Tag: #RDP

The Introvert & the Mask ©Dawn Minott

On By Dawn MinottIn Prose23 Comments

For those with personality traits which can be classified as “introverted”, give them quiet chilled events, few people and less stimulating environments and they’re in their element.

I’m drawn to nature. I can spend hours by myself in a park, by a river, in a garden because the quiet and stillness that I find underneath trees and on river banks never fail to invoke wonder and contentedness within me.

For people with my personality traits, it means that we focus on internal feelings rather than seeking out external sources of stimulation. It doesn’t mean we’re shy, but more reticent.

With my quiet, reserved, and introspective way of being, the mask has been like my superpower. Not as a disguise but as a buffer. Behind the mask I can process some of the information I so readily take in from the environment and doing so discretely.

Suffice it to say, in 2025 I’m still wearing my mask —a.k.a. my superpower—in crowded enclosed spaces though it’s now okay not to mask up.

All Rights Reserved
Published 2022
Republished 2025 
Images by me

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In creative solidarity, Dee

Introverted ©Dawn Minott

On By Dawn MinottIn Poetry22 Comments

Dear World,

I’m introverted

My matter-of-fact stance is often misunderstood

Some think I’m distant or aloof, others say I’m intimidating

Nothing is further from the truth

It’s likely that I’m deep in thought

Or that I’m observing the environment around me

My life compass—it’s a never ending 3-60-degree focus

Always listening, always planning, envisioning or writing

The endless balancing of mind’s up-down climb on the decision tree of “what ifs”

Shy, I’m not, reticent though—that would be quite fitting

I’m likely not the first to speak, or may not speak at all

When I speak it’s a decisive choice, a point most necessary for the making

Adding value, adding integrity, moving the needle on what’s being discussed

By the time I’ve made a decision there’s been a hundred thoughts ahead

Give me quiet spaces, time alone to just be

This is how I gather energy

Don’t mistake, then, my reservation for lackluster

I’m introverted and that’s just that

Sincerely, an Introvert

2023 All Rights Reserved

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In creative solidarity, Dee

Travel Story: Zanzibar, Nakupenda Beach ©Dawn Minott | Senryu Poem

On By Dawn MinottIn Poetry10 Comments
Nakupenda beach, Zanzibar

Nakupenda is
Sandbank beach in Zanzibar
It means “I love you”

Indian Ocean
Idyllic summer swim in
Crystal-clear waters

Waves move o’er white sand
Low tide ripples revealing
Just off Stone Town coast

2023 All Rights Reserved

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In creative solidarity, Dee

Flower of the Day Challenge #47: Mimicking Flowers & Senryu Series

On By Dawn MinottIn Photo Reflection18 Comments

Flowers that mimic
Duplicity in nature
Created design

The Dancing 💃 Girl
The Moth Orchid
The Laughing Bumblebee Orchid
The Monkey 🙉 Face Orchid
The Duck 🦆 Orchid
The Happy Alien 👽 Orchid
The Hanging Lobster Claw Flower
The Ballerina Orchid
The Naked Man Orchid
The Flame 🔥 Lily
The Ice Cream 🍦 Lily
Swaddled Baby
The Bat 🦇 Flower
Darth Vader Flower
Snap Dragon Seed Pod (I’d call it “The Skull” 💀)
The Angel Orchid
The White Egret Orchid

God can’t be outdone
At best human imitate
Never duplicate

2022 ©DeeMin All rights reserved
Thanks to Cee for hosting the Flower of the Day prompt and Ragtag Community for hosting RDP Sunday, the word is design.

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In creative solidarity, Dee

The Jaguar Parade©

On By Dawn MinottIn Poetry16 Comments

She’s America’s largest cat
Iconic symbol of
Power
Beauty
Freedom
Resilience
Grace
Yet she’s being eradicated from our world, her world
Steadily and deliberately hunted
Her habitats threatened by loss, fragmentation
Overhunting of what’s her prey leaves her less to partake, she strays
In territories of people, there’s conflict she looses limb and life, she dies


Today she roars her message of conservation and protection
Across the globe she parades
She sits at the seat where world leaders gather
She bids them welcome to their 77th session
The General Assembly of the United Nations
Called to action with artistic glow
Life imitating art
She brings her cause front and center for the world’s attention
Do you see her?
Will you save her?
The Jaguar Parade

Jaguar Parade NYC 2022, organized by Artery, is an open-air art exhibition of forty jaguar sculptures designed by global artists, now taking over the streets of New York at the same time that the 77th United Nations General Assembly convenes to spread a pressing message—it’s time to act for jaguars.
Also contributing to Ragtag Daily Prompt— the word is glow.
2022 ©Dawn Minott All Rights Reserved

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In creative solidarity, Dee

December Is…

On By Dawn MinottIn Interior Design & Decor19 Comments

… Christmas Tree decorating!!!

Decorating is another of my passions. December means CHRISTMAS and its the season for my biggest inspirations. I start with the tree and however it turns out that design element carries through the rest of the Christmas decor for the space I’m curating. This Christmas tree design is done to fit an Afro-chic interior motif.

Step1: the tree—set her up, turn on her lights, let her inspire
Step2: execute inspiration, outline the idea—for this space: black&white diagonal Nike-swoosh from top to bottom
Step3: fill in color block 1–a hint of black with white, mixed textures and ornaments
Step4: outline color block 1 with contrasting color—bold red
Step5: fill in with mixed textures and ornaments, add 1st layer of tree topper—go bold!!! Choice: red bows
Step6: carry subtle black&white motif into topper, add bow
Step6: add non-traditional skirt (sheep skin to create lux feeling), complete with gift boxes connecting the red-black-white decor color scheme
…and, voila!! This Christmas tree is decked to complement the Afro-chic interior design
Left-side view
Right side view
Merry
Christmas
Joy & Peace to you and yours!!!!
2021 All rights reserved ©createdbyDEEsign.com

Contributing to Ragtag Daily Prompt, the word is DECEMBER!!!

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In creative solidarity, Dee

Interior Design & Decor #2: Stacking Books Stylishly

On By Dawn MinottIn Interior Design & Decor20 Comments

Decor doesn’t have to be extravagant or gaudy to make a statement. Here’s an abstemious tip to add a bit of flair to your interior decor:

Why just stack your books on a coffee table or the bookshelf?

Add a glass pot with succulent plants (a terrarium) OR add a piece like this mother and child over-ledge figurine and voila … you’ll transform the look and step up your decor!

You may also visit createdbyDEEsign on Instagram for other interior decorating ideas: www.instagram.com/p/B_n77dgjd9o/

Written for Ragtag Daily Word Challenge: decor, and Your Daily Word Prompt: abstemious

Thank you for journeying along.

First time to the site? Welcome! You may start here👈 and for more follow the blog here👈

In creative solidarity, Dee

The Bridge

On By Dawn MinottIn Prose8 Comments

Caught on the bridge when the earthquake struck, Desmona clings to lose cables, her body dangling precariously above the field of debris scattered across the sea below. Marshaling all her strength, she pulls herself up when suddenly the cable…

Cliffhanger. Yes, I know I’ve left you dangling (pun intended😊). That’s ‘cause I’m writing for Sammi’s Weekend Writing Prompt—the word is marshal, the length 39 words. Also for Author World image and title, the bridge; Fandango’s One Word Challenge—field; and Ragtag Daily prompt—scattered.

Thank you for journeying along.

First time to the site? Welcome! You may start here👈 and for more follow the blog here👈

In creative solidarity, Dee

Clouds, Frothy as Air©

On By Dawn MinottIn Poetry3 Comments

Lost in wonderment
flying through boundless sky on
clouds frothy as air
bearing weight of steel-winged bird
in peaceful solitude glides

2021 ©createdbyDEEsign 
All Rights Reserved
A Tanka written for Ragtag Daily Prompt, the phrase is “frothy as air”

Thank you for journeying along!

First time to the site? Welcome! You may start here👈 and for more follow the blog here👈

In creative solidarity, Dee

Deception Over Love: A Short Story

On By Dawn MinottIn Prose12 Comments

Delilah exhaled in exacerbation. Exhausted, and left with no more words of defense, she stomped out angrily into the court yard.

Pacing aimlessly back and forth, muttering to herself:

“How can they say these things about me?”

“I did this for my people!”

Caught up in ruminating, Delilah didn’t see the crowd growing about her in the courtyard. Her inner castigating jolted to a halt when Martha, who was always jealous of her relationship with Samson, screamed vehemently at her:

“You did this to him! You evil, conniving little witch!”

Delilah felt the extremity of Martha’s hatred and disgust.

“Out with his eyes! Out with his eyes!”

Turning in the direction of the angry mob, Delilah dashed back into the inner court, forcing her way through the crowd that had thickened around Samson. She got to Samson just as the soldier who had given her the small red drawstring purse with 30 pieces of silver, extracted his second eye.

Blinded by loyalty over love, she had blinded the man of her affections. There was no way to redeem herself from this deception. Martha was right to bring this calumny against her. 

2021. All rights reserved. ©www.createdbyDEEsign.com

Today’s piece was written for: Your Daily Word Prompt (extremity); Fandango’s One Word Challenge (redeem); Ragtag Daily Prompt (calumny); and Word of the Day Challenge (exhausted).

Thank you for reading!

First time to the site? Start here👈 and for more follow the blog here👈

In creative solidarity, Dee

Travel Story: Cuba—The Country, The Revolution, The Cars

On By Dawn MinottIn Prose8 Comments
Cuba, trade embargoed, locked in a time capsule
History inextricably linked
Revolution with antique, vintage, classic
Iconic as cigars and Che Guevara
Cruising along the Malecón broad esplanade
Gliding majestically through narrow winding streets of Havana
Shimmering like bright vintage jewels, kaleidoscopic colors floating by
Parked strategically, juxtaposed to gorgeous ornate buildings
Combined 100s of years—a living car museum
Cuba, proud island of yesterday’s cars
Cruising around Havana in a 1960-something Chevy

This piece was written for Ragtag Daily Prompt Saturday: Yesterdays Cars as ode to my trip to the beautiful island of Cuba

Thank you for reading!

First time to the site? Start here👈 and for more follow the blog here👈

In creative solidarity, Dee