I felt a clearing in my mind

I felt a clearing in my mind, and found my brain at rest

And thoughts that once had clamored there sat happily unexpressed

The words I’d anchored to my thoughts broke loose, began to rise  

As I stretched out and watched them float like clouds across the sky

***

This is a response to today's NaPoWriMo prompt:
Find an Emily Dickinson poem – preferably one you’ve never previously read – and take out all the dashes and line breaks. Make it just one big block of prose. Now, rebreak the lines. Add words where you want. Take out some words. Make your own poem out of it!

I chose I felt a Cleaving in my Mind.

Migraine (NaPoWriMo Day 8--late)

No thing with feathers

Perches here, thank God

I wouldn’t have strength

For a that tune never stops

No—tonight those Boots of Lead

Are back, and I am wrecked solitary again.

If I could learn to make

That plank in reason finally break

I would be finished

and I wouldn’t care

If I ended knowing or not

Here—or Then—Or There

*****

I didn't get this up in time because battled a tension migraine all night.  Yesterday's NaPoWriMo prompt invited us to rewrite a famous poem and make it our own.  I chose Emily Dickinson's "'Hope' is the thing with feathers"  and "I felt a Funeral, in my Brain" to help me handle the pain.

Image: Picasso's "Head of a Woman"

It's good to be Queen!

Kathleen, who has one of the loveliest blogs out there, has been gracious enough to bestow upon me the Queen of ALLLL Things Awe-Summmm!!! award.

My royal duties now require me to share 7 awesome things about myself with you, and pass this award on to 7 of my favorite bloggers. Sound the royal trumpets! Here ye! Here ye!

7 Awesome Things about me

1. I kick some serious butt at air hockey. It's true. Just ask my sons.

2. I am also freakishly good at paddling a paddle ball. I have no natural athletic ability at all, but apparently I am an air hockey/paddle ball savant.

3. My students think I am cool. Well, at least some of them do. They told me so just earlier this week. I'm finally cool! Where were these people when I was in high school?

4. I have the most amazing sons in the world. That is no over-exaggeration. They are extraordinary.

5. I can balance marshmallows on my nose, but only when I am camping.

6. I love the Emily Dickinson poem "I started early, took my dog." It's not a textbook Dickinson standard, but it is a fantastic, sexy poem. Look it up!

7. I have more freckles than I can count.

And now, I bestow this award upon the following bloggers:

Annie at blissful bohemian. Check out her beautiful spirit and her beautiful pottery!

Anne at moremadder. Her musings about working motherhood are hallmarks of blunt eloquence.

Jessica GC at paperdreams. One of my favorite blogger/poets!

Angie at woman ask the question. I love the name of her new blog, and I love her poetic stylings.

Kelly at redsart. My cousin and fellow red-haired goddess who just happens to be an incredibly talented artist!

"Athena" at athenathoughts. She's a college English instructor, a doctoral student, and a mom. She doesn't blog often, but when she does, it is well worth the wait!

Thanks again for the coronation, Kathleen. We retire now to our royal bedchamber where we shall put up our feet and read a good book.

Listen to Ms. Dickinson

much madness
is divinest
sense
and sense,
a diabolical
rant
so tell the truth but
use her slant
and strive
to imitate

a woman
who names herself
nobody
and has

no time for hate