Listen to the People

Amusing, adjective: causing laughter or providing entertainment.

Deeply, adverb: far down or in; intensely (as a modifier).

Elastic, adjective: (of an object or material) able to resume its normal shape spontaneously after contraction, dilatation, or distortion; able to encompass variety and change; flexible and adaptable; noun: cord, tape, or fabric, typically woven with strips of rubber, that returns to its original length or shape after being stretched.

It is not amusing

Nor trendy to deflect

The blame to media

For mistakes made

Take the blame politicians

For it is deeply felt

Amongst  its citizens

That our government has failed us

Not only us 

But others who need them

To live and thrive

I cry tears of shame

That in making decisions that exclude

Refugees from our country

People have died

When that is how these officials families

Arrived somewhere in their ancestral line

It's simply

Wrong! Wrong! Wrong!

The government’s elasticity is gone

If it ever truly existed

They are letting fewer people arrive

I cry tears and I’m shouting loudly

Let those people in

Share the wealth

Don’t let one more child die

Let them come and let them thrive

Canada is for multiculturalism

But sometimes it feels like

They’ve turned a deaf ear

Maybe it’s time

To turn a deaf ear to them?

And elect a government who listens

To the people.

©Sheilagh Lee September 3, 2015

Three Word Wednesday- Storm Clouds

Menacing, adjective: suggesting the presence of danger; threatening.

Rampant, adjective: (especially of something unwelcome or unpleasant) flourishing or spreading unchecked, (of a person or activity) violent or unrestrained in action or performance, (of a plant) lush in growth; luxuriant.

Unravel, verb: undo (twisted, knitted, or woven threads), unwind (something wrapped around another object), investigate and solve or explain (something complicated or puzzling), begin to fail or collapse.

Menacing clouds, dark and ominous

The fun travel day viewing scenery

Began to unravel bit by bit

The weather turning from sunny to cloudy

We began to despair

Our travels would end in crashing rain

As the rampant corn began to sway

But the wind weaved its spell

And blew the storm away

We continued happily on our way

©Sheilagh Lee August 26, 2015

Three Word Wednesday - Kitten

Three Word Wednesday - Kitten

 Kneel, verb: be in or assume a position in which the body is supported by a knee or the knees, as when praying or showing submission.

Nasty, adjective: highly unpleasant, especially to the senses; physically nauseating, (of the weather) unpleasantly cold or wet, repugnant to the mind; morally bad, (of a person or animal) behaving in an unpleasant or spiteful way, physically or mentally damaging or harmful.

Purr, adjective: (of a cat) make a low continuous vibratory sound usually expressing contentment, (of a vehicle or engine) move smoothly while making a low vibratory sound, speak in a low soft voice, especially when expressing contentment or acting seductively.

Kitten

As I hear it purr

I reach out and pet it

Getting a nasty scratch

It didn’t know my intentions

It seemed to think

Living outside feral was okay

I just wanted to take it to the vet

Get its shots and take it home

Give it a happy family

To call its own

So I seize the chance

Grabbing it by the scruff of the neck

And I call the kitten my own

My constant companion

It follows me around

My pet, it purrs around my feet

It owns me now you see

But I don't care

For its wormed its way 

Into my heart

And into my bed

It has its own pillow

Beside my head

It's family to me

©Sheilagh Lee August 19, 2015

Three Word Wednesday - Dandelions

Three Word Wednesday

Prompts:  Enigmatic, adjective: difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious.

Gruesome, adjective: causing repulsion or horror; grisly, (informal) extremely unpleasant.

Irritate, verb: make (someone) annoyed, impatient, or angry, cause inflammation or other discomfort in (a part of the body).

Three Word Wednesday - Dandelions 

Prompts:  Enigmatic, adjective: difficult to interpret or understand; mysterious.

Gruesome, adjective: causing repulsion or horror; grisly, (informal) extremely unpleasant.

Irritate, verb: make (someone) annoyed, impatient, or angry, cause inflammation or other discomfort in (a part of the body).

 

 It is enigmatic and maybe gruesome

And it irritates me so

How those yellow flowers

Come back no matter

How many you pull

They are a weed

A wildflower

An unwanted plant

That grows and grows

You can mow them down

You can yank them out

But still they flourish

Rank and row

Some say use the roots

For medicine

Or use the greens

For salad

I’ll take mine

With wine

They hide out in corners

Where I never go

Becoming taller

As they rapidly grow

Still they sprout 
Develop and breed

And the puffs

Change and blow

Spreading flowers

Where ever they go

We'll never be rid of them

So I guess it's live 

And let live

Until they grow too tall
Then I'll yank-em 
Root and all

~0~

©Sheilagh Lee August 12, 2015

Three Word Wednesday - Secret Addiction

Three Word Wednesday - Secret Addiction

Prompts:  Addicted, adjective: physically and mentally dependent on a particular substance, and unable to stop taking it without incurring adverse effects, enthusiastically devoted to a particular thing or activity.

Defiant, adjective: showing defiance.

Filth, noun: disgusting dirt, obscene and offensive language or printed material, corrupt behavior; decadence, used as a term of abuse for a person or people one greatly despises.

Addiction 

Addicted to organizing

Defiant to the end

Filth abandoned

No dust, no muss

Just spaces

Where things can stay

Neat and orderly

Crisp and clean

Endless lists

For organizing

Other things

Will the chores ever end?

Secretly I hope

They never do.

©Sheilagh Lee August 5, 2015

Three Word Wednesday - Real

   Three Word Wednesday - Real

Prompts: Metallic, adjective: of, relating to, or resembling metal or metals, (of sound) resembling that produced by metal objects striking each other; sharp and ringing, (of a person's voice); emanating or as if emanating via an electronic medium, having the sheen or luster of metal; noun: a paint, fiber, fabric, or color with a metallic sheen.

Optimal, adjective: best or most favorable; optimum.

Polished,adjective: shiny as a result of being rubbed, accomplished and skillful, refined, sophisticated, or elegant.

Real

She wears the metallic coloured dress

Her badge of courage

Armour to face the elite

Those who appear polished

With ease and flair

She enters the party room

To  loud whispers

And catty remarks

Of that's last season's dress

Downright glares from some women

She pushes back her shoulders

She knows despite the remarks

She looks good

She smiles and waves

 The women look surprised

The most eligible bachelor

In the room approaches her

He likes her moxy

He smiles and speaks to her

Then gets down on one knee

She nods yes

Some of the same women

Frown calling her an upstart

Others walk over to her

And are friendly

She's now considered one of them

She turns the other cheek

Being nice to the bullies

Never forgetting their ill will

Always protecting herself

From the turn of the tide

But winning them all

With her considerate and benevolent gestures

Becoming the matron of society

She welcomes the new blood

The optimal changes

To make them human

When she dies

Society remembers and celebrate

Her uniqueness, but most of all

Her kindness,

That made them feel

Real

©Sheilagh Lee  July 29, 2015

Hello, my friend

Hello my friend                    

       

I miss you

I miss your smile

Your loving advice

Your kindness most of all

I remember with fondness

The days of our youth

Choir and music

Filling our lives

Councils for music

Trips and singing too

How we revelled in those short years

Entertaining, and seemingly long

Time marched on

But we kept in touch

You came to my wedding

And to the hospital

When my daughter was born

Friends forever we declared.

And we went separate ways

Only getting in touch

Over time and space

Through the magic of the computer

We were reunited

Friends as if time

Hadn’t passed

But those days are long ago

And now in a blink of an eye

They’re gone

Memories of time passed

But one thing still remains

The bond never broken

Or friendship lives on

Not even death can break

A friendship so strong

You still are

And always will be

My friend

Forever on my mind

And in my heart

Happy birthday Rose

©Sheilagh Lee  July 27, 2015

Thirty-six years ago

For my husband who will always hold my heart.

Thirty-six years ago

I know thirty-six years ago

I was young and naive

I didn’t understand the world

And it didn’t understand me

Then I met you

And the world opened up

It wasn't such a scary place

With you by my side

I knew I’d found the person

The other half of me

That I needed just to breathe

So of course I didn’t let you go

I married you for

My dreams were home and family

In you I’ve found them both

I’ve even found the dreams

I tucked away from sight

For fear I’d be laughed at

But even those have been made right

For you’ve given me the confidence

To be myself

You’ve shown me true partnership

As you supported me

Through thick and thin

You made me see

What true love is

What a supportive partner can do

To make you feel alive and real

Someone who matters

As much as you

I love you my dear

May we have many more

Anniversaries in sight

Happy Anniversary Ken

©Sheilagh Lee  June 23, 2015

Dad

            DAD

You always worked hard to find

Any job, any trade

Amazing how you could adapt

To journeyman, chemical engineer, bricklayer     

Longshoreman, garbage man, security guard

You worked hard to provide

How lucky we were to have you

I remember the leisure you had

You spent with us

I recall a fishing pole

Holding a  hammer

Riding a new bike

Your tax return earned

You smiling at me

Across a table

As you sat in chair

Puffing away and talking

The talk of history

The battles and war

Alexander the great

To Rommel and more

The stories of Irish lore

Then the singing to Celtic records

Your favourite ‘Black velvet Band’

Because it reminded you of mom

You loved the great outdoors

And camping at Oastler Lake

The deep dark water

With lots of sunfish there

St. Mary’s where the picnics

Followed the fishing

The trip across the prairies to B.C.

When we were young

How you and mom survived it

I still don’t know

Four kids, dog and cat

On very little funds

To help out your family

Get a new job

How we miss you

But we know

You’re happy with mom

In heaven above

So just know you have our love

Happy Father's Day

©Sheilagh Lee  June 21, 2015

Hello Again

Hello, again

Do you hear me

There?

I’m thinking of you

Today

But then I think of you

A lot

Most days remembering

How lucky I was to have

Dad

You weren’t perfect

You had your problems

Who doesn’t?

But you were my dad

And I was daddy’s girl

My pops,

 Always there when I needed you

Ready with advice or help

Present

Nurturing my love of history

My love of Celtic music and coins

Giving knowledge

The love you shared with my mother

Inspired me,

It was obvious in the looks you gave

How much you loved her

Gestures

The way you indicated

That you revered her

Taught me much

I miss you dad

I miss your goofy smile

Your big-hearted gestures

Your laugh

But I remember your last words

I want my kids to be okay

Will you be okay?

And dad I am

But I still miss you,

Especially today

Happy birthday Dad

Love you 

©Sheilagh Lee  April 12, 2015