Category Archives: Poetry

Unbroken

Unbroken

I
hover
in darkness
looking for light
the minutes tick by
waiting with bated breath
countdown to imminent death
from the graveyard, the spirits cry
hanging in the icy air of night
reality shines, eyesight to the blind
shivering as memories cloud my mind
leaving my loneliness unbroken
heart ravaged by words unspoken
hold on ‘til the bitter end
my spirit shall transcend
standing in the fray
with the heart-felt
promise of
New Year’s
Day

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2023
January 7, 2023

Happy New Year! It’s my first blog for 2023. I am glad that 2022 came to a close, there were lots of ups and downs for our families last year. Many happy memories were made, but we experienced the shocking death of Dan’s brother Bob in April and his oldest brother has been suffering with major health issues since July. It really opens your eyes to our own mortality and the realization to live life to your fullest.

We are all getting older and experiencing our own aches, pains and illnesses. In the past 13 months I’ve had COVID, pneumonia, bronchitis, multiple sinus infections, and gall bladder surgery. I am extremely healthy and very active, but experienced long COVID with lingering respiratory and fatigue issues.  All the other sickness followed COVID, which makes you wonder how badly it affects our immune systems. Those of you who know me know that I don’t have a lot of patience for being under the weather. I don’t have time for that but have learned this year that I need to make time. Self-care is so important. Even doing little things like making sure you get enough water to drink each day can make a huge impact on your general health and how much energy you have!

I don’t believe in New Year’s Resolutions, I just believe in always striving to be the best I can be, whether that is in my home life, my health, my job, etc. One thing I did achieve last year is that I lost about 15 pounds last year using the Noom app, and I feel great. It was a slow, intentional loss that happened over several months. It is based on the psychology of eating, and helps you identify eating habits and make changes. You basically log weight, food, exercise and water into the app, and progress through the course. I want to keep that weight off, because I feel so much better in my skin. There were no food restrictions, keto, paleo, intermittent fasting or crazy diets involved. It was more of an intentional mental shift to eat mindfully and healthy, in moderation, and cut down on portions and be accountable to yourself. That being said, I gave myself grace and still splurged over the holidays, enjoying the things I love: Christmas candy, cookies, wine, champagne, shrimp and cocktail sauce, mashed potatoes with gravy, corn pudding, etc. I just did it in moderation, and I tried not to continue a binge of these things.

This weekend is dedicated to one of my least favorite tasks: undecorating the house. Yep, all the Christmas decorations are coming down, the tree will be dismantled and the “gift shop” closed until next year. (That’s what Dan jokingly calls our house when it gets fully decked out for Christmas). It is always kind of sad, but it’s necessary. I feel the urge to get everything back to normal now. Busy season is already upon us, and I’ll be working major overtime beginning next week. I wish you all a Happy New Year and lots of love!

xoxo
Colleen

Mood: Reflective
Inspiration “Time” by Hans Zimmer – amazing composer!!

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 27.14 Topic: Keeping Up With Time
Hard Bonus: Include an Edgar Allen Poe line or quote (“hanging in the icy air of night” and “leave my loneliness unbroken”)
Easy Bonus: Mention shrimp and cocktail sauce

Christmas Spirit

Christmas Spirit

The crimson sun comes crashing down
Blood red rays tumble to the ground.
I see it through the scarlet glare,
Christmas spirit is everywhere.

I find joy in falling snowflakes,
Even though my broken heart aches.
Scent of pine needles in the air,
Christmas spirit is everywhere.

Oh silent night, most holy night,
I’m drawn towards the eastern light.
I bow my head to say a prayer,
Christmas spirit is everywhere.

The crimson sun comes crashing down,
Christmas spirit is everywhere.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2022
December 30, 2022

Well I have written yet another Kyrielle sonnet this week. I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and Happy Hanukkah! It was a very low key Christmas holiday for us. We spent it with the cats in the morning, then up to my Mom’s and my sister Sarah and her family for dinner and gifts. Next year, we’re definitely planning to spend Christmas in Florida to see the grandkids and both Vince and Katie. We’re kind of glad we didn’t follow through with it this year. As it turns out, the flights were exorbitant, and the cancellations were massive due to the crippling winter storm! Next year will be our year.

I finally got an opportunity to run outside today, the first time in over 3 months since having my gall bladder surgery. The day was sunny with high temps in the low 50’s – perfect running weather in my opinion! However, I was giving myself some grace, since it had been so long. But I am happy to report that I did my usual 6 mile run without stopping, 6 laps around the beautiful lake in our neighborhood. The geese were congregating in the middle of the lake, and some parts were frozen. I observed a herd of deer grazing in the lot across the lake. The sun was beginning to set, and I snapped some photos of the reflection on the lake. It was a delightful run, and I’m looking forward to getting back to a regular routine with running once again.

Tonight Dan and I went out for an spur of the moment early New Year dinner at the country club. It was delicious, and not crowded at all. We usually stay in New Years’ Eve, have some shrimp and champagne, and call it a night at 12:05 lol. We don’t care to be out on the roads on what Dan calls “Amateur Night!” There will probably be some Scrabble games, maybe even a fire pit since it is supposed to go into the 60s tomorrow.

I wish for all of you the happiest 2023! May you know many blessings and experience peace, love and happiness.

xoxo Colleen

Mood: Calm
Inspiration: “Silent Night”

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 26.14 Topic: The Spirit of Christmas 
Hard Bonus: Incorporate your favorite Christmas Carol or holiday song lyric  ( “Silent night”)
Easy Bonus:  Include 3 shades of red (crimson, blood red, scarlet)

Empty Sky

Empty Sky

My witness is the empty sky,
Devoid of any truth or lie.
Raindrops tumble from clouds of gray…
It all ends in tears anyway.

Winter wallows with brutal cold
As cherished memories unfold.
No matter what they do or say…
It all ends in tears anyway.

Behold as Christmas comes again
With scent of spruce and cinnamon.
But time is cruel, stealing the day…
It all ends in tears anyway.

My witness is the empty sky…
It all ends in tears anyway.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2022
December 24, 2022

Merry Christmas to all! I was trying to incorporate a lighter Christmas mood, but Jack Kerouac kind of rained on my parade today. Haha!! Researching his quotes, the two lines I chose stuck with me and fit into this Kyrielle sonnet scheme as the repeating final couplet. As I’ve said before, writing a sonnet is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle of words!

Actually I was thinking of how this past year was very difficult for so many.  On a personal level, seems like those close to me have gone through a lot this year (or the past 3 years, I should say). This morning I was reflecting on the loss of my dear brother-in-law Bob this past April. It was on both Dan and my mind, we happened to talk about it upon waking this cold Christmas Eve. We both have such wonderful memories of Bob, his tales of adventure, Sasquatch, goofing off in Michigan with the kids. If you knew Bob, you can just imagine! All kids absolutely LOVED him! Our kids loved playing pranks on him, one year they woke him as he was sleeping in the basement with a robot contraption featuring a vacuum cleaner! I have some hilarious pictures of him – what a sense of humor and a beautiful heart he had. He was the youngest of four Breuning brothers, and the loss was very sudden and tragic. It left us all stunned and devastated, we are still saddened by his early departure from this Earth.

It is also that time of year when I reflect on special Christmas memories from my childhood, and how lucky I was to have the parents and siblings I have. We didn’t have a lot of money growing up, but we always had special family times and memories. Some of them were crazy funny, and it’s always so much fun to repeat those stories when we are all together (which unfortunately is getting rarer these days). Christmas has always seemed less special after losing my father in 2003. It sort of jolts you into this alternate reality: your parents are actually not going to be immortal like you secretly hoped. I cherish all the time I have with my Mom and look forward to seeing her on Christmas!

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas, may you spend it surrounded with your loved ones, making more cherished memories. Stay safe, and stay warm!

XOXO Colleen

Mood: Melancholy
Inspiration: “Morning” by David Darling

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 25.14 Topic: A Cherished Memory
Hard Bonus: Incorporate a quote or line by author/ poet Jack Kerouac (“My witness is the empty sky” and “It all ends in tears anyway.”)
Easy Bonus: Mention your favorite herb or spice (cinnamon)

Searchlight Soul (A Sonnet)

Searchlight Soul

I woke the same as any other day,
Endlessly searching for the black hole sun.
A shattered world tempered with shades of gray…
Searching for traces of light, finding none.

I walk this long and winding road of life,
Endless anxiety laced with duress.
The frigid winds blow through my bitter heart…
Searching for inner peace and happiness.

I breathe in deep to seek release from pain,
But frigid winds blow through my bitter heart.
Oh, won’t you come and wash away the rain…
Searching the universe for a new start.

My spirits will rise with a brand new day…
For I’m a searchlight soul who’s gone astray.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2022
December 17, 2022

Hi everyone! Brrrr, it’s cold out there! I hope everyone is staying warm. Winter is coming! At least in Northern Virginia it is. It has been a very cold and gloomy week, and I have not felt my best. I have been recovering from yet another sinus infection, but feeling much better than last weekend. Ever since I got COVID last November, it seems my immune system is down and I catch every little virus or sickness that passes by me.

This is a little dark piece that was inspired by perusing the different Soundgarden lyrics. I found quite a few that fit with what I wanted to write. I haven’t written a Shakespearean sonnet in a while, so that is always fun for me – like putting a puzzle together. This piece reflects a bit of a passing mood from the other day when it rained relentlessly and I felt crappy. That’s the beauty of writing – write it out, release your crap mood, and then you feel better!! It was supposed to be a snow day, but no snow fell – only some annoying ice which looked so beautiful from my view inside. As for this weekend, it will be time for getting all of my Christmas wrapping done. I am afraid my packages to Florida are going to be a little late in getting out, due to a busy time with the grandkids earlier in the month. But nobody really minds, the grandkids will certainly have plenty of gifts to open from Santa! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend filled with a warm fire and good tidings!

xoxo
Colleen

Mood: Crappy
Inspiration: “Black Hole Sun” by Soundgarden

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 24.14 Topic: Brrrr, It’s Cold Out There!!
Hard Bonus: Incorporate a lyric by Soundgarden (“I woke the same as any other day”; “black hole sun”; “won’t you come and push the rain away”; and “I’m a searchlight soul”)
Easy Bonus: Mention something money can’t buy (peace, happiness)

Between the Pages

Between the Pages

In this magical library
sitting high upon the shelf
dusty pages will reveal…
pieces of myself.

My restless fingers caress
cloth covered gold filigree
skimming tales of long ago…
full of rich history.

Therein lies a secret portal
into worlds of mystery
spilling out bold truths and hope…
love, life and liberty.

Escape the problems of today
wander into tomorrow
lose yourself between the pages…
you only have to borrow.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2022
December 10, 2022

Thomas Jefferson said, “I cannot live without books.” As I wrote my poem this afternoon, I looked around my home office and discovered how true that quote is for me! I am sitting here, literally surrounded by books. I have been collecting them since I was a child. My mother took us on weekly trips to the library, where we loaded up on books. My father drove the Bookmobile, which was very cool as a kid! So books are kind of in my blood.  I find it hard to let go of them sometimes, but I really need to – because I’m running out of room for them! Among the treasured books in my collection are several books of poetry and childhood books from my parents, a literature book from my Uncle Bobby, my 11th grade English textbook from Mr. Hershey’s class (not sure how that ended up in my collection…), and many poetry books from the masters to online friends who have self-published!

I’m always reading a book, my current book is “Echo in the Bone” by Diana Gabaldon from The Outlander Series, which I absolutely love. It’s almost 1,000 pages and it’s taking me a while to get through it, a little bit each day. How do I find time to read with such a busy schedule, you ask? Well – I blow dry my hair and read at the same time, that is how!!! That can get a little tricky, but I make it work. Since I’m usually always working at work or around the house, I try to multitask with things like reading. I very rarely have time to curl up on the sofa to read. I am hoping that my life can slow down a bit so that I can do more reading, though.

I buy my grandkids books ALL THE TIME!  I had a stack of them waiting here when they came to visit for an early Christmas, and I plan to mail them next week so they have them in time for Christmas. I know that Katie will carry on the tradition of story time each night, it is such a wonderful thing for kids. Dan and I took turns reading each of them a book each night, no matter how tired we were.

Maybe since we are staying put this holiday season, I will hope for a snow day so that I can settle in with a cup of hot tea by the fire and do some reading. I wish you all a restful season full of happy reading! xoxo Colleen

Mood: Mysterious
Inspiration: “In the Hall of the Mountaing King” – by Edvard Grieg

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 23.14 Topic: It’s A Good Life
Hard Bonus: Quote Thomas Jefferson. (“I cannot live without books”)
Easy Bonus: Use the word “Liberty”

Bewilderment

Bewilderment

Summer beckons, delights of June
My eyes are the size of the moon
Gentle breeze caresses the bay
And I won’t let it fade away.

Pour the champagne, the night is young
The taste of passion on my tongue
The weeping willows bend and sway
And I won’t let it fade away.

My wings flutter like mockingbird
Bewildered by your ad hoc words
Winter sun sets in skies of gray
And I won’t let it fade away.

Summer beckons, delights of June
And I won’t let it fade away.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2022
December 3, 2022

The Cat Whisperers!!

Happy Saturday! We are having a blast here with Katie and the grandkids! This is a short off the cuff Kyrielle sonnet that I jotted down this morning. It kind of evolved from the Panic! At the Disco lyric “eyes are the size of the moon.” It’s just a little piece about love, life, and wanting to hold onto the warmest memories we make. We go through so many emotions in life, some bad times along with the good. Sometimes people say things not intending to hurt others, but they are just words. Though it isn’t good to live in the past or the future, it always helps to have beautiful times to bring to mind. It also lets us know that pain and sorrow do not last forever. Sorrow never completely goes away, it can become less intense but then wash over you again like a rogue wave.

I wanted to write about the wonderful time we had at Otium Winery with the grandkids this past Thursday. It was a spur of the moment trip that’s around the corner from our home. The minute we opened our car doors upon arriving, three barn cats ran up to us and greeted the kids with loud meows and purring. They were so excited, since my fraidy cats have only been making very careful appearances for them. The sun was setting at the winery, and we got some beautiful photos of them with the cats. I will always cherish this memory, the picture Katie took of my holding them, cats at their sides, and the beautiful winter sun setting in the background – I adore this and live for these moments!!!!

Hope everyone has a wonderful and blessed weekend!
xoxo Colleen

Mood: Thoughtful
Inspiration: “Je Te Laisserai Des Mots” by Patrick Watson

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 22.14 Topic: Bewildered
Hard Bonus: Include a lyric from Panic! at the Disco (“Eyes are the size of the moon” and “pour the champagne”)
Easy Bonus: Use the term “ad hoc”

Blessings

Blessings

Hearth
blazing
pumpkin pies
fresh from oven
two turkeys roasting
cutting bread for stuffing
such a harvest of blessings
comfort in this labor of love
tablescape of crystal and china
my thoughts drift to holidays long ago
my spirits lifted by sweet memories
grateful for my family and friends
who have graced my life through the years
with hands and hearts intertwined
we embrace the future
by the grace of God
and share this meal
toasting health
hope and
love

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2022
November 26, 2022

Happy Thanksgiving to all! I hope you had a wonderful holiday surrounded by family and friends. Just a quick poem and blog before I immerse myself in Christmas decorating. My grandkids are coming on November 30, and I know they’ll love to see the house all decked out!

What has meant so much to me in the past year? My family – my husband Dan, my children Vince and Katie, my grandchildren Posie and Hatcher, my mother, my siblings, my in-laws, my nieces & nephews, my aunts & uncles, my cousins and anyone else I left out!  I’m grateful for my friends – my best friends, my dear friends, my neighbors, my coworkers & former coworkers, my virtual friends, and all the kindred spirits I have come to know over the years. You have all shaped my life in some way, shape or form. I am so thankful to have all of you in my life!

I wish you all good tidings and many blessings as we come into this Christmas season. May you know an inner joy and spiritual warmth that fills your heart with love and gratitude! Enjoy the special moments, and remember the reason for the season at those times of insanity during your holiday preparations (it happens to us all)! Remember to take a little time for yourself to rest and re-energize. Thank you again for being here and for being part of my life! I love you all.

xoxo
Colleen

Mood: Thankful
Inspiration: “Thank You” ~ Dido

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 21.14 Topic: Thank You
Hard Bonus: Give thanks about something or someone that has meant so much to you this past year (family & friends)
Easy Bonus: Mention your favorite type of pie (pumpkin)

Fate

Fate

Years passed, no regret
memories swirl in my head
I cannot forget

phone call from the past
your voice beckoned on the line
and our fates were cast

topsy turvy world
standing at the precipice
all my fears unfurled

two lives intersect
the merging of destiny
butterfly effect

warm Bahama breeze
plane taxied down long runway
sailed across blue seas

you showed me true love
something that I never knew
gift from God above

emotions so pure
through life’s sweet and trying times
our bond endures

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2022
November 19, 2022

This takes me way back to 1987, when my life most definitely changed for the better. Dan and I originally met in 1982 in Oklahoma City, where we both worked for Arthur Andersen & Company. We lived different lives back then, but socialized together in a large group of work friends. It was strictly platonic; however, he did give me a glowing performance evaluation for some work I did for him as a paraprofessional. Then the 1980’s oil and gas bust happened, he left for Florida for a new position, and I eventually divorced and transferred to Washington, DC. He found out through a mutual friend, and she gave him my number. After a series of catching up phone calls with Dan, he invited me down to Florida for our first date. I thought, “Why not? I know him very well already, plus he’s a nice guy and cute, too.”  Well, he took me to the Bahamas for our first date – such a surprise! Long story short, we fell in love and knew that we were going to end up together. In fact, now that I think of it we got engaged 35 years ago. One of the best things that ever happened to me!

I have no regrets in my life. I believe that everything happens for a reason, though we may not know it at the time. Our lives are chaotic, we experience heartbreak, we take risks, we give our heart and hope for the best. The journey we go through makes us the person we are. I wouldn’t be the strong person I am today without conquering the challenges I have faced at many points of my life. I am grateful for the love, wisdom and joy that I have come to know in life. That’s all. Just some random thoughts running through my head as I prepare for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Life is such a blessing!

I hope you all have a wonderful, Happy Thanksgiving!

xoxo
Colleen

Mood: Lovey dovey
Inspiration: “Let’s Stay Together” – Al Green

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 20.14 Topic: Topsy Turvy
Hard Bonus: Discuss the Butterfly Effect
Easy Bonus: Mention a taxi or Uber

Hurricane Bones

Hurricane Bones

I woke to the sound of rain
hard upon the roof
gutters gushing streams of pain
mourning doves aloof.

Brittle bones begin to ache
as outer bands lope
ominous clouds roll and break
overshadowed hope.

The cat snuggles up to warm
soft gray, purring deep
seeking comfort from the storm
drifting back to sleep.

Astral spirits have been spurned
blue skies turn to black
too late, for the tide has turned
there’s no going back.

Cold winds thrash with great despair
ravishing the land
flesh, bone, there is nothing there
dust mingles with sand.

The rain falls like tumbling stones
melding sky and sea
sorrow carried in my bones
for eternity.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2022
November 11, 2022

I must be getting old, or else that hour long Martial Arts workout last night kicked my butt, haha. Today I truly did awake to the sound of rain (one of my favorite Sylvia Plath lines)… and pain! I had slept 8 hours, but literally felt like someone pummeled me. Neither Aleve nor Advil helped. I have been trying to fend off a sinus infection ever since our return from Florida last week. I did finally to go my PCP and was prescribed antibiotics since I just had pneumonia/bronchitis/sinus in July. Today, the combination of the sinus infection, the remnants of Hurricane Nicole passing through and two long work weeks have left me feeling whipped.

The topic “hurricane” is one close to my heart, having lived 24 years in South Florida and riding out many – starting from Hurricane Andrew in 1991 through Hurricane Wilma in 2006, which left us powerless for 2 weeks. It was one of the top reasons we left and moved to Virginia. My kids still both reside in Florida, so anytime there’s one churning in the Atlantic or the Gulf, we’re relentlessly watching the “cone” and following the hurricane’s track. It is so exhausting going through a hurricane, from the preparation through the aftermath. It can be absolutely frightening and heartbreaking.

Today we just stayed home, did a little non-taxing accounting work (pardon the pun), laundry and ate some homemade chili that I defrosted this week. It was delicious and so warming on a dreary day like today. Anyway, the topic and the Sylvia Plath poetry lines were my muse this week. Just a little rhyme scheme composition I played around with, to reflect a passing mood. I’ll feel better tomorrow, because there is work to be done around this house in preparation for the upcoming Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays! Best of all – Katie, Brenton, Posie and Hatcher will be coming for a visit beginning November 30. I cannot wait! Have a good weekend, everyone!

xoxo Colleen

Mood: Achy Breaky
Inspiration: “I’ll Take the Rain” by REM

Blogophilia Week 19.14 Hurricanes Hope
Hard Bonus:  Include a line from a Sylvia Plath poem (“I woke to the sound of rain” and “Flesh, bone, there is nothing there”)
Easy Bonus: Include your favorite animal (dove, cat)

Feu Follet

Feu Follet

Down in the old South, deep in the bayou,
Old banyan trees rustle in the dank air.
Stars of Aquarius come into view,
Strange voices whisper their tales of despair.

From the darkness rose a small ball of light,
Magical orbs swirling before my eyes.
A feu follet glowing, fiery and white;
Paranormal renderings in the sky.

Tear up the roadmaps and follow them blind
Across the ghostly marshes where they dwell.
Just leave your hopes for redemption behind,
For they are whisking you straight into hell.

All across the swamp lands, tears will be shed
As Cajun spirits rise up from the dead.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2022
November 5, 2022

Mood: mysterious
Inspiration “Alva” by Glen Gabriel

Happy Saturday! I started writing this Shakespearean Sonnet last Sunday afternoon as we started our drive back home to Virginia. I don’t know exactly where this came from. Maybe it was inspiration from the Florida and Georgia swamps that we drove by? I started to google paranormal occurrences and somehow landed on an article about the Feu Follet. This seems to be a French twist on the “will-o’-the-wisp” that appears in fairy tales. The picture I used was entitled “The Will o’ the Wisp and the Snake” by Hermann Hendrich (1854–1931). I found it quite fascinating reading about the legends folklore of difference countries. It’s so much fun to learn new things! Here is the Wikiepedia article and another one to read a bit more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will-o%27-the-wisp#Americas

Feu Follet, Will-O-The-Wisps, and Jack O’Lanterns
I don’t know why this link is embedding this way – and I’m too lazy and tired to fix it!

We had a very long and nice vacation in Florida, but toward the end were feeling a little homesick and missing our cats. We had much more energy at the start of the trip. Disney was so fun with the grandkids, but it leaves you pretty tired! After that, we enjoyed chilling and fishing with Vince and Natalie.  At one point we toyed with the idea of driving home straight through… but it’s a 14 hour drive from where they live. Actually we have done that a few times, but we end up getting home very late. However, this time we were too darn tired and decided to stop in Dunn, NC for the night. That was a smart move, we still got home at a decent hour early on Halloween.

Then it was back to work for me, and I ended up working very long days all week to get caught up on the client work that I missed. I swear, both of us felt like we had “car lag” or something. Our energy levels were depleted, and we just felt “off” or like we might have gotten a touch of some virus. This weekend I feel like I’m catching a cold, which I pray doesn’t turn into a sinus infection. *fingers crossed*

I do wish the weather would quit being so schizophrenic! The autumn leaves are now past their peak, many of our backyard trees are bare and right now it is 78 degrees in VA, which just seems weird. I am ready for the weather to be a little cooler, as much as most people hate to hear. I mean, it is November 5th for crying out loud, LOL!! I just love curling up in a cozy sweater beside the fire reading a book. I guess today I’ll settle for a long sleeved shirt until the temperature drops, haha. I hope y’all have a great weekend and enjoy the autumn season wherever you are!

Xoxo Colleen

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 18.14 Topic: Paranormal Occurrence
Hard Bonus: Use the word “tear” twice – as a noun and a verb
Easy Bonus: Include a zodiac sign (Aquarius)