Day: January 26, 2021

pada kali kesekian
kehilangan itu datang
jelang petang
di samping jendela
kita sedang mempersiapkan
catatan juga bawaan
rekam medis
dawai tak lepas
saling menopang
kesiapan pemeriksaan
 
tuhan telah mencukupkan
perjalanan yang kita siapkan
seketika dihentikan
cukup sekali tarikan nafas
meski kita belum percaya
hati telah ikhlas
inilah kehendak-Nya
 
kampungmanis, sept 2020

pada kali kesekian
kehilangan itu datang
jelang petang
di samping jendela
kita sedang mempersiapkan
catatan juga bawaan
rekam medis
dawai tak lepas
saling menopang
kesiapan pemeriksaan
 
tuhan telah mencukupkan
perjalanan yang kita siapkan
seketika dihentikan
cukup sekali tarikan nafas
meski kita belum percaya
hati telah ikhlas
inilah kehendak-Nya
 
kampungmanis, sept 2020

pada magrib
kita berlarian
meninggalkan permainan
berebut air pancuran
sebelum sembahyang
 
melingkar di beranda
dekat bedung juga kentongan
satu per satu bergantian
menderaskan satu halaman
atau setengah halaman
penerangan yang seadanya
goyang tertimpa angin
 
tinggal membayang
di sisa kenangan
merunut pada kerinduan

pada magrib
kita berlarian
meninggalkan permainan
berebut air pancuran
sebelum sembahyang
 
melingkar di beranda
dekat bedung juga kentongan
satu per satu bergantian
menderaskan satu halaman
atau setengah halaman
penerangan yang seadanya
goyang tertimpa angin
 
tinggal membayang
di sisa kenangan
merunut pada kerinduan

tangan kanan melambai tegak
menyandang tas di samping
buku-buku dalam dekapan
tangan kiri berperan
menghadap ke selatan
di perempatan
dalam balutan pakaian seragam
seperti melangkah penuh keyakinan
songsong masa depan
kami penerus perjuangan

I will make no attempts at tomfoolery or to convince you as to the veracity of something which I am not — a poet.  Truth is, I am a shallow well when it comes to the art of poetry, much as I’d wish it to be different.  I’ve tried my hand, as they say, but what I’ve produced is so disjointed and tone deaf I can’t make a case for it.  So I will stick to what I know and leave the poetry to the experts, one of them being my fellow writer and blogging friend, Geoff LePard.

Geoff is a lawyer, like me, and a writer, like me, but unlike me, he has a way with a sonnet, a limerick, a free verse, even a haiku — a gift he inherited from his father — and which he continues with a renewed vigor now that he’s…

This year I joined the Board of the Global Water Alliance in Philadelphia and have gotten to see first hand just how extensive a reach the GWA has.  So many of our GWA partners are writers, educators, academics, and leaders in their fields in addition to being Water Warriors and Chantal Victoria Bright is all of these.

A first generation Liberian-American, she knows the woes associated with a lack of access to clean water, especially as it impacts young girls, and has written this delightful book — Janjay — to shine a light on the problem because only light can eliminate the darkest parts of us. Chantal has dedicated Janjay to “all the little girls around the world who travel long distances just to provide clean water for their families.”

With Janjay, Victoria Bright is “teaching Children through literature about environmental health risks associated with drinking water access in developing…

Happy Sunday, blogger family!  This week we’re going to hear from my fabulous friend and First-Rate Fantasy Writer, Jean Lee whose book, Fallen Princeborn: Chosen — currently available for pre-order — will be live in TWO DAYS!

If you are like me, after reading just a few pages of Jean’s work, you will quickly realize: she’s a writer’s writer!   And it doesn’t stop there.  Weekly, Jean distributes great writing advice like some give out Halloween candy.  I’m going to let her tell you all about it.

Take it away, Jean!

Hellooooo, you wonderful creatives and lovers of the Earth! Fantasy author Jean Lee here. Pam invited me to stop by and say hello, and so here I am to talk about turning nature’s blessings into villains. I hope you’re ready to consider and chat—I’m excited to see what you have to say!

We’re all familiar with “traditional” forms of Nature…