Just Do It !

Just Do It !

 When you start a task that should be easy to do,

Then things go south straight out of the blue,

And the task gets so difficult, it frustrates you. 
You want to yell, and you want to quit, 
When the crap is pressing you down a bit, 
Grumble, if you must, but you’ve got to stick to it.

Chores get complicated very soon,    

You want to leave town, not just the room,

And the task you’re doing is making you mad.

But, go ahead and finish it, and you’ll be glad.

Don’t you dare quit because your stuff is a mess,

Just go through the process and give it your best.

 ~ ~ ~  © 2014 by dellgirl  - DO NOT COPY ~ ~ ~

Hurricane Matthew Brings Memories of The Likes Of IKE

It's been hard to watch the coverage of Hurricane Matthew. Yesterday's coverage was especially tough because my two youngest brothers and their families live on the east coast. I purposely did not watch or listen constantly so that I wouldn't start concentrating on the possibilities. I did not want to cancel out the prayers I had prayed by starting to worry. I gave it to God and let it go!

I called my brothers early last night to check on them. They were both fine and reported that they were in a relatively safe area. My prayers were answered, Thank You God!

News reports of Hurricane Matthew immediately reminded me of our own Hurricane Ike in 2008.

I remember sitting in semi-darkness with only a dim lamp glowing softly, the steady drone of the generator reminded me of the devastation just outside the front door and around our property. With no electricity there was very little to do but read or write.

I put pen to paper for the first time in a long while. Computers had become my primary writing tool.Contemplating all that had happened during the storm/hurricane, I began writing...

~ ~ ~

© 2008 by Leona G. Shankle - All Rights Reserved 

Houston Remembers The Likes Of IKE

It was September 12, 2008 that Ike blew through Texas delivering his fate,
like a thief he assaulted that night very late, no longer did anyone have to wait

Ike came ashore on a Friday night about 1:45 or so,
with pounding rain and blasting wind through Galveston he tore.

He pounded gourged and ravaged at the mighty west seawall,
chunk by chunk, stone by stone, he tried to take it all.

Through the tiny little island Ike swirled and churned like mad,
taking trees and homes with equal zeal took everything they had.

From homes on stilts to UTMB not a thing was safe that night
left a mark of mass destruction to remember the likes of Ike.

Ike looked up from pillaging, he saw Houston up ahead,
he started north up 45, “Ah, Houston looks like sweet bread.”

He raked and ravaged “H-Town” covered every inch of land,
north and south east and west like a hungry angry man.

From large to small and big and tall he treated all alike
left his mark of mass destruction, we’ll remember the likes of Ike.

Before he left he looked around to see if anything still stood,
he spied the Chase Bank building and thought, “Oh, but this is good.”

He thought over his decision and let the structure stand,
with a flourish and a curtsie he aimed his outer bands.

Barely a whisper later came the sound of breaking glass,
windows pop like bubble wrap and Ike was done at last.

From the south side to downtown Ike ravaged with all his might
left his mark of mass destruction so we’d remember the likes of Ike.

~ ~ ~

© 2008 by Leona G. Shankle - All Rights Reserved 

Image source

Just Do It

 When you start a task that should be easy to do,

Then things go south straight out of the blue,

And the task gets so difficult, it frustrates you. 

You want to yell, and you want to quit, 

When the crap is pressing you down a bit, 

Grumble, if you must, but you’ve got to stick to it.

~ 

Chores get complicated very soon,         

You want to leave town, not just the room,

And the task you’re doing is making you mad.

But, go ahead and finish it, and you’ll be glad.

Don’t you dare quit because your stuff is a mess,

Just go through the process and give it your best.

 © 2014 by dellgirl  - DO NOT COPY 

Sharing Poetry - Inspiration

To all the wonderful people in my life:

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.

When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person...

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally or spiritually.

They may seem like a godsend and they are. They are there for a reason you need them to be. Then, without any wrong doing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die. Sometimes they walk away. Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.

What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and now it is time to move on.

Sometimes people come to your life for a SEASON, because your turn has come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. BELIEVE it, it is REAL.

But; only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation.

Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.

It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Thank you for being a part of my life,

whether you were a reason, a season or a lifetime.

What Are Some Facts About Poetry?

Writing poetry is a wonderful outlet for expressing ideas. Writing poetry is the highest, noblest, art form; and poets are those who can feel what can be beautifully expressed as in poetry, as poems. It involves not just scribbling in a notebook, but also undertaking a way of life, one in which you value being creative and sensitive.

Writing poetry is not always an easy job but, it could be your cup of tea. Writing poetry tips are helpful guidelines, but not the rule of thumb, they're not etched in stone - as a poet you set your own rules. Writing poetry has always been about emotion; thrilling, bitterness and even humorous. It is like jumping off a high dive at the deep end of the pool, exhilarating.

Poetry can be used to convey ideas, information and feelings but, above all, it is a great means of entertainment. Poetry is the poetic, beautiful, expression of the poet's passion - in poetry poets express passions sensibly and beautifully.

Poetry is meant for the ear; listen to the sounds the words make. Poetry in rhyme sounds more pleasing - rhyme adds to its beauty. Why not 'cash in' on that in your poetry. Poetry can be as complicated or as frivolous as possible, it's all up to the author. Poetry is food for thought and for the soul. All food has its ingredients and, so does poetry.

Writing is a passion of mine that brings relief. Writing styles, subject matter and even childhood memories influence a lot of our choices. Writing in "free verse" does not excuse the poet's obligation to please the ear though. Writing, reading and falling in love with poetry are all processes.

Writing has always been a form of self therapy, an expression of emotions too intense to keep inside, an expression of thoughts, feelings, and meanings. Writing about painful subjects is also a great way to deal with that pain, write it out. If it’s too painful to share, keep it for yourself. But, do write it out and feel the healing power of putting those words on paper.

Be yourself when you are writing poetry. Explore your different sides through your poetry let the different facets of your personality take center stage. Be happy writing poetry, this is your time to expand and write whatever comes into your mind. When nothing comes to mind -- start writing, very fast --any word, a phrase or simply a sentence or two that pops into your mind.

Try using writing poetry as an excuse not to do other things. Yes, that’s right, if you’re not already doing so, start writing poetry now. There are still several months left in the year, this is the perfect time to embark on a new adventure, so why not seriously consider writing poetry and sharing it with others this year.

© 2009 by Leona G. Shankle

Sharing Poetry

The Eagle and the Arrow

An Eagle was soaring through the air when suddenly it heard the whizz of an Arrow, and felt itself wounded to death. Slowly it fluttered down to the earth, with its life-blood pouring out of it.

Looking down upon the Arrow with which it had been pierced, it found that the shaft of the arrow had been feathered with one of its own plumes.

"Alas!" it cried, as it died,

"We often give our enemies the means for our own destruction."

Day Is Done

(C) 2008 by Leona Shankle

Sunday is over and the day is done,

now it's time for me to follow the sun.

I'll crawl in my bed and tuck myself in,

it'll be tomorrow when I see you again.

Good night, good sleep my friends one and all,

yon morrow half past noon I will give you a call.

-----------------------------------------------

Not a word nor a thought do I have for this place,

not a phrase worth the effort to blog on my space.

I will leave you with this, it's the one thing I know,

I have the best friends and this is for 'sho.

Good night, good sleep to my friends every one,

I will follow the sun now that my day is done.

(C) 2008 by Leona Shankle

At the Starting Gate - The Beginning

The day I stood before my 2nd grade classmates

and wove a tale so tall so big so wide,

they all sat amazed and mystified,

was the day I found my speaking voice.

That day I awakened the creativity within,

the artist within.

That was me - simply being me

the storyteller, the writer.

~~~

Leona G.

© 2008 by Leona G. Shankle - All Rights Reserved ▪ Dell Girl Publishing