#31 The Final A-Poem-A-Day Challenge: How Celebrated You Are.

This gift of words

is my gift to you

                                  how celebrated you are

let these words seep into your spirit

read into them what fills you with joy

if love is clear then let love rule

                                  how celebrated you are

feel the kindness

feel the joy

feel the absolute truth of

                                      how celebrated you are

I am happiest for making your acquaintance

your hello was the prayer answered

I hope you know always

                                       how celebrated you are.

Babz Rawls Ivy

3/31/16

#30 A Poem-A-Day Challenge: You Move Me So...

If I never get
to spend real live in person in your face up close and personal time with you
beyond hello and how are you...

know that you have moved me so.

If I never get to sit across from you at a small table under a moonlight night
talking about the merits of The Black Panther Party
or How Affirmative Action destroyed our communities...

know that you have moved me so.

If I never get to drink bottles of wine (me drinking, not you so much) while you prepare
your signature steak and celebration explosion salad because sometimes I'm vegan and sometimes I'm not...

know that you have moved me so.

If I never get to show you New Haven and Yale or
buy you a burger at Louis' Lunch or "REAL" pizza from
Pepe's
Sally's
Modern...

know that you have moved me so.

If I never get to see your dreams come true
watch you take vows and jump the broom... I hear three is the charm
or celebrate your books on bestsellers lists...

know that you have moved me so.

If I never get to hear you recite tragically insincere poetry
mocking my poets heart and soul causing me to fall to the ground weeping in a heap of
rose watered tears...

know that you have moved me so.

You have without a doubt and without question made my life nicer.
Happy Birthday Beloved Friend

Babz Rawls Ivy
3/30/16

William Spivey
Enigma In Black

#29 Poem-A-Day Challenge: Stardust

Oh what a joy 

to be a part of your 

story

dream

universe

my resistance remains but oh the divinity

of listening to you

ready to charge forth 

and be glorious

in your new adventure

I am happily orbiting in your stardust 

and I love it

Babz Rawls Ivy

3/2/16

#28 Poem-A-Day Challenge: Hello Is Magic

most improbable
unexpected
delightful
life changing

turn of events

hello is magic

Babz Rawls Ivy
3/28/16

#27 Poem-A-Day Challenge: You Are A Poet

You are a poet

everyone is a poet
an artist
the bearer of greatness

talent hidden
uninvited
unnurtured

You are a poet

sit and allow
God to remind you
of all the gifts bestowed
upon
you
me

the world

Babz Rawls Ivy
3/27/16

#26 Poem-A-Day Challenge: Afraid Of...

I am afraid of a great many things

rational
irrational

like sometimes I am afraid of the dark

definitely
snakes

big dogs

long hallways in unfamiliar buildings

Being locked out

being locked in

parking near vans of any sort

rollercoasters

large ships at sea

hearing I love you too many times

hearing I love you too few times

I am afraid of a great many things

but not of

you

Babz Rawls Ivy
3/36/2016

#25 Poem-A-Day Challenge: You Are Summer

You are without a doubt
a cool breeze
on the hottest day

I stand in the doorway
not fully in and not fully out
just letting that
feel good blow over me

You are summer everyday

Endless sunny days
welcomed heat upon my skin
cool things to drink for a thirsty soul

I sit in the Spring
thinking of your hello
and the warmth
that brings.

Babz Rawls Ivy
3/25/16

#24 Poem-A-Day Challenge: Rest

3:00 am is the goal
stay asleep until then
make it to then
try try try

having just closed my eyes at 12:30 or 1:00 am or whenever
or never

PTSD...
POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER
is not curable
there is no nothing except complete exhaustion
which is its own danger
the body betrays... falls down
shuts down
quits

maybe even dies
i've been warned

i take great solace in your undeserved prayers for me
i rest in the gaps of your breaths asking how I am

your hello is the best rest I get to have

Babz Rawls Ivy
3/24/16

#23 Poem-A-Day Challenge:In Answer To The Question You Do Not Ask

Rest
like love
for me

is illusive

in answer to the question
you never ask

I do not sleep long

I rest very little

like soldiers
back from war

I have seen too much

I remain in battle stance
ready to
flee
fight
never surrendering

in answer to the question you never ask

I remain at war with memories
that have no place to go
outside of my bones

I do not sleep long

I rest very little

Babz Rawls Ivy
3/23/16

#22 Poem-A-Day Challenge: When You Meet A Poet

when you meet a poet
you will fall in love

you will use kind words

you will feel compelled to write poetry

but first you will insult them

you won't understand them

you will measure them with the same
blueprint from folks you've known before
because we feel vaguely and eerily familiar to your spirit

when you meet a poet they will ask about your dreams
ask about your people ask about your heart

poets want everyone to be in love
they want everyone to carry stardust and confetti

When you meet a poet you are obligated to care for them
be nice to them  laugh with them  sing for them

you will accuse them of motives that are not their nature
like stealing hearts and souls

we are not thieves... what need of your heart & soul when words are larger than life
and the only thing a poet will take are deep breaths of passion and awe

only fools don't know they
are poets too

when you meet a poet invite them in and allow them to stay
for it may seem like we move on rather quickly
in the blink of an eye for us time is neither here nor there.
3:00 am is 2:00 pm is 8:00 am is 4:pm day is night and night becomes day


i've carried poems in my spirit all of my life
poets stay where we are loved and welcomed.

as i am leaving you i leave you poems

babz rawls ivy 3/22/16

#21 Poem-A-Day: A World Without...

I cannot imagine the world without music
every thought is its own symphony

I can't imagine the world without beauty
the grandeur of the sun setting and the majesty of the moon rising

I can't imagine the world without words
poems to set the soul afire and the spirit free

I can't imagine the world without you
the best part of my day is always your hello

Babz Rawls Ivy
3/21/16

#20 Poem-A-Day Challenge: Sun Setting Moon Rising

and how did you

come to invite me into your universe?

and how did you know I would

stay?

and did you know you rose like the moon and set like the

sun 

taking my breath away

Babz Rawls Ivy 2016

photo: Sun setting and the moon rising in the south pole

#19 Poem-A-Day: Oh No Not Building

Let's Build.

Build?

Oh no not building again?

Can't we just

Create

Let's make magic

Do the damn thing

Twerk it?

ALL collaborative partnerships all start with a well BUILT foundation

Building by any other name is still building.

How about let's love.
Babz Rawls Ivy 3/19/16

#18 Poem-A-Day Challenge: As Not To Fall

it is about pulling back as not to fall

fall off the mountain

fall off the earth

fall out of orbit

fall in love


pulling back
pulling away
pulling up

celebrating from safe distances

well wishing from afar

prayers sent in earnest

as you create a new life.

Babz Rawls Ivy 3/18/16

#17 Poem-A-Day Challenge: Best Day Ever

I cannot
even
or
ever
imagine
a day not shared
with you
and certainly  not  the best day ever.

                                             all I wanted was

to talk to you
to share with you

to be with you

my best day ever has everything to do with you
                                            in this virtual surreal reality of friendship

accepting the world wide web existence that is
                                            serendipitous and divine providential

my best day ever was made better
when you answered with
                                              hello.

Babz Rawls Ivy 3/17/16

#16 Poem-A-Day Challenge: And Again

You invited me to seek
happily-ever-after for me
out in the vast world

go you said
to try again you said
and again
and yet again

and again
I go carrying true love
to connect true love
to true love out in the vast world

Someone waits for you
someone longs just for you
but you have to go see and be and trust

go you said
try again you said
and again
and yet again

And so I am

again.

Babz Rawls Ivy 3/16/16

#15 Poem-A-Day Challenge: How

How to fold one's heart away....
when you have painstakingly began to unfold it?

How to apply the love lessons learned
in your everyday practical life
when you had no idea you were
in love's class.

How do you distinguish hello from goodbye
when goodbye was hello and hello was
goodbye?

Well, this I can say...
I've learned to unpack my heart and give it as a gift.
I've learned to listen intently as hello was the prayer
I've learned to open unashamedly
I've learned to be excited by asking how are you?
I've learned to  jump on the space-time continuum...
Being neither here nor there and everywhere...

...in two very different places and yet often seeing the same things.

Babz Rawls Ivy 3/15/16

#14 Poem-A-Day Challenge: The Best Me

I open to you
in great amazement
I come willingly

happily

joyfully

Our "hello"
and "how are you" are sacred prayers
said with great reverence


With each moment,
 I grow and open fully

all fears
fall away

You have nurtured my dreams and encouraged
my hopes and wishes

You have put your faith in my magic

I am the best me
in your presence

You are bearing witness to the best me
the world has ever known.

Babz Rawls Ivy3/14/16

Sweet Lillies by Charles Bibbs.
(I own this... limited edition print)

#13 Poem-A-Day Challenge: My Heart

I always know
when I am being
manipulated.   Always.

I recognize the power of
suggestion. I hear it. See it.
Taste it. I decide if I want to
yield or resist

This not-so-subtle tug of war
where you say hello and I
say goodbye has nothing to
do with coming or going

it is about opening or closing

my heart.

Babz Rawls Ivy 3/13/16

Credit: bambegin.wordpress.com

#12 A Poem-A-Day: Distance

1157.7 miles
16 hours 56 min

The distance between your hello!
and my how are you?
and yet

ever near
you feel

ever near  ever near
You feel.

Babz Rawls Ivy 3/12/18

#11 Poem-A-Day Challenge:The Nearness of You...

There is an ease and grace
that comes with loving you

I delight in the hello(s)
and how are you(s)

I take great comfort in knowing you
are somewhere out there
praying for me

Your caring/concern/kindness
is a gift of friendship
that warms me
deeply

It is as if you are nearer than you are

Babz Rawls Ivy 3/11/16

#10 Poem-A-Day Challenge: The Loveliest Hello

Like a message in a bottle. 

come find me

come kiss me

come rescue me

I am here somewhere

Just as lightning during a heavy rain storm

creates fear and excitement

and longing

what I feel 

what I'd like to do or have done

or am doing

when I just call you in the middle of any afternoon and

you answer

the loveliest hello was spoken that day.

Babz Rawls Ivy 3/10/16

#9 Poem-A-Day Challenge: First Write

For all of my life, I have taken great solace in writing. Taking pen to paper and getting lost in where my heart and soul carried me. Over the years, writing has been my saving grace. My therapy. My lover. My confidant. Writing has never failed me. Poetry has given me voice a way to speak my love language, pain language, joy language, discontent language, happiness language.

This Poem-A-Day Challenge has delighted me to no end. Mostly in part due to the inspiration of someone I care a great deal about as a way to celebrate his birthday in a very personal intimate way. Sure I can buy him something, but words as gifts, as prayers as love is the most divine gift I know to give. It is a way to share myself physically and intellectually and spiritually. The other reason is that I am profoundly joyous crafting a poem every day. It's like I've been in a deep sleep and just awoken. Yes, I've crafted poems sporadically for folks, birthdays, weddings, engagements, celebrations of all sorts.  But this daily commitment has been so joyous. I look forward to it, listening for the words to come.

First Write
write now
write later
write around
write up
write down
write back
write forward
write more never less
write full
write empty
write fast

write slow
write love
write hate
write me
write you

Babz Rawls Ivy 3/9/16

#8 Poem-A-Day Challenge: In The Loveliest Of Times

In the loveliest of times

we were becoming friends

expressing.

revealing. evolving.

enchanted

I knew parting was

close at hand

inevitable

In the loveliest of times

long conversations felt like you were

next door or closer

like whispers in the night

You didn’t believe our goodbye

was possible. But I knew. I

began to prepare since hello.

Goodbye wrapped in

Change

Choices

Challenges

How did we meet? I can’t

remember really

How will we say goodbye?

I don’t know really

In the loveliest of times we

were always saying

goodbye

Babz Rawls Ivy 3/8/2016

gif: Dorothy Dandridge as teacher Jane Russell in Bright Road

Poem-A-Day Challenge: Love's Astronaut

I orbit your universe
exploring the possibility of landing

testing the
atmosphere

I go where I am invited

I rotate in accordance to the
heart's desire...

Often the alien, I know full well
Love is
the final frontier

I am the gravitational pull of unexpected magic

Create a safe place for me to
land
and
I
might
just.

Babz Rawls Ivy 3/7/16

#6 Poem-A-Day: Love Me In The Now

There are stories

that go ON
                         Forever

There are stories that
last
                          A few moments

I do not have an eternity with you
                       
                           I do have love that lasts
                           for as long as I have breath

And really having breath is an eternity

Do not concern yourself with my mortality

                           You waste time with trying to know the hour

When I go it will be like a cool breeze blowing across your brow

                             Love me in the now.

Tomorrow is a long held dream.

Babz Rawls Ivy 3/6/15

Photo credit: smoulderingcloseup.jpg

Poem-A-Day Challenge: Love Truly

There is no unrequited love

I love you.
You love me.

understood. reciprocated.

There is no togetherness
or not togetherness.

I wish you well with whomever you choose.

There is no unrequited anything between us

There is only love

truly.

Babz Rawls Ivy
3/5/16

photo credit natureofhumankind.com

Poem-A-Day Challenge: Messages

Messages

I 
am 
actually,
grudgingly, 

despite 
my 
best 
efforts...

seeing
the 
magic.

Curses!

Babz Rawls Ivy 3/4/16

Poem-A-Day Challenge: The Kindest Heart Of The Day

On some days you are the light

the safety net

the path

the pillow

the very clear voice for my very busy mind

On all days you are the friend

the confidant

the cheerleader

the willing listening ear

And on those odd days of destruction and despair

you are the kindest heart of the day

Babz Rawls Ivy 3/3/16

Poem-A-Day Challenge and My Birthday Is Two Months Away!

Poem 3/2/16

You summoned me

From across the universe

I came

bearing gifts of magic and spells falling from my lips

Gifts of truth laughter friendship

all wrapped in love

Babz Rawls Ivy

It is exactly 2 months until my birthday! Ha ha ha! I am already getting exciting!
I have no idea what I'll do this year. I am thinking peace and quiet... contemplative time alone somewhere, maybe a night in a fancy hotel, or a couple of days at a charming inn. I am open.
we shall see.

Lipstick Poems Fitbit

Happy March!

So I decided to join in on some challenges for the month of March. Why? Because they can be fun! And quite empowering.

Lipstick Challenge.
Wear and post a shade of lipstick everyday for the month of March!
My Sister-friend Gail Samuels blogger at www.onewomanstyle.com created this fun challenge!

A Poem A Day Challenge
To celebrate my friend William Spivey's Birthday at the end of the month! I have dared him to do it too... He hasn't responded yet... (fingers crossed)

Fitbit WALK MORE Challenges 
All the ones I am invited to but haven't really put any effort      towards. Well its on! I'm ready!

3/1/16 Poem

The joy is not in

hanging around you

although I am sure that is a delight

The Joy lies in knowing you

like the moon is to the sun

The sun to the earth

The stars to our wishes

image:storyboard.com