Kimberly Jo Smith's Blog, page 2

The Fairy's Prayer

I believe there is a little fairy in all of us. We can be jolly, flighty, mischievous, carefree, and sad, but overall we want all things to be beautiful, sparkly and filled with love. That is what we like to feel in our hearts. But there is a sadness in fairies, and that is seeing the world they once knew, pass before them until all that made their world whole has diminished. I think many of us feel that way today as we see so many departures from what connected us to one another and to spiritual things.I am working on a fictional short story that involves fairies and wanted to share a passage. While writing, I was reminded that those who have old souls can recall passages of time to their minds and hearts. Such individuals carry a great sadness for they are able to measure the insurmountable loss of good values, ethics, and respect. They have felt what once was and as a result find it hard to adjust and coexist with what now is. The following is an excerpt from my short story:"I saw you today. You were mingling with a throng of others like you, casting your weary glances, though unaware of your exhausted spirits.I looked with eyes that have crossed barriers of time. My soul remembers what once was long ago and it mourns, for yours remembers nothing. I recall when the sun's light would fall upon a blade grass, and it was a splendor. When the cadence of song stirred the heart to fanciful things and innocent folly. The breath of nature filled the mind and spirit with wonder, and one could coexist with it, calling it family.A subtle glance meant many things, yet there is nothing subtle of this time. Everything is rushed, and the flurry silences the ancient song that once reverberated through every being, bringing awareness to the harmony that balances all things. It is not a recollection that I can directly express to you, it is a memory that you must search for and bring back to your very heart. Only then will you understand what has happened and where your heart and mind must remain in this cycle of life. You will glimpse the arrow which has pierced the heart of what was once good and pure, and you will seek to make it whole once again. Until then I will look at you yet, and remember what once was."Life is for us to experience; to learn and grow from. Change is good, but it is important not to lose good virtues as we evolve. God bless!

The Worth of a Soul

Depression is your soul weeping. The silent tears of its suffering can be over a great many things. Predominantly, the soul sorrows over unemployed capabilities that result in unrealized dreams. But the human mind is not on the same level of comprehension as its spiritual soul unless one truly endeavors to bring them to that level; thus, at times, the mind is hard pressed to identify the source of suffering. As a result, one is left feeling like a deep well of discouragement; numb and hollow without understanding why.No matter what your situation, you have been given gifts and talents. Using those gifts is one of the many ways in which we cope with various situations whether they be events of joy or sorrow. Whatever your gift is, be it music, art, crafts, service to others, empathy, etc., utilize it. When you are at your highest elation or your lowest despair, you should engage in the talents that you excel in. By endeavoring in such a practice you will find yourself carried upon the shoulders of comfort and peace through your worst adversities and heralded upon the precipice of success and achievement during your happiest days. The worst choice one could ever make is to do nothing, for in that measure we silently slip away to emptiness, a unit that takes us away from everyone and everything.One might ask, "Who would want to read a depressing few lines of a poem I wrote about what I have gone through?" The truth is, a great many would like to read it. Maybe they have gone through something similar and it helps them to feel as if they are not alone, bringing them a feeling of hope. By putting it out there you are not just healing yourself, you are healing others. There have been times in our nation when we have been at our lowest point that music, faith, and the written word are the only things that carried us through. There are many stories from The Great Depression of those who survived by escaping through books, or music that streamed from their radios; the internet of the 1930's. These were people who felt as if they were all alone and far removed from everything, but with a turn of a knob they could tune into the airwaves and be carried away by different genres of music and various theatricals. They could also listen to the news and stay connected to the rest of the world.We have a great Father in Heaven who trusts and believes that we can achieve anything, and He has given us the gifts and talents to do just that. When you are at your lowest point and have been rendered numb by extreme adversity, remember that you have the strength to overcome. Try not to let it overtake you. Have your moments of expression; crying out in grief in an effort to understand why. This is called processing, it is a natural way for our bodies to cycle the effects of the storm, but we must learn when to take a deep breath, stand up, and move the clouds out to make room for the sun. Though our gifts and talents are to benefit and lift others, they are also there to help us clear the murky skies of our own lives. As talents are utilized, burdens are eased and healing commences in yourself and those around you. The soul mourns less often when we engage in such ways.Write your poems, books, and songs. Paint on your canvas and share it with those around you. Be who you came here to become and share that path of experience as often as you can. Be forgiving and love those around you. This is how we heal the world.

The Worth of a Soul

Depression is your soul weeping. The silent tears of its suffering can be over a great many things. Predominantly, the soul sorrows over unemployed capabilities that result in unrealized dreams. But the human mind is not on the same level of comprehension as its spiritual soul unless one truly endeavors to bring them to that level; thus, at times, the mind is hard pressed to identify the source of suffering. As a result, one is left feeling like a deep well of discouragement; numb and hollow without understanding why.No matter what your situation, you have been given gifts and talents. Using those gifts is one of the many ways in which we cope with various situations whether they be events of joy or sorrow. Whatever your gift is, be it music, art, crafts, service to others, empathy, etc., utilize it. When you are at your highest elation or your lowest despair, you should engage in the talents that you excel in. By endeavoring in such a practice you will find yourself carried upon the shoulders of comfort and peace through your worst adversities and heralded upon the precipice of success and achievement during your happiest days. The worst choice one could ever make is to do nothing, for in that measure we silently slip away to emptiness, a unit that takes us away from everyone and everything.One might ask, "Who would want to read a depressing few lines of a poem I wrote about what I have gone through?" The truth is, a great many would like to read it. Maybe they have gone through something similar and it helps them to feel as if they are not alone, bringing them a feeling of hope. By putting it out there you are not just healing yourself, you are healing others. There have been times in our nation when we have been at our lowest point that music, faith, and the written word are the only things that carried us through. There are many stories from The Great Depression of those who survived by escaping through books, or music that streamed from their radios; the internet of the 1930's. These were people who felt as if they were all alone and far removed from everything, but with a turn of a knob they could tune into the airwaves and be carried away by different genres of music and various theatricals. They could also listen to the news and stay connected to the rest of the world.We have a great Father in Heaven who trusts and believes that we can achieve anything, and He has given us the gifts and talents to do just that. When you are at your lowest point and have been rendered numb by extreme adversity, remember that you have the strength to overcome. Try not to let it overtake you. Have your moments of expression; crying out in grief in an effort to understand why. This is called processing, it is a natural way for our bodies to cycle the effects of the storm, but we must learn when to take a deep breath, stand up, and move the clouds out to make room for the sun. Though our gifts and talents are to benefit and lift others, they are also there to help us clear the murky skies of our own lives. As talents are utilized, burdens are eased and healing commences in yourself and those around you. The soul mourns less often when we engage in such ways.Write your poems, books, and songs. Paint on your canvas and share it with those around you.  Be who you came here to become and share that path of experience as often as you can. Be forgiving and love those around you. This is how we heal the world.

What's In A Word?

Mystified. How many times have you heard that word? What was the occasion that roused it from your senses to your mind, when it fell as a whisper to your heart? Here is another one: ethereal. "She was mystified by the veil of soft color. It graced the razor edged cliff like a green, mossy cloak, ethereal in its grand fashion, as oft mother nature is wont to display." (Excerpt from my current manuscript, American Dream: The Eagle and the Lion)I love the use of descriptive words, and not just the simple, vague kind...I like the whoppers! Oblivious, iridescent, sublime, benevolent, malevolent, precipice, and a host many other words that can take a simple yawn of a sentence and turn it into a jaw dropping sigh of delight! When writing I have always attempted to write lines that take the reader on an adventure through every page, not just a walk. When writing a story about something that takes place in the past, I truly want the reader to feel as if they are there, experiencing the sights, sounds, and even smells that the characters are engaged in.How wonderful it is when you take a sentence such as, "It was the most beautiful garden she had ever seen," and transform it into, "Here was a celestial vision, or was it a dream? This was beauty such as she had never before seen. The abundance of flowers swayed in an ethereal dance, choreographed to perfection, their colors advancing and retreating simultaneously. The wind shifted slightly and she took in a deep breath of floral bliss, smiling as a cadence of song fell gently from the trees. Every bird carried its own harmony, yet the unison was perfection, and it completed her soul."My message for January and this new year is that we all write well! This is the year to get the stories out of your head and onto paper! Let us command beautiful words to weave wonderful tales! Such things are needed in these times. Happy January, and let's have a grand year!

What's in a Word

Mystified. How many times have you heard that word? What was the occasion that roused it from your senses to your mind, when it fell as a whisper to your heart? Here is another one: ethereal. "She was mystified by the veil of soft color. It graced the razor edged cliff like a green, mossy cloak, ethereal in its grand fashion, as oft mother nature is wont to display." (Excerpt from my current manuscript, American Dream: The Eagle and the Lion)I love the use of descriptive words, and not just the simple, vague kind...I like the whoppers! Oblivious, iridescent, sublime, benevolent, malevolent, precipice, and a host many other words that can take a simple yawn of a sentence and turn it into a jaw dropping sigh of delight! When writing I have always attempted to write lines that take the reader on an adventure through every page, not just a walk. When writing a story about something that takes place in the past, I truly want the reader to feel as if they are there, experiencing the sights, sounds, and even smells that the characters are engaged in.How wonderful it is when you take a sentence such as, "It was the most beautiful garden she had ever seen," and transform it into, "Here was a celestial vision, or was it a dream? This was beauty such as she had never before seen. The abundance of flowers swayed in an ethereal dance, choreographed to perfection, their colors advancing and retreating simultaneously. The wind shifted slightly and she took in a deep breath of floral bliss, smiling as a cadence of song fell gently from the trees. Every bird carried its own harmony, yet the unison was perfection, and it completed her soul."My message for January and this new year is that we all write well! This is the year to get the stories out of your head and onto paper! Let us command beautiful words to weave wonderful tales! Such things are needed in these times. Happy January, and let's have a grand year!

Though the Tree Be Small

One of the benefits of being a prisoner of ice and snow is that you are forced to do one or more of a few things. You can catch up on housework, tend to some much needed washing and catch up on laundry, do some organizing....or you can delve into some reading, writing and watch some good movies. Hmmmm, work or the arts? Well I can thank my jailor for the much appreciated afternoon of research, writing, and taking in a favorite classic, A Charlie Brown Christmas. But in this year's feasting of Linus and his blanket, Lucy and her authoritarian mannerisms, Charlie Brown's efforts to pull off the perfect Christmas play, and the ever iconic Peanuts gang dance, frocked with unforgettable dance moves, my son Bryan picked up on a bit of symbolism we had been missing all of these years.With much anticipation Charlie Brown and Linus venture out to get the perfect tree for the play they are putting on for Christmas. The expectations from his friends are high, and he is excited about being the director. Here is his big chance to prove to them that, despite failing at almost everything he tries, he can do this and make them proud.After looking at so many varieties of trees of all shapes and sizes, they happen upon a straggly, small shrub of a tree that looks as if it is on its last leg. Charlie Brown, good ol' soft hearted kid that he is, has compassion for this tree. Maybe it reminds him of how many times he feels beaten and down, and he wants to take it and give it a chance. You all know how this goes; he takes the tree back and receives a raucous round of laughter from the other kids. In his frustration and humiliation he cries out, "Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?" Enter Linus, the voice of reason who always puts things into perspective. After Linus tells the story of the nativity, Charlie is moved with emotion and takes his tree with him on a contemplative walk. Pausing by Snoopy's fine, award winning, decorated dog house, Charlie takes one of the ornaments and hangs it on the tree, causing the only good branch it has to fall over. He is crushed, thinking he has killed it.Having followed him, the rest of the kids see what happened and Linus begins to talk about how it really isn't such a bad tree and just needs a little love. Their perspective is changed and they work together as a group in a united effort to beautify and uplift this tree. When Charlie Brown sees it his confidence is renewed and all is well...that is until in some future episode Lucy will talk him into kicking the football again, which we all know will happen.One of the reasons I love the work of Charles Schultz is that he put standards and values in everything he produced, and he was not afraid to include the message of Christ. What my son noticed this year is the symbolism of the tree Charlie Brown chose. All of the kids were expecting a huge tree, something mighty and impressive. When he came with the simple, humble tree they laughed at him and then rejected it, until later when they worked together to beautify it, but that didn't happen until one voice, (Linus), brought their minds and hearts back in balance, reminding them of what Christmas is all about; love, the pure love of Christ.It was the same when Christ came. The people were expecting a mighty king, a man of great status and a warrior who would deliver them from oppression. A great many rejected him because he was not what they expected.What I also noticed was the symbolism of the kids getting together after Linus has told the true meaning of Christmas, conveying it is not really a bad tree, it just needs love. It only takes one voice in a crowd of many to turn hearts around. This is a good time of year for us all to remember to use our voice when we see it is needed, and lift one another at all times. The pure love of Christ indeed was a small arrival, in a humble manger, surrounded by poor shepherds, a mother blessed among women, and her husband who most valiantly and lovingly raised Jesus Christ. He was not the mighty king many expected but he wrought a mighty work meant to change the hearts of mankind, saving us all in the process.Merry Christmas to all. Be safe, know that you are loved, and if this time of year is a sad time for you then my prayers are with you in hopes that your heart will heal and you may find peace. God Bless.

Though a Tree be Small

One of the benefits of being a prisoner of ice and snow is that you are forced to do one or more of a few things. You can catch up on housework, tend to some much needed washing and catch up on laundry, do some organizing....or you can delve into some reading, writing and watch some good movies. Hmmmm, work or the arts? Well I can thank my jailor for the much appreciated afternoon of research, writing, and taking in a favorite classic, A Charlie Brown Christmas. But in this year's feasting of Linus and his blanket, Lucy and her authoritarian mannerisms, Charlie Brown's efforts to pull off the perfect Christmas play, and the ever iconic Peanuts gang dance, frocked with unforgettable dance moves, my son Bryan picked up on a bit of symbolism we had been missing all of these years.     With much anticipation Charlie Brown and Linus venture out to get the perfect tree for the play they are putting on for Christmas. The expectations from his friends are high, and he is excited about being the director. Here is his big chance to prove to them that, despite failing at almost everything he tries, he can do this and make them proud.     After looking at so many varieties of trees of all shapes and sizes, they happen upon a straggly, small shrub of a tree that looks as if it is on its last leg. Charlie Brown, good ol' soft hearted kid that he is, has compassion for this tree. Maybe it reminds him of how many times he feels beaten and down, and he wants to take it and give it a chance. You all know how this goes; he takes the tree back and receives a raucous round of laughter from the other kids. In his frustration and humiliation he cries out, "Isn't there anyone who knows what Christmas is all about?" Enter Linus, the voice of reason who always puts things into perspective. After Linus tells the story of the nativity, Charlie is moved with emotion and takes his tree with him on a contemplative walk. Pausing by Snoopy's fine, award winning, decorated dog house, Charlie takes one of the ornaments and hangs it on the tree, causing the only good branch it has to fall over. He is crushed, thinking he has killed it.     Having followed him, the rest of the kids see what happened and Linus begins to talk about how it really isn't such a bad tree and just needs a little love. Their perspective is changed and they work together as a group in a united effort to beautify and uplift this tree. When Charlie Brown sees it his confidence is renewed and all is well...that is until in some future episode Lucy will talk him into kicking the football again, which we all know will happen.     One of the reasons I love the work of Charles Schultz is that he put standards and values in everything he produced, and he was not afraid to include the message of Christ. What my son noticed this year is the symbolism of the tree Charlie Brown chose. All of the kids were expecting a huge tree, something mighty and impressive. When he came with the simple, humble tree they laughed at him and then rejected it, until later when they worked together to beautify it, but that didn't happen until one voice, (Linus), brought their minds and hearts back in balance, reminding them of what Christmas is all about; love, the pure love of Christ.     It was the same when Christ came. The people were expecting a mighty king, a man of great status and a warrior who would deliver them from oppression. A great many rejected him because he was not what they expected.     What I also noticed was the symbolism of the kids getting together after Linus has told the true meaning of Christmas, conveying it is not really a bad tree, it just needs love. It only takes one voice in a crowd of many to turn hearts around. This is a good time of year for us all to remember to use our voice when we see it is needed, and lift one another at all times. The pure love of Christ indeed was a small arrival, in a humble manger, surrounded by poor shepherds, a mother blessed among women, and her husband who most valiantly and lovingly raised Jesus Christ. He was not the mighty king many expected but he wrought a mighty work meant to change the hearts of mankind, saving us all in the process.     Merry Christmas to all. Be safe, know that you are loved, and if this time of year is a sad time for you then my prayers are with you in hopes that your heart will heal and you may find peace. God Bless.

Visual Art: An Image Can Launch a Thousand Books

Life has been expressed through visual art for eons, and in its earlier stages it was the only method by which stories were told, aside from oration. In Medieval times the illuminated manuscript, text embellished by elaborate borders and miniature illustrations, was used to convey stories that ranged from scriptural events to heroic legends such as the Arthurian tales. In more modern times some of the best stories have been launched from a single glance at a painting or photograph."Don DeLillo has said that single images inspired some of his novels. 'Falling Man' came from the curiosity generated by the photograph of that same title, by Richard Drew. 'Underworld' was sparked by juxtaposed headlines in the New York Times: 'I saw these two headlines, literally, in a pictorial way,' DeLillo said, 'the way they were matched, each followed by three columns of type.'(1)I remember being in elementary school and delving into picture books. I was fascinated with the vivid imagery and color that accompanied every tale, rhyme, and adventure. For me, it was an experience that went beyond bringing more depth to the story.  A fairy flitting through a mystical forest was not just there to accentuate the book I was reading, it became a part of other stories that I would create as a result of being influenced by the color, shapes, and characters. I imagined that the fairy had  friends and family and brought them to life in another dimension, taking their adventures into new and distant realms. As a result of this infatuation of the combination of words and pictures, I have written some of my favorite works, especially narrative poetry.Poems such asBattlefields, andGlory, were inspired by photography and paintings of the Civil War. The poem,1483came to me as a result of the portrait of Richard the Third and other paintings of the Battle of Bosworth Field, and the poemLittle Lamb Lostis a lyrical rendering of a painting of Christ holding a wayward lamb.There are several websites and Twitter accounts that post challenges for writers through photographic prompts. They will generally post a picture and assign those willing to take on the task to frame a story from it. One of my favorites isAngela Ackerman, who also has an amazing website with lots of resources for writers,writershelpingwriters.netIt is my hope that writers who have never delved into visual art as inspirational sources, take some time to indulge in it and see just how much further they will expand their writing technique and creativity. Remember, in writing there are endless possibilities. There is a multitude of stories in every corner, through every door and in every framed image you lay eyes on.1. Cep, Casey M.  "A Thousand Words: Writing From Photographs." Web blog.www.newyorker.com.Condé Nast, 26 Feb 2014. 2 October 2016.

An Image Can Launch a Thousand Books

Life has been expressed through visual art for eons, and in its earlier stages it was the only method by which stories were told, aside from oration. In Medieval times the illuminated manuscript, text embellished by elaborate borders and miniature illustrations, was used to convey stories that ranged from scriptural events to heroic legends such as the Arthurian tales. In more modern times some of the best stories have been launched from a single glance at a painting or photograph. "Don DeLillo has said that single images inspired some of his novels. 'Falling Man' came from the curiosity generated by the photograph of that same title, by Richard Drew. 'Underworld' was sparked by juxtaposed headlines in the New York Times: 'I saw these two headlines, literally, in a pictorial way,' DeLillo said, 'the way they were matched, each followed by three columns of type.' (1)I remember being in elementary school and delving into picture books. I was fascinated with the vivid imagery and color that accompanied every tale, rhyme, and adventure. For me, it was an experience that went beyond bringing more depth to the story.  A fairy flitting through a mystical forest was not just there to accentuate the book I was reading, it became a part of other stories that I would create as a result of being influenced by the color, shapes, and characters. I imagined that the fairy had  friends and family and brought them to life in another dimension, taking their adventures into new and distant realms. As a result of this infatuation of the combination of words and pictures, I have written some of my favorite works, especially narrative poetry.Poems such as Battlefields, and Glory, were inspired by photography and paintings of the Civil War. The poem, 1483 came to me as a result of the portrait of Richard the Third and other paintings of the Battle of Bosworth Field, and the poem Little Lamb Lost is a lyrical rendering of a painting of Christ holding a wayward lamb.There are several websites and Twitter accounts that post challenges for writers through photographic prompts. They will generally post a picture and assign those willing to take on the task to frame a story from it. One of my favorites is Angela Ackerman, who also has an amazing website with lots of resources for writers, writershelpingwriters.netIt is my hope that writers who have never delved into visual art as inspirational sources, take some time to indulge in it and see just how much further they will expand their writing technique and creativity. Remember, in writing there are endless possibilities. There is a multitude of stories in every corner, through every door and in every framed image you lay eyes on. 1. Cep, Casey M.  "A Thousand Words: Writing From Photographs." Web blog.           www.newyorker.com. Condé Nast, 26 Feb 2014. 2 October 2016. 

No Dying Here

There has never been a sweeter conveyance of thought, or masterly manner in which to articulate feelings, than what can be gleaned from poetry; however, I have of late been reading several essays on different forms of poetry, and to my surprise have found many of the writers professing their belief that poetry is a dying art. I had to smile at that, while shaking my head.Maybe in the world of some individuals poetry is dead, but not in mine. I see it all around me. It is in how we speak to one another at times, how we weave little sayings on pictures and call them memes, and how we sometimes say nothing at all, yet convey it quite nicely with a glance or a turn of the head. Poetry is in every song that we sing and every description we weave concerning all of the beauties of this world that the mind and heart can describe. Even in the more technical sense, poetry in written form is far from being ill, let alone giving up the ghost.According to Poetry.org, poetry as an art form predates literacy and was "a means of recording oral history, storytelling (epic poetry), genealogy, law and other forms of expression or knowledge that modern societies might expect to be handled in prose." From poetry simple stories have morphed into legends which tantalize our minds. There is nothing simple about poetry, yet it is the simplest form of expression. I cannot sing the praises of written verse loud enough! So though others may see it as a dying art, it is one of the many forms of writing that I love to pen.Though I write some short verse, my favorite is narrative poetry, and I have several in my poetry section such as Fields of Heather,  1483, Glory,  and my latest, Coinneach Odhar. For those who love to express themselves in verse, even if it is for your eyes only, then pour every word out and make it count. Poetry will never die, even if the human race ceased to be...for at such an hour it would still exist in heaven.