Headline Poem 12/31/14 -- A tribute to you

I had no idea when I started my poem a day on January 1, 2014 if I'd actually be able to write 365. Initially, my poems were about other people's lives. These headlines captured and haunted me. As things in my own life changed, the news on some days became too much, and my poetry shifted, becoming more personal, more raw. That's how it works. There were moments I wanted to stop, but I didn't. It turns out I needed these poems. I had no idea that this daily practice of writing would become my saving grace. As so often is the case, beautiful things came my way, disguised, sometimes, as really shitty things. I have learned a lot this year, mostly about peace. It makes sense for my last poem of the year to be a tribute -- to nature, another saving grace. I will keep writing in 2015, and now, will have fun combining my words with beautiful art. Happy New Year! 

May your soul be sturdy, 

may your smile be bright, 

and may your heart 

swell with love. ❤️

A Tribute to You 

The day we 

packed up the kids 

and our lunches and our tie-dyed eggs

and drove through you, 

was the day small things started to change.

As we entered your sacred space,

you embraced us, and whispered that we were safe.

My heart raced, and then slowed, 

switching between fierce ebbs and

apprehensive flows. 

Your aroma is permanently

carved in my heart, and I can still smell

the shawl of acceptance you wrapped around

me, knowing how hard

I was trying to 

breathe while my children played among 

the Joshua Trees.

My bones thank you. 

 
It was there under the Cirrus clouds

that I lay down on you,

and became 

simply 

a woman in love 

with a man.

I don't know how, but you knew 

that I hadn't

really let him inside for at least

half a decade. 

I needed to be among the rocks,

and the curves of you to begin again

to speak

a language so long ignored

it was gathering cobwebs and dusted specks. 

We, in our own traps, were stuck. 

 

That day, we stopped spinning and 

surrendered

to being tangled up in you

and  

your soothing, mud-less breeze

of fault lines and ego dreams,

and we let go. 

We trusted that you'd bring us home

That was eight months ago, 

and to this day,

we are still closing our eyes, 

and pinching our skin

with appreciation,

ever so gently, 

always gently. 

Headline Poem 12/30/14 -- his dream

One more poem and I will have written a poem a day for 2014. Tomorrow night is #365! 

his dream 

knowing his dream 

is to wake

beside her, 

she follows him 

where he goes

Headline Poem 12/29/14 -- Behind

Behind every tormented writer 

           there is a reader 

                 feeling 

               the exact 

              same thing 

Headline Poem 12/28/14 -- Fallbrook Lane

Fallbrook Lane 

There is only one house on Fallbrook Lane. 

In it lives a little man and his Great Dane. 

They have tea and biscuits every morning at six. 

And then cold cuts and soda pop 

while they watch Netflix. 

The man is not lonely, for he likes it this way. 

They have a routine each and every day. 

They drive to town on Wednesdays to get supplies. 

They drive to the beach on Saturday to let salt air touch their eyes. 

Everything is simple with the cottage and the man. 

Some think he's melancholy with no one to hold his hand. 

He doesn't think so until one day he agrees. 

He rises at eight instead six and fixes black eyed peas. 

His big dog is perplexed but happy at the change. 

He thinks perhaps they will walk to another lane. 

They do and that is where they meet Ms. Susie Frees. 

She never ever gardens on Thursdays before three. 

But today something told her to go out get things done. 

So out she ventured with her Poodle named Everyone. 

Everyone and Susie greeted the man and Dane. 

Then they left the gardening and visited Fallbrook Lane. 

Headline Poem 12/27/14 -- dear mother earth

dear mother earth,

i like the circles 

that you make 

around the sun

each day. 

love, me 

Headline Poem 12/26/14 -- These clouds

These clouds 

These clouds 

open up 

places in

my soul

I didn't 

even know 

were closed. 

Headline Poem 12/25/14 -- A Prayer for Sierra Leone

Merry Christmas, or Happy December 25th! Today's poem is a prayer for Sierra Leone. It was inspired by a woman named Lynn who is working every day to help the most vulnerable in West Africa, including those currently fighting for their lives in the face of the Ebola crisis. Here is a link to her website, Greatest Goal Ministries, that exists solely on donations. Please consider giving what you can here, or to Doctors Without Borders who provide medical aide all over the world to those in need, including those dealing with the Ebola virus. As you celebrate with your family and friends, please remember them, and if you pray, keep them in yours.

As we celebrate the birth of Christ and gather with friends and loved ones, please take a moment to remember those living in West Africa suffering through this Ebola crisis and those helping to fight it.  I have only been here about 3 weeks and I am tired.  The Nationals, Doctors without Borders and others have been fighting it for as long as 6 months. 

Progress is being made but no end is yet in sight.  Prayer and more people on the ground joining the fight is the only way this will end. Lynn Pelton, GGM 

A Prayer for Sierra Leone 

I write this tonight thousands of miles from where you are, but close enough to feel your gift of healing hands pressed gently on humanity's skin. I offer you my humble words of gratitude, and a prayer for Sierra Leone. I have no magic to spread, but instead, cover you in love.

I pray for your loved ones back home who miss you, but rejoice in the work you do.

I pray that those of us who have a coat for warmth and a soft place to fall, give what we can.

I pray for the baby girl who latches on to a bottle because her mama's dying, and from now on that's all she'll know.

I pray for the business owner with trembling hands who hopes that by being closed, death will skip his door.

I pray for Muslims and Christians who are imprisoned in their homes because Christmas has been cancelled by a virus that breaths deep, poisonous breaths.

I pray for the doctors and nurses who hunch over patients one by one without a break, ships not wrecked, but anchored with intention and drenched from love.

I pray for the bending woman on the verge of breaking down in the bed she made, and some days wants to stay, but won't.

I pray that at least once we all journey to a holy place where the only souvenirs to bring home are strings left on our hearts.

I pray we do not forget you and your tireless work.

Amen 

Headline Poem 12/24/14 -- It's okay for just one day

It's okay for just one day

It's okay for just one day 

to believe in

the magic of your dreams,

to hear a melody of silver songs inside your mouth 

with cinnamon lyrics 

coming out,

to take a break from the 

deliriousness 

of simple chores

and feel your wondrous pulse

       beat only with love,

to awaken with a

starry-eyed heart and

sweet peppermint toes

Headline Poem 12/23/14 -- Winter

Winter 

winter wanders in 

with intuition & grace 

she knows 

she only has 

a little while 

to linger in this 

place 

Headline Poem 12/22/14 -- After work

Art by Sandra Moreano, words by Courtney Hanes 

After work 

After work, everything comes off:

the shoes, the tights, the 

moods, the rights 

(and wrongs),

      but most importantly, the bra. 

Headline Poem 12/21/14 -- A Song for the Winter Solstice

A Song for the Winter Solstice

You are the wild horse 

I ride carefree on Sundays

You are a canvas for the words

I decorate with green moss 

and blue savage moons

You are my secret sun 

hiding behind 

the shortest days 

and longest nights

You are not afraid 

to scatter your seeds

on the breast of a robin

to make memories 

You are my sanctuary 

of hungry wheat and 

longing warm 

underbellies of home

Headline Poem 12/20/14 -- i want to tell you something

Art by Sandra Moreano 

i want to give you something 

i want to give you something 

that's white and red,

but if you take it, 

you have to promise 

you won't laugh 

or start to run, 

but instead,

you'll stick it in a little vase 

and show everyone.

Headline Poem 12/19/14-- Human

Headline Poem 12/19/14-- Human

Headline Poem 12/18/14 -- For Certain

For certain 

My beloved, I promised. 

My beloved, I vowed. 

My beloved, I weep. 

If you can hear me,

      please know 

for certain that you are

all I need. 

If you can see me, 

      please know 

for certain that you are 

my rock and key. 

If you can feel me, 

      please know 

for certain that you are 

what I believe. 

If you remember me,

      please know 

for certain that you were 

my everything. 

Headline Poem 12/17/14 -- I grow

I grow 

I grow because 

sunshine 

smiles on me 

and my roots mix 

with rain 

Headline Poem 12/16/14 -- I will never

Art by Mark Olmsted 

Tonight, I wrote a poem inspired by this art piece by Mark. I'm curious to see what he thinks, and how what I see merges with his truth. 

I will never 

I can stand on the cliffs of injustice and point my fingers 

ten or two. 

I can use your jaw that drops 

when I walk by 

to wipe up 

what's left of me and you. 

But there is   no   way, 

even at my lowest 

when I can hardly believe 

we ever tried to merge our souls,

that I will let you 

trick me with your 

condescending birds 

and 

letters put together 

to make 

twisted lines of graffiti 

and hollowed out words. 

     

       I will never 

worship the ground you piss 

on as long as you

crookedly 

live. 

Headline Poem 12/15/14 -- another sunday evening

Another poem inspired by the art of Sandra Moreano. 

another sunday evening

you can wrap me 

in pearls

and make believe

i'm your girl 

but because 

i like you 

i'll save you some 

trouble

       you're not the 

       only man 

who cries when i leave 

and calls me honey 

Headline Poem 12/14/14 -- capsized

Art by Sandra "Sasha" Moreano 

Today's poem is inspired by another piece of art by Sandra Moreano. Here is a link to her website where I found this beautiful painting -- http://shashasclips.blogspot.com/2014/12/gelli-prints.html.

capsized 

the storm came 

out of nowhere 

    to tip over 

      our boat

which  

would have been     

okay 

       if we were prepared 

to do more 

than float 

       but we weren't

       and so 

we sank         

minute by minute 

        until eventually 

        our little vessel 

            capsized 

             with us 

                in it

Headline Poem 12/13/14 -- Lay me down

Tonight, I met an amazing artist who asked me to write a few poems to combine with her art. I did, and we created our first collaboration with this poem. Here is the artwork. Cards will be available for sale soon!! 

Lay me down 

Lay me down on a 

Bed full of stars 

And listen to me wonder aloud 

About forgotten things and 

Hidden treasures

That live inside even 

When we do not see them 

Headline Poem 12/12/14 -- My mother's legs

Today at a writer's retreat, we were given the following prompt: My mother's legs. Since my own mother was right next to me, I decided to write from the perspective of one of my characters. 

My mother's legs 

My mother's legs wrapped 

themselves around his 

smooth, supple skin, 

her cave of salvation, 

he welcomed her in,

but  then     like   rusting  chains

    on a forgotten fence,

she was locked out, 

denied entrance and 

     (self diagnosed)

           a fool 

straight laced, 

head pinned to wall, 

stranded 

with a lonely burden

and a throat full of dust. 

My mother's legs began to wilt,

temporarily, as she lie buried 

under the belly of youth

in 

a valley of resentment

and untrusting truth. 

Headline Poem 12/11/14 -- Golden lust

Golden lust 

When you 

have just an ounce

of golden lust left inside,

box it up like rain,

for it will get 

a little heavier 

each day. 

Headline Poem 12/10/14 -- Another thing my best self will do

Another thing my best self will do 

There will come a day 

when I will wrap 

my arm around 

your heart 

with forgiving grace, 

and smother

the forgotten things with 

my best self. 

Headline Poem 12/9/14 -- I believe in you like

I believe in you like 

I believe in you 

like I believe in dust devils 

and mountain lions,

       allowances lurking and 

       lingering for payment

for

exceeding 

expectations 

and rumbling through 

outer wares and fair shares. 

I believe in you 

like I believe in 

used shoes, laces gently 

      borrowed 

and twisted with     neon 

   plastic at the ends

so they don't 

       slip      

         through. 

Headline Poem 12/8/14 -- softly

softly 

I whisper 

what I want 

to say

because 

if I didn't, 

you'd 

never understand. 

Headline Poem 12/7/14 -- On the days

On the days 

When capes 

and make believe 

don't work,

When having a tantrum 

and sending yourself 

to your room 

sounds good,

sit down on your porch 

with something hot 

and mope. 

Headline Poem 12/6/14 -- I'm a gambling man

I'm a gambling man 

I see a winning hand 

from two yards down. 

I know tricks 

and how to trade 

     his for hers and

hers     for mine. 

I know the smell of sea 

and how her hair 

sparkles at midnight 

when shampoo bubbles 

mix with thick salt. 

I'm a gambling man. 

I spin alone, but 

prefer on any given night 

to be under her

so 

I'll ask if she'll dance 

though

   I've 

been denied more 

than my share of times. 

When the sun goes down, 

I turn to me to say

I'll get along without her 

or they

but never without me

for 

I'm out of chips, 

and cash and all things green, 

but I'm a gambling man 

and on I play 

And on I play... 

Headline Poem 12/5/14 -- Some thoughts pass through

Some thoughts pass through 

There she was

perched on a wire, avoiding intimidation, 

but afraid to go higher. 

She was a given, 

waiting to sin, predictable 

orange peels dipped in 

seven-day-old turpentine skin,

ready for her own fire, 

dangerous and sweet, 

yet 

ripe and 

     sticky clean.