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6/30/2016

Photo: Tell the World

 
Tell the World 

"'So to reveal myself, that was a big hurdle -- not only to be the center of attention, but saying, Look at what I've created. Do you like it? As you know, everyone has an opinion. But I've been through a lot in my life, and I have a thick skin. I learned to trust my gut early on. I knew that I was on the right tracking writing songs and performing, knew that it was going to open up for me. I trusted myself.'"

-- artist Ray Lamontagne, from an article by Eric Snider, Tampa Bay Creative Loafing, April 2009.

Today's Truth:  Trust yourself.

C.A. MacConnell

6/29/2016

From the Show Horse

Hey everyone. Fine tuning poems is good practice for writing fiction -- helps me create voices, sharpen my mind, tune in on the small stuff, focus, etc. I'm glad I have my roots in poetry. This is one of my favorites. From the point of view of the horse. Love, C.A.

From the Show Horse

Reaching. Stretching. My neck. For hay, for grain.
I get the green hay, which is better.
My field friend, J.J., gets the yellow.
Last night, out with the boys, I heard that the white mare, Lily,
is having a baby. No,
it wasn't me. They won't let me near her,
but she's lucky. The big man feeds her
the sweet feed kind, which is like dessert,
so she'll probably gain...
a couple hundred. At her old home, her real name
was Emmi Snow, but nobody liked it
except for me.
It's sweaty in the barn, but we go outside after breakfast.
On the way, some don't have manners,
because they're mad at
inside. I don't mind. I know it's not
forever. When my shoulders lock up, I kick the stall wall,
and I chew on the wood. I can't stop chewing some days.
All the dark-haired ones tell me fast, soft words
that it's gonna be all right. The funniest man with the hat
cleans my dirty. I think he came from
somewhere. Then he stops and turns into smoke.
Then he rides on loud machines and gives me
an extra soft bed, and maybe his apple core, which is
happiness. But on the quiet day after two days of busy,
sometimes he doesn't show up.
And when he comes back, I think he might die,
but he gets better.
I thought I was going outside, but here comes my girl.
I lick some salt from the block and
stand tall. Keep going. For her. Today in the barn,
she leads me again. I’d follow her anyhow,
but she uses the rope. I breathe on her neck,
placing my hooves down; the right front stings a little
from the shoe man, but I won't tell her. I take it easy
on the right, tight side. Man, the work. But seeing her,
I come alive, feeling her fingers stroke and brush my black
mane. Mom had that shade too. One day, they put her
on the small barn with wheels, and she never came back.
J.J. always tells me they sent her to a rest farm, but he looks
backwards when he says it. I know she went to the
killers. I'm big, though. I'm five now.
Yesterday, the skinny vet came. I like that one. His hands
are soft, but bony and gentle. I don't like the fat one, or the one
who does my shoes. I admit I tried to kick him once.
My back has almost healed from the jumping crash,
but on rainy days,
my girl brushes me longer
than she should, just to be sure. I guess she knows
I'm still achy. I guess she knows that I was
trying, that the wreck wasn't my fault. Suddenly it hits me –
the sharpest air. Storm’s coming. I hear 32 hooves
shift at once. The oldest one and the sick one call out
warnings, always a dead giveaway. My girl cleans me,
and I know she thinks I'm handsome. Then she sweeps
the aisle, making cloudy dust. Each moment my body
is awake, I move for her. Even when I can’t feel my muzzle,
when it’s too cold to sneeze, I move for her. Later, if I stay in,
when the barn is dark, I spend minutes,
hours rocking
in the stall. Can’t sleep, can’t see, and if I lie down,
she might worry with morning. I listen to her breath,
letting it lift me, balancing steadily, without the wall.
I guess I love her, enough to know I don’t love another,
enough to recall the one who jerked me around. Later,
they'll give me a snack.
Hey, yesterday, she packed up
my bridle, her saddle, and her shiny, heavy tool box,
then gave me a bath, and the tall man cleaned my teeth.
My chewing is gonna be worse now. Looks like
we’re going somewhere. This must be what people feel like.

C.A. MacConnell

6/28/2016

Church

flash poetry

Church

I see your face
in the face of

strangers --

in the lick of lips,

in the sweeping,

and my eyes become
blue,

like you,

and the green becomes
my tree,
my man,

my church.

C.A. MacConnell

Photo: Private Plane 4

Private Plane 4

Today's truth:  The hawks tell me to be wise, to rise above, to soar, and that I am on the right path; the spirit is with me.

C.A. MacConnell

6/24/2016

Photo: Look Up

Look Up

Today's Truth:  Great Spirit, let my vision be your vision. Let me hold it close, and let it be strong. -- Inspired by today's meditation on the White Bison site. This site promotes a wonderful program called Wellbriety (I've read all their texts), and all the proceeds from the clothing and jewelry items in the store help support the White Bison Women in Prisons Program.

I love it when a nonprofit's proceeds go directly to the people they serve. To me, that's what it's all about, and it goes beyond awareness events,

C.A. MacConnell

6/22/2016

Photo: All in, Love

All in, Love

I just take shots that make me feel. Hope you like them.
C.A. MacConnell

6/21/2016

Photos: Three, Four

Three

Four

C.A. MacConnell

Photos: Leap

Leap, Spring

Leap, Winter

Leap, Summer

I love these...because of the different seasons, the beauty of the suggested movement, the life, joys, struggles, and time represented there, and also because, in #3, the one I took yesterday, I saw two images leaping together, rather than just the one.

I'm up early, as usual. Drinking coffee. Eating a veggie brekkie sandwich. Just sayin. Kylin the cat is sleeping on the lion-bed. He loves this thing. And I love him.



C.A. MacConnell

6/19/2016

Photo: Day Lilies 2

Day Lilies 2

This is what my day felt like -- bright and free. I got to go skinny dipping, hot tubbing, naked hiking, and some more interesting events. I've been to this wild place before, and even the drive itself is awesome, but no one will ever go with me, ha. I felt like myself again today. Also, I don't fit in with my family, and I don't fit in anywhere in the town I live in. Oh well. They'll all have to deal.

Also, this morning I got through the first revision on my book #3. I'm nervous and excited for more.

Love to you,
C.A. MacConnell

6/18/2016

Paper

Kid hopes.
Silent screens are forever
mean.
Next comes the true
type
face.
I lick the finger,
turn and
turn
the page.
My apologies
to the trees.
I drink the print -- let it always be
black.
Off-press hot,
I am brilliant.
I am exposed.
I am brittle and stupid.
Sand.
Everyone's
laughing.
When I think of you, I taste
paper.

C.A. MacConnell

6/16/2016

Photos: Private Planes 2, 3




These two kinda go together, like a slide show. I love looking at pics in the clouds, imagining what might be in there, making up stories. In this one, I see someone riding a horse backwards. I did that once. I do not suggest it. Obviously, steering is a problem, ha. My boss wanted to kill me later. He didn't though; he liked me I suppose. He treated me like the daughter he never had. He's the last great boss I've had. Great bosses want you to succeed. If I were a boss, I'd be that way. I'd give people the shots they deserved. I'd help lift them up. I'd like to be a boss now. I had the chance back in 2004-5, but I lost it all. Now I am ready. Man, I would love to have my own small farm someday. Keep writing. :) Just hoping that by the time I achieve this goal, I'm not on a walker, ha.

Today's Truth:  I'm always musing, but I'm not hell-bent on having anything really. I'd take a stuffed horse and true love over all that any day. Let's see what happens next.

C.A. MacConnell

6/12/2016

Bloodlines

The octopus
has three

hearts
and nine

brains.
A blue whale's

heart weighs
1,500 pounds.

Female
killer whales

experience
menopause.

Orangutans
are ticklish.

In a herd,
nearly the last

eight wild
prairie horses

graze slowly,
never

a race.
The old

stallion
rears up,

one fellow
showing

his ribs.

-- C.A. MacConnell

6/08/2016

Photo: Jomo


Today's truth:  Life's too short to settle, in work and in love. Live your passion. Tell the world who you really are. I'd rather be alone than have anything less than true love. Sweet.

I'm on page 131 or so of my new book, give or take some pages. Right now, it only makes sense in my head, but I'm chipping away at it. And after I get this new sucker and The House of Anchor out there, perhaps I'll buy a horse and train him. My way. :) Really, I am an awesome rider. It's just that I've always kept a low profile. Anyhow.

Griffin Farm is already published, and it's all slick, available in paperback or Ebook! The feedback has been superb, and I've been selling online as well as in person. In person is much more fun. Interesting. Please buy a copy and see what you think. Here is my Bio in case you think I'm a hack. Ha, some people can be so funny.

Hey you, the one I call God, lead me every step of the way. And you, I hope your evening involves cookies. Here's to horses, writing, Jomo, and true love,

C.A. MacConnell

6/07/2016

New Book is Born.


Howdy. I've begun a brand spanking new project. Right now, it's about 122 pages of a mess. Ha, I like to work that way...turn a mess into something awesome. Just my style. Hope you are well. I've been learning and learning, and I'm ready for a vacation, yes. I love you, mountains. I love you, desert. Looking forward to digging into this next book, chipping away at it one day at a time. Just a little teaser for you. I'm stoked. I am also needing a bath. Seeya,

C.A. MacConnell

Photo: Drain Pipe

Drain Pipe

Today's Truth:  It's not what it seems to be; it's how you see it.

C.A. MacConnell

6/05/2016

Photo: Scattered Showers

Scattered Showers

Today's Truth:  Do what you need to do to take care of yourself.

C.A. MacConnell

Photo: Private Plane

Private Plane

Can't sleep. Rather than google old friends who probably don't remember me and who I'll never contact or do tarot readings and magic 8ball readings, I thought I'd post something cool. Took this one yesterday.

Love,

C.A. MacConnell

6/04/2016

Photo: Pinwheel Love

Pinwheel Love

Gray days are superb for shooting black and white. I love how this turned out. You know what? Your God, whatever he/she/it may be, is with you wherever you go, every step of the way. All you have to do is trust and ask. I keep reminding myself of these things, and nature does a good job of keeping me focused on what is beautiful.

C.A. MacConnell