Day Three: A Horse-and-Carriage Ride

It feels almost as if I have been sketching my life with a graphite pencil lately. Intentions have led me to unravel the evolution of words within me. It feels good to simply write and enjoy the process.

And then reality hits: the more you write, the more inspiration you find, and then you write even the more. Inspiration to stand before a crowd and share becomes a thing. The motivation to submit to contests starts happening. The power to write more than just the one and set some aside for future books and submissions becomes your mindset. It’s great!

So here is my day three poem inspired by a recent trip I took to Cape May. The beauty of the place and discovering some of its history was awesome. Definitely hope to go back there sometime soon but for now, here is 1000 words to talk about my “Horse-and-Carriage-Ride.”

 

Horse-and-Carriage Ride

A fresh spring of words to say about

my horse-drawn carriage ride through monumental streets

It was as if a cathedral of lights

Encircled all around me

As we promenaded through the historical sites

The wind so strong that day, it would fly the perfect kite

History lurking in the wings

The spirit of the past echoing

Above the sound of the hooves of the horse

He walked with the striking elegance of a king on course

The air wrinkling my hair and making it dance

So I held onto the seatbelt tighter with my hands

Miles and miles through the streets

Down past the house museums and parked cars

To the beach where onlookers went to see the evening stars

As if there were an ekphrastic poem written in the sky

The sunset, so beautiful and coloresque, as it hit your eyes

And we gazed through the chordal measures of the evening tide

Suddenly soothed by the rays of the golden moonlight

Back on to the carriage to ride on through the night

Holding on to the desire to take an even bigger bite out of life

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Questions for the reader?  

 

What is a great place to go to capture the best sunset pic that you can imagine?

What did you think of my poem?

What was your last writing piece?  Please share your link.

 

Thank you so much for stopping by my blog.

Interested in reading some of my other works. I have a few self-published projects on Amazon. Please check out my Amazing Author Page at Amazon.com: Stephanie Jeannot: books, biography, latest update

 

You can always follow me on my Instagram page. I am constantly adding new posts of live events, performances and things of that sort at http://instagram.com/jnotemusic

April Poetry Writing Challenge

The earth has been revolving beneath our feet and here we are; the first day 

of National Poetry Month and Jazz Appreciation month.

I love both poetry and jazz. I could venture down any given thoroughfare, pivoting over 

my favorite jazz tune and I would be just in my nature singing it, as natural as cherry 

blossoms when spring comes into swing. 

Thickets hardly ever stand in the way of my desire to write a couplet in rhyme in my time when I feel the vibe, and it's in my design, READY to rain on a blank page.

As I stole glances at the sun peeking its way through the curtains of the night sky, it dawned on me that This brand-new season that has come upon us with this new set of 24, is a special month. 

I need to write more. I want to get into the swing of appreciating a musical genre and culture I really love. It's time to let my poetic voice ring-a-ling-a-ling louder than a Cynthia Erivo vocal belt. 

I mean, what is jazz anyway? It is poetry in rhythm. It is a metaphor for love. It is an onomatopoeia for life.

With that in mind, I decided to set myself on my own 30-day writing challenge, just to try to reframe my mind to focusing on completing a task and actually writing like I ought to. A poem a day with a jazz twist; something like a margarita with a twist of orange. I am celebrating both jazz and poetry through art and words, harmoniously. 

My 30 days of poetry have begun. I accept the challenge. I'm getting tipsy already. My first installment is here.  

The Soothing Sounds

 

A broad swathe of music wraps around my aching body.

It soothes.

It empowers.

Its waves exhilarate me.

 

My emotional tide waves are at high.

The jazz in me be-bops melodic sighs.

My tears fall when the music inclines.

A jolt of poetry vibrates 9.5.

 

My soul starts its dance atop the leather of congas.

It’s legs shuffling in a full-blown tantrum,

casually winnowing away from the discord notes,

and catapulting into a tri-tone.

 

Microgrooves of 78s.

Santana’s “Shango” and “What Does it Take.”

The sound of Samba invites me to dance and engage

I was clad in music which was a band-aid for my aches. 

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Now, here is an idea. If you are a writer and you want to join in the fun of writing and also the challenge of getting your thoughts out daily, join in this challenge. Let me know if you also will try to be consistent for the next 30 days, post it and send me the link. I'd love to read it. 

Also, tell me what you think. Would love comments, suggestions on how to improve, or just a hello to say that you stopped by.

Either way, thanks for reading.

Happy poetry and jazz month.

Peace! 

JNote

http://instagram.com/jnotemusic

POET Tuesday by Stephanie Jeannot

Every day is a day that is good to write poetry; especially if you are a poetess like me. But, today seems like an even more extra special day because it is Tuesday and Tuesday is designated as Poetry Tuesday and so, poetry is the game. Here are a few of the latest poems that have been seeping through my pores. I hope you enjoy. 

I Write

I was born as a poem written in a Fifth grader’s marble notebook

My lines were enhanced by a sword and shield and I turned into an epic

I started this romantic relationship slaying dragons and I was transformed into a song

The main soldier in the story became me when my song became a full-length production

You can watch it at a theatre near you and hear the words to me, the anthem

But wherever I am and whenever life spans, the poetry never dies

I still remain vivid and sonorous within the lines

And the words that breathe through are just fine

Because they are mine

I write

 

Full Hearted

Three pages to get you connected with your own id

Ego surpasses everything that went in

To the scribing times and writing blinds to get to this place

They told me not to read it back or edit, so I cannot erase

All I can do is let it out like a cry when losing face

I thought why not

Seemed like a good idea to give it a taste

And so one day I am there releasing

And other times, not in the mood

But they say to feed the hunger to use my thoughts for food

So I’ve been doing the program to release the artist within

And I’m reaching my hand like a back brush to reach the past of when a kid

And all I know it has rained forty days from when I first had started

Almost more tears than the bubbles of all the times I’ve farted

And I am doing it like a professional trash person; hurts discarded

So I can affirm my truths; I know them full hearted.

Open Book

She said what she felt like she never did before

She let out her muse and it happened more and more

She was open like a book and the test was happening

She was telling all the answers that nobody was asking

She thought it was the thing that was supposed to go on

She spelled out every word to each one of her songs

And never held in anything that could be kept as hush

She probably never considered the fact that she had talked too much

She went from writing her thoughts to a book to sharing them with an ear

She went from using her pencil to release her mind to becoming a mountaineer

She thought using her ropes was the answer to the journey she’d been on

She thought that maybe he had been the clear to her life-long thicket of fog

She never thought that is was wrong because she never had it once

She just started living life and gaining scars and cuts

She knew her wrongs and detours, falls and things that kept her from her climb

These were the things that made her block the world from her reminds

And though she fell into this ditch where she just simply lied

Each knee jerk reaction was another shock to come alive

She stood back up on her two feet again at 7:10

To a new light of inspiration and a melodic beat and it all happened when

She got the thread to gauge his eye to sew up her hem

He was the needle that poked her back to life again

 

 

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Thank you so much for reading my poems. If you liked what you read, perhaps you might enjoy one of my poetry collections.  

And Then There Was the Music: Musical Poetry Collection by Stephanie Jeannot

Pulchritudinous: The Poetry Collection

Follow my author page on Amazon here: Stephanie Jeannot: Amazon Author Page

Happy National Poetry Month

 It is National Poetry Month; a month I hold dear to my heart because I am a poet.

I started writing poetry in the fifth grade and then challenged myself to write 5000 words with which I would publish a book of poetry. And I did.

I write to clear my mind. I write to pass the time. I write when times are enjoyable and I write when I feel like I am walking blind.

Whenever I storm with ideas, I put my pen to the paper and scribe away. Sometimes it comes out as a poem and sometimes as a song. Then there are times when a short story is birthed out of my storming.

Some of my favorite moments is when I get carried away by poetic imagery. I find the art of writing poetry very enriching and a joyful experience. It is one of the reasons I pursued English as a major and my primary reason for babbling along. But enough of that; I want to get your feet wet with a sample of my writing.   

 

Line after line after line

By Stephanie Jeannot

I like to stay in my undisturbed space

When I’m cooped up at home

I like to head outdoors onto the grass

And sit there with my thoughts alone

I feel ecstatic when I can

operate creatively there

I add unto my eclectic repertoire

Fingerprints of truth

Stored in my mind among the wares

I’ve encountered people from all walks of life

That made contributions to my being

Some provided a layer of support

And some that brought winds of change

That made many moments disappointing

Still my mind goes spiraling forward

And I write in those allotment of times

Every release is a new beginning

Line after line after line

 

 

Thank you for reading a sample of my poetry. If you are interested, I do have a poetry book available of Amazon.com. I invite you to check it out. It is entitled  And Then There Was The Music: Musical Poetry Collection and an Essay 

 

Thank you for reading and happy National Poetry Month!

PEACE

"In My Quietude..." by Stephanie Jeannot

April is National Poetry Month. It is a month dedicated to celebrating the art of the many poets and poetesses in the world. 

My first experiences writing came in the form of poetic verse. I love to write and during this world crisis and in my quietude, I have found ample time to put my pen to paper and to just let my thoughts flow. 

I am sad that I have not been able to place my 2020 American Poets' Society National Poetry Month Poster on the wall of my classroom this year but I am happy to put some of my own poetry on to the wall of this blog and I hope that you will take the time to read it. This poem is entitled "In my Quietude"

In My Quietude

In my quietude

I have spent a good deal of time 

inside lately

The coronavirus has been 

attacking our livelihood lately

But I don’t take 

my blessings for granted

I still acknowledge and steward 

over each day that I am handed

Surely this COVID 19 

has shifted my thinking

I’m bombarded with so much news of it 

that has left me crippled broken

In my quietude, I wonder

How many can handle 

all this darkness with ease?

How can I truly operate 

through all of this in victory?

I don’t want to accept the idea 

that this is a losing battle.

This pandemic contagion has come 

and the earth it has rattled.

In my quietude, I have come to the conclusion that 

These are some of the darkest moments 

I have ever seen.

I’m affected by all the ambulance sirens 

and this shifting economy.

I can definitely say 

that I have been pierced with sorrow.

In the twinkling of an eye, 

I’ve lost so many that I won’t be able to physically embrace tomorrow

I am hoping that these dark times 

won’t sway my viewpoint of faith

I am praying that sooner than later 

this disease will get out of our way

I guess you can say with this quarantine 

I have quiet time dedicated to my thoughts

I am trying to overcome 

the circumstance of the coronavirus that haunts

The beat goes on 

even if I let the doubts of surviving take over

My hurts sting for the world 

as it continues to lose soldiers

In my quietude, I realized that 

I have faced many trials in my life 

but not like 2020

So many good times experienced 

stay frozen in my memory

I only hope to move from the empty cityscapes 

and get back on to non-virtual social track soon

I give credit to all my inspirers 

who keep me from totally being blue

And all the essential workers 

diligently working to save so many lives

And all the prayer warriors praying 

for healing over the world and for better times

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Thank you for taking the time to read my poem. I am a poet at heart and also have a few poetry books that you might find interest in reading. Please check them out here: Stephanie Jeannot's Author Page on Amazon

Pulchritudinous Poetry

Today is Poetry Tuesday and I am certainly in the mood for poetry for two reasons.

First.The writing prompt for today said to write a poem based on the first thing you see when you read this prompt.

The Second: I would lie to you if I did not think about sharing some poetry today after hearing the doorbell ring this morning and receiving a box which had my first published book with my name on it. 

It's a book of poetry and I am excited. I have been writing poems since I was in the fifth grade and this has always been a goal of mine. The book is entitled Pulchritudinous: The Poetry Collection by Stephanie Jeannot. I started writing these poems in my final year at college and I said that I would stop when I reached 10000 words. I reached that goal and finally, I got it published. 

  It is available on Amazon here:  Amazon.com

And so, with the heart for poetry in mind and also with the spirit of Halloween taking over my life today, here are a few poems that I would like to share. These are not found in the book as I wanted to share something different to get you into the mood of poetry. If you like them, maybe you would like my book too.

The Candy Queen

Halloween

Me the Queen

Trampling Leaves

Orange, brown, green;

Could you please

Candy steam

My basket please

For Candy Queen.

And up my sleeve

You’ve probably seen

My crown, my dream

Heaven’s pennies;

My dynasty

Door to door treats

Halloween Queen

Of the Candies

The Colors of Fall

I love the colors of the fall season

The beauty around is my smiling reason

As the trees grow bold and the streets get cluttered

And the cooler nights under thick blankets I slumber

I love the fall fashion long sleeves and boots

I always enjoy the young folks in Halloween suits

And the days fly by and Thanksgiving comes along

Black Friday shopping and malls play Christmas songs

But don’t get me wrong because this is about the colors

As I march down the aisles and the leaves start to flutter

So beautiful the nature of it and my why for loving fall

My heart beats for it faster than runners in NYC’s marathon

Thriller

Thriller, thriller night

Monster mash and orange lights

Haunted houses that make me feel fright

Nightmares rerunning in my mind through twilight

Ghost town and the pumpkin fest

Kids dressed as ghosts and in their Halloween best

Trick o’ treaters knock the dressed up doors right there

Even the house that looks abandoned that puts everyone in fear

Here comes the midnight and Michael Jackson’s song that rings

Zombies take the streets and start one-two-stepping

And the baskets full of candy that rot the teeth a plenty

Thriller night and goblins run the streets a fancy

Time Machine to the 1940s

I took a time machine back in time to the days

Where Ella took the stage and sang so unafraid

And I wore the best of threads with a rose in my hair

And there were dancers jitterbugging almost everywhere

And the jazz orchestra played a tune so sweet

That Ella’s scatting got me onto my feet

And my dress s swayed as I lindy hopped around

And the petals in my hair just kept tumbling down

And Dizzy played a mean solo on his trumpet there

And Bird did his thing as his sound charmed ears

And there I was back in time enjoying the music

And suddenly in walked Bud when I got the news that

If I didn’t get to the time machine in the next five minutes

I’d be stuck there forever and my time was to its limit

And though I didn’t want to part Ella blowing the crowd away

It was time for me to walk on out of there back to today

And I took the sound and let it linger while in the contraption

Back to where I started but with new satisfaction

I saw them live and true it felt like a dream

But what a beautiful culture with mine own eyes to have seen

(Speaking of Time Machines, I also have a tune entitled “Time Machine” off of my first album Finally JNote 
which I hope you’ll check out. 

You can find it on CDbaby here: http://bit.ly/2z1VVVD )

Have a fantastic day!