Tag Archives: Melba Christie

My Tree – Mi Arbol


Some of my poems will be read by me on Spotify. This poem is in English and Spanish. I have started translating my poems from English to Spanish and from Spanish to English. Please leave a comment or rate the podcast. I will truly appreciate it greatly.

New Podcast


I have been recording some of my poems for my podcast on Spotify. Please tune in and leave a comment. I will truly appreciate your support. I am lining up a few interviews with colleagues and friends. Topics will be about many of the issues that resonate with all of us these days.

https://open.spotify.com/embed/episode/26y7BMqwSiDIAYoUoMwICl?utm_source=generator

Happy National Poetry Month


Every year the celebration of National Poetry Month becomes more meaningful to me. I focus on reading more poetry. I especially look for the poems written by new poets. I also buy a collection.My mantra has always been “Poetry is Life and Life is Poetry”. These past two years I have used poetry a lifeline. Poetry is what has kept me going as I tried to process the loss of my son.

As always I will post poems by my favorite poets. I will also introduce a few new poets. I invite you to post your favorites in the comments section.
Don’t forget to share a poem a day and “A Poem in Your Pocket Day” with family and friends.

”People say that what we’re all seeking is a meaning for life. I do not think that is what we’re really seeking. I think what we are seeking is an experience of being alive, so that our life experiences on the purely physical plane will have resonance within our own innermost being and reality, so that we actually feel the rapture of being alive. That’s what it’s all finally about.” —Joseph Campbell

Masquespade


I never learned how to sew

even though

my mom tried endlessly to show me the basics

like hem the edge of the fabric

to keep the raw edge from unraveling.

Perhaps a lesson for life was embedded

but I was definitely too hard headed

I would exclaim sewing is boring,

I mean who wants to measure and do all that scoring.

Who would have guessed

I am now sewing like crazy

I need to keep doing

so I won’t grow too lazy.

I been on a masquespade lately

making all kinds of masks to keep the safety.

They are not perfect or fancy;

no embroidery,

or appliqués,

I try my best is all I can say.

As I sew I also silently pray

that soon we will not have to stay six feet away,

from our neighbors, elders, friends and family.

When that day comes I will sing with glee!

Free at last! Free at last!

Then I will invite everyone

to visit so we can party and have a blast.

For all those who wish to help by sewing masks to donate to different organizations like nursing homes and hospitals or even simply your local grocery store workers. I have linked a few videos and the guidelines for making the more professional type masks.

In the meantime, just remember we are all in this together. Stay safe and cherish the time at home with family. Let’s make this a mission. Do not allow the fabric of our most precious values to unravel. God Bless America and the world!

003902oo-1 Olson Mask V07.pdf

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html

Poetry Challenge Response – Coping


My days, these days, always begin with prayer.

Nothing scripted or too profound,

only from my heart and without despair.

I try to speak succinctly, clearly and with calm

to the almighty universe and any God who will listen.

Sometimes I sneak in a proposition,

with the hope that there is no repetition,

of the mistakes we made in the past.

I ask for healing for all over the world

But sometimes I can only tell of my unique wows,

But the realist in me knows,

No one on this earth owns the controls.

I ask for patience,

I ask for peace,

I pray to soon be released,

from the prisons of fear and uncertainty,

I envision a new earth;

we are all on common ground.

We must all work together.

And allow only hope and love to surround.

I write a poem to help me cope.

And look for poems that fill me with hope.

*Please stay safe my fellow bloggers and friends. God bless America!

National Poetry Month Begins Today


Every year for many years now I have celebrated National Poetry Month and invite and encourage those who find poetry difficult or boring to give poetry a try. If you have read my profile you will know that for me poetry is life and life is poetry. I was introduced to poetry at a very young age and had wonderful teachers who inspired me to read and write poems.

I believe that poetry can change your life. I also believe that poetry can heal. Our nation needs healing right now. We are facing a very deadly virus and have been told that there is a possibility that many thousands will lose their lives. The thought terrifies me and saddens me deeply. Hopefully the numbers of people affected will decrease substantially. This pandemic has hit hard in many countries around the world. This is why more than ever we must understand the concept of oneness. Prayer, meditation, and yes reading poetry will help us cope with the tragedy of what is now. I refuse to think beyond that; i must stay focused on the now. We have little control over what may happen as a result of this deadly and highly contagious virus.

I believe in hope. We must believe in the ingenuity of our scientific and medical researchers because we do have the best of the best working hard to find the therapy and finally the vaccine that will work.

Please join me in celebrating National Poetry Month by using poetry to help us heal and to comfort us. Join me to celebrate a Poem in Your Pocket. Look for poems that inspire and fill your heart with hope. Share poems with love ones and even perfect strangers. Write poems. Dedicate a poem to someone who is laboring to make a difference in all of our lives. Share poems via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and any other social media outlet. Let us make poetry viral surpassing any other medium. Surprise someone with a poem inside a greeting card. Remember that poetry is life and life is poetry.

God bless you all and may poetry bring you joy and hope during these very scary and difficult times.

Here is my poem for today:

Someone told me once

A poet is a little god.

put on this earth to help us see

the beauty around us

and to make us aware

that we are all one.

Look at the view:

flowers are beginning to bloom;

birds are building their nests,

tree branches are regrowing their leaves.

We may have to be indoors and sequestered

for a while

but we can do so much to renew our souls.

Cherish every minute with a loved one.

And if you happen to be alone and even recovering

love yourself a little bit more.

Be forgiving. Send blessings out to the universe.

You will never imagine whom you may touch.

Walk through the gardens of your life;

Listen to the sparrow’s song,

and the gentle breeze will guide you always.

Image by cromaconceptovisual from Pixabay

Journaling and Coloring


For me both journaling and coloring are great for the soul. Then again all art forms are soulful experiences for me. I published a book that focuses on both journaling and coloring. The book contains mandalas i drew and pages to jot down reflections. I included some inspirational quotes that I call food for thought.

My mentor and longtime friend recently commented on my book. Any critique coming from him means the world to me. So I can say with much pride that he loved it. “I have started coloring again (which was an activity I so enjoyed a s a child). And now the very special pleasure is that each of the coloring experiences in your book will be a collaboration with you.”

This comment made my year. And even if I do not sell another copy, his assessment makes me feel so accomplished. So if you should become curious the book is available through Amazon.

I would love your feedback. Thanks for your continued support.

The House We Live In – My apologies to Frank Sinatra


I have been wrestling with how to celebrate July 4th (243rd Birthday of America) with a poem. I recently heard Amanda Gorman, the National Youth Poet Laureate recite her Independence Day poem: Believer’s Hymn of the Republic on CBS. She will perform it again tonight  accompanied by the Boston’s Pops Symphony playing the “Battle Hymn of the Republic”. She became my inspiration.

I also remembered a song by Frank Sinatra my father loved and would play all the time called “The House I Live In”. I became a little sad and thought about what my dad would say about what is happening in our country these days.The country he loved so much. Both songs helped me compose my poem.

 

The House We Live In  by Melba Christie

 

 

Sometimes I wonder

If I have lost my way

Sometimes I do not know

what is the right thing to say

about the house we live in.

Is it just a plot of earth?

A main street without a name,

I so want to be so proud;

But sometimes I feel a little shame,

because children now fear

the playgrounds, some the faces that they see

the violence and the fights

Are not we all a part of the we.

What happened to the proud eagle’s flight?

Respect for each other’s views?

The howdy and the handshake are so rare and few

and the right to speak my heart out

what happened to all that too?

The house we used to live in

was roomy and very warm

we knew how to huddle together

with the menace of a storm.

The house we lived in was always great to me.

Not just a slogan or even a flag,

It was a very meaningful word – Democracy!

We live in a house

that needs a little repair.

A real truth, a love of liberty for all

the promise that we knew

“A House divided cannot stand”

I know that

so do you

it is about knowing

out of many we are one.

Let us continue to build

on the foundation that they

built 243 years ago.

A beautiful plot of earth

From sea to shining sea

all races, all religions

all genders

We all want to be free.

So let us join all our

great voices

let us get ready to sing

America the beautiful

Let freedom ring!

The answer to the question,

What is America to me?

The people, We The People!

We The People!

All races, all religions,

All the faces that I see

This

Is 

America to me!

Happy 4th of July!

And God Bless Us All!

And God Bless America!

 

 

 

 

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