the kiss

the kiss

toe to toe

in the mist

heart to heart

perfect bliss

lip to lip

can't resist

who cares about rain

at a time like this

©2012 susan noyes anderson

Oh, what a magical magpie prompt we have today! Thanks, Tess.

My annual Halloween story poem will be be posted tomorrow.

(I feel the need to add that my levity on the subject of rain does not extend to Sandy and the havoc she is wreaking. Hope all of you are safe and dry somewhere. We are praying that damage and loss will be as limited as possible.)

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Dancing in the Streets

This photo was taken down the street from my son's house in the Sunset district of San Francisco, where everyone in town seems to be celebrating our World Series victory. What a GREAT team! Two wins in three years. No wonder we are so proud of them.

Parade on Wednesday!!!

Halloween just got even more exciting.

(And the color scheme is right, too.)

WORLD CHAMPS!

=)

PS. At such a happy time for people in the Bay area, we are mindful of so many on the other side of the country who are in jeopardy from hurricane Sandy. Please know that you are in our prayers. This storm sounds out of the ordinary, and I am hoping for the best possible outcome for everyone impacted by it.

A Eulogy in Five Words

I admit to being a little late with my Saturday Centus today, but I got all caught up in writing my annual Halloween poem for the grandkids (soon to be posted)...and then it was time to watch our SF Giants win the third game in their quest for the pennant. Such an exciting time for all of us in the Bay area! Anyway, as you can see, Jenny has given us a picture prompt today, and for some reason it took me in a prose-y direction. A 100-word limit doesn't quite do this lovely photo justice, does it?

∞§∞

A Eulogy in Five Words Pumpkins

© 2012 Susan Noyes Anderson

Sadie grew up loving pumpkins, and she knew her way around one, too. Why, that woman could scrape the insides of those curious orange globes and make pie or soup or custard or cookies as pretty as you please. She even roasted the seeds for good measure, though she gave those away more often than she ate them, wrapped up in cheesecloth bags and tied with ribbon. Sea salt was the secret. Our Sadie always did favor a personal gift, one she could make with her own hands. And if nature helped out a little along the way, so much the better.

I loved her for the way she loved me. Without reservation, and frequently with pumpkin pudding.

∞§∞

A Wondrous Walk through All Things Fall

There's nothing like a walk through fall

with crunchy leaves beneath your feet

to make you grateful for the call

of nature, with her gifts so sweet.

A crisp green apple in your hand,

the crunchy blast of nectar tart,

the joy of feasting from a tree

instead of fruit bins at the mart.

The hunt, the choosing, and the pride

of gathering (held deep inside)

is ancient as an autumn rune

and full as any harvest moon.

Tradition is the purest fun;

once families worked till day was done,

preparing for the winter nigh

beneath a fading autumn sky.

And when their labors were complete,

they thanked the Lord for food to eat

and took each offering from His hand

with gratitude for life and land.

(My grandchildren love their traditions.)

=)

Happy birthday to our son, Matt, who also happens to be the 
father of these great kids and the husband of the photographer!

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Annuit Coeptis

Pardon me while I wax pedantic... ;)

Tess has given us an interesting prompt this week, and my response is an admittedly heavy-handed poem for which I apologize in advance. That said, one of the uses of a personal blog is venting, right? And I can't be the only blogger who is fed up with spending money like it grows on trees while pretending our massive national debt can be remedied by relatively painless measures. Who's kidding whom? This is not an easy fix.

I dislike owing money to other people. I dislike owing money to other countries, too, especially those who don't have my best interests at heart. Spending money we don't have and printing money we can't support is a game our nation can't win. That's why I'm looking for serious budget cuts in 2013––and representatives who aren't afraid to make them. I'm ready for politicians on both sides of the aisle (and the center, too) who are willing to take a stand for fiscal responsibility, even when it's not popular. 

Self-interest trumps our country's interests far too often in Washington. We need to see our elected representatives negotiating with more determination, letting go of partisanship in favor of loyal citizenship to accomplish the work they were elected to do. (Of course, we must hold up our end of things as well, by being willing to make our own sacrifices and concessions to the cause of fiduciary responsibility. After all, we the people are partisans, too, and should claim our half of the problem.) There's plenty of self-interest to go around. 

Annuit Coeptis

©2012 Susan Noyes Anderson

"God has favored our undertakings,"

states Annuit Coeptis.

But maybe He's fed up with our

fiduciary sepsis.

Money can empower us, or

money can destroy.

Greed masquerades as need. Misspent,

its lucre reaps no joy.

Once, Novus Ordo Seclorum 

declared our country's start.

Deep tenets grew this nation strong;

deep roots lie at her heart.

These roots have held us steady,
grounded us, set us apart.

Remember who our fathers were.

Remember what they wrought.

Cherish liberty, the prize

for which our fathers fought.

Know that freedom has a price,

and yet, cannot be bought.

"Liberty exists in proportion to wholesome restraint." 

Daniel Webster

"Shame on the men who can court exemption from present 

trouble and expense at the price of their own posterity's liberty." 

Samuel Adams

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I Only Have Eyes for You

Ms. Matlock seems to be in Halloween mode with her Saturday Centus this week, a picture prompt that speaks a thousand hundred words, because that's all we're allowed. 100 words to make sense of the worst case of red-eye I've ever seen. (Couldn't you have photo-shopped this out, Jenny?) Ah well, ours is not to question why. Ours is but to do or die. Here goes:

I Only Have Eyes for You

©2012 Susan Noyes Anderson

The glow of your eyes make me weak,

and the way they reflect on your cheek

sets my whole heart a-flutter

till blood-starved lips stutter,

"Come kiss me, you fabulous freak!"

The Voice

I am having way more fun than TV usually offers watching Season 3 of The Voice this year. For those of you who haven't had the pleasure, this musical reality show among shows features judges Adam Levine, Christina Aguilera, Blake Shelton, and Cee Lo Green. Crazy fun is the order of the day, largely because the interplay among these judges is entertaining as can be.

Top five things about the show:

1. The judges are actually talented themselves, rendering their advice and comments a lot more palatable.
2. The singers are invited to audition because they are already good. Result? No painful performances!
3. The judges have an opportunity to "push their buttons" for a singer, but they do not have the opportunity to see that person before doing so, as their backs are to the performers. This is truly a blind audition; talent is the whole enchilada.
4. Every judge who pushes that button (thereby turning his/her chair around) for a contestant must then vie with the others to mentor that candidate, and the choice is up to the singer, not the judges. I have laughed out loud many times at the shenanigans that go on as these sneaky judges jockey against one another to win a particularly desirable singer's favor.
5. After the judges' teams are filled (but not before plenty of hilarity, good chemistry, and teasing as each one tries to "get picked" as a coach), the judges set up battles where two of their team members are invited to a sing-off in front of the audience. Winners go to the live shows, while losers either go home or get "stolen" by another judge who thinks that singer is too good to let go.

There is some amazing talent this year. Most every genre imaginable is not only represented but represented well. So listen up, my friends. If you haven't seen this show, do yourself a favor next week and turn it on. In fact, why not just consider your Monday and Tuesday nights filled? Indefinitely.

I promise you will not regret it!

=)

PS. And Carson Daly as a host ain't too shabby, either.

for more V posts, click below

Farewell the King of Spoons/Homing

I just got home from a lengthy vacation and am trying to get myself back in blogging mode by making a double post. Farewell the King of Spoons was created two weeks ago for the Magpie Tales writing meme. As you can see, I neglected to publish it before I left town and am doing so now. 

The second poem, Homing, is a response to the current Magpie picture prompt. Sorry for asking you to do double duty here, but at least these two pieces are very different in nature.

It Must Be Time For Lunch Now, 1979, by Francesca Woodman

Farewell the King of Spoons

©2012 Susan Noyes Anderson

It must be time for lunch now,

but I think I'll take a pass.

It seems the king of spoons just tried 

to knock me on my ass.

Our roads were joined together once.

The fork is now at hand.

I'm all fed up in ways that tool

will never understand.

I do not want his silver wares,

nor shall I have the knife.

This fork has all she needs to take

another stab at life.

(Pardon my "French" in that first stanza. I used to work as a domestic violence counselor and wanted to give voice to my clients' anger...or perhaps mine on their behalf.)

∞§∞

Midnight Snack, 1984, Curtis Wilson Cost

Homing

©2012 Susan Noyes Anderson

Follow the bright lights home, my son.

When all is said, when all is done,

their glow still calls you back to me

in person and in memory.

Homing transcends the reach of words,

thrums sweet in souls of migrant birds,

grants every man the gift of wings,

and offers all the peace it brings.

It matters not where time has flown.

For you are loved, and you are known.

So sail home on a southern breeze.

Belonging is like air. It frees.

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US Korean Veterans Memorial

My iPhone photos don't do this one justice, but I wanted to share them because the Korean War memorial was my favorite...even better than the Vietnam wall, which was a powerful experience in itself.

These life-sized statues of men moving through the jungle were both moving and chilling. It was as if the artist had captured these brave soldiers in time, and the hair stood up on the back of my neck as I entered the jungle to watch their stealthy advance. If you have not seen this memorial, make sure you do. It is breathtaking!

Heroes on patrol, for certain.

for more U posts, click below