| Ballard's Bytes
Blog |
"Well, now we have seen
each other," said the unicorn "if you'll believe in me, I'll believe in you.
Is that a bargain?" ~ Lewis Carroll |
Southern Autumn By Joanna Ballard
Poem & Photo © Joanna Ballard. All rights reserved. No reproduction of this material, in any
form or medium, is permitted without express permission of the author.
As always
the work is available in high resolution printed in archival ink and/or matted
and framed version Please contact me for more info and to purchase a copy.
Writing and publication
opportunities:
To purchase Joanna Ballard's
chapbooks @ the great rates below please
CLICK HERE
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these great prices and get MP3's and/or her Spoken Word CD go to Joanna's home page
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http://www.ballardsbytes.com
Thank YOU for Supporting ART and
the artists that produce art, by buying original works!
Gender: Female
Status: Single
Age: 47
Sign: Pisces
City: SHREVEPORT
State: Louisiana
Country: US
Signup Date: 10/22/2005
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Thursday, December 31, 2009
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Current mood:concerned
Category: Life
In Shreveport and Louisiana
1.877.678.7500
Local number 1.318. 221.3989
State wide Suicide/Crisis Hotlines:
1-800-437-0303
1-800-749-COPE (2673)
Louisiana Domestic Violence Hotline
1-888-411-1333
Louisiana Rape Crisis Centers
1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
Our House Help for Teens
Hotline: 1-888-442-TEEN
Louisiana Association on Compulsive Gambling
Hotline: 1-877-770-STOP
Louisiana Office for Addictive Disorders
Hotline: 1-877-664-2248
Louisiana Spirit Hurricane Recovery Program, Crisis Counseling Program
Hotline: 1-800-273-8255
also for community directory of local services statewide of many varieties
211
This is the tip of the iceberg I am sure there are similar numbers in your state or country do you know the help available in your community even small ones the pastors and other caring folks?
Folks these are "interesting times" we live in challenging us world wide in many ways bringing out the extremes in people. Please find out about your local helpers, not only for ourselves but also our friends and family. Listen folks not sure what you heard but if someone talks about suicide they will also do it! Talk to them and get help. The numbers above are just some resources in my area.
Please read and know what is here and look up what is in your area and take your friend or family members confidence seriously and get help to help them. We need to pull together as human beings and help NOT blow up.
A lot of creative folks read my blog we can create it out of ourselves, in fact many can do so, but do not know how, we are blessed in getting our thoughts emotions feelings outside ourselves. I wrote this, this past week when the lonelies got me like they do all of us.
Wearies
World
and
battle
weary.
The
Lonelies
seep,
too
deep,
within.
By Joanna Ballard
March 18, 2009
© 2009, Joanna Ballard. All rights reserved. No reproduction of this material, in any form or medium, is permitted without express permission of the author.
See you are not the only one, If your down talk or chat or type to someone sharing helps and heals most of get help you are not alone in these "times"! Thank you for reading and caring now back to your irregularly schedules lives!
Harmony and Peace to US ALL!
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Thursday, December 31, 2009
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Current mood:miraculous!
Category: Life
Folks the YWCA family Violence Shelter in my town has the below IMMEDIATE food needs as these "times" get tougher it brings out the best in most but in some it brings out rough beasts. This shelter helped me when I left my ex husband and were so there for me. Now they need help besides the below immediate needs and anything from toiletries to clothing for women and children and other funds if you cannot drop off any of the below items at the YWCA at 710 Travis Street in Shreveport La 71101 please consider donating a dollar or two (every "bit" matters) to address above or using the electronic link below.
This also a shelter that does NOT charge those that seek refuge there as most do in my area and across the country. If you cannot help here check with your shelters and consider giving something even "time" to those that do not charge their residents. Thank YOU in advance.
Here is the link to donate, if it does not work here try copying and pasting it in your browser:
https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=8122700
I hope it works here
Here are IMMEDIATE items needed if everyone that reads this buys a couple of extra items and drops them off or just donates a couple of dollars the results will be miraculous for sure and certain!
1. 30 gallons of milk
2. 40 loaves of bread (hamburger and hotdog buns)
3. cheese-slices or grated
4. instant oatmeal and grits
5. apples/oranges/bananas
6. lettuce and tomatoes
Thank YOU in advance cause I KNOW miracles happen daily I am LIVING proof! Luv y'all
Harmony and Peace to US ALL!
Just plain ol' Jo
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Saturday, November 07, 2009
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Current mood:What Is ing
Category: Writing and Poetry
It is what it is ... Enjoy ?!
What Is
In the channels,
sinews
of the ancient
Mind?
Is "Time"
cleaning
clutter?
Cells,
protesting
holding
tight
to
suddenly
significant
flighty
imagined,
wrong
amid
the
clatter
of
memories
r
a
i
n
i
n
g,
d
r
a
i
n
i
n
g
brain,
matters,
of the ancient
sinews
in the channels
of the
senile
mind ... ?
By Joanna Ballard
November 06, 2009
© 2009, Joanna Ballard. All rights reserved. No reproduction of this material, in any form or medium, is permitted without express permission of the author.
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Thursday, October 29, 2009
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Current mood:Remembering?
Category: Writing and Poetry
*Fingers crossed* This works if the player doesn't start start it Impish grin This was written last year inspired by Nyla of Blog Talk's Speak Easy Cafe' Produced and Music By Henry Turner Jr. Also On my CD The Peddler's Quilt: A Patchwork of Spoken Word which can be ordered from my website www.ballardsbytes.com Enjoy!? ...
Samhain Remembered © 2008, Joanna Ballard. All rights reserved. No reproduction of this material, in any form or medium, is permitted without express permission of the author. ..tr>..table> ..tr> I do remember to forget.
Only in the forgetting
to remember.
A cool fall night,
like tonight,
brings it back.
In the forgetting
I remember.
Perhaps the memory
is as false as
a cheesy moon.
As I do remember to forget.
A crisp late evening,
Samhain,
All Hallow's Eve,
Trick or Treat.
In the forgetting
I remember.
The woods called,
as they sometimes do,
near midnight.
I do remember
I grabbed
my walking stick
and hat,
crunching leaves
lightly with
each step.
In the forgetting
I remember.
The fog rolled in quick,
as I neared my
once, favorite
clearing.
I do remember to forget.
The sound of a shovel
digging strongly
deep
broke nature's
silence.
In the forgetting
I remember.
I had stumbled
upon Old Man Todd
burying his favorite
blood hound.
So I later heard,
as I do remember to forget.
I backed a step,
so he spied me
not,
compelled to
watch, as it
was Samhain.
In the forgetting
I remember.
Suddenly,
meteorites
or was it dragons
firing?
(the worlds do
collide you know)
showered the
sky,
glowing, yet
burning nothing
but dark.
In the forgetting
I remember.
Up sprang from
the ground,
(or was it the fires?)
Wraiths
and pixie
creatures. | Was I merely
dreaming?
It seems so clear now,
I do remember!
They greeted
each other
fondly, as
hidden I watched.
In the forgetting
I remember. Old man Todd's hound
shook off death and
happily mingled with
fairy and ghost.
Mr. Todd seemed not to
see
or know.
I do remember
to forget.
Music materialized
from the atmosphere,
it seemed,
specter
and sprite
danced to
melodic airs.
Old man Todd,
as if from a trance freed,
oddly,
(as he usually creeped
when he walked),
with a frisky wink,
energetically
joined the merry
prancers.
In the forgetting
I remember.
Strangely,
They all seemed
to meld into the fog,
the fires
sputtering out.
I do remember
The stratosphere
crackled
then popped.
Old man Todd
lay on the ground
beside his hound.
I do remember
to forget.
I found myself
on my front
porch,
disoriented.
They say
Old man Todd
was found
dead as his hound,
a heart attack,
both heaven bound.
In the forgetting
I remember.
I know they are
another world
'round.
To be found
on Samhain
frolicking
with fairy folk
and phantoms.
I do remember to forget.
Only in the forgetting
to remember. By Joanna Ballard
October 29, 2008 | ..table>
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Tuesday, October 27, 2009
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Current mood:To Be Continued ...
Category: Writing and Poetry
One of my personal favs ... Enjoy!?
Discontinued
The show is done,
the set loaded,
the bay door locked tight,
I stand savoring the moment
hanging on to the magic
keeping it from unraveling too fast,
remembering,
the stage lights,
the applause,
the wonder ...
A match scrapes the brick wall
a cigarette than a figure fades in,
"Discontinued"
the word floats on the air,
"Now they are telling me
even as a ghost.
I am to be discontinued"
I feel a chill
but no real fear
for after all
stories always
catch my ear.
"My music was old
they said,
I prefer to hint
and promote
romance,
the music
of the soul,
not the streets."
I nod
still quietly
listening.
"Nice hat,
guess that is why
I thought you might
hear me," he says.
"This is it,
I hope you remember,
even as a ghost,
I am to be discontinued.
I prefer not
to frighten, shock,
scare or swear.
I would rather
vibe harmony, peace,
love and laughter."
He tips his hat,
twin to mine,
flips the cigarette
into nothingness
and fades into the night.
I stand savoring the moment
hanging on to the magic
remembering, knowing,
realizing,
I have to be me,
even if I too
am, discontinued..
After the show is done,
the set is loaded,
the bay door is locked tight,
and the magic unravels.
Joanna Ballard
© Joanna Ballard. All rights reserved. No republication of this material, in any form or medium, is permitted without express permission of the author.
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Monday, October 26, 2009
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Current mood:starry eyed
Category: Writing and Poetry
Here ya go Kristine *impish grin* The rest of you this not Halloween but because Kristine asked my response to a flex writer's challenge.
Enjoy? ...
Stars?
Haven't seen
'em in years.
City lights
over power
nights,
Neon brights
create shadow
in shade,
these fascinate.
Local stars
drama kings
and queens?
Lack luster,
at best.
Real stars?
That stories
are truly
written in?
The eyes of
the passing
stranger,
you dare to
meet,
greet,
stories
lurk in
there.
"Once upon
a times's"
and
"is"
Then much
closer
eyes of
street folk,
dreams,
wishes,
hopes,
even
happiness
still play
there.
Look.
See?
Brightest
of
ALL
Spin a tale
for a child.
Watch!
Stars
don't just
live
in their eyes
they are
born there,
bursting
with fireworks
of possibilities.
Stars?
Haven't seen
'em in years,
Not the
heavenly
ones,
just
the
divine
Human
Kind.
By Joanna Ballard
October 26, 2009
© 2009, Joanna Ballard. All rights reserved. No reproduction of this material, in any form or medium, is permitted without express permission of the author.
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Monday, October 26, 2009
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Current mood:Wild!
Category: Writing and Poetry
This one has actually been published in Hard Copy a "few" times.
Enjoy? ...
Wild Corner
The older woman's cackles,
subside,
wiping laughter tears
mingling in late spring sweat
from her face with
the tail of her
bright red skirt.
"Oh child
you do tickle me!
So ya want wants to know?
ya really do?
What's around the corner?
Is the city as wild as they say?
Oh child doncha know?
Curiosity killed that cat
there is more than
one way of skinin'
Dat there corner Lawd a mercy
Well child just a turn it!
The city well dat's a whole
'nother kettle of fish!"
The woman's eyes glaze
in a farseeing look,
"The city? The city is wilder then
even them that knows says
The concrete
is seasoned
with the blood
of dashed hopes
Them playgrounds
they fertilized with
the spirits of hate
and da needle of despair
Lawdy the ghosts!
the ghosts of millions
with no where to go
even the sewer is flooded
with dem
Wildness be every where
In the city it be piled
Hip deep
ghosts of kinds and kins
Crazy and not!
Wild to get out
Wild to get at cha!"
The woman sits back
chuckles once again,
"Now go on with ya
turn that corner
and see!
Watch dem wild ones
know there are even
wilder ones
packed in down deep.
Now scat you youngun!"
The old woman settles
back against the tattered screen door
fading slowly into nothingness
as the ancient Southern sun peaks.
By Joanna Ballard
© Joanna Ballard. All rights reserved. No reproduction of this
material, in any form or medium, is permitted without express
permission of the author.
 | Currently listening:
Wild Thing
By The Troggs
Release date: 2007-06-25 |
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Monday, October 26, 2009
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Current mood:hopeful
Category: Writing and Poetry
This was the poem I was honored to read this afternoon as part of the
"Harbingers of Hope in Hard Times" an art exhibit honoring the 80th
anniversary of the Great Depression in fact I am honored it is part of
the exhibit (first work on the left as you walk in the door of the
Magale Library) even tho they hid us in a back room upstairs tho the
room was jam packed just in case you missed it this and other poets
works for the exhibit are included in a booklet available at the
exhibit (if any are left) sooooooooooo with an intro longer than the
poem .. .
Enjoy ... ?
Hope
against
odds
reason
logic
rhyme
deep
dark
despairing
hole
against
itself
Hope
crazy
Hope
keeps
us
HUMAN.
By Joanna Ballard
© 2009, Joanna Ballard. All rights reserved. No reproduction of this
material, in any form or medium, is permitted without express
permission of the author.
 | Currently listening:
Hope |
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Saturday, October 24, 2009
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Current mood:imagining
Category: Writing and Poetry
What can I say, my friend Henry sent me some new acoustic works to play with, I am so tired and cold, I cannot rest, a video my friend Debbie posted on my comments, the neighbor showing off his beginning violin lessons results to my Mom, my imagination ... VOILA ... *impish grin*
Enjoy?!
Imagine
1 note,
sounding,
clear,
joining
autumn wind,
swirling
into
1 leaf,
dancing,
1 human,
seeing,
1 mind,
creating,
gossamer
fairies,
prickly
pixies,
writhing
wraiths,
into
being,
believing,
creating,
1 mind,
seeing,
1 human,
dancing,
1 leaf,
autumn
wind
sounding,
1 note,
I M A G I N E ...
By Joanna Ballard
October 23, 2009
© 2009, Joanna Ballard. All rights reserved. No reproduction of this material, in any form or medium, is permitted without express permission of the author.
 | Currently listening:
Imagine
By John Lennon
Release date: 2000-04-11 |
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Friday, October 16, 2009
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Current mood:No Apologies
Category: Writing and Poetry
No Apologies
Poetry
doesn't
apologize.
I wonder
who
will be
remembered
in History's
lies?
Poetry
doesn't
apologize.
Yet our
rhymes,
protests,
lines,
pains,
are sounding
all the
same.
Poetry
doesn't
apologize.
Is anyone
hearing
our cries
for
change,
revolution,
absolution?
Poetry
doesn't
apologize.
I wonder
who
will be
remembered
in History's
lies?
By Joanna Ballard
October 15, 2009
© 2009, Joanna Ballard. All rights reserved. No reproduction of this material, in any form or medium, is permitted without express permission of the author.
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