Sitting – Poem and Reading by Stephen Kellogg – 2012

I wrote this poem during NaPoWriMo 2012 (original post here) and decided to do a reading / video for it. Somehow on export, the video and sound shifted a little. I think it still works fine but might update it later, it’s too late tonight though.

Update: Video took a long time to load then kicked out with an error last night… so it’s now uploaded this morning

Enjoy!

Sitting

Sitting

At the top of this hill
Leaning back against a tree

Hardly registering the roughness
Bark ridges making creases in my shirt
Little dents in my back

The sun drifts slowly down
Through a hazy, lazy afternoon
Spreading magnificent colors
Into the late evening sky

The breeze blows softly
Gently rustling the leaves in the tree
The bulk of which is blocking all but a few
Of the breezy finger tips that tickle my neck
Giving chase to the goose bumps
Running down my spine

Unaware
Hair being disheveled
Collar tips flipping up, down
A failed effort to lift me from where I sit
Transport me somewhere
Struggling in vain
Unaware

Stars kick off their covers
And one by one begin their dance
Across the evening sky
Shining, twirling, moving in rhythm
Shifting, sliding, gliding through
As tides change course again

Clouds, white, light and thin
Shift in and out
Closing and opening their curtain
As dancing scenes change
On the star-studded stage

The wind shifts
And the salty sea
Reaching up the hill
Caresses my face

Collar wings stilled
Arms fold over knees
In warming self embrace

I look out over the waves
and wonder, are you

Sitting?

Stephen Kellogg – 2012

As always, feedback / comments appreciated.
More readings and videos on My YouTube channel here …

Down to the wire – Poem – (with Reading and Video) – NaPoWriMo Day 30 WOOHOO!

Last night / early this morning I looked down at the clock on my laptop and realized… Poof, just like that it’s the 30^th of April 2012 the last day of NaPoWriMo this year. It reminded me of a horse race and so… I wrote this poem. I had to take it the full way and do a reading/video as well. I hope those that I’ve pulled into the video are ok with it :) If not, let me know and I’ll find a way to “edit” you out.

NaPoWriMo has been a blast! Thanks to all those that have encouraged me along the way. I’ll post another entry later tonight or tomorrow to get a little more specific. I’ve found some great folks during this month. I have appreciated their encouragement and have enjoyed reading / listening to their blogs… I want to point you to them as well. If you can… Watch the video before reading the poem.. I think it will be better that way…

 

 

Down to the wire – Poem

Welcome back to Kellogg Broadcasting Station
I’m Stephen Kellogg your commentator
For this the last day in the
NaPoWriMo 30 in 30 challenge

We’ve had a ball here this Poetry month of April 2012
Poetry readings, writings and postings galore
Comments, discussions, likes and more
But now it’s all down to this last day

Let’s head back to the WordPress racetrack

Here they are round the second corner
Filming, writing and recording furiously
Trying to get the last few
30 in 30 posts uploaded

They move around the turn
As NaPoWriMo comes to a close
Fingers typing feverishly
Comments and likes start to slow

And they’re headed down the final stretch
David’s ahead by a reading
No wait, it’s Stephen by a poem
Will Suzie make a final break for it

And they’re neck and neck
David with a steady stream of readings
Stephen with a surge of poems through the last weekend
Suzie takes up the challenge and will read one as well

But wait, there’s a stumble on the track
David seems to be having technical difficulties
Seems it could be a mouse issue
Can he pull through in time

They’ve passed Day 27 with a blur
Day 28 has come and gone
Day 29 gave them some trouble
But now they’re down to the wire

And it’s Poetry for the win

Stephen Kellogg – 2012

 

Thanks all it’s been a great month! Let’s not drop things now (speaking more to myself than anyone… my Novel calls )

NaPoWriMo Post for Day 30 – Haiku – NaPoWriMo Freebie :)

This month has been challenging and fun. I’ve almost got my last post ready. Just have to upload the video and put the post in WP… Stay Tuned!

NaPoWriMo last day post almost ready!

Post for Day 30 haiku

NaPoWriMo Post
For Day 30 is almost
In the bag… Stay Tuned!

 

Stephen Kellogg – 2012

Expecting Number 2 – ABC…Z Acrostic – NaPoWriMo Day 29

So I feel I would be remiss if I didn’t create an ABC…Z Acrostic for my niece as well since they are expecting their second too.

Expecting Number 2 – ABC…Z Acrostic

Another
Beautiful
Child
Due
Exciting
Future
Girl
Heaven
Infused
Jumbled
Kisses
Loving
Mama
Nurturing
Olivia
Patiently
Quietly
Readying
Short
Time
Until
Versus
Wii
X-Box
Zeven

Stephen Kellogg – 2012

Love y’all… congrats Curtis, Olivia and Zeven on the latest addition to your family.

Baby on the way – ABC…Z Acrostic – NaPoWriMo Day 28

A friend and his lovely wife are expecting another child. I wrote this ABC…Z Acrostic for them.

Baby on the way – ABC…Z Acrostic

Another
Boyd
Child
Due
Excited
Father
Giving
Home
Infusing
Joy
Kindness
Loving
Mama
Nurturing
Outdoor
People
Quintessential
Richard
Sister
Too
Uberous
Vanessa
Wondering
X-box?
Yachting?
Zip-line??

 

Congratulations on the new addition!

Stephen Kellogg – 2012

Remember your heart – Poem – NaPoWriMo Day 27

I originally started writing this with my daughter (my oldest kid) in mind, who for some reason keeps getting older…  as do they all.
But once I started, I knew it would apply to all my kids.

Remember your heart

When you depart
And pray, not too soon
I ask this of you
Remember your heart

Hear It

As it beats in your chest
Is it at rest
Is there peace there
With a knowing

Does it hasten at thoughts
Or race when one draws near
Is the cause love
Or fear

Listen to It

It will speak to you
Guide you through the mist
Lead you to the sun
To fun and freedom

It will try to speak up
When it thinks you’re being foolish
Or thinks it’s in danger
And worried about getting wounded

Protect It

As best you can
From those that seek to hurt
But do not silence it
Or hide it behind walls

Nurture It

It needs to breathe
Feel the sun, wind, rain
Know love and experience
The joy and pain of it

Let It

Explore the vastness of life
Absorb the wonders
Learn from the pain
Heal as needed

Allow It

To make mistakes, you’re both learning
To seek help when needed
And to remember
I’m always here

 

Stephen Kellogg – 2012

I love you all so much!!!

Delays – two haikus – NaPoWriMo Freebie

So I really want to keep writing, but there are other parts of living that demand my attention… so until tonight..

 

Delays

Off to mow the lawn
Sigh, three more poems to go
To catch up today

I can do it though
And at least it’s nice outside
There’s always tonight

Stephen Kellogg – 2012

The many faces of an egg – Poem – NaPoWriMo Day 26

Today I had a couple of fried eggs and I thought about the many and various “faces” an egg can take so of course, I decided to write a poem about it.

The many faces of an egg

Ah yes what a magician
This thing we call an egg
It changes shapes and sizes
Like a true master of disguise

Fried it is the picture of the setting sun
Sinking slowly into the oceans caress
Or high in the noon sky
On a sunny-side-up kind of day

Boiled it is a treasure
With an earthy shell to crack
Before digging into the white chest
And finding the golden nugget

It may be painted up
Or dyed on Easter
Sitting in the sun
Waiting to be found

Prettied up it may sit
In basket or bowl
Waiting to be selected
For viewing or cracking

Once cracked it can disperse itself
Hiding out in an egg salad
Like a ninja,
There, but hidden

Maybe sliced and
Stuffed in a sandwich
On a garden salad
Bringing bright yellow highlights

Poached it’s a swirling
twirling raft
riding out the roiling
Boiling rapids of water

Scrambled it takes on the role of teacher
Providing a blanket of cover
Teaching it’s young students
The great art of disguise

I’m sure I could go on
With various forms and fashions
The egg being versatile
Capable of so many things

But I’ll stop with one more
Lest it be forgotten
And then end with a question
I hope will make you ponder

There’s yet another way
The egg takes disguise
Though we often only think of it
As legs, breasts or thighs

The egg
Certain conditions given
May grow to become
A rooster or hen

The question that is left
Is often true
Many people are like eggs
Which egg are you

 

Stephen Kellogg – 2012

 

Here are some photos from our Easter egg dying time this year.

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Garden living – Poem – NaPoWriMo Day 25

This is a recent photo taken while my youngest was helping me in the garden.

JEK hand with worm

Garden living

Hand held out, palm steady as fingers spread
Balancing the unearthed treasure there

Steady, proud, face creased with a grin
Fingers covered with dirt, wet from digging

You show yet another, your eyes alive with wonder
Then carefully you walk it back, finding it a new home

Shall this one go to the tomato high-rise
Or the rambling townhouses of squash or zucchini

Could it be off to Jalapeño haven and the spicy side of town
Or maybe the eggplant castle with its royal purple offspring

I smile, proud as a dad, happy as a friend
Grateful to share this wonderful part of living with you

Stephen Kellogg – 2012

Heart-strings in the dirt – Poem – NaPoWriMo Day 24

Heart-strings in the dirt

Before you came I was content
To sit here by myself

Heart wrapped up all safe inside
Alone and undisturbed

I’d sit around and ponder
Wondering what else life could hold

I thought that I should venture out
Be strong and bold you know

But then you came and knocked a bit
I opened up my door

Now you’ve pulled my heart-strings out
And laid them on the floor

I cringe and watch you dance around
Yet whistle to your tune

You dance and prance and sing a lot
My heart-strings you amuse

They flitter and they flutter
Entwine with you a bit

But then before you know it
I realize it’s a trick

You’ve come here not to love me
On no, it’s just for you

Your wants, needs and desperate pleads
My heart-strings start to puke

I gently start to pull them
The tearing’s going to hurt

We made some bonds together
Now I’m pulling for all I’m worth

‘Cause I see that you don’t love me
That it’s all been just a ruse

My heart-strings flipping, flopping
Lying wounded in the dirt

I’ve pulled them all back in now
They lie in disrepair

I’ll gently clean and mend them
Set things right again, I’m sure

Then I’ll sit and ponder
Wondering what else lies beyond

Keep my mended heart in shelter
‘Til I’ve weathered out this storm

I’ll venture out again though
As painful as that seemed

‘Cause I think the saying’s true
My friend, more now than ever it was

‘Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all

 

Stephen Kellogg – 2012