Month: September 2024

The Word of the Day Challenge

Anthony2 Comments

Answer

Today’s Word of the day is Answer.

THE ANSWERS ARE THERE, INSIDE

There is answer to everything

You just have to search inside 

You can accomplish anything

Just set aside all of your pride.

–

Be open to all change

No matter how drastic

Adjust and rearrange

Life will be fantastic.

–

Evolve yourself anew

Grow from each downfall

Change your point of view

Or you’re not living at all.

–

Many new things can be scary

Just be brave and take them all on

It only takes a little dating

Then all your fears will be gone.

–

So when the going goes vertical

It’s not unbearable like a cancer 

Challenges are not impossible

As inside of you are the answers…

-AAA 09/18/2024

QOTD: #184

Anthony13 Comments

What would your life be like without music?

Let’s just say it wouldn’t happen. Music is a language of my soul. And it accompanies everything I do: work, play, driving, exercise, showers, baths, and even sleep.

Anticipation of this question I wrote this little ditty as well:

Music, The Language of my Soul 

Music is the language of my very soul 

From Classical and Jazz and Rock ‘n’ Roll.

–

The drums, bass, rhythm, and lead guitar 

When put together, go very far.

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Alternative, Grunge, and New Wave

Musical styles I often crave.

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Classic Rock, Indie, and Punk

I often love the occasional funk.

–

Classical and Jazz are such a gas

Listening or playing these styles in the past.

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Heavy Metal and it’s various sub styles 

Hard always makes me smile.

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R&B and the straight up blues 

Powerful music, powerful truths.

–

Fast paced SKA and slower Reggae

A myriad of songs I love to play.

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Protopunk and it’s far ahead ways 

Kept me moving and grooving for days.

–

Industrial and Techno-Pop

Stinking sounds that never stop.

–

Yacht Rock and lighter faire 

Always makes me stop and stare.

–

Bluetooth speakers and playlists

All my favorite songs with my own twists.

–

I really could go on forever 

A world without music? I say, never…

-AAA 09/18/2024

Sight Unseen 

Anthony2 Comments

Sight unseen

Take it for what it is

Dirty or clean.

–

You don’t want to miss

A deal to end deals

This is your bliss.

–

A different set of wheels

A car that’s unchecked

This how excitement feels.

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Just hope it’s not a wreck

It’d be such a waste 

A real pain in the neck.

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Getting ripped off leaves a bad taste

It almost feels like theft

But, it’s how some used cars are based.

–

Maybe turn right instead of left

Don’t go over to his house

If it’s a lemon you’ll be bereft. 

–

You don’t deserve to own a louse

How many times have you been burned

You feel out of sorts like nearsighted mouse.

–

Your stomach’s churned

You’ve changed your mind

You won’t get spurned.

–

Sight unseen will leave you in a bind

You need a mechanic to take a look 

Our you’ll kick yourself in the behind…

-AAA 09/17/2024

Take Some Chances 

Anthony8 Comments

Just be brave 

Don’t let life shake you 

The world won’t behave 

Don’t let it unmake you.

–

Take a chance 

Try something completely new 

Go to that dance

Sit near that person in the pew. 

–

You just never know

What the world has in store

Take a chance, go

Lest your life be a bore.

–

Grab that new job 

Try a different food

Or else you might rob

Yourself of some good.

–

Venture far away

From your comfort zone

You might extend the stay

For what you’ll become.

–

Keep moving forward

Whether it’s raining or snowing

Even if that road is curved

Just keep on going.

–

This is a critical lesson

I’ve found it rather nifty

If could make one concession,

learn it at 25 instead of 50.

–

Life is very scary 

But you must try 

Be a little less wary

Before you die…

-AAA 09/17/2024

When Will We Learn?

Anthony10 Comments

What do you do 

What do you say

How do you feel 

How do you pray?

–

What do you know

What do you see

When will you act

Will you be free?

–

What is your cause

What are you for

When is the time

After or before?

–

When will it start

When will it end 

Are there remarks

Are you my friend?

–

When will the fighting stop 

When will the hatred cease

When will the world unite 

When will we cure disease?

–

What does the future hold

What are the cards in play 

When will we finally learn

Lessons we repeat everyday…

-AAA 09/17/2024

Trust Your Senses 

Anthony4 Comments

See through eyes

Having seen good and bad

You’re not blind.

–

Hear through ears

Sounds of yesterday and today

Never get old.

–

Feel around you

Full spectrum of all emotions

You’re human, alive.

–

Touch when touched

Embrace the gentleness of everything

And of everyone.

–

Taste many things

Savor the sweet and sour

Enjoy it all…

-AAA 09/16/2024

Clouds in a Pre-Fall Sky

Anthony11 Comments

Crispy wispy clouds 

A gorgeous, blue, pre-fall sky

Nothing shared aloud

I wonder to where they fly?

If I knew I would tell you

–

And that is no lie

My honesty for beauty

Quite truthful, I try

It’s my artistic duty

To share and never be shy…

-AAA 09/16/2024

Six Months Old Today 🎂🎉

Anthony39 Comments

If anybody told me, that at age 6 months, my blog would have over 132,000 views, 107,000 likes, just under 23,000 visitors, and over 1000 subscribers, I’d say they were crazy. 

Yet, here we are at six months today. I have never written as much as I have written in this past six months in my entire life. I really pushed my creativity to its limits, but it’s worth it.

I have written north of 1100, poems, posts, articles, short stories, and essays over these 6 months. I started out with approximately 7-8 poetic forms I was using. I have expanded that to over 32 now and some hybrids and combinations of forms. I truly enjoyed the technical aspects and challenges of all these different poetic forms, and just hope the words do fit in nicely. I hope the master quite a few more, which makes it far easier to write and find inspiration.

My biggest thrill was getting my first subscriber. I remember my excitement and then and there I set an initial goal of 300 subscribers by years end (about 9 months after I started my blog in March, 2024). I think I have slightly done better than that at six months, and it’s still a great thrill getting a new subscriber today.

I haven’t written this much poetry in my entire life, even in my crazy youth. Back then, I had all these little spiral-bound notebooks, I was taking with me everywhere. Now I just do it all my iPhone. I even edit the photos and add ArtFilters and do all the different visual content on my iPhone and crop it and everything. I push my creativity hard pretty much seven days a week and don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.

When I first started my blog, I wanted to get an audience to read my writing, provide me with feedback, good and bad and share my feelings emotions. I got so much more, this is a great community of writers artists authors, creative people all around. Very supportive and very encouraging. Such great people that I am very lucky to sharing with. ❤️

Not to mention they are all excellent writers in their own right. I will continue to do my best to produce as much high-quality material and frequently as possible and continue growing this blog and making it bigger.

My hopes are with all these writings that I am creating that I will be able to publish several books in the near future. As always, I thank you, my friends, subscribers, readers, and fellow authors for helping me get to this point! Here’s to six more months and then some. ❤️❤️❤️

-aaa

QOTD:#182 Pounded Cake

Anthony16 Comments

Write about your most epic baking or cooking fail.

My epic fail is pretty funny. I love irony in life and this is one of those cases.

So I work with my Nana and I was going to make a poundcake, it was very careful about all ingredients and preparation and baking, and she watched over my shoulder as I cooked and prepared it.

All seemed great and everything looked good as it was baking, however, I missed one key ingredient and it’s a biggie, baking powder.

As a result, my poundcake collapsed in the middle and it look like somebody had pounded their fist through the center of the cake.

Hence, my “poundcake” became a “pounded cake”. it still tasted good. It just didn’t rise properly and as a result, this was an epic fail, but a funny and delicious one.

-aaa

Missy’s MAD Challenge # 007

Anthony5 Comments

Every week, a creative prompt will be offered for you to unleash your imagination and artistic skills.

You can share your response in the form of art or any creative expression that the prompt inspires.

There are no restrictions and no deadlines, so feel free to take your time and enjoy the creative process.

Remember to label your response with #missysmadchallenge.

Your challenge for the week

  • The last time…

The Very Last Time 

The very last time 

I saw your face in person

I didn’t feel sad

I had finally moved on

You had moved on, on day one.

–

The very last time 

I spoke to you on the phone 

Wasn’t very bad

We agreed on divorce terms

And even laughed a few times.

–

The very last time 

I saw an image of you

You looked very old

We both aged a lot through this

Hopefully now a relief…

-AAA 09/16/2024

Sit Back, Enjoy the Ride

Anthony7 Comments

What do they call GMT in Greenwich?

Try whistling eating peanut butter and crackers, but don’t stand too close to anyone.

Honesty is akin to bravery.

Using a glucometer daily leaves intricate dark spots on the fingertips.

I’m peckish for pimento cheese.

I feel therefore I am.

The outside hustle and bustle is so noisy.

What do snails consider slow?

Can I just blink my eyes end my breakfast will instantly cool itself? 

Sit back enjoy the ride…

-AAA 09/16/2024

Motivate Don’t Hesitate 

Anthony9 Comments

I am right where I belong 

I am me and hear my song.

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Do what you feel 

And feel the appeal.

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Forward move 

To a nice groove.

–

Each day now is an adventure

No longer being censured.

–

A happier we

Life drama free.

–

We’re off the shelves 

Challenging ourselves.

–

What else can we say 

We’re happier today.

–

Finding ourselves at 50 

Solving the ish is nifty.

–

It’s never too late 

So don’t hesitate.

–

There’s always tomorrow 

Despite a past sorrow.

–

Be like me be brave

It’s your own life you’ll save…

-AAA 09/16/2024

QOTD: #181

Anthony10 Comments

Share a lesson you wish you had learned earlier in life.

There’s so many things I could write here, but I’m gonna try and keep it very simple this time. I’m gonna talk about the greatest lesson. I wish I taught myself in my youth. This lesson was to have a love for and belief in myself.

I had such a doubt on myself in my younger years, and as a result, I picked terrible partners, lovers, friends, and my career.

I was convinced I had to settle for whatever I can get rather than choose and discriminate my tastes.

I don’t do that anymore. I have boundaries, love for myself, self-respect, and I have a career, I love now. Also I have self-love and self-respect and dignity that I’ve never had before. I had to build it work at cultivate it from nothing.

The only regret was that it took me to age 50 to finally figure it out. But I guess that’s part of life’s rich pageant. We have to learn our lessons the hardest way possible and repeat them over and over until we master them.

Remember no matter what just keep going I tell myself that many many times when I’m not sure what’s gonna happen next.

As always, thank you for reading…

-aaa

The Old Man and the Mirror

Anthony7 Comments

Look in the mirror what do I see?

Gray old man looking back at me.

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Where did all the years go

So fast the time does flow.

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My beard is full and such curly hair

Has thoroughly caught me unawares.

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Life is strange as it moves by fast

Wondering how long this life will last.

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Oh my mirror must you be cruel 

Showing me I was such a fool.

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My lifetime hasn’t all been a blast

Cold harsh realities in distant past.

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Take some stock it wasn’t all a waste

Parts of our lives have a bitter taste.

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The hardest lessons have been learned 

To assure a far better life in return.

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A drip in the sink drops with kerplunk

I set down my razor and bathroom junk.

–

Now I’m shaven and my teeth are clean

I’m far better than I have ever been.

–

The time for reflection is at an end

Let’s resume your living my friend.

–

Take the time and lessons, discard strife

And resume living your very best life…

-AAA 09/15/2024

When Inspiration Starved, Try a New Form 

Anthony8 Comments

How many poetic forms can one use?

There are hundreds out there to be tried 

More than twenty- five, I choose

As writing makes me feel alive.

–

Quatrains are common for many to use 

Just like this one I’m writing right now

The words come together just like a cruise

Completing the work, a solemn vow.

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When do you choose to try a new form?

When the words will not come out 

As you weather a writers block storm 

Then inspiration will scream and shout.

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Words now come quickly, too fast type

As many new ideas fills your mind

Such a rush of creativity, ideas are ripe

No longer in your artistic bind.

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So never worry when the words won’t come 

When you can try new exciting poetic forms 

Fresh inspiration, where once, mere crumbs

Challenging, refreshing, is your new norm…

-AAA 09/15/2024

1000+ Subscribers!!!  🤯 

Anthony48 Comments

I want to think all my readers, subscribers, friends, and everybody on here. Today was quite a milestone. I have over 1000 subscribers now. 

Originally my goal was to have up to 300 subscribers by the end of the year. I had that goal when I started my blog in late March.

Obviously, we’ve exceeded that and I want to thank you all because you made it possible.  I promised to continue to provide as good of writing as possible mastering new forms of poetry and refining the skills I already have.

I think late next week if I’m not mistaken, I will be hitting the six month mark of my blog and it’s been a lot of fun and I hope it’s gonna be a lot more and I hope you’re all be there to enjoy it. Thank you again for everything I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing if it wasn’t for you. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

-aaa

I Deserved Better 

Anthony5 Comments

I’m losing my cool 

It can’t be helped

Played for a fool.

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That’s how I felt

Irritated inside

Like a fresh welt.

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Damn my pride

Such a waste

Nowhere to hide.

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As I leave post haste

Trapped in the lies

I can’t just cut and paste.

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Yet, you gave me your thighs

I do not know why

To lows from such highs.

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Makes me cry

Foolish tears 

Why’d you lie?

–

I guess it was fears

Of what may come

And where your heart steers.

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Now I feel dumb 

For buying it all

As well as numb.

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Like I’m 2 foot small

Reduced to nothing

Kneeling, I crawl.

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There was just huffing 

No love to be found

All the while your McGuffing

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When I wasn’t around

You found better

And left me on the ground.

–

A Dear John Letter

Without a sound

I deserved much better…

-AAA 09/13/2024

QOTD: #178

Anthony11 Comments

How often do you walk or run?

I used to walk daily. I’m gonna get back into that habit and get walking again.

I need to get active again and get healthier.

I do run when I play tennis. It’s a great way to trick yourself into doing a lot of running when you’re competing to win.

As always, thank you for reading 😊

-aaa