Michele Lee Sefton's Blog, page 12

Growth (a few updates)

She’s the guardian
of bulbs
growing toward the sky

I am the keeper
of silver
inching toward the earth

Tulip bulbs delivered from Holland last autumn, planted while visiting, are now growing in rich Oregon soil! My heart could burst! Thank you to the Holland flower growers and to my daughter for sending me an update. [image error] After eighteen months of letting my hair grow, transitioning naturally from gold to silver, I found a sweet stylist to trim the ends. Having moved away from a long-time lady, it feels as though Paris (her name) and I will be beautician chair friends. A few times a year, I will visit her to trim up the ends. That’s it! No more coloring, ever again! [image error]

If you’re new to my site, welcome; here are two posts from last October that offer more context to the heartwarming tulip bulb journey, including photos from the Royal Flora Holland: Special Delivery (w/audio poem) and Growing Sweetly for You. Thank you for visiting and reading! Wishing you a beautiful change of season, wherever your location. Kind regards. Michele

Our March Creative Call takes place soon (10 AM Pacific Standard Time); we will be sharing what we’re up to, creatively, and continue our discussion of taking care of our creative brain. We have room for a few more creatives to join in! Please drop me a note, if you’re interested (for today or in the future). We meet once a month and all creatives are welcome.

photos: Sammi’s last night tulip update / my Tuesday trim and blow dry / winter’s last sunrise/ graphic by Roman Samborskyi

© 2019-2025 myinspiredlife

Drafty Castle

There is a draft
            that pulls me closer
to the fire
where the cracks and pops are louder
timber speaking
tender echos
from an oak tree, once tall and sturdy

What began as a seed
is now smoke rising
            a final farewell
before splintered bark turns to ash
I listen and honor its departure

There is a draft
            carrying the scent of
petals fallen
sweet floral notes
blended with rain
intoxicating

There is a draft
that pulls the morning in
nothing to muffle cheerful chirping
or my heart content

Wishing you a happy Saint Patrick’s Day! Pull up a chair and stay for a while. The coffee will be hot and the fire toasty. Let’s burn the hurry and savor the scent of warm conversation and slow-burning oak. Thanks for stopping by! Michele

my photos, that inspired this poem, were taken in Ireland, in a charming, thatched roof cottage surrounded by flowers, trees, a garden, and sheep

2019-2025 myinspiredlife

Titanic Museum (Belfast, Ireland)

The Cold Heaven
by William Butler Yeats

Suddenly I saw the cold and rook-delighting heaven
That seemed as though ice burned and was but the more ice,
And thereupon imagination and heart were driven
So wild that every casual thought of that and this
Vanished, and left but memories, that should be out of season
With the hot blood of youth, of love crossed long ago;
And I took all the blame out of all sense and reason,
Until I cried and trembled and rocked to and fro,
Riddled with light. Ah! when the ghost begins to quicken,
Confusion of the death-bed over, is it sent
Out naked on the roads, as the books say, and stricken
By the injustice of the skies for punishment?

With Saint Patrick’s Day arriving tomorrow, I am revisiting my Ireland photos, taken in the summer of 2023. These photos were taken in Belfast at the Titanic Museum. An incredible feat in design, both interior and exterior. The museum displays are interactive and engaging and offer more historical context to the tragic event, from the larger societal to the personal, with the faces of ship workers and names of the deceased displayed. An overwhelming experience for me… too much. I had to step out. Cool air from the bay and gusty wind welcomed me outside. My traveling friend expressed interest in these photos a while back. An emotional visit that I am honored to share. Thank you for visiting. Michele

The Titanic sank on April 15, 1912.

William Butler Yeats (June 13, 1865 – January 28, 1939) born in Sandymount, Ireland, was a poet, writer, dramatist, and prominent literary figure from the 20th century.

P.S. I will link this post to “Monday Window,” when it goes live tomorrow.

2019-2025 myinspiredlife

Catching and Releasing (flash fiction)

With a mind drifting miles away from his lakeside location, Mathew trusted his hands to feel any shifts in the fishing line. Hands that knew how to type seventy-five words per minute, without the need for his eyes upon them; creating words faster than the same hands could write them. Hands that had typed hundreds of stories, each with a beginning, middle, and end. Lengthier ones bound by a cover, displayed in bookstores across the land.

His thinking hands were adjusting to a different task during the pastel painted morning. No longer ten separate digits striking their own keys, his fingers joined forces to become two strong hands with one goal: escaping the four walls that were suffocating him, with the help of a borrowed fishing pole, found covered in cobwebs in his rental cabin’s storage.

The rhythm of the morning was beginning to muffle his passionate desires, ignited by last night’s full moon fire. Casting and watching the weighted fishing line fly before plunging into the glassy lake, seeing ripples form just after the once wiggling worm, now skewered, is swallowed by the surface, and hearing liquid pulses lap near his boots are beginning to sooth, as the morning moon slips beyond his vision.

His hands were learning to feel the difference between a nibble and a snag. Both would steal his worm, but only one tugged back.

If the yank is too quick, the fish will be frightened away before the hook has a chance to sink in.

Thank you for visiting and reading! My flash fiction piece was inspired by my character Matthew Oliver, the protagonist in my novella, Honeysuckle Heat. Matthew is a former police officer turned crime writer who is currently living in a temporary lakeside cottage in Hazelton, Georgia while investigating the 1955 disappearance of a local girl. He’s researching, writing, and longing for the woman he left behind on an LA sidewalk three months prior.

On March 25th and then again in April, I will be hosting a call to discuss the ending of Honeysuckle Heat. An ending that is sure to evoke different reader opinions, leading to a dynamic conversation. Please send me a note if you are interested in joining. Publishing note: my second novella was recently republished after I revised the formatting, giving it a more polished presentation. I would be honored if you gave the story a read and then shared your thoughts about two complex characters and the choices they make.

featured photo of man fishing under pink/purple skies by phtoschmidt / full moon with flowers by Onkamon

2019-2025 myinspiredlife

A delicious sky

Tangerine rays softly speak
words seek worthy translation
for a dreamer’s divine peak
once bleak now sing salvation

Creamsicle shifts to cool blues
swirling hues solemnly sang
dusk rang rejoicing sky clues
a roose for rain’s tranquil tang

My poem follows the structure of a Rannaigheact Mhor poem; an Irish quatrain form that follows these rules:

Quatrain with an abab rhyme scheme, including consonant end soundsHeptasyllabic lines, or 7 syllables per lineAt least 2 cross-rhymes in each couplet of each quatrainFinal word of line 3 rhymes with interior of line 4At least 2 words alliterate in each lineFinal word of line 4 alliterates with preceding stressed wordFinal sound of poem echoes first sound of poem (common for Irish forms)

A challenging poetry puzzle to put together! Thanks for stopping by. Michele

my sunset photos (March 13th) following a delightful desert rain

2019-2025 myinspiredlife

Building a tumbleweed dream

Returning again and again
to a distant place where
self and freedom reigned.

A once wild place now buried
under streets, cars, and homes.
With your ear to the dirt
you just might hear
the early inhabitants–
now guardian spirits who roam.

A vacant field where children collected
scattered tumbleweeds rolling in the wind.

Dreams were freed and
weeds were woven into walls.
Together, the tumbling children
and dry seeds, became a fortress,
not meant to last, but to protect,
from the encroaching cement
and an approaching adulthood.

Before the land was cleared
and the cement was poured,
we, the children, were seen
returning again and again
to walls built the day before.
Arriving to see our scratchy
castle scattered by the wind.
Standing on a dirty canvas,
we rebuilt again and again.
Never minding or caring much
that our neighborhood escape,
had lost its original shape.

Our fortress designs came and
went, but within those thistles
we truly lived. Tilling the dirt,
we cultivated collaboration,
expression, and imagination.

a modified excerpt from the poem “Tumbleweed Fortress (w/audio)”
first published on May 23, 2020

The phrase tumbleweed spirit was born from a personal essay I wrote shortly after starting this blog in August of 2019, about building tumbleweed forts in a field as a child and has since inspired the spirit of this blog. Adding “Press” to the phrase has given my published pieces a container to be published under and as a name for certain publishing tasks, like protecting my works with the U.S. Copyright Office.

Continuing down my creative path and choosing to strengthen the foundation I walk upon; I recently took the steps to register Tumbleweed Spirit Press as an official entity. All tasks have been completed and TWS is now an LLC (limited liability corporation) registered with the Arizona Corporation Commission.

A heartfelt thank you to Stephanie at Singing Gecko who recently wrote about my Being a Woman illustrated poetry collections in a truly touching way, weaving my poetry into her salon visit, in her post, Intl Women’s Day – Poetry, Primping and Panama. A talented writer and compassionate person, I encourage you to give her post and her blog a visit.

This month’s Creative Call will take place on Wednesday, March 19th and our focus will be taking care of the creative brain. We would love to have you join us. Please send me a note through my contact page for more information. Thank you for visiting and wishing you a wonderful Wednesday! Michele

featured photo by icsnaps / my Sonoran Desert golden hour photos / typewriter & woman graphic by Master1305

2019-2025 myinspiredlife

Sunday smiles

“Being A Woman” by Michele Lee Sefton

Sharing a post by writer, blogger, and all-around amazing human, Bridget who surprised me this morning with a most gracious and heartwarming review of my first publication, a poetry chapbook, titled Being a Woman – Overcoming, illustrated by my daughter, Sammi Lee – a project that she and I worked on long distance at the start of the pandemic. I talked Sammi into illustrating two more chapbooks and designing a few covers after. She’s very busy now, building her creative artistic and design business and of course, she continues to inspire me to do my best, whatever the situation might be. Thank you to Bridget! If you’re not familiar with her site, I highly encourage a visit.

Thinking about working with Sammi led me down a sentimental path of remembering sweet memories, which led me to the photo album… it’s all Bridget’s fault. Sammi and I just had a lovely chat. More smiles. Thank you for stopping by and a wonderful week to you! Michele

photos: Sammi and me at her daycare on Halloween / Sammi, me, and her friend K sharing some shenanigans at Girl Scout Camp (my cherry cola hair phase)

2019-2025 myinspiredlife

Dancing Poet celebrates a milestone (w/video)

This month marks two years since I began my pole dancing journey. I could not have imagined in March of 2023 how much the experience would increase not only my physical strength but also my confidence, connection to community, and trust in self, which is required when falling backward, both in standing and while suspended in the air.

With this anniversary date, I’ve made the decision to begin sharing more of my dancing self on my blog. Dancing is a cherished part of my life and creative journey and one I hope to inspire others with, whether that be through overcoming fear, letting go of what others think, sharing your unique voice, trying something new, or staying active in whatever way suits you.

I’ve come a long way since beginning this blog in the late summer of 2019, at overcoming early body shaming, finding my voice, and believing in my potential; sharing this video reveals that to myself, if no one else. Priceless personal growth, emphasizing that these discoveries should never have an expiration date in this life. An empowering way for this dancing poet to celebrate International Women’s Day!

A few video notes: all images are mine, except for the last six (photos) that were taken during my 55th birthday party last year by Sarah (Blue Orchard Photography) / the first bit of the video was recorded nine months into my pole journey, when I spoke and danced for the first time at a community event / apologies for lighting in some clips – it is what is / included is a clip from the Oregon pole studio I dance at when visiting my daughter, artist Sammi Lee / the last photos highlight fellow dancers who continue to inspire and who gave their consent to be included in this tribute and who I will be joining in a few hours

P.S. Thank you to those who’ve encouraged me to be me, in this space and this share is not the stretching as a leader I mentioned in my recent “Taking Care of Business” post – that is related to my writing self. Featured photo is today’s sunrise.

2019-2025 myinspiredlife

Wrapped in Wishes

Keepers of the night called her
into their fable
writing her a starring role,
seeing her rare soul.
Her mornings once dark
now bright with courage and hope
lit by a soft spark.

Thank you for stopping by. My poem follows the Seguidilla poetic form: a Spanish style, initially beginning as a song structure, that follows these rules:

7-line poemSyllable count for each line is 7-5-7-5-5-7-5One assonance rhyme between lines 2 and 4; another one between lines 5 and 7Pause between lines 4 and 5–usually an end stopAlso, the tone or focus changes between lines 4 and 5

Take care and a pleasant Friday to you! Michele

featured photo of a woman covered in star lights and wearing moon jewelry by Zolotarevs / my first quarter moon photo taken March 6th

2019-2025 myinspiredlife

Taking care of business

A creative pen, free flowing
writing a path, uniquely my own
through thistles, thorns, and foreign soil
though never too far into the future
only as far as my cursive hand could stretch
just ahead of my swift moving steps
a much shorter distance than my heart and mind
that extend beyond the limits of roles and time

With a twist of the cap, my poetic pen becomes
a bold device to write me into the unknown

In honor of Women’s History Month, I am sharing a few poems I’ve written in the past that celebrate women with determined spirits and bold individualism:

Notorious RBG

A Note to Nina and Betty

Early Influencers

Rise Lady, Rise (audio) (rally cry for all women)

In my own ways and through the years, a quiet leader I’ve been. Life is calling me to stretch a bit. I am ready for it. Thank you for stopping by! Kind regards. Michele

featured photo of a woman in business suit and boots, holding a satchel, sitting on a chair taken by Victoria Fox / my outdoor selfie, wearing gifted Native American earrings and my reading glasses, taken at the start of letting my hair grow out [image error]

2019-2025 myinspiredlife