Tag Archives: Becky G

Writing 101 Day 4: Lost

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I am continuing in this Writing 101 class and need to write about a loss. It does not need to be a sad story but it could even be amusing or comical if I could pull that off. Hum oh, hum. What sort of a loss should I write about today? Actually I am a day behind but am trying to make an attempt at completing this next assignment which will become a serial assignment with two more installments. I have experienced many types of losses in my life and so has everyone else. From the loss of my parents, grandparents, and others who were especially close to me to losing my keys, my glasses, and sometimes my mind as I forget what it is I am supposed to do today. Once while visiting the Mall of America I had forgotten my purse in the third floor food court and suffice to say, that wasn’t the best day for me.  I have also lost favorite pets, and favorite stories and other poems I’ve written after a computer crash. I have gotten lost just driving from one place to another thinking I know the way but I found out that I didn’t.  In fact, I think that is what I am going to write about today:

Lost in Wyoming (Part 1)

I once went on a journey from Minnesota to Wyoming as I was on vacation to visit one of my best friends and her daughter. Because I have driven this route before, I thought I knew the way by heart. And for the most part I did as most of the route was along Interstate 90 passing through Minnesota, South Dakota, and finally Wyoming. I enjoyed the journey very much as I like the sense of adventure which I experience whenever I travel. It doesn’t matter if I travel by car, bus, or airplane because along the way I relish this exciting taste of adventure; the flavor of doing something new or different and the thrill of having a change from my usual pace in life.

I packed my suitcase and stuffed that into my car with my hiking boots and my laptop and then headed out. I had my trip all planned and most of my route entered into my GPS unit. Since it was about a thirteen hour drive I decided to stay overnight in a small town in South Dakota which would  mark the halfway point of my journey; I am not one to drive 13 hours straight through and tend to take resting breaks along the way. My journey got off to a rough start in that it seemed I had eaten something that didn’t agree with me. Consequently, I needed to stop more often than planned to find a restroom so therefore, I had a dickens of a time just getting out of Minnesota.

But once I had crossed the border into South Dakota, my guest to make to my friend’s was in earnest as I seemed to feel better and could now drive a greater distance. Many described South Dakota as very flat and boring to travel through. To be sure, wide plains of grass and farm fields stretched out before me but I did not consider the scenery to be boring and because the journey was such a simple route, I had great confidence in myself that I would successfully complete this journey with no mishap. With the wide open highway and the sunlit blue sky before me, I bravely ventured on never dreaming that at some point I would become lost.

As I traveled onward, I debated about taking a detour to visit DeSmet, South Dakota as I was an avid reader of the Little House on the Prairie books. DeSmet is where the Ingalls family finally settled after their years of traveling and moving westward. I decided not to do this on this trip because it is such a ways and I am so focused on being timely, but I am determined to visit it on another trip. I make various stops along the way to refuel my car, freshen up and just stretch my legs. After hours of driving, I arrived at my first destination, Chamberlain; a small town situated on the Missouri River. I chose to stay here for the night because this town holds a special childhood memory. Many years ago when my dad and mom took us on a trip out west we had stopped at a campground staying overnight in our pop up tent. The campground was right on the river and my siblings and I enjoyed it very much. We met other children camping there for night and had played a late night of tag with them. Much to my surprise, the motel where I was staying was also right on the Missouri River and it was a beautiful view. After being assigned a room and storing my luggage, I took a walk through the small town and visited a few of the shops there. It is a very warm and relaxing summer evening. Finally, I went to bed feeling very sure of myself along this trek of mine and still never knowing that I would somehow get lost tomorrow.

Stayed tuned for Part 2!

Becky’s Haiku: Foul and Sweet

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Foul Wind! Stay away!

Let me enjoy a warm day

Touched by Sun’s sweet rays.

I tried a challenge to write a haiku using the words foul and sweet.  For those of you who enjoy haiku challenges, here is the link for this particular haiku: https://ronovanwrites.wordpress.com/tag/haiku-challenge/

The Gift of Silence

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Melodious robin punctuates the hushed air

As a mild wind blows and temperatures are fair.

Branches swish and sway among the cluster of trees;

Dancing in the warm wind and the flowing breeze.

Lone owl hoots in the lazy mid-afternoon

While the day is bright and peacefulness resumes.

Crickets chirp and sing in the rosy hued twilight

Forming an unseen choir in the depths of night.

Peacefully I lay listening to the calming quietness

And am gently blessed by the gift of silence.

Haiku: Our Home Earth

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Earth; the blue sphere beacon

Floating in the vast field of space yet

Keeping its destined place

I got this haiku poem idea by participating in a haiku challenge. For those who like such challenges, here is a link this challenge in which, you were to include the words “beacon” and “field” in a haiku:

 http://hughsviewsandnews.com/2015/03/21/ronovans-weekly-haiku-challenge-field-beacon/

Prose Poetry: I went on a Walk Today

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I went on a walk today to enjoy the sunshine’s beautiful rays. Although it is only March it seemed like early May. That was the Lord’s good kindness I have no doubt to bless us with his radiant love. So for heartfelt joy I wanted to shout. As the time did allow, I meandered and walked along the road where the grass was too brown I noted with a furrowed frown. But then I remember this is only early March, I need to be patient in letting Spring have its start. Therefore, now no need to be downcast or feel dismay because as surely as the loving Lord lives, the warmer season of Spring is on the way. And so gracious and generous is our Lord God that he chose to let us have a peak at the warm weather that lies ahead.  Why, not so long ago, I sat shrouded in blankets enduring the wintry cold. Now I push the sleeves up my arms allowing the sun to wrap them with its warming glow. Contentedly I plod along the road not really following where the sidewalk goes.  I do that sometimes, just making up my own path and journeying where no one else has.  My life is sometimes like that too; where others might travel along Route One, I might choose to explore Route Two.  I like to be different and not the same as everyone I see. God has given you and me each a gift of life and individuality. Therefore as we wander through life’s pathways and arrive at a journey altering crossroad, you may choose one way while I select another way to go.  And as surely, I can see the lemon tinted orb shine so radiantly, I know that the Lord is always with me, guiding me with love and ever so tenderly.  For he does deeply know me and understands my shyness, you see. For though I smile and seem so sociably, deep inside something is hindering me. He knows when I hurt too much and cannot take too much more. He lets me hide in his quiet love; he is my strong, protecting shield like the locked and secured front door. So as twilight now descends and this blessed day sweetly ends, it is only God through his Son Jesus who gives me courage to endure and try again. Therefore, tomorrow when dawns a brand new day filled with unknown blessings along life’s way, I will venture along a new winding pathway to discover rekindled hope inside of the Lord’s never ending grace.

Becky’s Song: God is Always Working on Me

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1. God is always working on me

Transforming my heart that I might be

One with Jesus’ Spirit eternally

God is always working on me.

Chorus:

Working…Working…

God is always working on me.

Fitting me for heaven as you will see;

God is always working on me.

 

  1. God is always working on me

As I awake each bright new day.

Taking my hand to lead me the way,

God is always working on me.

Chorus

  1. God is always working on me,

As I walk through the woods or by the sea.

Reminding me of all he’s done for me,

God is always working on me.

Chorus

  1. God is always working on me

As I go forth serving Thee.

Teaching me to love and kindly be

God is always working on me.

Chorus

  1. God is always working on me

As in the dark, I troubled be.

He takes away my fears and gives me peace;

God is always working on me.

Chorus

  1. God is always working on me

As I watch for his coming each new day.

Knowing Jesus is closer each time I pray,

God is always working on me.

Chorus

Poetry 201 Assignment 10: Future, Sonnet, and Chiasmus

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Finally, I have completed my last assignment in Poetry 201. It has been an interesting and challenging two weeks. My last assignment was to write a sonnet about the future. And in this poem I was to include a chiasmus which pertains to repeating statements forwards and then backwards. Can you find my forward and backward statements?

Looking in Hope for Spring

Oh those prolonged days, ever so cold and blistery,

How long indeed shall they continue to still prevail?

As certainly every night is so utterly freezing and wintry.

I yearn and hope for spring to arrive without fail.

I glance upon my wall calendar to calculate and count

The number of months and weeks of this frigid season;

How many more of these dark days must surely amount

Before the end of snow though lovely it does glisten?

Now to stop and be ever so true and so ever kindly fair,

The loving, faithful Lord has remained always with me.

He’s gently wrapped me in saving grace showing he does care

Whether I am wide awake or sleeping ever so deep, so soundly.

Only God gives lasting hope; hope lasting is given by God only.

Encouragingly, I lift up my head; yea! My head is uplifted encouragingly.

Poetry 201 Assignment 9: Landscape, Found Poetry, and Enumeration

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Okay, I completed assignment 9 in which I needed to write a Found poem about ‘landscape’ and include some enumeration (a list). Found poetry I learned is when you gather a collage of words like cutting them from a newspaper and then use those words in a poem.Other poets were much more creative than I by arranging theirs’ in a crossword pattern to illustrate the concepts of their poems. This took me a long time and I probably overdid it. The picture above illustrates the collage of words I used for this poem.

Forever Changing Landscape

From one century to another and one lifetime to the next generation,

The earth’s multi-faceted landscape is forever changing.

From the warm weather of spring to the humid days of summer,

And then transforming from the colorful fall season to snow white winter.

The land of earth is continuously transforming as moving time is a steady constant

While the passing seasons and the world itself are inconsistent variants.

 An enchanted traveler might see the view shift gradually or with sudden surprise

As if surrounded by the deep darkness of night when bursts a glorious sunrise.

For traveling through America is like mentally picking up the vast pieces

 Of a larger than life picture perfect puzzle as each state represents just a speck.

Whether touring by bus, car, cycle, or by riding on the river;

Or perhaps take to the trails by looping around the lakes

In an ambitious and challenging hiking adventure,

An unexpected surprise may meet your wondrous eyes

While you journey from the dawn of morning until the dusk of night.

Ranging from the hot, sandy deserts of Arizona to the north shore of wintry Alaska

And from the mountains of Wyoming to the fields and farms of Kansas and Nebraska;

The land, rivers, forests, and mountains do not remain stale and stagnant.

Instead they all steadily flow by your passenger window; moving, colorful and dynamic.

Even when traveling from one brightly lit up city to yet another,

You may expect to view similar, towering skyscrapers

And perhaps be in reverent awe of their architecture.

However, experiencing the sights and sounds of New York City’s Broadway

Does not compare to walking along the shoreline of San Francisco Bay.

And if one should venture around the world while soul-searching,

The sights of historic Greece would greatly defer from the Eastern Caribbean.

In such travels what peace of mind, new hope, and good delight

May inspire one to adopt new and fresh perspectives on life.

When one chooses to embark on an unknown and great journey;

May it be an exceptional journey to never forget but linger and echo in memory.

Poetry 201 Assignment 7: Fingers, Prose Poetry, and Assonance

 

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Continuing in my poetry class, I was asked to write a piece of prose poetry in which the poem looks like prose but can you see the poetry within? It includes the subject of fingers and a technique known as assonance in which a repeating vowel sound is used. Can you determine what repeating vowel sound I used throughout this poem?  I hope you enjoy reading it.

Fingers on the Keyboard

Fingers floating and sliding along the plastic keys as I tried to remember the last melody. When was it that I struck a key followed by another and another? I plucked C, B, G, E, and sometimes D. Such a mystery as the last time keeps escaping me. When did I last take a seat with content upon a piano bench and played a tune with such gentle sweet ease? However now, I no longer have my grandmother’s piano, you see. Instead I have this electronic keyboard for simple melodies and that seemed just right for me.  Such a lifetime ago it was when my fingers danced gingerly and with subtle familiarity caressing and pressing those musical keys. Oh those sweet notes, the ebony and the ivory playing alternately and creating a sweet sounding melody.  When struck together they resonate in pleasing and lingering harmony. Although admittedly when oft my unpracticed fingers did glide over the black and white keys one may hear unmistakable disharmony. Many memories reside in me playing but constantly dismaying at the clash of keys in off-tuned melodies. I am not as talented as I would like to be to play this fine musical instrument; this assortment of black and white vibrating keys. Melody and harmony are too much for me and their mastery has too often eluded me.  So my fingers became still and my keyboard became silent; as quiet as can be. It serves now only as a tangible memory of my younger days when I would strive so determinedly to play a simple and sweet melody.