Duane L. Herrmann

MIRACLE FLAMES

Steady candle flames
did not dance
but bent horizontal
in unison,
then stood upright again,
then bent opposite
and stood again
with no wind
in closed room.

GRANPA’S HANDS

My Granpa’s hands
were always old
as I am now.
I watched him age
as I am now,
and now, too,
a grandfather
with wrinkled hands.

BIRTH WELCOME

Purple streaks across the sky,
oranges and reds,
set the autumn sun
over prairie grasses,
tan and yellow blowing,
waving under wind.
Any wonder why
I love this world
which welcomed me?

SCULPTURES OF A FORMER TIME

Tractors, mowers, rakes,
even manure spreaders,
find new homes
in retirement
by grandsons
of the farmers who
had worked them,
now resting
in the front yard!

PASSED LITTLE BRIDGE

Bridge by the side of the road
in the ditch
where road once was,
bridge remains
making the way
to small cemetery
new road goes around,
as I do too.

FINDING EARTH

We thought we
were going to the moon
but found the earth instead:
blue-white ball
suspended, alone and single
in expanse of empty space:
one home
for one mankind,
we are one together.

~~~

The work of Duane L. Herrmann has been published in print and online, in over a hundred journals, more than fifty anthologies, plus seven volumes of poetry, more chapbooks, a history, and a sci-fi novel; all despite a traumatic, abusive childhood embellished with dyslexia, ADHD, cyclothymia, an anxiety disorder, and PTSD. Duane was first featured on June 19, 2020, and again on December 4, 2020. Some of his thoughts were also selected and published in The Sound of Brilliance.

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My Essence

Redux

I Write Her

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The majesty of my ethereal being is within
gifting me an enlightened puissance.

I am perspicacious.

I’m those things that matter
to myself, my family, my community, and my world.

It’s not fleeting.
I remain who I am in the face of darkness and doubt.

This caring, this is me.

This strength, I share with you
as we all march on.

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Building Your Community

relationships are forged
randomly and with determination
events and moments tighten those bonds

as lives connect
support structures are developed
proper alignment helped by the tools utilized

solid construction
ensures that stability endures
maintenance is an important component

…find builders who care, otherwise you’re screwed



Wordle #448

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I just want to hug her and touch her sweet face. But I know I have to restrict myself during these times. Being socially responsible right now does indeed count in this woke world; it’s how I can be compassionate. Then I hear of the cult back in my home town still holding mass. How utterly insane they are! They should lock the doors and call it a day, indefinitely or at least until the worst is over. We all need to distance ourselves.

I look down at my hands and realize they are the enemy that I can control.

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Inspired by The Sunday Whirl

What Emerges

We see each other.

Though we don’t know beyond what stands before us.

The reflection is a fairy tale; the image, a mask of well-being.

Or it’s a nightmare played out while awake.

More likely, people pass by being barely noticeable.

Understand that the substance of lives are not predicted in the first glance.

Let’s take the time to watch as the bios unfold slowly.

Look inside.

And find the essential being within.

Humanoid

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Did you know that humans are genetically 99.9% identical? Well, it’s true! 7.6 billion people inhabit this world. Being one individual in this pool of many seems like we wouldn’t be that special. A human is pretty much just a human. Right?

Wrong! Look at the many layers of uniqueness that make up a human. We are defined by the various presentations or absence of such as…

hair color
political views
eyes
disposition
age
origin of birth
occupation
skin color
health
location
biological sex
gender identity
expressiveness
education
sexual preference
status
personality
style
religious belief

There are even more details to describe who we are as individuals. This short list only mentions the distinct feature we can see or might openly share with one another. Further identifying each characteristic makes each of us even more incredibly dissimilar.

Then add to that a lifetime of experiences which uniquely influence and potentially change our views and perspectives. It is unfathomable how many different human beings there have been, are currently and will be. Not one like any other, ever.

Don’t these facts alone make us supremely rare and our existence unprecedented?

I think so.

And for that, we should all walk a little taller and prouder.

Don’t you?

I Write Hers

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When I purchased this domain I Write Her, it felt like it described me. I would make this place my safe space and home to fully explore my humanity. It’s not been as scary as I thought it could be. Each post I expose more and get more determined to share this being inside. Shedding the layers that I’ve let society add to my frame to reveal what’s been hidden all along. I’m free in a way I haven’t been in a very long time.

The decision to create here in the WordPress community has given me another bonus. This community is filled with I Write Hers just like me! Their stories and struggles, some very similar to mine, hold my attention and tear at my heart but give me a connection that is so valuable. It helps me uncover more about myself because I want to be as sincere in writing as they are in their posts about their lives.

Every day, I believe that we are all here to help each other fulfill our goals, challenge our process, and read good writing. And along the way, we make friends who we love and support.

I’m so glad I became a writer.