Stars in my Sink

This month's writing prompt was to channel another writer's voice. I wrote this poem a long time ago and forgot about it until just now, but this was my attempt at channeling the wonderful Shel Silverstein. He's much more talented than me, but it's still fun to think about poetry in the same child-like, carefree way. 

"Stars in my Sink" -ww

One day, not so long ago

As some of you may think,

Every star up in the sky

Fell down into my sink.

‘Absurd!’ you squeal, and rightly so,

It’s quite an odd affair.

Who would have thought that all those stars

Could fit inside of there?

I was not angry; not one bit.

I was not even scared.

And even though they broke my roof,

I hardly even cared.

I thought it quite a lucky feat

Those stars fell in my sink.

‘Cause stars are worth a pretty price.

“I’ll do quite well, I think.”

The next day at the market place

I towed my market wares.

But I could not get one star sold.

I only got dark stares.

“Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard?

You cannot sell those stars.

You need to put them back right now.

You can’t sell what’s not yours.

“Those stars are wishes cast by those

Whose efforts cannot yield

What you have at your fingertips

To hold and know and feel.”

I held a star up in my hand

And curiously saw

A myriad of images

Race ‘cross the crystal ball:

A crying child wish for a toy,

A mother wish for rest,

Two lovers wish for time alone,

Some wished for life; some death.

I saw my face reflected there

‘Mid wishes so sincere.

How vain, how shallow, how absurd

My wishes now appeared!

Suddenly, I saw those stars

In quite a different light.

Those stars were meant to dot the sky,

And brighten up dark nights.

“But how?” I asked to those who stood

And chided my pursuits.

“How can the stars go back up there?

And who will fix my roof?”

“You could use a catapult,”

“Or maybe a balloon.”

“Perhaps a rocket ship will work,”

“Yes, surely that will do.”

“No, no, my friends, not one of these

Will take the stars back home.

I think we have to send them back

The same way they came down.

“I’ve wished for my entire life

On every wishing star

I’ve fought, and cried, and prayed and hoped

And even traveled far.

"But now I’ll send my wishes back

Into that outer space

Where wishes wait for even me

To reach and grab my fate.”

So one by one I wished away

Those hopes that shined so bright.

And one by one they flew from me,

To light a darkened night.

Now through my roof at night I stare

And hope the stars can see

I don’t need them to grant my wish;

Both they and I are free.

Something to Help Inspire and Aspire

Have you read this?

If you've talked with me during the past few months for more than five minutes, you've probably heard me rave about it. I posted a basically this same post on my personal blog, and thought that our writing blog could use a few more posts, so I copied and pasted what I wrote basically because I love, love, love the quotes at the end and want to share them with whoever will read/hear them.  

Because of the inspiration I found while reading this book, I have a totally different perspective now towards each day, and the way I choose to view things. I realized I WANT to be a positive person. And that it's more than okay to have a happy-go-lucky, Pollyanna attitude, because in the end it is just better, healthier way to live. It can be challenging sometimes to always be optimistic, but, you feel better and attract more positive and good things when you live a happy life. 

I was also inspired by the author, Gretchen Rubin, to start doing a few things. So in the middle of reading a sentence a thought would pop into my head and I'd get up and write someone a note, or call my mom, or kiss and play with my baby, or do something nice to surprise my husband, or find that recipe I've been wanting to make for dinner for a while and actually make it, or start writing more like I've been wanting to for years, or put together a play group, or finally write that plan to organize my days I've been meaning to write...etc. 

I loved the last sentence on this page:

 "Happiness," wrote Yeats, "is neither virtue nor pleasure nor this thing nor that, but simply growth. We are happy when we are growing."

Here are a few quotes I wrote down that I found inspirational: 

"Imaginary evil is romantic and varied; real evil is gloomy, monotonous, barren, boring. Imaginary good is boring; real good is always new, marvelous, intoxicating."- Simone Weil

"One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy.

One of the best ways to make other people happy is to be happy."

"When one loves, one does not calculate." - Saint Therese of Lisieux

"If money is to enhance your happiness, it must be used to support aspects of life that themselves bring happiness to you."

"Money. It's a good servant, but a bad master."

"Nothing can make our life, or the lives of other people, more beautiful than perpetual kindness" - Tolstoy

"What's fun for other people may not be fun for you"

"When I was feeling unhappy, I felt dispirited, lethargic, defensive, and uninterested in other people; even worse, when I felt angry or resentful, I searched for excuses to feel even more angry and resentful. On the other hand, when I felt happy, I was more likely to be lighthearted, generous, creative, kind, encouraging and helpful"

"The days are long, but the years are short"

If you've read it, what are some things that you've found to be inspiring? Is there anything that you've changed in your life as a result? I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Also, I'm looking for new good reads, so if you have any suggestions, I'd love to hear great recommendations!