Michele Lee Sefton's Blog, page 6

“City Dusk” by Fitzgerald (w/audio)

City Dusk by F. Scott Fitzgerald
reading by Michele Lee

COME out . . . . out
To this inevitable night of mine
Oh you drinker of new wine,
Here’s pageantry . . . . Here’s carnival,
Rich dusk, dim streets and all
The whispering of city night . . . .

I have closed my book of fading harmonies,
(The shadows fell across me in the park)
And my soul was sad with violins and trees,
And I was sick for dark,
When suddenly it hastened by me, bringing
Thousands of lights, a haunting breeze,
And a night of streets and singing . . . .

I shall know you by your eager feet
And by your pale, pale hair;
I’ll whisper happy incoherent things
While I’m waiting for you there . . . .

All the faces unforgettable in dusk
Will blend to yours,
And the footsteps like a thousand overtures
Will blend to yours,
And there will be more drunkenness than wine
In the softness of your eyes on mine . . . .

Faint violins where lovely ladies dine,
The brushing of skirts, the voices of the night
And all the lure of friendly eyes . . . . Ah there
We’ll drift like summer sounds upon the summer air . . . .

Thank you for visiting. If you’re not able to listen to the audio – I share that F. Scott Fitzgerald is one of my favorite authors (teaching and reading) and that I’ve been working on memorizing this poem for a future recitation. Today’s reading is my practice for the day. Best to you. Michele

Poem source

featured photo by Pedro Carrilho / duck photo is mine

© 2019-2025 myinspiredlife

Spirited Sky Dance 🌩️ (w/video)

The evening’s sky dance was charged with wildfire, gone by morning.
Sticky air, puddles deep, and a few lingering clouds—proof it was there.

The morning was not met with a thunderous greeting, as I had dreamed. Other than too many busy mosquitos out for blood, I don’t mind the sticky change. Feels like I’ve been transported to another location. A mini-vacation for the active imagination. Thanks for stopping by. Michele

featured Arizona lightning photo by John D Sirlin / my morning shots & muted clip from last night’s sky

© 2019-2025 myinspiredlife

A poet rides to work

I pass him sometimes
Charley
his steps are unsteady
his smile is as sure as the morning sun
neither he nor his dog are in a hurry
he’s a stroke survivor
this I know
because I paused many months ago
to offer a proper hello
now, like old friends, we wave and nod at each other
he gives me hope

fishy bubbles float to the surface
proof of their existence
wonder what they’re learning down there
in their busy fish school
wonder if they know
they’re contained in a lake, manmade
wonder if their fish history is properly presented
doubt they care
as they swish, gulp, and release CO₂ into the air

the coffee shop is always busy
people waking up
a hurried destination
to sit and drink from a cup
fuel for the day or procrastination
whatever the motive, I love the aroma
someday I may join them

a few feet away, a man
facing the sun
slumped and slouched
catching a few more zzzzz’s before Valley Metro
breaks for him, along a busy route

I remember singing ABC’s in the car
with my toddler
on the way to preschool, then work
singing and learning
before tears began spilling

now I ride to the sounds
of tires spinning (lately, too many have popped)
I keep thinking it’s time for a new bike
Until a day that might never be, I replace what needs fixing
and keep riding
to arrive, back where I started
never the same from when I departed

Poetic ponderings as I rode through the waking city. Thanks for reading and may your day be full of wonderful discoveries. Warm regards. Michele

© 2019-2025 myinspiredlife

Silent Sunday

Thanks for stopping by. Sharing some photos from the weekend, including last night’s Sturgeon Moon. Good night and a great week to you! Michele

featured photo by StunningArt / Saturday night’s Sturgeon Moon taken from a field when I was riding (was the orangest moon I’ve ever seen-must be atmospheric pollution) / city view of moon shortly after / Sunday morning hummingbird, resting / late afternoon flight (I like to imagine where planes are headed) / blue-to-orange Southwest sunset

© 2019-2025 myinspiredlife

Jade’s Broken Bridge (cover reveal)

Inspired by true events, Jade’s Broken Bridge will be released on October 10th. More to follow in the coming weeks, including five-star reviews from professional reviewers. My debut novel, published by my newly formed Tumbleweed Spirit Press, is a raw and poignant story of survival, self-destruction, social class, and hope. If you’d like to learn more about this project’s writing journey, that began as a short story six years ago, please visit my “Writing Journal” page.

When thinking about what I wanted to share this morning, in addition to the book cover, a song came across my stream with a line that stood out and felt fitting for the moment: “Decide what to be and go be it”

Listening to the song again, then looking up the lyrics revealed more than just one line that felt right for the morning. Here are a few more lines:

“There was a dream and one day I could see it / Like a bird in a cage, I broke in and demanded that somebody free it / And there was a kid with a head full of doubt / So I’ll scream ’til I die or the last of those bad thoughts are finally out” ~ Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise by Avett Brothers

Thank you for joining this writer for a milestone moment, both personally and professionally. Kind regards. Michele

The book cover was designed by TreeHouse Studio. I created the mock 3D books using DIY Book Covers (free feature that was easy to use )

book quote note: “a raw and poignant… ” is part of a book summary, not a review (those will follow in the coming weeks)

If you’re interested in listening to Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise by Avett Brothers (audio )

my recent sky photo / my backpack photo snapped by my cousin Becky while exploring Cincinnati

© 2019-2025 myinspiredlife

Not amused

Yesterday’s reading in my car… 118 degrees in the Valley of the Sun. No fun, no and a dangerous situation for plants, animals, and those without a home. It’s been a struggle and I’m beyond irritable, however, I’ve chosen to let the fire transform me, not consume me.

I often dream of a world where love leads, where all children are nurtured and protected, where empty plates and hungry bellies do not exist, where addictive drugs are not freely dispensed, where more gardens than strip malls exist, where the oppressed are liberated, where the nightly news is not inundated with murder, violence, and egos and greed gone rampant… I often dream. I also recognize that sometimes we need to walk through fire to achieve our dreams. My heart is tender, but my skin is thick. I’m focused. I’m ready. [image error][image error]

fire photo by k_yu / my unamused selfie

© 2019-2025 myinspiredlife

Tumbleweed Spirit turns six

Six years ago, today (August 5), I pushed through the fear and published my first blog post. It took me several days to work up the courage to do so. Although I love a good adventure, especially when learning and nature are involved, I am not a fearless person, nor do I possess assured self-confidence. I’ve been working on building my courage and my confidence, among other things, since leaving the high school classroom and beginning this blog in August of 2019. I doubt I will ever “arrive,” but I am getting there, in my own way and with own voice.

Thank you for being here. Thank you for reading my posts, or post, if you’ve just landed here. Thank you for supporting my efforts. Thank you for sharing your own “voice” and creativity. For many reasons, I’ve moved through this life with a lone-wolf mentality and that core essence of my nature will remain, but I have learned the value of a connected community since first posting in this space. For the friendships and the lessons, I am most grateful.

It’s quite an extraordinary feeling to howl at the moon while feeling the presence of angels by your side. Thank you, angels—sparkling spirits who encourage and lift and to my guardian ones who’ve been with me since I took my first breath. Warm regards. [image error] Michele

P.S. I’m going to attempt to read a few fellow blog posts before a work meeting, quickly approaching. Thank you for your patience with me, reading and replying, generally speaking. Catch up with y’all later.

featured photo of a girl typing by Khakimullin Aleksandr / screenshot from Saturday night’s dance video (learning a new routine) / my Ohio lake photos

© 2019-2025 myinspiredlife

Silent Sunday (w/a little laughter)

“The lake of my mind, unbroken by oars, heaves placidly and soon sinks into an oily somnolence.’ That will be useful.”
― Virginia Woolf, The Waves

Thanks for stopping by. Hope you’re having a pleasant Sunday. In the American Southwest it’s just getting underway. I’ve been scrolling through my camera card from my recent trip to Ohio and I’m having a difficult time selecting (just a few) photos to share on this “Silent Sunday”—spellbound by the natural effects made by the thick summer air. Being there, wrapped in the sauna-like conditions, and watching the golden sunrise pierce through the morning was breathtaking.

As a desert dweller I am quite familiar with the heat, but heavy humidity that required me to wipe my camera lens every few seconds was an entirely new experience for me. I found it fascinating and being able to jump in the lake, just after, and start my day with a school of fish was completely refreshing.

Becky (left) was trying to show me how to use a selfie stick with a remote clicker… it turned into a laughing fest.

© 2019-2025 myinspiredlife

Junkyard Queen with butterfly dreams

Born with rusty spikes, not silver spoons

She tried to blend

            stray cats and drifters, her friends

She rarely saw wings among all the rusty things
one tender sighting was all she needed to set her mind dreaming

for years, she drew its lifted likeness on dusty hoods and layered dirt
never imagining that just beyond the broken-down fringes

            where decaying metal was no longer recognizable,
            where the sun reflecting from cracked windows had faded and singed
            all the glory of what had once been

existed an open field, with no gatekeepers or fences
where flowers grew as they pleased, wildly

where butterflies danced in dozens, ready to welcome her home

Thanks for stopping by. Warm regards and best wishes. Michele

featured photo of woman in junkyard by Viktoriia Pankratova / my butterfly photos taken in Ohio

© 2019-2025 myinspiredlife

Friday Night on Lake White (video)

Thank you for watching the video (if you had a chance). More to come from this beautiful and liberating weekend that included cool swimming and double rainbows on Saturday. About the “long story” mentioned in the video… on our way back to shore, we crossed paths with two young men fishing from the shore. One was waving wildly at us. Becky slowed. We learned, through some exchanged words, that they had six lines cast in the lake. Becky turned the engine off. From the boat ladder I shined my phone light on the situation while Becky climbed onto the barrel. She proceeded to pull line after line (that had become tangled)—cutting each one with the knife Tracy handed her. Teamwork! The photo is part of the mess. Becky tossed the lure back to them and also told them to make sure they have lights out next time.

P.S. Friday night was my first time seeing fireflies, apparent when we skirted a wooded area. Magical! Thank you for stopping by and sharing a few minutes with me. I’m back in the Valley of the Sun, catching up with work and life and will be doing the same with fellow blogs this evening, if not sooner. Warm regards. Michele

© 2019-2025 myinspiredlife