In Memory of Mom

There is no excuse for domestic violence. There is no excuse for any form of family abuse.

By the hand of a man my mom's life was cut short and the lives of her children were changed forevermore.

Forty-two years ago on this day

Domestic abuse took my Mom away.

Loved ones, crying hearts know not silence—

No rhyme nor reason for the violence.

ARISE AGAINST ABUSE

©Ruth Cox

In memory of Mom I created this lovely ceramic ornament. This is a piece of my life that never gets packed nor put away after the seasonal holiday.

Mom In Memory Ceramic Ornament
by abitosunshine

You, too, can create your own memorial ornament at Zazzle. You, too, can arise against abuse.

Arise Against Abuse Bumper Sticker
by abitosunshine

Disclosure: As a Zazzle associate I may earn income from links in this article. Thank you for supporting my poetry and prose.

Front Porch Serenity Flash Fiction

I often sit on my front porch late at night, chasing serenity at the end of a day. This night was no exception. The day went by in a flash but that was quite alright for the night belongs to me.

I decided to see what was going on over at the Carrot Ranch. It has been a long while since I have visited with my friend Charli at her literary community. But of course, I immediately see a flash fiction challenge I cannot resist and the deadline is tomorrow!

I say to myself, "Oh joy, I work lunch and dinner tomorrow which means I must write to the prompt tonight!" I had to, I already had a picture story in my mind's eye.

Carrot Ranch November 2, 2017 Prompt

In 99 words (no more, no less) write a story about a chair on a porch. Why is it there, and what might it mean? Think about using it as a prop or the main thrust of your story.

Serenity Steeple Chase

©Ruth Cox

In the dark of night while sitting alone on the front porch in an old rocking lawn chair I find I feel serenity. I need only look to the sky; chase the steeple with mine eyes.

Mesmerized by the sight of the light, I am mindful of the moment.

At the steeple of peace I stare as I rock to and fro in my chair. Back and forth, and once again.

I pause, listen to the nothingness in the still of the night.

Silence steals my serenity.

Come Sunday morning this girl's going to church!



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Limerick Dog Picture Poems

My dog Valentino is an amusing muse. To my surprise his puppy dog eyes inspired me to put pen to paws and share a pair of limerick dog picture poems with you.

My dog begged me to sleep in today. I silenced the ring of my Sunday morning go-to-church alarm clock, choosing instead to snuggle up in bed with Valentino. I could not resist those sad-looking hound dog eyes!

My hound dog named Valentino

Awoke, didn't want me to go

So our Sunday best

Became day of rest

For me and my mellow fellow.

©Ruth Cox

In the spirit of the fall season, my dog Valentino wanted to share his love of pumpkins with you.

In the spirit of Halloween

My dog nose is pumpkin-scent keen

But to my surprise

This Autumn disguise

Is inedible. Oh, how mean!

©Ruth Cox

We think writing dog poetry is fun and have written quite a few hound dog limericks over the last couple of years. And we encourage you to write funny limerick poems of your own. Your dog poetry could be a bestseller!

As an Amazon Associate I may earn via sales made through links in this article. Thank you for supporting Ruth Cox Poetry and Prose.

We are linking these dog picture poems up with the PAWSit Hop Saturday dog blog hop over at Dog Pawsitive Tidbits this week. Perhaps you have published a dog article, poetry or not. If so, hop along!

An InLinkz Link-up

Mother and Son and Grandson

Throughout our lives we learn and we teach the importance of family. I have essentially been on my own my entire life, always wanting, searching for that family feeling. No doubt many others are in need of same.

Over the years, my son and I have had the bonds of family tested to the limit many times over. No matter the reasons, the distance, our mother and son bond has never been broken. I thank my God and Goodness that our love has always led us back to one another.

These days we seem to be on track with filling up the gaps in our relationship and that is a wondrous thing for which I am ever so thankful. We have a little boy, my grandson, who must be considered too. He needs to know from whence he and his father came.

I delight in spending time with my son and grandson these days. In fact, I even took a day off from work this week to be there for my son when he needed me.

Yes, he needed me. He wanted me. His mom. And that is a feeling like none other!

Once the need had been addressed, we were able to sit back and enjoy one another's company—mother and son and grandson, and Mia the dog.

We have tentative plans to get together this weekend. I will be taking my dog Valentino along to meet them too. It is my hope that Valentino and Mia become good dog pals!

Upon returning home from my family visit I logged on to Facebook. First message I see is a new poem posted by my friend, Chris, on his Real Poetry for Real People page. It was the perfect verse for me to read at that moment in time!

The first two lines of "Great Expectations" just touched my old spirit...

Just how thick is blood

With so much water over the dam?

Read the rest of the poem HERE. Be sure to spend a tidbit of time reading the writings shared by Chris. And be sure to let him know you LIKE his page, Real Poetry for Real People.

As I grow further into my sixty-plus years, many of the questions author Chris Brockman raises in "Great Expectations" filter into my daily thoughts. I try these days not to allow anxiety to creep in. When it does I just think positively and keep on practicing gratitude.

Today I am thankful for my family—my son and his son—and our dogs.

I am linking my family up in the Thankful Thursday Blog Hop hosted by Brian's Home. Come share in the thankfulness with a gratitude post of your own.

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I may earn income from links in this article. Thank you for supporting my poetry and prose.

Thankful Thursday Acrostic for Brian

This acrostic poem is dedicated to Brian's Home. Brian hosts the Thankful Thursday blog hop from his web home each week. Brian gives writers the opportunity not only to publish an article of thanksgiving but also to link their article or blog post up with others of like mind and spirit.

Inspirational Thank You Postcard
by abitosunshine

Disclosure: Ruth Cox is a Zazzle designer and may earn income based on purchases made through links in this article. Thank you for your support of my poetry and prose.



THANKFUL THURSDAY
©Ruth Cox

Thin is the line between
Happiness and sadness
Anchored deep in a heart.
Nonetheless, it is known
Kindness and compassion
Fully shown to others
Undoubtedly blurs fine
Lines betwixt the two.

Thankful Thursday Blog Hop
Hosted by Brian's Home
Uplifts spirits of all—
Readers and writers both,
Simultaneously.
Dare to share written words
Always thankful for—
Yesterday, today, and yon!

We each have something or someone to be thankful for, always.

Today, I am thankful to be a part of the writers behind the words and feelings of gratitude linked together in this Thankful Thursday Blog Hop of Brian's Home ... Yesterday, today, and yon.

Thank you, Brian!

Walking Sticks Cinquain Poem

Sometimes we need not take a walk in the woods for a treat from nature to inspire a poem.

In this case, all I needed to do was take out the trash. Had I not been paying attention I might have missed this creepy crawly walking stick looking right at me! Yes, those are the tips of my toes at the bottom of this picture.


I was fascinated as I watched the insect turn himself about, creeping his way to the top of the dumpster. The bug then turned toward the wall of the back of the house, crawling to the edge of the lid, then jumped on the door frame. Yes, I jumped right along with him!


The efforts of this walking stick insect deemed him worthy of much more than my own effort aimed toward penning a Cinquain poem just for him. Quite an inspirational gift from nature these walking sticks insects are!


Walking Sticks
©Ruth Cox

Insects
Slender, twig-like
Creeping, crawling, walking
Foul-smelling camouflage artists
Stick Bugs

I was fascinated by these creepy crawly walking stick bugs as a child and find myself even more so now as an elder adult. Oddly, I seem to be more appreciative of their presence now than ever before.

Have you seen any creepy creatures worthy of writing about lately? 


Disclosure: Ruth Cox is an Associate of Amazon and may earn income based on purchases made through links in this article.

Bloom Where Planted Monday Musing

On our morning walks in the neighborhoood many a beautiful flower catches the eye of my dog and I. Well, maybe Valentino's nose!

This particular flowering bush, planted at the edge of a gravel parking place, seems to always say "bloom where planted" to me. But then I begin thinking of how my dog and I blossom just fine as a transplanted pair.

Capturing my dog Valentino standing before these beautiful flowers I just had to pen a poem in Haiku to go along with the picture. But of course, the picture poem then became one of our Dog Days of the Week from Dog Pawsitive Tidbits.

Blooming where planted
Beauty cultivated, or—
Blossoming transplant.
©Ruth Cox

Oh! If you know what this flower is, please let me know, for I haven't a clue. Thank you!

UPDATE: This appears to be a giant white hibiscus, not positive of which one, though, as there are so many varieties and colors of Hibiscus flowers.

We are attending the Inspire Me Monday Linky Party today at Mostly Blogging...Come grow with us!

First Day of First Grade Fib Poem

Father and son embarked on an educational journey today. My grandson went back to school, no longer in kindergarten—Liam is now in first grade!

Father and Son, William and Liam, First Day of First Grade

I am ever so proud of my son William for the father he is to his son and could not help but tear up a bit as I reminisced my son's first day of first grade and the education we were both about to receive. Schooling (in my opinion) is not just for the children, it is for the parents too. Together, kids and their moms and dads learn a lot of lessons, including but not limited to reading, writing, and arithmetic.

So it shall be for my son and his son. Together they will get their education. Together, they will learn many lessons about life and living, as well as the three R's of schooling during the first through the twelfth grade.




I penned a Fib poem for this educational occasion.

Education

First
grade
First day
of schooling
First through the twelfth grade—
Father and son education.
©Ruth Cox


I wish my boys well on this, their first day of first grade!

Hey 1st grade teacher: Ready or not, here comes Liam!

Disclosure: Ruth Cox is an Associate of Amazon and may earn income based on purchases made through links in this article.