#PoetryPals

May passed by with complications. Now it is a beautifully sunny day in June. American author and theologian, Joan D. Chittister, writes "June is the time for being in the world in new ways, for throwing off the cold and dark spots of life."  I am eager to regain my strength and return to "normalcy" as my magnolia buds spread their gorgeous white florals.

Last week the Poetry Sisters, Tanita, Mary Lee, Tricia, Laura, and Liz, invited writers to write in the spirit of poet Lucille Clifton's "homage to my hips". Since my body has been under attack since May, I praise my body for its resilience to a recent challenge. I join Michelle and Linda B. who signed in as #PoetryPals last week.

Lately, everything has been in slow mode for me. For instance, Poetry Friday is already filling with many poetry friends signing on as I get ready for another doctor's visit. 

I  join the Poetry Friday Roundup at Tracy Kiff-Judson's blog, "Tangles & Tales". She is cooking up a delightful and tasty post titled, Cooking Up Inspiration. See you there. I will make the rounds slowly this weekend.

    Created by Tracey

Grand Finale

As the season of autumn officially comes to a close, I have seen unusually warm temperatures, intense fog, and today the rains came. I have enjoyed the variety of weather changes during this season of brilliance that has now changed its shades to grey. 

Being in the last stage of designing Autumn's Palette Gallery, I look back on the season and rejoice in the poetry that will be showcased soon. 

Please visit Poetry Friday where the gift of poetry is evident each week. Diane Mayr is hostessing this week at Random Noodling.

Paint the Earth in Whitish Hues

My positive approach to this year's winter season, is quit a departure from years past. I am taking on the watch, listen, and learn attitude as the weather conditions go from blustery and too cold for walking to less cold. During the storm that hit many states, I watched the snow fall for two days and listened to whatever sounds came my way. Eager to write about what I witnessed, I learned to be patient with my words. They needed some prompting to circle the scene I watched outside. Then, slowly they appeared, ready to descend on paper as fresh as the new fallen snow. 

The photo below does not do justice to the dancing pattern of the snowflakes I witnessed, but it will suffice. The poem nestled next to the image, still needs to be refined. Both are as rough as the jagged rocks in the garden covered by a blanket of white.  But isn't that what writing is all about-taking a piece and crafting it, and then refining into a little gem of merit? There is more to this poem but it just isn't public ready so the ending will have to wait until winter whispers to me again.

And now to hear Longfellow's whisperings of winter.

http://www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/173915

I humbly offer my own writing next to Longfellow's to illustrate the difference between a master and an apprentice. Comments from fellow Poetry Friday members on how to refine my thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

Poetry Friday is here to bring good cheer at the beginning of the year. 

So stroll over to Irene Latham's Live Your Poem site for the MLK edition of Poetry Friday.

Irene is sharing two poems from the Cybils finalist VOICES FROM THE MARCH ON WASHINGTON ON WASHINGTON, Poems by J. Patrick Lewis and George Ella Lyon, and an original poem hewn from the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s I Have A Dream speech.

Falling into Place as Season Turns

It's turning time when summer flows into fall. I sit and wait while still lingering in summer-kissed days. Day shorten. Temperatures drop. School is in session. Signs of the season are everywhere. Although I savor the sweet taste of summer, I recognize the passage of time and am eager to capture the brilliance of autumn in a new gallery entitled Finding Fall. I invite those who enjoy spinning words to craft them into a poem prompted by a vibrant photo of autumn. In doing so, you will accompany me as I "Find Fall" this season. This invitation continues my REFLECT WITH ME journey and connects me with writers around the globe. 

Sunshine paints

its first canvas 
as time turns.
I linger in Summer,
betwixt and between, 
ready for fall.



In the quiet of morning
I listen for sounds.
Nature calls out
to turn the season.
In response, 
crows caw loudly-
geese honk an entry-
Change appears.

Nature responds,
slowly unwrapping
Autumn's splendor 
like a soft sheet unfurled.

Then, it gently lifts 
and patiently transforms 
Summer into Fall
while embracing the glory 
of an Indian-summer day.
                -Carol Varsalona 2014

It is the summer's great last heat. 

It is the fall's first chill: They meet. 

-Sarah Morgan Bryan Platt

Live quietly in the moment and see the beauty of all before you. 

The future will take care of itself. 

 - Paramahansa Yogananda

Come reflect with me as I weave a tapestry of golden hues from original photos and poetic expressions. Writers, educators, businessmen and women, retirees, and others join me to paint a vivid canvas of autumnal majesty. Send me your original poems and photos that showcases autumn splendor for the Finding Fall Gallery of Artistic Expressions.

Original poems and photos will grace the walls of a vibrant gallery that will uncover a myriad of possibilities when Finding Fall. 

Tips: 

• If you are interested in creating visual images like the one above, try PicMonkey.com.
• See autumn with a new lens. Find just the right scene to photograph the brilliance of the fall season and let your words flow to describe the scene.
• Include audio to spark your creation.
• Refer to the following sites to see the growth of the REFLECT WITH ME Galleries: 
• REFLECT WITH ME
• April Awakenings
• Summer Serenity Gallery

SPECIAL NOTE: Teachers who contribute to the Finding Fall Gallery can use their submission as a mentor text in their writing workshop. In addition, each teacher may choose one student piece to submit for the Finding Fall Gallery to spread the word that Writing Matters!

Each Friday, different poets open their sites to host a variety of writers who celebrate the love of poetry. This week's Poetry Friday is hosted by Laura Pudie Salas. Please stroll over to Laura's site to read her delightful "What's Inside? Poems to Explore the Park' You will enjoy her colorful photograph that accompanies her couplet. 

I am hoping that many of my Poetry Friday friends will accompany me as I build the 

Finding Fall Gallery .

*Please Note:

Since this post was written, the Finding Fall Gallery was unveiled and you can view the beauty and majesty of the collection here.

Word Crafting

"Writing is thinking on paper."

William Zinsser

Reading the children's book, a Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd, has caused me to focus deeply on the beauty of words and the magic that spills out from their creation and manifestation on a page. Lloyd's ability to spin words attracted me to the character she created. Felicity Juniper Pickle, is a word collector who sees words all around her.  She has an optimistic viewpoint and a poet's sensibility illustrated by such statements as, "I was surrounded by words and stories and dust-speckled light. That's a pretty perfect way to be." - or - "I never wanted to forget all the ways we were connected that day: By shadows and sunlight. By pouncing hearts and a starry maybe."

Natalie Lloyd's delightful and whimsical tale should be hit with students ages 8-12 years (680 lexile level) and a thoughtful prospect for the 2015 Newbery as noted by several reviewers. 

As a word collector and weaver of words, I feel that words are the heart of my writing life. Natalie Lloyd's debut book deftly spins her tale with a zest for word crafting, pairing words in an unique manner that allows a certain type of magic to flow. One way to feel the fullness of life is to see words spinning from inside out, just like Felicity Pickle, and then allowing them to become visible and find a place to rest - moving the thought process from an internal process to an external one. 

A word crafter reflects, constructs, and captures thoughts on paper. As they appear, the writer savors them, refines their look and appeal, and continues the journey of penning thoughts to paper in hopes of improving the craft of writing. Here is a snippet of the unfolding of poetic language in Lloyd's book.

Today I'll wear a dress made of sunlight,

I'll spin like the lilies,

I'll bloom like the stars.

Hands hold,
Hearts fold,

Under my thumbprint sky.

We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.

Ernest Hemingway

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As an apprentice of the writing craft, I continue to evolve in a world of expressive thoughts. My offerings today for Poetry Friday are a pair of original thoughts on Word Crafting with a Tagxedo word cloud. 

Words travel in spaces of the mind

Like a kite  s w i r l i n g  in the air. 

They spin; mill around; 

Seek companions;

Form bonds;

Find a resting spot.

Then, they quietly

Nestle

On paper

Until 

They get bumped

So new words 

Can join the fun.

cvarsalona, July 2014

Words are the platform on which ideas grow.

Power, beauty, and emotion

Reside in their very being.  

As they parade across a page

 Paths open

Connecting heart to mind,

Pushing aside negativity,

Becoming a visible reflection

of the inner spirit

In a quest for freedom. 

cvarsalona, July 2014

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Poetry Friday is being hosted today by a teacher/writer colleague, Margaret Simon, 
whom I have been chatting with online.

Please visit the Poetry Friday offerings provided this week by a wide variety of talented writers at
Reflections on the Teche