Memorial Day Writing Prompt - Be Inspired by Poetry

The writing prompt is a little different this Monday. I hope you won't mind my alluding to Memorial Day and posting the poem below as a reminder of those who have lost their lives in battle. If you would like more information on the history of Memorial Day and the subsequent selling of silk poppies, which was inspired by the poem below, please see an article, which I previously posted on the Novel PASTimes blog.

John McCrae wrote In Flanders Fields surrounded by war and suffering in France. In 1915, after a young friend of McCrae’s died, he performed the funeral in the absence of a chaplain. Prompted by this death, McCrae poured out his emotional response to what he’d been experiencing as a physician during WWI, by penning these words.

In Flanders Fields
            By
Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, MD 
Canadian Army

In Flanders fields the poppies blow   
Between the crosses, row on row,
   That mark our place; and in the sky
   The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
   Loved and were loved, and now we lie
         In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
   The torch; be yours to hold it high.
   If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
         In Flanders fields.

Writers can easily be inspired by such heartfelt, beautiful poetry. Today’s writing prompt is multiple choice: 

1) Write a poem about what Memorial Day means to you. 2) Use In Flanders Fields as a prompt to write a scene involving war. Or 3) Write a “thank you” note to those who have given their lives or served in the military.  

Use one or more of the above ideas and be inspired to gratefulness! And great writing!

Wednesday Whimsy - Interview with Jakearoo

Today, I am leaving my comfort zone *sigh* and interviewing Jakearoo Dog. Though I must say, he is quite a gentleman and often takes time to leave me comments, so I do consider him a friend. 

My Interview with: 

Jakearoo Dog! Woof!

Hi, Jakearoo Dog! Thanks for joining me today on Wednesday Whimsy.

Woof!  Hi, there Miss Lilybits!

How long have you owned your human?

I has had my Mama for 3.5 years now. I moved here after my skin dad died from a lung disease in Pennsylvania. He knew from reading my Mama’s blog that she liked fur kids, so he told me this would be a good place to live so here I am in Indiana now.

What’s the best way to train your human?

If you don’t practice ‘em dey will get lazy. I haz a ball in every room for exercize. I also good at doctorin’.

Here’s stuff ta do when yer Mama neez ta concentrate on her works so she won’t get bored an’ how ta helps her out:

·      Steal her empty water bottle and kill it by pushin’ it all ober da hardwood floor and makin’ loud killin’ noizez.

·      Choke on da lid so her jump up an’ play.

·      Eat yer food loud and make loud snortin’ dinosaur noises

·      Knock eberyting off da fireplace hearth and run around in all a it sending it hither an’ yon (don’t know what dat iz but Mom sez I do dat real good).

·      Play soccer wif her books an eat da page on global warming cuz it too cold to swim an’ I mad.

·      Play football wif her iPhone an’ chew on da case.

·      Jump on her lap and kissy face her berry hard an’ push my pawz on her chest

·      Lay on her legz so her can’t go nowhere durin’ my nap time.

·      Give her a paw massage all over her body when she’s lying down. (I know she likes this from all the different ways she says “Jake! Jake!”)

·      Slurp her ear just as she’s tryin’ to fall asleep. That way, you know she’s still breathing.

·      Hold da blankets down when she rolls over so she don’t move. Too much movement could cause her to over-exert herself. You don’t want dat.

·      Snore loud so she don’t feel bad snorin’ herself.

·      Help her eat by lickin’ da fork on da way to her mouth so dat she don’t eat too much.

I has a lot more tips, but that should get you started.

What does Karla write?

Well, she should write more ‘bout me, but her always writin’ ‘bout history and humor and hope.

How do you help her with her writing?

One thing I has to do iz make sure she playz a lot more so I bring her my slobbery ball or frizbie and put it on her laptop. I also sit on her lap and snore loudly so her haz background noise. And I make her let me outside and inside over and over for exercizin’. I also sit on her shoulder and fluff to keep her alert.

Any advice to other canine muses? How can we best help our writing humans?

Whatever you do, make sure you bark a lot and scratch on their office door if you hear the word “deadline.” I hear they like that.

Do you ever get in trouble for helping “too much”?

Mama locks her door on me, but I know how to do dat pitiful face wif puppy dog eyez. Foolz her ebery time. Woof!

Karla Akins is the author of The Pastor's Wife Wears Biker Boots and historical biographies for middle grades. She's also a pastor’s wife who rides her own motorcycle and the mother of four boys and one step-daughter, and the grandmother of six. She lives in North Manchester with her husband who is the pastor of Christian Fellowship Church, her twin teenage boys with autism, mother-in-law with Alzheimer’s and three rambunctious dogs. Karla and her husband have been in ministry together for 31 years. You can contact Karla for speaking engagements via her website at KarlaAkins.com

WEDNESDAY WHIMSY

The Life of a Muse

Depending on the mood I am in, I like to inspire Mom by curling up on her lap and going to sleep for at least an hour. This way she feels obligated to stay still and if she has her other laptop on hand, she just has to write. Of course I am her favorite laptop. Hee hee.

The other way I inspire is by being cute. This involves just being myself. I purr, look up at Mom with my big green eyes and tilt my head just so. Sometimes I stretch or arch my back a certain way or push my head under her hand for a good head scratching. How does this work? By showing off my cuteness, I inspire Mom to think of beauty and give her the desire to create beautiful things with words.

It’s not easy being a muse of sorts. It takes a long time to purr-fect just the right look, or the way I stretch out one of legs and lick my paws or act cute by wriggling on my back, half curled on the floor. That’s a difficult one.

Concerned that she is sitting too much lately, I occasionally get Mom to chase me for a good work out. Whether I am just being cute and want to play hide and seek in the house, or I dash outside, when the door is open a crack, to upset her, I get her heart pumping and more blood to the brain, so she can think more clearly and write even better.

Of course there are the ideas I plant in her mind, such as an entire series of novels with a mindreading cat as the main character. She just hasn’t taken me up on that one yet.

How is your feline friend or canine companion your muse? Leave a comment or follow this blog for a chance to win this month’s give away of a $15 Barnes and Noble gift card.