A Literary Cornucopia

We recall events later in life that make us wonder at our behavior. Why did we react the way we did? What if we had acted differently? If we had a second chance, would we take advantage of it? These are questions we may ask ourselves and never know the answers. They'll probably haunt us for the rest of our lives. But there is very little one can do except resign oneself and chalk it up to the many...

Narrative essays have always been my favorite mode of expression. The following is one I used as an example for my high school sophomore students a few years ago. So many memories flooded my mind as I read it! Recording these moments in time is helpful when one wants to keep them alive. The brain fogs up as we age so this is a habit a person should pick up while she can. Memories should...

Mother's Day is somewhat stressful. Greeting cards should limit expressions to something short and to the point.  I recommend a Haiku. 

I couldn't let the month of poetry go by without paying some sort of tribute to my English language learners. They worked hard on their original poems last semester. So here's a poem dedicated to them in this special month. April is a special occasion to celebrate poets and poetry in our culture. Here's to the poet hidden within everyone's soul.

We love to follow people we admire on social media. We burn with a desire to know what they think about worldly events and those who are at their center. I would certainly be one of Jane Austen's avid followers if she had been on social media! Based on how she viewed society, her posts would be something I would read with a passion. Of those who lived in the past, who would you have followed on Fa...

It's been a little over a year since the coronovirus pandemic disrupted our lives. We look forward to a time when we can go back to a kind of normalcy. When see flowers bloom, we can't help but feel inspired and hopeful.  We will get through these times and Mother Nature will lend a helping hand. Flowers are her sign that everything will be okay.  

When seasons change in the tropics the change might not be so noticeable but we know it's there. In the air we can feel it and after a year of "pandemic" proportions we need the change.  Poetry is the best way of dealing with emotions and what better way to welcome Spring than with a light and cheery poem?  

Anger often causes us to behave in ways we cannot understand. I can relate to Jeremy Finch when his anger drives him to do something that startles even his sister. This chapter from the novel To Kill a Mockingbird stirs up deep emotions. A sensitive reader will feel for the children as well as the adults. It is fitting that it concludes the first part of the novel and sets the mood for the second...

There are always two sides to every situation or problem. It takes a willing and keen mind to understand all of them. You're not judging what's right or wrong. You just try to get a perspective and see the other's viewpoint to understand him (or her) just a little bit better. Listening is a skill to be continually practiced.

Selecting a favorite character from this novel is not easy. There are many unique characters to choose from. The students from the 10th grade English class had to answer two questions about the characters. The chosen favorites were between the Finch family members: Atticus, Jem and Scout. I'm still undecided. 

Some childhood memories surface from time to time. They leave an indelible mark on a human mind. Even though I was just a child at the time, the incident left a deep impact. What shocked me to the core was the fact that adults could be so unaware of how impressionable a child's mind could be. Have a childhood memory that haunts you? 

When tending to the garden I often ask myself: Do plants have feelings? Do they sense what is happening to them? I like to think that when I talk to them (and I do!) that they can hear me.  I whisper to each: How are you doing today? It might seem silly but we must treat Mother Nature's living beings with kindness. 

Ringing in a New Year is always bitter-sweet. We think fondly of what we've been through during a year and look hopefully to a brand new start. This particular past year has been exceptionally very bitter with only dots of sweetness. And is that so strange? We're still in the throes of a pandemic and expecting some sort of relief with a vaccine. Will this year be a promising one for the entire wor...

How could a person be in two places at the same time? Is it possible? It could only be a supernatural event and beyond the scope of the human mind. Who knows why these things happen. Perhaps to give a person a second chance? 

Some mothers can whip up a solution to correct an adolescent's small "disaster. " These events form part of the memory collection stored not only in our minds but deep in our hearts.   

I love to garden and I love gnomes! So it's only fitting that I write a poem inspired by the holiday season and this particular year, the year of the pandemic.  Maybe it's the magic associated with these mythological creatures that make them delightful garden décor. Those of us who love nature and had a "whole lot of time" to garden this year 2020 can appreciate all the elements associated wi...

Time spent in the kitchen can be considered time well spent. I'm referring to cooking as opposed to just eating. Everyone likes to eat but not everyone likes to cook. Now baking, that's another story. I assure you, not everyone can bake. If you've ever tried it, you know it's not easy but once you get the hang of it, it's so worthwhile! I must admit there are many trials and errors in baking. Some...

Is it a basic instinct that drives a being to reach for something that seems impossible to get? Our needs may be greater than our fears.  We overcome them to obtain that which we desire.  Whether we deserve it or not, well, that's another matter.

Some stories are inspiration for others. They can be prequels or sequels. What might you call one that is side by side?  A parallel story?   The fickle finger of fate some might call destiny. When things are not meant to be, who are we to interfere?  This narrative was inspired by a tale based on superstition and the idea that humans are controlled by outside forces . 

Ever wander into a mysterious place and let your imagination run wild? When does reality turn into fantasy? When does fantasy go back to reality? A fine line divides both. How fine a line it can be depends on the mind.   

Living through a pandemic the likes of Covid-19 is not easy.  We try to get through a "normal" day and hope that the next day will be  better.  As a veteran educator with a vast background of in-person teaching, virtual lessons have been very trying and oftentimes exhausting.  I have however learned much from my students and they have inspired me to look for ways to reach them....

Seems like we've gone viral in more ways than one. Covid19 has forced a great number of us to go online for so many activities, it's overwhelming. Our world has been overturned and I don't know how we're ever going to set it straight again. Commerce and education are the areas most affected. Will we ever recover? 

Ever have a pet?  A dog or cat? Ever lose one to a disease or tragic accident? When you lose a pet under those circumstances, it's heartbreaking. It's almost like losing a family member. I still remember Maui fondly. He was cute and cuddly.  He had the lungs of a German Shepard and was only half that size. Any stranger who approached our house would be greeted with his resounding bark, a...

In times of a pandemic, what better way to vent emotions than writing about it? Some take to drama or others to arts and crafts (knitting a coronavirus blanket as pictured). I take to poetry which has no set rules and offers a way to get creative.  How do you cope? 

Some embarrassing moments can only be shared with a family member. Sometimes it's a favorite cousin. If she isn't around, what do you do? Write her a letter, of course!  Memories of university days have long gone but will never be forgotten!  The epistolary narrative is the perfect medium for many writers.  It can be as short or as long as your imagination travels.