Jobie Townshend-Zellner
The Listening Poet
About
Jobie Townshend-Zellner is a poet from San Diego, CA. Photography and graphic art are other “loves”. She enjoys walking through local parks, biking in her neighborhood, and visiting the local “Open Mic” scene. In the spring, Jobie will have a poem appear in The San Diego Poetry Annual 2022-2023. Some of her poetry and photography were published last year in ‘Poetry is Life’, a book of poetry and ideas, compiled by Ann Quinn; Yellow Arrow Publishing. When the Muse isn’t speaking, Jobie serves at church and tends her container garden - on the lookout for visits from hummingbirds!
Jobie started her earth journey in Northern California, and grew up in various cities - from Virginia to Southern California. She has always taken her wonder of life, people, places and nature with her.
Enjoy your visit here!
Art & Gift Shop
Writing & Editing
Jobie’s Word-port, an Editing Service. We get your written text ready to take off - and land! Go to the Contact page & request more information. Thank you.
Poetry Player
Short Poems by Jobie
Please hold life lightly
White-knuckled ride is over
We can breathe again.
photo by Jobie
Nature Spoof, a Limerick
Hail dancing on roof ?
I went to get some proof -
Kernels of corn?!!
Popcorn was born
within this nature spoof!
Wrapped Gift
Only the Giver knows the
inside story; stay
calm, willing to be surprised.
Water Currents …
… spring from within me.
I've stopped carrying earthen
jars atop my head.
Where is ...
my watch?
my hair clip?
my life direction?
not in it’s case ...
not in the drawer ...
not in my head ...
... What to do?
Well, I’ll just keep on livin’ -
Without ‘em.
Sweepin’
under the table ...
I find my clip!
Pullin’ on my walkin’ pants ...
what’s this clump in the pocket?
It’s my watch!
Treading the earth
step by step, my heart is in order.
Wow - I’ve found my way!
Find Home ...
to be your journey
not in a house by the side of the road.
"The Girl I Left Behind Me" by Eastman Johnson
Poetry & Images
Video Poems
Poems
Shadow-War Hero
Once shadows were exciting!
Dark cloud shadows, with scent of coming rain ...
The shrinking shadow of a descending carrying-my-friend plane ...
Fan blade shadows, rotating over my summer reading ...
But lately, gloomy shadows have come creeping
across my mental landscape, screaming
fearfully ominous lies in my face,
as I’m forging ahead with good projects in my embrace.
"Why are you doing this at all?"
“Somebody else could do it much better than you!”
“Your efforts for good are so small
nothing worthwhile will ever come through!”
I should have slammed the door in their faces!
They now hover over me, a black umbrella in all places,
blocking the light... suffocating what’s right ....
Under their shadow, will I ever grow?
Hello, warm friend! I feel bouncing off you, the light of what’s true!
Can I grow across to you?
No. To be upright,
I, myself, have to head towards the light!
Thank you for your reflected light, it’s given me courage to fight.
I will destroy this tyrannical umbrella of lies by being wise.
When they’re not looking,
I’ll give them the boot with what’s true:
“Why are you doing this at all?"
I’m doing this because of my divine call.
over which you have no power at all!
“Somebody else could do it much better than you!”
There’s no one who’s “better” - what’s needed is my uniqueness;
but you can’t understand that - you represent mass hypnosis.
“Your efforts for good are so small -
nothing worthwhile will ever come through!"
My efforts are more than your unlawful lies, which are zero.
My source is endless good, which ultimately rules as hero.
- Jobie Townshend-Zellner
copyright 2023
Holding My Breath …
… I waited for your face to change, but your eyes
stared straight ahead as you walked to the horizon
only you could see; then you were gone.
I began to spin - you took my world with you.
I fell until the crash landing
stopped me; I came to, half-awake.
Dazed, I staggered forward.
Your voice said, “There is always a beyond.”
I stood my ground.
Once balanced and aware
I could see a path forward -
with the light of a destiny of my own.
- Jobie Townshend-Zellner
copyright 2023
Memorial Day 2023
“Couráge!”
Every year on the last day
of grade school, your ritual
was to run and leap from a knoll
as you cried, Free! Free at last!
Yet, you kept on learning, and
telling jokes to lighten life’s load -
even while you shifted the weight
of your Army pack on your back.
I am thankful you are out of range
of the enemies’ guns now.
You love, as you always have -
no enemy’s bullet could kill that.
Back home you started to mend.
Grandma Zelda shouted, Couráge!
as you first walked with your canes.
Your echo was, Couráge!
You never spoke of the war except once.
I was in your home office. You worked
while I did homework at the kids’ desk.
I saw you move, and turned my head.
You looked up and spoke to yourself.
Yes this is what we’d talk about during
the war. We’d come home, and have
families. Life would be good again.
I’m sure you have
found yet another home
and are leaping once again -
wherever you are.
As I was leaping in a modern dance
class, exploring internal resistance felt,
your enemies confronted me!
I looked behind their faces of rage
and saw fear. Great Grandma
Zelda’s cry of Couráge!
flew out of your story to me.
It was a cry to forgive, and I did.
I feel sure you have forgiven too.
Your voice I hear again
as you leap, with a new cry
Free! Free at last - to love!
Jobie Townshend-Zellner
copyright 2023
CATCH THE SPIRIT
When a dead tree falls, its heartwood
no longer carries life giving nutrient.
That’s no matter, we living trees catch it.
We honor what flowed while it stood
with pulse of its own distant drummer
with being out in front - leading
with standing on the sidelines - cheering
being in a sweaty kitchen - cooking
designing clothing or software
flying at thirty thousand feet
or honoring Mother nature on the ground -
conserving land, waters, insects, beasts, generic man.
You see - dead or alive - we all count
as long as we honor each's heartwood expression
no matter our color, race, orientation or nation.
This Memorial Day let's do more than catch what’s fallen
let's be overcome by their spirit of service, let it live among us
and carry it forward as their forever worth.
Jobie Townshend-Zellner
copyright 2023
Poetic Portraits
Dancin’ Queen
Like a lightning streak turned puppy, Little Queen
bounds into the mountainous cool creek water
dances her tail off, twirls under the sun floodlight -
as if she’s doin’ smooth moves for the DJ
whose eye she hopes to catch one day!
Today, the creek’s her Dancin’ partner.
She flings water up, delights in its fall!
Little Queen freezes in the shape of a bridge.
She pictures she’s part of a Monet painting -
winks at imagined pastel lavender water lilies.
The late afternoon wind makes goosebumps
ripple from forehead to ankles. She transforms
back into a singing and dancing queen. Her arms
thrust up as she twirls. She zooms her hands down,
wraps them around her waist. As she bows deeply,
she sees the picnic table is empty! “Hey!
Did you leave without me?” Little Queen
bolts to the parking lot. Grandmama
is by their station wagon - about to get in!
She runs wildly and shouts, “Grandmama!
Let’s make dessert when we get home!
My DJ would love some!” Before the wagon
winds into an arbor of pine trees, the windows
roll down. We hear “Dancin’ Queen…”
She’s ready for the next stop on her singing tour!
by Jobie Townshend-Zellner
copyright 2023
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Contact
- San Diego, CA, USA
- PO Box 90683 San Diego CA 92169
- +1-858-433-0916 - AvonleyArtByJobie
- avonleyart@thelisteningpoet.us
- Open by appointment only
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