A Plum(b) Line to the Centre

Leading to the center

is a plumb-line of plums,

purple skins dusted with white bloom.

 

Plum(b) me a line and I'll follow it forever.

As I pace the path I pick up a plum

and sink my teeth into its soft flesh.

 

I go alone to the center,

following the path

to the dot marking the spot

where it all stops.

 

The center is this:

when you come to it

even one tiny step more

will take you beyond it.

 

 

Copyright © 2016 Ann Tudor
Blog1: http://www.fastandfearlesscooking.com

Blog2: http://www.scenesfromthejourney.blogspot.com

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/InfallibleNana

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Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00JI4758O

 

 

The Introvert Goes Out

Being mature and pretty much civilized by now, I no longer do this. But for many years I never went to a party without a book in my purse, just in case.

 

Sometimes I had no need of it and let it remain nestled at the bottom of my owl-trimmed hippie tote bag or crammed

into a fancier, more delicate handbag—depending on the type of party.

 

But what comfort it gave me to know that I could retreat if I had to. I could find a corner and blot out my feelings by immersing myself in, say, Jay Gatsby's disastrous attempts to manage his own social life.

 

The dangers of a party were twofold: No one would love me (by which I meant no one would find me interesting enough to talk to). Or someone would be drawn to me but would be the wrong person and I wouldn't be smart enough to know the difference.

 

The solution, which took decades to emerge, was to recognize finally my own worth and not to look for it in others' eyes. Now I can attend parties without a book.

 

Well, maybe a Sudoku or two tucked into my pocket, just in case.

 

 

Copyright © 2016 Ann Tudor
Blog1: http://www.fastandfearlesscooking.com

Blog2: http://www.scenesfromthejourney.blogspot.com

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/InfallibleNana

FB: https://www.facebook.com/fastandfearlesscooking

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00JI4758O

 

Half-Answered Prayers

How can you ever tell if a prayer's been answered—

whether half-ly or wholly?

 

First, there's the time factor.

No one says an answer has to be immediate.

And by the time the answer arrives

(in whole or in part)

you may well have forgotten asking in the first place;

thus you don't recognize it as the answer.

 

So that's the time factor.

 

And then there's that other element:

the answer may not be what you expected.

May, in fact, be "no."

So although it is an answer,

you don't recognize it as such.

And thus you might doubt the efficacy

of your prayers.

 

But prayers are not in vain,

for the answers are not the point.

Whenever you marshal your feelings

and thoughts and dreams and needs

and wishes

(your prayers, in short, for yourself and others),

you send the message to the Universe:

I am here. I see. I am listening.

I am paying attention.

 

 

Copyright © 2016 Ann Tudor
Blog1: http://www.fastandfearlesscooking.com

Blog2: http://www.scenesfromthejourney.blogspot.com

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/InfallibleNana

FB: https://www.facebook.com/fastandfearlesscooking

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00JI4758O