Copyright
©Jane H. Johann, 2016
Southwestern Wisconsin Countryside
raindrops running through the riverbend
tripping one over the other
in their memory upon memory
of loss, pain and suffering
raindrops running through the riverbend
deep moments of yesterday
loved ones who left
piercing their heart with no return
raindrops running through the riverbend
thoughts of things done and others left undone
letting go of the failures of the past
running forward to refresh their soul
raindrops running through the riverbend
take courage and go forward
doing better than yesterday
in their longing for tomorrow
Footprints of Thoughts 
You REALLY ought to publish a book of your poetry!!!!! You can self-publish you know. Get it on Amazon.com & you’ve got a 2nd career. I’m SERIOUS!!!!! Jan
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you, Jan. You are very generous with your comments! I would…but…at the moment, I cannot afford even self-publishing. I do need a second career! I began teaching English online to students in China. It was going great for two weeks…then my FSmeeting connection with China shut down! I do not know what happened and I am still trying to figure it out. I am not the most tech savvy–though I did find the firewall. However, that was not the issue…and I am still perplexed as to what is.
LikeLike
Hi there > Actually Jan is right. You should self – publish. Your work is excellent and it only costs a few quid/dollars for an ISBN number and the rest doesnt cost anything. Self publishing is free on CteateSpace. Any help I can give just drop by anytime mate 🙂 Really! Have a great day there 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Andy! I will check into it. I am teaching Conversational English to students in China online! I love it! Hope you are doing well!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hiya Jane. That’s super fantastic. Are you using my material with the 66 topics. Great to see we are both teaching conversational English. Any tips I can offer then please drop by. Arent Chinese students wonderful?
LikeLike
Yes, Chinese students are ambitious, have a good sense of humor and are delightful to work with! I will purchase your materials as soon as I make enough money to do so. I am sure they will help me immensely!
LikeLike
Hi Andy, Okay, I just checked out CREATE SPACE on Amazon. Did you use this for your publications? Did you format your book prior to submitting it to
Create Space? I was thinking of copying my pages that I want to publish from WordPress to a Microsoft Word Document. Will this work? Also, can I submit my own photographs with my writing?
Thanks for your help!
Jane
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hiya Jane > Yes I used CreateSpace. By far the best place I found to self publish.
Formatting: Yes. You need to use Word: Get the margins correct and then turn it into a pdf before you upload it. There are instructions on the website and the help line service is brilliant. I continually called them ha ha. You can submit photos but there is a big difference in cost from black and white (no cost) to colour which is expensive.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Andy!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Anytime I can help just drop by Jane. Even for the little things that can drive one crazy 🙂
LikeLike
;.)
LikeLiked by 1 person
A wonderful poem of love, longing and hope. Beautiful, Jane!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Eliza! You are so kind to read my words and comment! Thank YOU for all of your visits! I have to get to your blog now! I have been teaching Conversational English to Students in China. I love it! Just a couple of hours in the morning and sometimes at night…gives me a sense of purpose…and fills the emptiness. Good to do something that helps someone else!
LikeLike
That is so cool that you do that. I have read of a nursing home somewhere that exchanged with Brazilian students and it ended up being so much more than tutoring. Warm, bonding relationships formed to benefit both teenagers and elderly. Is it through an organization?
LikeLike
Hi Eliza,
It is a job…I am not that great…I get paid, but I often end up going another hour beyond the required teaching time, because you are correct, it is very rewarding! I already feel a very strong attachment to the students! I applied on Indeed.com and the Principal of the school, who resides in the USA, called me after reading my resume. I have been having difficulty with the program site that I am to use for the instruction. SO I lost all of last week! :.( Presently, I am using WeChat on the I-phone to continue the teaching, until I can get the program to function once more. I can imagine that the residents of the Nursing Home feel a purpose! I know that is has made a big impact on me these past few weeks. I feel so much more alive!
Hope your day is going well, Eliza!
LikeLike
A total win-win!
LikeLike
LOL…thank you so much, Eliza! Indeed a “win-win” situation!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Beautiful poem, I love it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh. thank you so much! I really appreciate your reading my poetry and taking the time to comment! Thank you!
LikeLike
I like how you include pain and suffering bit move towards starting over and doing better in the future (tomorrow), Jane. Beautiful writing along with such a black and white, haunting photograph.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Robin! I always enjoy reading your comments. You put a lot of thought into it and your taking the time to say a few words to me, gives me lots of encouragement! Thank you! I will go to your blog tonight!
LikeLiked by 1 person
No hurries or worries, Jane. I tend to go in spurts and try to catch up on blogs, over weekends. This last weekend though, I had my grandson and the town’s Arts Festival. Cold but we went twice! 🙂
LikeLike
Grandchildren give us love and purpose. You are blessed, Robin! and, so is your grandson to have you!
LikeLike
Awesome poem, Jane!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Pat! Thanks for reading my words and for taking the time to comment! Have a great day!
LikeLike
Very nice poem, good read.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by and read my words and then comment…Much appreciated! How can you be an old poet at 56? Or, is that just a number? I am 66! LOL
LikeLike
what a beauty!
LikeLike
thank you so much, Sharmistha!
LikeLike