Another birthday on its way. Here’s the newest picture to go along with a poem about what most of us love: music!
We have a duty
To preserve the beauty
Of Music
To play it loud and often
Whether we do it on
Lasered disks
Or vinyl
Or our own beloved but battered
Instrument
Music, our soul’s sanctuary
(c) 2020 Clarissa Simmens (ViataMaja)
IMAGE: CS under the sign of Aries 2020
Ides of March
Caesar’s dead
St. Patrick’s Day Druidic snakes
Killed or fled
Mardi Gras music and tasty food
Women’s Day international history renewed
Aries influence on the 21st day
Spring Equinox awakens our lost sense of play
Many family birthdays
Around the full moon
What were the parents doing
Nine months ago, that previous June
March is fun but April’s best
‘Cause it’s my birthday’s
Once-a-year chocolate fest
Can’t wait!
(c) 2019 Clarissa Simmens (ViataMaja)
IMAGE: SPRING SWAMP PICNIC
No one selling poppies
At this Veteran’s Day festival
Dad always bought one
Somehow, the symbol
And socializing with soldiers
Anesthetized the buried memories
One way to survive war:
Thinking of the good times
Alcohol, gambling, jokes
The next day I inherited the flower
Droopy but delightfully blood red
Aries child’s favorite color
Poppies, to me
Conjured up the Wizard of Oz
“Sleep, sleep…”
Said the Wicked Witch of the West
As the camera panned along the
Endless fields of fallen flowers…
(C) 2018 Clarissa Simmens (ViataMaja)
IMAGE: My father 1946 Herman Simmens (Huna Suharliavi)
I threw a party
No one came
Do not pity me
Alone, I watched the dolphins
Playfully following the tides
Out to sea
About to light the candles
On the birthday cake
For me and Gulf birds
Suddenly thought why
Would we blow out light
Was it fright that stole our words
Why blow out passion
Don’t let the fire blaze
Why blow out life
When we’re celebrating it
But symbols translate chaos
So I ignored the cake knife
Great Gran once said
Blowing out candles is good
The smoke carries prayers
Along with birthday wishes
To the heavens where listens
Our happiness angel who cares
But then I read that the Germans
In the eighteenth century
Celebrated birthday kinderfests
Candles symbolizing
The light of life
Yes, snuffing out life is what it suggests
So earthly life encourages
No passion, no joy, and often
No friends who wish us well
“Blow it out! Blow it out!”
They happily shout
“Be like us!” (Friendships can be hell)
(C) 2018 Clarissa Simmens (ViataMaja)
Image: Birthday gear
Official portrait
Twenty-seventeen birthday
“Time’s an illusion”
Famous Albert Einstein quote
So why do I look so old?
© 2017 Clarissa Simmens (ViataMaja)
IMAGE: CS playing for the Santee Swampers 4-5-17
RockStar–the Pit Chi–a pirate
Secret stash of stolen pens and rawhides
Leaving no map to confiscate property
But I find them
Can almost hear him growl: Arrrr, human scalawags!
Digging up my pens
Tasting better than Jolly Roger’s bleached bones
He glares at me with those green eyes
But I avoid walking the plank
When he finds a sardine
In his kibble bowl
Better than coin of the realm
Bandit a Toy Fox Terrier growler
I try not to baby him
As all five pounds strut around
Strong and muscular and adrenalized
Although clueless about building a stash
He’s able to defend the one in his jaws
Loves to play-fight
Must have been a
Soldier of Fortune
Unmerciful Mercenary
In a previous life
Kali, Rat Terrier-cum-Dragon Lady
Piling bones, balls and rawhides
In a comfy dog bed
Then flinging herself
On top of the treasure
Seemingly sleeping away the day
But like a cartoon basilisk
One eye remains open
In case she needs to breathe out defense fire
Max, Rottie mix, larger than life
Plays a cameo role in his
Birthday poem
Well, might makes right, right?
Who’s going to argue with a
One hundred and ten pounder
Even when he’s ten years old today
Not me…
© 2016 Clarissa Simmens (ViataMaja)
(Previously titled A January Convergence Tanka)
Somehow, the mirror
Reflects the confluence of
Last summer’s green growth
This winter’s shriveled, brown leaves
Sprouting bright red poke berries
© 2016 Clarissa Simmens (ViataMaja)
IMAGE: My swamp’s January poke berries
How random is random
Clicked on the internet generator
15
15 is my day of birth
15 in tarot is temptation (some would say the devil)
15 in numerology adds up to 6 and in tarot that is the lovers
15 in Tao Te Ching is my favorite quote about being still
Since it is hard for me to remain still and quiet
I need this reminder
In love
But also in life
And here it is hours away from the 15th day of April:
“Who can be still
until their mud settles
and the water is cleared by itself?
Can you remain tranquil until right action
occurs by itself?”
I don’t think so, but I will try…
© 2016 Clarissa Simmens (ViataMaja)
IMAGE: pagespeed.ce
My name is RockStar
Am I super cute or what?
Take my paw and dance!
© 2016 Clarissa Simmens (ViataMaja)
IMAGE: RockStar rocking out
Rescued from a cage
After eight months of terror
You wear freedom well..
© 2016 Clarissa Simmens (ViataMaja)
IMAGE: My Toy Fox Terrier Bandit
poeturja 