About Me…

NAME:  Paula (Wanken) Riggs

WRITING SINCE:  December 2010

for years
thoughts have gone unspoken —
my voice, unheard;
i have longed to put words together —
to speak, unhindered;
yet
when words escape me
i am left in silence.
by writing,
my thoughts find words
and when words escape me
they are found in
echoes from the silence.

2011-01-07 9:25 p.m.
P. Wanken


Thank you for stopping by my blog…here you will read my thoughts that have found words in the form of “ponderings, poetry, or prose.” I hope you will listen to the echoes with me, and take away something that resonates with the echoes in your own life.

Disclaimer:  While I share a lot of myself in these words, for the sake of crafting poetry/prose, they’re not all autobiographical.

129 comments

    1. Horseandmoon: Thank you for this and your other comments…so glad you found your way to reading some of my ponderings and poems and that you have enjoyed what you’ve found here. Glad to meet you, too…a fellow writer. ~ Paula

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  4. Paula,
    I find it hard ti imagine you not articulating yourself, but love knowing that you have found your voice through writing. Writing has always been my saving grace, so I understand your sentiment.
    KIM

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  5. I understand what you are saying. Sometimes the only release I have for my feelings in my writings that until now have gone unread.

    Thanks for sharing and for stopping by.

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  6. That is the great thing about writing is to be able to express yourself, give a little of yourself but no one but you knows whether it is really you or not. You silence speaks but is it really you? Keep us guessing.

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  7. This is so true. How many hours have I struggled to find the words for saying just the right thing, then as I sit in stillness they come crashing together into a poem…like your so expressive one.

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  9. I was never a quick thinker on my feet, but my thoughts gained clarity with writing. Now when I have something important to say, I’m often reading it off a spiral notebook. Beautiful post, Paula!

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  11. I love that you have found the written word to express yourself. This poem is an example of how well you do that. It has me thinking about life without writing..yikes!

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    1. Thank you, Judy, for coming by…..and for taking the time to post a comment! I appreciate your visit and your kind words. I’ve been writing for such a short time…but you’re right: yikes! 😉

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  12. A thought provoking poem. I agree that when words escape one they are found in the echoes……and eventually they find their way OUT! Nice blog!

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    1. Thanks for coming by, Mary….and for your kind words. I am glad the echoes of my thoughts have provoked thoughts of your own. I hope you’ll come by again! ~Paula

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    1. Amy –
      Thanks for your feedback. And…LOVED your #5. I shared it with my friends on FB. Have a blessed day…and I look forward to continuing to read your words!
      ~Paula

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    1. Thanks, Reggie…I appreciate your visit as well as your comments. I hope you’ll take a look around and read some of my other “after the silence” work. ~Paula

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  22. Well put, Paula – and your words echo how it was for me for many years. I still think the very best words are those “found in / echoes from the silence.”

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  23. Hi Paula,
    Loved what you said today at the PA site. It’s my first PAD challenge and you captured how I feel – like summer camp ending! See ya on Wednesdays. 🙂

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  25. Hey Paula,
    Thanks for the e-mail and interest in “Poetic Bloomings”. It is an exciting undertaking and we will try to make it as such for you and your muse. I have added your link to the “Daisy Chain”. It will be great to get to read more of your work at PB.
    Welcome Aboard.

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    1. Thanks for stopping by, Benjamin! I’ve enjoyed reading your work on Poetic Asides…do you keep a blog somewhere? (I’m going through PA withdrawals and it’s only May 1!) 😉

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  27. Paula,

    enjoyed your site very much. thanks for visiting my site so much and for commenting on the poems. i see you have had a lot of positive comments from friendly visitors. would you mind sharing the link to your group(s) so i can join, too?

    Thanks,

    Gordon

    http://gsb3.net

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  31. Hi, Paula. I added a link to your blog on my site. It’s been a pleasure knowing you and reading your writings. Thanks for your encouragement in my writing as well.

    Gordon

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    1. Thanks, Gordon. Glad to be able to “pay it forward” in the encouragement department, as I have found encouragement from others in this online poetry world! ~Paula

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  32. Paula,
    I already see what you mean about the online poetry world being encouraging, since now that I have followed in your footsteps and joined some of the writing prompt groups, there has been plenty of encouragement. I bet you have quite the network!

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    1. I wasn’t sure how I was going to be at writing to the prompts…but the community is encouraging…and I have found I enjoy both the challenge of writing to the prompt, as well as the experience of reading what others have done with the prompt. ENJOY!! ~Paula

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    1. Thank you so much, Ren, for this and the other comments you have left for me on other visits here. I’m glad you find anything I’ve written worth coming back for…….really. ~Paula

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  38. always like to come by and check out your word….busy summer with outside stuff…not much poetry or painting lately……so it just happening slooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooowly now

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    1. Wayne, how kind of you! Thanks for stopping by, and for taking the time to let me know. 🙂 Summers are just an entirely different pace…I’m not always feeling very in sync these days, but I do write when I can. I even took a painting class…and loved it. Won’t be posting any of MY painting pictures, though. LOL. ~Paula

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  41. I have just joined the community…and serendipity!!! echoes from the silence…before listening to all your echoes I wanted to extend appreciation for your thoughts penned!

    Take Care!

    Wali.

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  43. Oh, hello again–wanted to let you know I’ve nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award! If you’re unfamiliar, you can visit my blog again for details–

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  44. Hi, Paula. I read your reply to my comment about the problem I was having, and decided to try using a different browser. It’s only in Internet Explorer (IE8) that I’m having difficulties. In Firefox and Google Chrome, what I type shows up in the window without my having to highlight it.

    Great photo and “About Me” poem, by the way. 🙂

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  45. Hi Paula,
    Just took a quick tour of your blog and am mightily impressed – shouldn’t sound so surprised I guess – you were pretty impressive throughout the assembling of “Prompted” and thank-you again for all you did there …

    Ditto what many have said before me in that I was surprised to learn you sometimes have trouble articulating your thoughts – again, I don’t know why. I often find the only way I can express myself is with writing.

    Your poems are excellent – I especially love your latest wordle – you used the words so naturally, especially weaving the actual woes of the nation right now and upcoming election … nicely done.

    I look forward to seeing you and more of your work around the various poetry sites.

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  46. Found you through “Show My Face Six Word Saturday”.
    “When words escape” caught my eye
    Your banner photo is awesome – almost breathless
    Ponderings and Poems – “ponder” is one of my favourite words!

    I am following you now!

    Thank you for sharing your blog, Paula!

    May His Blessings be Upon You,

    Patricia

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  48. Hi Paula, just popping in to let you know that I have nominated you for the Candle Lighter Award – please visit my blog for more information. Enjoy! ~ Julie 🙂

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  49. Hi again Paula, forgot to say that I have also nominated you for the Versatile Blogger Award – please visit my blog for more information. Enjoy! ~ Julie 🙂

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  50. Hello, Paula –

    “for years
    thoughts have gone unspoken”

    (I don’t see a title)

    What a wonderful work of art! I marvel at your talent.
    Thank you
    Patricia

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    1. Thanks for your visit, Patricia.

      This poem was actually written as “echoes from the silence” which is my blog title. It was included as one of my posts, but then I added it here on the “about me” page. Thank you for your kind words!

      ~Paula

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  51. Thanks for your visit Paula – glad you like the third in the (untended and ever continuing) series. If Brenda keeps serving me wordles that just keep falling into place you’ll get that meeting! Who else but a mermaid princess would just call out “You, there!” as an introduction?

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  52. Hello Paula and thank you again for visiting my blog. I want you to know I am very appreciative. I hope to see you there more often. Please check your email.

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  54. Hi Paula!
    Thank you so much for your compliments on my poem. I actually started off in a different direction with it and then the whimsy muse jumped in. 🙂
    And your compliment on my painting totally made day!
    I’m going to add a page of my artwork once all these challenges are over.

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  57. I’m glad that you are able to remove from hinges in this space, the echo is heard. Lovely to meet you, Paula.

    Keep in touch,
    Archna

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  60. nice…i feel you on being left in the silence for so long…and its great as well to hear those echoes back once you start scratching out those words….

    and fyi…read your comment, the prompt is open til tomorrow at midnite @ dverse poets so you still have like 27 hours…but if you dont make it back…will catch you again soon…smiles.

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  62. I’m glad you are finding your voice. I think blogging is life changing because it gets my voice out to those who chose to hear it. That is very empowering, don’t you think?

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  65. This whole idea of echoes in silence. It reminds of writer’s block. A friend who needed me to take dictation because when he got on the typewrite everything stopped. Or the artist who is too intimidated by a blank white canvas. Yet, I reminded of a cave covered by a waterfall, that there is something in what appears void. Great poem and a great blog name!

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