Author Archives: wordcloud9

About wordcloud9

Nona Blyth Cloud has lived and worked in the Los Angeles area for the past 50 years, spending much of that time commuting on the 405 Freeway. After Hollywood failed to appreciate her genius for acting and directing, she began a second career managing non-profits, from which she has retired. Nona has now resumed writing whatever comes into her head, instead of reports and pleas for funding. She lives in a small house overrun by books with her wonderful husband.

A Poem for Homemade Soup Day

Posted on February 4, 2021 by wordcloud9

Daniel Nyikos was born in Germany into a U.S. military family. His mother is Hungarian and his father is an American of Hungarian descent. The family moved a lot during his early school years, mostly in America and the Netherlands. … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

The Day the Music Died

Posted on February 3, 2021 by wordcloud9

February 3, 1959 – The Day the Music Died:  Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, & J.P. Richardson (The Big Bopper) are killed in a plane crash near Mason City, Iowa To hear Don McLean’s tribute song ‘American Pie’ click:   

Posted in Music, Rock and Roll | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

TCS: Langston Hughes – For Livin’ I Was Born

Posted on February 1, 2021 by wordcloud9

   Good Morning! ______________________________ Welcome to The Coffee Shop, just for you early riserson Monday mornings. This is an Open Thread forum,so if you have an off-topic opinion burning a hole inyour brainpan, feel free to add a comment. ______________________________ “I am so … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry, The Coffee Shop | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

A Poem for Street Children’s Day

Posted on January 31, 2021 by wordcloud9

In Austria, today is Street Children’s Day, but there are street children everywhere. If children really are our future, then every child should have enough to eat, a safe place to sleep, clothes that fit and protect from the weather, … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry, poverty | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

A National Kazoo Day Tribute to Alan Alda

Posted on January 28, 2021 by wordcloud9

Today, January 28, is actor Alan Alda’s birthday. It is also National Kazoo Day. To hear the tribute to Alan Alda, please click:

Posted in Music, Television | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

To Kiss the World Good-bye – In Memorium

Posted on January 27, 2021 by wordcloud9

January 27th is International Day in Memory of the Holocaust Victims. Hana Volavková (1904-1985) was the only curator of the Central Jewish Museum to survive World War II. She collected and edited poems, letters, and drawings in a book called I … Continue reading →

Posted in Holocaust, Nazis/Nazism, Poetry | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

TCS: For All That – Songs for Burns Night

Posted on January 25, 2021 by wordcloud9

Good Morning! ______________________________ Welcome to The Coffee Shop, just for you early riserson Monday mornings. This is an Open Thread forum,so if you have an off-topic opinion burning a hole inyour brainpan, feel free to add a comment. ______________________________ O would some power … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Poetry, The Coffee Shop | Tagged , , , | 10 Comments

MORE Amanda Gorman – On Her Audition for ‘The Lion King’

Posted on January 23, 2021 by wordcloud9

Amanda Gorman is now a global ‘phenomenal woman’ – but she hasn’t always been recognised for her remarkable talents. To see her tell the story of her audition for Broadway’s ‘The Lion King’ click:

Posted in Poetry | Tagged , , | Comments Off on MORE Amanda Gorman – On Her Audition for ‘The Lion King’

Amanda Gorman Reads ‘The Hill We Climb’

Posted on January 20, 2021 by wordcloud9

For the text, click:

Posted in Poetry, United States | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

‘The Hill We Climb’ – Poetry Returns to the Presidential Inauguration

Posted on January 19, 2021 by wordcloud9

Second inauguration of President Barack Obama There have been five poems delivered by their poets at inaugurations of U.S. presidents, all of them Democrats. It began when John F. Kennedy asked Robert Frost to read his poem “The Gift Outright” … Continue reading →

Posted in Poetry, United States | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment