PROMPT #34 - IMPORTANT

Perhaps there is no better time than at the beginning of a new year to evaluate what things are most important to us – what needs to be retained and what needs to be discarded. Many people use this time to make resolutions to improve their lives, be it through improving their diet, relinquishing a bad habit, or adding a regular exercise routine. Whether you seek a healthier lifestyle, a new career, or possibly your one, true love, the first step is understanding what is really important to you. Once you decide what that is, you can take your life anywhere. Happy New Year to all of you and best wishes for a year of self-discovery through the power of your muse!

THE IMPORTANT PART

So much of my life has been wasted
chasing dreams that I couldn’t fulfill,
in pursuit of the almighty dollar
or in finding diversions that thrill.

When the scorecard of life has been written,
and I look back on what I’ve achieved,
I am less a success if ignoring
all the blessings that I have received.

And those blessings aren’t wrapped up in money
or possessions that last but a while.
They are found in the face of my family,
in the laughter and love in a smile.

May I always take time to remember,
when my life takes a turn that seems cruel,
disappointment does not drive me forward.
It’s my loved ones providing my fuel.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT

The next A Muse Fuse prompt was scheduled for tomorrow, 12/16/10. But with ten days left until Christmas, and much yet to do, A Muse Fuse and The Magnified Muse will be on a Holiday Hiatus until January. The next word prompt here at A Muse Fuse will be on January 6, 2011. However you spend the upcoming holidays, may the warmth of your season engulf you. Best wishes for a Happy New Year!

PROMPT #33 - HOPE

Good morning and welcome to Prompt #33 at A Muse Fuse. Our word for this week is “hope.” I think it’s easy for a poet to delve into their darker side when creating verse. Just ask Edgar Allen Poe. Well, maybe that’s a bit too dark. However, it’s a fact of human nature that our lives occasionally run low on optimism. Usually, it’s a temporary loss and is quickly regained by the simplest things. For me, one of those simple things is an eight-week old basset hound, named Trixie Noell. All she has to do is look at me with those beautiful and trusting, little eyes, and I instinctively know tomorrow will be better. Okay, I can’t help it. Even in my bleakest hours, I’m basically a sappy, sentimentalist. Whether you find hope in a relationship, in your spirituality, or in the love of a cherished pet, I hope your muse finds a way to capture that feeling in verse.

EYES OF HOPE

Sometimes I’m lost and feel alone,
without a hope or prayer.
But lately, when I need it most,
there comes a puppy’s stare.
She doesn’t need a lot from life,
with built-in ways to cope.
Her eyes are filled with faith and love
and offer endless hope.

PROMPT #32 - GREEN

Like many poets, nature is one of my biggest sources for inspiration. (Love is always number one.) This week, our 32nd prompt is the word “green.” Besides the obvious reference to a color, green can mean many things. For instance, it can refer to vegetables; not being fully developed; having a sickly appearance; or being environmentally sound. However you interpret the word, make us green with envy as you fuse your muse with this week’s prompt.

SEASONAL GREEN

The summer green had gone to brown
as autumn took control.
The yard replaced its grassy gown
in step with winter’s goal.
My muse looks at the coming days
and paints a holiday scene.
The house begins its Christmas phase
and wears its winter green.

PROMPT #31 - FOREST

The weeks fly by at an alarming rate, the end of the year rapidly approaches, and we find ourselves at Prompt #31 and the letter “f.” I’ve chosen the word “forest” for today’s prompt. I speak often about my deep love for the mountains and their restorative effect upon me. It seems appropriate, at this time of year, to write a poem about something that makes me thankful for the gift of nature. This week, explore the place where the forest takes you and be inspired by it.

THE PINE FOREST FLOOR

To lighten the load of despair and unrest,
I was eager to build a rapport
with something of substance, and so I embarked
on a trip to the pine forest floor.

The scurrying chipmunk, a butterfly’s grace,
the birdsong an elegant score.
The beauty of nature enraptured my soul
as I passed through this pine forest floor.

The smell of the pine tree rekindled a spark
for the need to connect and restore
a faith I considered had withered in death,
buried under the pine forest floor.

Though not a fanatic in terms of beliefs,
my life was quite empty before
the glorious visions I found in these woods
came alive on this pine forest floor.

PROMPT #30 - ENERGY

Our prompt this week is “energy.” Sometimes, I don’t have the energy to think. At other times, I’m in energy overload. Love creates its own energy, and its unique power is the subject of my poem. Find what energizes you and let it stimulate your muse.

ABOUNDING WITH ENERGY

A look, a touch,
words spoken or unspoken.
In a room together,
or separated by miles.
The cosmic forces,
no one really understands,
created our bond,
making it immune to disruption.
But this unknown variable
engages the energy
that powers who we are.

PROMPT #29 - DRAFT

We’ve come to the letter “D” and our prompt for the week is: draft. You could write about the draft coming through the window or under the door. Or you could write your poem about a military draft. For me, I’ve chosen National Novel Writing Month (a/k/a “NaNoWriMo”) as my inspiration. Beginning on November 1st, participants need to write 1,667 words per day to reach the goal of a 50,000 word novel by month’s end. A daunting task, to say the least. I read a comment someone wrote about how too many people are writing books these days and events like NaNoWriMo should be discouraged. I don’t just think she’s wrong, I know she is. Here’s wishing success to all the NaNoWriMo-ers out there from one within your ranks!!

THE NaNoWriMo DRAFT

A novel in a month, they say.
Has cyberspace gone daft?
I need procrastination time
to cultivate my craft.
With thirty days to write a book,
I panicked more than laughed.
But if I’m faithful to the end,
I’ll have my book’s first draft.

Yet recently I heard it said
there’s no validity
in many people writing with
no creativity.
These words were misdirected.
And I say with certainty,
there’s no room in the world of art
for negativity.

Antagonist comments
should be locked away in storage.
A writer has the right to write
and shouldn’t be discouraged.
Instead, a word of praise or two
is better to encourage
the best in those who jump right in
with confidence and courage.

PROMPT #28 - CRAYON

Last week, our prompt was “brown.” Today, our prompt is “crayon.” Even though it appears that way, I’m not building on a theme here. (Although, if it wasn’t for the letter “q” – a colorless letter -- it might be fun to have a Color Poem-A-Day Challenge. But the February Challenge is months away. This “q” thing might need some serious research!) Crayons are most often associated with children. In its simplicity, a crayon can be inspiring. Inspire yourself with this primary tool of creation. And if you can find the name of a color that begins with the letter “q,” let me know!!

CRAYON CREATIONS

A crayon held with childlike might
is less a tool with which to write
than one that fashions art in wax.
And spared by critics’ cruel attacks,
a child continues, in his glee,
to build upon his artistry.

PROMPT #28 – BROWN

Today, we revisit the second letter of the alphabet, and our word for today is “brown.” You wouldn’t know it from my own poem below, but I love the color brown. The richness of its various hues provides warmth and comfort. And, let’s face it, coffee and chocolate are brown: my two, favorite food groups! Look within your muse and follow wherever “brown” leads you.

A BROWN POINT OF VIEW

A landscape, barren of vegetation,
sits dry, empty and brown.

A river, pounded relentlessly
by an unforgiving rain,
overflows, is muddy and brown.

A heart, devoid of rich soil
for planting the seeds of love
and the waters needed for growth,
is lonely, shriveled and brown.

PROMPT #27 - AWE

This week, we return to the beginning of the alphabet. There are, of course, many words I could have chosen for today’s prompt. But having spent yesterday watching the rescue of the Chilean miners, I can think of no better word to express what I feel for these men and their families than our prompt for this week, which is “awe.” The word is defined as an overwhelming feeling of reverence and admiration. It captures more, than any other word, the emotions my heart holds for these remarkable people.

IN AWE OF HEROES

People I’ve never met
have me standing in their corner,
saying prayers I hardly ever say.
Waiting and watching
thirty-three times.
Laughter, tears, happiness, relief.
Not just from these underground heroes
and the people who love them,
but from me, as well.
I admire their courage.
I am spellbound by their power to survive.
And I’m in awe of their unflinching faith.
Welcome back to the light.