Michele Lee Sefton's Blog, page 39

Summer’s slow farewell

A street light flickers
            in the stillness

short bright pops followed by long electric hisses
            a message
                        in the darkness

flying insects fight for the attention of the sporadic glow

from a second-story window she watches
            summer’s last evening folds into autumn’s
                        slow and deliberate marching

along the horizon, it will soon arrive
            bringing coolness and contemplation with its amber glow

a decision fell upon her – the gazing woman at the window
            wearing a wrinkled floral sundress
                        scented with perfume, cologne, and jazz, slow

keep watching the popping and hissing death dance a while longer
            above a sidewalk scattered with insects
                        where his feet did last step
                        where his twilight shadow now lingers

or toss the crumpled flowers on the bed and let her body rest

she slowly waves farewell

I’ve been enjoying the smooth and sensual song, Go Slowly by Olivia Dean (woman in picture). I included the singer’s Official Video below, but should the video not work, the song title link will take you there. If you’re not familiar, I do hope you give her a listen. Her song felt like the perfect pairing for this poem – my last post of the summer season.

Another dreamy addition is the artwork of Tiffany Arp-daleo. Tiffany is a talented artist based in San Diego, California. As a (verbally) quiet person, she chooses to express her feelings through intuitive abstract painting and mixed media artwork. She is fascinated with color and how it affects moods and feelings. If you follow her blog at Tiffanyarpdaleo.com you get a sense of how creative and prolific she is. I own two of her pieces and can attest to the vibrancy and energy they each emanate. I have selected her pieces, “Letters of Love” and “Afternoon Delight” for this post. Her artwork can be viewed and purchased from her pixels site. Perusing through her site will add color and inspiration to your day.

Thanks for stopping by! Be well. Michele

photo 1 by MSharova

© 2023 MyInspiredLife

A poet’s query quandary

Yes, yes, I will get back to the business of the writing business, but first I must watch faded leaves fly through the dusty golden stream as they shake loose from the Bottle Tree.

The Sonoran Desert does not have a “change of season” with rich fall colors like some places, however, the landscape is scattered with trees that are not indigenous to the area, like the Bottle Tree. Of course, with dropping temperatures, the region experiences a fall transition, even though it is less noticeable to the eye.

Referencing the title of this post: A query is a letter written to a literary agent or publisher, with the purpose of piquing interest in your manuscript. Submission requirements vary from agency to agency; they typically require the letter and sample pages (first ten pages). The query process often includes a synopsis of the book. I will go over that in next week’s lesson.

My “Writing Journal” offers more detail about my longer literary fiction project, if you’re interested.

Warm regards! Michele

Photo 1 by Everett Collection Photo 2 my sunrise shot (9/20)

© 2023 MyInspiredLife

Slow moving silhouette

He said, “Hi” once. Much can be revealed about a person with the mention of one word. His was a mixture of frustration, contemplation, with a sprinkle of cranky. She liked the realness of it. The deep tone of it.

She had not seen him in a while. Plenty of other people to say hello to, to share a smile, on her path, well-worn.

Then he appeared. His slow-moving silhouette made her heart beat faster.

The paper cutout of his tall solid frame became more human as the distance between the two shortened. She noticed his face – stoic and unflinching.   

She licked her suddenly dry lips. When did she start doing that, she wondered, as he passed by.

Feet moving slowly forward. His and hers. Backward glances at each other.

Summer’s last sizzle and autumn’s approaching luscious are twirling in and around me. Their tango is keeping life interesting.

If you’re craving some sensual romance with dramatic dilemmas, check out my novella: Her Coastal Cottage ~ Where Truth and Love Rise

I would love to know your thoughts, if you’re so inclined. Thanks for stopping by! Michele

Photo 1 by Photo Book Pro Photo 2 by wavebreakmedia

© 2023 MyInspiredLife

A Summer Shiver

soft summer kisses

shiver awakened senses

a tender exit

my images, last summer Sunday

© 2023 MyInspiredLife

Warrior Pose (w/audio)

The extremes of bliss and resistance collapse toward the middle, on a soft surface that supports patience, strength, and endurance. Within the confines of a colorful rectangle and a restless mind, battles are fought. Some won. Some lost.

A warrior holding her pose, gazes forward. Beyond the studio window there is a lake. Dancing dandelions flirting across the sparkling top don’t seem to mind that it’s manmade. Birds have made a home in the building’s extended steel. An ideal scene to breathe in, while the strip mall warrior stretches all of her being.

He appeared while she was holding, still and strong. Leaning in, he met her eyes through the glass. His shorts were dirty and torn. A man in his thirties, it seemed, though his tired eyes made her less sure. Time and age have different calibrations for those without the comforts of home.

The warrior’s body did not flinch. Muscle memory. Her mind told a different story; it laid down its weapons of self-defense. Wandering warriors in tattered clothes began flooding her memory...

she wore a long dress and pushed an overflowing cart up and down Main Street while teenagers cruised by

he had a long beard and rummaged through the trash near the university (probably not much older than the students)

she wore poofy dresses and carried an umbrella (struck and killed by a car in Tucson*)

an older man I bought burgers for; he looked and spoke like a professor of literature

a man about my age, who made me want to scream at the injustice of this world; his beautiful art pulled from his torn backpack, spread across the sidewalk

a woman who plopped herself in front of a speaker during a night of outdoor music; pill bottles spilled from her purse

At some point along my sidewalk interactions and observations, I stopped asking why, in all its forms, and started simply sending love to wandering warriors – humans in the shadows. But on this day, I couldn’t help but wonder why. Why is sidewalk existence the reality for some?

Thank you for visiting and listening. It has been a while since I’ve recorded my voice. Both the process and my voice are a bit shaky, but with practice I will once again find solid ground. In November of 2020 I posted two audio poems about two of the men mentioned in this piece. Here is the link, if you are interested: “Sidewalk Conversations” Best to you! Michele

Photo 1 by Ground Picture Photo 2 *”The Umbrella Lady” – Lydia Reis (63) was struck and killed by a car on January 8, 2023 Photo 3 by icsnaps

© 2023 MyInspiredLife

Tumbling thoughts

My brain is backlogged with story ideas
            I am swimming in poetic juice

My body is buzzing with dance routines
            better get practicing; tomorrow night it’s happening

My desktop is simmering with a revisited query and synopsis
            almost ready for submitting

A flurry of activity in my mind,
            to a lesser extent – my life
            plenty to attend to, when the time is right

In this moment, I just want to pause and write
            the most pressing thoughts
            bubbling their way to the top…

I love this digital space
            because of the creative humans who swim in it

A space
            where I can be random and nonconforming
                        in a world that can be robotic, judgmental, and confining

            where I can share a laugh, a dance, a song,
                        and a chance

                        that I might find and connect
                                    with other sensitive types

Thanks for being here, beautiful swimmer. Best to you! Michele

photo by Everett Collection

© 2023 MyInspiredLife

That special feeling

when you resolve your computer issues without calling time-consuming tech assistance!

Thank you, YouTube.

photo by F8 Studio

© 2023 MyInspiredLife

Renewal

Into the nothing
searching for the darkest place
to turn off the noise

Into the sunrise
reaching for deliverance
exhale remembrance

My two haikus were written in response to Fake Flamenco’s September poetry prompt. The focus of the prompt is the ouroboros (serpent devouring its tail). The symbol is found in many cultures and often represents renewal or death and rebirth.

Thanks for stopping by. Be well. Michele

my morning images

© 2023 MyInspiredLife

Kick up your heels!

Hope the weekend treats you right and you find your happy!

If you’re interested in reading stiletto-inspired poetry, check out my 2021 post, “Opposing Shoepoints… “

from my first Being a Woman Collection

photo by Kaspars Grinvalds

© 2023 MyInspiredLife

Swoony September morning

My high school French* is très rouillé, however, when it comes to gorgeous French music, my heart, body, and soul translate perfectly. I am not sure what Mr. Sandman sprinkled on me last night, but I am enjoying the swoony September vibes. Best to not question; just enjoy the ride…

From my morning playlist, music by French singer, Gabi Hartmann, if you’re interested: Buzzing Bee & Mille Rivages

Thanks for stopping by. Writing work and life are keeping me busy, but the golden September light and inspired morning vibes are too beautiful to keep to myself. Hope you enjoy! Michele

Clicking my TWS logo will take you to my recent publication, Her Coastal Cottage ~ Where Truth and Love Rise

*Great gratitude for my high school French teacher, Mr. Ferguson

Photo 1 by Ekaterina Pokrovsky, Photo 2 morning bee shot, Photo 3 my photo

© 2023 MyInspiredLife