MY TRIBUTE TO ROSIE...

This is my tribute to Rosie, the flower girl, who sat every night on the corner of 55th and 3rd Ave., NYC, in front of famous P. J. Clarke's.

~ ODE TO ROSIE ~

On the corner of 55th and Third
Where the fierce wind hollers
There's an old Babushka bag lady
Surrounded by buckets of flowers
Feeble, fragile and hunched over
Sitting there 'til the morning hours.

Appearing small in the gritty, tinsel city
She never begs or cries for pity
Some say she's been there since '41
No one knows where she's really from.

Was she ever spring time young?
Pretty with long, silky hair?
A lover to share her sweet song?
Anyone know? Anyone care?

All night long, people come and go
They come fast, they come slow
But it's the lovers she likes most
A toothless smile, a soft hello
She offers a red rose - for free
To lovers, like you and me. 

When winter snow blows bitter and
Batters cruel through tattered clothes
The bar takes her in to warm the old soul 
A cup of soup, a soft bread roll
Thawing fingers and frozen toes.

As years pass and seasons unfold
Alone in the wave of humanity
You would never know from Rosie's grin
The closing years are looking grim.

(c) 2011  Lora Mitchell

SOMETIMES...

..."sometimes the greatest secrets lie in the middle of things you can't quite explain..."   

Steven Spielberg, film director

SEEKING SOLACE....

SEEKING SOLACE

Oh, soft cradled bosom
Nature's secret womb
So fresh and cool
Among the golden maze
Beneath blue velvet eyes
And misty dew, she lies
Quenching her thirst
From morning rays
Escaping beyond
Harsh worlds of gray
Exploring the web
Of tangled dreams
Caressing the flute
Of sparrow's song
Shaping some hope
Within the seams
Peering through
Tender, naked toes
Seeking to soothe
What wrings her soul.


(c) 2011  Lora Mitchell

THE SINGER ~

THE SINGER - 

No matter -
Far beyond
Her prime
Overweight
Shaky, off-key
Open, vulnerable
Brave, proud
Standing on stage
Singing her song
Sweet and loud
What nerve
What ego
What guts
Yet here I sit
Fifth row center
Still in my prime
Comfortable, fit
Aching to do the same
But playing it safe.

(c) 2011  Lora Mitchell

I AM A WRITER ~

I am a writer
Who fills many pages with
Ink prints of my thoughts
Hoping that someday
You will read them
And recognize yourself.

(c) 2011  Lora Mitchell

ON FIFTH AVENUE...

ON FIFTH AVENUE

On Fifth Avenue today
I saw your face
Well, not really
There was a trace
The nose, the chin
The forehead curl
The unusual whiteness
To the skin
My gaze strong enough
To burn the day
But he saw me
And forced my look away
For a split second
I thought I had found
The missing piece
Torn away so long ago.
On Fifth Avenue today
I stroll the street alone
Melancholy and blue
Wonder what you would say
If you knew - like a fool
I still search for you.

(c) 2011  Lora Mitchell

WARM MEMORIES~

"Winter must be cold without warm memories."

From the film: An Affair to Remember

WRITING A MEMOIR ~

"An intractable phenomenon of writing a memoir is that you begin to miss some of the people you are writing about." 

John Irving

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

MERRY 2011 CHRISTMAS EVERYONE !!!

BEAR ANY GRIEF...

"WE CAN BEAR ANY GRIEF IF WE PUT IT IN A STORY."

Izak Dinesen

"PLEASURE WITHOUT  JOY  IS LIKE PASSION WITHOUT TENDERNESS."

Alan J. Lerner

MOTHER TERESA

"I am a little pencil in the hand of GOD who is sending a love letter to the world." 

 Mother Teresa

A SHORT NOTE......

Hello Everybody -  A short note:

  Today was supposed to be the "End of the World" but I'm still here. How about you?  Glad it didn't happen because I wanted to watch the Yankee vs Mets game and the Preakness.

Happy to report that I finally finished and submitted the (4) short stories which I wrote about in my last post. I will take a break from writing for a bit. When I resume, my next writing project will be a biggie and time-consuming.  In the meantime, this late-bloomer will continue practicing the piano/keyboard. I love the songs I've already learned and will keep building my repertoire. Also, lyrics are swirling around in my head, so eventually I would like to take a stab at setting something to music. 

Take care everybody.  :)

EDNA FERBER..

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"You can't rub up against the sharp edges of this world and expect to come out without a scratch or so."

                                               Edna Ferber

ALMOST SPRING

Hello everyone. Can't believe my last post was in January. That must mean I've been busy...right?  Right.  I finally completed my 3 short stories for the book titled: Treasured Memories (A collection of short stories). Due date hopefully by the end of 2011.  The titles are: The Shack on Chestnut Hill, Cartwheels and Peter Pan, Flyboys and Cupid. Now I begin working on a short story for a book titled: Cinderella's of 53rd Street. The deadline is in June so I have a few months to let it swirl around in my brain.

As mentioned in my January post, this "late bloomer" started teaching herself the piano based on Scott Houston's book "Play Piano in a Flash" (Play Your Favorite Songs Like a Pro-Whether You've Had Lessons or Not) and guess what? It works!! Scott's Fake Books are full of my favorite ballads and standards. Here's a sample of the ballads I've learned so far: Unchained Melody, Tears in Heaven, Amazing Grace, Love Me Tender, Sentimental Journey, It's a Wonderful World, Can't Help Falling in Love, Try to Remember, Love is Blue, Lennon's Imagine and Sting's Field of Gold. Now working on: First Time Ever I saw Your Face, Blue Moon, MoonRiver and The Way We Were. Come Sept., I'll start learning some Christmas tunes. Am I enjoying this new venture ... you bet! In fact, it's in my brain to write a song or two. I'm already working on an interesting lyric for a ballad.

Still reading of course. Just finished Bonhoeffer and in the middle of "Mao's Last Dancer."

I also have an unexpected roommate named Bambi. She's fuzzy, solid black with huge green eyes. My friend Jerry has been in the hospital and in rehab since last Sept., so I took her in and it looks like she's going to be permanent. So I have Jerry's piano and his cat. Lucky for me she likes my piano playing.

That's about it for now.  Hope you enjoyed this post. Will visit again when I have more news.

6-WORD MEMOIRS

I have two pieces in the book:

"6-Word Memoirs on Love and Heartbreak" by SmithMag. 
Available on Amazon.com or Barnes and Noble.

Happy New Year !!!

Hello all:  I apologize for not posting sooner.  2010 was another wonderful year, however I did suffer a sudden kidney stone attack and had to walk around with a very uncomfortable stent for several weeks, until I found a fabulous "female" doctor. She went in and blasted the bugger. I don't wish the kidney stone pain on anyone...not even my worst enemies. Well....on second thought...  I've been reading of course and very busy writing. I will have 3 short stories in a book titled: Treasured Memories (a collection of short stories) .. due mid-summer, 2011. The 3 stories are titled: The Shack, Cartwheels and Peter Pan, Flyboys and Cupid.  Also, I will be teaching myself the piano. A dear friend gave me his beautiful stand up piano (free) because he no longer plays and another mutual friend is lending me his digital keyboard (with all the bells and whistles)...with headphones so I can practice without driving my neighbors batty...did I tell you I will be busy teaching myself. Isn't that a hoot? Not to perform, just for fun and friends especially since I lost my lyric soprano years ago after throat surgery. Friends tell me I can always use my lower register.  Well...we shall see. No promises however.  Signing off now. 

Wishing you all a year full of wonderful surprises, perfect health and abundant blessings.