Esther Spurrill Jones's Blog, page 11

It's Not Winter Yet

There’s two feet of snow on the ground
And a four foot icicle hanging from the eaves
But it’s not winter yet

We have to warm up the car every morning
And shovel the walk every week
But it’s not winter yet

I’m wearing a parka and gloves
And earmuffs and thick winter boots
But it’s not winter yet

Windchill of negative thirty
Cutting right through my coat
But it’s not winter yet

Some people like to ignore the real world
And point at the calendar, saying
It’s not winter yet

Review of Keeping Long Island by Courtney Peppernell

Keeping Long Island by Courtney Peppernell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This book was wonderful. I usually don't like the conceit of a book written in diary entries, but wow. This one was so well done. Kayden is a broken young woman whose therapist suggested she keep a diary to help her learn how to share her feelings. She writes each entry as if she were talking to someone she calls "Keeper" as in Secret Keeper. And it felt like she was talking to me.

I haven't highlighted so many passages in a Kindle book before in my life. There are awkwards turns of phrase, but that feels authentic to Kayden's voice.

I was afraid that the immediacy of the story would be lost as we are reading about it "after the fact" so to speak, but that didn't happen. And Kayden's friends and family felt real to me.

There is little action here. This is a book about feelings, about sadness and depression and love and happiness. It's about family and friendship. It's slow paced and thoughtful. It's amazing.



View all my reviews

Never Forget

Never forget the ones who fell,
Those who for us walked through hell,
Stood their ground before the foe,
Faced down evil, and said, “No.”
They fought for us, and gave their all.

Across the ages, hear the call,
O’er the oceans, hear it swell,
See the eastern sky aglow;
Never forget.

Until we hear the final knell,
May we all stand firm and tall,
And give evil no room to grow.
Never forget.

For Everyone

Once upon a time I thought I knew
What was all my God required of me,
And who He had created me to be.
I was sure I knew just what was true.
Under the sun there is nothing new,
And I’d been taught that I could clearly see
That to obey the church is to be free;
But something in my heart had gone askew.

All He asks of us is that we love,
But many fellow Christians only hate.
He sent us an example from above:
He died His love for all to demonstrate.
God so loved the world He gave His Son
Not just for Christians, but for everyone.

The Taste of Margarine

A film of grease upon my tongue
Chased by hints of forgery,
Just like botox makes you young.
A film of grease upon my tongue
Clings like Donald Trump among
Rants and lies and perjury.
A film of grease upon my tongue
Chased by hints of forgery.

OctPoWriMo 31 - Lurking in the Dark

Today is the last day of OctPoWriMo 2017. This was my sixth (!) year doing this, and I am still learning so much every time.


Lurking in the Dark

What is lurking in the dark?
Hiding from all living eyes?
Skulking in the misty murk?
What is lurking in the dark
In the woods behind the kirk?
To seek it out would be unwise.
What is lurking in the dark—
Hiding from all living eyes?

OctPoWriMo 30 - What We Can't Have

Today's prompt is forbidden, and one of the suggested forms is the kyrielle.

What We Can't Have

Enticing me with “Do not touch”;
I yearn to get my hands on it.
When given leave, I don’t care much.
Why do we want what we can’t have?

He does his best to earn the love
From those who should give it freely.
He kneels and cries out to above,
“Why do we want what we can’t have?”

A house, a car, a vacation
Somewhere warm and interesting;
Money, please be my salvation.
Why do we want what we can’t have?

OctPoWriMo 29 - You Take My Breath Away

Today's prompt is breathtaking, and the suggested form is the villanelle.

You Take My Breath Away

When I bow my head to pray
Your love and grace engulf me,
And You take my breath away.

I know it sounds a bit cliché:
Your peace rolls o’er me like the sea
When I bow my head to pray.

You don’t expect me to betray
Who I am. You make me free
When You take my breath away.

Your joy is not just for someday;
I’m not on earth to just sightsee,
So I bow my head to pray.

I am called to find a way
To show Your love to all around me,
And how You take my breath away.

You love me; I am okay.
If only everyone could see;
When they bow their heads to pray
You would take their breath away.

OctPoWriMo 28 - Home

Today's prompt is belonging, and the suggested form is the clarity pyramid.

HOMErefugefamily
sometimes where you’re bornis not where you belongyour community is home
“where you find yourself you belong”

OctPoWriMo 27 - A Wild Rose

A Wild Rose
Petals of satinShades of white through magentaI remember Mom
The fragrance of springDelicate blooms and sharp thornsI remember Mom
Ev’ry year I’d bringHer a wild rose from our yardI remember Mom