The Story of my Blog Title

Quilt of Dragonflies- My blog is named that for a reason.I am lucky enough to own a genuine Quilt of Dragonflies, which I am sure brings me good dreams when I sleep beneath it. It was given to me by a friend of my mother's, who handmade the entire thing. Color meets pattern in this fantastic piece of artwork which sits on my bed. Brilliant shades of purple, blue, and green intersperse with tie dye dragonflies. I will not hesitate to call it my inspiration.







Thursday, March 31, 2011

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath."
-The Merchant of Venice

After a Loss

After a while you start to find
Your mouth still turns up at the edges
Your face still crinkles when you laugh
You still have a heart that beats a steady rhythm
Deep down inside
Past the anger
The sadness and weight of the world
You still have hope
A smile
A laugh
When all else fails
When your world comes thundering down
Around your aching shoulders
You can still turn your face to the sky
Watch the horizon
And find new courage
A courage to live on
To embrace everything
And everyone
Your mind becomes
As optimistic as a glass three quarters full of orange juice
A bunch of daffodils smiling up at the sun
That pain and anger and sadness is tucked away
Still present, but swept away
Replaced by memories

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"When I did name her brothers, then fresh tears
Stood on her cheeks; as doth the honey-dew
Upon a gathered lily almost withered"
-Titus Andronicus

Hints

A hint of spring is
Fluttering about the air
Is it to be crushed?

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"When envy breeds unkind division
There comes the ruin, there begins confusion"
-King Henry VI

First Flower

First flower of spring
Sits in the palm of my hand
I gaze in wonder

Monday, March 28, 2011

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"Thou art a piece of virtue, and
I doubt not but thy training hath been noble"
-Pericles

A Picture of Otis

Otis

Otis

“The black one’s name is Otis”
His furry face pressed against the bars
Tiny brain pondering the new comers to his home
Love at first sight
Large black pools of eyes
Stare up at me
His new owner

First Otis is resentful
Biting the hand that feeds him
Hiding in the plastic igloo
Among the shavings of his cage
Slowly, ever so slowly
His feelings change

Otis melts my heart
I bribe him
Treat him to bits of carrot
His mop of golden specked ebony hair
Bouncing around the cage he has come to know so well
His joyful squeaking fills the room

Otis the prankster
Jumping all over his roommate Oliver
Stealing the vegetables
Cramming the dry food into his cheeks
I watch with smiling eyes and laughing mouth

Celery, lettuce
Carrots, hay, dry food
Water from the bottle hanging from his cage
I soon learn his favorites

Otis brings joy to the faces of those who meet him
“Crazy Pig,” “Mop,” “Wig Pig”
People laugh and exclaim over him
The Peruvian, the walking wig
All of the visitors to my house fall for him hard
As do I

When I walk into the room
With tears sitting on my cheeks
Otis is there
Purring and chirping
He runs from my hand when I try to take him out
Yet when he is sitting safe on my lap
Cuddling
He is truly happy
And I am always happy to make him happy

Months later
We have moved
He has a new place in the house
But the same in my heart
Every day he fills me with joy
Every day is special because of him

Later still
He stops eating
When I notice
I burst into
Waves of tears
Worry consumes me
I spend a day of agony
Every second
Making my guinea pig feel
As happy as possible
I stay by his side, not moving

Then I take him outside in the afternoon
The sun warms him
His fur ripples in the breeze
I know he is content
So full of life
Scurrying around on the dry grass
Left from winter
I hold him close

He is gone
This amazing animal
That has touched my life
And so many others
Yet he is still here
In everything I do
I vow to myself
At the end of the day
To remember him, to cherish him and live on
In his memory
And that is how
I find the heart
To say good bye
I will always love you, Otis

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"Didst thou but know the inly touch of love,
Thou would as soon go kindle fire with snow
As seek to quench the fire of love with words."
-The Two Gentlemen of Verona

Guinea Pigs

Shreds of paper
Litter the floor
Near the guinea pigs' cage
Their joyful squeaking
Fills the air

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"He that doth the ravens feed,
Yea, providently caters for the sparrow,
Be comfort to my age!"
-As You Like It

Hair

Tangles and the nest
Of a long forgotten mouse
Reside in my hair

Friday, March 25, 2011

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"Young men's love then lies
Not truly in their hearts, but in their eyes."
-Romeo and Juliet

The Wind is Laughing

A whisper of breeze
Brushes the treetops
A chuckle
Laughter
Boisterous, loud
The laugh swells
The tree begins to shake
To shiver, laughing along with the wind
Alive with mirth
Then, unexpectedly
A roar
Shatters the tree
The bows are whipped around
In a sudden tempest of good humor
Then the wind is back to a murmur
Awaiting the next
Profoundly funny
Joke

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"As in theatre, the eyes of men,
After a well-graced actor leaves the stage,
Are idly bent on him that enters next"
-King Richard II

A Little Explanation of the Beginning of Snow

The sun was shining
From behind a pale cloud
The rays of golden light
Drifted lazily downward
Then the cloud grew
Impatient
Unwanted
Jealous of the attention the sun was getting
So the cloud
Slowly began to bottle up 
All the negative thoughts
First only a little 
Then a lot
The cloud began to grow
It ballooned into a large mass
A tumor in the sky
Dark grey 
Black as soot
Yet the people did not like this new change
The cloud grew more grey, more depressed
Then slowly, all of the thoughts and opinions 
The cloud had formed
Began to squeeze out
Ooze between the seams
The cloud
Let out one final deep breath
And 
BOOM!
The cloud shattered into a 
Million 
Tiny 
Pieces
Shards of cloud
White with strain
Began to plummet toward the ground
As they skyrocketed towards the innocent people
On earth
They slowed
And sprinkled the soil 
With dots of white
Crisp and cold
These pieces of cloud were given 
A name
By the people of earth
These soul bits were referred to as 
Snowflakes

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"When I did name her brothers, then fresh tears
Stood on her cheeks; as doth the honey-dew
Upon a gathered lily almost withered"
-Titus Andronicus

Laugh

Mouth crinkles upward
Brilliant brown eyes sparkle and
A soft laugh is heard

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"To your protection I commend me, gods!
From fairies, and the tempters of the night,
Guard me, beseech ye!"
-Cymbeline

The Sea

the ocean sings a different song
on any given day
a sad ballad or a rock tune
filled with salty spray

its colors range from emerald
to the purest azure blue
from pale turquoise to icy grey
there's always something new

across the frothy tips of waves
zephyrs dance on tiny feet
and little sailboats cling to shore
ready to accept defeat

the black sea growls through its teeth
as morbid clouds seep into the waves
its fists thrash out to pummel ships
the ocean cries and rants and raves

no sooner than the gale begins
it starts to lose its rage
and then the book of grand adventure
turns another page

the fiery ball of sun comes out
from behind a cloud it peers
the slate grey ocean now feels guilty
it sheds many salty tears

now jovial the ocean sings
the jolly songs of sailors past
and sparkling and twinkling in midday light
brings joy to every hull and mast

the tide rolls in, the tide rolls out
imprisoned by the moon
yet when the tide recedes again
it always seems too soon

though temperamental as a child
the sea is with us all
we hear the rumble in our ears
rejoice at every squall

Monday, March 21, 2011

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"Trifles, light as air,
Are to the jealous confirmations strong
As proofs of holy writ"
-Othello

Omen?

Snowflakes pour downward
It is the first day of spring
Is this an omen?

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"I will not choose what many men desire,
Because I will not jump with common spirits
And rank me with the barbarous multitudes."
-The Merchant of Venice

Dog Spit

A waterfall of slobber
Descends upon my face
Sprinkling my cheeks, my nose, and
Ugh, my mouth
A gargantuan wet pink mass
Caresses my jeans
Leaving dark patches at the knees
Stickiness reigns supreme
Saliva flies towards me
I attempt to dodge
And end up with a wet spot on my sweatshirt
Spattered with fine white hair
Cannon balls of stickiness
Fly towards me
I am battered by the enemy's bulk
I bear the scars of battle on my clothes and my body
Hard fought
And wet with dog spit

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"Not a man in England
Can advise me like you: be to yourself
As you would to your friend."
-King Henry VIII

Rock

 a dusky stone sits in my hand
the lasting mark of sea and sand
its surface smooth from years of wear
the color of a crimson mare
found at the shore washed in by waves
it spent its life in watery caves
the gentle noise of water calms
as if we were on an island of palms
my bare feet sting in the sea of salt
bringing my adventure to a halt
I scoop to pick up this newfound rock
then towards the car I begin to walk
the shells crunching below my feet
my stomach rumbles, eager to eat
I turn once more to survey the bay
and wish that I was here to stay

Friday, March 18, 2011

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"Love is not love
Which alters when it alteration finds,
Or bends with the remover to remove"
-Sonnet

Music of the kitchen

The dishwasher purrs
Like a sleepy cat
The clock
Beats out the rhythm
Ready to dance or break into song
At any moment
My computer hums
The harmony
And my fingers move up and down
Tapping out the after dinner melody
On my keyboard

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"The devil knew not what he did when he made man
politic; he'd cross'd himself by it: and I cannot think but, in the end,
the villanies of man will set him  clear"
-Timon of Athens

Ocean's Edge

White caps bubble and
Sizzle as they charge forward
The skyline is haze

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!
May the Luck 'o' the Irish be with you!

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Guinea Pig

Munching quietly
On a large hunk of carrot
My pet is at peace

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"Together with that pale, that white-faced shore,
Whose foot spurns back the ocean's roaring tides,
And coops from other lands her islanders."
-King John

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"Who seeks, and will not take, when once 'tis offered
Shall never find it more"
-Antony and Cleopatra

PJ's

 Flannel, pink or polka dotted
An baggy T-shirt completes the look
Fuzzy warm socks keep my toes
Satisfied
Everything oozes
Cosiness
Lounging in my bed
All day
My thoughts are always
Free to stray
I pull a blanket around my shoulders
And sink into the world of
Weekends
Hot chocolate sits
On my bedside table
Steaming playfully
I smile lazily
Curl my toes
And sink deeper into
My comforter
Thoroughly content

Monday, March 14, 2011

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"Give me that man
That is not passion's slave, and I will wear him
In my heart's core, ay, in my heart of heart"
-Hamlet

Loneliness

A jagged line
Seems to separate you
From others
Sometimes you feel so
Isolated
Alone
Surrounded by company
Yet perfectly solitary
Like looking out across
A great canyon
And waving at the people on the other side
When you know they cannot see you
Like speaking through a door
That you know is too thick
Or trying to run through water
Suspended in a state
Where no one can find you
You float through empty space
Yet you shoot for the moon
Whiz past the stars
Flip over and over
Through the universe
Glad to be lonely
Glad to be alone

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"Didst thou but know the inly touch of love,
Thou wouldst as soon go kindle fire with snow
As seek to quench the fire of love with words."
-The Two Gentlemen of Verona

Mountain Spring

Clear and glittering
I stare at my reflection
In the mountain spring

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"Mine honour keeps the weather of my fate:
Life every man holds dear; but the dear man
Holds honour far more precious than life."
-Troilus and Cressida

Midnight

Silvery sheen on
Every tiny blade of grass
Midnight wonderland

Friday, March 11, 2011

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"From lowest place when virtuous things proceed,
The place is dignified by the doers deed."
-All's Well that Ends Well

Silence's Ramble

Silence tiptoes on delicate feet
To all the children who are fast asleep
A curtain of hair falls across her face
As she brushes it back without slowing her pace
A sliver of moonlight guides her step
As she glances to the sky from which she lept
Then she reaches her slender hand down to the bed
And bestows peaceful dreams on the little one's head
In the blink of an eye she is gone from the room
To go help more children sleeping in gloom
And visiting their sleep before starting to fly
Back over the rooftops and into the sky

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"The hearts of princes kiss obedience,
So much they love it; but to stubborn spirits,
They swell, and grow as terrible as storms"
-King Henry VIII

Nature

Nurtured by people who truly care
Awe inspiring
Turbulent relationship with humans
Understood only by those who experience it
Regrettably, it's shrinking
Enter if you are at peace

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices
Make instruments to plague us"
-King Lear

A Serious Topic

When the mountains begin to cry
No longer reach up towards the sky
My faith in humankind is lost
My heart and soul are made of frost
The ice is melting into the sea
Yet it is growing inside of me
Plastic washes onto the shore
Bottles and wrappers and trash galore
People are responsible for the Earth's mess
If only we could survive with less
An icy dagger pierces my breast
It's time to put humans to the test
A single tear falls from my eye
As acid rain pours from the sky
Our planet is spiraling out of control
Destined to shatter, how can it stay whole?
I will do all I can to save my home
The land where animals freely roam

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"It seems to me most strange that men should fear;
Seeing that death, a necessary end,
Will come, when it will come."
-Julius Caesar

Are you out there?

Everyone needs a shoulder to cry on
Everyone needs someone to care
A person to call on
In the middle of the night
Or the middle of the day
Someone who
Loves you
Someone you love
To break the bars
Of your cage
Someone to pull you
Up out of the depths of the ocean
When you feel you are drowning
A person to reach
For your hand
Give you a candle
To lead you through
The dark tunnel
Are you out there?

Monday, March 7, 2011

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"I am not only witty in myself, but the cause that wit is in other men"
-King Henry IV

Stormy Night

Heavy wind lashes
Against my bedroom window
I feel safe and warm

Sunday, March 6, 2011

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"The silence often of pure innocence
Persuades when speaking fails"
-The Winter's Tale

Busy Week

A busy week can seem
Like the end of the world
Is drawing near
Your time is focused
Minute after minute
Drags on, you find yourself
Wondering why you are going through with this
Why are you taking so much trouble
So many late nights and early mornings
But there is always a payoff
Always a light
At the end of the ebony darkness
Of the tunnel you find yourself caught in
Continue walking
Step by step
You are sure to reach it
When the week is done
And you are at peace

Saturday, March 5, 2011

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"I was born so high,
Our aery buildeth in the cedar's top,
And dallies with the wind, and scorns the sun"
-King Richard III

Flying

Flying up through sunlight and cloud
You float up slowly, enjoying the view
A jet streams past, its engine loud
This exhilarating feeling, so precious and new

You glide through turrets of billowing white
Streaked with colors: orange and red
Loving every moment of this incredible flight
Your body tingles from your toes to your head

How did you get there?
Why are you here?
Going to where?
Are you even near?

You cherish every second you are in the air
The questions fly away as you soar high
Then a bird swoops in and you are a pair
Towards the heavens you gently fly
 

1000 Views!

Last night before going to bed I had 996 views and this morning I had 1006! I am so happy, because I have been looking forward to this for such a long time! Thank you to everyone who has followed my blog or even just looked at it once to check it out!
I think I will use this as a check in point, please comment...
How am I doing? Want to see more or less of anything?
Got any ideas for poems you are dying to tell someone?
I would love to hear about it!
-Claire

Friday, March 4, 2011

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"Merrily, merrily shall I live now,
Under the blossom that hangs on the bough."
-The Tempest

The Show

The dusk blue curtain begins to rise
The audience awaits surprise
Actors breathe deeply and close their eyes
Ready to be funny, evil, and wise

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"Most radiant, exquisite, and unmatchable beauty...
I pray you tell me if this be the lady of the house, for I never saw her"
-Twelfth Night

Sleep

Standing at the brink of the world of sleep
Looking down into oceans deep
Their color between dark blue and grey
You rest at a crossroads, yet don't know which way

A thousand eyes watch from a jungle of green
These are the dreamers, nice, jealous, and mean
"Let me sleep" you whisper under your breath
As the sandman arrives, cold and pale as death

With baited breath you stand and wait
As he sprinkles the sand, not a moment too late
You sink into the jaws of the monster of sleep
Diving into the ocean, so incredibly deep

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"This is the excellent foppery of the world, that, when we are sick in fortune (often the surfeits of our own behaviour) we make guilty of our disasters the sun, the moon and stars."
-King Lear

Exercise

Muscles straining
Bodies aching
Sweating
Joints popping
Hair swinging
Into your face
Tendrils sticking
To the back of your neck
Just when you have had enough
You start again
Repetition
Over and
Over and
Over
Until you are about to burst
And when you are about to burst
You stand back up
And continue
Rivers rolling down your cheeks
Face burning
Your brain is set
On one thing only

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Shakespeare Quote of the Day

"Pride hath no other glass
To show itself, but pride;for supple knees
Feed arrogance, and are the proud man's fears"
-Troilus and Cressida

Lost Love

What if all of the love was lost?
The world covered in ice and frost
A bleak horizon, skies of grey
Hearts of stone, nothing to say

You wander through the streets so bare
Why does nobody even care?
No love, no light
No day, no night

Deep shadows growing day by day
No one to sing, no one to pray
A candle snuffed at every hour
We lose our hope, we lose our power

Drifting slowly through time and space
Sluggishly moving, no rush, no haste
Sunken eyes avoid your stare
Does anybody truly care?

Cold hearts abound, the spark has died
You don't remember if you tried
A smoky haze surrounds your brain
As the cool drizzle turns to rain