Everyday Life and Family and Nature and Poetry Midwest, Working Together, Nature, Poetry, Poem, Teamwork, Turtles 7:02 pm
You look that way, and I’ll look here,
stretching our necks out far and near.
Peering high. Peering low.
Spotting friend. Spotting foe.
How well we work together, Dear.
—–
*Photo: Pond Slider Turtles
**Inspired Caregiving. Weekly Morale Builders Available from Amazon and ACTA Publications.
Everyday Life and Midwest and Nature and Poetry Adaptability, Endurance, Nature, Poem, Poetry, Resilience, Trees 11:23 am
Amazing how adaptable we are
rooting down firmly,
bending with the wind,
reaching for the sun,
and soaking up rain
regardless of storms
rumbling thunder,
lightning strikes,
biting northern temps,
and mounting snowfall.
Our battle wounds are signs of victory
revealing our strength,
noting our journey,
showing tolerance
and the power of survival.
(Evergreen Tree, Lake Superior, 7/4/21)
Art and Books and Everyday Life and Poetry Poems, Poetry, Poets, Writing 11:46 am
What are your thoughts on poetry?
This was a question I posted on my family and friends Facebook page. (I also have an author page.) I asked followers if they have a favorite poem and if they purchase books on poetry.
I was curious because my new book which is in publication as we speak contains 72 poems and photos reflected by nature at public parks. Although I’ve written 11 books, a book devoted to poetry is a new space for me, and I’m contemplating as to how to proceed. Poetry books are traditionally tough to market.
The responses to my Facebook question were insightful and fun for me to learn. Sally said she owned all of Mary Oliver’s books, (as do I), and Trudy owns all of Ann Weems’. Carol said she is a traditionalist and enjoys Tennyson, Dickenson, E.E. Cummings, Poe, and Whitman.
Sue says that Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken” is special and likes poets Hugh Prather and the title, Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam. As to her favorite style of poetry, Sue added that she loves haikus because they are simple and powerful.
Steve enjoys Shel Silverstein’s books of poems, Where the Sidewalk Ends and A Light in the Attic, which are books I enjoyed reading to my children. He also likes “The Raven” by Edgar Allen Poe.
Cheryl said that one of her favorite poems is “The Desiderata” by Max Ehrmann. She said she doesn’t buy poetry but enjoys reading it.
Kurt shared his favorite poem “Do Not Go Gentle into That Good Night” by Dylan Thomas. The poem begins, “Old age should burn and rave at close of day . . . “
Becky and Beth admitted that they do not like poetry. However, I do wonder when people claim this, because most enjoy music and/or Scripture, which are both very poetic. Perhaps, they simply don’t like certain poetic styles.
And at the heart of writing and other creative styles are the words of Charles Bukowski in the poem, “so you want to be a writer?” Thank you, Joey for sharing this great find. I certainly identify with this piece.
*
so you want to be a writer?
Charles Bukowski – 1920-1994
if it doesn’t come bursting out of you
in spite of everything,
don’t do it.
unless it comes unasked out of your
heart and your mind and your mouth
and your gut,
don’t do it.
if you have to sit for hours
staring at your computer screen
or hunched over your
typewriter
searching for words,
don’t do it.
if you’re doing it for money or
fame,
don’t do it.
if you’re doing it because you want
women in your bed,
don’t do it.
if you have to sit there and
rewrite it again and again,
don’t do it.
if it’s hard work just thinking about doing it,
don’t do it.
if you’re trying to write like somebody
else,
forget about it.
if you have to wait for it to roar out of
you,
then wait patiently.
if it never does roar out of you,
do something else.
if you first have to read it to your wife
or your girlfriend or your boyfriend
or your parents or to anybody at all,
you’re not ready.
don’t be like so many writers,
don’t be like so many thousands of
people who call themselves writers,
don’t be dull and boring and
pretentious, don’t be consumed with self-
love.
the libraries of the world have
yawned themselves to
sleep
over your kind.
don’t add to that.
don’t do it.
unless it comes out of
your soul like a rocket,
unless being still would
drive you to madness or
suicide or murder,
don’t do it.
unless the sun inside you is
burning your gut,
don’t do it.
when it is truly time,
and if you have been chosen,
it will do it by
itself and it will keep on doing it
until you die or it dies in you.
there is no other way.
and there never was.
*
Alzheimer's and Books and Everyday Life and Family and Perspective and Poetry Alzheimer's disease, Caregiving, Dementia, Poetry 9:08 am
Like sunshine
on an overcast day
rays of the man I knew
peek through the clouds
leaving me longing for more.
This poem sums up how we feel while living with a loved one with Alzheimer’s disease. Like a tease, we are shown moments of lucidity that briefly allow us to think all is well. Periodically, our loved one knows us, remembers our many adventures and shared life. Such moments quickly vanish and become less frequent as the disease progresses.
I wrote this poem for the opening page of my book, Navigating Alzheimer’s. My husband, Marshall, showed symptoms of Alzheimer’s during the last 15 years of our marriage. The heartache of witnessing the decline of his health and memories of our lives together continuously diminishing, in addition to the demands of around-the-clock caregiving, took its toll on my own mental and physical health. However, I learned while caring for him that loving and accepting him where he was at each point in time in the illness was important. Since, as of this writing, there is no way to reverse the disease, symptoms are progressive. Although today may be sad and difficult, tomorrow will likely be worse.
Live in the moment, enjoy the moment, alongside your loved one, wherever that takes you.
***Learn more about managing symptoms of Alzheimer’s and other dementias, as well as my experience, in the books The Alzheimer’s Spouse and Navigating Alzheimer’s. And please, if you have read either of these books, write a short review on Amazon.
Everyday Life and Midwest and Nature and Poetry Poem, Poetry, Roots, Support 8:12 am
Dig in,
and brace yourself.
Learn from those who know more.
Then be part of the system of
support.
(Tree Roots on Cliff, Matthiessen State Park, Oglesby, IL)
***The holidays are exhausting for those of us in the best of health. Protect your loved ones with dementia from fatigue that will result in frustration for them and you by limiting time out of the home and the amount of people for them to interact with. See more helpful hints in my books Navigating Alzheimer’s, The Alzheimer’s Spouse, and Inspired Caregiving. And please, if you’ve read any of my books, please write a short review on Amazon. I’d greatly appreciate it.
Books and Everyday Life and Midwest and Nature and Peace Nature, Poetry 3:42 pm
The trees,
and shrubs
and grass
and wildflowers
The animals
and birds
and bugs
and fish
The rivers
and oceans
and mountains
and beaches
The wind
and rain
and sleet
and snow
The moon
and sun
and stars
and sky
Speak
in whispers
and shouts
and songs
and tears.
(Photo: Michigamme River, Channing, MI, 7/3/21
Photo and Poem by Mary K. Doyle)
*
**Do you know that I’ve written 11 books? You can find all of them on my website.
Alzheimer's and Bible and Books and Business and Culture and Everyday Life and Faith and Family and Health and Leadership and Mentoring and Nature and Peace and Perspective Aging, Alzheimer's, Author, Blessed Mother, Books, Faith, Hans Christian Andersen, Inspiration, Mother Theodore Guerin, Poetry, Prayer, Saint Theodora, Virgin Mary, Writing 4:41 pm
A question I’ve been asked over the years is which of the books that I’ve written is my favorite. This is a question that is as impossible to answer as which child is my favorite. Each book is special to me. I’m proud of all of all of them for different reasons.
Each was written with an intent to fill a need. Each book was sent out into the world with a mission to offer information and consolation to a particular audience. Most have won awards and sold consistently well over the years. And now I’m very excited about a new book coming out this year, which I will tell you about at the end of this post.
Mentoring Heroes was my first book. Published in 2000, this book centered on my recognition through newspaper articles I’d written that successful people attributed their progress to the mentors who helped them along the way. I also recognized that women’s lives are complicated and multi-layered with family, household, and work responsibilities, and therefore, more challenging in finding ways in which to be mentored. Mentoring Heroes was widely used in university Women Studies programs and by clubs and groups. Today, I know that the book is dated in the way that it was printed–with copper plates and blue-line editing as opposed to today’s digital print method–and due to men participating more in household responsibilities and technology offering more ways in which to be mentored. Yet, the overall benefits and need for mentoring remains relevant.
The Rosary Prayer by Prayer, Grieving with Mary, and Fatima at 100. Fatima Today were inspired by a devotion to the Virgin Mary. These were the types of books I wanted to write since childhood. Praying with Mary should always lead to a greater devotion to her son, Jesus. Mary is our heavenly mother, and like a good mother, she loves us dearly, promotes peace among all creation, and encourages us to care for one another as Jesus does. Praying with her offers a sense of calm in a world where this type of alliance is greatly needed.
With the The Rosary Prayer by Prayer readers can pray along simply by following pages showing the placement on the rosary, the prayer to be prayed, illustrations by Joseph Cannella, and a reflection. Grieving with Mary is a best-seller that aligns praying with Mary in a wide variety of ways during times of loss. And Fatima at 100. Fatima Today is a little booklet that reviews Mary’s messages in Fatima, Portugal in 1917 and how those messages remain vital in attaining peace.
Seven Principles of Sainthood Following Saint Mother Theodore Guerin and Saint Theodora and Her Promise to God are books about a woman who immigrated to the United States to teach children and young woman. Saint Mother Theodore Guerin, also known as Saint Theodora, and a small group of sisters opened schools throughout rural Indiana and Illinois in the mid to late 1800s, a time when Catholic schools were greatly needed and in which this band of women faced great obstacles. The sisters also opened a school for the higher education of women when women had little-to-no choice for such an opportunity. Seven Principles was written for adults and Saint Theodora and Her Promise to God was written for children. I was inspired to write these books after attending Saint Mary of the Woods College, the school Saint Mother Theodore founded, as well as her canonization in Rome, Italy.
Young in the Spirit was published in 2013 when I was closing in on one of those big decade birthdays (I was 60 in 2014-Yikes!). Big birthdays spark contemplation on where we came from, how we arrived at a particular point in time, and where we anticipate the future to bring us. One of the areas of contemplation for me was in regard to my faith—how it changed through the years and what I could offer the Church now. Those thoughts are at the heart of Young in the Spirit.
Hans Christian Andersen Illuminated by The Message was part of a series initiated by my publisher, Greg Pierce. The series offers a unique way to promote prayer by pairing Scripture verses with passages from classic writings. I chose Hans Christian Andersen in remembrance of my mother and her childhood book, a 1936 edition of Anderson’s Fairy Tales, the same book from which my mother read to me.
Navigating Alzheimer’s, The Alzheimer’s Spouse, and Inspired Caregiving was born from a need recognized by Pam Sebern, the director of a memory care home where my husband resided in his last years. Pam asked for books to help families understand dementia and better care for their loved ones while caring for themselves along the way. She felt that the books available at that time were too medical and needed a perspective from one who lived the experience. As my husband suffered from symptoms from Alzheimer’s disease for more than 15 years, and I was an author with substantial writing experience, Pam believed I could fulfill that need.
Navigating Alzheimer’s covers the basics of Alzheimer’s and ways in which we can work with our loved one. It offers family members and caregivers a clear overall of the changes they’re likely to notice. The Alzheimer’s Spouse also covers the basics of the disease but from the perspective of the spouse. Alzheimer’s touches every aspect of both spouses in devastating ways. Inspired Caregiving provides readers with a daily/weekly boost of inspiration. Each weekly reflection follows a rotation that includes a photo, prayer, thought, activity, stretch, affirmation, quote, and bit of humor to offer guidance, encouragement, improved self-talk, and maybe a smile. All three of these books are recommended by memory care facilities across the country.
My next book, which currently is in publication, is less serious. I believe readers and I are in need of opportunities that promote peace, beauty, love, and inspiration. For this reason, my newest book, tentatively called The Gifts of Public Gardens, showcases vivid photos of nature that I have taken at public gardens paired with short, thoughtful poems. My intent is for readers to escape into the positive, wonderous gifts around us. I will keep you posted on when this book will be available.
If you’ve read any of my books, please post a review on Amazon. Readers rely on these comments to find books best suited to their needs.
Everyday Life and Faith Christ, Crucifixion, Dogs, Pets, Poetry 12:44 pm
When my Grandpa McCarthy passed away, we found a little folded piece of paper in his wallet with a poem printed on it. My grandmother knew I loved poetry, so she gave me the paper.
The poem is meaningful to me on so many levels. It is beautifully written, and its message is thought-provoking. I can’t help but to ponder the scene when reading it. Mostly, the poem reminds me of my grandparents and their love for their German Shepherds.
Here is that special little poem.
The Little Black Dog
I wonder if Christ had a little black dog,
All curly and wooly like mine
With two silky ears and a nose round and wet,
And two eyes, brown and tender, that shine.
I’m sure if He had, that little black dog
Knew right from the start He was God,
That he needed no proof that Christ was divine
But just worshipped the ground that He trod.
I’m afraid that He hadn’t because I have read
How He prayed in the garden alone;
For all of His friends and disciples had fled –
Even Peter, the one called a stone.
And oh, I am sure that little black dog,
With a heart so tender and warm,
Would never have left Him to suffer alone,
But creeping right under His arm,
Would have licked those dear fingers, in agony clasped;
And counting all favors but loss,
When they took Him away would have trotted behind
And followed Him quite to the Cross.
– –Elizabeth Gardner Reynolds–
*I’m currently working on a couple of books on poetry. One should be out within about a year.
Everyday Life and Nature and Perspective Haiku, Poem, Poetry 4:41 pm
Is my reflection
any less real than my
physical being?
(Mute Swan, Schaumburg, IL., 5/15/21)
* Would you like to connect with me on my Facebook page, website, or Linked In?
Nature Natrue, Poetry, Spring 9:45 am
Spring
the awakening
of tulips in bloom.
the morning hymn
of doves in chorus,
the light, fragrant whiff
of bright hyacinths,
the gentle caress
of fresh, warm breezes
the vibrant colors
of young life anew.
*
Have you seen my website?
Midwest Mary 