Calling all POETS, ARTISTS AND MUSICIANS!
We've got so many talented people here; this would be a good place to share something other than our 'foods'; diet, and 'problems'.
Franse is a terrific photographer; artist, and poet! Okay, that's a LOT of talent in one lovely lady. Oilpaintlady is a great photographer; painter, and writes poetry also - more talent to share. Imaginee writes poetry; does beautiful photography, and is a magnificent sketch artist. Poetnw is a superb poety; maybe some other hidden talents as well.
Rayn is a great singer; Katydid is an exciting illustrator working on a children's book (want that book for certain); and musci2harvest is not only a whiz on the history of jazz, but can 'jazz' up a cake in the most beautiful way!
Let's do some happy talk; read some great poetry, and enjoy the comments about art and music from the many who have these interests listed in their bio's.
Diane.
Original Post by 2beittybitty:sixtyfivealive--
As you sooo graciously invited me-- and sooo outrageously flattered me... and, last but not least...!!! You so relentlessly pursued me...lol!!!
In short-- You've asked for it, so now you've got it!
Hope you LIKE it...!!!
NO complaints accepted, lol!!! Amateur I am and ever will be...
I hate to feel like I'm 'blowing my own horn' as I said to you, but I've enjoyed the talent sharing here and will share a song I sang tonight at Church... I write Christian songs, as my creative inspirations are geared that way-- or silly sometimes, lol! Raising 4 girls can do something to you...! I play an instrument called an Auto harp, like the one pictured in my ID picture and sing... The song I sang tonight is one of my early songs, and one I wrote in my early 30's. Now I'm 45 and still writing and enjoying sharing my Faith through songs... At home, Church, Campmeetings-- no rotten tomatoes, yet!-- and at Nursing Homes... I won't type the chorus but once...
Mountain Climb
I've found that my Salvation
Is like a Mountain Climb--
Up a rugged mountain-- one day at a time...
And Jesus leads me safely on, as He guides each step I take
So, I need never slip or fall, as He guides me through each day...
Chorus
So I will climb this Mountain, until I reach the top...
Though satan tries to hinder me-- I will never stop!
For, Jesus will be waiting, when my Journey's ov'r...
And, once I look upon His Face-- then I will climb no more...
Verse 2
Sometime's the Climbing's easy, with Sunshine all around--
This Mountain is so Beautiful, when I look back toward's the ground...
For, I can see the Desert-- where, once, I had been--
So lost and tired and lonely, that I won't go down again! (Chorus)
Verse 3
Sometimes the Climbing's harder-- and I feel I can't go on--
When rocks and ice just block my way-- till my strength is almost gone...!
When I can Climb no further-- then I feel His Hand in mine--
Reaching down to help me up-- and add His Strength to mine! So... (Chorus)
Ending--
Oh, yes-- Once I look upon His Face....... Then, I Need Climb... no more...!!!
Hope this encourages... it does me!
And then we reach the summit at night, right? It struck me that one line of my poem about the Tetons; the courage to climb, etc., and 'the night' certainly blended with your song.
Now, I bet the fact I write music and play the piano, I could even make a melody for your lyrics (probably not as good as yours, but I have done this for others, and it's worked out pretty well).
This is my last post for the night; we leave on Friday, and I've got errands to do tomorrow - might peek one more time, tomorrow evening. I'm trusting all of you to 'keep this going' - I want to read more beautiful posts when I get back May 1. Diane
Why-- Thank you, kind Sir...! 
I believe sixtyfivealive would enjoy that 'Friendly People' thought! 
Welcome to CC!!!
Original Post by 2beittybitty:socialworkersarah--
hey, im 2beittybitty's daughter, Brenda. I loved your poem! I can tell we have a lot in common from it, because it is everything i have felt and learned during my recent divorce.
I married a 29yr old man when I was 18. He turned out to be a diagnosed Bi-polar skitzaphrenic with manic depression. combined with drug and alcohol abuse and infidelity issues. he was severely emotionally and physically abusive. Worst of all, 4 days before my divorce, he told me he was gay! I know it all sounds unreal, but believe me, as much as i didn't want to believe any evil about him, i found out it was all painfully true.
It was hard to be split in 2 because my heart desperately loved my husband, but my head knew i had to go through with the divorce or it could cost me my life; as it nearly had a few times already.
I too have found that i am better off alone, and doing better alone than i ever thought possible. I am now 21, and i have been working as an Emergency Room Medical Technician for over a year now. I own my own home( a little camper trailer i bought and remodeled to make into a beautiful, cozy home for me and my cat Sebastian.=)i also run a business of my own on the side cleaning houses and doing lawn care. I have managed to pay off over $12,000 of debt he left me with this past year, as well as paying for our divorce and supporting myself-roman noodles r cheap=P
It's funny, when you work so hard to try and learn to be a provider for him, when he provides nothing himself, suddenly you look around and you realize that you are in fact providing for yourself already and you simply don't need him. He inadvertently taught you to take care of yourself without him.
thanks for sharing=)
Your welcome. I'm glad that my words can be encouragement to others. It has been a difficult winter and it makes me feel better knowing that my experience shared through poetry can touch others :)
Another contribution:
Soundtrack of My Life
Written: January 26, 2008 11:42 a.m.
I know the wrong words keep playing in my head
I know I need to change the soundtrack of my life
So I'm collecting all the things you all have said
So I can hear them over and over again
And see myself the way you do
Because so long ago I internalized
All the blame and despair that was placed on my shoulders
I now know it was never my burden to carry
But it has been on my back so long
I have forgotten that I could put it down
It just became a part of who I am
And I have kept letting others pile more on
Until I could barely stand
And I was breaking
But now I can hear you when you say
That I am okay the way I am
I can hear you say
I am your pride and joy and I deserve so much more
I can hear you when you tell me
That someone isn't good for me
And I am beginning to believe
All these things you have told me
Now I can see that you are there for me
I don't have to always take care of somebody else
All of your words are becoming
The things that I tell myself
The words that make me stronger
That build my self-esteem
That allow me to value me
And all your words start playing in my head
Becoming the new soundtrack of my life
There is real Wisdom shining in that, socialworkersarah! I hope my daughter, Brenda, will feel that way, too...
That is Beautifully clear... 
I'll show her when I can catch her-- as she wrote, she stays busy!
My upswings start to backslide
And the traction that I can't find
Is the traction that I need to get ahead
So that I can find footing and run ahead
Run away so you're out of my head
Run away so you're out of my bed
I'm running uphill as fast as I can
Running uphill, my only plan
My second wind leaves me winded
And my soul feels week and wounded
And the hamster wheels only spin
And I think I've found footing again.
But my upswing turns into a backslide
And the solace that I can't find
Is the solace that I must find
So that I can leave you behind
And reach higher heights I deserve
And my soul I can preserve
And now I'm crawling hands and knees
Begging gravity please
Stop pushing me down
Dragging me to the ground
When will my upswing stay upswining?
Hope bringing.
Faith bringing.
Soul seething.
It hasn't happened yet.
Thanks, I've enjoyed yours too!
I always get excited to see this thread has been updated...I patiently await the next poem someone shares!
Original Post by hgielrehtaeh:Thanks, I've enjoyed yours too!
I always get excited to see this thread has been updated...I patiently await the next poem someone shares!
Coffee time - and the new lap-top; aha, how nice to read so many new posts!
I'm guessing all of you remember the 'nude' THINKER, right?? I'm so old, I feel I have to 'qualify' my brief poem by asking ahead of time.
THE THINKER - by Diane S-Stevens - 1966 (yes, 1966 - almost 42 years ago).
I think the thinker
is a stinker who should
think twice
upon nude knee
He's so determined - (and 'un-ermined')
I'd prefer he put his 'thinking cap'
ever so nicely upon his lap!
I'm guessing you are right HGIELREHTAEH
Okay, I'll be 'piggish' since I only have a few more minutes before we start heading back down to the r.v. park.
DEAR TEACHER - I wrote this after this actually happened - 1967
"Dear Teacher, you must fret
at replies you do not get
to notes composed so carefully
pinned to Bruce - the 'messenger' to me
My first sight; alas of them
comes on Monday - early, it's often when
I take out the wash and look within
to see 'afloat' the paper (thin)
The dripping lines I commence to read
and learn (days later) of his 'naughty' deed
Or find that you wanted me to send a cake
(and now it's way too late to bake)
Think not unkindly of me - no, not yet
When it's the note, not the mother, that is 'all wet'.
After reading those two lovely poems that preceded the two I've posted, I see a poem we can all 'merge' - it would be titled: SEEK THE SOLACE IN YOUR MIND'S SOUND-TRACK (or something like that). Between the two poems, we have one 'running' - searching it seems; another HAS been 'wondering' - also searching and seeking, and then FINDING this 'newest' soundtrack..........you two should collaborate!
A Play-list of my philosophy
keeps me from running to you or me.
I program the life I choose for me;
a 'spiritual' song - my melody....
I won't be tempted; intimidated -
I'm not a fish who bites on lures
You can come to me on my terms,
or stay away on yours.
There, something like that................Diane
Just putting a note here - had several CC e-mails to answer; my husband is with his brother - heading to lunch shortly. I sure enjoyed seeing the poetry here - have it 'tagged', so I can get back here and see if there's more ... they keep changing things so quickly around here it reminds me of when I get a notion to change the furniture (smile). Love that lap-top for traveling, but don't like the keyboard as well.
My aunt and uncle have a great computer system, so I was able to get caught up with e-mails, and things more easily early this morning.
Hard to believe February is almost over with - 2008 is going quickly for me; it seems to go faster as you get older. I'll check in next week. Diane
Who I Really Am
Its amazing how you can still make me feel so small
All the things I thought I had out grown
I guess I still try them on for size
You project your incapabilities on me
But I'm going to reject them this time
Because its about time you see
Who I really am
I'm not taking care of your emotional baggage
I'm not your coat check or storage room
I'm not holding these insecurities any more
Because its time you see
Who I really am
All those years spent proving myself
Trying to please some one else
Did I make you proud
Or were you just to blind to see
Everything I was capable of
But now its time for you to see
Who I really am
I won't live here in the shadows
Of the childhood you gave me
Because I'm not a helpless little girl anymore
I've grown way too strong
To let you make me small again
And now its time for you to see
Who I really am
Original Post by socialworksarah:
Who I Really Am
Its amazing how you can still make me feel so small
All the things I thought I had out grown
I guess I still try them on for size
You project your incapabilities on me
But I'm going to reject them this time
Because its about time you see
Who I really am
I'm not taking care of your emotional baggage
I'm not your coat check or storage room
I'm not holding these insecurities any more
Because its time you see
Who I really am
All those years spent proving myself
Trying to please some one else
Did I make you proud
Or were you just to blind to see
Everything I was capable of
But now its time for you to see
Who I really am
I won't live here in the shadows
Of the childhood you gave me
Because I'm not a helpless little girl anymore
I've grown way too strong
To let you make me small again
And now its time for you to see
Who I really am
How timely this is for me - THOSE FIRST FOURTEEN LINES describe what my husband does to me - and tried to do again, not an hour ago.
I'm going to copy your poem to him - then make those lines IN BOLD, so he gets the message - it's not always the parents, but the boy-friends and husbands who 'carry on', after the parent who's been critical and demanding, leave off.
Thank you for 'my gift' - your words have put it so much more poetically. Diane
Awesome thread =) Here's a poem I just wrote today...
Your Memory
I sit on the oak porch, gazing into the night,
the snowflakes falling ever so slight.
Every white crystal, a memory, fall in front of me,
giving me vision despite the darkness.
I grinned, snowflakes slipping from my eyes,
as the sepia memories of you arise;
&nb sp; the techno music we played “too loud”,
&nb sp; the playgrounds we were “too big for”,
&nb sp; the battles we won that made us “too proud”,
&nb sp; the dares we did that were “too hardcore”.
I cried and laughed, dead but reborn,
and I saw a shooting star in the abyss above.
I knew you were out there, under this one sky,
one world, one destiny, one hello, one goodbye.
People don’t know, so they can’t understand,
but I’ll just sit here forever and hold the hand
of your memory.
