A Monster at my Door

 Welcome friends! It's that time of year again... spooky sights appear all up and down my street, and yesterday, one showed up at my door.  What to do?  Write a poem, of course!

TREE MONSTER

A monster showed up

in my tree

It seems as if 

It laughs at me

It chomps its teeth

And blinks its eyes

But I'm not scared

It's no surprise

The night of rascals

Soon is here

When wizards, ghosts

And imps appear

When jack-o-lanterns

Wink and blink

When hoot owls hoot

And varmints slink

I'll play along

With all the fun

'Cuz soon enough...

       They'll all be gone!!!

© Karen Eastlund

In case you'd like to rehearse a Halloween song, here's a post from a few year's back with my attempt at scaring the bejeebers out of you!  Scary Halloween Song.

Thanks to the great Linda Baie for hosting our group today.  Find her spooky (dark and devilish) post here.  All the Poetry Friday gang will be sharing links at her place today. Don't miss the costume party!

This little apple

 Happy Poetry Friday... our gathering today is hosted by Bridget, who is announcing the birth of her anthology: 10•10 Poetry Anthology: Celebrating 10 in 10 Different Ways.  I am pleased and delighted to be one of the 58 poets whose work is in this book. Can't wait to get my copy!  It is available in paperback and Kindle versions via Amazon.

Hey... have you noticed it's apple season?  My usual breakfast is an apple cut into slices and slathered with peanut butter. If you have never tried it, I encourage you to do so!  Juicy, sweet, crunchy, peanutty and delicious!  

So, one day I took out a nice red apple, cut it open, and this is what looked at me.  I didn't arrange it or pose it. This happened naturally. It's true!!!

How can I ever face an apple again?  I could almost hear it speaking:

Sighs of a Sad Apple

Of all the apples

in the world

you had to

pick on me?

I'm worried sick...

I haven't slept...

as anyone

can see...

Ever since my

stem let go

I've been shaken 

to my core

Whatever will

become of me?

Applesauce?

Quel bore!

And so I've sat

bewildered

at the sound

of my own thud

Hoping that 

I hadn't bruised

or grown icky 

from the mud

But now you've

cut me open

I hope your

satisfied

Just because of you

I'm done!

Sliced open!

Mortified!!!

Well!!! If you would

make a fritter

I'd deign to

play along

Or better yet

an apple pie?

(I guess that can't

go wrong)

Add cinnamon

and sugar

a flaky crust

is nice

Make sure your roll

it evenly

And crimp around

each slice

And then I'd like

some whipped cream

A dollop up

on top

If you could promise

those things

I suppose my tears

might stop

And please use

your best china

and a table cloth

for tea

And when you take

a bite... just stop...

and heave a sigh

for me.

© Karen Eastlund

2021

Thanks again to Bridget for hosting.  Find her celebration of TEN at Wee Words for Wee Ones. 

Here...and now.

 Here in the NorthEast, autumn is ambling in.  Just today I noticed this...

Our friend Ramona Behnke offered the topic for Spiritual Journey this month, a fascinating one that came from Emily P. Freeman's podcast.

In the podcast, Emily quoted Dr. Larry Crabb asking, “What is true right now? The state of your mind, heart, will and imagination? And then also the state of your body, your surroundings, your place in the world today.” 

So Ramona asks... What is true here and now?

This month I'm blessed to celebrate a 50th anniversary with my hubby. We two have had quite an adventure over the years. Our children took us on a glorious week in Wyoming to celebrate, and the afterglow of that week will never wear off. 

Chris & Karen, 2003... my favorite if not most recent photo!

My church choir has resumed. I am here, totally present, listening as well as singing while in choir. The challenge and beauty of music still feeds and heals my soul. 

Autumn is my favorite season, filled with cool days and brilliant color. For me it is a time of both sadness and rejoicing as the season itself reflects. Autumn is always bittersweet.

My birthday is this month. I've earned these wrinkles and I'm thankful for each day, delighting in the beauty, opportunities and challenges of life. I'm healthy enough to go hiking here at 9,000ft. Woohoo!

Taking in the beauty here in WY

I have the challenge of leading the history committee in my town. We work hard and I'm proud of our members and the work we do here.

The traffic here is crazy. Why do I live in NJ?

I look for truth in the world and struggle to recognize it. I believe that God loves us and is here with us, but lets us learn the hard way. I pray for courage and insight.

During this long stretch of pandemic, I turn to some old favorites. In an old Christmas M.A.S.H. episode, there is much moaning about being away from home for the holiday. Having had enough,  Colonel Potter shouts, "If you ain't where you are, you're nowhere!!!" Potter's statement may not be eloquent, but it's true. 

What's true for you? Where are you at this moment? I'd love to read your response in the comments below.

Thanks to Ramona for hosting and providing this springboard. Find Ramona, links to others in our group, and more about this topic at Pleasures from the Page.