tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29832707058059297632024-03-13T20:36:53.057-05:00Paper ThoughtsStuff that finds its way from my pen(cil) to the paper.Laura Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17165700659874093849noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2983270705805929763.post-26074137154949894472014-10-18T23:16:00.003-05:002014-10-18T23:16:58.034-05:00Hollow Talk<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVA4FfxnsT_mqrMrmT5Z-pb4VlgmOeB2akgpwoTXi7BR6uF6tWqtxqQKXS8qIXoUzI_qXn-OG4gzL37vpAI_ysHbWuZfLtr_qlofK_h60Ni8d-SMsX3uImIPRQtrpqcAYijTn_BUMMco/s1600/large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSVA4FfxnsT_mqrMrmT5Z-pb4VlgmOeB2akgpwoTXi7BR6uF6tWqtxqQKXS8qIXoUzI_qXn-OG4gzL37vpAI_ysHbWuZfLtr_qlofK_h60Ni8d-SMsX3uImIPRQtrpqcAYijTn_BUMMco/s1600/large.jpg" height="320" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Engulf me.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I don't want</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Shallow waters,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Fragments.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I've had enough of hollow talk</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">11/11/13</span></td></tr>
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Laura Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17165700659874093849noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2983270705805929763.post-54209434480178878692012-11-04T00:03:00.001-05:002012-11-04T00:05:25.960-05:00Nature<span style="font-size: large;">It is not in my nature</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">To say</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"I love you"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">When I do not mean it.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Unfortunately,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">It is in yours.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The prompt at OSI this week is <em>nature.</em> To join in or read the other contributions go <a href="http://www.onesingleimpression.blogspot.com/">here</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">This poem is also linked to <a href="http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/">The Poetry Pantry</a>.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />Laura Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17165700659874093849noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2983270705805929763.post-58307808237461738542012-10-13T19:55:00.003-05:002012-10-14T18:01:45.024-05:00Faith<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHtSmeSnyDzdsQd1WVpxuzLUubLRaPt6lWuhHMW12LoKCSvXVjaecoLXj1yHSz2BEjuiPshT1LhqIrn_zv7vQU-dT5x-UdL99E3_FgB7OIju7hB3Nbx_cwyceMyI1v6py27ly9VajuH4/s1600/INSPIRE11+063.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUHtSmeSnyDzdsQd1WVpxuzLUubLRaPt6lWuhHMW12LoKCSvXVjaecoLXj1yHSz2BEjuiPshT1LhqIrn_zv7vQU-dT5x-UdL99E3_FgB7OIju7hB3Nbx_cwyceMyI1v6py27ly9VajuH4/s320/INSPIRE11+063.JPG" width="269" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">image courtesy of <a href="http://ellasedge.blogspot.com/">Ella Wilson</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">I saw a child kneel in belief</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Trusting in Him who lives on high</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Her face devoid of any doubt</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Expected Him to bring relief</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Oh, that I had a faith as pure</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So that I might my burdens lay</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Down at His feet with gratitude</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And thus my peace from Him secure!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The Sunday Mini-Challenge at the Garden this week is an envelope quatrain written in iambic tetrameter. This is the first time I have ever written a poem with meter, so it was quite a challenge! I hope I did it correctly. The rhyme scheme I chose for my envelope quatrain is axxa. To join in or to read the other contributions go <a href="http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-sunday-mini-challenge_13.html">here.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Special thanks to <a href="http://ellasedge.blogspot.com/">Ella</a> for the use of her photograph!</span>Laura Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17165700659874093849noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2983270705805929763.post-1274740337218796422012-10-10T22:17:00.000-05:002012-10-10T22:21:43.520-05:00Wonder Wednesday 4<span style="font-size: large;">Remember how we used to dip</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Our fingers in melted wax?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Now watching candles burn</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Reminds me of all the good</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Times that we shared.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But I am not like the wax,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">That melts away and</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Becomes less and less</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Until one day</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You realize there is nothing left </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">To burn</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Ella's prompt for Wonder Wednesday was <em>wax</em>. To join in or read the other contributions go <a href="http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/2012/10/wonder-wednesday-4-wax.html">here.</a></span>Laura Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17165700659874093849noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2983270705805929763.post-435406185971283642012-10-06T22:08:00.000-05:002012-10-06T22:08:28.561-05:00Scarecrows<span style="font-size: large;">I dug up an old box</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Containing fragments of our lives,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And thought of what was left of it;</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Nothing but scarecrows</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">That ceased to scare me</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Long ago</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The prompt at One Single Impression this week is <em>scarecrow</em>. To join in or read the other contributions go </span><a href="http://www.onesingleimpression.blogspot.com/"><span style="font-size: large;">here.</span></a>Laura Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17165700659874093849noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2983270705805929763.post-9443499601427134982012-10-03T20:28:00.000-05:002012-10-10T22:18:19.055-05:00Really Living<span style="font-size: large;">Today I decided to live</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Instead of gliding by</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I went out and looked to the sky</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Unlike I'd ever done before</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And felt a little piece of me</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Would never die again</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> The Ella's <a href="http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/2012/10/wonder-wednesday-3-wonderful.html">prompt</a> is to be inspired by Sark. This is the first time I've ever heard of this author and it was like a breath of fresh air. A lot of the times we tend to just go through every day without really <em>living,</em> so that's where I went with the prompt since Sark seems so <span style="color: yellow;"><span style="background-color: black;">ALIVE</span>.</span><span style="color: black;"> To read the other contributions or to simply get inspired go <a href="http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/2012/10/wonder-wednesday-3-wonderful.html">here.</a></span></span>Laura Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17165700659874093849noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2983270705805929763.post-43391738687051551042012-09-21T09:51:00.002-05:002012-10-04T21:49:27.756-05:00Fences<span style="font-size: large;"> When I think of fences keeping something in, I tend to think of emotional fences. We've never had a fence around any of the houses we've lived in, so I don't really relate to them physically. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> All of our neighbors have had them though, to keep their pets in, except our current neighbor. I'm not really sure why he has one, but I think it's because he likes to garden. I can't see anything of his backyard except a tree with some very pretty pink flowers, a shed, and a few months ago he added some sunflowers that peeked over into our yard.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzvx8zHBEqaSQSxHZc6dMLaufO3ZXIhiCHwB5r7T_FhkcZw3jP1dOJzwB4K0jDQAwKjC6Ro3yzC2kBGhusF83G-xaQlY5ecPrSJ_9ZxJAENcQwMVxb7agS042xew_TmmG2uk7TTZZtdzk/s1600/DSC_0017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzvx8zHBEqaSQSxHZc6dMLaufO3ZXIhiCHwB5r7T_FhkcZw3jP1dOJzwB4K0jDQAwKjC6Ro3yzC2kBGhusF83G-xaQlY5ecPrSJ_9ZxJAENcQwMVxb7agS042xew_TmmG2uk7TTZZtdzk/s400/DSC_0017.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I took this one rainy day a few weeks back. It doesn't show all of the fence because my brother's roofing materials were in the way</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> My response to Mary's <a href="http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/2012/09/marys-mixed-bag-fences.html">prompt</a> is this:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">No matter what</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I won't take down the fence</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Around my heart.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I've made that mistake</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Twice before.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">To read others' response to the prompt at The Imaginary Garden with Real Toads or to join in go <a href="http://withrealtoads.blogspot.com/">here.</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />Laura Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17165700659874093849noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2983270705805929763.post-12991892638611021702012-09-19T22:19:00.000-05:002012-10-04T21:50:04.817-05:00Landai for the soul<span style="font-size: large;">It is not revenge or hate that drives me,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But the love I feel when the sun begins to rise</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The life I now lead</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Will not dictate how my soul lives</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">One may look at me and think I am not worth much</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But they don't know that I am gold purified by fire</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Every inch of me is covered except my eyes</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">That way I can speak with more than my mouth</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I came across this through Grace's </span><a href="http://everydayamazin.blogspot.ca/2012/09/i-dream-of-sky.html"><span style="font-size: large;">post</span></a><span style="font-size: large;">. Kenia's </span><a href="http://withrealtoads.blogspot.ca/2012/09/kenias-wednesday-challenge.html"><span style="font-size: large;">challenge</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> today at the </span><a href="http://withrealtoads.blogspot.ca/"><span style="font-size: large;">Imaginary Garden with Real Toads</span></a><span style="font-size: large;"> is to write a bunch of <em>landai.</em> This is a form of poetry used by women in Afghanistan. The poems are only two lines for easy memorization, since only five out of 100 women graduate high school. This goes to show how important poetry and expression are. To read more or join in go </span><a href="http://withrealtoads.blogspot.ca/2012/09/kenias-wednesday-challenge.html"><span style="font-size: large;">here.</span></a>Laura Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17165700659874093849noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2983270705805929763.post-41458334194682955152012-09-13T10:43:00.002-05:002012-10-04T21:51:04.893-05:00Memory Quilt<span style="font-size: large;">Memory quilt</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I stitch each thought</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Each sentiment</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Together</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Maybe someday</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I'll give it to you</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Whole</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The prompt for this week's Thursday Think Tank is <em>timeworn.</em> Ella introduced us to an amazing artist who creates visual poetry using things from the past. You can visit her blog to view her work <a href="http://vickisheehan.blogspot.com/">here.</a> To read the other contributions, or to join in go <a href="http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/2012/09/think-tank-thursday-114-timeworn.html">here.</a></span>Laura Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17165700659874093849noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2983270705805929763.post-47559710342332876102012-09-13T10:18:00.001-05:002012-09-13T10:24:49.582-05:00On Ending Conversations<span style="font-size: large;">It's hard to converse</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">when your lips are sealed.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Worse still,</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">when your heart is.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The prompt this week at Theme Thursday is <em>conversations.</em> I don't converse easily with people, and there's only been one exception to that. I chose to write about the end of my conversations with that exception. To read the other contributions, or to join in go </span><a href="http://www.theme-thursday.com/2012/09/theme-thursday-for-september-13-2012.html"><span style="font-size: large;">here.</span></a>Laura Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17165700659874093849noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2983270705805929763.post-84416059636388915932012-09-08T21:50:00.001-05:002012-09-08T21:51:57.644-05:00Friends<span style="font-size: large;">I used to ask myself</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">What makes up a friend</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Until I met you</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And definitions</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And meanings</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Ceased to be important</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The prompt this week at Carry On Tuesday is "What is a friend?". To join in or read the other contributions go <a href="http://carryontuesdayprompt.blogspot.com/2012/09/carry-on-tuesday-172.html">here.</a></span>Laura Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17165700659874093849noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2983270705805929763.post-17169649917802399802012-09-06T23:33:00.000-05:002012-09-06T23:33:38.498-05:00Thursday Think Tank - Signs of Autumn<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHE35uF48XmXWaaCUFcMBDgvFLwnfjsNRvVV_yZzuDxx5YfISPhacfQXMFtBWqkiiRlF6KkunLWHO5D7tgC8gZJIVKBVNVQBgYLkL9WNwkYhyMx-J2nE2HOz8rD6xM63pYVa_VV3wmOo/s1600/autumn_leaves.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJHE35uF48XmXWaaCUFcMBDgvFLwnfjsNRvVV_yZzuDxx5YfISPhacfQXMFtBWqkiiRlF6KkunLWHO5D7tgC8gZJIVKBVNVQBgYLkL9WNwkYhyMx-J2nE2HOz8rD6xM63pYVa_VV3wmOo/s320/autumn_leaves.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">image from <a href="http://www.weheartit.com/">weheartit</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Death has never been more beautiful</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Than when I see the leaves</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Set themselves on fire</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Deciding to go out with</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">A bang</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Instead of</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Politely bowing out</span>Laura Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17165700659874093849noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2983270705805929763.post-78187278276026524992012-08-18T20:31:00.000-05:002012-10-04T21:51:49.406-05:00OSI - Lopsided<span style="font-size: large;">This week at OSI the prompt is <em>lopsided.</em> To read the other contributions or join in go <a href="http://www.onesingleimpression.blogspot.com/">here</a>.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Imperfection is</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Beauty shining in your sweet</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But lopsided smile</span>Laura Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17165700659874093849noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2983270705805929763.post-23389940377431862752012-08-11T21:28:00.001-05:002012-08-11T21:28:28.979-05:007/01/12<span style="font-size: large;">Here is my response to a Carry On Tuesday prompt that I never got around to posting.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I listen to the silence</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Because it's better than</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Listening to your empty</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"I promise"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Or when you say</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"I'm sorry"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And I know you don't mean it</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Even worse is hearing you say</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"I love you"</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Because I know</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You say it to keep me</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Believing</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">So I listen to the silence</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">As you do also</span>Laura Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17165700659874093849noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2983270705805929763.post-59539547383176564112012-08-09T10:34:00.000-05:002012-08-09T10:42:29.493-05:00The Thursday Think Tank - Books<span style="font-size: large;">Today's prompt for the Thursday Think Tank is <em>books.</em> My favorite is <em>The Kite Runner, </em>so I read it every other month or so. Here is my poem inspired by the book. To read the other entries or to join in go <a href="http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/2012/08/the-think-thank-thursday-109-books.html">here.</a></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUPnlh1_8NU4VasBNTVAMIBNQuLnyU8icO6T7UMe7egkt9RE97ewrmZQVy_96niUywl3OiRvpXJNqumwA4bYKjFaKcY9E8eYN627Q686rppyiBnX8U_S5wXTmw2EnD4eXoI42nrQFRy0/s1600/the_kite_runner_movie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqUPnlh1_8NU4VasBNTVAMIBNQuLnyU8icO6T7UMe7egkt9RE97ewrmZQVy_96niUywl3OiRvpXJNqumwA4bYKjFaKcY9E8eYN627Q686rppyiBnX8U_S5wXTmw2EnD4eXoI42nrQFRy0/s320/the_kite_runner_movie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">image from <a href="http://www.weheartit.com/">weheartit</a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;">For you a thousand times over</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Even if I have to cross the sea</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Or brave the desert</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I'll come find the little</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Pieces of you</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Left over from</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Our childhood</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ3Fmb27By4Br1QulpMTG6v6WCiN7Fy4x-8sDnVpCi5foKTJu4HqMbf6nksMDpsMwp622tmBYlbL00ffejU7tkpZsVh2lZ_HP4Up3iY3KRbF22plqVvQ3xn6lhRYbp5U08VLt5dXewz7g/s1600/the_kite_runner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ3Fmb27By4Br1QulpMTG6v6WCiN7Fy4x-8sDnVpCi5foKTJu4HqMbf6nksMDpsMwp622tmBYlbL00ffejU7tkpZsVh2lZ_HP4Up3iY3KRbF22plqVvQ3xn6lhRYbp5U08VLt5dXewz7g/s320/the_kite_runner.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Here is the synopsis taken from Khaled Hosseini's <a href="http://www.khaledhosseini.com/hosseini-books-kiterunner.html">website</a>:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> <em>Taking us from Afghanistan in the final days of the monarchy to the present,
The Kite Runner is the unforgettable, beautifully told story of the
friendship between two boys growing up in Kabul. Raised in the same household
and sharing the same wet nurse, Amir and Hassan nonetheless grow up in different
worlds: Amir is the son of a prominent and wealthy man, while Hassan, the son of
Amir's father's servant, is a Hazara, member of a shunned ethnic minority. Their
intertwined lives, and their fates, reflect the eventual tragedy of the world
around them. When the Soviets invade and Amir and his father flee the country
for a new life in California, Amir thinks that he has escaped his past. And yet
he cannot leave the memory of Hassan behind him.<br /><br /> The Kite Runner
is a novel about friendship, betrayal, and the price of loyalty. It is about the
bonds between fathers and sons, and the power of their lies. Written against a
history that has not been told in fiction before, The Kite Runner
describes the rich culture and beauty of a land in the process of being
destroyed. But with the devastation, Khaled Hosseini also gives us hope: through
the novel's faith in the power of reading and storytelling, and in the
possibilities he shows for
redemption.</em></span>Laura Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17165700659874093849noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2983270705805929763.post-4855119646188183032012-08-05T20:37:00.003-05:002012-08-06T05:19:47.578-05:00Carry On Tuesday #167<span style="font-size: large;">"All the world's a stage", Lyla breathed to herself as she walked into the office. She merely had to pretend she wasn't rattled by the impending interview. Everyone had to go through one of these more than once in order to get a job, but Lyla still felt nauseous at the thought of having to answer why she belonged at Moulton Inc. She drew in another breath and tried to fall back on her four years of college training as she took a seat. She quickly fixed her eyes on a crack in the wall so as to avoid being intimidated by her competition occupying the tiny lobby.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Miss Lyla Fisher?"
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Her mouth went dry, but she quickly placed a confident smile on her face. "All the world's a stage", she repeated to herself as she rose with her head held high and entered the manager's office.</span>Laura Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17165700659874093849noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2983270705805929763.post-64600859700603633012012-07-28T22:52:00.001-05:002012-07-28T22:52:40.172-05:007/21/12<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">image from <a href="http://www.weheartit.com/">weheartit</a></td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I thought my dreams had died</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Sometime during the night</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But when I awoke</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I found them very much alive</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Flying over me</span>Laura Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17165700659874093849noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2983270705805929763.post-37279556953666413522012-07-07T22:22:00.000-05:002012-07-07T22:22:41.327-05:00<span style="font-size: large;">6/13/12</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Are two</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Parts that I've</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Yet to figure out</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">One</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">In which</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">You love me</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And don't hold back</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Another in</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Which I am</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Just a second choice</span>Laura Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17165700659874093849noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2983270705805929763.post-72308625173235433012012-07-05T22:56:00.000-05:002012-07-05T22:56:49.553-05:00First Birthday!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeq9nAgoahv3xfxgYN6s0YLar4zAo4fMBizQ4UyWgDwevMGJi0GaWHUZnvp9M57A44qLFY9kqJcW7BLeZDFvoZ2iuJhhyphenhypheneVvN1RxqPOXw1ptTyD_xyA14xP7-hD3bJYXUACTwzQ2OVRI/s1600/fireworks_celebration.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBeq9nAgoahv3xfxgYN6s0YLar4zAo4fMBizQ4UyWgDwevMGJi0GaWHUZnvp9M57A44qLFY9kqJcW7BLeZDFvoZ2iuJhhyphenhypheneVvN1RxqPOXw1ptTyD_xyA14xP7-hD3bJYXUACTwzQ2OVRI/s320/fireworks_celebration.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">image from <a href="http://www.weheartit.com/">weheartit</a></td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Today's the day! <i>Paper Thoughts</i> is celebrating one year of life! To be honest, I had forgotten about this very important milestone in a blogger's life until about three days ago, so I don't have anything special planned. I do want to take a moment though to say thank you to everyone that has made this year so much better than I ever thought it could or would be.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> First up is Gill Harrison from <a href="http://www.inkpaperpen.blogspot.com/">Ink Paper Pen</a>. Gill was the very first person to visit my blog and leave a comment, and I won't ever forget how encouraging that was, especially since I was still being a Secret Squirrel (as Gill likes to call it) about my writing. I had never showed anyone my writing besides my sister, so putting it out there and receiving a comment from a writer like Gill was major. Also, thanks to her blog I was able to have my first experience with a supportive writing community, and met lots of cool cats who helped my blog grow. Thank you Gill!!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Next is the lovely people who keep <a href="www.http://poetryblogroll.blogspot.com/">Poets United</a> alive. I didn't feel like a poet when I first joined this amazing community, but all the support and words of encouragement certainly make me think I am! Thank you so much for hosting a place for us to share our poems, and for all the work that you put into the daily posts that help us in our writing!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> And where would I be without my readers? A special thanks to <a href="http://abinsliteraryworld.blogspot.in/">Abin</a>, <a href="http://everydayamazin.blogspot.com/">Grace/Heaven</a>, <a href="http://www.mikapiensa.blogspot.com/">Mikhael</a>, <a href="http://www.inthecornerofmyeye.blogspot.com/">Mary</a>, <a href="http://peopledonteatenoughfudge.blogspot.com/">Sarah Mac</a> who encouraged me in my early days, and last but not least <a href="http://stardreamingwithsherrybluesky.blogspot.ca/">Sherry</a>. You all brighten my blogging days. Thanks a million for stopping by every week to read my work!!!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> This final thank you is for the two people outside the blogging world who had a hand in getting me to where I am today. A huge, huge thank you to my sister for making me learn how to write a proper five paragraph essay. Without that, I never would have made it into Mrs. Stanley's English 1 Advanced class. Before I go on to thank Mrs. Stanley, I also want to say thank you for the oodles of encouragement that only sisters know how to give! </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Ah, Mrs. Stanley. I remember the day I had to write a poem for her class, and consequently had to give my previous failure another go. If not for this assignment, I never would have pursued poetry. A huge thank you for always pushing me and believing that I could do better. Since then, English has been my favorite subject. I won't ever forget that class!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Thanks to everyone that has joined me on my writing journey! You all have made this year incredible!! Here is some delicious Batman (my hero!) birthday cake for you :D.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGWWDZOdbXCtO8tJRynDEp5Yd7-M_HewjYqgspvTq6vTKbHpGLvu3wOTk4gtmM5TC9uAG8soJp22p05sG6IVyUaUuKaw8YUrYrPjf1xA_SUvu55N1SvC6k67Lz83MDaMU80GmYlrDZUk/s1600/batman_cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheGWWDZOdbXCtO8tJRynDEp5Yd7-M_HewjYqgspvTq6vTKbHpGLvu3wOTk4gtmM5TC9uAG8soJp22p05sG6IVyUaUuKaw8YUrYrPjf1xA_SUvu55N1SvC6k67Lz83MDaMU80GmYlrDZUk/s320/batman_cake.jpg" width="221" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>Laura Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17165700659874093849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2983270705805929763.post-11376359269339309472012-06-30T15:11:00.000-05:002012-06-30T15:13:23.944-05:00<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSyOsAgKT6-CLpSmdKfib-gxlGWDCiI7I1NKQQcUY7H7iMNS7TSkV7OO2SrM3Tapago3ckRt_bM4gO_tn6bMpaALOO0TNz8EuvuTxwaUbw5e0gRTnWVc7S3EsfKeU8FHKb-Y-9qcMtU3E/s1600/poem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSyOsAgKT6-CLpSmdKfib-gxlGWDCiI7I1NKQQcUY7H7iMNS7TSkV7OO2SrM3Tapago3ckRt_bM4gO_tn6bMpaALOO0TNz8EuvuTxwaUbw5e0gRTnWVc7S3EsfKeU8FHKb-Y-9qcMtU3E/s320/poem.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">I don't feel sorry anymore</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Because I finally found</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">The courage</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">To set my dreams free</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">From my crumbling wall of</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Disappointments</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And the things I don't need</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Were lifted off their wings</span>Laura Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17165700659874093849noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2983270705805929763.post-20871814395412893132012-06-17T00:57:00.002-05:002012-10-04T21:52:31.773-05:00Waiting<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
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<span style="font-size: large;">A simple haiku for the OSI prompt <i>waiting.</i> Join in or read the other contributions <a href="http://www.onesingleimpression.blogspot.com/">here</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXh0Hu6ODEWalOL2r3QKljpoqa5Ea71WTta31g9lv16jHpdFnP_Jmud0HNjL4y9ZfdPC11llofWKJOicR_r8THQQUD3x016hyphenhyphendfvigwp-PbB4y4gHyET3WwyleQAIaBXCZ3I6CC90f_fw/s1600/time_clock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXh0Hu6ODEWalOL2r3QKljpoqa5Ea71WTta31g9lv16jHpdFnP_Jmud0HNjL4y9ZfdPC11llofWKJOicR_r8THQQUD3x016hyphenhyphendfvigwp-PbB4y4gHyET3WwyleQAIaBXCZ3I6CC90f_fw/s320/time_clock.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">image from <a href="http://www.weheartit.com/">weheartit</a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br />One minute in time<br />Can seem to last forever<br />When you are waiting</span></td></tr>
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Laura Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17165700659874093849noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2983270705805929763.post-63432031232410082822012-06-08T23:28:00.000-05:002012-06-08T23:29:12.998-05:00<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi46qMsSTOhj9A1lJLdh9oFPIgKgCHyP7MrSU-PSDZHBDWQLCD17aXuwPjChreSR7z2iDoDnbRxMZpYuHTJHPzD4cxx6i65a_-MoYp00s6YKAoiP2Wk3p7xeIlpBhmpE25tDU6Lts3CTzA/s1600/snow_umbrella_alone.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">image from <a href="http://www.weheartit.com/">weheartit</a><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Aren't you afraid</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Of the cold</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And walking alone?</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Of getting old</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">And never having grown?"</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Sometimes I am</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">More than afraid</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Even</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">But standing still</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">Terrifies me more."</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Laura Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17165700659874093849noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2983270705805929763.post-26442204476530251642012-06-08T23:14:00.001-05:002012-06-08T23:28:33.166-05:00"Let the beautiful stuff out"<span style="font-size: large;"> To say that I'm out of touch with the of-the-moment happenings of the world is a huge understatement. I don't read the news (which I realize is terrible...no sarcasm intended), I don't use the social media, and I dont watch TV. So for me to just now find out that Ray Bradbury, one of my favorite authors, has been dead for three days shouldn't surprise me, and yet it does. People with a mind like Bradbury's don't inhabit this world in spades and it makes me sad to think that he's gone.</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMTG0UysWes-TbPuYoedPjbALw0jHLi-YDu8IXVcjhOOYwWhfRVn-K5C86z8WDFVit6S1SCkTd8aSFYwQ8zBTxWWuNKluUMQac2_XOjFDY2dkyjI9T75suz8TeiaQDAGiY5jIr7my5lI/s1600/ray_bradbury_quotes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZMTG0UysWes-TbPuYoedPjbALw0jHLi-YDu8IXVcjhOOYwWhfRVn-K5C86z8WDFVit6S1SCkTd8aSFYwQ8zBTxWWuNKluUMQac2_XOjFDY2dkyjI9T75suz8TeiaQDAGiY5jIr7my5lI/s640/ray_bradbury_quotes.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">image from <a href="http://www.weheartit.com/">weheartit</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Laura Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17165700659874093849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2983270705805929763.post-8783883391486786172012-05-12T20:44:00.001-05:002012-05-12T20:44:55.999-05:00<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3eAh8rBwo9Rcmta9pu49ZaO7Z0pQDc-fKil-XXSTqcnzlHlixyojuKeQ1lRwWXu2UzOX9gekGZe-fxdWkQnmZumwxt2iGV-I1yWdGfy4Oia-pBSLdb80frqmtKEw492DjSrIrTBGYjdY/s320/love_sunset_girl_trees.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">image from <a href="http://www.weheartit.com/">weheartit</a></td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Let your love go free</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">That I may learn to grow</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">And don't cry for me when I've gone</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Because someday I will return </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">To find our seeds</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">Have become beautiful flowers</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div>Laura Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17165700659874093849noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2983270705805929763.post-43988940244239422862012-05-10T18:33:00.001-05:002012-05-10T18:33:45.325-05:00<span style="font-size: large;"> Ah it's good to be home! Home, of course, being this little corner of the world where I have the privilege of sharing my work :). I've been busy with preparations for my graduation and working out the next step. I'm excited and nervous, but I suppose I'm not the only one.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> Besides being really busy, I caught some sort of infection that left me like this:</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMRv87LgGTzJqoyIN-nw82C3C1j-e8D5IOZemltBEcylCwUfWO_qqZO_110w3nB69UyIsXXmfvjlPBbJTjbAZBr8VvYV_U3awiY-g2RCuq1SCmToXoFbtKSi1prVNiPMMODjPjEHHkG8/s1600/tangle_emotions_life.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuMRv87LgGTzJqoyIN-nw82C3C1j-e8D5IOZemltBEcylCwUfWO_qqZO_110w3nB69UyIsXXmfvjlPBbJTjbAZBr8VvYV_U3awiY-g2RCuq1SCmToXoFbtKSi1prVNiPMMODjPjEHHkG8/s1600/tangle_emotions_life.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">I'm in the recovery process but I'm not quite to the peachy stage. According to the doctor all I needed to cure my fever, headaches, and general discomfort was some sleep.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> I've missed writing poetry in all the mayhem and visiting everyone in the Poetry Pantry. I think of you every Sunday even if I'm not linking up! I have a couple of poems that managed to get written in all the shuffle so hopefully I'll join in this Sunday.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>Laura Mariahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17165700659874093849noreply@blogger.com0