Daily Writing Archives - Ann Freeman Price

Happy Thanksgiving

Ann — Thu, 26 Nov 2015 14:58:51 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving
Yesterday I received this quote and thought I would pass it on to you on this Thanksgiving Day:
“Always give without remembering and always receive without forgetting.”
It’s by Brian Tracy. I had not heard of him before but he is CEO of Brian Tracy International, a company committed to the training and development of individuals and organizations.
Happy Thanksgiving!!!

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Simple Living—-Take Two

Ann — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 15:08:56 +0000

Simple Living—Take Two
I shared with you the other day a paradelle I wrote on simple living. It was fun to write and I wanted to try writing one. But in terms of a form to use for the topic of simple living, it was totally mismatched. And so I used the simple form of a shadorma, and it fit the subject much better.
The Simple Life
(Shadormas)

I ache to
live the simple life
keep it plain
keep it spare
find the balance point in all
and feel the magic

I want the
clearness in schedule,
surroundings,
no pressure
in how I live my moments
but much escapes me

since behold
clutter reappears
scheduling
simple life
get complicated again
where is the answer

I start with
small bits and pieces,
times throughout
my day when
I recognize that simple
has appeared – I smile

work for more
not content with small
inch along
bit by bit
for simple life extended
to more of my time

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Simple Living and a Paradelle

Ann — Sat, 19 Sep 2015 21:00:53 +0000

Simple Living and a Paradelle
I’ve never written a paradelle before. It’s a poetry form concocted by Billy Collins, almost as a joke and then people started writing them. See if you can figure out the ingredients of the form. It was fun to write.
Simple (A Paradelle)

commit to do this simple living
commit to do this simple living
clear the clutter and discard the extra
clear the clutter and discard the extra
clear the living and do this simple
commit to discard the extra clutter

watch your purchases – buy only essential
watch your purchases – buy only essential
stop the frenzy of schedule – paint your center calm
stop the frenzy of schedule – paint your center calm
stop essential schedule – watch the frenzy
buy only your calm center – paint your purchases

eat basic healthy food and enjoy dance
eat basic healthy food and enjoy dance
breathe – feel the wind on your face as you walk
breathe – feel the wind on your face as you walk
feel the dance – breathe and walk as you eat
enjoy healthy food – basic wind on your face

stop the clutter of purchases – buy the discard
watch your schedule frenzy – eat extra essential food only
enjoy and feel the healthy you – do your face clear
walk on the wind – paint your basic center
commit to breathe as calm
and dance the simple living

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Driving Energy

Ann — Sun, 13 Sep 2015 00:00:33 +0000

Driving Energy
Some of you know this about me. Some of you don’t. Maybe it’s time to put you all on the same page.

Driving Energy

I think of the old-fashioned
coffee percolator
with the clear glass ball on top
where you saw the coffee bubble up
with enthusiasm as it perks

when I drive alone in the car
that’s what happens
to my brain

it perks
—with ideas
—with things to do
—with poems
—with chants
—with thoughts

when I was pastoring
and was stuck on a sermon
I would get in the car
and talk out loud
as I thought it through

confession:
I keep an open spiral notebook
on the passenger seat
and make notes

don’t tell

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Nested Meditation

Ann — Mon, 07 Sep 2015 14:10:38 +0000

Nested Meditation
I recently read an article by Kevin Anderson called “The Nested Meditation.” His directions for writing one was that each stanza is a place where you can pause to meditate. The very first stanza is simply one line. The next stanza continues beyond what you wrote in the first stanza and again you can pause. This one that I wrote when I was in the mountains of Virginia has seven stanzas. Read it slowly. Meditate. Then try writing one of your own.

Thank You

Thank you for moon.

Thank you for moon
and mountains.

Thank you for moon.
And mountains hover far behind
the birdfeeder.

Thank you for moon.
And mountains hover far behind
the birdfeeder,
where tiny tufted titmouse
and black capped chickadee
flit to feed.

Thank you for moon.
And mountains hover far behind
the birdfeeder.
Where tiny tufted titmouse
and black capped chickadee
flit to feed,
is the same spot
where busy squirrels
dance on trees.

Thank you for moon.
And mountains hover far behind
the birdfeeder.
Where tiny tufted titmouse
and black capped chickadee
flit to feed,
is the same spot
where busy squirrels
dance on trees
in front of barking dachshunds.

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Grandchild – Grandmother

Ann — Tue, 01 Sep 2015 01:13:25 +0000

Grandchild / Grandmother
Several years ago as I asked for birthday suggestions for one of my grandsons, and his mother (one of my daughters) told me the type of shirt he liked and his size. She also said, “He’s really hard to buy clothes for, Mother. He has to love the feel of it, or he won’t wear it.”
I realized this summer that I have become the very same.

Clothes

there are only
certain clothes
I actually wear

others hang forlorn
on closet rods
or sit like
remnants captive
in dresser drawers

the clothes I wear
feel right
against my skin
give ample room
to move without constraint
are loose so I can breathe

slowly
I transfer
these precious principles
about clothes
to my daily living

what I do has
gotta feel right
in my whole self
have room to move
and stay loose
for deep, deep breaths

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Writing

Ann — Sat, 29 Aug 2015 01:47:54 +0000

Writing
I’m not promising a post every day—but I AM writing something every day. Here’s a poem back from the early weeks of doing this daily stuff.

Writing

there once was a woman
who tried to create
a chant or a poem
each day before eight
she tossed and she turned
every night in her bed
to put down the words
that would swirl in her head

sometimes it was poetry
other times it was prose
there were days it was easy
and nights it just froze
but over and over
in darkness or light
her pen scratched out words
either serious or trite

she could barely begin
barely come to a halt
she wrote down pure sugar
she scribbled pure salt
but at first and at last
as she jumped and she hopped
she couldn’t – just couldn’t –
couldn’t come to a stop

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The Summer Carousel

Ann — Thu, 27 Aug 2015 20:02:49 +0000

The Summer Carousel
I have been a carousel lover for a very long time, visiting the historical carousel factory outside of Buffalo, NY and riding their FAST carousel. They told us that carousels started out only as an adult ride, so they went fast.
Another time, Donna, Sadie, Delainey and I visited Binghamton, NY which has SIX carousels. We stayed overnight in a hotel, rode three one day and three the next.
Two years ago at Ocean City, NJ at the age of 80, I couldn’t get up on a moving horse and had to ride in a stationery chariot. Last year at Ocean City I was so discouraged I didn’t even try. This year at Ocean City after five years of Egoscue work and daily exercise I GOT UP ON A MOVING HORSE AND RODE!!!

Carousel Pantoum

successful
climb onto the horse’s back
with two daughters helping
and two granddaughters hoping

the climb onto the carousel horse
began with fearful anticipation
and two granddaughters hoping diminished
the dread of failure and quick dispatch to the boring chariot

what started with fear and anxiety
shifted into unbelievable coordination
and this 82-year-old woman eliminated the chariot dread
replacing it with circular excitement

the coordination shift
was greeted with glee
and the circular excitement
erupted into wide-flung smiles

gleeful greetings
flew to all she knew
and wide-flung smiles
filled photos and her heart

she knew and cherished both carousel and visible ocean
two daughters helping her accomplish late-age dreams
filling her heart with love and
success

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A Summer of Writing

Ann — Sun, 16 Aug 2015 02:12:01 +0000

A Summer of Writing
Somewhere during the June summer days I read about someone who wrote something every day. I thought: Wow—that would be something to try. And I’m trying it. I started on June 30th and here on August 15th I’m still going strong. So I’ll share from time to time, what I write from day to day.
To start with here’s an acrostic about Ocean City, NJ.

Oceanaire Acrostic

Ocean always there
Careening with storm turmoil or
Ebb and flow whisper waves.
Action on the boardwalk
Never-ending beckons locals
And visitors to join the frenzy for
Ice cream, pizza, funnel cake and taffy.
Relaxing and restful? Not so much.
Energizing and stimulating? Ever and always.

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