Every Friday, I spend five minutes or so writing on a word prompt from the Five Minute Friday community. Then, I hit publish. Good for the writing muscles and for cultivating a playful approach to the writing work that can sometimes be taken oh-so-seriously.
We will race the sun
and we will win.
Shine your worst, you presumptuous
glow, we will still get our fill
of sticky satisfaction.
Our taste for talk is overturned by
hunger to have this icy treat;
eat it, too. Drip-catching is our new career.
Quick, fierce, now twist the stick. This is a
war and we will not be defeated.
Heat your hardest, sky-king, you’ve
no idea the fire melting can kindle.
You’ve never seen an ethic like ours,
laboring to halt sweetness from hitting
pavement, to squeeze every last
drop from the season.
You can find the link-up for today’s prompt here.
Something as simple as a popsicle can be magic. This tired world stretches and dazzles awake in the presence of childlike wonder, security, and curiosity. We need that, more than ever.
If you’re like me, and you’re game to invite some of that sparkle in your spirituality, there’s a book I’m reading that I’d point you toward. It’s called Unfettered: Imagining a Childlike Faith Beyond the Baggage of Western Culture by Mandy Smith.

And if you want to adventure through these pages with a group, well, there’s a place for that too.
I’m hosting a virtual book club for Unfettered on Wednesday nights, Sept. 8 – Oct 27.
If you’d describe yourself as a curious Jesus-person interested in open-hearted, honest, and respectful discussion about practicing an expressive + playful faith, I’d be delighted to welcome you.
oh, the simpleness of a popsicle….. can keep tired bodies going eh? 🙂 FMF15
Yes, yes, yes, it absolutely can!
oh I love this playfulness!! great words for something so simple, a popsicle!
🙂
Thank you, Mariel! It’s so much fun to play with words. <3
Popsicles are my granddaughter’s favorite treats for these hot days. I love how you have written so uniquely and deeply about a simple joy in life. Thank you again! (Karen FMF #4)
Karen, so kind – thank you! It’s so much fun to play with words. I love how poetry places both the mundane and the momentous on an equal playing field.
Summer is serious business, when you get right down to it. Those first two lines, though–they can go places.
Indeed. Maybe more serious than autumn, and we just don’t know it… Maybe?