By the Book

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Living by the book
doing what is right
you hold your goals high
clearly in sight.

Number one, check
rejoice with your love
the future looks rosy
yet barriers hang above.

Undetectable
to the naked eye
wouldn’t foresee
in the greatest sky.

The first one drops
devastation of heart
keep moving forward
resilient from the start.

You look for the good
in all people you meet
a mixture of manners
some sour, some sweet.

The second one drops
then number three
the counting has stopped
is this meant to be?

Treatment received
appalling at best
a really good person
put to the test.

The past still haunts
in wee hours of the night
when important goals
are nothing but plight.

You focus on the bliss
not one thought to quit
because no matter what
everyone copes with shit.

Though working hard
is still the best method
the outcome isn’t certain
from great work ethic.

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© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com
Does this poem resonate with you or
someone you know? I’d love to hear in the comments.
I haven’t been online in the last few days,
but I’ll read blogs today. Have a good week ahead!
❤️

Click on my son’s image to order your copy! 🧡

Lauren Scott
Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry
Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book)
Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry
Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose
Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry
Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry
Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku
Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology
Co-Author – This Is How We Grow
Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships
Bi-Monthly Contributor on Gobblers by Masticadores
Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023
Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024
Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025

Autumn shows her true colors in Wine Country

View from Char Vale Winery deck

We spent last weekend in Wine Country, specifically visiting our favorite boutique winery, Char Vale Vineyards. Our experiences at Char Vale have been so wonderful that we became members. So last weekend, our plan was to pick up the bottles of wine that we had ordered. But as members, we were offered complimentary wine tasting. The owner and staff always go the extra mile, and the setting is magical. On this visit, the one and only winemaker, Justin, came out to meet us, and we chatted for almost a half hour. It was interesting to learn more about the process. We also love this time of year, so watching the wardrobe of Autumn unfold was stunning, to say the least. Golden hues, oranges, reds…warm and cozy vibes. I hope you enjoy the photos…

10 acres of vineyard
From our table
Enjoying the sips and notes and scenery.
View from our hotel of the quaint downtown.
Early Sunday morning.

Are you surprised that I became inspired to write? 🙂 I hope you enjoy these haiku…

(1)

harvest has ended
as season of fall arrives
field of golden hues

(2)

blue sky stretches to
infinity as we sip
notes of pear and peach

(3)

autumn parades her
golden gown through ten acres
blue sky umbrella

(4)

process continues
when leaves gently pirouette
lovely vines bare all

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The weekend was beautiful beyond words, and now raindrops dance on our roof. Thanks so much for stopping by, and I wish you a wonderful day! If you found a favorite photo or haiku, let me know in the comments! 🧡❤️🍁

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com

Click on my son’s image to order your copy! 🧡

Lauren Scott
Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry
Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book)
Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry
Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose
Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry
Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry
Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku
Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology
Co-Author – This Is How We Grow
Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships
Bi-Monthly Contributor on Gobblers by Masticadores
Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023
Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024
Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025

Perspective of a Yamaha Guitar

I wish the long haul
would’ve been in your heart.
My strings and your fingers
would’ve collaborated well, I could tell.
You learned the chords, major and minor,
your strumming had improved,
and your voice, smooth as honey.
I had faith in you.

Then another passion stole your hours…
writing, and I understand,
I really do. And yet, it’s just me
sitting in this corner of the room.
Most of the time, I don’t mind.
It can feel cozy and warm
when the sun rises high in the sky,
bringing light. But after sunset,
darkness creeps in,
giving me chills of loneliness.

Now and then, you dust me off
and that’s when I feel joy
in my body and fretboard –
the soft touch of a cloth,
so comforting.
I feel hope in each string
that you’ll gently pull me out
of my black case
and hold me in your arms…

to hear a verse, bridge, or melody,
to immerse our souls
into the notes that hold meaning…

but you simply wipe away the particles
that have landed
and walk out, leaving me
to ponder the mysteries
of humans. A painful task, I might add.

Hope never fades though
because I know songs
have always been a part of you,
so you’ll see, someday, you and me,
and music makes three.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Have a wonderful day, and thanks for stopping by! ❤️🎼
© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com

Click on my son’s image to order your copy! 🧡

Lauren Scott
Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry
Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book)
Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry
Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose
Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry
Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry
Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku
Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology
Co-Author – This Is How We Grow
Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships
Bi-Monthly Contributor on Gobblers by Masticadores
Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023
Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024
Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025

She Sleeps – A short story

Photo by Naga Sumanth L on Pexels.com

An eerie high-pitched note whirls around in young Becky’s mind as she sleeps. The howling is earsplitting, wailing just outside her window, imitating a music score in a horror film. Not that she would know because she isn’t old enough to watch scary movies, but her six-year-old imagination tells her so. The trees fall into a trance like a spell has been cast upon them. Rocking back and forth, their branches bend in unnatural ways, the tips like long, pointed fingernails scratching on the double-paned window. The howling grates on her brain like a fork scraping a plate. Raindrops pound with anger. Becky tosses and turns. She fights to stay asleep. Subconsciously, she remembers Beauty and the Beast on the wall above her headboard, the best musical ever, and how she adores Belle. She’s carried to a happy place, slowing falling back into a deep slumber, but only temporarily…

The scratching escalates, faster and wilder! The wailing blares louder than fire sirens! With eyes scrunched closed, Becky covers her ears with both hands, hoping to mute the terror. She no longer tosses and turns because her body is paralyzed by fear. She can’t even move an inch, but she has to get out of bed! It’s coming for her! It will shatter her window and climb inside! Her legs may as well be blocks of cement, but with all her might, she swings her left leg over the side of her twin-sized bed, then her right leg. She is sitting up now but has to run! No time to waste! No time for shoes! Her bare feet must carry her down the hallway to save her parents! Suddenly, Becky hears glass shatter, shards scatter on her bubblegum pink comforter! She flies off her mattress, her legs sprinting out of the room!

For a second, Becky closes her eyes while her legs move at marathon speed, the hallway never seemed so long. And just when she reaches her parent’s doorway, arms bind around her tightly in boa fashion, squeezing the air from her lungs.

“Let me go! Let me go!” She screams loud enough to shake the roof! Her arms and legs fling sporadically, fighting off the huge monster with pointy fingernails!

“Becky, it’s Mom, wake up!” Linda gently shakes her daughter, sitting on the edge of her bed. Belle and the Beast watch from the lilac wall.

“Mom! It’s coming for us! We have to get Dad! We have to leave, now!”

“Oh, sweetheart, you had a nightmare. It’s storming outside, but the three of us are safe in the house. There’s nothing to be afraid of.”

“Oh, Mom, I was so scared! I hate the wind!” Becky manages through erratic sobs, hugging her mother, never wanting to let go.

“I don’t like it either,” Linda hugs her daughter back, loving the feel of her little girl safe in her arms. “But just close your eyes and know that Dad and I will protect you.”

And just like that, consoled by her mom, Becky lets go and rolls over onto her right side – exhaustion from the excitement finally kicking in. Her eyelids slowly close. Linda sits for a few minutes, watching her beautiful daughter fall into a peaceful sleep. Her blonde hair cascading across the fluffy pillow. Then Linda gently kisses her daughter on the forehead and quietly steps out of the room, but the earsplitting howling perpetuates. The storm isn’t due to pass for another ten hours.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com
I hope you enjoyed this revised story from a few years ago. ❤️

Click on my daughter’s image to order your copy! 🧡

Lauren Scott
Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry
Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book)
Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry
Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose
Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry
Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry
Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku
Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology
Co-Author – This Is How We Grow
Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships
Bi-Monthly Contributor on Gobblers by Masticadores
Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023
Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024
Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025

Gobblers by Masticadores Publishes “Lost Their Way”

Good morning!

I hope you all had a great weekend! Hello Monday! What a surprise for this morning to find my poem on Gobblers by Masticadores! Thank you so much to Manuela Timofte for sharing my writing. It’s an honor to be featured on her beautiful site among many talented writers. I hope you pay her a visit…

Lost Their Way

If hope was a color, mine would be blue,
struggling like a bird with a broken wing
tears fill weary eyes that blur
they fall with an unforgiving sting
My heart imitates emotional skies
unseen roadblocks disguise a silver lining
Wishing is what I do well, miles between,
my hell, mindset craves refining

You can read the full poem by clicking on the link below…

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© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com
Does this poem resonate? If so, I’d love
to read your thoughts on Gobblers or here.
Happy Monday, thanks for visiting,

and I wish you a wonderful week! ❤️

Click on my daughter’s image to order your copy! 🧡

Lauren Scott
Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry
Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book)
Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry
Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose
Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry
Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry
Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku
Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology
Co-Author – This Is How We Grow
Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships
Bi-Monthly Contributor on Gobblers by Masticadores
Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023
Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024
Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025

Sweet November

A tall cedar pitches its pods
onto the smooth driveway,
footsteps crunch on fallen foliage

a broom sweeps, piles grow
for hoisting into the bin

but the tall cedar pitches again
oh, this lovely season!

the air turns crisp for layering,
wiping sweat away
from summer’s fever,
raindrops soothe flaccid petals

early evenings surrender
to nightfall,
but set out the candles!
Play Sinatra on vinyl
and sink into coziness

Will you remember
this sweet November?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com
I shared this poem two years ago, so if you read it then,
I hope it brings cozy and comfort a second time around.

Happy November, and thanks for visiting! 🧡🍁

Click on my daughter’s image to order your copy! 🧡

Lauren Scott
Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry
Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book)
Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry
Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose
Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry
Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry
Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku
Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology
Co-Author – This Is How We Grow
Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships
Bi-Monthly Contributor on Gobblers by Masticadores
Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023
Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024
Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025

Glowing Green Eyes

It takes little effort
to hide in the corner,
darkness wraps its cloak,
providing comfort,
shielding weakness in eyes,
no sweat needed for caving in,
succumbing to silence –
unchallenging…

but not the finest road to travel…

Fight your demons!
Don’t choose ill-fitting armor –
tighten all straps,
button all buttons,
snap all snaps.
Fight those monsters head on!
No skirting around flames,
snub their glowing green eyes,
look away to the other side,
the side that roots for you.

Give grit freedom to fly!
Strength isn’t buried –
it soars with you each day,
each night,
in every minute and hour.

The POWER lies in your hands
to flip the switch,
to let your energy roar!!!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gearing up for Halloween with a dose
of encouragement!
💚
Photo by James Bat Barrera on Pexels.com

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com

Click on my daughter’s image to order your copy! 🧡

Lauren Scott
Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry
Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book)
Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry
Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose
Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry
Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry
Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku
Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology
Co-Author – This Is How We Grow
Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships
Bi-Monthly Contributor on Gobblers by Masticadores
Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023
Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024
Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025

A Bright Light

From the hugs, cuddles, and games of fetch, Copper learned he could trust us. And so, he became family. For thirteen years, he gave us unconditional love. He crossed over the rainbow bridge this past March. It is serendipitous to know that he came into our lives in March and left our earthly world also in March – the month of new beginnings. He was a bright light in our lives that will shine eternally. This is the power of our dogs or any pet. They leave a positive, long-lasting imprint on our souls. (Part of the Preface)

On the same shelf with Mary Oliver!

He Carries On

A copper-colored coat he dons
Looking handsome as a celebrity icon
A senior now
Gray on his brow
Even with pains, he carries on.


My Shadow

Feeling empty in my bones
walking from room to room,
where is my shadow?



I hope you’ll let Copper touch your heart like he’s touched so many already. Or perhaps, you have a friend or family member who would find comfort in reading my book. A Huge Thanks to You who have read this special poetry collection and left beautiful, heartfelt reviews. ❤️🤎🧡

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com
Lauren Scott
Author – King Copper: Our dog’s life in poetry
Author – Cora’s Quest (a children’s book)
Author – Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry
Author – More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose
Author – Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry
Author – New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry
Co-Author – Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku
Co-Author – Petals of Haiku: An Anthology
Co-Author – This Is How We Grow
Co-Author – Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships
Bi-Monthly Contributor on Gobblers by Masticadores
Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023
Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024
Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025