DECEPTIVELY EFFORTLESS; PAINFULLY BRIGHT: Ragtag Daily Prompt Friday (Vivid) & Saturday (Placid)

For Saturday’s Ragtag Daily Prompt, the lovely & eloquent Punam has provided us with the word: PLACID as today’s source of creative inspiration! 👍😁 I’ve also responded to Martha’s Friday Ragtag Daily Prompt which is VIVID Below lies my contribution to the prompts, hope ye enjoy the read! 🙏🤞😁📖

Elegant & graceful
Like a swan gliding across a lake
Effortless & placid…
Seemingly unfrazzled
She made life look so easy
Taking everything in her stride
Every bump in the road
Or inclement weather
Without being phased
Or breaking a sweat
At least,
That’s what it looks like from the outside

Take a dive underneath the surface
See what’s happening in the hidden depths
Of her life
She’s really paddling furiously just to stay afloat
“Paddling like f%$k”, as my Social Studies tutor once explained to us,
Just to keep it together
Her struggle becomes apparent
The anguish real
Painfully vivid
Her bright spirit
On the verge of breaking

Should you wish to participate in the prompts then you can access them through the following links below: 👇👇😁😁

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2023/03/24/rdp-friday-vivid/

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2023/03/25/rdp-saturday-placid/

UNPURPOSELY OLD-FASHIONED Moonwashed Weekly Prompt; Ragtag Daily Prompt

In today’s poem, I’ve combined 2 different prompts from Moonwashed Weekly Prompt which this week features the excellent word: “Willy Nilly” & today’s Ragtag Daily Prompt: ANACHRONISM. Below lies my contribution:👇👇😁😁

UNPURPOSELY OLD-FASHIONED

He was a throwback to another time
Hoodie pulled up over his head
With his C. D. player tucked into his outside jacket pocket;
Headphones wrapped around his neck
Notepad & pen in his shoulder bag
Hanging off his left shoulder
And sitting by his right hip
For easy access
Walking willy nilly around the town
Without any direction or purpose
A source of bemusement to his wife
And gentle mocking amongst his friends
An anachronism in a tech savvy & look cool world

Should you wish to participate in the prompts then you can access them through the following links below: 👇👇😁😁

https://amanpan.blog/2023/03/21/moonwashed-weekly-prompt-135-3-21-23-willy-nilly/

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2023/03/23/ragtag-daily-prompt-thursday-anachronism/

SUNDAY BLOG RECAP

Hey folks! It’s long overdue but welcome back to my Sunday Blog Recap with links to all the blogs I posted during the previous week. Especially designed for those of you who have busy lives outside of the WordPress blogosphere. So without further ado, let’s get cracking! 👍😁

On Monday; Wednesday; Friday & Saturday morning I shared 4 motivational running quotes with ye. You’ll find the links to them below: 👇

https://kenhume31.wordpress.com/2023/03/06/running-owning-the-road/?preview=true

https://kenhume31.wordpress.com/2023/03/08/running-lets-go/?preview=true

https://kenhume31.wordpress.com/2023/03/10/running-seeking-out-new-sights-under-your-own-power/?preview=true

https://kenhume31.wordpress.com/2023/03/11/running-for-those-who-keep-going/?preview=true

Also on Monday, I posted my 1st poetic offering of the week titled: “Furry Fashion Accessory” written in response to Sadje’s latest #WhatDoYouSee #WDYS Poetry Image Prompt. Here’s the link to it:

https://kenhume31.wordpress.com/2023/03/06/furry-fashion-accesory-sadjes-whatdoyousee-wdys-poetry-image-prompt-176/?preview=true

On Tuesday I published 2 new poems titled: “A STILTED INHALE OF AIR” & “MAGICAL HIDEAWAY; TRICK OF REFLECTION written in response to d’Verse’s latest Quadrille Prompt & Tanka Tuesday Weekly Poetry Challenge respectively. The links to them are below: 👇👇👇

https://kenhume31.wordpress.com/2023/03/07/a-stilted-inhale-of-air-dverse-quadrille-171-gasp/?preview=true

https://kenhume31.wordpress.com/2023/03/07/magical-hideaway-trick-of-reflection-tanka-tuesday-poetrychallenge-310/?preview=true

Then on Wednesday I composed a poem in honour of INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY titled Woman (More To You Than Meets The Eye). You’ll find the link to it here:

https://kenhume31.wordpress.com/2023/03/08/woman-more-to-you-than-meets-the-eye-international-womens-day/?preview=true

On Thursday I published my 5th & 6th poems of the week titled: SERIOUS PLAY OR SILLY REDISCOVERY: d’Verse Poetics Prompt (Playtime) & STAINED CERAMICS; CAFFEINATED BURN: Weave Written Weekly: w3 Prompt #45 respectively. You’ll find the links to them below:

https://kenhume31.wordpress.com/2023/03/09/serious-play-or-silly-rediscovery-dverse-poetics-prompt-playtime/?preview=true

https://kenhume31.wordpress.com/2023/03/09/stained-ceramics-caffeinated-burn-weave-written-weekly-w3-prompt-45/?preview=true

Lastly but by no means the least I published my final poem of the week titled: “A Timorous Type of Equity” written in response to Reena’s latest Xploration Challenge. Here’s the link to it:

https://kenhume31.wordpress.com/2023/03/11/a-timorous-type-of-equity-ragtag-daily-prompt-friday-reenas-xploration-challenge-271/?preview=true

Well, that’s all for this week folks! Thanks so much for stopping by and reading my blog. 🙏😁 Sincerely hope ye enjoyed the catch up! 🤞🤞🙏🙏 Until next Sunday, mind yourselves; stay creative and take care!

A TIMOROUS TYPE OF EQUITY: Ragtag Daily Prompt Friday; Reena’s Xploration Challenge #271

For today’s Ragtag Daily Prompt, Martha Kennedy has given us the word: Timorous as our poetic inspiration for today. I’ll be combining this prompt with the latest: Reena’s Xploration Challenge asking us to #EmbraceEquity

A TIMOROUS TYPE OF EQUITY

“No, I don’t just want equality”
Rachel blurted out suddenly
Stopping her boss Tim in his tracks.
“What did you say?”
Tim snapped in return.
Annoyed at the temerity of her interuption
“I. I. I. Eh…”
He strode angrily towards her.
And asked her again.
“Well?! What did you just say Miss O’Brien?”
I said….
Her voice now trembling & timorous
“We… don’t… We don’t just want equality,
We want equity!”
“What?!”
He retorted!
“Not just equal opportunities for job progression
But the resources & the training to back it up!”
Her voice in full flow now & growing in confidence.
“I mean, there’s no point in saying we’re all equal and then continuing to hand out jobs & promotions to the boys.
When we’re perfectly capable of doing the same thing!”
There was no stopping her now.
Tim stood there completely flummoxed
And unusually, lost words!
Rachel had never spoken up before
She was normally so timid & reserved.
He didn’t know whether to fire her on the spot
Or applaud her for her boldness
He’d always tried to encourage her to speak up a bit more and express her opinion!
It’d be foolish now to sack/give out to her for the very thing he wanted her to do.
Never mind be utterly demoralising to her self-confidence.
“Thanks very much Rachel!
Your points are well made & clearly expressed.
I will take them under due consideration for the up coming yearly review.
Now on to the next item on the agenda!”

Should you wish to participate in the prompts then you can access them through the following links below: 👇👇😁😁

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2023/03/10/rdp-friday-timorous/

https://reinventionsreena.wordpress.com/2023/03/09/reenas-xploration-challenge-271/

TEAK TOUGH: Moonwashed Weekly Prompt (Uncompromising) Ragtag Daily Prompts (Exoskeleton & Sunset)

For this week’s prompt amalgamation I’ve combined this week’s Moonwashed Weekly Prompt (Uncompromising) with today’s Ragtag Daily Prompt which was originally (Exoskeleton) but now (Sunset). Both prompts have been included in this poem. Hope ye enjoy the read! 🙏🤞😁📖

TEAK TOUGH

Steadfast in his ambition
Uncompromising in his beliefs
Stubborn & resilient
He was like an old oak tree
Firmly planted to the ground
Roots stretching deep beneath the earth
You could hit him
Shake him
Try to cut him down
His weather beaten
Teak tough exoskeleton
Had taken a lot of abuse
Over the years
Had witnessed many sunsets
But he was not for moving
He was built for endurance
Uncompromising endurance!

Should you wish to participate in the prompt then you can access them through the following links below: 👇👇👇

https://amanpan.blog/2023/02/28/moonwashed-weekly-prompt-132-2-28-2023-uncompromising/

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2023/03/01/rdp-wednesday-exoskeleton/

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2023/03/01/rdp-wednesday-sunset/

THE PINNACLE OF PHYSICAL DESPAIR: Ragtag Daily Prompts: Monday (Junction) & Thursday (Pinnacle)

For this week’s Ragtag Daily Prompts themed poem I’ve amalgamated 2 prompts together from Monday & Thursday, Junction and Pinnacle respectively. Hope ye enjoy the read! 🙏🤞😁📖 Below lies my contribution: 👇👇👇

THE PINNACLE OF PHYSICAL DESPAIR

Richard had arrived at a junction
Where he could no longer function
At the levels that he used to do
He’s become weary & cynical
For he was no longer at the pinnacle
Of fitness. Now he had it all to prove
Was growing old before his time
And struggled inwardly to align
Who he is now with who he used to be
Now he was hobbling at an intersection
Mourning his anatomy’s rejection
Yearning to be free
Of his tired; decrepit old body
That once ascended mountains & embody Man at his physical peak

Should you wish to participate in the prompts then you can access them through the following links below: 👇👇👇

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2023/02/13/rdp-monday-junction/

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2023/02/16/ragtag-daily-prompt-thursday-pinnacle/

THE SUBSTANTIVE ANCHOR OF LOVE: Ragtag Daily Prompt Saturday (Trust)

Hey folks! For this week’s Ragtag Daily Prompt Saturday, Punam gave us the word: Trust as our prompt. Below lies my reflective/poetic contribution to the prompt: 👇👇👇 Hope ye enjoy the read! 🤞🙏😁📖

THE SUBSTANTIVE ANCHOR OF LOVE

We talk about love a lot these days.
Falling in love
Being in love
Wanting to love
And to be loved
Totally.
Soley.
Completely.
Passionately.
Truely.
Yet, without trust
Love carries very little weight
Offers precious little substance
It slowly disappates
Becomes just another 4 lettered cliché
That drips off our tongues
Like honey
You see,
Trust or the lack thereof
Is the rock upon which
A relationship stands or falls
Is the anchor
That holds it all together
Preventing us from drifting away
Into a sea of complacency
Is the roots of a tree
That go deep down into the earth
Keeping your love
Grounded
Unshakeable
Standing firm
And thriving
In the face of
The fiercest of elements
So when we talk about love this Valentine’s,
And I realise I’ve 3 fingers pointing back at me here,
Love is wonderful
Cuddly
Dizzying
And romantic
But won’t last too long
Without trust.
If you can trust someone implicitly
Without question or doubt
Then ye’re love will only grow deeper & stronger.

Should you wish to participate in the prompt then you can access it through the following link below: 👇👇👇

https://ragtagcommunity.wordpress.com/2023/02/11/rdp-saturday-trust/

BLOG GOALS FOR THE WEEK AHEAD

Morning folks! Hope ye all had a lovely weekend! 🤞🙏😁 Welcome back to my weekly Blog Goals for the Week Ahead where I set out my blog schedule and creative goals for the coming week. So, without further ado.

First up today, after this blog of course, will be my 1st motivational running quote of the week followed by 3 more on Wednesday; Friday & Saturday morning. Hope they will inspire you all in some way. 🤞🙏🏃‍♂️🏃‍♀️😁

Then tomorrow, I plan to publish 2 poems for ye’re enjoyment. The first one of which will be titled AFFECTIONATELY HEADSTRONG inspired by my youngest girl: Ava! 😁 This will be followed by my response to Sadje’s latest #WhatDoYouSee #WDYS Poetry Image Prompt. If you want to participate in the prompt then you can access it through the following link:

https://lifeafter50forwomen.com/2023/02/06/what-do-you-see-14/

On Wednesday, I hope to publish another poem which will be written in response to d’Verse’s latest Quadrille Prompt.

Then on Thursday, I plan to recite the poem I wrote around this time last year titled LOVE IS… for my Throwback Thursday series of Poetry Readings which for the next 3 weeks is going to feature readings on the subject of love & loss. Then later in the day I’ll be posting my response to d’Verse’s latest Poetics Prompt

On Friday I hope to respond to some of the other prompts on here such as Moonwashed Weekly Prompt; Reena’s Xploration Challenge &/or WeaveWrittenWeekly over at the Skeptic’s Kaddish. And maybe return to my Poetry Quotes reflection blog?!

On Saturday, we’ll have one more poem for the Week which will be followed up by my regular Blog Recap on Sunday with links to all the blogs I posted during the previous week. Hope you enjoyed the read and come back next Monday for more of the same. 🤞🙏😁📖

BLOG GOALS FOR THE WEEK AHEAD

Good morning folks! Welcome back to my weekly Blog Goals for the Week Ahead where I set out my blog schedule and creative goals for the coming week. It’s been a while but it’s a big week ahead. So, without further ado.

Later on today, along with Friday & Saturday, I’ll be posting my regular motivational running quotes for ye guys. On Wednesday I’ll also be celebrating/recognising my 1 year running anniversary with a special post. Later on that day, I’ll hopefully be responding to d’Verse’s latest Poetics Prompt.

On Tuesday, I’m going to give the Haibun Monday a go and I’ll be responding to Sadje’s latest #WhatDoYouSee #WDYS Poetry Image Prompt. Should you wish to participate in the prompt then you can access it through the following link:

https://lifeafter50forwomen.com/2023/01/30/what-do-you-see-171-31-january-2023/

On Thursday, I’ll be beginning my first in a series of Throwback Thursday Spoken Word readings for the month on the theme of love & loss given that Valentine’s is 2 weeks from tomorrow and also the date my mum passed away. So, please tune in for that.

Later on in the week I plan on responding to Ragtag Daily Prompts; Moonwashed Weekly Prompts & hopefully Wea’ve Written Weekly over at The Skeptic’s Kaddish. And on Sunday I’ll be doing my regular Blog Recap with links to all the blogs I posted during the previous week.

That’s all the plans & goals for the moment. I’ll keep you posted on any updates or changes to this of course. Thanks again for all ye’re support; feedback and encouragement. Until next Monday, mind yourselves; stay creative and take care. 🙏😁

SUNDAY BLOG RECAP

Afternoon folks! Hope you’re all having a lovely weekend! 🙏🤞😁 Welcome back to my weekly Blog Recap with links to all the blogs I posted during the previous week. Especially designed for those of you who have busy lives outside of the WordPress blogosphere. So, without further ado.

On Monday; Wednesday; Friday morning and Saturday evening I shared 4 motivational running quotes with ye. Here’s the links to them:

https://kenhume31.wordpress.com/2023/01/16/running-the-frustration-of-an-injury/?preview=true

https://kenhume31.wordpress.com/2023/01/18/road-running-unreasonably-crazy/?preview=true

https://kenhume31.wordpress.com/2023/01/20/running-bad-weather-good-time-to-run-dont-wait/?preview=true

https://kenhume31.wordpress.com/2023/01/21/running-we-dont-hibernate-or-stand-still-we-run-on-our-outdoor-threadmill/?preview=true

Also on Monday I published the 1st of my poems for the Week titled EYE’VE BEEN WATCHING YOU written in response to Sadje’s latest #WhatDoYouSee #WDYS Poetry Image Prompt

https://kenhume31.wordpress.com/2023/01/16/eyeve-been-watching-you-sadjes-whatdoyousee-wdys-poetry-image-prompt-169/?preview=true

No posts on Tuesday but on Wednesday I published my 2nd poem of the week titled RUNNING INTO THE BLIZZARD composed in response to d’Verse’s latest Poetics Prompt: The Blizzard of the Self

https://kenhume31.wordpress.com/2023/01/18/running-into-the-blizzard-dverse-poetics-prompt-the-blizzard-of-the-self/?preview=true

Then on Thursday I posted my 3rd poetic offering of the week titled INDISPOSABLE TIME written in response to that day’s Ragtag Daily Prompt

https://kenhume31.wordpress.com/2023/01/19/indisposable-time-ragtag-daily-prompt-disposable/?preview=true

This was followed up later in the day by d’Verse’s Prosery Prompt: EVERYTHING IS STITCHED challenging us to write a piece of fiction based on a given line of poetry. It’s titled: STITCHED IN BLUE and the link to it is below:

https://kenhume31.wordpress.com/2023/01/19/stitched-in-blue-dverse-prosery-everything-is-stitched/?preview=true

On Friday I published my final poem of the week titled THE TWO FACES OF NEW BEGINNINGS composed in response to Reena’s Xploration Challenge (Janus: The god of January) and Moonwashed Weekly Prompts (Evolve) respectively. Here’s the link to it:

https://kenhume31.wordpress.com/2023/01/20/the-two-faces-of-new-beginnings-reenas-xploration-challenge-264/?preview=true

That’s us all up to date for this week folks! 👍 Thanks so much for stopping by and joining me on my catch up, hope ye enjoyed the read! 🤞🙏😁📖