Lorraine Reguly's Blog, page 3

Poetry I Wrote (Collection #3)

Last Updated : Wednesday, March 15, 2017

There are 5 poems in this collection.

The first 4 are a bit sad but the last one is positive, as it is about my friends!

International Women’s Day 2017

Last Updated : Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Today is International Women’s Day (March 8, 2017) and I decided to write about one special woman I know.

***

She was a tortured soul.

She didn’t know how to tell others how she truly felt.

She gave them hints, but no one was smart enough to figure it out.

She decided to simply give up.

She had had enough.

She swallowed some pills, thinking that that would do the trick.

It didn’t.

Instead, she got sick.

And life went on.

One day, she decided to write about what happened to her.

Others read her true story.

They said she was inspirational.

She didn’t think so, but she was happy she helped others by sharing her experiences.

Her voice became the strength others relied on.

She felt pressured to live up to these new expectations.

She remains tortured within the confines of her own mind, but she now fears nothing and no one and continues to provide help to those in need.

She has endured rape, mental abuse, and has been shot at.

She has been hit. She has been used and degraded.

Still, she stands strong.

She built a business around the only the thing she has ever loved: words.

She writes. She reads. She fixes others… both their words AND their tortured minds.

She has a big heart. Despite all she has endured, she cares.

She genuinely cares for others, even strangers.

She wants to make the world a better place.

She sometimes wishes she had a different life, a better life, an easier life.

But she has accepted how things are. She has made many positive changes. She is a good person now, a better person than she used to be.

She still sometimes wants to give up.

She still feels a lot of emotional pain.

But she carries on. She believes she can help others by continuing to share her experiences and by being a voice for those who are silent and in need.

Who is this woman?

She is me, Lorraine Reguly.

The post International Women’s Day 2017 appeared first on Lorraine Reguly.

Cat Love (#poem) + How to Make A Photo Collage

Many people love cats.

My family is no exception.

That is why, for Father’s Day in 2013, I decided to give my father something that he wanted: the gift of memories.

I accomplished this by making a Cat Photo Collage for him, because he loves cats.

I also wrote the poem, Cat Love, for him, which I included in the collage.

Here is the poem, which you can clearly see pasted into the collage:

Cat Love

Cats provide companionship,

semi-conditional love and joy;

Purring when happy,

growling when annoyed.

They each have personalities

and unique characteristics.

They have an amazing ability to heal

using their purrs and licks.

Cats are just like little children,

and will eat wet food on command.

They’ll ask to go outside

so they can roam and play.

They’ll bring home mice as presents,

whether cats are orange, black, white or grey.

Cats are adorable little creatures

– I think this is something we all know –

For all the reasons listed here,

this is why we love them so!

Some family cat backstory:

My father has owned many cats over the years, beginning with Lucky, a kitten who escaped death more than once, until she eventually died of old age.

Lucky was a kitten who climbed into my dad’s car one morning as he was leaving for an out-of-town work trip. Lucky got stuck in the space where the gas and brake pedals join with the frame of the car. His hands were too large to free her, and she had to ride for four hours, stuck there, until he arrived at his destination and found a young boy who had hands small enough to retrieve her.

That night, while laying in his hotel room bed, my dad fell asleep while smoking. His cigarette landed on Lucky, because he had brought her to bed and was cuddling her.

My dad began calling her Lucky, since, after these two incidents, she was lucky to be alive!

Thus began the ownership of multiple cats.

The following is a list of the cats my parents owned, with a few words about each of them. (They are also the captions for the collage I made.)

Lucky survived against all odds, maybe because she had more than 9 lives! Loved sex, too; her many babies were proof of this!
Neebs was a fat cat with an attitude, who took no guff from anyone; she was the alpha female of the house! She was always underfoot! She was also sometimes anti-social, but happy she was rescued!
Swiper was a brave, friendly, fearless boy who had the loudest purr ever! He was an outdoor cat who got dirty all the time, too! Clean was not in his vocabulary. He got used to taking baths, but he never liked them!
Pounce was Princess’s playful little buddy, and was protective of her. She’s a Princess, after all.
Princess was a patient cat who took her sweet time thinking about things, except when she was doing her aerobics or running from the litter box! (Prinnie died in November 2014.)
Jacoby loved to eat treats, lay on his back, and chase invisible “ghosts.” He should have been called “Prince” or “King.”
Blackie was friendly but impatient. She was a treat-lover with bad table manners who liked rooftops and breaking into houses. She hated baths, and used your head as a springboard to get away from the water! She was a free spirit who used to go by the name C-A-T until we re-named her.
Missing: Zorro, who broke his leg and healed himself, without the help of a $1500 vet. He only came home to “hang his hat”, since he preferred the outdoors. He never came home, and we don’t know what happened to him.
Missing: Hootie, who loved “pets,” was super-sweet, and lost his life to some poison he consumed while out in the neighbourhood one day.
Missing: Sam, one of Lucky’s kittens, who would take your finger off when you fed her from your hand. She was a good mouser who ended up having kittens of her own.

My dad loved his gift!

It was the best gift I could’ve given him, he said. It brought back many memories. My dad is not generally prone to shedding tears, but he did once he took a good look at all of the pictures. Some memories were not so pleasant, since many cats have died, or have been put to sleep due to illness or accidents.

However, he loved the tribute!

I even used a homemade stencil to add pawprints to the collage:

How to Make a Cat Collage

If anyone is interested in the “how-to” process, these are the steps I followed to make this collage:

 1. I selected specific pictures to include. I chose some old photographs, and some digital ones that I took with my phone.

2. I emailed the digital ones to Japan Camera, and then went there. The woman that worked there printed them out for me once I chose the size I wanted.

3. I bought a piece of bristol board, washable markers, and a glue stick.

4. I used a pencil and a ruler to draw lines on the bristol board.

5. I used the markers to colour the bristol board, first experimenting with the order of the colours on a small piece of cardboard. Both are shown in this picture:


6. I sprayed water on the bristol board and used paper towels to “blend” the colours, to give a muted effect to the boldness.

7. I printed out the captions, then used scissors to cut them and trim them.

8. I arranged the photos and captions on the bristol board, trying different arrangements until I found one I liked.

9. I trimmed the photos in the middle using scissors. Three photos had their corners trimmed off, and two I “rounded”.

10. I glued the photos and captions down using a glue stick. I was going to use white, wet glue, but thought that the moisture would warp the photos.

11. On a piece of cardboard, I drew a paw print.

12. Using a pen, I outlined the paw print repeatedly until holes were eventually made. (I did not have an Exacto knife to cut with, so I improvised!)

13. I used a permanent marker and the stencil to add a bunch of paw prints to the collage.

14. I went to the UPS store to get the collage laminated.

15. I hung it on the wall using four nails, one in each corner.

I took a photo of the collage when I was finished making it, before it was laminated, too.

How Much this Cat Collage Cost

The total cost for making this gift was less than $30 (Canadian money).

Here is a breakdown:

$9.25 pictures printed out

$1.13 bristol board ($1.00 + .13 tax)

$2.26 markers ($2.00 + .26 tax)

$2.26 glue stick ($2.00 + .26 tax)

$13.00 laminating (this could have been $6.50 if I chose the thinner laminate)

Total $27.90

I already had scissors, so I did not have to buy them. I also printed out the poem on my sister’s printer for free.

I have estimated that the time involved to make this collage was a total of about 5 or 6 hours, since my activities were spread out over a few days.

All in all, it was worth the time and the cost involved to see my dad both smile and cry, and now he has something that he can enjoy for the rest of his life!

My Parents’ Current Cats

Midge and Veronica are the two cats who my Mom and Dad currently have.

I wrote about them before, in Midge, My Tilted Kitty.

Midge is basically my cat, even though she lives with my parents. I was the one who chose her from all the rescue cats listed on the Kitty Care website. I was the one who bonded with her because I spent so much time with her when my parents got them.

I still see her, at least 4-5 times a week, when I visit my parents.

She still loves me.

And she probably always will!

YOUR TURN

Comments, anyone? Did you like it?

If you liked it, could you please share it with someone using one of the sharing buttons below?

I’d really, really appreciate it!

Thanks!

The post Cat Love (#poem) + How to Make A Photo Collage appeared first on Lorraine Reguly.

My Birthday Reflections and My Next Goals (write sex books!)

 

This is a True Tales Tuesday  post.

Birthdays mean different things to different people.

Most people view them as a reason to celebrate, eat, drink, party, and have fun.

I do, too, to a certain extent, but as I get older and older, I have begun to despise my birthday.

I’m Turning 45 Tomorow

Today is my last day of being 44. (Yeah, I know I don’t look that old!)

I am going to be 45 tomorrow. I hate birthdays.

To me, they are just another reminder that I am getting old, and that I have not met many of my personal goals.

I’ve not completed any items that are on my bucket list. In fact, I have not even made a bucket list yet!

I’ve been doing a lot of reflecting lately.

My thoughts are whirling, and I have been thinking about the negatives in my life, like the fact that I am still single, and don’t have a special person to love me or share my life with, and that I’m tired of having so many responsibilities upon my shoulders.

Somehow, I forgot to remember the positive things I have accomplished. Like being a rape survivor, a single mom who went back to school and graduated with honours to become a high school math and English teacher, and a woman who opened her own freelancing business.

I sometimes forget how much of an impact I have on others. I am always helping people! I have even saved lives!

Yet, sometimes, I cannot help but focus on my problems. I get so wrapped up in my own head that I tend to forget the big, important things.

However, I am not that old, I know.

I don’t have grey hair yet. I still look young. I have been losing weight for the past 14-15 months, and have lost and kept off about 60-70 pounds so far.

I am looking and feeling better each day.

For that, I am very grateful.

Age is Just a Number

Many people say that “age is just a number,” and that “you are only as young as you feel.”

While this may be true, age still matters, especially in relationships.

A while ago, I thought I was in love (with Mr. X).

Turns out, it was just infatuation, not true love. And more than just age mattered to me.

I ended up breaking things off with Mr. X.

I updated that post, too, where I wrote him a poem. I listed the reasons for why I ended things and suggested we both move on.

Moving Onwards and Upwards

I am moving on with my life. I have created new goals.

I’ve still not made a bucket list. The only thing that would be on it would be to ride in a hot air balloon. And maybe do some travelling, perhaps to India, to meet some of my Facebook friends.

I am a pretty simple person, actually, and it does not take much to make me happy.

I’ve lived a long life already.

I’ve done things I wanted to do.

I’ve lived out many of my sexual fantasies.

I’ve survived difficult situations, too. I’ve been addicted to drugs, gambling, and have been involved with prostitution.

I’ve also been respected as a teacher, and have gained respect as a blogger.

I’ve written for top blogs (such as Problogger), and will continue to do so in the future.

Writing Books About My Life (and SEX) is Next On My List

I’m going to continue working towards my goals, which include writing a series of books about my life.

Yes, they will include all the juicy details! I have already written several chapters.

I’ve even written about my first girl-girl kiss. (I am bisexual, although I like men more.)

I will share details about EVERYTHING.

These books are going to be unlike any other set of books you have ever come across!

Why? Because they will be true.

People Love Me Because I Am So Open

I know most people are not as forthcoming as I am.

I am very open and honest.

I have not met another person like me.

Have you?

Birthdays Won’t Change Me

I’ve concluded that getting older won’t change who I am.

I will still be ME.

I’m going to be another year older, but so what? It won’t change how I feel, how I act, who I talk to, or what I do.

I will be the same person I was yesterday, tomorrow.

Only better, because I will be older and wiser.

5 Unique Challenges Women Face When It Comes to Drug Addiction

 

I once tried to kill myself. I have also been a drug addict. And a prostitute. They all stemmed from the fact that I was raped when I was 14.

Because I am currently working on a book to help others overcome their suicidal thoughts, I accepted this guest post from Jennifer McGregor. It discusses topics such as addition and suicide.

Suicide is Happening More Often These Days

It may be surprising to some, but suicide is actually the second leading cause of death for young people ages 10 – 24. And in fact the suicide rate for both genders in that age group has steadily increased since 2007. But young people aren’t the only ones being affected by increased suicide rates. The rate of suicide for middle-aged men has increased by 40 percent since 2008.

From bullying to financial troubles to mental health issues, there are many reasons people choose to take their own lives. At PublicHealthLibrary.org, we’re seeking to educate young people and adults who may be considering suicide about the life-saving resources available to them.

There are many different reasons women may begin abusing substances including physiological, cultural, emotional, and spiritual. Women battling addiction face unique challenges before, during, and after their addictions. Listed below are five of the unique challenges women face when it comes to drug addiction.

Unique Addiction and Recovery Challenges Faced by Women
1: Women Feel Shame and Hide their Addictions

Women face different culturally defined roles than men. As part of this, women sometimes use drugs for weight control, exhaustion, pain, and to attempt to treat mental health issues. The process of how women become addicted is also unique, as they tend to progress faster, have a different path to recovery, and relapse for reasons that differ from those of men. Out of shame, women will often hide their substance use from others.

2: Women are Faced with Physiological Challenges

Physiologically, women’s bodies are different from men’s and as such they metabolize alcohol and drugs differently. Women’s bodies typically have less water, and alcohol has a high affinity for water. Therefore water accumulates in the areas and organs of the body containing water. Drugs also have greater effects on women’s hearts, brains, and blood vessels compared to the effects in men. Biological differences, such as women’s issues related to hormones, their menstrual cycles, pregnancy and fertility, breastfeeding, and menopause may also impact the struggle with substance abuse.

3: Most Women are Primary Caregivers

Women generally play a central organizing role within their families, often taking care of their children, partners, and sometimes their elderly parents. As part of the emotional damage caused by substance abuse, women may suffer from panic attacks, anxiety, and/or depression. Drug addiction can really take a toll on not only women who suffer from it but their entire families as well.

4: Women Suffer from PTSD More than Men

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) preceded by a physical and/or sexual trauma is more common in women than in men. In fact, according to the National Center for PTSD at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, “sexual abuse is one of the most common causes of PTSD and addiction.” Other traumas may include the death of a child or loved one, losing a custody battle, domestic abuse, or a divorce. These issues may trigger drug use and in some cases mental health disorders as well.

5: Women Crave Drugs More

Women will often use a smaller amount of drugs for a shorter amount of time before addiction occurs. Women may also have stronger cravings for drugs than men, and may be more likely to relapse. This may have a connection to the menstrual cycle.

Other Challenges for Women

Women, of course, are not the only demographic facing unique challenges when it comes to addiction. The African American, American Indian and Alaska Native, and the LGBT communities also navigate a different path to substance abuse, addiction, and recovery than what may be considered “typical.” Combine any of these traits in a woman, however, and it adds to the complexity and uniqueness of her relationship to addiction and substance abuse.

While every individual’s journey is unique, women may face even more challenges due to the combined obstacles and circumstances resulting from environmental influences, genetic predisposition, and social factors. But it’s important to remember that with the right support system recovery is always possible.

AUTHOR BIO:

Jennifer McGregor has wanted to be a doctor since she was little. Now, as a pre-med student, she’s well on her way to achieving that dream. She helped create PublicHealthLibrary.org with a friend as part of a class project. With it, she hopes to provide access to trustworthy health and medical resources. When Jennifer isn’t working on the site, you can usually find her hitting the books in the campus library or spending some downtime with her dog at the local park.

Image via Pixabay by Unsplash

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A Collection of 4 Poems I Wrote (Collection #2)

This collection is a collection of 4 poems that I wrote for members of my family, for some particular occasion or other.

These poems differ greatly from the 14 poems I wrote for this collection.

1. My Graduation from University Poem, “On This Day”

*This poem was written on Saturday, May 29, 1999, for my mother, on the day I graduated from Lakehead University. I attended LU for five years, after taking four years to complete my high school education. I went back to school when my son was 7 months old, enrolling in a special program for single mothers. The reason the poem mentions “nine” years is because I have combined the years I attended school consecutively after my son was born. The picture above shows my mom’s fridge, which still has the poem on it.

~ON THIS DAY ~

On this day, I stand proud

For soon my name will be heard aloud,

And my degrees will be presented to me.

On this day, I remember the past nine years,

Including much laughter and many shod tears,

And, as I stand here, I look at thee.

On this day, I feel your love and pride

Enveloping me from every side,

And I want you to know how much you mean to me.

On this day, I recall the struggles we’ve endured,

But my unhappiness, you have finally cured,

And now it is time for you to set me free.

On this day, I stand here as a graduate at last,

Making your dreams for me a thing of the past,

And, soon, my dreams will become a reality.

On this day, a new chapter of my life will commence –

One which will be based on goals and common sense,

And I’ll survive just fine, wherever I’ll be.

2. On 44 Years of Marriage

*On July 12, 2013, my whole family got together and took my parents out for dinner for their 44th wedding anniversary. We then all went to their house and had cake and ice-cream. I wrote a poem for them, too.

Here it is:

Not too many people’s parents stay together for 44 years of marriage

– most guys split when they see a baby carriage!

But Dad loved you, Mom, and wanted a family,

And he chose you, of all women, to marry.

And together you stayed for, now, 44 years

Throughout good times and bad times, throughout happiness and tears.

Together, a total of 3 children you had and raised,

And for what we put you through, you should both be praised!

Some people may wonder what your secret is

– and I’ve included this in here just for fun,

Since your go-to response to this question is always

“Because I don’t have a gun!”

When you say this we know you’re just kidding and joking around,

Because, after all, Mother, we know it was our father, for a husband, you found.

You both must have loved each other

– and obviously, still do-

Because you’ve remained together all this time,

ever since, 44 years ago, you both said “I do”.

So on this day that you celebrate 44 years of being together,

Let me say that all of us wish you the best, and hope you stay together forever!

Happy Anniversary, Mom + Dad!

3. Our Final Farewell To Our Furry Friend

On July 12, 2011, my parents celebrated their 42nd anniversary. Unfortunately, it was a sad day. This day marked the death of their oldest cat, Neebs. They rescued Neebs when she was about five years old. Neebs had been neglected and kept in a cage. She ended up putting on weight since she could not walk anywhere. She was fed and was given water, but had no human contact. Apparently this happened after she had a litter of kittens. They were taken away from her, and she was kept caged. Finally, she was brought to the Humane Society, and my sister picked her out for my parents to adopt. Neebs followed my parents around like a lost puppy. She was anti-social, and didn’t like me, but I felt the loss of her presence. I liked her! Toward the end of her days, we noticed that she had a sore on her face. It was bleeding. A few days later, it developed into a hole big enough to fit a pencil through. When I discovered her face had an actual hole in it, I urged my dad to consider euthanizing her. He took a look at her face, and agreed. These events occurred on my parents’ anniversary. As my way of dealing with the loss, and helping my dad through his pain, I wrote this poem. We cried. To this day, I still cry when I read it.

Poor little Neebs is with us no more;

She has walked out, through life’s final door.

Crossing the threshold to a better world –

We’re going to miss her, that poor little girl.

She gave us many years of her life that was long;

For 15 of her 20 she did do no wrong.

She was happy and faithful, a good little cat,

At the top of the household was where she sat.

She was THE alpha female, she was the boss;

And now that she’s gone, we will mourn our loss.

She will be missed in so many ways,

She will be missed for so many days.

She never complained, even when the end was near.

She was a very brave girl who did not show any fear.

She adapted so well, and never cried out in pain,

She continued to prove her strength again and again.

She did not suffer that long, though she was sick,

And when her time came, she went willingly quick.

She said her goodbyes on her final day,

Reaching out for help in her special way.

She sought everyone out and said her farewell,

Asking for relief, which was not a hard sell,

Considering she was getting worse with each passing day,

Knowing that, with us, she could no longer stay.

She had to leave us to go to a better place.

She couldn’t live anymore with the sores on her face.

She would’ve wasted away to a horrible end,

So toward heaven our little Neebs we did send.

We did the right thing, as we shed tears of love;

Now she’s with God, in heaven above.

But she’ll always be with us, in our hearts and mind;

There will never be another one of her kind.

She was, and is, very special – Dad’s sweet baby girl –

And now she’s moved on, gone to a better world.

She will no longer suffer, nor sneeze or lose weight.

For she’s now in a place where total peace is great.

She’ll be well taken care of, at peace and at rest.

We did what we did because it was for the best.

Her spirit will live on, in each of us so deep,

And our memories of her, we’ll always keep.

But for now we must bid her a final goodbye,

Saying how sorry we are that she did have to die.

We love you, Neebs!

4. A Poem for Dan And Tara

Relationships are often hard to find

And you two have one of a kind

Sharing smiles, laughter, and good times, too,

Despite what both of you have been through.

You deserve happiness and love

And are now blessed from God above

You’ve found each other, somehow, some way,

Now, together, you’ll be, come what may.

No one knows what the future will hold,

But you’ve been dealt a hand you won’t fold

Since you’ve both found a lasting romance

Sometimes you just have to take a chance

And trust what have is true,

Whether or not you say “I do.”

Now that you’ve moved in together,

May you enjoy bliss forever.

*I wrote this for my brother, Dan, and his girlfriend, Tara, who moved in with each other, into a new house, last year. Their pool is shown in the picture above. They are no longer together, however…

Share your thoughts on these poems!

I’d love to hear from you in the comments!

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A Collection of 14 Poems I Wrote (Collection #1)

I have compiled this collection of 14 poems I wrote from the posts previously published on Poetry Perfected (my free site that I no longer want to maintain). I have been moving many of my poems from that site to this one this past month. I have two other sites, Wording Well and The Blind Writer, in addition to this one.

It is my sincerest hope that you enjoy the following collection of 14 poems that I wrote. They are much different from the ones found in my collection of 4 poems I wrote for my other family members.

1. The Key to Happiness

*This poem was written for my cousin on her wedding day, and I gave it to her as part of her gift.

Want for happiness, not material things,

but accept, gratefully, all that life brings.

Desire many luxuries, and strive for success.

Hold fast to your goals, and you’ll have the best.

Share your innermost thoughts, hidden feelings, and fears,

And keep the doors open for whatever nears.

Wish for each other upon a bright star,

For it is this one which will take you far.

Stay close in mind, letting your souls unite;

Be together as one, seeing not darkness, but light.

Let not unimportant issues cause arguments,

For such idiosyncrasies can make relationships tense.

Do not underestimate all your hopes and dreams,

But invest in each other, and witness what the other redeems.

Savor special moments — perhaps they will be far and few.

Revel in your glories, and always keep your hearts true.

Enjoy the present, and memories of past.

The future awaits, and it will be a blast!

Be kind, patient, and honest,

And love your moments together.

Cherish your family and friends,

And happiness will be yours forever.

2. My Relationship Dream Fulfilled

I now have a relationship and a friendship that is true.

No fights, no secrets, and no lies—

there’s nothing bad between me and you.

There is only caring, sharing, and love,

And those come straight from the heart.

We have so much love between us

That nothing seems to keep us apart.

When you’re not with me, I am waiting

For the time for us to be together,

And when the time comes to be with you,

I want those moments to last forever.

When we are separated from each other,

I long to feel your gentle touch,

Your body close, your sweet warm kisses;

Whispering, “I love you very much.”

For I do love you, with all my heart,

And this kind of love I am going to keep,

And because you are very dear to me,

My love for you is deep.

I will always love you, until the very end,

And even then, from that time on;

My love for you will never fade;

It’s going to last an eternity long.

And when we are up there in Heaven,

Lying side by side, in love,

We will know that we’ve fulfilled each other,

And received our blessing from Almighty God above.

But, until the day that we join together,

Until the day we shall see the light,

We don’t need to worry or feel afraid,

Because things always have a way of turning out right.

3. I Cry

I cry for the people who have less than me.

I cry for those who are not free.

I cry for the opportunities and pets I have lost.

I cry for the past, which can’t be visited at any cost.

I cry for the times I forgot to push on.

I cry for the love I lost, that went wrong.

I cry for the kids who are abused and sad.

I cry for the parents who are addicted and bad.

I cry for the babies who have AIDS.

I cry for the world we have made.

I cry for the simplest of things sometimes, too.

I cry especially when I am feeling blue.

I cry when I’m tired and too exhausted to sleep.

I cry when I cannot write a poem that is deep.

I cry inwardly when I have a memory that stings.

I cry when I get frustrated with all that life brings.

I cry for others and myself and my son, too.

I cry for my family who doesn’t understand me or what I do.

Although I don’t want to kill myself and have moved on,

I cry for the parents and children who are now gone.

I make no apologies for being emotional and caring.

It shows I am human.

And that is something worth sharing.

4. When Life Has Got You Down

When life has got you down,

and you’re feeling blue,

Just remember you’re not alone,

And that I love you.

When life has got you down,

and you’re scared or afraid,

Just remember you’re not alone,

And that I will come to your aid.

When life has got you down,

And your future is unsure or up in the air,

Just remember you’re not alone,

And that, about you, I really care.

When life has got you down,

And you’re feeling stressed,

Just remember to put both feet forward,

Starting out with your best.

When life has got you down,

And you feel like crying,

Just remember there are people who have it worse than you

Because they are dying.

When life has got you down,

And your morale is low,

Just remember I’m here to give you encouragement and support

So that you can continue to grow.

When life has got you down,

And you’re feeling ill,

Just remember I’ll take care of you –

And I always will.

When life has got you down,

And you want to talk,

Just remember I’m here to be

Your sturdy, unyielding rock.

Then, when life no longer has you down,

And you’re feeling wonderful and emotionally strong,

Just remember who helped you through your rough times,

And that, if they happen again,

They won’t last long.

5. Friends

Without friends, you’d have to go it all alone,

WIth friends around you, you can see how you’ve grown.

Without friends to support you and encourage you along the way,

You’d be lonely, and frustrated, and not have much to say.

With friends to help you and teach you brand new things,

You’ll be more susceptible to happiness and all that friendship brings.

WIthout friends to tell you where you might be going wrong,

You’d be stuck in one place, sometimes for very long.

With friends to care for you and want you to succeed,

You’ll be in a better frame of mind, which is what you need.

Without friends to remind you that they don’t judge you, and like you just the way you are

you’d be depressed and wallow in pity, which won’t get you very far.

With friends, you are a richer person, and are accepted, faults and all,

and with friends by your side, you can definitely stand tall.

Today I stand tall because I have awesome friends.

6. Life Is Like A Kite

Life is like a kite;

It has its ups and downs.

It has its good and its bad times;

It has its smiles and its frowns.

Sometimes, like a kite

That gets caught up in a tree,

Life catches you and sticks you

And it is hard to break free.

But, finally, it does,

Sometimes with a little effort,

…sometimes, suddenly.

Sometimes, like a kite

That glides throughout the sky,

Life also flows quite smoothly,

But quickly passes by.

But sometimes it flows slowly,

Depending on the wind’s strength,

And, like a kite string, extends to any length.

Life is also like a kite

Because it’s enjoyed overall

And even though it has its rough times,

It, like a kite string, can be a real ball!

Life is like a kite…

Sometimes it’s low, sometimes it’s high.

But life is really like a kite

because not everyone gets it on their first try.

7. Advice For My Son

*I wrote this for you on April 29, 1993. I don’t know if I ever gave this to you… but I am giving it to you now, and to the world, too!

Julian, my son, your time has now come

— and mine, too, for that matter.

Now listen closely, and understand these points,

For what I’m saying is not meaningless chatter.

You’re leaving home — my how you’ve grown —

And are about to be alone in this world.

Please accept gratefully the following advice,

And live by it, as you should.

Think before you speak.

Look before you leap.

Be friendly and kind; never be obscene.

Be generous to others; never be mean.

Beware of those who will use you.

Be strong, sure, and steady.

Do not procrastinate;

Always be ready.

Listen carefully, with a wise ear.

Do not believe everything you hear.

Spend your money wisely, on things that you need.

At least once a day, do a good deed.

Persevere, and don’t let life get you down.

Wear a warm smile; try not to frown.

Remain determined and ambitious; your rewards will be great.

Always be punctual; never be late.

Do not discriminate, nor treat people bad.

Be happy to be alive; try not to be sad.

Remember your friends, and your family, and keep them close to your heart.

Always — always — finish anything you start.

Do not borrow, and do not lend.

Do not fight, nor contend.

Discipline yourself to reach each goal.

Strive for excellence, but don’t taint your soul.

Accept disappointment; take it in stride.

Face confrontations head-on; try not to hide.

Enjoy yourself, and indulge once in awhile.

Be cautious of those who are filled with guile.

Treat others the way you’d want them to treat you.

Above all else, be honest and true.

If you follow this advice, you’ll never have to pay the price

That bad an unlawful people do.

Instead, happiness will be yours through and through.

Please remember all I’ve said,

And store it forever, in your head.

For, now, my dear and precious son,

The time, for you, has finally come

To be on your own, to shed your dependent shell,

And, for me, from my heart, to bid you farewell.

Here, for you, is one last rhyme.

Carry this poem all the time.

When you are feeling down or blue,

Read it again, and remember

That I LOVE YOU.

Sincerely from,

Your friend,

Your Mom.

xxxxoooo

8. There is no greater gift than…

There is no greater gift than

the smile of a baby,

the hug from a friend,

the encouragement of a co-worker,

the laugh of a child,

the purr of a cat,

the nuzzling of a dog,

the blossoming of a flower,

the shade of a tree on a hot day,

the coolness of a breeze flowing through the window of a warm apartment,

the gentleness of a nurse changing the dressing on your wound after an operation,

the first word spoken by an toddler,

the raindrops falling on the roof while you are curled up in bed with a good book,

the brightness of the stars in the sky on a dark night,

the moon glowing over a river or lake, providing mirrored reflection,

the aroma of fresh bread or chocolate chip cookies,

the smile of pride on the faces of parents on graduation day,

the moment you fall in love, or

the art of a poem.

9. My Light is Alive

I saw a light glowing

the other night

I did not fight, knowing

it was alright.

The light was seen, clearly,

inside my head, .

An idea, dearly,

was born, then bred.

It was nurtured,

loved, and then fed,

It grew then it flourished,

nourished.

I’m not dead!

I’m alive and well and safe and loved and fed and clothed and housed-

all this I know.

I don’t have to dwell in the past;

I can live life and love it, slow or fast,

and all decisions I make from now on

are mine alone; I am not gone

from this world, not dead, not yet,

and so I live, though I won’t forget.

10. The Gang

They Sit

Silently

Patiently

Waiting

For Me

To Come

To Them.

They Sit

Beckoning Me

Becoming Anxious.

They Sit

There

In Front

Of My Eyes

Screaming Out

To Me.

They Sit

Huddled Together

Dirty

Greasy

Filthy

Dishes

Waiting

To Be

Washed.

11. The Death of My Best Friend

My best friend, she died the other day.

I didn’t have the chance to tell her

All of the things I wanted to say.

My best friend, she gave me lots of love.

I didn’t have the chance to help her

Before she joined angels up above.

My best friend was a true friend to me;

She was sweet, kind, caring, and happy,

And she also meant the world to me.

My best friend, she always greeted me at the door.

Waiting to give me hugs and kisses,

Now she will not meet me any more.

My best friend, she’ll be missed forever.

I will never, ever forget her,

Or the days we slept in together.

My best friend, she was faithful to me,

Providing me with companionship,

My best friend… My lover or puppy?

12. Farewell, My Long Time Friend

The once known friend and confidante of mine

has faded away during a period of time.

The emotions we previously expressed so openly and true

are now masked by the person that I once knew.

Our attitudes are different, perpetrated by a future cause,

never to be the same, as it once was.

The opinions we shared are not similar anymore;

our views may not ever be like they were before.

Situations have changed, drastically, fast.

Realization emits that some friendships don’t last.

It’s surprising to me to see just how life’s evolved;

we are not eagerly attempting to get our problems solved.

Enthusiastically dreaming of attaining many goals,

the ambitious pursuance has tainted our souls.

I remember the past vividly, and recall being best friends.

I now ponder the future, and whether we will ever be close again.

We used to share private thoughts and know we were understood right,

yet to voice anything now seems like such a fight.

I know that people do drift apart, sometimes, eventually…

But, this soon, I did not expect it to happen to us, you and me.

Perhaps the memories we each have within of our yesterdays

Shall stir in our hearts, bringing us back to some of our old ways.

As I presently think of all future changes to occur,

I’m hoping against hope to be free, like we once were.

Sensing our once best friend relationship

will never come to a complete, final end,

I shall bid you farewell for now,

my one-time confidante, and long time friend.

13. Death At The Hospital

Silver fixtures, a cold white room

Sterile doctors, impending doom

Covered with a hospital gown

Pain surges through me – up and down

A devastating prognosis

Medical terms to understand

Being schooled in diseases

Was not a part of my life plan

Whispered voices out in the hall

Briskness of nurses standing tall

Needles looming, syringes filled

with the hope that disease is killed

Wet injection, bloodless spurting

Will they ever stop the hurting?

Beeping machines increase the dose

Death may be near; I fear I’m close

Dreams are shattered, white light is near

Surgeons are screaming in my ear

Sudden silence, blackness arrives

And no success in saving lives

At least not mine – I drift away

My pulse has stopped; I cannot stay

Despite my fight and will to live

Dying, I have no more to give

My final thoughts elude me now

The embrace of death has come somehow

Doctors unmask, unglove and sigh

They still cannot figure out why

Their patient died. Their patient died.

14. In One’s Lifetime

*This poem is pretty neat and a bit unique. I couldn’t find an appropriate image for it so I have decided to accompany it with a picture of some artwork that I did years ago, since I also wrote this poem years ago…when I met a virgin who gave me his virginity! (Or so he said…)

In one’s lifetime, one meets many;

One has many different lovers and friends,

And usually one meets another

With whom all the time together one spends.

In my lifetime, I’ve met many,

And have had many different lovers and friends.

I’ve met one other one already

With whom all my time together was spent.

But in one’s lifetime, when one meets many,

One wants only one lover and many friends;

One wants to be with only one other

WIth whom all the time together one spends.

I’ve now met one, after meeting many,

And only want one lover, and many friends.

I want to be with only one other

With whom all my time together is spent.

But in one’s lifetime, before one meets many;

Before one has many different lovers and friends;

One must have one’s first lover

With whom some time together spent.

In my lifetime, after meeting many,

And having many different lovers and friends,

I found myself to be another one’s first lover

With whom some time together was spent.

And in one’s lifetime, after one meets many;

After one has only one lover and many friends;

One wants to be with other lovers

With whom some time together is spent.

But in one’s lifetime, after one meets many,

And was the first to be one’s only lover, as well as a friend,

One sometimes wants to continue on that way,

And be the only one with whom one’s time together is spent.

And in my lifetime, after being one’s first and and only lover,

As well as one’s friend,

I wanted to continue on that way;

To be the only one with whom one’s time together was spent.

But in one’s lifetime, one learns much

About one’s friends, and one’s lovers.

One wants to spend time together with one,

But only with this one and no others.

However, one must understand

That one’s friends and one’s lovers

Are in one’s life at only one time

And different times are spent together with others.

In my lifetime, I’ve learned much

About one’s friends, and no other lovers.

I want to spend time together with one,

But only with this one and no other.

However, I do understand

That one’s friends and one’s first lover

Are in one’s life at only one time,

And different times are spent together with others.

In one’s lifetime, one also learns much

And understands one’s friends and lovers,

Even if one cannot have what one wants,

One always remembers one’s first lover.

And in my lifetime, I’ve also learned much;

Always understanding my friends and lovers;

Knowing, right now, I cannot have what I want,

Only remembering my one in a lifetime…

My friend first, and then once-virgin lover.

Comments on these 14 Poems

It hope that you enjoyed this collection of 14 poems that I wrote.

Let me know in the comments what your favorite poem is!

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24 Haiku Poems

Haiku poetry is easy to write, consists of three lines, and usually follows the 5-7-5 syllable pattern. The third line generally offers some type of “surprise” or something that is unexpected.

Some people write in a 5-5-7 or a 7-5-5 pattern, which is also acceptable, although I prefer the traditional 5-7-5 pattern.

Much has been written on Haiku Poetry, so there’s no need to rehash it all here. However, for more information on writing Haiku poetry, you can read “How To Write A Haiku Poem“.

Here are a variety of Haiku poems that I have written. Since they are so short, I have decided to include two dozen (24) here. Some are light, some are dark, and some are in-between. I have also included pictures to accompany many of these 24 Haiku poems, and, to identify each them, I have simply numbered them.

If you like a particular one, simply tell me which one (or ones) that you like in the comment section, please!

Haiku #1

the x-ray vision

fortune tellers claim to have

cannot see cancer

Haiku #2

tick tock goes the clock

the second-hand rounds its course

non-digital time

Haiku #3

flesh decays quickly

exposed to the elements

flies don’t go hungry

Haiku #4

the candle’s bright flame

flickers in its holder

cracking the glass

Haiku #5

the rouge on her cheeks

matches the red gloss on her lips

a prostitute’s face

 

Haiku #6

the soft white tissue

gives comfort to my nose

its texture’s chafing

Haiku #7

intricate designs

crystalize on the cold glass

Jack Frost works again

Haiku #8

baby’s sonogram

technological beauty

photographs of life

Haiku #9

a winking eyelid

lets me in on a secret

unspoken words tell

Haiku #10

ink flows from my pen

fingers grasp the nubby tip

creating poetry

Haiku #11

the crack pipe is hot

thumbs calloused from the lighter

drugs melting my brain

Haiku #12

soft stuffed animals

and bumper pads line the crib

but baby’s stillborn

Haiku #13
razor-sharp cuts
bleed and colour the water red
bathtub suicide
Haiku #14

the screaming won’t stop

please let it be over soon

the birth of my son

Haiku #15

notifications

the post office delivers

bills long overdue

Haiku #16

white cumulus clouds

morphing into lovely shapes

smiling down on me

Haiku #17

children crying

chemotherapy waiting

hospital daycare

Haiku #18

a balancing act

merging lightness with darkness

emotional prose

Haiku #19

tears streaming downward

falling like drops from the sky

my kitten just died

Haiku #20

a puppy barking

playing and chasing the ball

gets hit by a car

Haiku #21

goldfish are swimming

in the toilet bowl water

going down the drain

Haiku #22

purple, black and blue

then brown fading to yellow

colours of bruises

Haiku #23

white foam at the mouth

crazy behaviour of dogs

rabies apparent

Haiku #24

pretty pink petalsresemble a rose so weeet

tasty vagina

Comments, anyone?

Which Haiku is your favourite?

Did any shock you?

Tell me their numbers, please, and why you like or dislike them!

Oh, and share this post, please!

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A Poem for My “Janu” (A.K.A Mr. “X”)

Good news! I’m in love!

But… don’t get too happy for me just yet… because I live in Canada and the guy I am in love with lives in India.

Yeah.

*SIGH*

How I Met My Janu (and what “Janu” means)

We met on Facebook, of all places, if you can believe that!

It’s kind of funny, actually, because I had been trying the whole “online dating thing” since mid-March (of 2016)… with no luck.

I joined one particular dating site and then, about a month later, I joined another. And the online “dancing” began.

UGH.

It’s tough trying to get to know someone, especially when many guys lie about what they are truly looking for (most are just looking for a quick hook-up or a one-night stand). It’s even tougher to try and get to know someone when they are playing mind games, lying to you.

After many different conversations and picture exchanges, I decided to meet a few guys in person. However, I didn’t “click” with anyone. The only guy I was even remotely interested in was not 100% interested in me, even though he said he was. I soon found out that he was a liar. I don’t need people like that in my life!

Anyways, it’s a good thing that I didn’t really connect with any of these guys! I wouldn’t have found Mr. X otherwise! (I will call the guy I am in love with Mr. X for now, because he doesn’t want anyone knowing who he is. The customs and cultures in his country are very different from those in North America, and I want to respect his privacy.)

It was Mr. X’s birthday recently, and I wanted to do something special for him.

I made him a poem picture using the letters of his name, took a picture of it, and sent it to him.

I also wrote the following poem for him and sent it to him. I posted it on Facebook, too. Janu, apparently, is Hindi for “my love,” “my dear,” or “my life.” I think it can also be spelled “Jaanu.” I’m not sure. I don’t speak Hindi!!! (However, I’m learning a few words…)

How to Make a 4-Bean Salad With Bell Peppers and Onion

This is the easiest recipe ever for making a 4-bean salad with bell peppers and onions. It’s very tasty, and very healthy for you, too!

How to Make this 4-Bean Salad with Bell Peppers and Onions

The first set of ingredients you need are:

1 can of chick peas

1 can of fava beans

1 can of white kidney beans (you can also use red kidney beans)

1 can of cut green beans

(These ingredients are shown in the following picture.)

The second set of ingredients you need are:

1 cup of sweet pickle juice

2 cups of chopped Vidalia onion

1 orange bell pepper, chopped

1 yellow bell pepper, chopped

1 red bell pepper, chopped

1 bottle of Kraft Calorie-Wise Zesty Italian dressing

(These ingredients are shown in the following picture.)

I also added about a half cup of dill pickle juice.

All you have to to make this 4-bean salad is to mix all of the ingredients together!

Easy, right?!

This recipe makes about 9 servings.

You can eat one serving for lunch or have a serving with your supper. It’s up to you.

The Nutritional Value of this 4-Bean Salad

This is a great recipe that is a healthy food choice.

Because I have been on a weight loss journey since July 2015, I have been trying new foods and am eating healthier than I ever have before.

I use an app on my phone to track my caloric intake. It’s called MyFitnessPal.

This app tells me how many macro nutrients each food has.

It also lets me create recipes that I can save.

I created this recipe and the nutritional details of this recipe are:

Each serving contains 202 calories, made up of 39.1 grams of carbohydrates, 2.6 grams of fat, and 8.7 grams of protein.
Each serving contains 1026.4 milligrams of sodium.
Each serving contains 130.1 milligrams of potassium.
Each serving contains 6.6 grams of dietary fiber.
Each serving contains 21.4% of Vitamin A.
Each serving contains 113.3% of Vitamin C.
Each serving contains 5.7% of Calcium.
Each serving contains 11.3% of Iron.

These % values are based on a 2,000 calories diet. (Your daily values may be higher or lower depending upon your calories needs.)

I’m not a huge fan of beans, but they have a lot of protein and fiber in them. So, I’m trying to increase my protein intake by eating foods high in protein. I also use protein powder on days when I don’t get enough natural protein in my diet.

I hope you enjoy this bean salad!

Share in the comments if you have ever tried a bean salad of any kind… and let me know if your recipe contained other ingredients. I’m always open to trying new things!

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