Some fun for Everyone – Horton hears a Tardis!

November 26, 2014March 3, 2015 / Penny L Howe / 13 Comments

I first wrote and posted this about a year ago, I hope you enjoy:

For all you “Dr Who” lovers – a bit of fun! 🙂

Horton Hears a Tardis

The day started out simply pleasant

In fact Horton knew it was great,

His favoritest meal

the bestest real deal

Was of course a nut full of plates! (actually it’s “a plate full of nuts” but then it wouldn’t rhyme would it. hello?)

*

Suddenly, Horton hears a strange sounding

and thinks to himself “Oh, no …

Not Whoville again?

They just would not send …

In fact, this time I’ll refuse to go.

*

But it turns out it wasn’t the Whoville

But rather “Dr Who” that arrived,

In his tardis he came

Horton hardly could blame

The Whovilles for who was inside.

*

And so Horton looked at the tardis

and then, of course at Doctor Who,

he said “no offense

And don’t think me dense,

but exactly ‘Who are you?’ “

*

And of course Dr. Who replied “Brilliant”

“What a capital elephant you be,

for though we’ve just met

You already get

The person, of course ‘Who’ is me!”

*

And Horton looked first at the tardis

And once again at Doctor Who,

Still shaking his head

and wished for his bed

replied one more time “Who? Are you?”

*

“Yes I am”, the good doctor responded

“And most happy to meet you am I,

If you really don’t mind

and would be so kind

We must wait for the Dalek to arrive.”

*

Now Horton, as you know is a thinker

Deep thoughts are really his forte,

But Doctor Who was a puzzle

And in a bit of a fuzzle

Horton knew not what to say.

*

And so Dr. Who told him the story

The Daleks were bad guys, he knew,

So Horton told them (Dr. Who and his companions) to stay

And they left the next day (actually it was longer, but that doesn’t rhyme either),

The tardis, the Daleks, and Dr. Who.

*

Well Horton was glad when they vanished

Back to whenever they were from,

Now when Horton listens

He’s not listening for a who

but rather the sound of the drums (spoiler).

(you’ve gotta watch the tv series to figure the last line out!)

*

For all you “Dr. Who” TV fans I hope you enjoyed this little bit of farce! I don’t claim to have the talent of Dr. Seuss, but this was fun to write.

Have a great day!

~ Penny

Not Just Memories – A Poem!

November 23, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 11 Comments

Not Just Memories

If all I had were memories
That would be fine with me
Or just a few mementoes
That I could go and see

But I have much more than this
How lucky I must be
For I have the day I’m living in
Created just for me

Thank you for the sunshine
Shining down so bright
Thank you for the moonbeams
That you share at night

Thank you for the heavens
Thank you for the lands
Thank you for this planet
Where you see I stand

Thank you for all of nature
The hills and valleys too
Thank you for the rainbows
And flowers filled with dew

Far too much to thank you for
My gratitude to you
Thanks for all you’ve given me
And yes my memories too

Penny

A Passion for the Written Word.

November 11, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 15 Comments

Whether you are a dedicated writer or an avid reader, it is passion that moves you.

For the writer it is the longing to write, his or her passion – to embrace the muse. For the reader of the written word, their desire – to be passionately moved by the words in some manner.

The following prose is a dedication to those who love to read and write, for it is a truth; you cannot truly have one without the other.

Passions From Within

There is that … in your words,

exciting passions from within.

Ethereal and gentle they provoke

a lingering, craving, longing, intensity

from the reader.

Your words move, readers slide into your words

lulled senses alive.

Honed words are your tools to be shaped.

Passion ignites –

endless and enduring from the written word.

Your passion for writing … to be shared with the reader.

Penny L Howe

A Writer’s Good Intentions!

October 24, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 21 Comments

Entry in my day journal this morning: Today is the day. I will finally complete the Inspirational Book for Women I’ve been working on for more than a year (Okay, a year and a half – really? It’s been that long? Oh for goodnes sake, it can’t have been that long? Sigh. That long!)

So today’s the day. I hope. Maybe. I open my Scrivener program (See? Serious intentions going on here!) and read through portions of the latest draft. I’m slightly intimidated because the outline I sent to the publisher (Who suggested I write this book, for goodness sakes!) and discussed, at length, with her (the one she approved) just barely resembles what I’ve actually written.

Another sigh, here. But I am writing in the method I feel will be the best way to achieve my personal goal with this book: To actually make a difference. Not just another self-help, you-can-do-it type of book, but one that stands alone because the reader identifies and connects with me, the author, and what I’m saying.

So, with the best of intentions, I’m going to finish this. Okay, right after I write this blog post. But then I am, for sure.

end of entry

I hope everyone is gearing up to have a great weekend! I’ll be writing, but still having a good one – take care of you,

~ Penny

Shadow’s Simulacrum – The Enclosure Of Our Cage!

August 26, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 16 Comments

We move about …

barely recognizable phantasm – illusionary spectrums.

We come upon a border where day dream and night dream blend together.

we pass through … Beyond life’s existence, perhaps …

Bright lights and black abysses combine mythological imaginings …

and truth. Raw experiences of life’s brutal passages midst temporaneous moments, the falling petals of life’s blissful sensations.

Woe be it then, to come upon this merging of selves.

Imagination, Thy tune be well played … As in the heavens so onto nether reaches.

Shall our voice be heard for that which becomes valued most …sweetness and caresses, those learned impassioned fingerprints smudged among frozen moments of time; although shared not lightly, introspective to perception.

Should we concern ourselves with the causation of sharing? Fearful lest there be understanding come at last into the mirage of our being, the root of perceived existence?

Traveling through endless corridors of life’s gained wisdom, do we admit defeat just prior to endgame or become empowered by eternity’s solution?

And do we deny the existence and ownership of the key to our individual, self imposed cage of containment – those rigidly manufactured, maintained and re-enforced bars of willful ignorance – so that no answers are required?

Yes, we do.

~ Penny L Howe, 2014

Hello everyone.

I’m frequently asked why I write what I write. Mostly, I write to inspire, motivate and inform, but every now and then, the Muse of “The Penny That I Am” gets hold of me and then I write for myself. This piece was written of a moment, where the need of creative thought formed this composition. I’m hopeful there was some small understanding and at least a bit of pleasure derived in the reading.

Thank you.

~ Penny

To Be … Not Who I Am!

May 30, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 11 Comments

Deus ex machina

When words become less than the sum of their parts.

When that which I read and write becomes copied, duplicated, downloaded, passed on, reproduced and SHARED in every conceivable format and platform, and when words drift together even as they break apart into smallest bits and pieces, micro particles drifting briefly through my consciousness; this turbulent confluence of everything makes me not more knowledgeable but actually – less aware.

My individual thoughts and creative energy become stifled. I find I lose reference points and meanings, all words are conjoined and absorbed into a streaming repetitious miasma of composition in which my individual say … my voice … is lost.

Is our communication technology, ‘so happily embraced’, a manifestation, tearing away at the fabric of creation even as it proudly proclaims itself as our new savior for instant todays and tomorrows.

Then what is this thing, this piece of machinery, this “Deus ex machina”? This wonder of man’s technology, making us no more than a multitude of multimedia byproducts, a consumable, accumulated, consumption of words in instant trending and streaming data.

And what of my me-ness? Your you-ness? Our original #ideas #essence #words.

Are they and we being swallowed up into a larger whole, no longer represented as unique individuals with our very own splendid originality?

But then if not – who are we?

* * *

So clearly, the muse was upon me. I hope you enjoyed my whimsy and a smidgen of irritation with various multimedia intrusiveness. Naturally I was not referring to any of my most excellent online friends, writers, bloggers, artists and photographers. After all we are above all those petty things! Of course! 🙂

Have a wonderful weekend, stay safe and take care of you,

~ Penny

Sunday Photo Fiction – The Trucker

May 5, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 17 Comments

The truck stood waiting. His tricked out, shiny and sleek, big rig, 18 wheeler. The engine had been idling and now was warmed up and ready for him to go on his midnight run to the city and then out into the far lying reaches of numerous small towns, delivering goods that wouldn’t be delivered if it wasn’t for him and his mighty truck …

… In the harsh light of reality’s morning sun, he rolled out of bed. After several cups of coffee and a quick breakfast he was on his way. Not in the 18-wheeler, but in a much more modest truck, picking up trash people left by the curbside each day.

Throughout the early morning hours he filled the back of his truck with the multitude of various unwanted things, finding (as usual) he couldn’t wait to return home so he could rummage through the discarded items. His price for removing the trash.

Photograph by Alastair Forbes

Amazing that one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. Inconceivable how many quality items he found and resold, adding to his “dream truck” kitty.

One day … one day he vowed, he’d have enough money to buy the truck of his dreams. To be a real trucker, to pick up and deliver cargo or “goods”. Being on the road – for real. Living the dream.

Until then he’d depend on his trusty little truck to get the job done. He was a trucker after all, even if for now – it was only in spirit.

But one day …

This is my entry for Sunday Photo Fiction. For more info. click here. Lots of great short fiction stories to check out or enter yourself. Lots of fun for everyone at Alastair’s Sunday Photo Fiction.

Have a great week ahead, keep working towards your dreams. Dreams do come true.

~ Penny

Children of the Stars – Shine Brightly!

April 24, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 20 Comments

I look up at the night sky, countless stars scattered across the vast heavens bringing peace to my soul, infinite and yet so beautiful!

Born of the planet Earth, none-the-less, I know we are all a part of the life force of our Universe.

Our Earthly existence may seem to matter not at all, within the eternity of the heavens above. And yet while we live, each of our “life lights” shine as brightly as a star.

No matter where, or who we were born as – doesn’t matter, our life flow sparks no less brightly. Our gender, age, race or beliefs, all a part of our earthly existence yet – equally – we are all of the same magnificent Universe, shining as brightly as the stars in our night sky. We are a part of the majesty of it all, you know.

In my heart and soul I am a child of the stars … as are you!

Remember this!

let none diminish your value or worth.

Feel free to shine as brightly as you wish.

After all, as a star child – it’s your destiny!

Thanks for stopping by, hope you’re having an excellent week and enjoying the beautiful springtime night skies. And yes, I admit I can spend hours laying on the grass staring up at a starlit night. I am completely fascinated by our Universe and the secrets it holds.

~ Penny

Happy 450th Birthday William Shakespeare!

April 23, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 22 Comments

The “Willy” most of us don’t know. Today he’d be a prolific world class blogger for certain.

William Shakespeare

Everyone knows of him, the famous playwright who wrote timeless words.

But the real man behind the words – a different story. Looking at historical documents dated no later than 1635 (The Tudor English kept everything documented) and written comments of people who knew him, he was a “gentle” man who loved life and people. He was warm, friendly, and outgoing. He was also practical and highly intelligent!

He left his town, Stratford, for the city of London. He left to become an actor.

He came to London during a time of great change in the world. Books were now available to the middle class (this was exciting and relatively new). In addition to books, Shakespeare’s London offered fresh and unique information and inspiration – people of many cultures from other lands – arriving daily.

It is easy to imagine that Shakespeare watched and learned from them all, crafting his own style of writing. A drastic change in how authors of that time period were influenced! Huge!

Much of his audience were gentlemen apprentices (who had also come to the city to earn their fortune) or (this was a surprise to me) the women of London.

The Elizabethan women had far more freedom and they took advantage of it. They were intelligent, curious, and playful – like their Queen.

Shakespeare knew this. He knew them. Again, one can imagine him being on stage viewing the varying emotions of those in the audience, especially the women. In one of his surviving epilogue he states …“If they smile and say ‘twill do” he knew the play would be a success.

These were the audience he knew and could relate to – and his words? The particular words he wrote … they were crafted for his fellow actors. He knew and felt what was needed (as an actor himself) to get the emotions out to the audience.

He used no rule books for the proper way to write. His education had been gathered from the many peoples and cultures around him during a time of great change! The Willy…you never knew!

Think about the many similarities happening today in the blogging world. A climate of change with merging cultures reaching out to one another sharing experiences and information. Shakespeare would have fit right in.

The Written Word – Yours?

So think on this the next time you post your thoughts, a photograph, a video, fiction writing or other. Who knows what influence you may be giving to future generations? Something to think on!

Thanks for stopping by, I hope your day is filled with discovery.

Penny

Writers Write – Right? A Promotional Post!

March 31, 2014April 2, 2014 / Penny L Howe / 9 Comments

That’s what we do! In whatever way we accomplish this – we write!

Promoting our written words can be much more difficult, so anything that helps to get the word out (ha,ha) is a good thing!

I was asked a little over a week ago to participate in a writer’s “blog hop”. If you have followed my blog for awhile you’re aware that it is with great infrequency that I engage in these activities. However, in an effort to further the writer’s cause, I’d like to thank Dee Strange for her invitation. This version of blog hop involves a 3-step process of participation.

Part A – answering questions, Part B – introducing the writer who invited you to blog hop, and Part C – passing it on.

Part A: Penny’s Q & A

What am I working on? With the patient support of my publisher I’ve been working (for over a year on an inspirational (achieving self determination) nonfiction book for women. In addition, I’ve been working on several fictional pieces.

How does my work differ from others of its genre? Well, the hope is that the inspirational book will actually make an impactful and positive difference, that it won’t become “just another reference book” to occasionally review, but something that makes an immediate difference from the first reading on.

Why do I write what I do? Because I love words and reading them. Because I like to create. Because I care.

How does my writing process work? I do my most creative writing early in the morning, or adversely late at night. Perhaps the stillness of those time periods has something to do with this. During the day as a thought or idea comes to me I will take a minute to jot it down, in a paper tablet or on my ipad. There are times when I can write for 3 or 4 hours and force myself to take a break before getting back to the written words. Other times my writing will be of short duration.

Part B – Introduce the person who brought you into the blog hop:

Allow me to introduce you to Delia, the writer.

Delia Strange was born in Aucklnd, New Zealand (north-west of Hobbiton aka Matamata) and lives in Brisbane, Australia. She wrote sci-fi stories in her teens, speculative horror short stories in her twenties (some were published), then put the writing aside for a little while and tried to act normal.

Normalcy didn’t work in her thirties so she resumed living in another world on the page instead of just in her head. Along the way she picked up her closest friend as a co-writer and together they mix all fantasy genres (science fantasy, urban fantasy, paranormal romance). In 2014 she began an indie-publishing project for her science fantasy Femme, and is blogging about the process.

Blog: http://strangewriter.wordpress.com/ Twitter: @strangewriter42 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeliaStrangeAuthor Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/13582300-delia-strange

Part C – Find 3 more writers to be the next blog hop participants and introduce them in your March 31 blog post. They will write their own entries a week after you (7 April) and then they will each find 3 people (for 14 April) and so it continues on from there. Promo your blog post as you see fit.

And here in Part C is where I, Penny, leave the script. When reviewing the fellow bloggers I’ve come to know in the last several years (online), I realized there were hundreds of them currently published or in the process of getting their first book “out there”. It was impossible to choose only 3 from among them.

What I would like to humbly suggest is – those of you who fit either of the above “published or about to be published” categories, are encouraged to participate in this blog hop. Follow the directions above and please reference Delia Strange as the writer who encouraged participation in this promotional and self help event.

Thanks for reading, hope your week has started out well for you,

~ Penny