emotions

PFP (Ode) Ode to Kitty

PFP (Ode) Ode to Kitty 1024 713 Jason Stadtlander

“Ode to Kitty”

Oh my kitty, how you fascinate the mind
Your quiet moments in time do rewind
The gentle touch as you knead me to pet
For if I do not, you may get upset
In the flash of a moment you change to the red
As eyes flash with anger and hatred instead
Then the next second, you switch to love and are kind
Tearing me through this emotional grind
There are many a moment you make me feel awed
And many a more that I know I am flawed
But you handle each day living in present
Focusing on the good, not the unpleasant
As mad as you make me, our bond is so true
Holding you close, there’s nothing like you
Keep your claws in or I’ll use my profanity
I do love you however, despite your insanity

About This Poetry Form

Name: Ode
Description:“Ode” comes from the Greek aeidein, meaning to sing or chant, and belongs to the long and varied tradition of lyric poetry. Originally accompanied by music and dance, and later reserved by the Romantic poets to convey their strongest sentiments, the ode can be generalized as a formal address to an event, a person, or a thing not present.

This particular poem is about someone very dear to me.

About This Series

Read more about this series here.

Fire and Ice – The Value of a Touch

Fire and Ice – The Value of a Touch 150 150 Jason Stadtlander

Emotions are like seeds and you can choose to feed them or to kill them.

All my life I’ve been a very emotional person. My emotions are a driving force that help to provide a voice in my writing.

In the past decade I have run into more circumstances than I expected, that put me in such an extremely emotionally stressful situations, that at times it had been absolutely unbearable. The past five years have proven to be some of the most difficult years I’ve ever experienced. During these turbulent times, I’ve chosen to be numb and bury my emotions.

However, emotions being what they are, cannot remain buried forever. They must reach, and grow to the surface eventually… Otherwise they can rot away at the very core of who and what we are.

They sometimes rise to the surface with the ferocity of liquid fire, boiling over and sometimes exploding on anyone within reach. Other times they crack off of the human soul like ice, causing a person to burst out crying when they least expect it and for no apparent reason at all. Or perhaps laugh at something that completely lacks humor.

What happens when the tides are too strong to be moved and diverted? Is there a limit to what we as humans can handle emotionally? I think that it’s only through our ability to express (artistically) and connect with one another that can allow us to hold back the tidal waves that bite at the seawall of our soul.

Even our artistic and creative expression can be disturbing, disjointed and empty. In these most dire of times, what can we do to ensure that we don’t fall into the abyss of cascading downward thought?

Touch of a friendI believe there is only one real answer, and sadly one that not everyone finds, is love. It doesn’t have to be romantic love, it can be love from a friend, an acquaintance, or simply a touch from another person that cares. I remember as a child, my grandparents, teachers and friends… They always had no problem touching a shoulder, giving a hug or providing comfort when it was needed.

What has happened to our society that it is so wrong to be touched? We seem to have a hard time as a society finding a comfortable balance between ‘comfort’ and ‘discomfort’. Is it wrong for a person that you don’t know very well to put a hand on your shoulder or on your hand?

Frankly Friday – Personal Support Systems

Frankly Friday – Personal Support Systems 150 150 Jason Stadtlander

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“Lean on me when you’re not strong, and I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on. For it won’t be long, ‘Til I’m gonna need somebody to lean on.”

Bill Withers ~ Lean on Me

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Everyone has dreams, goals; things that drive them or help them to have a purpose in life. For some of us, its our children or careers, for others its making money or helping to create a better world. Regardless of one’s focus, the question I put to you is this; do we need a support system, someone who believes in you, to get there? Its certainly important to have self confidence and believe in your own dreams, but is that enough? Or do we truly need an objective set of eyes or an external voice that supports and encourages us to press on?

Everyone needs a support systemI started considering this today when I saw a video featuring Mitt Romney’s wife, Ann. Now hold the phone friends and keep reading, this will not become a political discussion.

Ann was eloquent of course in the video, but what hit me hardest is how much she believes in Mitt. How much she (at least publicly) supports his dreams and goals to become president. It is obvious from looking back through archives of videos that she has supported him from the start of his political career. If you look at Obama, Michelle has also supported her husband from the start. So, my question goes to the character of people. Not just politicians, but people in general that support other people, especially spouses.

Whether it’s a man married to a woman, a girlfriend who supports her boyfriend, a man who supports his partner or a woman who supports hers… it really comes down to the core of us as people. Love does not know genders, ages or race, not real love anyway.

SupportWhat it truly boils down to is the love of one another and the respect that comes with that. The need for us to support each other as humans, as people and as individuals with individual dreams and goals. We all deserve a chance to be more than our inner workings. A chance to step outside of our designed box and have a moment in the light.

What does a person (politician for example) do when they have the ability and the drive to achieve the impossible – to become president of a county, yet they have a wife who adamantly opposes their dreams? Do they divorce her and find someone that does? What does that say for thier character? Does it ruin their chance of following their dreams and goals? If so, doesn’t that become a catch-22, as people look at their character when trying to achieve such an office? Can you think of a president that made it to office that went through a divorce? No, you can’t. Because only President Reagan was a divorcee (long before he became president).

The idea of that necessary support system raises another set of questions. Can someone succeed if they believe in themselves, but those closest to them do not believe or have a desire to believe in them? Does it mean that the person should simply give up? What do you think?[/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

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