Life With Jules, and other stuff

I have been busy with my thesis and a translation project over the past couple of weeks. Not to mention getting some cross-stitching done so I could mail them out to family in Michigan. I did manage to write a poem for a Christmas card at my sister's request. I will post it on Christmas Day for all to enjoy! Until then, feel free to check out my other crafty blogs: Julie's Creations Photographs by Julie - this is a new blog!!! And for those interested, here's the link to my thesis blog: House of Wisdom and the Abbasid Caliphate

The Cat and the Canary Once there was a cat Who loved to purr and meow And also shared a song With a yellow canary And though they weren’t playful They were truly friends. And though they were friends This bird and this cat All they wanted was to be playful And so the cat would meow Loudly to the caged canary And the two would sing their song. And while it was a beautiful song That the two shared as friends The little yellow canary And the pretty little cat, While the cat continued to meow, Found a way one day to be playful. And now they could be playful And sing their lovely song While the cat continued to meow Alongside his pretty friend The friend of the cat Was really a canary. And though the canary Enjoyed being playful With his new friend, the cat They continued to sing their song And continued to be friends While the cat continued to meow. And while the cat continued to meow To his pal the yellow...

...I decided to give it a try this year. I thought about posting them on this blog as well, then thought "Nah!". Well, I decided to do it anyway. This initial post will be rather long so I can get you up-to-date. From here on, I will post every single day. Here are the first 11 poems for the Challenge: ****************************** Kid Baby Child Infant Tot Bother Dupe Jest Mock Even a baby goat! April 1, 2009 ~ Origin Po em *********************************** From the Outside Looking In Looking through the glass An abundance appears Hot and cold, sour and sweet An array of trays and aromas abound. Looking through the glass A vision appears Swirling ball gowns and tails They dance with glee and blissful sounds. Looking through the glass Tears begin to fall As she stands in the cold From the outside looking in. Apr il , 2009 ~ Outsider Poem *********************************** The Problem...

It's finally a new year! Last year was a very difficult year for me and my family. I am looking forward to what this new year has in store for me. I am hoping to post at least two new poems each week until my complete "archive of poetry" is up. As I have been focused on other projects and school, I haven't found inspiration in writing poetry over the past few years so what I have is what it is for now. I truly hope those of you who are reading this blog are enjoying my posts. As long as long as there will be four seasons my love for you will stay true as long as there will be life my love for you will flourish as long as we’ve got one another my love for you will grow… January 9, 1991

I created a new blogspot called "Julie's Creations". This new blog will be devoted to the cross-stitch projects I create/stitch. http://julies-creations.blogspot.com/

For some reason, our service men and women have been on my mind lately. I have been reminiscing about my time in the Navy during the early 1990's. I treasure that time in my life deeply. My only regret is that I didn't stay on active duty. My life since the Navy has taken so many twists and turns that I sometimes forget which way I am heading. Then again, where in the world would I be today if I were still enlisted and serving actively? Here is a little poem I wrote in honor of our American Heros...and also those foreign allies serving alongside us in Iraq and Afghanistan (please note that the use of "he" is not gender specific and is intended to mean both male and female): Soldier He is there In an unknown world Helping To keep peace alive He is there Wondering and waiting Praying The day will come For the return To his home He is there Protecting the weak Protecting them all From ruin and death He is there He is the soldier January 4, 1991

In July I lost my cat, Emerald, of 17 years. I got her while living in San Diego (with my ex-husband) when she was a year old. She travelled with me from there to Las Vegas, Flagstaff, Lansing, and the Florida. The following poem was originally written after the loss of a dear friend of my ex, but I feel it suits this loss as well. Black cat Black as black can be With fur as soft as cotton Big beautiful green eyes That glow as a cat’s eyes should Playful until all hours in the night Yet fierce when crossed by foes Not your typical black cat Puts all superstitions to shame Loved by all and loved them all Black cat remains alive In one’s memories November 6, 1991

Recently, an old friend from high school contacted me. It's wonderful to have this friend back in my life! Funny thing is that I had been thinking about him, wondering what was happening in his life, just before I received an email from him. Here's a poem that perfectly fits the moment... treasured memories treasured memories of years past remembered friends forgotten foes treasured memories of loves lost remembered nights forgotten days treasured memories of school days past times spent with friends laughing and crying treasured memories of years past october 7, 1990

Ok, so I am in grad school studying History and Culture of the Middle East. My primary focus is (hopefully) going to be ancient Iraq. My goal is to one day travel to this country and be able to see all of the remains of ancient sites. For now, I hold the sailors and soldiers in my prayers. Here is one that I wrote in the earliest hours of our engagement in Iraq in 1990/1. memory of war a sound of drums beating in the distance a smell of death in the air the blinding sun sets low in the sky another day passed another to come the soldiers are awake at the break of dawn they prepare to fight for the freedom of all gunfire ringing in the air a clinging memory to those who were there november 6, 1990