Category Archives: Writing

Full Circle

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As one goes through life,
unexpected, unconnected experiences
serve to trigger later behaviors.

As a child, I thought one way:
something’s dull beyond belief, or
“This is the greatest thing since sliced bread.”
Maybe “If I can’t do x I’ll just die,” or
“If y got something, why not me?”

But life has a habit
of throwing curves that bend one’s thoughts
onto pathways formerly unseen.
Experiencing things that never occurred to you
in your hazy past.

And then one day you’re someplace
and something deep inside comes back.
You look around and realize
what once was “wrong” now seems so “right”—
and you have come full circle.

© 2014 Douglas P. Kendrick, all rights reserved.

I Am A Tractor

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This is the piece I submitted to the Center of the World Festival’s (Pine Mountain Club, CA) Art Speaks writing contest held Saturday, August 16th. It was  “A competition for writers to bring a chosen artwork to life through stories, poems, or other writing genre.” There was a wide variety of local artists’ works to choose from in the gallery, and I selected a photograph of a derelict tractor by photographer Michael P. Frank (see image below). I had to read my piece twice on the day of the festival so the audience members could vote for their favorite.

This was the first time I ever participated in this festival—or any kind of competition with my writing for that matter—and it was a fun challenge. Though I didn’t bring home the prize, I hope you enjoy my story!

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College Flashback

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On a lovely June afternoon during a quick trip to Flagstaff, Arizona, I was meandering along on a self-guided walking tour I’d found online. It led through the historic downtown and eventually onto the campus of Northern Arizona University.

It’s been a long time since I went away to college or have spent any time on a college campus for that matter—I’d forgotten how good it feels. I strolled down the main  pedestrian-only thoroughfare checking out the historic buildings, new ones under construction, and the Student Union, finally ending up at the campus bookstore.

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First Visit to The Getty Center (and Something New…)

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Yesterday (July 22, 2014), I finally made a trip to The Getty Center in L.A. I can’t believe it took me so many years to finally get there!

Steller: First-Time Visit to the Getty Center

It was a convenient ride down on the bus—which meant no driving/parking hassles and costs—and I basically spent all day there. It wasn’t, however, nearly enough time to even begin to do the place justice so I will definitely have to return.

I also took the opportunity to use a new service/app called Steller to document my visit. It’s pretty nifty, allowing you to combine words, photos and video easily into a sort of storybook format. So far, it seems that it’s only available for iOS devices, though you can view the resulting stories in a web browser on any computer. Click the photo or this link to view my story, including 3 original poems I wrote while there (two Tanka and a Haiku).

It was a great and inspiring day!

Independence = Travel

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Here’s another piece I wrote for the Golden Pen Writers Guild. Our assignment was to write something on “Independence”.

There are many different kinds of “independence.” We have Independence Day every July 4th. There’s independent living, independent study, an independent press, and many others. But when I think independence I always envision hitting the open road.

One online dictionary defines independence as: “freedom from outside control or support: the state of being independent.” It also lists some synonyms: self–sufficiency, self-reliance, self-support. To me, there’s no better way to demonstrate those skills than by leaving everything behind, going to a strange place and living out of a suitcase.

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Tanka – June 2014

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In the light of day
many things are clearer now—
I can see their shapes;
but it isn’t just my eyes
that I’m using to perceive.

*     *     *

If you were to seek
something outside of yourself
with an open mind,
you might possibly receive
insight that you’d always sought.

*     *     *

(The following three Tanka were composed during a trip to Flagstaff, Arizona June 23-26, 2014)

On a summer day
strolling unfamiliar paths
of a college town,
Suddenly came flooding back
thoughts of my own eighteenth year.

*     *     *

A cool breeze through trees,
the scent of Ponderosa,
wildflowers too—
nature’s vistas open up
filling me inside with joy.

*     *     *

Bright and colorful
masterworks of agèd hands
old-time Kachinas
lovingly reveal a past
when gods helped their people thrive.

*     *     *

On June 18, I gave a brief presentation and reading on Tanka poetry at The Golden Pen Writers Guild and then we took it on for our weekly homework. I used my first Tanka above as an example of the form. — dpk

© 2014 Douglas P. Kendrick, all rights reserved