I visited One Woman’s Quest last month. I’m not sure how I found the site, but since I wrote Shattered, I’m navigating to a lot of different places in this internet sea that I might not have otherwise. I’m so glad I found it because this poem touched me deeply, and I knew I wanted to share it with my readers. V.J. graciously gave me permission to re-post it here. Thank you, V.J. Your thoughts are couched in such beautiful language.
Sufficiency
Disability corners me
twixt two directions –
the hurried rush
of ambition’s call
and the gentle nudge
of wisdom settling
Confined to four rooms
I am distanced from –
invisible to –
the weekend warriors
whose self-satisfied grimaces
race by my window
I remember that push –
not enough hours to the day
not enough money to succeed
never thin enough, fit enough
always grasping for more…
Legless and exhausted,
I am disqualified
from competing,
immersed in retrospection,
luxuriating in perspective –
I’ve always had, indeed,
continue to have
everything I need:
a home I can navigate,
the endless beauty of nature
and the care of loved ones.
Abundance, I’ve discovered, is attitude:
recognition and acceptance
that life is sufficiency
by
“I’ve derived this poem from a post by the same name, dated October 2014.
At the time, I was five months into the losses that were Myalgic Encephalomyelitis…”
And now for our monthly question. Remember, the question is optional!
In your writing, what stresses you the most? What delights you?
The awesome co-hosts for the December 1 posting of the IWSG are PJ Colando,Diane Burton,Louise – Fundy Blue,Natalie Aguirre, and Jacqui Murray!
Since I’m going through the most stressful part of this writing business right now, this question is easy to answer. Releasing a book into the world shoots my stress level to “explosive”. Picture that emoji of the guy with the top of his head erupting like a volcano, and you get some of how I feel. The publicity deadlines, the obligation to winners of prizes, the delays in getting books for special promotions, the uncertainty of public response. All of these combine to make me vow never to do it again. So far this has been a vow I haven’t kept, and I’ve repeated it 10 times with 10 books. I always think, “This time will be easier because I’ve had practice.” Ha! That is not the case.
Maybe I don’t stop because I know I’m always ready to enter the delightful period, and that will diminish the stress, and I’ll be sane again. When I’m at the re-writing stage of a book, I’m in heaven. The characters are there to “play” with, the plot is laid out to twist for more interest or smooth out for more plausibility, the narrative and description are ready for those final touches. Ahh. Now that is heaven.
Shattered’s Blog Tour
Shattered is featured in a few blogs from Nov 29 to Dec 3. If you have a moment, I hope you’ll stop by some of these great sites. I so appreciate bloggers who help get the word out about books, and I like to encourage them for their efforts.
November 29:
1: Momma Says: To Read or Not to Read
2: Write. Read. Live.
3: Mythical Books
4: Gold Dust Editing & Book Reviews
5: Literary Gold
6: The Avid Reader
7: Straight from the Library
November 30:
1: Aubrey Wynne: Timeless Love
2: Long and Short Reviews
3: Readers Roost
4: Splashes of Joy
5: Kit ‘N Kabookle
6: The Pen and Muse Book Reviews
7: Westveil Publishing
December 1:
1:Books in the Hall
2: Fabulous and Brunette
3: https://andisyoungadult.blogspot.com
4: Stormy Nights Reviewing & Bloggin’
5: Sapphyria’s Books
6: Triquetra Reviews
7: Author C.A.Milson
December 2:
1: Eye-Rolling Demigod’s Book Blog
2: Welcome to My World of Dreams
3: The Faerie Review
4: Don’t Judge, Read
5: Coffee and Wander Book Reviews
6: Jazzy Book Reviews
7: Let me tell you a story
December 3:
1: Locks, Hooks and Books
2: Novels Alive
3: Hope. Dreams. Life… Love
4: Sandra’s Book Club
5: Girl with Pen
6: It’s Raining Books
Quote of the Week: “Sometimes your destiny is wrapped up in a veil of fear to check if you really have the courage to face it.” Marcus Hades, Poet
