs.  Finally, he was adopted by a loving family.  The Servos lived in the big city.  John looked down at his hiking books.  No woods to explore as he used to do for hours when living with the Biggins, where no one cared that he was gone for hours as long as he was back before dinner.  He disliked Mr. Biggins moodiness, but just kept to himself most of the time so as not to disturb the man.  Hiking had been his solace, and summers had provided a lot of education in nature.

“Would you mind if I take a hike?” John asked Mr. Servo, longing for some movement and fresh air.

“Well, that’s an interesting thought,” Mr. Servo replied.  “There’s this place a couple blocks away with excellent gyros.  And the doc said walking would good for my heart. Come on!  We can talk on the way.”

John smiled.  He wasn’t sure he wanted to talk much, but Mr. Servo had a friendly, loving aura about him.  It might be nice for once not to have to walk alone.

***The Ragtag Daily Prompt is given daily in the form of one word.  Writers take it from there.  This story was just short of 300 words.  I hope you have enjoyed it!  See other responses or learn about this challenge at https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2019/07/12/rdp-friday-hike/

 

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Brinesians Go to Camp. #amwriting #RDP

(c) 2019, by Pamela Schloesser Canepa

How would you know if you’ve met a Brinesian?  Very few people know what Brinesians are, but I know, and I am willing to share.  Take our English word, “brine.” It means  something related to the sea.  Therefore, I’ve named this species living under the sea “Brinesian.”  This life form has intelligence to match or surpass humans.

What do you mean, where did I get that word?  I myself have created that word to describe this species.

Brinesians are a deep sea species, so we’ve rarely seen them.  However, plastic pollution is killing much of their way of life and survival. They are able to take on a human form.  Still, you want to be aware when you’ve come across one.  They are very curious about us and might want to take some of us back home.  After all, they may have to adapt to be able to live like us, out of the water.  I have a suspicion that they come to camp out for a time in the air and go back when they need the seawater again.  Maybe they can take more air in time.  Right now, with humans relaxed and vacationing, is a great time for them to camp out here.

Should we be concerned?  Yes. Have you even been listening?

Why are they green?  Well, I’ve only seen one, but I surmise that they are green based on their surroundings, but they’re only green when they are out here, on land.  After all, seeweed is green.  Don’t be fooled into believing it is a sickly human.  That’s what they want.  We will see them more and more.  I tell you, they are camping out as we speak, taking in our way of life.

**Transcript of Dr. Vincent Millispen’s last speech to the delegation on Science and Evolution before being forced to resign.

*Check out other responses to the word of the day (camp) at https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/

 

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