You know, it’s been a fun challenge so far. I will publish a recap post later this week. Lots of feeling surrounding this Poem a Day challenge. I’m glad for it.
I attended (virtually) a genealogical conference this weekend. Friday the 29th was nice–I found a quality sun salutation yoga video on YouTube, picked up tacos for breakfast, and picked up local eggs during my lunch bike ride. I ordered a breakfast taco with egg, nopales (cactus), and potato. The place we ordered from didn’t hear me say “egg,” so I had to scramble an egg when I got home. At least I got to customize mine with smoked paprika. Cactus has a texture similar to a bell pepper crossed with a green bean.
We celebrated a family member’s professional certification test results with dinner at an excellent local cafe (and then to a creamery!) and then to a favorite greenbelt here in Austin. We keep it casual.
And—because I am delayed in posting—might as well share my Sunday as well. I ended up cycling to free yoga (and to meet up with some friends) downtown. There’s a gnarly hill on 12th going into East Austin for which I was not prepared. Still, a fun day.
I finished I Love You But I Have Chosen Darkness by Claire Vaye Watkins. I remember being confused that it’s billed as a novel but seems to be nonfiction? I’ll square that away some other time.
Prompt (Day) 29: Write, “The Last [Blank]”
Why is it always birds? Why is this month the month I become obsessed with birds?
True, our avian friends are everywhere in April. I have been taking a rest from audiobooks and podcasts, so I tend to go for walks accompanied only by my thoughts.
Today’s poem is a Fibonacci “Fib” style. Lately, I have been turning random thoughts/sentences into shorter structured poems. This is a thought I had while walking my dogs. In my opinion, either “live” or “die” could appear on the last line.
The last golden- cheeked warbler saw Texas and though, "Maybe I will live here."
Prompt (Day) 30: Write a Moving On Poem
I was thinking of my great-great Aunt Helen this past week/weekend. She was so cool: Baked this wickedly good sourdough bread (with a potato flake starter), won golf trophies, gave my sister and I science books. She passed away the summer between my senior year of high school and freshman year of college. And—get this—no one told me until Thanksgiving that year.
It was in that uplifting mood I began thinking of other family members I missed. Aunt Dee is one of them, by far. I have never seen my dad cry at anything except at her funeral.
For me, grief comes in waves of varying intensity. Aunt Dee died in 2008, but memories still resurface every so often. You kind of…learn to make space for the grief? Like when you brace yourself for tides while swimming in the ocean.
Anyway, here’s my chained hay(na)ku in honor of Aunt Dee. I’ll post a recap of the month (and a reflection on my book progress!) sometime later this week.
Iceberg
lettuce salad
and grilled cheese
sandwiches made with
your love
are
no
longer on
the menu, but
I taught myself
the art
of
crafting
artisanal lunch
so I wouldn’t
miss those summer
afternoons sitting
with
you,
chatting at
your kitchen table.
kellyekosanda 
Precious memories shared! Loved this. She was my Aunt Helen and I adored her, too. She made me a sweet turquoise and black paisley dress with rickrak for Christmas one year. It was my favorite dress! She was such a sweet person. She was so much like her father, my Grandpa Baker. She was soft spoken, gentle, kind and always had abhug for me. I’m so glad you got to know her.
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