February 28
Rainy Monday! Still, I went to the gym.
Woman of Dedication and Grit!!
"The King's Speech" won the Oscar last night for Best Picture.
Hurray! A celebration of finding one's voice!!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Shirley's Soliloquies
February 27
Successful poetry reading at the Writer's Center
in Bethesda with Laura Shovan and Kat Hellen.
Lovely audience, beautiful poems,
the exquisite intimacy of words.
Afterward, an Espresso Hamburger at "The Dizz."
It doesn't get better!!
Successful poetry reading at the Writer's Center
in Bethesda with Laura Shovan and Kat Hellen.
Lovely audience, beautiful poems,
the exquisite intimacy of words.
Afterward, an Espresso Hamburger at "The Dizz."
It doesn't get better!!
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Shirley's Soliloquies
February 26
Poetry returns...a new poem
in the Stephen Pitcairn series.
This one called "Reminiscence."
The last couplet:
Hear me; live well. Honor
your splendid gifts.
Poetry returns...a new poem
in the Stephen Pitcairn series.
This one called "Reminiscence."
The last couplet:
Hear me; live well. Honor
your splendid gifts.
Friday, February 25, 2011
Shirley's Soliloquies
February 25
Seven months since the killing
of Stephen Pitcairn in my beautiful
community of Charles Village.
His loss still felt, his potential still alive.
Soon, the trial. I set my Intention
that justice will prevail.
In Florida, his mother's heart
still broken.
Seven months since the killing
of Stephen Pitcairn in my beautiful
community of Charles Village.
His loss still felt, his potential still alive.
Soon, the trial. I set my Intention
that justice will prevail.
In Florida, his mother's heart
still broken.
Shirley's Soliloquies
February 24
"The King's Speech": a speech therapist
helps a king find his voice, and believe in himself.
I spent 33.5 years in my speech therapy career
helping children find their voices.
This movie affirmed for me
the value of my life's work, the importance
of treating the whole person, and not just the
"stutter."
For the past 15 years, I've focused
on finding and growing
my own poetic voice.
"Voice" is a major theme in my life!
"The King's Speech": a speech therapist
helps a king find his voice, and believe in himself.
I spent 33.5 years in my speech therapy career
helping children find their voices.
This movie affirmed for me
the value of my life's work, the importance
of treating the whole person, and not just the
"stutter."
For the past 15 years, I've focused
on finding and growing
my own poetic voice.
"Voice" is a major theme in my life!
Shirley's Soliloquies
February 23
I'm thinking it's about time
for another trip to Home Depot,
Paint Department,
where I can stock up
on those strips of color possibilities.
What shade will I be? I need
a new name to define
myself for spring:
Pink Pandemonium,
Emerald Goddess,
Yellow Blossom Radiance.
I'm thinking it's about time
for another trip to Home Depot,
Paint Department,
where I can stock up
on those strips of color possibilities.
What shade will I be? I need
a new name to define
myself for spring:
Pink Pandemonium,
Emerald Goddess,
Yellow Blossom Radiance.
Shirley's Soliloquies
February 21
Mondays come around
every seven days.
Isn't there a law
against that kind of repetition?
Mondays come around
every seven days.
Isn't there a law
against that kind of repetition?
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Shirley's Soliloquies
February 20
Poetry agrees with me!
I'm cooking up my next gem now -
a poem I might call
"Cocktails with Claude and Henri."
Stopped at Eddie's for an Egg
and Bacon Breakfast Sandwich.
Thanks to the Hen and the Pig!
Saw a gazillion birds flying in a pattern.
Great to know
where you are going.
Poetry agrees with me!
I'm cooking up my next gem now -
a poem I might call
"Cocktails with Claude and Henri."
Stopped at Eddie's for an Egg
and Bacon Breakfast Sandwich.
Thanks to the Hen and the Pig!
Saw a gazillion birds flying in a pattern.
Great to know
where you are going.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Shirley's Soliloquies
February 19
I'm fond of this lazy Saturday
after a good night's sleep:
laundry done, old mail
tossed, and my poetic essence
nourished.
Outside, an ancient wind
howls like a banshee,
miffed because
I won't let it in.
I'm fond of this lazy Saturday
after a good night's sleep:
laundry done, old mail
tossed, and my poetic essence
nourished.
Outside, an ancient wind
howls like a banshee,
miffed because
I won't let it in.
Shirley's Soliloquies
February 18
The full moon is a purse,
a luminous accessory
that complements
the perfect stars in my eyes.
The full moon is a purse,
a luminous accessory
that complements
the perfect stars in my eyes.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Shirley's Soliloquies
February 17
Poetry group reunion tonight,
presided over by Jelly Bean the Cat.
We ate and drank gourmet,
read poems, and shared
the intimate affection of joyous words.
Poetry group reunion tonight,
presided over by Jelly Bean the Cat.
We ate and drank gourmet,
read poems, and shared
the intimate affection of joyous words.
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Shirley's Soliloquies
February 16
Today I begin
my late winter
walking program.
I can't wait to put on my walking shoes,
reconnect with nature,
and invent the next phase of my life!
Today I begin
my late winter
walking program.
I can't wait to put on my walking shoes,
reconnect with nature,
and invent the next phase of my life!
Shirley's Soliloquies
February 15
Stanley Plumly, Maryland's poet laureate, gives a lecture on John Keats at Johns Hopkins University. He reads one poem. I want to hear more poems!!
First two lines from Plumly's poem, "Above Barnesville":
In the body the night sky in ascension -
the starry campion, the mallow rose, the wild potato vine.
Stanley Plumly, Maryland's poet laureate, gives a lecture on John Keats at Johns Hopkins University. He reads one poem. I want to hear more poems!!
First two lines from Plumly's poem, "Above Barnesville":
In the body the night sky in ascension -
the starry campion, the mallow rose, the wild potato vine.
Shirley's Soliloquies
February 14
Will the real St. Valentine please stand up?
Really now, Number Three, your pink boxer shorts give you away!!
Will the real St. Valentine please stand up?
Really now, Number Three, your pink boxer shorts give you away!!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Shirley's Soliloquies
February 13
Dear Egypt,
Best Wishes on your Freedom. I'm so happy for you!!
Shirley from Baltimore
Dear Egypt,
Best Wishes on your Freedom. I'm so happy for you!!
Shirley from Baltimore
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Shirley's Soliloquies
February 12
Ushering Jersey Boys at the Hippodrome -
2.000 patrons happily seated, and I'm
loving my $80 chair.
"Oh, What a Night."
Ushering Jersey Boys at the Hippodrome -
2.000 patrons happily seated, and I'm
loving my $80 chair.
"Oh, What a Night."
Shirley's Soliloquies
February 11
I celebrated Friday
with two White Neighbors
and two Black Russians.
Some might call that diversity.
I celebrated Friday
with two White Neighbors
and two Black Russians.
Some might call that diversity.
Shirley's Soliloquies
February 10
Treated myself to a massage today;
I feel like a joyful pressed flower.
Place me
between the pages of my own book.
Treated myself to a massage today;
I feel like a joyful pressed flower.
Place me
between the pages of my own book.
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Shirley's Soliloquies
February 9, 2011
Gabrielle Giffords asked for toast.
Her wounded brain is staging a comeback.
She wants to rejoin the world, one
healing cell at a timeShirley's Soliloquies
February 8
I judged some bad poems today,
and, no, I don’t feel okay.
William Shakespeare would spit—
Robert Frost throw a fit,
if they saw the poems that I read today.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Shirley's Soliloquies
February 6
Ever try to say February with crackers in your mouth?
Listened to an interview with Terry Tempest Williams—American author,
naturalist, and conservationist—on NPR’s On Being.
She discussed her book, “Finding Beauty in a Broken World” (2008),
about the art of mosaics. Some things I remembered:
I believe in the beauty of all things broken.
It is as though sunlight has entered the room.
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Shirley's Soliloquies
February 5
Eleanor Moomau , my dad’s cousin, born 1909 on this date.
A feisty former nurse and social worker, she took up painting
in her 80’s. Once, when I visited her in Petersburg, West Virginia,
we crashed a wedding reception – cousins in crime. She
carried a cane, more for emphasis than support.
Rain all day. I visualize
a Puddle Party. Anyone for duck hors d’oeuvres?
Dew drop daiquiris?
Shirley's Soliloquies
February 4
My gym ritual – I grab the elliptical machine in the front row
so I can watch the 3 PM episode of “Cold Case.” I love
the premise of an old murder solved, a soul freed on the
other side. I lose calories, keep my perspective.
Shirley's Soliloquies
February 3
My chiropractor has a Wobble Chair in his Waiting Room,
a seat with physiological merit. On the opposite wall -
pictures of impossible exercises supposedly accomplished
on said chair. I only know I almost fell
off.
Shirley's Soliloquies
February 2
Punxsatawney Phil – no shadow? – early Spring??
Wanna bet somebody bribed him, promised
the whole groundhog clan a trip to Disney World?
Anything to give us hope, a reason to keep
plowing through the endless snows of Winter.
Shirley's Soliloquies
Shirley’s Soliloquies February. 2011
February 1
Gray day, like a dove’s wing
Today, I’m iced in;
I prefer icing!
A pink cake with vanilla frosting –
out jumps Al Pacino!
Winter coats my brain with make-believe.
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