Reflecting on the Last Day of #NPM

“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature, and God." - Anne Frank 

As the pandemic continues on Long Island and the weather turns to rain and cloudiness, the human spirit longs for connections. During these types of days, I, like others, need to take a walk, smell the fresh air, and be comforted by nature. When this is impossible, I turn to writing, my #quarentainment that lets creativity bubble inside so voice flys.

Highlights of my week of reflecting and writing during National Poetry Month:

Look Into the Future is a video poem I created using Lumen 5. It holds my thoughts about what the future might be. This video poem is constructed with the first stanza of my Skinny poem series offered to Michelle H. Barnes for Today's Little Ditty April challenge.

While reading Fran Haley's blog post with Ode to the Wind, I was inspired by her words to create a Golden Shovel poem based on her quote. "The universe is a writer." From that, I designed my second video poem. You can access it here.

Following my evolving thoughts on the future, I designed an image poem for my #NatureNurtures2020 Gallery using a nature photo taken by an amazing photographer in South Africa, #chazchaz. I thank Al Dhalla, a Twitter colleague, who sent this photo.

In trying times like these facing humanity, nature is a healer. Stepping outside is a break from indoor quarantine life that allows me to find comfort, reflect on the here and now, and future. Hopefully, lessons learned during the pandemic will initiate a new call to action for mankind, increased problem-solving, and creative, innovative solutions to global issues facing humanity. For me, I will continue to write poems of hope to stir minds and hearts.

I am still collecting image poems, nature photographs,

and any other form of artistic expression for #NatureNurtures2020 Gallery.

Quick Challenge:

This inspirational photo by #chazchaz is waiting for poems of hope and haikus for healing to be written. Compose one for the gallery so we can extend poetry writing into May. Ask your students to create as well. Send all offerings to me via a comment below, on Twitter or Facebook.

I'm joining the Poetry Friday community this week at Elizabeth Steinglass's blog site for the Poetry Friday Roundup. Liz is sharing the new videos she was asked to create. Take a stroll over to her blog to hear her reading from her amazing children's book, Soccerverse, and to pick up some creative ideas for #remotelearning.

The Universe Is a Writer

After reading Fran Haley's inspiring blog post, Ode to the Wind, I turned to write a Golden Shovel poem in response to her quote, "The universe Is a writer". There was such a lyrical quality to her prose and sensitivity in her ode that I decided to design a video poem. Unfortunately, the download of the Lumen 5 video did not work well tonight so I am offering the link. You can access the video poem here. 

Each day I listen to the

undulating sounds of the universe.

Wind whispers its pandemic rage in what-is

fashion as birdsongs call out a 

morning tune known by you, the writer.

©CVarsalona, 2020

is nearing its end. I have been either writing a poem or curating others' poems daily

for my Nature Nurtures 2020 Gallery of Artistic Expressions. 

You can offer an image poem or nature photo

until the first week of April 2020.