| Part 1 | Part 2 | There’s a lot of reasons why I’m glad 2019- and this decade- is ending. I could list them all, but at the time of writing this, it’s the holidays, and I do care somewhat about those. While this isn’t a true part 3 to my series on looking back at this decade, it is something of a sequel to a sequel. So without further ado, here it is. Looking back at a decade: a personal retrospective. Triumphs The biggest part of 2019 had me coming into my own or at least trying to. […]
TRIGGER WARNING: THIS POEM CONTAINS CONTENT ABOUT RAPE THAT MAY BE DIFFICULT FOR SURVIVORS TO READ Can you touch your body again after… Does your mind still feel the pain? Can you look in the mirror again after… Does your body still feel the touch? Can you walk through the door after… Does your room still feel cold? Can you feel the same way after… Does your life still feel vacant? Violation! Your body won’t ever forget, the force of rape The weight of him, smell or taste of him. Violation! Your face will always feel the scar of […]
For quite some time, I didn’t understand the benefit of an emotional support animal (ESA). The Animal Legal & Historical Center defines an ESA as “a companion animal that provides therapeutic benefit…
Going home always
***Trigger Warning: Following Article Deals With Eating Disorders*** “Yeah it’s pretty clear, I ain’t no size two But I can shake it, shake it like I’m supposed to do” Meghan Trainor All About That Bass Lyrics I have a bigger body. I’ve always been tall (I stand at 6’4”), but I don’t remember being fat until my senior year in high school. While it would remain undiagnosed for another 20 years, this is when I remember my issues with Binge Eating Disorder (BED) starting to impact my life. Additionally, I got pregnant that same year giving birth to my son two […]
Who is this woman staring back at me? Lost and alone, yet connected to a being Battered and bruised from a chance she once took To love a stranger from a friend she mistook She is strong but broken – Misplaced in a token, of selfish words once softly spoken She will stand, but with clenched fist hands Never trusting the man, Who sold her a plan That made her – a shell of a woman
Periods commas exclamation When writing you must remember to punctuate. Who cares where a semi colon goes And when to use a colon! I use a colon to remember to pause: While reading Good Grief adjectives, synonyms and metaphors! As if that isn’t enough, look at this run on sentence Be sure to use a comma Where is “School House Rock” when you need it! I HATE to PUNCTUATE Question marks, Parenthesis Quotes and Apostrophes Hyperbole Slash ellipsis and Dash When put all together ?!#_(&.,”-/ See that’s one big curse word I HATE to PUNCTUATE
The mouth is a powerful set of muscles. a beautiful and sensual thing. when used properly, it can assault the senses. Boggle the mind and take your breath away. Lips, tongue, teeth kissing. The art of kissing. Lips throb in anticipation, turn away Lower your gaze, blush rises your cheeks heat. He smiles down at you, a soft sound escapes your lips. He lifts your chin, eyes meet. His burning passion makes you weak. a tear streams down your cheek. cooling the fires of your own passion the gentle touch of his calloused thumb, […]
***TRIGGER WARNING*** The following deals with a True Crime murder Bailey, Colorado – Park County December 1, 2017 Seventeen-year-old Maggie Long, excited to be a part of the first concert at Platte Canyon High School, had forgotten something at home. After school, she drove the 20 minutes to her family’s ranch to retrieve it. When she pulled up the long driveway, she noticed a white van, an old beat-up Ford truck, and a brownish colored older model minivan blocking the garage door. Her family had been renting out their attic space to some people and probably thought the cars belonged […]
I typically prefer to write fiction, particularly something that involves a bit of creepiness. However, a recent family event inspired me to write something different. My daughter, Rachael, got married on May 10th, 2019. She and her husband, Troy, have now begun an exciting new chapter in their lives. The jubilation everyone felt went beyond the actual wedding day commemoration. It started with the arrival of family and friends before the big day, then continued to mushroom throughout the week and beyond. The duration of celebrating lasted more than two weeks. One of the first things several of us enjoyed […]
Part 1 The end of 2019 signifies the end of 2019 as well as a decade yet looking back feels more like scrolling through last week’s Instagram. It feels like 2016- a hard year for a lot of folks- had just ended. It feels like nothing but a blink of an eye has passed since 2009. Isn’t that weird? For me, I started this decade as a naive ten-year-old, and I’ll end this decade as a woman who maybe is coming into her own. Maybe not. In writing this list, I’m not trying to say that any of these things […]
I understand that yesterday was steep; so is today, so will tomorrow be.
Because someone said. “Because Someone Said…” is published by Calpernia Charles in Coffee House Writers.
My mare was running. Leading the herd towards me Like life could not wait Yet, they live in the moment I forget the pain I feel.
In Honor of Chuck Ballard. 1972-2016.
Standing at the edge of everything, staring into the depths of nothing. I am ridiculous for being this close to the margin. You may deem me to be non compos mentis. In all honesty, though, I would rat
Fact: The Amazon Rainforest, The Earth’s Largest Carbon Filtration System, Is On Fire This year alone, over 7,000 square miles of the Amazon Rainforest have been burned. The Amazon keeps over 400 billion tons of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere. It’s also the largest cooling agent we have to combat rising global temperatures. As water evaporates from the massive amount of trees in the rainforest, it absorbs energy, cooling the Earth. Fact: Greenland’s Ice Sheets Are Melting On August 1, 2019, Iceland lost a record 12.5 billion tons of ice. The amount of melting from this one day is […]
**Disclaimer: This is a work of fan fiction. The characters presented were created and are owned by J.K. Rowling.** Reality often was the hardest thing to realize. In truth, we knew the moment that we were born that we all would receive our Hogwarts letter when the time came. After all, someone born into such a noble house as the house of Black couldn’t be caught without a Hogwarts’ education. I was nervous though, it was finally my turn to attend the school and I had to make my family proud. It didn’t matter that it wasn’t what I wanted, […]
A few months ago, I shared my experience with VIPKID’s hiring process. I promised to give you guys an update after I started teaching. It has been three remarkable months teaching with VIPKID. At first, like many teachers starting with VIPKID, I was a little worried about getting booked by students. In most of the VIPKID forums, there were numerous teachers complaining about bookings, so I was nervous. In my first month, I taught only eighteen classes. Before each class, I was so nervous it felt as if the butterflies would carry me away from my computer. Each class offered […]
What was supposed to be always protected! Now with a heart broken. A father’s regret... “A Father’s Tear” is published by Sean Michael in Coffee House Writers.
Yellow and fuschia claim summertime memories.. “Clinging to Summer” is published by Lisa Post in Coffee House Writers.
“I write because there is a voice within me that will not be still.” – Sylvia Plath Somebody recently asked me why I love to write. I replied, “writing is the only way I can be fully understood.” I have always relied on speaking devices to say what I need to say. I am grateful for how speaking devices enhance my communication and social skills. I am not afraid to speak my mind or start a conversation. I have struggled to present my true voice though. People could not understand the emotion of my words. The use of exclamation marks […]
Fall colors come late, Orange cat in the window, My heart yields to change
I have seen the skulls Laughing as tears Ran like beads of wax. Backed up against a cracked mirror, Images of the aurous haired child Stares at me holding a withered Bouquet of violets and dandelions. Take them small outstretched hands say, The taste of rotting memories Nails its way between us, Our tongues dry. Crunching snow under our Black boots back to When the crushed butterfly slept On the bed of autumn, I felt the soft wings with Reddened fingertips. Do you remember sad sweetness? She nods. I know her too little and too well. […]
The Quiet Hours. “The Quiet Hours” is published by Jessica Niziolek in Coffee House Writers.
My empty womb weeps no more, For she bears the name just the same, as I had reserved for my unclaimed Her melodic voice tugs at my heart, her tone - rings beautifully, registering a blend of…
I hear the voices now Of all those that held me dear, But the one who cared the most Roars like a banshee Mutilating the words from All the others The pain cannot disappear as He assaults all my last…
Receipts and newspaper should not be stuffed in underwear. PERIOD.
I want you to kiss me, Wrap your arms around me, Pull me in, Taste me, Pull me into bliss,. “Love Me” is published by Janeen G. in Coffee House Writers.
I sip on a lovely glass of stress every morning in my kitchen as I stare at the tile floor. I remember how the warm water used to fall down onto my shoulders so soothingly, but I now I gasp for air…
“I’m proud of you” are the four words I always want to hear As a Words of Affirmation gal, they’re things I need, kind of a big deal I’ve cried plenty, disappointed in myself for disappointing you And eventually I felt like I had to make someone else proud too Each job I left, each time something didn’t work out felt like a failure And every new choice I worked to make made me feel like a traitor I realized I spent so much time worried if everyone else was proud I never stopped to think If I was ever proud of […]
Heaven and hell Could not compare To the tempest within your eyes Eyes that sparkle Telling many a story Many a tale no other soul knows A tale of joy and pain Pain and healing Healing and purity Eyes that beckon me Calling me from below Drawing me in your embrace Many a thought Many a dream I could not fathom Why you care For a wretched soul And many more Like me I am reminded of true love As I look into your eyes Within your wings Keeping me safe Keeping me warm Keeping me guarded Never let go […]
Is the picture you see at the start of this article just a selfie? It’s clear that I’m not going anywhere special in my oversized sweatshirt, leggings, and sneakers. But this is special because being confident in oneself in the current social media climate is very difficult. I’ve never seen myself as a particularly outgoing or confident person. As I’ve started to embark on my career in the field of communications, I’ve had to start putting myself in situations that I found to be uncomfortable. Learning to communicate with others has been difficult. In this social media-driven age, it’s easy […]
He shook with small blades of grass for a millisecond, like he was slow dancing with a dream. Our eyes locked misty-white, vacant. When I got to him a red-tinged hue of departure had already taken him. I pulled a tattered letter from his fingers, the one he asked me to read before fratricide cut him to his core. His woman moved like myth: I decided I loved her. I would find her, to love her like he did. The night hovered cold again, the distant clanking of disgruntled bodies in C […]
Back in sixth grade, the teachers separated the boys and girls into two different classrooms in order to have “the talk”. They referred to the female ovary crash course as “a trip to Malibu”. I…
You danced with the devil And didn’t get burned. Twist and turn You smiled.. “The Dance” is published by Lisa Post in Coffee House Writers.
Do you need to see my soul? Do you need to see the color of my snot, as it runs from my nose. What are you looking for? Can I tempt you with a taste? A sample a smattering lick? Stop looking for the bottom line and pick the top of the vine. You may be surprised at what you find. But at least with me its unconditional.
Have you ever put off a task and promised yourself to “make up the time” later? Everyone has suffered from the condition known as ‘procrastinitis.’ Writers, because of their creativity, seem…
Words are eloquent, Words hold meaning, Words speak to the soul. Letters make love to your ears, Every time they form a word. You’re a number cruncher. You’re in love with numbers. A+B=Y2 WHO CARES! A plus B is AB! ABC is cooler than 123. Keep your little fresh ass numbers away from my alphabet! Words don’t need help from numbers to solve a problem. You need us!
Click the link for part one – The Winter Witch Click the link for part two: – The Winter Witch – Kurt’s Wrath Kurt stands on his backyard deck and watches the sunset through the winter-bared trees. He stares at the vacant house across the pond, as he has each winter evening for the past nine years. A chill runs up his spine. This year, the tenth winter has him on edge. Tank, his German Shepherd, walks toward Kurt and nudges his hand. Kurt bows his head and looks into his dog’s eyes. “Atta boy, Tank.” He scratches the dog’s neck […]
Recently, a fellow co-writer wrote an article about a so-called friend that completely judged her and said some very cruel things. She left the girl’s name out of her article but included the mean-spirited message she had received. It stirred something in me. This co-writer is an unbelievably kind, giving, and talented writer and editor, and a huge animal lover to boot. That, in my book, speaks volumes. Why is it that people are okay with belittling others? Well, I believe that people do this for a variety of reasons. I once read an article that explained why a “friend” […]
A wandering mind, thoughts spiraling, spinning, out of control What’s next? What if I do? What if I don’t? Contentment seems impossible, unhappiness ever present, boredom at every turn, just wanting to find what I’m missing Stand up Walk Sit down A sigh, constant motion, always looking, can’t settle to anything Internal scream Cry Sit back down A racing heart pounding, violently in my chest can’t breathe Come along already! I don’t want to wait! What’s happening? Something’s happening, maybe, not sure what’s coming next And if it happens… and if it doesn’t… then what? Mind making decisions, options, that […]
