tic toc
pile of clothes await
A new home
tic toc
nagging cold impedes
still so much to do
pile of clothes await
pain of choosing
wisely
A new home
bathing suit and sunscreen
Mounted on wheels
© Tournesol ‘18/07/08
Poetry ~ Waka
tic toc
pile of clothes await
A new home
tic toc
nagging cold impedes
still so much to do
pile of clothes await
pain of choosing
wisely
A new home
bathing suit and sunscreen
Mounted on wheels
© Tournesol ‘18/07/08
I have not been writing for quite some time. I find it more difficult writing on my iPad even if I purchased a few keyboards. It is just not the same as a laptop. I wanted to purchase a Mac Air but I have spent so much lately. My trip to Mexico for my son’s wedding, clothes and wedding gift…so I thought since my 8 yr old laptop died, I just wanted a very light weight and inexpensive, so I bought a Chromebook Asus. Perfect…hardly any memory at the price I paid but I don’t need any since I save everything on my cloud .
I am quite pleased with this purchase among many other clothing purchases I have made all ON SALE! My mother educated me well on sales [chuckles] I could not help but think of her especially when I was shopping at Taylors which was one of her favourite stores. There are only 5 in Quebec…four on the South Shore and one in Granby, in the Eastern Townships. I went across the street to the Mall to get one dress for the brief wedding ceremony performed at Fort Chambly outside by a Notary because the legal marriage cannot be done in Mexico. It was just the immediate family and so lovey at the Fort on a glorious sunny day and the pictures of the rapids made it even more special. My children were raised in Chambly so it made it even more special they they chose this spot.
So back to my shopping. I went downtown in Montreal two weeks ago and found some tops and pants but I was not really impressed. I knew there were a few items at Taylors I wanted but found it too expensive. Already one dress was above my usual spending budget. Anyway I decided to go the first Taylors that is in Saint Lambert. Little did I know that the summer sales had begun!!! So I purchased two outfits and one is definitely the dress I will be wearing at the wedding ceremony in Mexico,
This heat has not been easy this past week though. In fact, our offices’ AC was not functioning properly and working at 30C is not easy especially since we work on a crisis line…comfort is certainly appreciated. Even more appreciated was that the supervisors understood and management shut down the offices in Montreal for two days so our other centres had to pick up the slack. I felt bad for them though.
Today I woke up nauseous from a migraine and fighting a head cold. It took a few hours before the migraine meds kicked in and I walked to the drug store to pick up some things for my trip. I sure hope I don’t have a problem with the food…I know, I know, I heard not to drink the water and peel fruits before eating. I had food poisoning three weeks and my tummy is still sensitive. All my meals have been based on white rice or quinoa. Good think I love rice!
I played around with my laptop when I got back to download a few apps and the time just flew. By nine o’clock, I finally had sup’, which was my first meal of the day. (I don’t eat much when I have a headache). I do prefer eating later though, so I don’t much all evening…well, not as much.[she chuckles at her own joke!]
And that is what I have to say in one stream of consciousness for this week’s prompt at Linda Hill’s Saturday’s Stream of Consciousness which is “sup”.
© Cheryl-Lynn ‘18/07/07
Written for Linda Hill’s Saturday Stream of Conciousness
She arrived at work over two hours earlier than usual since she had appointments in the morning. Taking her time to settle at her workstation, she fires up her computer and decides to listen to some music on Youtube. This week is the Montreal International Jazz Festival and what better occasion to listen to jazz.
They were entering their first heatwave, so she started by listening to Summertime by Ella the Queen of Jazz and Soul along with other versions getting her acquainted to more singers and musicians. She vacillated from older masters of Jazz to today’s artists allowing the music to of another time carry her…
For the past few years, I am so mesmerized by this singer.
swept away
Coltrane whines mournfully
recalling another time
swept away
Unforgettable lines
crooned by Cole
Coltrane whines mournfully
piercing deep
into her soul
recalling another time
replaying over and over
Who’s Sorry Now
©Tournesol\’18/06/29
Daily Moments – Jazzy afternoon (troiku)
Who’s Sorry Now (A Cherita)
music brings her back seeing her heartbroken mother for months
coming home after school
remembering on the darkness with shades pulled down
hearing the sobbing voice
Connie Frances moans over and over and over
that unrelenting turntable
©Tournesol ’18/06/29

Today we honour my mother,
birth of a special angel
now she flies above the clouds
always near
to those that hear
echoes of her laugh
&
When I visit her house, it takes me back so long ago
playing back different stories
some are sad, some are joyous
sitting by the river bank
see the water lapping
ripples of her laugh
&
our very first encounter in the bedroom by the riverside
born one wintry night
in a hurry for her arms
lapping up all the love
my mother and her mother and her father too
my father and my sister
&
rocking on my shaky heels
waiting for the sun to rise
glistening on the water
memories with my sister
sleeping by the river
sun awakening our dreams
©Cheryl-Lynn’18/06/22


a day to cheer
Happy Birthday, Mom!
missing you each day
a day to rejoice
having you in my life
gift of your embrace
Happy Birthday Mom
celebrating memories
touching many hearts
missing you each day
treasuring each dream filled night
visits from you, Mom
©Tournesol’18/06/22

In honour of National Aboriginal Day – June 21 2018
BEATING TO THE DRUMS ( A TROIKU)
moved
by the flames
heart of a nation
moved
stories retold
by their elders
by the flames
dancing ‘round the campfire
echoes of their songs
heart of a nation
beating
to the drums
©Tournesol ’18/06/21
Tournesol is my nom de plume – Cheryl-Lynn Roberts
It is a special week this week. June 21st – Summer Solstice, as well at National Aboriginal Day – and my mother’s birthday June 22nd…to me also means honouring her life.
mesmerized
all night long
by the flames
mesmerized
looking out towards the sky
shooting stars
all night long
once upon
a summer solstice
by the flames
your eyes dancing
melting my heart
©Tournesol ’18/06/20

Nature’s friend
Savouring fragrance and calm
On a blossom
An interlude
Away from the cacophony
© Tournesol’18/06/10
Written for HaikuHorizons’ prompt: friend & load
With mute compassion
Listens to her unburden
Defines a friend
With mute compassion
In the name of the Father
Hears our confessions
Listens to her unburden
Embracing her in her arms
Whispering, “There, there.”
Defines a friend
intrinsically
Knows when she hurts
© Tournesol ‘18/06/10
I saw a post today on facebook that truly spoke to me. It said:
“Don’t bother walking a mile in my shoes, that would be boring.
Spend 30 seconds in my head and that will freak you right out!” (c) Me vs my Inner Bitch
It is amazing how much goes on in one’s mind when it is idle. Have your ever noticed that? Of course you have! I wonder if women think more than men? I guess that may not be a gender thing either but how much one worries and others take life more in stride, I guess. Here is an example of a sixty something lady getting ready for work.
She presses the snooze button for the third time and lets out a loud sigh. She knows she would have to get up eventually and get ready. So much to do in one day …so much to do in one life. Will there ever be enough time to follow her dreams? And yet, she still does not know what she wants to do when she’s grows up. She never wants to grow up. Living day to day is so much more fun but is it okay in our society. Ah fuck society! she thinks to herself.
She wonders if he would do okay with his new home? What would it take to mend things with her? No matter what she does, she feels she puts her foot in doo-doo. She tries not think of other family members that pull at her heart strings. If only she could shut off that brain of hers sometimes. It is a family trait, after all. Her mother had it, her grandmother too and she and her sister inherited it as well.
She jumps in the shower and feels the water pour over her face and it reminds her of walking in the rain one summer day. Oh that was delightful and the rain was warm too! Her hair did not curl then. She gets out of the shower and looks in the mirror. How did she get here? Why had she been raised to focus so much on appearances when down deep she knew that most people she interacted with appreciated her for her compassion. Maybe compassion is like the perfect foundation that illuminates your skin! Yeah, that makes sense! With a touch of joie de vie on your lips, a hint of passion mist on her neck and voilà, she is ready to face the world.
She turns away from the mirror and gets dressed and puts on her cream, that special cream to hide those wrinkles (which has never done a damn thing but smear false hope from that fancy jar). She must not buy anymore. With the money spent on that she can start saving for another trip far far away. How she would like that!
She picks up her backpack, and walks out the door.
Holding on
Yesterday’s regrets blurr
Hopes for tomorrow
Still, messing up today
Weaknesses of humans
(c) Tournesol’ 18/06/08