Paper Thin, poetry and digital art by Joan Ellen Gge

Can you do it?

Can you embrace the fierce,

bring it to the surface

of your being?

Your wounded warrior heart

beats, it has survived

in spite of you.

It is time to claim

this aspect of yourself,

to integrate it into your existence.

We are all Viking daughters,

armed, ready to do battle,

surrendering to no one,

not even ourselves.

The ancient one lies within.

Awaken her.

Awaken the power

Of your fierce warrior self.

by Joan Ellen Gage

from the book Water Running Downhill, the Rose Edition

OTHER WEBSITE: https://joanszoneblogalicious.com/

FACEBOOK:https://www.facebook.com/yourpersonalcheerleaderJoanEllenGage/

BOOKS:

EMBRACING YOUR INNER CHEERLEADER: http://www.amazon.com/Embracing-Your-Inner-Cheerleader-ebook/dp/B0086WW7AA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&

qid=1340641839&sr=8-1&keywords=Embracing+Your+Inner+Cheerleader

STRANGER IN A STRANGE SKIN: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/95140

A Redhead Looks at 60: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/189-7867874-1973650?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=a+redhead+looks+at+60

©All creative works by Joan Ellen Gage are her exclusive property, and Joan maintains the legal rights to them.

Women weave the fabric. . .

OTHER WEBSITE: https://joanszoneblogalicious.wordpress.com/

FACEBOOK PAGE:https://www.facebook.com/yourpersonalcheerleaderJoanEllenGage/

JOAN’S BOOKS:

EMBRACING YOUR INNER CHEERLEADER: http://www.amazon.com/Embracing-Your-Inner-Cheerleader-ebook/dp/B0086WW7AA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&

qid=1340641839&sr=8-1&keywords=Embracing+Your+Inner+Cheerleader

STRANGER IN A STRANGE SKIN: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/95140

A Redhead Looks at 60: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/189-7867874-1973650?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=a+redhead+looks+at+60

©All creative works by Joan Ellen Gage are her exclusive property, and Joan maintains the legal rights to them.

By Design: A poem for National Womens’ Breast Cancer Awareness Month, by Joan Ellen Gage

This poem is from Joan Ellen Gage’s book, Water Running Downhill. Below the text, you will see a link with the author reading the poem. Gage created this image using a photo animation program. The Website Water Running Downhill no longer exists. Joan’s other website is listed below.

OTHER WEBSITE: https://joans-zone.com/
FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/yourpersonalcheerleaderJoanEllenGage/
JOAN’S BOOKS:
EMBRACING YOUR INNER CHEERLEADER: http://www.amazon.com/Embracing-Your-Inner-Cheerleader-ebook/dp/B0086WW7AA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&
qid=1340641839&sr=8-1&keywords=Embracing+Your+Inner+Cheerleader
STRANGER IN A STRANGE SKIN: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/95140
WATER RUNNING DOWNHILL, ROSE EDITION: http://www.amazon.com/Water-Running-Downhill-Words-Empowerment/dp/0692571965/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1447021563&sr=1-1&keywords=water+running+downhill%2C+words+of+empowerment%2C+rose+edition
A Redhead Looks at 60: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/189-7867874-1973650?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=a+redhead+looks+at+60
©All creative works by Joan Ellen Gage are her exclusive property, and Joan maintains the legal rights to them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i-wERS6LX3o

Pink Chapstick

PINK CHAPSTICK

Everything was

pink.

The kitchenware,even

the microwave and coffee maker,

my sister’s signature color,

pink.

Her color choice expanded to

clothes, nightgowns, jewelry,

bedding, phone, all

pink.

The dolls wore pink

exclusively, the walls were

hung with themes of

pink.

I kept Chapstick

from her estate, stashed

in all of my necessary places,

all pink-tubed.

My sister has been gone

one year, the Chapstick

dwindles; I wear her sunglasses,

pink-lenses, of course, and think of her.

Joan Ellen Gage

OTHER WEBSITE: https://joanszoneblogalicious.wordpress.com/

FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Joan-Ellen-Gage/158895910832925

JOAN’S BOOKS:

EMBRACING YOUR INNER CHEERLEADER: http://www.amazon.com/Embracing-Your-Inner-Cheerleader-ebook/dp/B0086WW7AA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&

qid=1340641839&sr=8-1&keywords=Embracing+Your+Inner+Cheerleader

STRANGER IN A STRANGE SKIN: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/95140

A Redhead Looks at 60: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/189-7867874-1973650?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=a+redhead+looks+at+60

©All creative works by Joan Ellen Gage are her exclusive property, and Joan maintains the legal rights to them.

Patch, patch, patch!

Joan about to run off the road!

Patch, Patch, Patch!

Why is it?

Just when you think things are going to be

Rosy

Life sideswipes you, and throws you in the

Ditch!

I seem to spend

Half of my life patching things back

Together

The other half I spend worrying

About

Whether the patch will hold!

Oh, no!

Don’t tell me!

Is that another leak

I hear?

From Embracing Your Inner Cheerleader, by Joan Ellen Gage

Hi, I hope everyone is having a good day, no flat tires! May your blessings be bountiful and your cares be few.

Ciao!

Joan

OTHER WEBSITE: https://joanszoneblogalicious.wordpress.com/

FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Joan-Ellen-Gage/158895910832925

JOAN’S BOOKS:

EMBRACING YOUR INNER CHEERLEADER: http://www.amazon.com/Embracing-Your-Inner-Cheerleader-ebook/dp/B0086WW7AA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&

qid=1340641839&sr=8-1&keywords=Embracing+Your+Inner+Cheerleader

STRANGER IN A STRANGE SKIN: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/95140

A Redhead Looks at 60: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/189-7867874-1973650?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=a+redhead+looks+at+60

Accepting yourself, faults and all!

Can you see the real me?

Acceptance

It’s the hardest thing a woman can do

To accept herself as she is, faults and all

And rise above Western civilizations’ criticism

Our society has created a model

That few can touch—

Ultra thin, flawless, plus giant breasts

Based on the “Barbie” doll figure

Women come in all shapes and sizes

Each perfect in their own way

Women must find their own exquisiteness

And embrace and love themselves

Their unique and wonderful selves!

From the book, A Redhead Looks at 60,
by Joan Ellen Gage

OTHER WEBSITE: https://joanszoneblogalicious.wordpress.com/

FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Joan-Ellen-Gage/158895910832925

JOAN’S BOOKS:

EMBRACING YOUR INNER CHEERLEADER: http://www.amazon.com/Embracing-Your-Inner-Cheerleader-ebook/dp/B0086WW7AA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&

qid=1340641839&sr=8-1&keywords=Embracing+Your+Inner+Cheerleader

STRANGER IN A STRANGE SKIN: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/95140

A Redhead Looks at 60: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/189-7867874-1973650?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=a+redhead+looks+at+60

Unfinished Works of Art

A Woman for All Ages

Here is a shock for you

Not all of us are moms who do it all

Or are executives, who crashed the glass ceiling,

Left, and found their “true calling”

Some of us have just been trying to make a living

Worker bees, who buried creative or other needs,

Like self-expression, under a load of work and life

It happens and time passes

I swallowed the work ethic myth hook, line and sinker

I was the “perfect” employee—hard working

Taking a personal interest in my job

My Mary Poppins’ era; but, it left nothing for me

50 opened up my eyes

I still work hard, but now I work for me

First and foremost, I take care of myself

And my responsibilities to family

As time passes, we need to deal with

And understand what lessons each decade teaches us

Hopefully we learn and embrace the wisdom

From our experiences, and in turn,

These life lessons flesh out

Who we are becoming and who we grow to be

We are unfinished works of art

The book not yet completed

The half-carved sculpture

To be unveiled by the universe

And not at a time of our choosing

So let the journey unfold, and may your story be told!

From the book, A Redhead Looks at 60, by Joan Ellen Gage

I hope you enjoyed the art and the poem, dear reader. Have a wonderful one!

Blessings!

Joan

OTHER WEBSITE: https://joanszoneblogalicious.wordpress.com/

FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Joan-Ellen-Gage/158895910832925

JOAN’S BOOKS:

EMBRACING YOUR INNER CHEERLEADER: http://www.amazon.com/Embracing-Your-Inner-Cheerleader-ebook/dp/B0086WW7AA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&

qid=1340641839&sr=8-1&keywords=Embracing+Your+Inner+Cheerleader

STRANGER IN A STRANGE SKIN: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/95140

A Redhead Looks at 60: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/189-7867874-1973650?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=a+redhead+looks+at+60

TIME TO WAKE UP!

MIDLIFE CLOCK

by Joan Ellen Gage

Time,

Too much, not enough,

Too slow, too fast,

Forever tick, tick, ticking

Away . . .

Time,

We wish it

Here . . .

We wish it

Gone . . .

Time,

Feel it

Trickling, teasing

Through your fingers,

Sifting between

Your toes . . .

You

Are the hourglass,

Your time is running

Out, tick, tock.

Half of the sand

Of your being

Has dwindled away.

Your vital force

Diminishes, as

Grain by

Tiny grain,

Your essence

Erodes . . .

Wake up!

It’s half past

Your life!

Hello my friends! It’s time to get our mojo working! We can do it, let’s go ladies! Remember, women rock!

Joan

Please visit my other links!

OTHER WEBSITE: https://joanszoneblogalicious.wordpress.com/

FACEBOOK PAGE: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Joan-Ellen-Gage/158895910832925

JOAN’S BOOKS:

EMBRACING YOUR INNER CHEERLEADER: http://www.amazon.com/Embracing-Your-Inner-Cheerleader-ebook/dp/B0086WW7AA/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&

qid=1340641839&sr=8-1&keywords=Embracing+Your+Inner+Cheerleader

STRANGER IN A STRANGE SKIN: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/95140

WATER RUNNING DOWNHILL, ROSE EDITION: http://www.amazon.com/Water-Running-Downhill-Words-Empowerment/dp/0692571965/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1447021563&sr=1-1&keywords=water+running+downhill%2C+words+of+empowerment%2C+rose+edition

A Redhead Looks at 60: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss/189-7867874-1973650?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=a+redhead+looks+at+60

©All creative works by Joan Ellen Gage are her exclusive property, and Joan maintains the legal rights to them.