reflections by Issi – part 3

couching

when I am not on the deck

or

out…. walking around,

I enjoy lounging amongst the pillows

on the big comfy couch.

there are times when daddy joins me

and

we watch some tv

but

most of the time… I snooze

and

romp around… in my dreams.

~ words by Issi as told by mommy ~

reflections by Issi – part 2

prints in the snow

ohhhhhhhh…………..what do we have here?

……………a straight line to where…………?

.…………..can it be my beloved……………….

….the handsome neighborhood stud muffin?

~ words by Issi as told to mommy ~

** Note from mommy: We live on the Des Plaines River Trail, which is another word for an interstate highway for all sorts of wildlife. One in particular is ‘stud muffin’, who we know to be a coyote. We see them on occasion and Issi certainly smells them. They have the coolest tracks – single file. How they manage to walk in a single file line with 4 legs/paws is amazing.

reflections by Issi – part 1

post walkie rest

as I walk in the snow

with my mommy in tow,

she sings a song

while I sniff along………………………………..

………….to be continued….

~ words by Issi as told to mommy ~

**Isabelle is still working on this piece – this is her first installment.**

on a bridge ~

≈

they stood quietly observing the city of lights,

as its reflection danced gently

in the river below ≈ ≈

it was the end of the day,

all of the lamps were ablaze

and

the streets were slowly clearing ~

except for lovers walking

and

holding each other close…

≈

≈

 

one word x 10 = ten word story #1

*

*

“May I wade in the depths of your beautiful spirit?”

*

*

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Six Word Saturday – The First One

*

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“In my dreams, I have returned.”

*

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http://www.showmyface.com/2008/01/six-word-saturdays.html

The Nutcracker Act II – Arabian Dance

∫

The Arabian Dance

‘Coffee’

∫

quietly subdued

an exotic seduction

she moves like fluid

∫

∫

where some of my nuts reside….

∫

I decided to cut and paste this variation – the original lacked a photo, which was due to my lack of poor planning.  Last year when I started this project it was supposed to be one post, then it became an entire series.

The photo above is in response to a question asked – where do I keep all of my Nutcrackers?  What you see is a shelf, in a hutch, located in my living room.  I have lots of Nutcracker items – lots – and these are my most valuable.  The one in the very center, on the top shelf – is priceless.  In due time, you will discover why…

∫

My Nutcracker Story

*

once upon a time,

there lived a little girl

whose dream was to be in The Nutcracker,

to dance amongst the snowflakes, flowers and dolls

but

most of all to ‘live’ the role of Clara.

*

she practiced for hours and hours each day,

thought of nothing but ‘becoming the part’,

of the sweet little girl

whose gift from her grandfather

became a prince

and

captured her heart.

*

after two years of being a party girl and bunny,

and

watching Clara dance from the wings,

the day came to pass

when the cast sheet revealed

she would finally come

to realize her dream.

*

there were rehearsals in studios,

rehearsals on stage,

rehearsals with costumes and orchestra,

nights with no sleep,

big blisters on toes ~

she was living in a constant state of euphoria!

*

when opening night arrived it was quite the affair,

there was a dynamic which could not be contained ~

from the moment the strings played their very first notes

and

the red velvet curtain was raised.

*

the ballet began with a party and guests,

dancing and playing with toys ~

until a mysterious gentleman suddenly arrived

with his enchanted dolls for all to enjoy.

*

there was a very unique doll

set aside for last,

to be given to one special girl ~

the mysterious man had created a Nutcracker

for his granddaughter

to enrapture her world.

*

Clara was bewitched as she danced and danced,

till it was time for the party to end.

as the guests took their leave

the house became quiet ~

it was the moment to forge onward to bed.

*

BUT

Clara was restless,

unable to sleep

so she made her way down the stairs to the tree,

where her Nutcracker stood guard,

and

the clock struck midnight

with chimes hailing the beginning

of Clara’s magnificent dream.

*

the big stage came alive as the sets disappeared

and

the tree grew over twenty feet tall ~

there were regiments of soldiers,

a mouse king with four heads

and

scurrying mice…

some very big and a few very small.

*

then it happened ~ it came ~ the moment of surprise

when the Nutcracker became larger than life ~

he fought with his sword

and

his faithful soldiers behind him…

a battle… with no end in sight.

*

during all of the raucous,

Clara stood on the sidelines

watching

and

thinking of what she could do,

when a thought suddenly occurred ~

‘the mice king needs a distraction

why not throw something at him…

something handy…. like a …. shoe’?

*

SO

*

she grabbed her shoe,

aimed for one of the heads

and

threw as hard as she could ~

where upon the king turned away,

a sword met its mark ~

ending the reign of the mouse king for good.

*

Clara stood in disbelief as the soldiers and mice

walked away leaving nothing behind

but

a man

who moments before was her Nutcracker ~

now a prince leading her on a journey….

way into the night.

*

the end of act one saw the magical forest ~

a snow queen and her prince…

then

a flurry of snowflakes prancing on stage

with ‘snow’ falling from an overhead scrim.

*

~ Intermission ~

*

act two began with a ride in a sleigh

to the land of fairies, dancing flowers and sweets

and

a story of how Clara saved the Nutcracker’s life ~

broke the spell

of a doll he would no longer be.

*

after introductions were made,

the prince called upon

the kingdom to perform for his guest ~

the land of sweets

came bursting alive with dancing

and

classical music at its best.

*

as Clara and her prince sat

in a gazebo on stage right,

she knew in her heart

it was more than a ‘dream’ ~

the desire she felt was real…

the journey was real…

it was ‘who’

she was meant to be.

*

the young girl wanted to waltz along with the flowers,

wave a fan in black Spanish lace

and

pirouette in a tutu all around the stage

as the reed instruments in the orchestra played.

*

the last to perform was the sugar plum fairy

along with her cavalier ~

a pas de deux so beautiful,

so spectacular to watch

that Clara’s eyes began to well up with tears…

because

Clara knew ~ the young girl knew ~

the grande finale was about to begin,

when all the dancers performed one last time

and

bid farewell to her and the prince.

*

the end of the ballet brought curtain calls,

a dozen red roses with applause

and

stage hands taking apart the sets

and

packing away the props.

*

*

when the end of night

finally arrived,

the young girl laid awake in her bed ~

all she could see

were visions of herself

dancing around in her head ~

~ ~ ~

waltzing with flowers,

pirouettes in a tutu,

and

waving a fan in black Spanish lace ~ ~ ~

leaping through the air,

under snowflakes and candy canes

all around a magnificent stage.

*

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*

post script:  I wrote this piece last year and I chose to post it again this year, however, I refined it a bit.  An edit here and an edit there – one year after the fact with fresh eyes and a few years of writing poetry under my belt (or shall I say under my tutu:)

An Autumn Love Story

°

Once upon a time…

°

It was a season of color –

a parade of oranges, reds, golds and browns

&

the grand finale before Mr. J. Frost

and

his flakey friends came to town.

°

°

she was enticing, intoxicating ~

a stunning beauty in red

and

she captured his attention from across the path

~

he was the color of sunshine ~

a bright golden hue

and

when her eyes laid upon him,

she so fell in love with the view

&

everyday they would look upon the other

with a smile and a wave ~

while

 patiently waiting for the moment

when their tree would begin to sway

°

°

they waited

and

waited

through the wind and the rain

until

one day it happened,

it finally came…

when these lovers from afar

were at long last

~ free ~

to be together

 ~ dancing ~

their last moments

 ~ aloft ~

on

a

breeze

°

°

lovely…

°

If – a story

~

IF I could return to this world

long after I have gone,

I would return as a bird ~

as a majestic, white swan.

~

I would settle on a lake,

way beyond the beaten path ~

far away from the chaos

and

the noise of life’s wrath.

~

I would spend my days gracefully,

gliding along ~~~

to the rhythm of nature’s symphonies

occasionally honking a song.

~

I may find another ~

a soul mate, a partner

to create beautiful choreography ~

a pas de deux on the water

~

as our ballet transitions

from Act I to Act II,

little grey cygnets will be born,

maybe one,

possibly a few.

~

the little one’s will follow ~ ~ ~

single file one-by-one ~ ~ ~

our corps de ballet will be complete ~ ~ ~

waltzing around the lake

under the sun.

~

there will come a day

when their plumes of white will emerge,

our cast of soloists will take flight

making their way into the world

~

meanwhile,

my partner and I will stay quietly behind ~

gracefully

gliding side~by~side

in

our

ballet of life.

~

~