Clan of Hearts

by Deborah Kay R.T.

Overview

CLAN OF HEARTS

Did take some whittling, now premiering Debs ditty. Committed to wellness of body, mind, soul, was witty. The devotion decidedly fit, All areas of living well lit. Understanding the gains in bits, thought my life gritty.

All seemed fine when suddenly things went south of good. Of course theres always challenges in ones own hood. This was disaster in my yard, Pow, on ass, my fall is hard. A catastrophic gale, there was Armageddon where I stood.

Beautiful snowflake journey, never alone in our heart den. Again a heart to heart love infusion fans the flame, then, Now valiantly well cope, United we stand in hope. Yes, we all be a Clan of Hearts, E Pluribus Unum amen.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781504331104
Publisher:	Balboa Press
Publication date:	07/07/2015
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	126
File size:	61 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

Deborah lives on a hill with her husband, mom, dad, and other assorted family members. Clan of Hearts can be read in approximately one hour. It is the authors intent that you will find this afternoon tea read, seemingly defined by time, to be enjoyable, inspirational and timeless.

Read an Excerpt

Clan of Hearts

---

By Deborah Kay R. T.

Balboa Press

Copyright © 2015 Deborah Kay Reese Tenty
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-5043-3109-8

---

CHAPTER 1

FOLKS

Born an earthy Taurus in the year of
Thalidomide.
Millions of pills were tested before Gov.'s
chide.
From Korea, a marine is back;
Migrant worker Mom form pack.
The Lone Star, Big D's Parkland, I arrived
inside.

Long illegal, my grandma knew where
to get,
Paregoric, knock-out drops for me, a
sure bet.
Syrup of rhubarb with bark;
Folk's apothecary's no lark.
To purchase next remedy, poverty begets
fret.

The game plan from day one may be simple
and humble.
In a second, revolution is triggered by that
last tumble.
Mom's really resourceful a lot;
A better get fuckin' better plot.
In time, opportunity can cause class lines
to jumble.


FOLLOWED

Thrilling or concealing, genealogy has us
followed.
Forced obstinate traditions extensively
hallowed.
Our lineage, oral and written,
Pre-existing condition smitten.
What's gone before, being human we've
swallowed.

Hereditary hero, saint, talent, DNA we're
subject.
Diseases, addictions, psychotics can direly
infect.
A man's line-up can wallop;
Reunions another dollop.
No use rabbiting on; lop decidedly, now
order reject.

Suicide, epilepsy, lobotomy, my sordid
family seams.

Oh dear, what to do about predisposed
gene teams!
What point becomes fine,
For your stock to be mine?
Genius in the sorting out when tree's full
of dreams.


TO AND FRO

Travelin' to and fro, our ramblin' house
with all we got.
Through backbreaking labor, a way better
life is sought.
Workin' bones sunup to sundown,
Pickin' cotton for the elite crown.
Stay well; not even the basic essentials can
be bought.

Terri, Ella joined me in-between various
"labor" camps.
Along the years, roads, memory passport
got stamps.
Blazin' Mojave, broke down;
Cryin' babies, mother's frown.
Back down miles of Route 66 for some more
revamps.

Though often homeless, we stayed with
relatives too.
Lived tenements, the projex, trailer, shack,
whew!
Hale, familiar old farmhouse;
Outhouse spiders, shoo mouse.
On St. Augustine, when JFK taken, left the
nation blue.


ROOTS

All over Cali, we settled in an abundant big
valley.
Around shanty, fruits and veggies grew up
our alley.
For scarce was the money,
Generous souls were a honey.
Up the ladder through schoolin', workin'
rank rally.

Nomadic era ends; Mom pressed promise
not to budge.
Long trek here, now firm roots the way,
was her judge.
Did much to make digs cozy.
Learning money matters, rosy.
A timely G.I. Bill, possibilities of old
fortune smudge.

Established pay-as-you-go family doctor,
John born.
Talkin' moon walk, Ella's rickets, medical,
less torn.
Wk old bro, Mom 29, high school grad.
Dad passed 8th grade, lessons no fad.
Cosmetology, trucking, nursing licenses
start horn.


BASIC

An ever-present willingness expands life's
basic stoke.
Abandon feeling poor, still ain't no fun in
always broke.
A fact to commonly know,
Attitudes prominently show,
A progress, when hardships plenty, can
cultivate joke.

Bravely, Mom goes to drive, college, boogie,
and church.

Band, us girls, she drums in gigs, solid
musical perch.
1st, 2nd, 3rd, tithe on small potato.
Cap Squaw Valley, Han memento.
Clean fit new paths, goin' spiritual to
smooth any lurch.

Married, canned, sewed, and my young'uns
are shown,
That ventures worthwhile be evermore
hearth-grown.
Some fussin', fightin', and courts,
Community service of all sorts.
Grilled policy dramas, explorer seeds are
cast sown.


RAKE

Babies' births, bus crossing hit, X-rays,
stitches sew;
Leukocytosis, unclog tear ducts, down,
payments to go.
Toil, mostly without job benefits.
Living improves in earned bits.
Long run of dues paid, trust our home
investment flow.

Dutch lads trade, Celtic lass, fuse OT and
elbow grease.
Work office in home, dozen years
contractor, no cease.
Paper routes, yards, tools, hammer;
Able hands, HJ, Keith's chore grammar.
Life good, not perfect, bankrupted
business, sad piece.

Lifestyle and company, we're selectin' what
we rake.
Cruisin' Mo, "Oh Yo, ass! You did not make
me brake!"
Let go in a big ho heave.
Get back on track. I believe,
Holdin' cherished intentions doth a good
life make.


CONSTITUTION

Constitution made by a series of exercises
precisely fit.
Plum sport, dare brain, hip spirit, body,
mind, soul smit.
Oodles of options can perplex;
Do commit and begin to flex.
Steady grows ability, keepin' our well-being
deposits lit.

Routinely ran, jumped, played, and swam
at many parks.
Activities varied, sometimes organized,
behoove harks.
Shape up gurus flesh and telly;
Weekly hour's habit the belly.
Life pursuit, physical and beyond, imagine
the sparks.

Twenty-three years, AA degrees, theatre,
music likes.
Studio sessions morphed from old
hairbrush mikes.
Great scores, stretch vocal;
Eclectic genres, joy be focal.
Joining expressional networks broadens
our psychs.


DESPITE

Despite efforts, it's not easy being a
wholesome winner.
A cornerstone, traditional, whole-hearted
family dinner.
We ate lots of good stuff,
Some fare, wholly fluff.
Believed fast helps us slow down, OK's bein'
food sinner.

Despite big business pushin' chronic victim
syndrome,
It's compulsive scapegoatin' enslaving our
very gnome.
Giant revenues in diagnosis cow,
Putting all humans at risk now.
Steely hammering of ad scourge, a
suffocating dome.

Despite the lazy zeitgeist claiming
entitlement crap,
Glam cloud seducing innocence is the real
handicap.
I told my kids, "Keep it honest,"
"Personal responsibility be fondest."
Expanding view of a fledgling can cause a
big flap.


DESPERADO

Revealed in lives never far, a desperado,
maybe four;
They desire just one more time what's
behind that door.
Wild hunger is drawn;
Addictions now spawn.
Rationalized obsessive drives, using
mixed-up lore.

From a dark-black micro box, constantly
hits repeat;
For this they would die, more often deceive
and cheat.
A stare that's fixed cold,
On fake center, a fake hold.
Desperadoes' dupe our babies, their
sweetness unseat.

Another intervention, grabbin' stray from
self-glum.
Bad habits erodes bliss, darn desperado,
pity dumb.
Livin' this way ain't smart;
Expand to jump-start heart.
Hurtin' unhurt id inflicts hurt, costly
"high" scum.


CONCORD THREAD

Lots of sharin' goin' on at girls' night out,
amity.
Possessiveness, frustration begets cruel
profanity:
Tried to stab her dead,
At times infidelity led.
Shelter from raze by scoundrel's bag of
calamity.

Greener over yonder, could be more happily
chummy.
No, not again! Pleadin' with the crash-test
dummy.
Even separate ways,
Won't clear your haze.
Taking a fluctuating emotional approach
is crummy.
So even when a heart feels ruptured, let it
be spread,
There's something more permanent in daily
bread.
Say now, "Go in peace."
"We'll get a new lease."
True love emanates from hearts, the
concord thread.


NEW PLACE

New century, new place, by the lovely Awl
Heart Lake.
Trumped our license plate, revenge for
Dust Bowl's sake?
Our home we built;
Beauty up to the hilt.
Pay no mind the noxious weeds, out with
garbage take.

Sweat rolls old to new; we're just your
average Joe.
Centered forbearance brands harvest that
you hoe.
Teeth, stretch esophagus, pooh.
Han's thumb reattached, oh boo.
More cash out than in; we grasp to keep
status quo.

Hurriedness innocently begins, munch one
flake,
Fragments can cause the whole foundation
to shake.
Start off contentedly debt free.
Finish now! Loans like scree.
Urgent cracks, breaks happen with
impatience quake.


TEMPLE

Three years I worked nutrition-store retail,
was ideal.
Cultivating years of self-studies, brewin'
blissful real.
Earth's pharmacy is on will-call.
God gives, gluttony takes all.
Rob world essence, terminator patents for
profits steal.

Itis, Osis, Oma, Ago, Algia, how our
customers tell it.
Doctors diagnose, some sufferers love
nature to sell it.
Grasp of supplement's aid.
Curmudgeons? Patience paid.
For the ailment hypocrisy, a nasty plague,
just repel it.

If lacking nutritional knowledge has you in
a pickle,
Take charge in maintaining system; don't
be fickle.
Build auspicious temple hedge;
Treatment of cause, the pledge.
Applied direct action, vital benefits start
as trickle.


MOON TIME

Compact treatise on wholeness includes
moon time.
Menses, a delicate substance some prefer
to mime.
Eight every twenty-eight, regular;
An ancient cycle beyond secular.
Heavy flow and ebbing tide, pulse don't
always chime.

Green, candles, scents, yoga mat, my moon
lodge;
Serene dwelling place, outside distractions
I dodge.
World pulls in all directions;
Focus breath, truth reflections.
Power in nurturing balance, permission
don't cadge.

Recurring lunar rhythm, still, mysterious
moon veil;
Erratic phase, three weeks on, off six,
instincts fail.
Sudden pour, completely soiled,
Work and play, many times foiled.
End at 50. Full volcanic flashes as lantern
waxes sail.


BUM

The American class, a privileged life
basking in the sun.
Resources abound, attention on highest,
best, and fun.
Thinkin' harm none, myself revise,
I will work hard, serve, share-wise.
It'd be a positive reproach to the greed
tyranny of one.

Feels free being the lead, contract own
business role.
Great product, healthy high, diggin' the
position of pole.
Economy kicked our bum!
Sixty hour Wk, 60K sum:
HJ kept long held job, his home, a
predatory loan stole.

Public stewards in common understand,
don't you see?
To foster mutual aid, don't worry about
little ol' me.
Unite, another calls the bluff;
Accountability, amorals in buff,
That's when ninety-nine me's, tips the
balance off thee.


TOLL

Whereas, wide open spaces, we all, free
heart pass had.
Steam model ramblin' down highway, upon
a foot-pad.
Often said, no need to rehearse,
"Stand and deliver your purse!"
Tolls, so many tolls, tolls manned and
gated by cad.

Whereas, the toll trench's despot is a
highwayman;
Pays for cunning doublespeak ballads to
amuse fan.
"Your money and your life!" in glitz.
"You're so lucky livin' the pits!"
Profit, pleasures of gander, denied geese,
who lift ban.

Whereas, on free will highways, hype,
Tories can ride.
How great leg irons, handcuffs are, more
rope on side.
In a right to exploit state,
Slave wage jobs a fate.
Cough up every last drop of toll, shun-piker
label abide.


ANY GIVEN MOMENT

Our work truck and work tractor, bank
held the pinks;
Had already invested thousands, this bull
really stinks:
Gave both back with a smile,
Shake off with some style,
Decidedly a small personal set back, not
binding links.

Using credit cards for basics! Another way
we'll find.
Meanwhile, partner and I secured a low
pay temp grind.
One minute in box seat,
Next maintaining feet.
Any given moment, seems lack of money
chains bind.

A goal to pay our kids college, that idea
got drained;
Not on purpose mind you, often the times it
rained.
Contributed some to Tiff:
Her student loans a biff.
Lady's masters, cost 75K, Aussie dream job
gained.


ALLS

Of course having work, a job is preferred,
even alls.
There's great satisfaction in climbing those
walls.
A workin' class mate;
Trade skill first rate.
My guy, is a workaholic, who will get up
after falls.

Hendrik, since he was eight, holdin'
construction bat;
A multi-tool pocket knife, wearin' an
experienced hat.
Right now the pay's not much;
Borrow from family and such.
Bein' a journeyman doesn't assure wallet
will be fat.

"We'll keep you workin' through winter."
Feelin' hearty.
A "lay-off" appetizer is served up at the
Christmas party.
When again need Han's knack?
Could be months before call back.
Among warm, delicious scents, lingered a
big fat farty!


AURORA DUSK

Begin here, spin, finish there, careful not
to lose way.
Satisfaction from last night's casino Elvis
dinner, I say,
Afflicted with uncertainty snare,
A condition we seem to share.
Huntin' a guaranteed future needle, in a
stack of clay.

It's the dawn of once upon a time
constantly flowing;
Fairy tales or curses, infinite possibilities
are showing.
So who am I to question,
An aurora dusk suggestion?
Twilight takes on an urgent "Where the
hell am I going?"

A crock of stew on this cold winter day
warms well.
All conversations with family and friends
goin' swell.
Across shoulders, chest, sudden pain;
Radiating and intense, hurtin' vein.
Dusk, chewin' aspirin, rush, get help,
plunged into hell!


ER

In ER, lots of anti-coagulant, I'm feelin'
better, true.
An investigating camera, suddenly Code
Blue Avenue.
All was crazy frenzy as I lie.
Mom and my man stood by.
Swiftly dramatic, glad grace of God guides
the crew.

Some say heart stopped 9X, four before
operating bed.
Remember what's said, not always matches
what's read.
Deb probably won't live to tell tale.
Spontaneous dissection makes pale.
Emergency heart surgery, desperate slog to
get ahead.

Surgeon verbally reiterates he's not seen
this before,
Both layers, entire artery length cut,
conditions deplore.
Instant slice is usually instant kill.
Exploring open chest, amazing skill.
Clean, no evidence of previous disease,
plaque to abhor.


EON

What happened? Quandary prevails as all
hands hurry.
Rare episode, evidence obscured, makes
truth blurry.
An eon crumbles, blown away.
Resolve to keep death at bay.
First signature starts side effect, 1,200
paper flurry.

No medical coverage means replacement
heart's nil.
Improvise, makin' do, minutes count, the
hours spill.
Enormous blood loss, damage a fact!
Will her brain functions keep intact?
Critical, so very ill, faux stabilizing, many
drugs fill.

Surrender those dreaded doctor words to
this long night.
Won't entertain a lose in dangerous knock
down fight.
Our universe has been shattered.
Modern surgery should be flattered,
Blessing loved ones standing vigil, their
efforts in light.


CLAN OF HEARTS

Beautiful snowflake journeys, we still be a
Clan of Hearts.
Always perfect here and now, I am where it
all starts.
Ever in the infinite room:
From hence all will bloom.
Knowin' compassion begins here, shows
gray cell smarts.

Australia, Boston, Oregon, and Arizona
family came.
Swollen dough bod in psychedelic cloister,
utterly lame.
Mumbling, thrashing, glazed eyes.
We're not ready to say good-byes.
World kin, Muslims, Christians, all hearts
pray the same.

Powerful are the many voices to heal, so
lovingly clear.
California, Texas, Holland, and Iran, truly
all dear.
Family and friends energy bond:
Mark of the heart y'all, very fond.
A heart to heart love infusion that I'll
forever hear.


HOKEY

Curiously there was no familiar point of
reference.
Bed's in anti-gravity enclave, not my usual
preference.
I'm tilted in a crooked room.
Shadowy "nothings" loom.
Low ceiling, purple, blue squares make
circumference.

Rotating kaleidoscope, atmosphere dark
and smoky.
Where's everybody? Their absence
mysteriously hokey.
In a leaning chair protrusion,
A guard, an optical illusion?
Call my family, please, to come visit me in
this pokey.

My pleas fell on deaf ears. He murmurs.
Really dull fella!
So uncomfortable, my restless legs agitated
him hella.
A woman, then darkness coats,
Only this nightmare scene floats.
No faces, no voices, no recollection, my
memory vela.


LOST

Week on the edge, dozens drop by as I grew
aware.
"A miracle! That's what you are Deb," but
just beware,
Saving your life, did cost;
Eating and drinking now lost.
Severe lacerations, entire esophagus now
needs care.

Parched, burning up, "Please!" "Water!"
Begged, I had.
Bruised, puncture and suture wounds
make ugly bad.
From leg, harvested some vein.
Scars outside suck, inside bane.
To lose joyous tangible sensations,
indescribably sad.

Coordination, balance, depth perception
gone in a flash.
A reptilian iridescent skin happens when
my arms bash.
This, my fiery hull, so very hot.
Transfixed squirm was my lot.
Felt broken deep down, whole body's reduced
to hash.


CICU

Gallons of replacement type O-negative for
me it took:
The CICU staff wanted some back, by hook
or crook.
Defecation gets them to cheer.
Need their approval for all clear:
Thru the poop-blood gauntlet for another
closer look.

Bolt neck and hair, silhouette like the
monster's bride.
Funny Bel' cut nine inches of soaked dried
spew, no bide.
In body sling flew thru air;
Nurse Mike tied me to chair,
'Cause standin' melts to palsy, I can't walk
to hide.

Nothin' thru mouth, for months, years,
maybe never;
With J-tube installed in gut, became the
final sever.
"Breathin'," said relieved peeps.
I proceeded to wallow in heaps.
Amiable Chelsea held my hand thru this
endeavor.

(Continues...)

---

Excerpted from Clan of Hearts by Deborah Kay R. T.. Copyright © 2015 Deborah Kay Reese Tenty. Excerpted by permission of Balboa Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
Excerpts are provided by Dial-A-Book Inc. solely for the personal use of visitors to this web site.

---

Table of Contents

Contents

Caveat emptor, 3,
Acknowledgements, 5,
Prologue, 7,
Folks, 9,
Followed, 1,
To and Fro, 13,
Roots, 15,
Basic, 17,
Rake, 19,
Constitution, 21,
Despite, 23,
Desperado, 25,
Concord Thread, 27,
New Place, 29,
Temple, 31,
Moon Time, 33,
Bum, 35,
Toll, 37,
Any Given Moment, 39,
Alls, 41,
Aurora Dusk, 43,
ER, 45,
EON, 47,
Clan of Hearts, 49,
Hokey, 51,
Lost, 53,
CICU, 55,
Remember, 57,
Zone, 59,
Heart, 61,
Vision, 63,
Tethered, 65,
Beloved, 67,
Tonic, 69,
Gullet, 71,
Patch, 73,
Rehab, 75,
Helpin' Sort, 77,
Flux, 79,
Adaptogen, 81,
Mind Bog, 83,
Charred, 85,
Whoa!, 87,
Super Storm,
Whammy, 89,
"It", 91,
Rant Rumble, 93,
Souvenier, 95,
Mom's Days, 97,
Fall, 99,
Other Rider, 101,
Heart Season, 103,
Exchange, 105,
What?, 107,
Cast, 115,
About Scenes, 117,
Thru, 121,