Holiday celebrations
pre-empt my writing time.
Antisocial by right of design
still my inclination.

But I dismiss mine
for the sake of family,
habits made traditions
made rituals, now sacrosanct.

And in my ordinary family
like so many others
everybody says
so it should be.

Absence gets me shunned
which works for me
but everybody says
I shouldn’t be that way.

So, for mom’s sake
I fit in as best I can
privately harangued
by my life calling me.

©2009 Shari Lynne Smothers

Prompt: Take the phrase “Everybody says (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make that the title of the poem, and write the poem. For Day 24 of the 2009 November PAD Chapbook Challenge, from Poetic Asides.

It’s three and a half years;
she just got here
a source of amazement and joy,
my lens through which
I see old things new again.

The other day, I informed her
of something only she could have done.
After we discussed it,
she cut to the chase
asking in her tiny voice,
Auntie Shari, did you see me doing it?

Even still, she wears her innocence
a shimmering translucent garment
covering her from head to toe.

It glows brightly at times
like when she scrambles
from the floor to the sofa as I approach,
burying just her head
in cushions and pillows.
She giggles and musically proclaims,
You can’t see me.
So I know I have a little while longer.

©2009 Shari Lynne Smothers

Prompt: Write a poem a poem with (or about) someone (or something) covered. This is my poem for Day 6 of the 2009 November PAD Chapbook Challenge.

All of a sudden
I understand
the sweet sick feeling
that’s been welling up
from the pit of my stomach.

At the back end
of each joy and delight
that passed through me
while in my hometown
was a sick
curly cue punctuating
experiences with—

In my quiet last night
I understand
it’s the downturn
of the roller coaster ride.

In all the excitement
of remembrances
we were creating in great detail
they included
the unplanned part that insured
I would miss home.

Tomorrow—
later today, I drive back to Houston
with the fun times dancing
in my spirit and the
aftertaste of melancholy
over all I leave behind in New Orleans.

©2009 by Shari Lynne Smothers

The joy seeps in
through the cracks
of laughs during dinner,
and at the movies,
on the way to any
destination.

Quiet delight
sways smoothly
in my head
while I’m working
at my computer

because I’m not at home
but in the home
of old friends and family.

The casino is fun
because I’m with friends
laughing at the sinister looks
drawn into the characters
on the machines.
Ratting around
shopping for speakers
falling asleep on a sofa not mine
seeing my friends’ moms
are still in good health
more food, gumbo, greens and cake too.

All make me grin inside
as I cherish and file them
in the made memories
for later days
I’ll spend apart from
my family and friends.

©2009 by Shari Lynne Smothers

Mom said
Your niece and nephew
are being dropped off for a while.

They weren’t on my schedule
my headphones in place
for an evening of transcription.

Relaxing, tweeting, reading
I’d procrastinated pretty good
about getting my work done

and paid the price
as I was caught unprepared
though thankfully I was rested.

I need all my strength
physically and mentally
to watch over the dynamic duo.

They’re busy children
and rarely have mercy
secretly plotting
and even aloud,

the boy told the girl
Let’s go beat up Auntie Shari,
and I think the girl liked the plan.

©2009 by Shari Lynne Smothers