Welcome to the beginning of a new week. I almost let National Poetry Month, slip by without acknowledging it. So, I’m remedying that today.
First, let me explain this photo. Kelli Shannon is a friend who is also a fabulous photographer and realtor. She has started a blog designed to empower older women and uplift younger women. She will be featuring me on a post soon and I’ll share it. In the meantime, if you’re interested, the site is Rooted and Radiant. So, we spent a good deal of time together on Friday and got lots of great photos I can share, including the one above.
While Kelli was here taking the photos, I flipped through Discovery, Poetry and Art.
This poem caught my eye.
NOTHING MORE
By Rick Sikes
Such honor have I for your love
To be the one you chose
Thoughts of you leave me in ecstasy
And want of compose
You are a radiant beauty
Awakening new emotions
Heights of passion grows
Your eyes have a magical twinkle
Sparkling charm invariably shows
Moods are lighter
All about you brightly glows
Currents of warmth
Sweet peace around you flows
Blue skies prevail
Darkness goes
To explain the feeling
My heart knows
I can only say it’s love
Nothing more, I suppose
I see poetry as one of the most intimate ways to express emotions. I loved including a poetry section in my newest book, “Fringes, Heartstrings and Lyrics.”
COMES THE DAWN
By Jan Sikes
After a while, you learn the subtle difference
Between holding a hand and chaining a soul
And you learn that love doesn’t mean leaning
And company doesn’t mean security
You begin to learn that kisses aren’t contracts
And presents aren’t promises
You start to accept your defeats
With your head up and eyes open
With the grace of a woman, not the innocence of a child
You learn to build your roads on today
Because tomorrow’s ground is too uncertain for plans
And futures have a way of falling down in mid-flight
After a while, you learn that even sunshine
Burns if you get too much
So you plant your own garden and decorate your own soul
Instead of waiting for someone to bring you flowers
You learn that you can endure
That you are strong
And you do have worth
And you learn and learn
With every breath, you learn
Speaking of the new little book, it’s still on tour. I am so grateful to all my hosts and hostesses! I will be visiting with John Howell this coming week, so I hope you can join us. If you missed last week’s stops, here they are.
Now, I want to tell you about a dream. I call it a ‘dream within a dream’ when you dream that you are asleep and dreaming. It’s only happened to me twice, but it happened Friday night. I’d been tossing around an idea for a Christmas story (which I mentioned on here before with a character named Bill Briscoe and his occupation that of an artist). Well, in this dream I met two young ladies who had inherited a bar from their grandfather. Their names were Darcy Mae and Elizabeth Ann. Then the artist I had originally thought the story was about showed up and I got so many details including his name, Jacob Hawke.
I dreamed that I woke my sister and told her I had my Christmas story, then got out of bed and went to the computer and typed every detail I could remember. At some point, I woke up for real. That was powerful. People who aren’t creatives may think that’s a bit on the crazy side, but it gets crazier. As soon as I got up, I went straight to the computer to capture as much as I could remember. Then I wondered about a name for the bar, and decided to ask Chatgpt for suggestions. Guess what the first suggestion was. Briscoe’s Tavern…Yep. So, Bill Briscoe wasn’t the artist’s name, but the grandfather who owned the bar. And keep in mind I didn’t share any details with Chatgpt for it to know this. How can you explain that? I cannot. Anyway, the title will be “Painting Christmas.” Now, I just have to get busy and write it.
I did a quick mockup just to help inspire me. It’s a place to start.
Have you ever had anything like this happen to you? I’d love to hear about it so maybe I wouldn’t feel so insane.
Here’s a bit of inspiration for the week ahead.
I returned to my new tarot deck this week for our food-for-thought.
I think what this card depicts is a state of being we’d all enjoy attaining. It signifies independence, financial stability, and a strong connection with nature, as seen in all the greenery, flowers and the falcon perched on her hand. It’s about earned success, through hard work and perseverance. It also encourages us to celebrate our wins, no matter how small. I’ll keep that thought in mind as I go through the week. It’s inspiring to me.
Discover more from Jan Sikes
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Happy poetry month, love the poems you shared. I have a copy of Discovery on my book shelf. Love your dream, and ai love Christmas stories. Yes, I have had that happen. Once years ago I had it come to me as a complete movie, including credits. I wrote down what I remembered, but have no idea where the notes are now. All I can remember is it was sbout a young boy on his own. For a long while si didn’t dream or couldn’t remember any, now they are back again. I see a connection to my writing again. Xo
That’s interesting, Denise. I think when we are in the creative mode, dreams are more likely to make an impression on us. Wonder if anyone has ever done a study to connect the two? Maybe you’ll find the notes and have a whole new story! So glad you enjoyed the poems and I am honored that you have Discovery on your book shelf! Thanks for dropping by.
I always love these author stories and it doesn’t seem strange to me at all. I am also looking at that falcon as an osprey calls from somewhere above my back yard.
Thanks so much, Craig. I appreciate your comment because sometimes I wonder just how strange I am. 🙂 How awesome that you are hearing the osprey calling. Love it.
Both poems are fabulous, Jan, and what a dream! I’ve never experienced that, but I have had very strange dreams where I’ve wondered where did that come from?! 🙂 Love the Brown quote and the card message. Great post!
I’m so glad you enjoyed the poems, Lauren. I have strange dreams often and sometimes I can figure out what triggered them and sometimes not. But the dream within a dream has only happened to me twice. Thank you so much for visiting and leaving a comment!
Fantastic poetry, Jan
So glad you enjoyed them, Toni. Thank you for visiting!
Awesome post, Jan! I love your poem! I’m so happy you remembered that dream. I can’t wait to read the full story. I feel like I am living my nine of pentacles life right now. Lol! 🙂
Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment, Yvette. I am happy you enjoyed the poem. I am super excited about the new story. How awesome you are feeling the Nine of Pentacles. What a blessing!!
Beautiful poems, Jan – thanks for sharing them. I get it with the dreams., and I’ve had similar experiences. With the bar name? Sounds like this Christmas story is meant to be. Have a great week!
Thanks for visiting, Teri. I am so glad you relate to the dreams. Sometimes I wonder about myself. And the coincidence of the bar name is almost spooky. So glad you enjoyed the poems.
I wake up from time to time with an idea that I need to write down. Sometimes, the idea even survives my attempt to record it. Your story idea sounds great. Good luck fleshing it out.
I am glad you can relate to story ideas from dreams, Dan. But then you did create a character who did lucid dreaming. 🤪 Thank you for stopping by!
Fabulous poetry by you and Rick, Jan, and fascinating words about a dream within a dream.
So glad you enjoyed the poems, Tim. The dream within a dream was very interesting, to say the least. Thank you for visiting!
😍
Hi Jan, both poems are lovely. I relate strongly to yours having nearly lost one son and my husband. We do have to be prepared for loss and understand we ultimately walk out life paths alone. I can also relate to the quote and the card. It took courage to leave my job after so many years. I have signed with another firm with reduced hours position. I am very enthusiastic and hopeful.
That is fantastic, Robbie. And I am glad you enjoyed the poems. It is so exciting to begin a new chapter in work life and I hope it is exactly what you need. I appreciate you taking the time to visit and leave a comment today!
Today seems to be the day for love poems (and that’s a good thing!).
That is a good thing, Liz. 🙂 Thanks for dropping by!
You’re welcome, Jan!
I never had an experience like your dream in a dream. In fact, I don’t think any of my dreams helped me with a story. Your Christmas story sounds like it will be super. Lovely poems by you and Rick.
Thank you for your comment, John. I swear the whole dream experience was unreal, but it gave me what I needed for the Christmas story. 🙂 Glad you liked the poems, and thank you for stopping by!
Rick was quite the romantic. Your poem comes from the perspective of experience. “With every breath you learn.” I don’t remember ever having that “dream within a dream” experience. That must be a weird feeling.
Thank you for your comment, Pete. It has happened to me twice and both times, it’s disorienting. When I woke up (for real) I had to wonder for a minute if I was truly back in this reality.
I can see why Rick was such an excellent musician (aside from his musical talent).
Thank you for your comment, Jacqui! I appreciate you stopping by!
Thanks for sharing your and Rick’s poems. I have had dreams within dreams, which is kinda fun, but I don’t remember anything significant from them.
My pleasure, Priscilla. I do love poetry. The first time I dreamed I was a asleep and dreaming and woke up in the dream, when I woke up for real, I was very disoriented and wasn’t sure if I was really awake in this reality or the other one. Very strange feeling.