Flights of Fancy: A Book of Poetry, Prose, and Imaginative Short Stories - Softcover

Bland, Bernadette

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1450284523 ISBN 13: 9781450284523

Publisher: iUniverse, 2011

Synopsis

Life is filled with emotional highs and lows. Riding the wave of this experience is part of living, but for poet Bernadette Bland, dreaming was even more important. No matter the attitude, mood, or circumstance, Ms. Bland has always believed in the beauty of life. Never to be deterred from her heart's desire, she has ridden her own life wave with an eye to her dreams and an eye to the beauty of nature.

In her new poetry collection, Flights of Fancy, Ms. Bland shares her imagery with the outside world. She delves into the lavish splendor of nature in "Drifting Grace: God's Art Show." She peers behind the protective mask of a weeping clown in "Behind the Mask." She recalls watching her mother slowly grow old in the poignant "Mama." In all her words, she reveals her deepest yearnings and fears with selfless honesty.

Flights of Fancy is an example of an imagination set free. Ms. Bland fills her poetry with wonder and will leave you longing to step out into the sun. She is not afraid to depict the sometimes traumatic rollercoaster of life; yet she encourages us to move on, move up, and not look back. Within every word, she calls to the reader, challenging each one of us to never stop dreaming!

About this title

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Flights of Fancy

A Book of Poetry, Prose, and Imaginative Short StoriesBy Bernadette Bland

iUniverse, Inc.

Copyright © 2011 Bernadette Bland
All right reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4502-8452-3

Contents

Introduction........................................................xiDrifting Grace: God's Art Show......................................1The Sea.............................................................2Sound Reflections...................................................4Mama................................................................5Memories............................................................6Forever Cherished...................................................7Wind Speak..........................................................8God's Handwriting...................................................9Princess Maddy Grace................................................10I'll Huff and I'll Puff.............................................12God's Glory.........................................................13Behind the Mask.....................................................15Intrusions: Seeking Solace..........................................16Pals................................................................17Ancestry............................................................18Spirits Rising......................................................21Rejuvenation: A Point of View from an Old House.....................23Friendships Rare....................................................26My Coworker Family..................................................27Patty's House.......................................................28Rebecca.............................................................29Lovin' Folk.........................................................30Ok'tober Nights.....................................................31Christmas Is Love...................................................32Reflections.........................................................36Jewels of the Night.................................................38The Road to Nowhere.................................................39The Ordeal..........................................................40Western Wonder......................................................42This One Night......................................................43Anger: An Irrational Mind...........................................44As Time Has Gone....................................................46My Lisa, My Daughter................................................47A New Home for Rose.................................................48The Valley..........................................................49

Chapter One

    Drifting Grace: God's Art Show

    The delicate bits of crystal lace,
    Feel them tickle as they kiss your face.
    Playful and lively, yet with artful grace;
    All nestle together and settle in place.

    Slouching in valleys,
    Adorning high peaks,
    Tucking close the stone walls,
    And frosting wooded creeks.

    Laying low the tree boughs
    And flattening tall grass;
    It makes caps for the rocks
    and ornaments window glass.

    The snow drifts, and blows,
    and makes cold your nose,
    which gives forth a rosy show
    Like an ember's glow.

    These crystals are a sight,
    So pristine and white;
    Dancing on breezes, so feathery light.
    Reflecting the silvery moon up on high,
    O' so bright in their dazzling night flight.

    More beautiful sights shall never be,
    Than this graceful wintry portrait
    That is painted by God for you and for me.


    The Sea

    Caught up in its omnipotence,
    the Sea can consume you.
    It can fill you with rapture ... or
    It can steal your life!

    Yet, on its gently lapping shores,
    Its hushed whispers soothe contentedly,
    Its fragrance transcending.

    Inspirational for far-off dreams
    And illusory planes,
    Its perpetual motion instills
    an unfathomable peace
    And a oneness
    with the power and nature of God!

Sound Reflections

The Beauty of Sound ...

in the thrilling strings of the violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman, the gloried fullness of a symphony orchestra; the silvered tenor notes of Josh Groban or Placido Domingo; the pureness and clarity of tone found only in the mellow notes of a wooden native flute; the infectious delight of a baby's laughter; the beautiful vocals of Barbara Streisand; the intensity of feeling in the unique music and words of Garth Brooks ... these are what set the imagination free to create a vision of one's own. The distinctiveness of their sounds inspires beyond the visual senses.

If there is ever to be one sense I must lose, I pray it not be my sense of hearing—a world of beauty one can ill afford to lose.

    Mama

    Through the eyes of memory I can see her there,
    In a crown of tawny gold and skin so fair:
    Seated by the window, brushing long hair,
    Watching us kids from her rocking chair.

    Then there was gray in that crown so fine,
    and delicate lines, now added with time.
    On and on she strove, seeming never to tire,
    Filled with energy untold like a blazing spitfire.
    The gray turned to spun silver, her step slowed with age;
    The fair skin's still a wonder, its texture unfazed.

    Then one day she lay quiet, her spirit ever gone.
    She was my sparkle in life, now my grief to mourn.

    The locket she gave, my heart's dearest treasure,
    A thought from her to cherish forever.
    To this very day her vivid memory lives, her loving within me,
    Was her gift to give.

    Dedicated to my beloved mother.


    Memories

    Snuggled on his lap,
    Held close in his arms,
    He sang me sweet songs
    Of "Endearing Young Charms."

    Safe and cozy for me,
    My own world to be;
    Cuddled near to his heart,
    From which I ne'er wanted
    to part.

    From him, all around
    Love did abound;
    From his heart, his eyes,
    His lips, and his mind.

    A tender touch, laughing ways,
    A crooked smile, and caring days;
    Reaping memories of poems,
    Stories, and songs ... for all of my days.

    For this daddy of mine
    forever will be a living image
    In my memory.


    Forever Cherished

    Cherished are we and the times we spent,
    Doing nothing in particular, going to no special event.
    Travelin' the road with kids in tow,
    A bag of fifteen-cent hamburgers, and off we'd go.

    Special times ... for just us two,
    Doing whatever we wanted to do.
    The beach, a drive, dinner on the pier,
    Spontaneous moments held, oh, so dear.

    These treasured memories keep love close;
    The intervening years have naught to boast.
    Impulsiveness and laughter, our time was free;
    Forever Cherished will be this sweet memory.


    Wind Speak

    The wind speaks in whispers while rustling playfully through a field of
    brilliant wildflowers.

    In banshee wails ... chilling and shivery
        On dark stormy nights.

    With icy shrieks forecasting the bitterest cold
        Of a frigid nor'easter.

    In gentle teasing laughter
        On a bright day in spring.

    Or in breathy, sensuous air drafts
        That waft the scent of sweet roses.

    With gusty howls of danger
        When nature goes array.

    In mellowed accents of cool breezes
        From ocean currents;
        Over dewy country farmlands,
        In mountain high meadows;
        Over rivers and deserts,
        And through wastelands, grasslands, and swamplands.

    The wind speaks of all of these,
        As only it can.
        Listen to it ... breathe it in,
        And you will know of its eloquence.


    God's Handwriting

    The stillness of the crystalline dawn
    Slips gently into day,
    Scattering star bright effervescence
    In a serene and godlike way.

    The shimmering, frosty landscape
    Captures tranquil beauty unrivaled;
    A glistening desert land of drifted crystal sand,
    Written in God's own Majestic hand.

    An artisan bold, He sculpts and He chisels.
    New fantasies He designs out of crusty ice drizzle;
    A mercurial visage, an ever-transient mirage.

    Then, at day's end,
    By the radiant glow of the high-risen moon,
    The diamond oasis sparkles;
    It reflects in exquisite wonder, a pristine lace comforter.

    Adorned in prism-like crystals,
    Such beauteous artistry can only be
    The handwriting of God, Creator of all that you see!


    Princess Maddy Grace

    She has hair of burnished gold
    and skin of cream ...
    soulful, dark eyes.
    She is a dream—
    Princess Maddy Grace.

    She's young and bright,
    having nary a fright,
    with a warm and friendly personality—
    and she is only three,
    Princess Maddy Grace.

    No one can be above her;
    To know her is to love her.
    For she will always be
    My beautiful granddaughter,
    And she is very special to me,
    Princess Maddy Grace.

I'll Huff and I'll Puff

A creature of infinite variation, the wind is one minute blustery; pushing people around with gusto; knocking over objects in his great zeal to show off his prowess; stealing hats and sometimes getting frisky with the ladies' skirts, causing them dismal embarrassment. Next, he plays cute and coquettish. He is as enchanting and amorous as any lover, rustling your hair and stroking your body with whisper-soft caresses; and sensuous though it may seem, it is but a façade. It is his greatest joke—to pacify and catch you off guard.

So, be forewarned. This blowsy fellow is more fickle than the blackest-hearted villain and can regress to spitefulness in the blink of an eye. Capable of turning a hundred and eighty out, he can become suddenly brisk—frigid even—freezing one out of his good graces!

He storms about in a foul temper, howling lustily in a demonic wail and profiling a macho display of undeniable and triumphant power. He sometimes lets his temper run riot, destroying all in his path, just to vent his senseless anger.

Finally, exhausted and mollified, he whistles quite a different tune. He breezes merrily about the woodland, making the trees bow and shiver in ecstasy to his lilting song. With great zeal, he tugs playfully at the clinging leaves that grasp precariously to their lifeline but soon find themselves giving in to his high-pressure tactics. He has them dancing and spinning in haphazard abandonment, thrilling to the wild rollercoaster course he navigates for them. They ride his currents as though rafting the raging rapids of a wild and endless river.

When least expected, our crafty friend is incredibly gentle; rippling mighty oceans ever so carefully, like grandma folding cream into her pudding and smoothly blending the ingredients for the finish.

The wind is all of these things and more. He can be a consummate friend or a mortal enemy, but, like him or not, he is a part of nature and here to stay. So, whenever you hear he's comin' a blowin' your way ... Hang on to your hat and run for cover!

God's Glory

The breeze's gentle caress washes me with a whisper of sweet breath, playfully teasing as it grazes by greeting the day. As I ramble along the sparsely traveled path this gorgeous spring morning, endless wonders are revealed to me. A tranquil stillness such as I have never before experienced ... heady fragrances of dewy flora ... pine musk ... rich, mossy earth ... and sweet grasses embrace me.

I am awed by the distant, shimmering mountains that undulate to a silent, sensual tempo in the misty vestiges of lingering dawn shadows ... not quite ready to acquiesce to the rising golden glory. Trilling birds create harmonious magic which rejuvenates my spirit and sends it soaring through blue heavens just peeking out from under night's dark shade, and the lowing of contented cattle echoes throughout the valley in the dawning of this new day!

God's glory? Who could deny it?!

    Behind the Mask

    The masked face
    of the clown. Does he
    laugh or frown? Behind
    his bright smile, is his mood
    up or
    down?

    His performance so
    jolly, the children clap
    in glee. He seems a free
    soul, but how do we know?

    If he cries, he weeps
    inside where no one knows
    he has pain to hide. But, if you see
    clear, you may find a tear;
    for within his heart, he is like
    all of us here.


    Intrusions: Seeking Solace

    Salty waves sob upon the frigid shores—
    Their perpetual motion a torrential plow in the
    Eroding sands and passage of time.
    My wounded soul is as denuded as these!

    Such is the torturous rage within my heart
    And the surging pain of hatred that engulfs me.
    When unbidden, the memories come crashing in
    Upon the frozen pebbles of my mind.

    Overwhelming, drowning, and dragging at me with
    Desperate, grasping claws ...
    Then ebbing away ...
    To settle once more between the ragged edges of raw,
    Torn emotion.

Pals

My friend and I share a great many things. In particular, we have lots of fun sharing secrets of the exciting, and oftentimes, bewildering events of our days, usually after all has quieted down for the night within the household.

Some secrets seem big and important, while others are small, insignificant items. But as her friend and trusted keeper of secrets, I hold them safely within, never to be revealed to anyone.

My friend is a twelve-year-old girl with raven hair that flows in waves over tawny cream shoulders. Dark brows and thick black lashes adorn a smiling face of deep-set eyes that flash with golden flecks. Her overall beauty is striking, and I am in awe that she chose me to be her secret pal. We've been together for the last three years and have shared the best and worst of times.

As for me, I am rather small of stature and demure, keeping mostly to myself. Though I dread being seen out in the open, I have been considered by those who have had the occasion to catch a glimpse of me as pretty. Being quite pale, in direct contrast to my friend, my peachy pink blends make me not so unpleasant to look upon, and I am noted for my reliability as a confidant.

In spite of how pretty I may look, I try to be inconspicuous and especially hard to find (with my friend's help of course), avoiding those who would seek me out for the secrets I hold. I guess that's why I'm always the one hiding in our games of hide and seek.

My friend alone holds the key to my inner secrets, and she shares hers with me. She is my true and trusted friend, and I ... I am her Diary!

(Continues...)

Excerpted from Flights of Fancyby Bernadette Bland Copyright © 2011 by Bernadette Bland. Excerpted by permission of iUniverse, Inc.. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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Edition details

• Publisher: iUniverse
• Publication date: 2011
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1450284523
• ISBN 13: 9781450284523
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 64