carillon & hornswoggled without consent

Two poems written on Substack notes

AI-Generated Image: A Black woman with braids sitting at a desk with a sad expression on her face.

carillon

her voice, to me, is
like a carillon, played
at the right moment
to dazzle my heart
and strengthen my
mind.

I miss our daily conversations,
our intent on
building, bonding, and brewing
through words.

a funk came and
she’s been under it,
in it, for over a month,
and now it feels like she won’t
get through it, and
my heart sobs for
the woman I once knew.

but I know how
important it is to
best our demons,
and there’s no timeline for this.
I’m here whenever,
if ever she
reappears.


AI-Generated Image: Birds singing while on the rooftop of an apartment building, just as the sun rises.

hornswoggled without consent

morning comes out of the blue, and I
feel like I’ve been hornswoggled into
daytime without consent.

the birds’ church has been open since
0430, and I have no clue who the
minister is, but I am now holding
them responsible for the ruckus the
choir is making. although in perfect
harmony, as always, I would have loved
fifteen more minutes of deep sleep.

but when nature lives right outside
your window, you’ll either call it peace
or chaos, and currently,
I’m on the fence. so, I’m naming it
peaceful chaos until further notice.


Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

I recently signed up to write on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing as I speak about the most recent events with my place of employment as it pertains to racism and discrimination. I welcome your visit.

Photos From This Past Weekend

I visited my cousin in the hospital; he’s still waiting for a heart. I don’t like hospitals; they give me the heebie-jeebies. But I love him, so I’ll keep visiting him until I don’t have to. I was most uncomfortable in that chair. Saturday, June 07, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
One of the pools here at my place. It was a dreary Saturday, so no one ventured out until much later. Saturday, June 07, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
If she does nothing else, she’s going to sleep. Believe THAT! Sunday, June 08, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Sunday morning workout. I was feeling rather out of it, but it needed to get done. Sunday, June 08, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine. Loadholt
I worked up a good sweat. Sunday morning workout, 2. Sunday, June 08, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell of 2819 Church. He was exclaiming a key point in Matthew 23:11. I couldn’t miss his expressiveness. Sunday, June 08, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Because I am a H U G E fan of the first The Accountant movie, I watched The Accountant 2, and I loved it. It’s not as good as the first one to me, but it is DEF worth watching. I’ll watch it again this weekend, simply because I love Braxton, and it’s most interesting noticing some of the same quirks I have and do depicted in the main character, Christian Wolff. Sunday, June 08, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Sunday dinner main dish: Tuna Casserole. Sunday, June 08, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Ladholt
Sunday dinner: Tuna casserole, turnip greens with Roma tomatoes & onions. Strawberry Lemonade was the drink of choice. Sunday, June 08, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

The weekend has always been my favorite time to run errands, wind down, relax, be creative, and cook. I also love visiting family and loving on those who I love dearly. It was yet another great weekend, and I am thankful for this. Here’s hoping all of you will have an amazing week ahead!


Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

I recently signed up to write on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing as I speak about the most recent events with my place of employment as it pertains to racism and discrimination. I welcome your visit.

Something To Think About #16

Living in “softness” is something many of us cannot afford, but should be able to experience, too.

“Taking the Soft Life for Myself,” that’s what I would name this photo if it were up to me. Courtesy of Pinterest.

Thank you for being here for the Something To Think About feature. These past sixteen weeks have been fun, informative, exciting, and hopeful. I appreciate your presence here at A Cornered Gurl, and I am grateful for each of you.


Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

I recently signed up to write on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing as I speak about the most recent events with my place of employment as it pertains to racism and discrimination. I welcome your visit.

Opening Lyrics to Songs That I Love

#1: Lizzo, About Damn Time

It’s Bad Bitch o’clock/
Yeah, it’s Thick Thirty/
I’ve been through a lot/
But I’m still flirty.

Lizzo: About Damn Time

This will probably be my favorite segment on my blog in a very long time! Welcome to Opening Lyrics to Songs That I Love!

3X Grammy award-winning superstar, Lizzo has become a household name with over 5 billion global streams and a platinum selling debut album to date.

With the help of anthemic smash hits like the 7x Platinum “Truth Hurts,” the 3x Platinum “Good As Hell,” and the 2x Platinum “Juice,” Lizzo released her Nice Life Recording Company/Atlantic Records debut album CUZ I LOVE YOU on April 19th 2019, debuting at #6 on the Billboard Top 200 Albums chart and spending 24 consecutive weeks in the chart’s Top 10.

Why these opening lyrics?! Are you kidding me?! Why not! Out the gate, Lizzo tells you she’s a bad, thick bitch, it’s her time, and she’s still flirty regardless of all she’s been through. It gets no better than that for me.


For the next nine Sundays, I’ll share with you my favorite opening lyrics to nine more songs I truly love. Maybe you’ll enjoy it. Maybe you won’t. Perhaps you’ll share favorite opening lyrics to songs you love as well. Perhaps you won’t. Either way, we’re going to have a good damn time.

See you next week!

Photos From This Past Weekend

When you can sleep like this, it must be REALLY NICE. Jernee Timid, naptime. Saturday, May 31, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Zumi decided to poke its head out and give me a bit of a show. I appreciated it. Saturday, May 31, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
The Canada Geese decided to take over Wal-Mart’s parking lot. I snapped these photos before they got too far out into the street. Sunday, June 01, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
More Canada Geese entertainment. Sunday, June 01, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Kim & I. I believe she was about to say something, and then the photo was taken. LOL! Sunday, June 01, 2025. Photo Credit: Her husband, Jeff.
And again… caught in the act of opening her mouth to speak. LOL. Sunday, June 01, 2025. Photo Credit: Her husband, Jeff.
Homemade coleslaw: cabbage, onions, Roma tomatoes, apple cider vinegar, mayonnaise, and various seasonings. Sunday, June 01, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Cast-iron skillet honey cornbread. Sunday, June 01, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Sunday dinner: BBQ beef ribs, seasoned roasted red potatoes, coleslaw, and honey cornbread. Sunday, June 01, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

This past weekend didn’t last long enough. I was happy to catch up with fellow blogger, fiction and poetry WP phenomenon, K.L. Laettner. She doesn’t post on WordPress nearly as much as she used to, but you can still peruse her website. Also, check out her books, too! Jernee and Zumi were a TIME! But I do enjoy their company. They keep a smile on my face. I pray this week will be more than kind to all of you!


Have you gotten your copy of my new book: a collection of serial tales & flash fiction, Séduire (E-Book and Paperback) yet?

I recently signed up to write on Substack as well. Poking the Bear’s Belly for Fun is a place of healing as I speak about the most recent events with my place of employment as it pertains to racism and discrimination. I welcome your visit.