PAD Challenge # 14 For Poetic Asides
For today’s prompt, write a crossroads poem. This could be a poem about a physical, mental, or emotional intersection.
Not So Bright Idea
Standing at spiritual crossroads,
remembering:
God threw me a fast ball,
high, but curved.
Damned if I didn’t catch it.
Then stood there,
wondering how to proceed.
Finally chose to heave
ball back in God’s court.
Brushed off hands, patted
myself on back, as I went
on with what I’d been doing.
Found out, God
plays hard ball.
Still recovering,
after all these years.
Now, back at intersection.
Cautiously look both ways,
but can hear faint whistling
of another, incoming.
Elizabeth Crawford 11/14/10
also for Sunday Scribblings Bright Idea
http://sundayscribblings.blogspot.com/
Soul's Music 
Elizabeth,
Love the fact that you combined both prompts. It works perfectly. It does seem that in life we are always waiting for the next train coming with new surprises for us.
Pamela
Thanks Pamela. I love it when two or more prompts come together and make sense out of my mess, lol. And yes, life sometimes feels like a constant leaning into the curves that are always there in front of us. You, are doing a wonderful job with the PAD challenge. I think we need to throw some kind of a party when this is all over with.
Elizabeth
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God does play hardball indeed! And there is always another ball thrown a person’s way. In life, either fortunately or unfortunately, a person can’t avoid crossroads. Excellent poem.
Thanks Diane, and I believe that each crossroads, each ball thrown, has a purpose and a function to fulfill. The difference between Learning days and Loving days. Mine have always seemed to be much more about learning, but then again, that would seem to be about loving myself. Wow! I’m impressing myself, lol,
Elizabeth
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I really like the last part where you expect another ‘incoming’. Very cute.
Here from Sunday Scribblings.
http://jessicasjapes.wordpress.com/2010/11/14/bright-idea-oh-yeah/
Jessica, thank you. Cute is a new one. I’ll have to think about that.
Elizabeth
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I love the ending on this! I know that sound – incoming! 🙂
Faith, glad you understand. Now all I have to do is decide whether to duck, run like hell, or stand still and see what happens, lol. That’s life, it’s always up for grabs. Thanks for commenting,
Elizabeth
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I would duck, if I were you!
Lol, would you really, Viv? Somehow I doubt that. I think you would do exactly what I am doing, pull your head down into your shoulders, stiffen your back, keep both eyes open, and hope like hell that God wants to play soft ball this time and that this one was thrown underhand.
Elizabeth
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How I could relate to this. I’ve been in this place for a while… The whistling seems to be the gift. The signal that I need to go within. Wish I was a better listener! This was truly awesome work.
Hello April, glad you liked it and could relate. And I think it is a gift and that we must always work to keep our inner ear listening. Poetry does that better for me than anything else. Thanks for commenting,
Elizabeth
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I would say, “Stand firm, catch it or duck!.” I suppose there are always incoming balls. Life isn’t over, until it’s over. Up to our asses in alligators…. some people only get “air” that way, would find life in the slow lane, just too boring. Got to have the drama.
You are a strong woman. I think it’s important we don’t get our path mixed with another. Your words are important.
I learned something one day….in my own crisis, I found the work of Agnes Martin, I drew strength from it, though I was aware she didn’t know at the time she created the work, alone in her studio. She wasn’t aware one day it would help to heal a woman in deep sorrow. When we release our work to go into the world, it goes alone. You may never be aware what or who your work helps to heal.
Annell, thanks again. And yes, when our words go out there, they go alone and touch whomever would lean in to listen. We can’t control any of it, no matter how much we might wish to. At this point, I’m sort of ducking, but still have my hand out. I hope it will always be so,
Elizabeth
PS Thanks for your story. It’s a jewel.
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Great metaphor!
Mary B., I know it is a metaphor, but that’s pretty much the way it felt, at the time, and still does. I had prayed, but didn’t know what I was praying for, or even the beginnings of understanding. Guess that’s what they mean when they say that one should be careful when asking for certain things. They just might happen. They certainly did for me and I was not prepared. I had to learn how to fly by the seat of my pants, and that was not easy. Thanks for stopping and commenting,
Elizabeth
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I’m exhausted tonight, but had to see what you wrote for this prompt and find you at the spiritual crossroads with God throwing a hardball. So often he does, it seems. Somewhere I heard the adage that God always gives you only what you can handle, but of late I find myself doubting. I like many things about your poem. The ending with the ‘incoming’ is one of them. There is always something incoming in this life.
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Elizabeth, am browsing through your poems and this one really speaks to me. It is powerful and succinct and I love the last line about another one, incoming. A really original idea, so well executed. Wowzers.
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Thank you again, Sherry. The PAD Challenge has definitely provided me with a series of poems I never expected to find myself writing. This idea has been fermenting in the back forty for a while, but a poem about a high inside curve ball? No way, lol. Yet, the two different prompts came together in such a way that provided the space to allow it to happen. Love those unexpected moments when it just all falls together, don’t you? Conscious awareness is something we must all strive for, because when it comes it is exactly what you said, “Wowzers!”
Elizabeth
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