The Cake ~~ NaPoWriMo 2022, Day One

A Cake Lover Tells 

My favorite 

A cake with candles 

Candles burning brightly  

Quickly blow them out 

Ones for me to blow

But first I make a wish 

A wish I'll want to come true 

Birthday spent with you 

Will happen I know 

'Cause you always do 

You'll find I'm running away

So then you run with me 

And bring my cake along 

        ["Birthday at Age 12"] 

     [Photo Ⓒ by Jimmiehov 2022]

                _ _ _ 

 - This is my FIRST poem written for this year's National Poetry Writing Month  (NaPoWriMo), in support of April's National poetry month read more.  I have been participating since 2015.  You can read some of them by clicking on the yearly "Label" links below.  

 - You can read other writer's work and see how to participate yourself at the link below within these notes.

 - Photo of my Youngest Granddaughter and P

oem  Copyright, Jimmiehov 2022, All Rights Reserved 

 - I am linked with Rommy at the Friday Writings #20, at 

https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/search/label/Friday%20Writings?m=1

 - I am also linked with NaPoWriMo 2022 at 

https://www.napowrimo.net/

 - Rommy has invited us to write poetry or prose that includes the word “Cake”.

.

NaPoWriMo Review, 2015-2021

 Testing waters. 

NaPoWriMo Labels for 2015 through 2021 are below.  

This weekend's "Sunday Muse" link, 

https://thesundaymuse.blogspot.com/2021/05/sunday-muse-158.html?m=1 

..

Day 8 of NaplPoWriMo 2020 - a Poem - Days Past

     [Adi's - our Beagle dog, RIP - last Teddy Bear] 

 

      Like it Was 
I. 

"Like the radios, the songs, the poems and the stars" 
Radios broadcast all our ilk
Play a song tell the news
But then there's a commercial 
And to beat it all Gossip Day
That's when the ilk comes out

Girls swing high boys they come to play
And spilled milk makes one pout

II. 
"Like the radios, the songs, the poems and the stars" 
The songs were great Rock had begun
There's Elvis and the Beatles 
Bands and singers Favorites and new tunes 
Dare we dance under park trees
Like it was park your bike find your date 

Listen to the songs, all was free 
Music filled the parks, ZZ Top down at the lake 

III. 
"Like the radios, the songs, the poems and the stars" 
Sing along clap our hands stomp our feet 
Gather in bunches chat rooms on the grass 
Darkness wins, time for the poems 
To the coffee houses we poured 
Recite our latest work or read from Poe 

Sitting around the rooms elbows merge
Bottles out around the room wine would flow 

IV. 
"Like the radios, the songs, the poems and the stars" 
Like all things they must come to end 
Empties to the corner, time for stars 
Fill the terraces, balconies call 
Houston's loading docks by dozens emptied for us 
Drugs were few save them for NYC *

Yes don't forget mosquito spray 
That's the way it was 1970 

* Notes:  
 - A part of the final line of my mother's lecture on my smoking the Canibus tops which grew up wild on our farm.  "... besides the good stuff is smoked in New York City."  I have never smoked that particular weed or "the good stuff."  Not exactly sure why that didn't happen. 
 - Some of this I did.  You might know or imagine how much.
 _ _ _ _ 

 - Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2020, All Rights Reserved 
 - I am linked with Kerry O'Connor in the Imaginary Garden  at   https://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2020/04/april-2020-days-6-10.html?m=1 .  
 - Go there where other's Poetry Writings are linked.  If we follow Kerry's daily oldie picks there's a schedule.  
 - For today it was here with Sanaa Rizvi  at https://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2018/04/poems-in-april-l-arora.html?m=1 where she introduced a new form. 
 - "The A L' Arora, a form created by Laura Lamarca consists of eight lined stanzas. The rhyme scheme is a, b, c, d, e, f, g, f with no syllable count per line and the minimum length for the poem is 4 stanzas with no maximum length stipulation."

 - I am also linked to NaPoWriMo Day 8 at http://www.napowrimo.net/day-eight-7/ where their prompt was to use a line from another's work as the beginning line ours took off from there.
 - My line, "Like the radios, the songs, the poems and the stars" is from a poem by Lisa Jarnot's work which she also copied her first line from a poem by Frank Lima, "And how terrific it is to write a radio poem"

(BY LISA JARNOT )
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/51833/poem-beginning-with-a-line-by-frank-lima

 - Please comment how I have done, merging the two keeping a theme,  writing it consumed a little more than a short time.  So said I'm going back AFTER posting to correct typos and fix any wrong tense verbs.

Day 7 of NaplPoWriMo 2020 - A Bracelet Acrostic Poem

B R A C E L E T 

Bracelet fine adorns my wrist 
Robbers aren't as rich as I 
Always on arm or bedside 
Charms dangling ever sparkling 
Each tells special time with him 
Lovely blossoms every one 
Entangled with him whiffs sweet 
Those secrets never revealed 
 _ _ _ 

 - Photo and Poem Copyright,  Jimmiehov 2020, All Rights Reserved (photo is my screen print of one from Susie's post, link below)
 - I am linked with Kerry O'Connor in the Imaginary Garden at http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2020/04/april-2020-days-6-10.html?m=1 where  - the prompt is to write of "Bracelet" which previously had been asked in April 2016 by Susie Clevenger in the Imaginary Garden at https://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2016/04/bits-of-inspiration-bracelet-napowrimo.html?m=1
 - I am also linked to the NaPoWriMo Day 7 post at http://www.napowrimo.net/day-seven-6/

 - in 2016 I also wrote a "Bracelet" acrostic for Susie's post linked above which I also used for NaPoWriMo 2016 at http://jimmiehov6.blogspot.com/2016/04/napowrimo-2016-day-seven-bracelet.html?m=1

Day 6 of NaplPoWriMo 2020 - The Owl at ...

Aristotle; I am the owl at the well

(Motivation Monday poem) 

Dr. Aristotle I am 

My PhD is from Oxford 

Superior intelligence 

What I am famous, noted for 

My brain won't hold all my knowledge 

Overload in my chest is stored 

Closest friends call me *Puffed Up" 

Plenty, enough is said on that 

You now, "What does this owl do?" 

We've water activity all 

around.  Enough, Clean, and Plenty 

Water fun, that is our business 

Our guests play, swim, eat and they rest 

Enough; never lacked for water 

Clean; it's drinking water for all 

Plenty: make sure where it's needed 

Big it needed ME.  Smart, Mensa 

And, ...owls scare other birds away 
 

[click on pictures to enlarge, back to re-enter]
_ _ _ _ 

 - Photos and Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2020, All Rights Reserved (photos are edited and screen printed by me, see "Garden, et al " link below).
 - I am linked with Kerry O'Connor in the Imaginary Garden at http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2020/04/april-2020-days-6-10.html?m=1 -- Speaking in the Voice of Another, for Day 6 of NaPoWriMo (Sherry Blue Sky original author}
 - and Day 6 at NaPoWriMo, http://www.napowrimo.net/day-six-8/ where speaking in another, using a character from the artwork at "The Garden of Earthly Delights", https://archief.ntr.nl/tuinderlusten/en.html 

 - "Motivation Monday" google search link. 
 - Quote:

“Your Monday morning thoughts set the tone for your whole week"

A Foxy Ladies Poem - Day 5 of NaPoWriMo 2020

Three Foxy Ladies 

Three foxy ladies vowed to vie 

to be the foxiest lady 

in placid small little town 

The first fine lady dressed in white 

adorned herself total contrast 

black was her peace loving  wild beast 

The second wearing sinful black 

barely controlled her fiery hound 

he jumped to the ground ran away 

The third damsel sultry red dress 

she loved the pure fox colored white 

he peeked around feeling all's well 

Wide eyed judges they were all males 

easily enticed by foxy 

lady in red her fox so tame 

Foxiest gal won Red turns heads 

 _ _ _ 

 - Photo and Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2020, All Rights Reserved (photo is my print screen edited of Photography by Anatasiya Dobrovolskaya click HERE for Website)

 - I'm linked with Carrie Van Horn of the Sunday Muse at http://thesundaymuse.blogspot.com/2020/04/sunday-muse-102.html?m=1

 - Also - I am linked with Day Five National Poetry Writing Month at http://www.napowrimo.net/  (I did not use their prompt today) 

 - And with Kerry O'Connor in the Imaginary Garden at https://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2020/04/april-2020-days-1-5.html?m=1 (Space Time, for which I wrote in April 2017 a poem of dimensions, like two or three dimensions.  There I also described more dime.sions which cannot be graphed in 2-D, namely four and five dimensions. http://jimmiehov6.blogspot.com/2017/04/napowrimo-2017-05-poem-about-spacetime.html?m=1) .  (I did not use their prompt today either) 

Dream and Worry - Day 4 of NaPoWriMo 2020

Tea in China 

All the tea in China 

What does that mean to me

Why was that on my mind 

It woke me up at five 

The sleep I lost today 

Big problem of the world 

That could be I don't know

Was no bother before 

I've heard it all my life 

Must have dreamt it last night 

China men pointy hats 

Long black coats and rickshaws 

Have it still on my mind 

Mark Twain's "Punch brother punch" 

That ditty was to him 

This is to me.  Earworm 

So I tell it to you 

Then perhaps you might care 

And I can sleep again 

Because with you I shared 

Drink coffee with my bride 

And let another care 

_ _ _ 

 - Photo and Poem Copyright,  All Rights Reserved 

 - I am linked with Day Four National Poetry Writing Month at http://www.napowrimo.net/day-four-8/  (Dreams)

 - And with Kerry O'Connor in the Imaginary Garden at https://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2020/04/april-2020-days-1-5.html?m=1 (Caution: Tender Buttons)

Down - Day 3 of NaPoWriMo 2020

Down He Went

Most courageous of our Navy today
Beloved concerned  Admiral yesterday
That was yesterday with no job today

Code of military, "do what I say
then ask questions later" that is the code
Follow chain of command things move slowly

Meanwhile his troops were dying by dozens
Aboard that ship of death in his command
Superiors were slow, he needed action

To the top he went, over heads afraid
Afraid of loss of prestige their silence
Unafraid and brave he went to the top

Fired but proud of doing right for his flock
I'd vote for him president any day
 _ _ _

 -
 - Linked with Kerry O'Connor in the Imaginary Garden at  http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2020/04/april-2020-days-1-5.html?m=1 and to
 - the NaPoWriMo Day 3, http://www.napowrimo.net/day-three-6/ ;

Change of Plans -- Day 2 of NaPoWriMo 2020

Hemmed In

I am hemmed in here
while my Mustang Ford
is ready to whine
Lovely top-down days
are going to waste
Texas Bluebonnets
drool for company

That's because some dirt
farmer west of town
we're saving him from
dread COVID 19
Him we don't know and
for sure haven't seen

So gladly I stay
Here on my own street
But that's not all bad
My granddaughter came
with sidewalk chalk to
decorate my drive

_ _ _

 - Poem  and Photos Copyright, Jimmiehov 2920, All Rights Reserved
 - I'm linked to the Imaginary Garden at http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2020/04/april-2020-days-1-5 with Susie  Clevenger's prompt suggestion for Day 2, Taking it to the Streets
 - the NaPoWriMo Day 2, http://www.napowrimo.net/day-two-7/ ; and

Mother-to-be, little bird - Day 01 of NaplPoWriMo 2020

    [nest is above the drainpipe] 

My Heart this Week

I am the little mother 
Mother-to-be little dove 

You may think that is scary 
Responsibility loved 

Smallish memory is short 
I may have been here before 

Was I the little bird who 
hatched her brood here in this nest 

Or the runt born here last year 
Runt of last year's brood come back 

Guided, invisible hand 
One I don't know got me here 

It could have been my husband 
Faithful friend father-to-be 

This our family home for years 
Safe secure under the eaves 

Little Dove, Mother-to-be 

(I, Jim, live in home behind)
(My heart this week?  Little bird)
 _ _ _ _ 

 - Photos and Poem Copyright,  Jimmiehov 2020, All Rights Reserved 
 - I am linked with Rommy at Weekly Scribbles,    https://poetsandstorytellersunited.blogspot.com/2020/04/weekly-scribblings-13-all-small-things.html?m=1
 - Also I'm linked to http://www.napowrimo.net/day-one-2/, daily National Poetry Writing Month coordinators when I connect.  Click on "Participants' Sites' link at the top of Day 1 page to read other bloggers' poems.
 - And I am linked with Kerry O'Connor in the Imaginary Garden which is reopened for April, National Poetry Month, at http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2020/04/april-2020-days-1-5.html?m=1
There I used a prompt formerly suggested by Marian  at April is for Fools and Poets 
 - I plan to write a poem each week or even daily.  We are shut-ins until April 30 per our Governor's COVID 19 orders.  We will see if I live that long.  💝

Our doves have been returning since 2016 to hatch a brood of baby doves.

NaPoWriMo 2018-01 -- Pick

Pick One
 
Today we have choices to make
National Poetry Month starts
It's one poem for the observance 
  
It's a different matter one each
Each day some will write to observe
Now that's rather taxing for Moi 

We shall see what tomorrow brings
Last three years I wrote every day
So for tomorrow do or don't  

Pick one
_ _ _ _

Poem Copyright, Jimmiehov 2018, All Rights Reserved

I'm writing for Marian at http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2018/04/april-one-one-love.html
I'm also linked to Day One of NaPoWriMo, http://www.napowrimo.net/here-we-go/ If you click on 'PARTICIPANTS SITES' link at the top of their page you can read the poems submitted by other bloggers.

NaPoWriMo 2016, Day # 30 ~~ School Days [Poetizing the Maypole]

[please click on picture to make it a bit larger -- I am the boy in back]

Dance a Jig for Maypole Celebration

The teacher did her best, every year, come May first
Sunny or cold she'd have the kids out by the pole
The oldest boy played his role, shinnied up that pole
In his hands were clutched rolls of ribbon tightly wound

Hanging from his waist was a contraption complex
Envy of mechanical engineers they said
Teacher called it a spreader the kids all did laugh 
Farm kids knew only the manure spreader.  Not this

The 'big kid' hung the ribbons on the hooks
Hooks there on the teacher's neat contraption
Dangled them down to their ends, near the ground
Each kid scrambled get his favorite hue

On teachers command the boys and girls sang
They sang a jig which they'd already learned
So the dance would start, one goes to the right
Two goes to the left, three goes the right

And so on for a half turn they had gone
Then each would change direction turning left 
Another half turn and so on they would dance 
Dance until their ribbons were tightly 'twined

That's all this poor writer can remember
That was a long time ago.  Flash forward
In college days May pole dances were barred
'Communist inspired,' McCarthyism

Next I knew we were traveling Austria
Down the back roads every farm that we passed
Maypole standing tall.  One variation
Professional plaque, labour's alive, well 



“The Last of the Maypole Dancers”, by Ilsa Elford, (via link) 
Top Photo and Poem Copyright © 2010 and 2016 Jimmiehov, All Rights Reserved

This is the last day of National Poetry Month.  My writing is linked to Magaly Guerrero's post, Poetizing the Maypole, at the Imaginary Garden with Real Toads.
Notes:
(1) In the top picture, my school picture for the fourth grade, I was the biggest boy.  Perhaps the teacher climbed the flag pole to hang our ribbons.  More likely that was done by one of the fathers.  My sister was in the first grade, the tiniest girl. The girl next to her and the other boy were our first cousins.
(2) For directions telling how to make your own Maypole dance, click here

NaPoWriMo 2016, Day # 29 ~~ Instapoetry

 

I'm looking out my breakfast room window
Seems pretty to most--pool came with the house

I walk around hardly ever see him
He and his bunny buds eat my pansies

Birds come too, flocking in, drink the water
Bathe in the falls and eat worms in the grass

Birds and bunnies, they hide when I come near
Then comes the family, grands and greats and kids

A warm Sunday afternoon, cool them off
Like birds and bunnies they too like to eat

Hot dogs and hamburgers cokes and ice tea
More food they bring we share this pretty place

. . . [click on a picture to make it larger, again for larger still]

_ _ _ _

Photos and Poem Copyright © 2016 Jimmiehov, All Rights Reserved

Today I'm linked with Bjorn at the Imaginary Garden with Real Toads.  Bjorn wanted no more than 100 words, 'telling out from inside.'  My word count is exactly 100.  Read more at his link:
http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2016/04/instapoetry.html

This is also a poem for National Poetry Month.  I quit daily writing early this year due to a busy life's pressures.
You can read more poems at the poetry site,  NaPoWriMo 2016 

p.s.  Two rabbits came after I had written this.  KP is staying with us, no school today, and when she saw them she went outside.  The rabbits ran off but the one in the picture decided to hid back behind the bushes.  I used a zoomed lens to take this one, then cropped a bit more.

NaPoWriMo 2016, Day # 25 ~~ Where Do I Come From?

From Where did I Come?

I came from sperm-rich egg hatched in the sea
It was the day of Molly and just me
You say, well now how on earth can that be
It wasn't, Silly, I was from the sea

A sea urchin not at his very best
Now grounded amidst pillars man behest
Brick and boards, mortar and nails, all the rest  
I do hope that you'll keep this to your chest
 _ _ _ _ _ _

Photo and Poem Copyright © 2016 Jimmiehov, All Rights Reserved

I'm linked with Susie Clevenger at the Imaginary Garden with Real Toads, Where Do I Come From? 

5-10-2016: again with the Toads, Tuesday Platform

The photo was taken last year in Eidfjord, Norway (link).  We were on a cruise in May 2015 after the graduation of our granddaughter, BP, from High School in London.

NaPoWriMo 2016, Day # 21 ~~ an Elephant Tribute

 

Unemployed before her time

I have a little elephant
follows me and goes where I go

Her name is Asia, Asia Dear 
works for the circus, paints her heart

Now unemployed before her time
Pseudo elephant lovers won

Painting's her delight, follows me
Street painters to be, spare a dime?



- - -
Photos and Poem Copyright © 2012 and 2016 Jimmiehov, All Rights Reserved
(Photos previously published on Jim's Little Blog, December 19, 2012, for these and more circus elephants, go to http://jimmiehov.blogspot.com/2012/12/my-alphabe-thursday-2nd-letter-e.html)

I'm linked with Fireblossom at the Imaginary Garden with Real Toads (http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2016/04/fireblossom-friday-elephantine-challenge.html). Her words of instruction are: "Write anything, as long as it is new for this prompt, and has an elephant or elephants as an important focus of the poem."

Notes: 
(1) Barnum and Bailey Circus is pulling its elephant show in deference to animal protection groups' pressuring.  I am all for animal protection however these were some of the most respected animals in all the circus.  Why just the elephants?  What would a circus be without its animal shows?
(2) I wasn't able to finish my Poem a Day for the month of April.  Personal responsibilities have cut way into my blogging.  But I have an intense liking for elephants and wanted to write this one. 

NaPoWriMo 2016, Day # 8 ~~ Pioneer Woman

I married a real pioneer woman
She'd lived alone with her dog several years
Self sufficient she was wasn't needing me
Why then did she marry me I don't know

- - - 

Poem Copyright © 2016 Jimmiehov, All Rights Reserved

Sherry Blue Sky, in the Imaginary Garden with Real Toads, In the Footsteps of the Suffragates, (link)' gave us this challenge, "Write a bout about a woman, past or present, who embodies the concept of personal freedom to you."

Also I'm writing a Poem a Day (PAD), trying for the whole month of April again. I did it last year, but ...  So I'm linked to NaPoWriMo 2016 for that.

NaPoWriMo 2016 , Day Seven ~~ a "Bracelet" Acrostic poem

.BRACELET 

.
Band of metal, plastic or dangling charms 
Ring for arm nice present for the lady 
Accept with haste when your beau does proffer 
Count not the cost it's the heart that matters 
Each wears different shoes emeralds in his ear 
Links adjust to fit your arm not your mouth 
Elect to say the magic words, "Thank you" 
Tell and show your father, it says "He gives" 
_ _ _ 

Poem and Photo Copyright, © 2016 and 2010 Jimmiehov,  All Rights Reserved

I'm linked with Susie Clevenger in the Imaginary Garden with Real Toads (link) where her theme is "Bits of inspiration ~ Bracelet' meaning we are to write a new poem using the word, "Bracelet".

Also I'm writing a Poem a Day (PAD), trying for the whole month of April again. I did it last year, but ...  So I'm linked to NaPoWriMo 2016 for that.