Tag Archives: appreciation

… ups and downs of appreciation …

to thank the heart

that pumps her blood

but is also capricious

to thank her skin

for its fine senses

but not its itches

to thank her tongue

that tastes the wine

though its craving is costly

to thank her stomach

for its friendly moans

but not for its revolts

to thank her nose

for the aroma of coffee

but not for the allergies

to thank the sun

that cheers her day

but she flee its scorching heat

to thank the twilight

for its mystery

though it holds melancholy

to thank the moon

for its splendour

though it upsets her moods

to thank the poets

for their insight

be they opaque

to thank her ancestors

for their endowments

though some are dire

to thank her parents

for the gift of life

though they clipped  her wings

to thank her child

for its joyous arrival

though sacrifices were made

to thank her friends

for their kindness

though losing them hurts

to thank her foes

for her trials

though forgiving  them  is hard

to thank the imperfections

that altered her path

be they often self-destructive

to thank the devices

that ease her days

but not when they malfunction

to thank her ears

for music, wind and rain

though not for the shrill sounds

to thank her eyes

for the world’s colours

though they can overwhelm

to thank her dreams

that bring treasures

but also anxieties

to thank her naivety

for avoiding disputes

though it inhibits her actions

to thank her angel

custodian of her soul

though vital messages are missed …

 

she thanks readers

for appreciating her books

though she longs for reviews …

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Exciting … If you type … Ashen Venema, Shapers … into google, you’ll find several platforms that allow you to pre-order #shapers. The e-book link will follow once the paperback is released.

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The image above is a painting by Cynthia Holt, inspired by some of my poems. I lost contact. Can’t find her now

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… time to appreciate my work …

Yesterday a friend called my home a little palace. The semi has a lot going for it – road & off-road parking, a lovely back garden which opens additional living-space in summer, provided there is enough of a sunny summer. Over the years I had my share of annoyances coming through the adjoining walls – the TV of an old man who didn’t believe in hearing aids, a couple who screamed at each other every other night, and recently a developer who put up an extension and is now gutting the house to create an open-living space …

P1070069 - smallerSo when I saw the ad for a Chapel not far from where I live, my imagination soared – I envisaged part-ceilings with upstairs galleries and features of functional beauty – a little palace without adjoining walls, right?

That was until I popped over to look at the place. I guess the Parish cashed in on the adjoining land before they sold the Chapel as bargain to someone with a dream, who, unable to realise it, let a few years go by and is now hoping for profit – from another dreamer.

While the green roof enchants, the boundaries of the plot permit only a shoulder-hunched walk around the building. There is no room to park a car, let alone a builder’s van, without blocking a footpath or the narrow lane.

P1070068 - smaller

P1070070 - smaller

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My sudden surge of energy, I understand, is in line with spring and, to come to the point, my need to overcome an obstruction that is pervading all else in my life, namely the dwindling hope that a publishing contract I signed nearly two years ago is going to result in the launch of my novels. The chapel with its constricting plot inhibiting development reflects precisely my deflated spirit and the state of mind I trapped myself in.

Given the nature we are, spring urges in us for scope and inspiration to move forward in different ways. For me – it’s time to appreciate my creative work and count my blessings. It would be marvellous to be in Chuang-Tzu’s position, but unlike him, most of us must summon an inner Kingship that keeps patient faith with our art.

A LITTLE STORY ABOUT TIME

Among Chuang-Tzu’s many skills, he was an expert draftsman. The King asked him to draw a crab. Chuang-Tzu replied that he needed five years, a country house, and twelve servants. Five years later the drawing was still not begun. ’I need another five years,’ said Chuang-Tzu. The King granted them. At the end of these ten years, Chuang-Tzu took up his brush and, in an instant, with a single stroke he drew a crab, the most perfect crab ever seen.

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