Poetry and Photography

First there was Poetry. I've written poetry for as long as I can remember, mostly though to express my feelings when I was a teen and young adult and even in my adult life, when I have to deal with stress, I often write down what's inside my mind. It calmes me down and make me see things in perspective again, because before I write down the truth as I see it , I have to think about it. I was a loner and had trouble speaking my mind out loud in that time, so writing it down was much easier.

It was only in 2001 (I think) that we got our first digital camera, a Kodak and that camera opened the photographic world for me. I live in the midst of beautiful nature, with 1/3 land and 2/3 sky which changes color every moment of the day in each season. I like to capture nature's moments. In theory I know what shutterspeed is and aperture, but somehow my brain goes dead when I have to actually put that into practice. So when I see what I see, I just press the button in automatic.

Then one day I was looking at a photo and words popped up in my mind and as I write rhyming poetry most of the time, I called it a Rhyming Image.

PMarge Tindal was one of the poets I met on piptalk.com and she became my friend for life after meeting her in 2002, when I travelled the USA to meet some of the poets I had met on the website.
She was a very talented poet, who wrote thousands of poems in her own style. She loved full moons and when she passed away on January 26, 2009, I wrote her a moon poem each month on full moon in the way she would have liked it. In a tribute to her memory, I've collected all her moon poems and put them in a book as a memory gift for her children, including my own farewell moon poems.

If you want a preview, just click the cover below:

Kimberly B's Chaotic Poetry And Writings A Schizophrenic's Perspective is a look into her soul. It is exactly what it says. "It's Her Heart On Paper". Kimberly suffers from Schizoid Affective Bi -Polar Disorder and is a Veteran of the United States Navy. Her main goal in writing this book is to stop the Stigma attached to Mental Illness.

There is depth in the writings of Kimberly B. She reveals her feelings down to the core of her very being. Even in exasperation, her poetry expresses warmth... Kimberly B. cares deeply and it shows in her work. She is a complex writer "Kimberly B's Chaotic Poetry and Writings" Is worth the read.
-Editha Wieler Fullman
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I promote this book, because Kimberley is one of my fellow poets on piptalk.com and I think her book is worth reading.

After World War II my father had to serve in Indonesia for three years. I was just born when he left, so I only 'knew' him by his picture on the coffee table. Some months ago I was strolling through the old family albums and found this photo of my mom and me with my two sisters, sitting at the table at Chrismas 1946. I'm the little one in the middle.

Gathered 'round, on this here night,
reading books at candle's light.
Sweet memories of Christmas far,
one year after second World War.

Gathered 'round in feel of love,
unaware of angels above.
A little twig, the spirit there,
sweet memories of loving care.

My father, he was far away,
in Indonesia he had to stay.
He came home real bruised but whole,
he gave nurture to my soul.

One candle and a little twig,
made our Christmas still real big,
Gathered 'round, some candies sweet,
the Christmas Spirit, what else you need.