What Have We Done?

Leave a comment

Did you mean it?
Did I mean
To do it?
Did I
Do it – do that?
Did I
Break.it?

Did
n’t you?
Already?
Did we even
Notice?
Did you feel
It – us
Falling?
Didn’t we didn’t
We agree
Didn’t I? I
Did

I still do
My Id
Chasing ‘we’
Around corners
Ego wandering
Hallways
Didn’t you
Feel
The shift
ing of pro
Nouns
As we’ drowned
Our ‘we’ ‘our’ ‘us’
In.ambiguity?

Do you feel
it was it
Worth it?
Did it
Even feel.good?
Do you
Feel.remorse?
Release?

Didn’t I ask
You.before?
Or, does it
Not matter?
It does, doesn’t it?

Don’t I?
Don’t I matter
Anymore?
Do I matter
Anymore?

Please.
Just (don’t)
Answer.

Please
Don’t answer.

Visions

Leave a comment

I am on the edge of a moment,
Suspended,
Looking out at you
From across the chasm:

Division
Blossoming like pale, desert flower
Unfurling
In the stillness

Pushing

Into open mouth
Choke back
The shock of such vast, empty space
Between us

The precipice we created
Pulling
The earth down

Wind
Kissing my back

I tilt
Look up to see you stumble
Fall

And suddenly
We’re both right there:
Somewhere

On the outside.

 

Book Review: Extraordinary Ordinary Moments by Jorey Hurley

Leave a comment

Let’s talk about mindfulness, my friends, and the beauty of directing our appreciation and awareness of beauty toward the moments left unnoticed throughout our day. Extraordinary Ordinary Moments, a journal written and illustrated by Jorey Hurley, will help you do exactly that.

This little journal is a wonderful addition to the desk of anyone in need of a little help slowing down to “appreciate the beautiful, the quirky, the surprising, and the overlooked,” the author states.

eomThe first few pages of the book include a short introduction in which Hurley explains how over the years, her daily meditations in sketching culminated in the collection of short writing prompts and simple illustrations which fill the pages of this journal. In every prompt, Hurley encourages readers to look at the seemingly-mundane details of their day-to-day lives and acknowledge their beauty.

Readers don’t have to work through the journal from front to back, either. They can simply thumb through the book until an illustration or prompt catches their eye, instead. The artwork is simple yet quirky, and small enough to leave ample room for journaling.

Some of my favorite prompts include pages encouraging me to acknowledge “something unnatural,” “something kind of gross,” something that makes you believe” and “ingenuity” in my day. Without pressuring me to write a lengthy journal entry or scrawl out profound ideas each day, this journal helped me reestablish a quick, daily practice of mindfulness.

Personally, I’ve been enjoying this journal since it arrived in the mailbox. It serves as a helpful reminder to slow down and re-center myself when I’m at my busiest. It doesn’t matter if I doodle, jot down a few song lyrics or write about the small details of my day. What matters is taking the time to appreciate the hidden beauty all around me. And to that end, I highly recommend Extraordinary Ordinary Moments.

page divider

For more information on Extraordinary Ordinary Moments, click here, or learn more about the author, Jorey  Hurley.

Just sayin’: I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for this review.

Podcasting with Poet & Playwright Michael Magee

Leave a comment

One of the best things about being a part of the Literally Tacoma podcast is having the opportunity to get to know all my favorite authors, poets, and artists here in Washington’s South Sound. This week, William Turbyfill and I sat down to interview one of my favorite poets, Michael Magee.

 

For those of you who aren’t familiar with his work, Michael Magee is a local playwright, poet, and world traveler after my own heart. In this podcast episode he explains all about his travels through Europe, his family history, and the evolution of his creative work. Before Michael left, William and I were able to snag a few copies of his coveted work:

michael-magee-bwCinders of My Better Angels: a full length collection of poetry exploring the author’s struggle with cancer, images of the body, and metaphors dealing with time and place. A few of my favorite poems in this collection are “Touched” and “Song for the Body Waking.”

Ireland’s Eye: An American Irishman’s Journal and Walking Papers: a shorter chapbook featuring poetry, philosophical musings, and short essays the author wrote as he traveled through Ireland. Read “Sixteen Miles to Skibbereen” to fold yourself into the narrative.

Poets Table Anthology: A  Collection of Poetry by Northwest Poets: includes a number of poems by Michael Magee, as well as those of nine other poets of the Pacific Northwest.  “Easter Rising” is a lovely poem worth reading and emulating, in my humble opinion.

cinders-of-my-better-angels
irelands-eye
poets-table-sm

Michael Magee also manages the Poetry Box at Freighthouse Square in Tacoma, WA, in addition to working with the Tacoma Public School System. He’s been known to haunt local poetry readings, as well. 

Happy reading (and listening) my friends.