I Am Candace

For today's prompt, I was challenged to write a poem reflecting on my name and nicknames. If you do a quick Google search on my name's meaning, you'll see that my name means "queen," "glowing," and "pure," and it is associated with clarity, strength, and royal authority. I tried to use most of those meanings in my poem. As for nicknames, I've had a few throughout my life, but I chose to use only one in this poem. Candy is a common nickname for Candace, but it never stuck to me. I never really liked it as a nickname, so I never let it stay with me. I hope you enjoy my poem!

 

I Am Candace
By Candace Shultz

Who am I?
I am Candace.
I am named after a queen.
I claim my name with pride. 

My name is pure,
Given to me with love.
It surrounded me at birth
And settled in to stay.

My name has power.
It defines me. It holds fast 
Even when nicknames fade,
Like Candy who just melted away.

My name has strength.
It walks with me every day
As I journey through my life,
A constant companion in an 
Ever changing and confusing world.

My name is ethereal.
It will carry on in the wind
When my body is no more,
Touching the lips of those
Who speak its rhythm,
Tumbling in their laughter
As they remember me,
Sliding down their tears
As they mourn.

Who am I?
I am Candace.
I am named after a queen.
I claim my name with pride.

Raindrops

 

Little raindrops fall
Tapping softly on the wall
Otherwise silence

 

 

Tiger Lily

This poem was inspired by the NaPoWriMo prompt to muse on a flower's name and its meanings.

 

 

 

Tiger Lily
By Candace Shultz 

Oh, tiger lily! 
The passion that flows 
through your petals
entices the heart to love! 
Your subtle scent sweetens 
the air around you.
Is it no wonder a man dares
to pluck you from the earth 
to give you to his heart's desire?
Your strength becomes
the endurance of their love,
thriving in this harsh world.
You bring good fortune 
to all who know you,
imbuing them with
your fiery soul. 

Drowning in Love

I attempted to follow the NaPoWriMo prompt today to write a small section of a long, narrative poem in which I use rhymes and unlikely dramatic scenes. I tried to channel the feel of a drama opera. My poem gives a glimpse of a story between a female cyclops and a male human who somehow fell in love and must navigate the hardships of such a relationship. 

Drowning in Love
By Candace Shultz 

He looked lovingly into her hazel eye
As he sat atop her bulging chest,
And when she let out a heartfelt sigh
His tiny body fell off her breast.

She sat up suddenly, her large body looming
Over his tiny form sprawled on the ground.
To his human ears, her voice was booming
As she bawled that death had come around.

He tried to shout so she could hear,
But he couldn't quite catch his breath.
So he watched with dread as her tears
Fell forth, forming a wave of impending death.

 

I Paved My Own Path - a haiku

In response to today's NaPoWriMo prompt, I wrote a poem responding to "The Road Not Taken" by Robert Frost.

 

Two roads diverged in 

a wood, and I took neither.

I paved my own path. 

 

 

Crocheting Dreams

The NaPoWriMo prompt for today is to write "a poem in which you describe something that cannot speak, and what it has taught or told you." I love to crochet, so I decided to write about yarn and how it has dreams to be created into something new. 

Crocheting Dreams
By Candace Shultz

Yarn speaks to me
Every color
Every texture
Every size
Has a story to tell
Has a longing to be
Something
Something special
Something wanted
Something loved

A blanket for a newborn baby
Who will outgrow it but still
Take it everywhere with them
When they become a toddler

Warm socks for a grandma
To keep her feet warm
When she walks on the
Cold floorboards of her home

Mittens for children
To keep their hands 
From freezing in the cold
As they throw snowballs
And make snowmen
On their day off from school

A cute cat plush
For a little girl or boy
To hold close to their heart
Or a daring dinosaur
To play with every day

Yarn tells me
It wants to be created
Into something new,
To be held and cherished too.
It's just waiting for me
To make its dreams come true.

 

Love in a Cup of Coffee

For Day 15 of NaPoWriMo, today's poem is a love poem, but not a traditional one. I dedicate this poem to that first cup of coffee in the morning that helps me face the day. 

Love in a Cup of Coffee
By Candace Shultz

I love you truly,
my morning coffee. 
You fill my cup 
when I am empty.
You wake me up 
when my mind is numb.
You give me energy 
when I have none.
You make me happy
when I smell your scent.
You make me feel alive
with just one taste.
You jump-start my heart
when the fatigue is erased.
My grumpiness fades
and I am carefree
because I found love
in my morning cup of coffee.