Chalkboard one-line poem prompt for April 1st, 2020
If this dream be a
house of cards
send a forceful wind…
but send it tomorrow
Your Turn
THEME: Delusion
Share your own one-line poem on the theme as a response to this post, or write a stand-alone piece if you prefer. Tag your piece “One Line” if your poem is between 16 and 30 words long — and “Chalkboard Espresso” if your poem is 15 words or less. If you have a stand-alone poem, be sure to leave a link in the response section below.
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Thank you to Kathy Jacobs and Harper Thorpe for keeping our creative wheels spinning.
You’ve got multiple side projects, here’s how to get things done
“Count yourself blessed if you have something you love to do, but you rarely do it because you’re too busy doing something else you love even more.” ― Josh Steimle
If I’m hearing things correctly, most of us are obsessed with time management. We crave productivity hacks that will help us get the most out of each day.
We have jobs, families, responsibilities, and our pesky need for sleep, which all require our attention. …
a Haiku for sisters and brothers
Brother is hurried
Sister cups dandelions
Keeper of wishes
I witnessed this sweet exchange a few days ago. Before he can grab a dandelion, a little brother is hurried to the car by a parent. A determined big sister quickly grabs a few dandelions. She races to the car just in time for her brother to blow the dandelion and make a wish.
I wonder what he wished for.
Did you know that the dandelion appears as both a bright yellow flower and a white puffy flower? Be honest. …
Three strategies to help you benefit from distractions
“What you stay focused on will grow.” ― Roy T. Bennett
Shiny Object Syndrome (SOS) gets more press than it deserves. After all, it is just one of the many poor habits that decrease our productivity while increasing our dissatisfaction.
My guess is that SOS gets a lot of attention because so many of us suffer from it. We’ve got a goal, project or plan in the works. But something better, seemingly easier or otherwise more appealing grabs our attention.
Before you jump ship. Before you give chase. Before you beat your self up for your own flakiness. …
If this motivational trick has lost its impact, there is another way.
Mark Twain said, “The fear of death follows from the fear of life. A man who lives fully is prepared to die at any time.” In fewer, but related words, E. E. Cummings said, “Unbeing dead isn’t being alive.”
Their sentiment is clear. Be alive while you are still alive.
Unfortunately, many of us approach life like a robot. We rise, ready, eat, work, binge-watch, sleep and repeat. We have little thought of where the monotony will lead. Passion has escaped our lives without our notice.
It is…
a one-liner about compassion and community
No graduation party or new baby,
cars in jagged rows, doors ajar
warm engines reveal tragedy inside
Passersby long to comfort
But wonder if we are those kinds of neighbors
An unusual amount of visitors at someone’s home can signal that something wonderful has happened. A graduation, a marriage, a new baby, someone returned from abroad, or a party just because.
A glut of houseguests can also hint at tragedy — a funeral, illness, missing loved one, domestic dispute.
Have you ever wanted to comfort or celebrate with a neighbor but you just didn’t…
a one-liner about controlling the uncontrollable
Well acquainted with snow
they would easily trade white hills
for green mountains
Well acquainted with their impotence
in the matter
they chose their winter coats with care
Recognition that we can’t control everything in our lives is not all bad news. It leaves room for happy accidents. Lessons that we would never sign up for, but are so grateful we learned.
Once we accept that we can’t control everything, we don’t have to control everything.
Today, let’s bring all of our talents, time and passion to bear on that which is within our…
