Then I found poetry.

Then I found yoga.

Poetry & yoga, every morning, y’all. Actually, I could read poetry and do yoga all day. And eat Poptarts, but that is besides the point

Kendra and I last night, all dolled-up.

Last night, I forgot to ring in the new year.

My best friend Kendra and I were exchanging birthday/Christmas presents. (Kendra is one of the best gift-givers I know.) I looked at my phone, and I said “Oh hey! It’s 2013! Happy New Year!” It was a low-key night: dinner and drinks turned into a champagne-farts and science-fiction movie marathon sleepover at my house. It was just what I needed. This mimics how I want the new year to be: fun, honest, and effortless.

This next year, I want to steer clear of making stressful long-term goals. In my personal experience, long-term goals or resolutions tend to fizzle, and I don’t want to feel weighed down. Instead, I’ve decided I’m going to embark on twelve 30-day trials. (One for each month, Math Whiz…) I can’t take credit for the idea of the 30-day trial; that credit goes to the impressive Steve Pavlina. Each trial I run will be focusing on a habit or practice I’d like to give a test-run. But at the end of each month, there are no commitments to maintain or continue these habits. It is simply for the experience.

I tried to make a list of the twelve 30-day trials I’m going to do in advance, but I realized that I don’t need to do that. I’m taking it one trial at a time. THIS month is my only focus. SO, for January, I decided that I am going to get up each morning at 6 a.m. I have always much enjoyed being an early riser in the past but I’ve gotten out of the habit. This month, it’s all I’m focusing on. With Christmas break, I think it’s an excellent opportunity to get into the habit of rising early. I do my best writing in the morning. I’m motivated and excited to see this 30-day trial to the end.

I am simplifying this year. I’m tired of juggling tons of activities and projects that only leave me half-fulfilled. I feel the urge to pare down and focus on essentials. This year is all about my writing, my friends and family, and my college career. This time next year, I’ll be a graduate. THAT IS BIZARRE LET’S MOVE ON AND SIDESTEP THAT CRISIS LOL

I’m going to bed, because I’m getting up early. I’m happy, I’m here, I’m doing well. It’s all happening. Happy New Year!

Later, we ate pastries and provided an audience
For the ducks. It hit me-
You’re cosmos! I couldn’t believe it.
“There’s jelly on your nose!”
Attempting to wake up, I bit my lip.
Blood gushed out, a river, down my dress.

Your tangerine dreams flirt with my reality.
Watch them promenade in the giant cup,
Hesitant, before mixing completely.

If I could just lick that jelly off your nose,
About the rest, I could care less.

Your palms moisten,
your throat swells,
knees jerk and eyes blink, wild.
The small of your back screams “Let’s run! Before it’s too late!”

And the faeries, with fire hair
may sneer and snicker,
taunting you as your vision begins to flicker
into kaleidoscopes.

“Focus on your center,” you recall your therapist advising.
“Hold tight to your core, and breathe.”

(the above is an excerpt from my new poetry chapbook, available soon!)

Sometimes when I dive down to the bottom of the lake, I feel a faint pressure in my ears. Mama told me it’s a warning sign from our grieving ancestors, but I think she’s wrong. I bet the gilled-people felt that same strain too, but the lure of the unknown was a force they just couldn’t resist.

(the above is an excerpt from my new poetry chapbook, available soon!)

Inquiries? Email me and novaa at novaaveo dot com.

roots under boots

daysleeper

hip hop headphones

brink-walking

damp soil

big fishing

The poems below are excerpts from my most recent poetry zine, Happy-Makers.

Greetings, loved ones! I’ve been working on some poems for the past few months, and I finally have a few polished enough to share with you. I’ve posted a few below, and I’ll post more tomorrow. They’re a little whimsical and a lot weird, but that’s always been the case with me. ^___^ Writing is red velvet cake. I hope you love these poems!

XO
Novaa

2.
If Earth were the size of a tennis ball
our Sun would be
seven football fields away.
Why would a thing so remote
bother with greening the grass
on which we lay?

3.
All you have to do is slide.
Let your grip go; forget the ego.
Understand your everything is nothing at all,
and allow yourself to melt in pure light.

4.
Police lights dance at accident scenes,
this is life.
Fat tears slide into beer bottles,
this is life.
Spray-paint Jesus blesses the building wall,
this is life.
It’s understanding what cherishes you
and what is then cherished.

I held it for hours,
sensing movement, then convincing myself otherwise.

I began to think if I tried hard enough
I could revive whatever lay inside.
I’ll take it home
Put it under my pillow
Keep it warm

I squeezed too hard.
A crack, tiny,
oozed clear liquid on my hands.
I shrieked, horrified, dropping it to the pavement.

Running home I felt sick,
heavy in my eyes and feet,
magnetic in the worst way.
I swore I heard a bird
chirping frenzied songs of sorrow.

Like when Dean died… remember?
Mom got to see him first.
She straightened his tie
and cried
and cried.