Zentangle Cats...

 

(in the tradition of T.S. Eliot's "The Song of the Jellicles")

Zentangle Cats are whirly and wavy.

Zentangle Cats like to sit in the sun.

Zentangle Cats love their grits and their gravy.

Zentangle Cats' bellies sway when they run.

(to be continued...)

The Return of the Muse

When I write, I tend to visualize images and hear background music, like I'm watching a movie. It's exciting and motivating, but sometimes I think it keeps me from exploring the possibilities of actually writing the story because I get carried away by the possibilities of writing a movie script (which I don't know how to do properly).

But, when the Muse beckons, it's hard to resist her siren's song. It's quite bewitching to start writing something new, even if it's somewhere in the middle of your story line, and you realize that something is taking shape right before your eyes. 

Your characters begin to talk to each other, scenery appears and events unfold. An idea leads to another and before you know it, you are immersed in a world of your own making.

Some stories take a very long time to create; others spring to life and before you realize it, you've written 10,000 words. My problem is... I rarely finish anything.

When I was a journalist, I had to write, research and publish countless articles; most of them needed little or no editing, but when they did need a little make-over, I was fortunate to have really good editors. Personally, I've "written" 2 children's books, 2 Young Adult novels, a play/screenplay and various poems and essays (so far). 

The only one that's "finished" is a fantasy story-poem about one of my dead cats that I started writing a dozen years ago. That one is going to be published (with help from a friend) as a 'zine (a small 24-page booklet) that I'm also illustrating with rubber stamp art and paper cut-outs. I'm hoping to print 100 copies by the end of July 2024. 

I'm really looking forward to finishing something! Wish me luck - stay tuned for more!

Avoid Disappointment and Future Regret

 

Each of us arrives 

with an allotment of Time

How we use it is up to us

We can use it well or use it frivolously

This is not to say we cannot relax, or rest

Or do things simply for enjoyment's sake

But too much wasted Time is fuel for regret

We might regret we didn't achieve our dreams

Or we hesitated and missed having an experience

Or we put off seeing someone or saying something

But these become life lessons well learned

And regret will not change any bitter outcome

Only making amends, moving forward, and laughter

Can ease our regret, our disappointment, our grief

And bring us comfort, and closure, and contentment

Even, perhaps, a smile and hope for a happy ending

To know Peace in life as well as death

Is a precious thing to strive for, in all ways

We can never take Peace for granted

To have it, and maintain it, you must first create it

Within your heart, then share it with others

As you would share Love

With all the souls who need it

This is the best way to use the Time we have

Before our Time ends and is lost forever