Category: Animals

carillon & hornswoggled without consent

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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

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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.

the unmother

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AI-Generated Image: A young, Black woman holding her puppy up in the air while smiling. She is wearing a dark pink top, has curly hair, and in the background, a faint image of a yellow house is visible. The dog is a tan color with a black snout and sweet eyes.

to be a fur baby’s mom
takes everything the body
doesn’t willingly give

you sacrifice bits of yourself
you never thought you
would–you live a different
life than what you’ve
ever known,

and the four-legged
creature who looks to
you as his world only
sees love and loyalty.

some will say your
mothering isn’t real.
others will tell you,
“it’s just a dog,” but
what they will never know

is the unfailing, unconditional
love that merges the two
of you together . . .
glue that cannot be
undone.

and it’s the most
indescribable beauty of God–
possessed and shared
with us.

I wrote this poem a few days ago for the crush’s daughter, who is now a fur baby mom. At the tender age of 19 years old, she has a companion who will love her like no other living and breathing being ever will. I am so happy for and proud of her!

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 Memorial Day Weekend

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I lived. I loved. I ate delicious food. I am better for having done so.

800°. Southpark, Charlotte, NC. Saturday, May 24, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
On the table: Yellowed beauty. Saturday, May 24, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
What we ate: My friend had a double pepperoni wood-fired grill pizza. I had their specialty wood-fired grill wings with honey bourbon sauce & house wood-fired grill Brussels sprouts. Saturday, May 24, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
A friend who is a gem (and like my kid sister), Diamond. We both worked for the contracted company of our bigger, more established company. And now that the contracted company will no longer be a thing, we are linked to each other’s lives in a way I am not with any other co-worker I have ever had. We’ve been through A LOT, and we’re still standing, still smiling, and still here for each other. The lunch spot was her suggestion. Saturday, May 24, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
She is yet another person who understands my silliness. At 23 years old, Diamond must’ve been here before. I am grateful for her presence in my life. Saturday, May 24, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
A peaceful resting spot. Jernee sleeps whenever she can and wherever she wants. Sunday, May 25, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
The movie theater. Sinners was the feature. Although it was a good movie, the hype about it was TEN TIMES BETTER. This was before six more people entered this theater. Sunday, May 25, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
And again. The seat with the napkins on it is where I sat for the film. Sunday, May 25, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
After the movie, in my car, preparing to go to the store. Sunday, May 25, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Cast-iron skillet homemade macaroni and cheese. Yes, it was delicious! Sunday, May 25, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Sunday dinner: cast-iron skillet mac-n-cheese, thinly sliced BBQ steak, & oven-baked cabbage with tomatoes & onions. Sunday, May 25, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt
Manifestation Monday: On Memorial Day, a small part of my day included watching/listening to an audiobook, How to Talk to the Universe. The link was sent to me by one of my long-time friends, Raina. Monday, May 26, 2025. Photo Credit: Tremaine L. Loadholt

I needed this break from working. I ended my time with the contracted company on Wednesday, May 21, 2025. Thursday and Friday were spent attending doctors’ appointments, visiting my cousin in the hospital, and enjoying every moment I could.

I am ready to take on whatever is headed my way, and I welcome it all with open arms.

I hope this week will be more than kind to all of you. Peace and blessings!

a permanent safe space for the codependent

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the dog follows me
everywhere I turn.
there’s one entrance,
one exit. she thinks
her safe space is
on the brink of
busting through the
walls to leave her
behind.

I have nowhere to go
that will not include
her unless it’s her
spirit I plan to carry
when she’s long
gone.

perhaps that is
tomorrow, maybe
four months from
now, or it could be
a year later, but her
safe space is still
safely planted until
SHE is not.

I am kind of sticking to these daily blurbs of poetic thoughts via Substack notes. More than likely, I’ll keep sharing them here.

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.

the dog and the sandman

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the dog is dead
to the world.
this kind of sleep
is what I used to have
before the change,
before the crush.

there’s too much worry
in my bones – too much
brokenness. I am
whole-body ache in
need of a salve that’s evergreen.
who will deliver?

Wednesday is just
another day that my
body confuses with
Thursday, and the mind
battles with it – warring
with an enemy who
has an army of an
undisclosed amount.

I am stuck in the middle.
the dog is still dead
to the world.
she didn’t raise her head
or bat an eye.
the sandman who visits
her is clearly not the
one who will beat down
my door tonight.