Bogaert and McLees, Living RV Poetry » Poetry

The Afghan, Share A Square

Marcia — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 02:59:13 +0000

The Afghan

Tucked gently
it brings warmth -
and timeless safety
from the cold reality
(of the moment).

They may need safety a bit longer

but,

watch them wear afghan capes in battle,
fly afghan flags of victory,

or

huddle beneath afghan tents
and shine flashlights
toward the ceiling
in awe at their created patterns
that rival stars dancing above
a dark country road

and

tomorrow they may just toss it aside

though first, I’d bet,

they will wear a crooked grin
and drape it over someone’s BIG cold feet
for what better way can one child thank so many people
than simply to spread the warmth.

Marcia McLees Bogaert
04/10/08

This poem was originally posted on my poetry blog, MeeAugraphie, in 2008, inspired by This Eclectic Life (Shelly’s) orchestrated drive to gather squares from crafters for her first Share A Square project to provide special afghans for children battling diseases who were attending camp.

Why am I sharing it with you on this blog, two years plus later?

Because so many of us (myself included to a point) may overlook that an afghan can be more than just something to keep cold from chilling bones… There is more to this project than just a simple afghan. These are special, the sheer number of people involved in EACH afghan alone is special, the tags, and the children’s delight in just those are enough in and of themselves… combined.

Those involved could get goosebumps…. the good kind.

If you are not familiar with it or this year’s drive to provide those afghans for children in three cancer camps, just click here for the FAQ – or look for her project on Facebook, Share a Square!

You will be so happy you did. And so will the children.

Note: updated to add link to Facebook!

Schedules

Marcia — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 01:45:30 +0000

Schedules rule most. I think the lure of RVing for some is not so much the travel – as the lack of a restrictive schedule. There is something to say for schedules though. I have taken the lack of a schedule to the extreme since I retired early years ago. Even now, having gone back to work for/with/beside Leon, I find it hard to make my schedule less flexible. I’ve made some attempts to incorporate a schedule in my personal life, but it always becomes just another list – something I thoroughly enjoy writing, but rarely look at again. You know, like the schedule I’ve attempted several times for my blogs.

My lists may as well be blank, but then I wouldn’t have the joy in writing them.

UNSCHEDULED

Uneven
Nuances,
Spontaneous
Chaos,
Heralded
Excitement,
Dulled
Urgency,
Lazy
Excuses,
Delightful!

36th Anniversary

Marcia — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 03:43:11 +0000

Sounds strange saying out loud how many years and I have been married. It seems like we have always been married – and yet it seems like it was … almost… yesterday.

!st Anniversary, waaaaay back then – in Key Largo, FL. Two exhausted belated honeymooners:

As some of you know, I decided a year or two ago that we would be married ninety years — we would only be one hundred and fourteen years old. I informed Leon of my decision, lol, and he agreed to go along with my plan. Assigning an end date to our marriage was not brilliant… so, I now add, “with option to renew”! Grin.

So far, so good. Day one of year thirty-seven was a good one.

We heard from the RV/solar tech! He should finish his work on Panoply this weekend. He had a family crisis – of the worst kind, and we told him to forget about our RV and use that time with his family. He did – and almost a full month later, he is one day’s work away from finishing the installation of our five (four new) solar panels, four new batteries, a controller, an inverter, etc. He is doing a few other items for us as well. It has been so long, it honestly, felt like we didn’t own an RV.

This put us way behind schedule – but humanity comes first.

(Listen up Hurricanes, we are not going to be ready to ‘run’ for at least another month. Too much more work to be done – and Leon’s clients have to take priority over building the slide out sofa bed frames, finding a sink and making it fit, and so on … and on… and on.)

May our days be filled with sun bright heart
our evenings lit by contentment’s glow
our nights silent in peaceful sleep.

Twitter, an Acrostic

Marcia — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:46:46 +0000

Tempted
Wrangling,
Insightful
Territorial
Twists,
Engaging
Repartee

MeeAugraphie
08/31/09

Originally posted on Twitter and MeeAugraphie, but since so many non-poets twitter, I wanted to post it here as well…. This is one of the few poems I did not write in real time, I started it weeks ago, didn’t like where it was going and today, tumbled across it and Muse decided to share her thoughts, guess she had dwelled on it in the recesses of my mind long enough.

Hopelessness Unveiled

Marcia — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 15:44:11 +0000

Hopelessness Unveiled

She sits alone
another dawn passed
another night approaching.

She no longer knows how to reach out
for her past attempts were rejected so often
her heart booted out
any hope for success.

He sits alone
another dawn passed
another night approaching.

He no longer knows how to reach out
for he never learned how
and those that reached for him met their demise
as did his hope.

But does not hope for them
lie now
with you and I?

MeeAugraphie
07/17/09

Time, it was, for poetry, for a reminder that we can make a difference to human beings around us by mere contact. And yes, it was as much a reminder to me, as to all of you. So easy for us to get involved in our own world.

Hide ‘n Seek, Rver Game

Marcia — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 17:01:54 +0000

Hide ‘n Seek

Rv fulltime
take your house
have fun

RV fulltime
take your house
and run

RV fulltime
a game of
hide ‘n seek

I want to
play along
seek t’ hide

Marcia McLees Bogaert
04/08/09

I read so many RVer blogs that speak of fun; that is their reason for blogging, to share the fun of the lifestyle, the interesting places they have traveled. As life is full of ups and downs, no matter life style or perceived success, I am sure there are others out there who combine that fun with run, whether from uncaring relatives, friends long gone, burnout, lifestyle unmet, relationships unsealed. That is what inspired this poem.

And then, there are those who are not running from, but to, another joy of life; a poem as yet unwritten – by me.

I’d even bet some ran from, then found it more fun to run to. Either way, the joy in travel, in discovery along the way can be fun. Win win, if you were to ask me. But don’t, bother:

I am still Washington bound and Florida tied.

Grateful? Good!

Marcia — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 17:06:49 +0000

One
Two
Three Four Five

Today I’m glad to be alive.

Six
Seven
Eight Nine Ten

Tomorrow I hope to be again!

MeeAugraphie
04/04/09

Numbers are running amuck in my head today, I woke up, told myself after yesterday’s serious poem, I wanted to be a bit more humorous. A number poem about a piñta formed – before I was even out of bed – so I typed it on my iPhone and emailed it to post later. You know it is short if I had to type it that way! The Chronicles of Sammy, One.

And, after writing a fun poem from the point of view of a “dog with attitude” in response to Poetic Aside’s animal prompt after coffee, the numbers shoved their way back into my head. (This is National Poetry Month, and poets, and even non-poets, are taking advantage of any excuse to write!)

So, let my quick poem stand as my Only the Good Friday post. (Yes, I know I am late again!) For you see Shelly’s meme is about writing about good, and not being snarky, at least, one day a week. Being grateful is good. Plus:

I allowed myself to start my day being who I am – and who I choose to be: a poet who writes primarily in rough draft.
The rest of the day, I am going to be a responsible adult and do what needs be done!

I won’t tell you it is already lunch time…

If you merely forgot to write about good yesterday or just need to hear it today, click on the button below, join in, or just read Shelly’s, then follow her links to other “Only the Good” posters! Smiles will rule the world!

Grateful? Good!

Christmas Tree March

Marcia — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 13:32:34 +0000

Christmas Tree March

Darkness fell early
as sky caved in,
the weight of consumerism
too much
that Christmas Eve.

Candles flickered,
then faltered
as stacks of
useless presents,
carelessly tossed beneath
well manicured trees,
sent numbed air
to suffocate their flame.

Electricity shut down
– to rest –
it would need
energy tomorrow
as trillions of kilowatts
surged a maze of lines
to feed toys, stoves,
TVs, and stereos.

Children whimpered,
used to bright lights
reflecting arms filled
with florescent packages
and sugar rushes.

Adults panicked
at thoughts of containing
chaos that would surely ensue
in the blackness of night
without light.

Four hours passed
and light flooded
earth:

Twelve chimes
followed by a stately
march of Christmas Trees,
each one proudly strutting
their color, but when seen from afar
they became a florescent rainbow.

Parents woke their children
Children grabbed their pets and dolls
to watch a march so rare
consumerism was forgotten

for the moment.

MeeAugraphie
11/28/07

Please, respect my copyright on photo and poem. Thank you.

Visit Writers Island to see how other writers react to the prompt, The Season.

Originally published in Tumbled Words exactly one year ago today.

Let Yourself Soar

Marcia — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 15:53:34 +0000

Let memories fly in that you are thankful for,
the day will bring sunshine
and new dreams to your door
… your wealth in smiles will allow you to soar….

-Marcia Bogaert

To Adulthood, short version

Marcia — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 17:53:38 +0000

I was born to be:

shy, by genes
enabled, by parents
a nurturer, by example
a writer, by need
a procrastinator, by nature
a therapist, by heart
a doctor, by aptitude
a teacher, by want
a brainstormer, by design

I became who I am:

by attitude
by birthright
by timing

and doing
or not.

MeeAugraphie
09/30/08