Traveling at the Speed of Now

CLOSURE, Digital Art and Poetry by Joan Ellen Gage

Published on August 31, 2021 by Digital Art--I'm using All of the CrayonsLeave a comment

Closure

Oh spirit, I
have been a foolish
woman, and it was
lovely, that foolishness,
while it lasted, oh, the

desire, the heat that
rose in my body, how
my heart swelled with
affection, how it

burst open when
silence closed the door,
crushing my expectations,
revealing the truth, that

the perceived yin to my
yang is not ready, is
caught in their own
web of broken

dreams and nightmares,
leaving the relationship
dangling and in
need of healing, or

closure, and I
choose the latter, to
go forward, to heal,
closing another scar
in my battered heart,
shutting the door to
love.

Joan Ellen Gage

OTHER WEBSITE: joans-zone–poetry, digital art, and attitude – Drop into joans-zone for an art-titude adjustment

JOAN’S LINKS:

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

Tweets by gage_joanellen

https://www.instagram.com/JoanEllenGage609/

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.

Paper Thin, poetry and digital art by Joan Ellen Gge

Published on June 23, 2020October 2, 2020 by Digital Art--I'm using All of the CrayonsLeave a comment

Paper Thin

How delicate, fragile, the

ego, the self, the dreamer, the

flesh, unprotected, tender,

soft bellies exposed,

ripe for the tearing, the

wolf, the critic.

The faith, the bold front

disappearing under scrutiny

before the faceless masses. What

was surety, now melting,

hardened heart hibernating

hiding, behind apron strings.

We are surrounded and

constructed of similar fabric,

paper thin construct, tearable,

crushable thinness, words and deeds

rend us, collapse us. Ill wind

shears us apart,

leaving us helpless and betrayed.

I promise I will not

huff and puff and

blow your house down. Will you

do the same for me?

Joan Ellen Gage

OTHER WEBSITE:https://joans-zone.com/

JOAN’S LINKS:

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

https://twitter.com/gage_joanellen

https://www.instagram.com/JoanEllenGage609/

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.

A Gift of Kindness, poem by Joan Ellen Gage

Published on October 15, 2019September 29, 2020 by Digital Art--I'm using All of the Crayons1 Comment

A poem for International Women’s Day, New Frontiers digital art and poem, by Joan Ellen Gage

Published on March 8, 2019October 1, 2020 by Digital Art--I'm using All of the CrayonsLeave a comment

NEW FRONTIERS

I have to say that

the women I meet these days, as

peers and otherwise,

are smart and savvy.

They are really out there

breaking up the male empire

and enjoyingit.

This sisterhood of women

is such a positive force, and

whether we realize it, or

not, the truth is,

women are changing

their worlds, and

it is apparent to them.

Even if the rest of the planet cannot

see this alteration,

It does not matter. It is

our own perception that does.

Women have visualized

a new reality, and made it theirs,

they now operate within this new order.

We are cowgirls of

the new frontier,

Making and breaking up rules,

we ride bareback into

dangerous deserts, canyons,

and boardrooms,

while twirling our iPhones.

And, when we wear our silver spurs,

they haven’t got

a chance!

From the book Water Running Downhill,

by Joan Ellen Gage

OTHER WEBSITE: https://joans-zone.com/

JOAN’S LINKS:

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

https://twitter.com/gage_joanellen

https://www.instagram.com/JoanEllenGage609/

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.

Can you Embrace the Fierce? Poetry by Joan Ellen Gage

Published on July 7, 2018 by Digital Art--I'm using All of the CrayonsLeave a comment

Mary–Embracing the Fierce

Good morning! Are we feeling fierce, today? No, well, read on and embrace the fierce!

Fierce

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 Who Serve; Digital Art and Poetry for Caregivers, by Joan Ellen Gage

Published on May 30, 2018October 1, 2020 by Digital Art--I'm using All of the CrayonsLeave a comment

WOMEN WHO SERVE

Daily, they bring me

The stories of their

Lives and loves

These tales speak

To me on a very

Personal level, as

These stories may

Evolve to include mine

These women tell me

Of lives spent

Taking care of everyone

Beginning with raising children

Encompassing perhaps twenty years

And of their being a helpmate

To their spouses, and doing

The never-ending household chores

But, these years of child-rearing

Were closely followed with

The care taking of these women’s

Failing parents; a role reversal where

The parents seemed

To become the children

This was a difficult duty

But it was a duty done out of love

Lastly, the women spoke of

The deterioration of their spouses

Many of these women

Had no funds for outside help

And often were frail themselves

But they bravely served

At their spouses sides

And offered up their

Often-thankless support

Waging a war until the end

There are no purple hearts

For care-giving, and no memorials

This is the reality of women’s lives

This may become your existence and mine

Please, learn by this lesson

This is our time; fly and be free!

Joan Ellen Gage

from the book

Water Running Downhill!

For my dear friend, Elisa. Rest in peace, Dario.

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.

Patch, patch, patch!

Published on August 3, 2016 by Digital Art--I'm using All of the Crayons1 Comment

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!

Published on July 13, 2016 by Digital Art--I'm using All of the Crayons1 Comment

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

Published on May 15, 2016 by Digital Art--I'm using All of the Crayons1 Comment

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!

Published on March 8, 2016 by Digital Art--I'm using All of the CrayonsLeave a comment

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.