I am no writer, neither am I poet
I write when emotions force me to note
Let me tell you about someone I met here
As I was starting my oh so new blog in fear…
Knowing nothing about blogs, likes or even follows
I was completely lost in the shallows
I met him on one of the pages so
He came to me like a savior, oh…
He seemed like a writer, serious
I couldn’t help but be, very curious
And seeing his posts, I was so so right.
He wrote on topics galore, some in his own might…
I approached him quietly, on tippy toes
He smiled and put me at ease, so
A newbie and a pro seemed a combination strange
But he kept me always in his sights’ range..
He has thousands of followers in his galaxy known
I was just a tiny one, lost unknown
I persisted, mainly after I saw his pic
My heart still gets a very big kick
Oh, he is as yummy as he is sweet,
He is kinda precise and pretty neat…
But I digress from the story afar
He helped me on many topics so far
He taught me how the awards worked
He even gave me one which I shirked…
Over the months, friends we’ve been
Yet, we have never in real seen
He stands by me, when I specifically ask of him
He is there, especially when I ask naught of him…
He doesn’t know what he means to me
Maybe minute inkling, often he may see
He has friends here and everywhere
I may be one amongst all of them there…
It matters not what he feels for me
I care about what I feel for him
I wish him well, I wish him success
I wish him love, health and happiness…
I know nothing what my future would bear
All I am certain are his books published every year
He is an author, far far will he climb
His words, his emotions are so very sublime…
He manages his writing, publishing and blogging
I am amazed at his level of multi tasking
Most of the times, he seems shy and in his shell
But when he talks, he speaks so very well…
His answers are brief or he wears a brief
For this confusion, I give him plenty of grief
He knows he is my crush, oh so well
I am his biggest fan girl, only he can tell…
Everyone who reads this, may have guessed
Those who know him, feel so blessed
His debut is the one that really did matter
The best of 2017 was Watching Glass Shatter.
— Ode to my friend James J Cudney IV; an author exemplaire and a friend extraordinaire…
Jay, my blogging world started with you and as the year ends, I wanted to end 2017 with you. You are the only one who has been there through my heartbreaks and the bad times. Your virtual hugs and good vibes, made life easier to live. My gratitude, my friendship, my loyalty, and my wishes for you are all written in the above words. I hope you like them.
From my mouth to God’s ear
I hope we are friends forever….
125 Responses
beautiful…..
Awww…. Thank you so much for reading this, Sudhir.
That’s the most amazing Christmas or New Years Gift…. 😉
Aah Utkarsh, thank you so much
… welcome ji
It was a nice dedication shalini
Aah Akhila, as you know somedays I can write personal thoughts otherwise it is just books books books
Variety is always nice at least once in a while
Akhila, this variety should come to me hehe. Most of the times, I can’t write, sometimes I can
Leave it to your pen! It might have something to tell always..
Haha, babes, I have tried that. I doodle with pen and paper and I cannot draw, so imagine the waste of paper I do.
On a computer screen I look at the blank screen for some time, then I tell myself, I will get inspiration from novel. I pick up, read and forget about the screen. Hehehe… It’s quite funny actually, somehow amma does not think so at the wastage of paper
Oh no… then what can be done? In fact pen and paper works with me most of the times..
You are a writer Akhila, with genuine talent. I write if my emotions are triggered.
Oh my dear..i know i am nowhere near to the talented writers..though had a smile on my face while you called me a writer😉
When you write a blog with personal thoughts regularly, you are a writer… So simple.. 💗💗
☺️☺️
What to do now😵😵
Oh amma is mom. Sorry
I too call my mom, “ Amma” only…☺️
Cool
By the way where are you from shalini
I am a tamilian from Mumbai what about you?
So we are neighbors..I am a pure Malayali..
Hahaha… Cool
Your Both writing skill is super. I love it. Keep it up
Aah, I think Akhila’s way better.
Let me see her blog also ☺️☺️☺️
Haha go ahead.. Enjoy
You both writing super yr. I can’t do comparison 😐😐
That’s fine… Blogging world is not comparison, it is for expression, it is for understanding and it starts for enriching our lives.
Yeah Right Dr Shalini. You guys express your feelings or thoughts. We can’t compare it because everyone writes beautiful. Nice to meet you blogger mate.
I am just Shalini or Shals. In the blogging world, only names and words matter
Yeah and sorry 😊Shals.
That’s fine. Who are you TechFlax
This is Ashutosh (Ashu) living in Bangalore
Ash is better😉😉
No no no. Ashu is better 😂☺️
Hahaha then Ashutosh
Yeah that is good. Shals
Hahaha cool. I hope I remember, I forget names very easily 🤷
Don’t worry i will keep reminding ☺️☺️
Cool 🙃🙃
Where are you from
Mumbai
I hope my blog will help you for technical problems. Or you can ping me for any technical issues ☺️☺️
I saw that… I am not technical so will keep you in mind 😉😉
Suree
This is so perfect!
Aaah… Thank you so much. Jay is always very kind to me, the first person on WordPress who spoke to me, who helped me and who has been there for me
Jay is absolutely the best!!
I agree, he is kindness personified
❤️😀
I am so glad you liked it. Your opinion matters a lot. I hope Jay likes it too. I am a bit nervous
I’m sure he is going to love it!,
Oh yes, he did
😀
You will have two responses to this amazing ode: (1) initial reaction and (2) after a few hours/days to truly reflect. You are wonderful — I am beyond grateful this morning for what you’ve written.
Shalini… you managed to weave so many of the components of our friendship into this post, including humor and inspiration, truth and hidden meaning. My eyes are blurry at this very moment from reading your words, unable to contain all the drops that formed. You’ve moved me to tears this morning… you are a treasure, and I am not going anywhere you won’t be able to keep me as your friend. That’s a promise and a deal. But I will stop responding now with this initial reaction and share more this weekend when I can absorb everything you’ve done in this ode. I need to re-read many times before I feel capable of a proper response. xoxo
Jay, I am crying too… Some connections are made by the universe. Don’t cry, if you cry, I will cry more.
I want you to be happy always. I never forget people who are there for me. You have always been there.
Tears are making my eyes blurry.
Jay, I couldn’t do anything for your blog tour, because I thought I was not up to your mark but I had promised you, I will do something for you. This came from my heart… 💗 from mine to yours
Jay, when the heart speaks, rest don’t matter.
Amazingly written ❤
Aww.. Thank you so much.. Some emotions trigger me to write… Otherwise it’s a blank screen
I loved your realness!
Aww thank you, James J Cudney deserves it…
Hi dear Shalini, if you are interested I would like to send you a copy of my book “Climbing Over Grit”. It is a true story a memoir of a sad and heartbreaking life of my mother.
avoicefromiran.wordpress.com
Good luck to you and your friendship.
My Jeni girl, how are you..how is life
Thank you
I’m fine. Life’s gud. How are you?
I am ok, girl. Going on..
You had been writing more of reviews lately. I’m glad you wrote this one.
Haha… My primary love is books, Jeni girl
Got it.
💗💗
Book reviews come easily, words from heart come when feelings trigger them
Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
Thank you, Michael
Wonderfully written Shalini. Actually quite expected as the talent is guaranteed.
And words; well could make one jealous
Hi Kurian, thank you for reading and commenting here. It is wonderful to hear from you. Thank you for your kind words. They encourage me. Well James has always been there, during my good and bad times, mainly the bad times… So I had to say these words…
👍
Woww….that was so beautiful!!
You had really kept it inside huh!
Bravo shalini…that why I ask, write it down, you are so good!!
Sri, I sit down to write many times, no words.
After your words, I sat down to think. I realized I don’t like feelings because I feel them too deeply. So to write, I have to bring them to the forefront. I don’t like doing that… That’s why I don’t write
But you did it….you did great🤘
Thank you, Sri. Sometimes, some days with a bit of Sri’s help😉😉
I hope to be there for more better days Shalini👍
Thank you, Sri
Lovely.
Thank you… He is a good friend, so I could write
Loved every word of that piece. It smooths my new born, not knowing were to start blog heart. God,help me to be as good as Shalini and have a guardian angle like she did.
Everyone in this blogging world is pretty fabulous. I am pretty sure, everyone would help
Welcome to blogging and enjoy yourself
Hello again!
I re-read your ode a few times this weekend, and as I head out to visit my family for the Christmas holiday, I wanted to tell you how wonderful this surprise was to me. Knowing there are such beautiful and kind people out there like you, willing to take a chance on a new author, and share their bond and friendship through words, is astonishing.
You’ve done something remarkable here, and I am always going to remember how you made me feel with this special post. Much love…
xoxo
j
Jay, now I am speechless.. Thank you for this wonderful comment. I think you and I have a special connection. And I took a chance with my trust on you as a friend, and then as an author. I already knew from your blogs, that you are a good author. But your support with me, your trust on me and you standing up for me, is limitless. I have always said you are a wonderful human being. The world is enriched because of people like you. And I think I am lucky that I found you. Debriefed would be better, more fun for the fan girl😍😍
Beautiful yr. i love it
Aaah… Thank you 😊😊. That’s so sweet of you to say that
Nice one
Aaaaw, this is so beautiful! I would not have thought it was James, in a million years! Fan girl 😀
I love him… And he knows it💗💗😉😉
How have you been, my darling girl?
Aaw! I’m glad he knows it too! 😀
I’ve been good, can’t complain about much. How have you been keeping?
Funny how I came to your page to find a book to read cause I finished reading The Sun Is Also A Star, and can’t seem to find anything that will make me laugh and almost cry also! Then I came across this gem 💎
Aww… That’s really so sweet… I am glad you liked it.
As you know, I write rarely …(on feelings)
I am doing OK, life with its ups and downs.
Do you celebrate Christmas, how was it? And new year is fast approaching
Haha as you well established that in this Ode.
Life and its ups and downs, yes! But I sure do hope you are soldiering through well, holding on, trusting God… Christmas, no, I don’t. But I still enjoyed the past weekend. We had a music night, a youth acoustic night. Then a sleepover, the best yet.
Do you celebrate Christmas?
Nahhh, being a Hindu, we don’t celebrate. But I celebrated my birthday on the following so it was fun
Oh, you were born on the 26th? 😀
Yp, so I was… I come in between Christmas and New Year😉😉
Hehehe now that’s nice, a birthday during the holiday season 😀
Hahaha… I never received any gifts, due to that, as friends would be away for the vacation. I had to literally threaten all my friends to first gift me and then go on their way.. It worked to a certain extent.. Now I am a little mature to try such stunts… But I try other stuff 😉😉
😂😂😂😂😂😂
I cash even imagine that working on my friends! But maturity has meant you have better ways of ‘dealing’ with them eh? 😅 😁
Yeah baby!! Now I tell them what I want..
😂 sounds like the best arrangement! Thank you Shalini for helping me mature. That’s what I’m doing for my next birthday 🎂
Hahahaha… My friends know me for decades so I can get away by direct aaking
Hehe well, we can just call it training. I’m a practical gifter. I love giving people things they’ll use. Them, not so much. So I think it would help push them in the somewhat right direction 😀 😉
Very true. So am I. That’s why I like when I can tell people what I want
The best thing really!
Before I forget. I came for a book. Is there a book you’ve read that is light, romantic and funny that you can recommend? I am in need of a book 😀
The year of saying yes by Hannah Doyle. It was fun, chick-lit.
Hehehe I’ll check it out. You’re a diamond ♦
Thanks Shalini!!
Thank you,… Aren’t you the cutest…
Happy Belated Birthday sweetheart! 🎂 🎉 🍾 🥂
Oh my darling, thank you so much. You are a cutie pie…
Charming and compassionate…
Yp… That he is
Lovely!
Thank you so much
I liked reading you^^, I am a new blogger as well and I like poem and writing in general^^; I dream to become a writer one day^^
That’s so nice. Keep writing and you will be an established writer soon.
Thank you so much for your kind words. Much appreciated.