To whom it may concern... I want to apologize for my absence on here, I know it's been forever since I shared anything new "poetry wise". I have been so busy and frankly haven't had much inspiration to write anything as of late.

I have however picked up drawing again recently and may share some of my work as well as some of my photography if anyone is interested! Again, sorry for my absence and I wish you all well! Thank you 💞

Photo Credit: Pinterest & Becca Fitzpatrick 

As someone who suffers from depression and anxiety, I’m telling you that you don’t have to struggle alone in silence. If you feel like you may be experiencing depression it’s important that you seek help. There are a variety of mental health services and professionals out there that can help you with your mental health issues and prevent things from getting worse. Suicide is never the answer... Always Keep Fighting!!! 

Special thanks to @perfect-poetry-prompts​ for this fun challenge!

Write a poem using these words:

Photo credit: babak from DeviantArt

Photo Credit: Pinterest

Just a little reminder that April 22nd may be the annual event for Earth Day but, we should all behave as if EVERY day was Earth Day. Take care of the world you live in!!

Photo credit: Catherine Shinn

Photo credit: Catherine Shinn

A Lesson In Learning

By Catherine Shinn

A four year old boy is taking a riding lesson with his mother on a Shetland pony. He just started riding a little over a year ago and today was the first time he rode alone without his mom holding the small horse by the lead rope. Needless to say, the naughty pony saw this as an opportunity and quickly took advantage of that situation. The wayward steed suddenly picked up speed and did a little hop before he bucked, sending the boy straight into the dirt. After making sure her son was okay, the mother picked him up and dusted him off.

“You wanna give it another go?” she asked.

“No…” he said.

“So what, that’s it? You never wanna ride again?” she questioned again, her voice calm and gentle.

The boy was quiet, not sure how to answer that. “I don’t wanna fall off” he mumbled eventually, looking down at his little cowboy boots.

“Falling is a part of riding sweetie. It’s a part of life, its okay to fall.” she told him.

“But it hurts” he said, rubbing his scraped elbow. “And it’s scary.”

“Yeah, sometimes falling can be very scary” his mom acknowledged. “But you won’t get any better if you quit and stop trying. You have to face what you’re scared of in order to grow. In fact, you know what they say about falling?”

He shaked his little head, kicking at the dirt a bit as he patiently waited for the elaboration.

“A rider has to fall off seven times before he becomes a good rider.” she says.

“Seven?!” he repeats, eyes wide.

“Seven”, his mother pointed out. “But you know how he becomes a great horseman?”

The little boy shakes his head again and listened eagerly. All he wants in life is to become a horseman like his mom and dad, so this was the time to listen.

“A good rider becomes a great horseman, when he falls seven times and gets up eight.”

Photo Credit: Jamie Hanson

Author’s Note: So my little brother broke the news to me recently that he’s never been a big fan for poetry and has grown dead tired of proof reading my poems... He then asked me to start writing short stories again because unlike me, he thought I was good at that and he truly missed reading them. I was real hesitant at first with his request because I stopped writing short stories 6 years ago. I’ve always believed that every story I wrote was nothing short of garbage and just knew in my heart that I would be better off sticking to simple poetry writing. 

I guess you could say that writing short stories made me a little nervous so I just gave up and quit writing them (Thus how the idea and moral meaning of this story came to life). I can’t believe I forget how fun it was to write stuff like this and I’m glad that I once again, challenging myself to be a better writer. I’d like to thank my brother, Thomas, for encouraging me to try writing stories again and teaching me a valuable lesson to never stop trying.

I'm so outrageously nervous sharing this story on Tumblr for the thousands of people able to see and read it but, I would like to know what is your opinion of it...

Please let me know what you think of the story and don’t be shy to tell me whether or not I should continue writing short stories more often!!!

Photo credit: Pinterest Author’s Note: So… for some reason or another, I decided to go a little out of my comfort zone today by accepting this anonymous request for and I quote an “Intimate & Primal” kind of poem between two lovers. Hope you like it anon!

Photo credit: Pinterest

Photo credit: Catherine Shinn

Photo credit: Catherine Shinn

Photo Credit: Ecstrap from DeviantArt

Author’s Note: Decided to challenge myself today by combining two poetry prompts to make this and I gotta say, I had a lot of fun writing it.

The Two Prompts I Used For This Poem:

- Do you have a famous short poem that you consider to be your favorite? Add on to it!

- Write a poem using the four elements of western culture in a metaphorical setting.

Photo Credit: Catherine Shinn

Photo credit:Crazy Frankenstein Wallpapers 

Photo credit: Catherine Shinn

Photo Credit: Angela Greenlief 

Author’s Note: Was going through my room today and found a scrapbook full of some of my very first poems. It was like opening a time capsule!! I was only 13 when I wrote this one, man how time flies...