“Treats only, Please!” is nominated for Publication of the Month by Spillwords Press!

On October 26, 2024October 28, 2024 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry82 Comments

Dear Family and Friends,

I am thrilled to share that my light-hearted, fun poem for Halloween “Treats only, Please!” has been nominated for Publication of the Month by Spillwords Press! This recognition means the world to me, and it is an honor to be in the company of so many talented writers (including a few great blogging buddies). Thank you to Dagmara, her team at Spillwords, and to the readers who offer the most wonderful support of my writing. The email that landed in my inbox today is..

Dear writers,

We are thrilled to extend our heartfelt congratulations to every one of you! Your exceptional pieces have been nominated due to popular demand for October’s Publication of The Month.

You have the power to decide the winner by casting your vote here: https://spillwords.com/vote/

We encourage you to share this link with your family, friends, and supporters, as their votes can make all the difference. Please note that voting will conclude on 10/30; soon after, we will reveal the well-deserved recipient of this prestigious title.

To vote, kindly register and/or log in to ensure your voice is heard.

The winning publication will be prominently featured on the Spillwords.com sidebar throughout the entire month of November, gaining well-deserved recognition from our global audience.

HERE ARE THE NOMINEES:

Good luck to all the nominees! Your contributions have enriched our platform, and we deeply appreciate your excellent collaboration and participation.

Warm regards,

Editing Team | Editing Department
editor@spillwords.com

Treats only, Please!

Creepy cackles from tall, looming trees
startle their jumpy heartbeats as they walk.
Shadows discreetly follow the echoes
while they timidly proceed down the block.

Young voices repeat with conviction,
“It’s just a night for entertainment.”
There’s no need for goosebumps and fear
as their eyes focus on the cracked pavement.

Undeniably sensing they’re not alone,
many follow in their hesitant footsteps,
eager to reach doors and push doorbells
but afraid of frightening special effects.

Broomstick witches in purple velvet capes,
eerie fog rolling in with white-gown ghosts,
superheroes from blockbuster movies,
owls hooting from high in their posts.

Some faces look like long lost relatives,
wrinkly and aged like dear old granny.
Ignoring the screeches, they focus only
on filling pillowcases with loads of candy!

I am thrilled that this fun take on Halloween received
142 ❤️s and 17 comments (including my replies)!
To those who flew over to Spillwords and hearted
and/or commented on my poem,
I offer my grandest Thank you!!!!
❤️🙏❤️

So, I ask you to vote! Log in or create an account (I know, another account, another password, all I can do is ask). 😃

You can offer your wonderful support by casting your vote here,
and again, voting will conclude on Wednesday, October 30th.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Thank you for your support that I don’t take lightly. I appreciate you so much!
Hugs, Lauren 💖🙏🤗👻

Photo by Monstera Production on Pexels.com

© Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.
Spillwords images and email courtesy of Spillwords Press.

Spillwords publishes “Treats only, Please!”

On October 24, 2024October 24, 2024 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry81 Comments

I don’t like scary movies! As a teenager, I saw my fill, and the movie that did me in was The Amityville Horror! I was housesitting with my best friend, Melissa, and why we thought going to see this movie was a good idea, I’ll never know. But into the night, every strange sound in the house just about ejected us from our beds! The toilet gurgling, the wind outside, the creaking of the house, the refrigerator whine, our imaginations! Now, as an adult, the news of world events and events in my own country are frightening enough! Who needs Jason, Michael, Chucky, or Freddie?!!! 👻

So, when I read about Spillwords asking for Halloween submissions, I thought, hmmm, scary isn’t my genre. Then I reminisced to the Halloween nights when our children went trick-or-treating in their cute costumes, and behold, a fun, light poem was born. 😁🎃 I’m thrilled that Spillwords liked it enough to publish it in their Halloween collection. My heart is filled with gratitude to Dagmara K. and her team for sharing my writing again within such a talented community.
And now for a snippet…

Treats only, Please

Creepy cackles from tall, looming trees
startle their jumpy heartbeats as they walk.
Shadows discreetly follow the echoes
as they timidly proceed down the block.

Young voices repeat with conviction,
“It’s just a night for entertainment”
There’s no need for…

To read the full poem, fly on over to Spillwords by clicking here, and I hope you’ll give it a 🧡 while you’re there! If you have any thoughts, don’t be shy, leave a comment! Does my backstory and poem resonate with you?
Thanks SO much for your support! 👻🎃

I appreciate your visit, and wish you a wonderful weekend ahead!
Stay well, happy, and safe! ❤️🍁

Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites ©2024 – All rights reserved.
Photos courtesy of Spillwords

Website: baydreamerwrites.com
Author Of The Month, May 2023 Spillwords Press
Monthly Contributor, Gobbers-Masticadores Literary Website
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B08NCRH4MK
Author Latest Release Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poems
Author, More than Coffee: Memories in Verse and Prose
Author, Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poems
Author, New Day, New Dreams: A Poetry Collection
Co-Author, Petals of Haiku
Co-Author, This is How We Grow
Co-Author, Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships
Cora’s Quest, A children’s book, coming this fall!

***Click*** ***on the image*** ***to purchase your copy.***
***Thank you***! 🧡🍂🍁

Who says miracles don’t happen?

On October 20, 2024 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry109 Comments

Last Wednesday morning brought us
a stunning sunrise and double rainbow.
I wasn’t able to get photos,
but a friend of mine grabbed her cell phone and captured these!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Who says miracles don’t happen?

I’m sharing a poem from my recent poetry collection
that ties in with the miracles of rainbows:

Darker than the Deepest Sea

Life is like a package wrapped in festive paper.
The matching ribbons fascinate in their delicate,
entwined company, fingers gently unravel,
heartbeats increase from excitement.
We lift the lid, peek inside, letting our
inner child frolic to the forefront of our minds.

But unlike recyclable paper, the gift of life
cannot be tossed back into the universe.
There is no spare awaiting on the sidelines,
and we should be mindful that the contents
require tenderness with instructions solely
for each one of us individually,
because as visible as a ruby rose
in a garden of white daisies…
we are beautifully unique.

Once we follow these
with gratitude and vivacity,
the purpose of our gift will reveal itself
as naturally as moonlight on a night
darker than the deepest sea.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When you leave my site today,
please remember how precious life is,
and how beautiful you are!

And as Maya Angelou said,
“Try to be a rainbow in somebody else’s cloud”.
❤️❤️❤️
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The Clock

On October 17, 2024October 17, 2024 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry79 Comments

You stare at the clock anticipating an answer, and the clock has no idea of the power lying in its hands. The infuriating face meets your stare as if to ask, “What?” You hold onto the words that fell from the tongue like a lifeline since your life resides on the edge. Trust lived in your heart at the time. But syllables soar far above your reach with no substance. The answer has yet to reveal itself. Waiting is a lifetime occupation. So, your fingers form a steady grip around the bottle as you tip it over, pouring…You watch the golden liquid glide over the cubes like ocean waves rolling over ice glaciers. Your logical self desires to perform a task of importance, a distraction, to trick your thoughts and busy your hands. But then your eyes find the clock again. Mind and body become stuck, paralyzed from emotions out of your control, and the only thing that makes sense is indulging in another sip. The burning down your throat is one sensation you can truly understand.

a crutch of liquid
soothes frustration of vagueness
living in darkness

Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites ©2024 – All rights reserved.
Photo by Jordan Benton on Pexels.com

Never Lackluster

On October 14, 2024 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry75 Comments

Firs and pines closely observe us as we take a self-guided tour through their homeland, strolling slowly, while enjoying occasional granite-hopping. We don’t believe they’re bothered by our company because our vibes of respect are as profound as their whispers of wisdom. The lizards entertain as they run like sprinters in a race across the smooth stone, reaching higher elevations to avoid our footsteps, and of course, their safety is critical. All this we do beneath the brilliant blue canopy of sky – the color of my husband’s eyes. Debris crowds our minds, and our awareness is keen. But the warmth of tranquility pushes aside the mess like whisky leisurely flowing through our bodies. Rough edges of the universe begin to soften in this fairytale land. Then what a view! Beauty in its quietude glistens just for us. No other voices share our space, just the tree-tapping of a woodpecker. Each singular sparkle represents a glimmer of hope for the future. In its golden splendor, the sun smiles and delights in our reverence. An ideal getaway for rejuvenation never to become lackluster.

head-spinning events
cause turmoil in heart and mind
lake water beckons

Silent Cell Phone

On October 12, 2024October 13, 2024 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry69 Comments

It isn’t a sudden realization that fell from the sky like an unexpected deluge of rain – that she’s alone without him. But the insight flashes on every wall in the house like a persistent advertisement on television. Dodging its audacity staring her in the face is impossible. Its reflection glowers back at her in each mirror. And yet, don’t misconstrue, this share of vulnerability isn’t about loneliness. Her ‘me’ time is welcomed at the right time, but when he’s gone, there’s no pretending. Too many miles stretch in between her address and loved ones. Friendships reside in the past. Staring at the silent cell phone lying on the table, she wishes it to buzz and shimmy closer to her. The doorbell longs to chime in days of old. No one to laugh with, no one for idle conversation, no one to care. The only noise is the reassurance that she is alone, and it booms through her aching heart like a relentless bass beat.

life partner brings joy
‘me time’ brings satisfaction
friends faded with time

Gobblers by Masticadores publishes “Let Man Lay Down Rifles to be Ally”

On October 7, 2024 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Blogging, Gobblers by Masticadores, Poetry48 Comments

I’m pleased to announce that my poem “Let Man Lay Down Rifles to be Ally” is published on Gobblers by Masticadores today! I am very grateful to Manuela Timofte and her staff for publishing this special piece.
I hope you all enjoy!

Let Man Lay Down Rifles to be Ally

If only humans could absorb lessons
From the largest mammals walking the earth.
Their big hearts bursting with kind expressions,
A principle understanding golden worth.

If only humans would shed their black greed,
Knives and guns stealing an innocent life.
Torturing for the sale of ivory
Beneath a darkened sky, spine-chilling cries...

To read the rest of the poem, please click on the link below. And if you don’t already follow Gobblers, please do. You’ll discover amazing talent and thought-provoking writing. Thanks for stopping by!

Let Man Lay Down Rifles to be Ally

An October Fright

On October 5, 2024October 5, 2024 By Lauren Scott, AuthorIn Poetry76 Comments

Sunset would soon reveal itself
On this day not quite the thirty-first.
Late afternoon brought warm temps,
He shifted the car into reverse.

Looking in the rear-view mirror
Ready to part from the stall,
His eyes blinked several times,
What he saw took disturbing gall.

A clown from a horror film
With head bent to the right –
He thought, “What the hell?”
Celebrating defense of daylight!

Mind and body didn’t easily scare,
Toughened by the screen.
But trepidation began to build,
Though not in the least to be seen.

However, he swiftly chose to ignore
Since the dashboard clock continued to tick.
No weapon glistened in light of day,
Time did not allow for a lunatic.

The right move was decided
To turn the other cheek.
Pointless to provoke,
yet, he wasn’t acting weak.

The sedan attempted to roll back
As the clown surprisingly stepped aside.
Avoiding contact with those eyes,
the accelerator was applied.

A form of frightening entertainment,
Ages ago, clowns, fun and comical.
Their smiles joyful, but now creepy.
An event surely psychological.

Nevertheless, a happy ending for this tale –
Altercation dodged, he thankfully stayed safe.
But fun appears in interesting forms –
This afternoon, dreadfully, eerily displayed.

(The inspiration for this poem came from my son’s unsettling experience in college years ago. It turned into a timely post for the spooky event approaching at the end of this month.)