Category: Poems

On Roses and Netted Woods

Published on by Tosha Michelle16 Comments

Hello lovely ones. I’m sorry I’m so sporadic with my posts. I can’t promise I’ll do better, but I thank you all for sticking around. On a random note, going to see the Mister Rogers film this afternoon, excited for it. He was such a beautiful soul. I’m sure Tom Hanks did him justice. Now for a poem. I hope you like it. Happy Monday!

——–

In the journey of my life,
the voyage of self awareness 
 I’ve fed on roses,
walked through woods netted
with bramble 
Mixed metaphors and signals.
I’ve had glimpses of narcissism,
flirted with egoism, had brushes 
with bitterness, doubted my worth.
I’ve questioned the validity of the sun
and found solace in torrential rains.
I’ve left small bruises on paper,
but nothing that hasn’t been felt
by others more lyrical than me.
I’ve had childlike faith and believed
in the flickering of fireflies, even now,
as the days grow shorter,
each year the footnotes longer.
Finally I’m home again, content to sit in 
our garden and pay attention to the
call notes gathering in the air.
The bird sings sweetly, no 
longer in her wicker cage. I join 
her chorus, besotted with the 
fever of a life living and lived. 
-Tosha Michelle
 
Goofy goodness
 

Bluebird

Published on by Tosha Michelle4 Comments

I just love the heck out of this song.

“Bluebird”

Yeah I’m a turner
I turn pages all the time
Don’t like where I’m at
34 was bad
So I just turn to 35
Yeah I’m a keeper
I keep digging down for the deep
Like the records I’m playing
They might keep you waiting
But you know I’m only playing for keepsAnd if the house just keeps on winning
I got a wild card up my sleeve
And if love starts giving me lemons
I just mix ’em in my drink
And if the whole wide world stops singing
And all the stars go dark
I’ll keep a light on in my soul
Keep a bluebird in my heart

Well I’m a giver
Yeah and I’m still giving ’em hell
Forgiving’s pretty hard
So I’ve made an art
Out of forgetting ’em well
Yeah I’m a rhymer
I can turn 20 cents into a 10
And if I get confused
And I start to lose
I’ll rhyme a dime till it all makes sense

And if the house just keeps on winning
I got a wild card up my sleeve
And if love starts giving me lemons
I just mix ’em in my drink
And if the whole wide world stops singing
And all the stars go dark
I’ll turn a light on in my soul
And keep the bluebird in my heart

And if the house just keeps on winning
I got a wild card up my sleeve
And if love starts giving me lemons
I just mix ’em in my drink
And if the whole wide world stops singing
And all the stars go dark
I’ll keep a light on in my soul
Keep a bluebird in my heart
I’ll keep a light on in my soul
Keep a bluebird in my heart
Keep a bluebird in my heart

And the bluebird sings”

-Miranda Lambert

https://youtu.be/ms1MY9SP7f4

What Weekends Are Made Of

Published on by Tosha Michelle8 Comments

This weekend we visited the Carl Sandburg National Historic Site and what a delightful time it was. Located in the beautiful mountains of NC, you couldn’t ask for better scenery. If you aren’t familiar with CS, I encourage you to check out his work. He truly was a “poet of the people“. Here’s some photos from our outing but first a poem by the man himself, a timely one at that.

The people is the grand canyon of humanity and many many miles across. 
The people is a Pandora’s box, humpty dumpty, a clock of doom and an avalanche when it turns loose. 
The people rest on land and weather, on time and the changing winds. 
The people have come far and can look back and say,
‘We will go farther yet’. 

Carl Sandburg, The People, Yes, 97

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Happiness

Published on by Tosha Michelle12 Comments

They say a person needs just three things to be truly happy in this world: someone to love, something to do, and something to hope for.

Tom Bodett

Thankful today for all 3. Miss you all. Life is so full and busy, it doesn’t leave much time for social media or blogging. It’s the best kind of busy though. Life has never been sweeter. I did want to let you know if you are a fan of the show High Castle, we have a couple of interesting interviews coming up on Chit Chat Chicks. It’s also getting closer to house hunting time, and my training session for my new position with the missing persons organization. 2020 is going to be a transformative year. It’s amazing how much things have changed, but the best things have stayed the same.

In other news, headed to Carl Sandburg’s old Homestead tomorrow. I hope to post pictures next week. The weather is glorious. Fall has finally arrived in the South. In the meantime, here’s some Tucker cuteness for you. x

Fire Escape

Published on by Tosha Michelle18 Comments
“Walking home your hand in mine
Tattoos on the river line
The morning birds are taking flight
Either way I thought that you should know

You’re my number one
You’re the reason I’m still
up at dawn
just to see your face
We’ll be going strong
with the vampires, baby
We belong, we belong awake“

https://youtu.be/KfU-S6ovooQ

Memorized

Published on by Tosha Michelle12 Comments

If you watch “This Is Us” you’ll recognize this beautiful song from the season 4 premiere. The tune is called “Memorized“ performed by Blake Stadnik, the legally blind actor who plays the grown up version of baby Jack on the show. If you’re a fan of TIS you’ll understand the poignancy of the scene and the relevancy of the lyrics. It was definitely one of the most moving moments from a series that defines moving moments.

According to The Wrap, “Stadnik’s song — which was co-written by This Is Us composer Siddhartha Khosla and Taylor Goldsmith, the lead singer and guitarist from the band Dawes (he’s also Mandy Moore’s husband) — has entered the Top 20 in the U.S. iTunes sales store and is currently No. 14 on the all-genre song sales chart. It’s a stunning achievement for a TV show soundtrack song from an episode that has only aired once.“

Here’s a few of my favorite lines from this gorgeous song, followed by music video. Well worth a listen.

“Can one wrong turn give me new direction?
Can one false move bring you one true friend?
Could a stranger ever end up being you?”

If I Could

Published on by Tosha Michelle23 Comments

If I could, I would shield you from your own sorrows. From phones that don’t ring, the 7 AM alarm clock, missing the train, fair-weather friends, the frayed ends of the welcome mat.

I would protect you from backaches and headaches, and unnecessary tirades, the losing team. Mostly, I would shelter you from false hope, people with an agenda to harm, and those wildflowers meant only to disarm.

I would encourage you to take ferries and planes, and leave the ink revised map at home,  to become a mid spring season, dandelions covered, savor the sunshine, take risk.  Breathe.

Remember the music of your soul. Listen to your heart’s sway. I would implore you to make love, make art, and to praise the song and rhythm your body prays.

-Tosha Michelle

Let It Be.

Published on by Tosha Michelle14 Comments

Happy Monday, y’all. I hope everyone had a lovely weekend. On Saturday we attended a wedding of a friend. It was a beautiful ceremony.

Sunday we went hiking.

Today, I’m in a musical mood. When am I not, right? Here’s one of my all time favorite songs. Listening to it always makes me feel peaceful and brings tears to my eyes. It speaks to my soul every time.

“When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be”

https://youtu.be/QDYfEBY9NM4