#haikuforhealing - November 2024

It's late November and the chill is on. Lady Autumn sheds her leaves and prepares for warmer apparel. The scattered leaves fall here and there. Thanksgiving decor and dinner menus are in the preparation phase while grocery stores are busy with shoppers and turkey talk. This year my little grandgirls are coming to Grandma's house for Thanksgiving. We will have a wonderful time gathering together

In the meantime, I am sharing haikus with the hashtag #haikuforhealing. Thank you Mary Lee Hahn for offering this poetry project. What better time to share our thoughts via poetry and photos! (The above image is from Pixabay. Isn't it beautiful?)

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Last Leaves of Autumn

Can you spot the heart-shaped leaf below?

brisk wind spins through trees

leaves bare their heart to nature

autumn transitions

©CVarsalona, 2024

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Hempstead Lake Park, Long Island 2020 

fall's chilled weather

kisses the leaves goodbye

life moves on

©CVarsalona, 2024

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Thanksgiving

handmade-crafted wreath

honors giving side of fall

gather together

©CVarsalona, 2024

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"The thankful heart opens our eyes to a multitude of blessings that continually surround us." -James E. Faust

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Be blessed and thankful at all times. I am grateful that I finally have time to write this blog post and send it to Poetry Friday's host, Ruth Hersey at There is no such thing as a God-forsaken town. Ruth is in East Africa working with her husband. Besides being interested in birds with a tremendous knowledge of different species, she teaches English. Her Spiritual Journey blog, My world, your world, our world, is interesting since she has been around this world of ours.  

Time To Be Thankful

Yesterday, I walked out into a darker-than-usual sky. Fresh leaves were strewn across the lawn and tucked away in the corners of my car. I quickly dashed for the inside of my car as the rain continued to flow and an unusual coolness was felt. I paused to enjoy a slow-down moment not because it is National Gratitude Month but because it is uplifting to be one with nature and the beauty of the Earth. Ralph Waldo Emerson offered a touch of uplifting gratitude.

“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude."

With Thanksgiving almost here, the cookies baked for this weekend's Friendsgiving, and my little grandgirls visiting on Sunday, I feel blessed beyond measure. My house is ready to give thanks as is nature.

Mary Lee Hahn invited poets to write a #haikuforhealing. Since our mixed-up world, needs healing on many fronts I decided to join in. My thoughts begin with autumn sharing its last breath.

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Now it is time for me to join Poetry Friday with our host, Karen Edmisten, who sends us a poem that we all need and this thought: "Hug each other, stand for what is right and good, and keep creating and embracing beauty."

#NatureNurtures2020: I Wish

#NaturesNurtures is the mantra I am holding in my heart this month when I #ShelterInPlace. As the news continues to inform us of the apex of COVID-19 and the heroes/sheroes who give selflessly, I am reminded of the words of a Passionist priest, Fr. Cedric Pisenga, who presented his Good Friday television message speaking of selflessness. Then, I read Laura Shovan's #WaterPoemProject Day 19 challenge created by children's book author, Rachel Toalson. Rachel created a water poem prompt: Wishing Well-write a list poem about all the wishes you would toss into a wishing well or pool. It just so happened that simultaneously a Twitter acquaintance crossed my path. As I strolled over to his account, I found a stunning photo that led me to ponder. 

I thought about the I wish poem prompt at Laura's Water Poem Project and made a connection. There are so many ways to bring wishes of peace to others.

I Wish:
I wish I could wish upon a star but none are near.
I wish others could cuddle in darkness without fear.
I wish we could find peace among the headlines.
I wish we could stop what if incessant whines.
I wish I could throw my penny in a dark pond.
I wish I could listen to that penny respond.
I wish my wish for peace to fill the earth.
I wish for lasting Easter joy and mirth.
©CV, 2020

With the last line in place, I traveled back to the black lily pond photo imagining it set against a dark velvet sky waiting for the moon to send light. An image poem evolved.

THIS MORNING:

Reawakening to an amazing sight, I felt my wish growing within morning light and a cloudless, robin-blue sky. May serenity bless your heart and home today as we continue to shelter-in-place, practice social distancing, and wash our hands.

Do you have a digital inspiration (poem, artwork, musical composition, inspirational quote, image poem, or any other artistic expression) to add to my Nature Nurtures Gallery? See the invitation here, a mini-gallery, and the growing padlet of inspiration.

Holiday Magic

Lazily climbing out of bed to start the day, I feel the heartbeat of the holiday season upon me. Holiday tasks await-one week left to decorate the house, wrap the gifts, and pack the bags for a family holiday in Virginia. It is the time of year to share love and kindness to one and all.

With holiday crunch time upon me, so like a Christmas elf, I dust off the boxes of time gone by and start the business of spreading the spirit of the holidays throughout my house. But for a moment, I pause to ponder the meaning of "giving". As I carefully unwrap the decorations from my Christmas bins, I remember holidays past. Hopes, sorrows-family gathering memories tumble out from the boxes of wrapped treasures. Endless thoughts spinning as the CD turntable makes its way through holiday songs. One holiday, in particular, comes to mind-the year I spent the Christmas holiday in isolation at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital, exhausted from four months of intense chemo treatments. In the midst of sadness, I found joy and kindness flowing. Even housekeeping knew what to say to brighten a day. A lesson was learned that year. Life is fragile and uncertain. Family love becomes a strength in challenging times. Hope reigns. With those thoughts in mind and gratitude in my heart, I return to decorating the tree as a tribute to all that is blessed and joyful during the holidays. 

There is undeniable magic in the air during the days before Christmas. I stack the Christmas cards from friends near and far in a Santa mail carrier and gather twitter greetings across my screen. Next, I wrap the gifts for our church's underprivileged in hopes that my packages will bring joy to those families and light the house with luminesce glow as a precursor to the Light of the World soon to enter. 

Holiday magic.
What does it mean?
Can wishes be wrapped
in dreams unseen?


This year, the holidays are filled with a sense of expectancy as:
the world waits for a new decade
and the family waits for a second grandchild.
May there be a special light to brighten your world.
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I send a special greeting and gifts of light and hope to all friends and slicers who write with heart at Two Writing Teachers.  May your holidays be filled with joy.

Quiet Morning

In the stillness of the night, snow quietly entered to cradle a sleepy neighborhood in a blanket of warmth. Not until early morning did I realize the gift of late autumn snow nature presented. My leaf-strewn neighborhood was transformed into a wonder-filled, peaceful scene. I captured that tranquil image, digitized it with the app, MobileMonet, and created a #haikuforhealing/#haikuforhope.

From this image poem, I designed a music collage with the app, PicPlayPost. The music complemented the scene and let the day start with a sense of contentment to embrace the day giving a nod to my one little word for 2019. You can see the music collage on YouTube or below.

Switching my thoughts back to an amazing Thanksgiving/birthday holiday at Hotel Hershey, I started the holiday season with autumn's glow and good cheer. The experience brought out the child in all of us as we celebrated the beginning of the holiday season with my granddaughter.

May the spirit of the holidays bring hope to all!

Now, I am traveling over to Elizabeth Steinglass' site, the host of Poetry Friday, to enjoy some poetry magic. Liz has an original poem about a short word that is so important. 

O Christmas Tree

It was a magical sight! A Christmas tree lit up with a fragile package of life under its boughs. Parents, two sets of grandparents, aunts, and uncles gathered for Baby's First Christmas to watch a little bundle of energy's movement.  

I sit back now and reflect on this magical Christmas in which my grandbaby Sierra Kathryn became the focal point. Past Christmastimes flash before me. I see my mother's 1940 manger, an array of Christmas trees, and children's faces but this year one image looms brightly-an angel of glee and cheerfulness who brings joy to all.  

Could there be a better blessing than this sweet child with a beautiful  smile and loving ways?

Life is full! 

Isn't it amazing how one small child can bring healing to life? 

Last week, I was fortunate to have witnessed the magnificent light show at the Morman Washington D.C.Temple. I created a short video using the Magisto platform. You can access that here.

I'm joining Mary Lee Hahn for her #haikuforhealing project and Poetry Friday where Heidi Mordhorst is the host. 

It's #ThankfulThursday and I want to thank all those who graciously offered their talents and poetry love to help me build my Autumn Ablaze Gallery.

Holiday Magic

It's official. My neighborhood has caught the holiday spirit and there's magic in the air. Outdoor lights are lit and wreaths properly placed. Cars come and go for evening get-togethers. Christmas trees stand prominently in their place of honor and indoor lights twinkle. All is completed in time for Santa's annual visit down Surrey Lane.

BUT this year my timing was off. I forgot when Santa was arriving in the neighborhood so on Sunday night, when I heard loud honks from the local fire trucks, I jumped to my feet. Like little children, my adult dinner guests and family joined me, rushing to the door and shouting with glee. "Santa is here," we kept saying, as we waved to the firemen and Santa himself. 

This event brings back memories of the Sunday night, pre-Christmas visits that Santa and the South Hempstead Fire Department have made to my neighborhood over the years. Even now, without children in the house, when the streets light up with the flash of lights and the honking sounds announcing Santa, holiday magic is in the air. 

For the past years, Mary Lee Hahn has created holiday peace at her site with her #haikuforhealing project. I offer these image poems in celebration of the peaceful spirit that the holidays bring. May this Slice of Life bring you cheer and goodwill this week.

Celebrate a Marshmallow World

The #firstsnow lit up the Twitter feeds as a trending topic of the day. Meteorologist reports were constant as the weather pattern inched northwards. Long Island braced itself for its first snowstorm. 

Then, it started slowly as a chain of little white fairies dancing to earth. Gaining momentum, gentle drops moved from a slow entrance to a steady stream, falling gracefully onto the earth. The first snow invited me to step outside to wonder about the late-autumn weather pattern. 

When I woke the next morning, I was invited to the marshmallow world snow party. What you see above was just the start of the first snowfall. The scene below was taken at another time. Mesmerizing, white puffs hung from bushes and snow festively decorated branches like white icing on a cake. Crunchy golden and browned-edged leaves, peeked out here and there to announce that autumn did not take its exit but Nature had other plans. Being bored of fiery colors, it switched its palette to cool tones, creating a winter-like season.

 

I was impressed by the quick switch and started listening to Dean Martin's song, "It's a Marshmallow World". You may be interested in listening, too.

In the aftermath of the first snow, when Long Island settled down to the reality of a non-snowblower day, I wrote a #haikuforhealing. My poet friend, Mary Lee Hahn, started this December poetry project last year.

I am adding one more #haikuforhealing on the first snow from my poet friend, Catherine Flynn. There is no photo but I can easily imagine the beauty of a Connecticut snowy day.

While I am late to sign into Two Writing Teacher's Slice of Life and Celebrate This Week by Ruth Ayres, I would still like to offer my remembrance of this December's Long Island #1stsnow with hopes that I will have time to continue to design my Autumn Ablaze Gallery before the official start of winter.

 

Nature is Overflowing

 "Look!  Nature is overflowing with the grandeur of God!"

-  John Muir  

This autumn  I have been impressed by the beauty I see around me. The digital inspirations, image poems, nature photography, music, and artwork that have been coming in for my upcoming Autumn Ablaze Gallery provide evidence for the above Muir quote. 

Today, I've been wondering about the season of autumn and decided to create a digital inspiration based on the autumn collection that I will unveil this month. I used the Buncee platform to blend images, a  video, Autumn Leaves, and the haiku that I created to bring peace to my day and glory to the grandeur of God. You can access the full version with the song here.

While it is technically still autumn, I am gearing for a different weather pattern that is predicted to cover the crunchy leaves with a white blanket tomorrow. In the meantime, I am heading over to Poetry Friday hosted by Lisa at Steps and Staircases. 

In closing, I would like to give a shoutout to Mary Lee Hahn for her wonderful #haikuforhealing project that she is offering this month. Since nature brings healing power to my soul, I offer my image poem with the hashtag #haikuforhealing.

Write On!

GREETING
Struck by the grayness of the winter sky but bolstered by the warmth of thoughts received, I bring a message of gratitude to all those who write from their heart. As host of Poetry Friday this week, I send out thanks to the writers who are contributing to this joyful Poetry Round-up. 

POETS AS ADVOCATES
During these past weeks, many voices from the Poetry Friday community have rallied behind causes and brought joy to life through verse. Poetic words have flowed from spaces of hope, advocacy, and social justice out into the world of social media, of which I am grateful. I applaud the poetic difference makers who feel the rhythm of life's balance, the pulse beat of positivity, and the energy emanating from bringing words to life. Your voices light up the page and screen, creating a tapestry of thought in a community of trust. Write on!

SIMPLE PRACTICE
When Mother Nature sends us gray days and the world is off balance due to dissonance and tension, flip negative vibrations. Engage in a practice that allows hope to finds its way back into our lives. 

We Thank Thee
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends.

FOND WISHES
I wish all the writers who join this Poetry Friday round-up, peace and joy. Continue to send your voices out into the world in poetic streams. As difference makers, your words will brighten children's hearts, illustrate the beauty of living things, soften the dissonance, and turn gray days around.

heartfelt words of joy

fill spaces of life's journey

poetic wings soar

©CV, 2017

POETRY FRIDAY ROUND-UP

Joyfully submit your Poetry Friday offering below, as I will submit mine to #haikuforhealing.

Capturing Thoughts

Lately, virtual spaces have given rise to poetic words, metaphorically clustering around timely topics. With a pen, stylus, or keyboard in hand, writers have gathered together to let their voices speak out. This past December, a digital gathering occurred that brought together many Poetry Friday writers for a specific purpose: to write under the hashtags #haikuforhealing and #commonplacemarvels, created by Mary Lee Hahn and Catherine Flynn. 

What started as a month-long venture has extended beyond December to become an outlet for feelings that capture small moments in time or daily observations about life. I have been one voice in a community of writers and have composed poetry and #imagepoems alongside community members while trying to sort out feelings amidst the world's chatter. In doing so, I searched for joy while all the time writers wrote, exchanged writings, commented, lifted lines, and added thoughts to haikus penned. 

SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
In the quiet spaces of the "connected" writing world, life is still while the composition evolves. Then, the click, click, click of the digital process comes alive. An affirmative "Yes, We Can" hope to bring voice from quiet spaces to the surface becomes a commitment. Each penned word is selected carefully. Each haiku becomes a distinct song of hope, stretching voice across regions and linking all writers together. From these seeds of ideas, solidarity of action grows as writing becomes public.    

A CALL TO ACTION
Last night, what has been acclaimed as a call to action occurred on national television. President Obama delivered his farewell address. I waited throughout the speech for his familiar slogan and then in the last minute, the words flowed. My thoughts followed and were digitized today.

It is with the belief in the yes we can spirit that I hope for a better tomorrow where possibilities exist and the human heart can continue to bring about change. 

YES WE CAN 

Tranquility Brings Joy

There is a certain hum to digital writing 

when darkness settles and the world is quiet. 

I hardly hear the touch tap of the keys 

as words strung together inspire messages.  

There is peace surrounding the process

when I'm alone creating and composing. 

I block out the day and fill the space 

with joy when digital pen meets screen. 

Tonight I send out a message of hope via my postcard poetry project.

In the midst of the chatter and dissonance of the world these days, 

postcard writing brings back the art of extending greetings to those far away.

May you find your writer's wings to soar through space. 

I share this writing with Two Writing Teachers for the weekly Slice of Life and with the slicers who are part of the #haikuforhealing writing community.

Plan

When Margaret Simon sent out an invitation to the DigiLit Sunday community to write on the topic, a plan, I turned to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary for its definition. Of course, I know what a plan is but wanted some starting points. As the dictionary says, a plan is a method for achieving an end. My first thought is that I am often focused enough to carry out a plan but oftentimes I procrastinate or take on two plans in one day. 

REVELATION
I just paused after writing this because I hit on the reason why my plans take more time than I think they will to carry out.  I used to prize being a multi-tasker but I have been reading that this is not a good plan. Since it's the new year and I have a new word, joy, to guide me on my writing path, this post has my undivided attention. Have you ever been side-tracked when you start getting involved in a project?

PLANNING TO WRITE
To jump back on the path, I am going to backtrack and see what thoughts I scribbled down in the morning hours: focus - spontaneity - blogging - celebration - quiet joy. I wrote down these words while engaging in two chats (#HackLearning and #SpiritChat) and then, listening to the Epiphany homily. 

WORD WEAVING
I know that I need a focus for the post so I will do some word weaving to develop the idea that has been evolving in my head. I see in my Tweetdeck user column that I posted the following response on #HackLearning to a question on why blog: "Blogging is like a heartbeat. It needs to occur. Why? It's a digital pen to our feelings and thoughts that brings life to our words." 

REFLECTING
I know that I am focused but yet I enjoy being spontaneous. (The#SpiritChat conversation revolved around these two words.) Blogging can be a focused endeavor or a spontaneous reaction to a thought or event. It is an attempt to meander through my thoughts so I can hone in on a particular word that will lead me in a direction. There are many words that are spiraling in my heart now: snow, crystalline, glistening, joyful but there is also the reality that time and a throbbing cold headache are interfering.

PLAN DIVERTED 
Earlier in the day when I was ready to write, my plan was diverted. I was forced to nap due to a head cold. This is very unlike me but it was needed.

THOUGHTS EVOLVING
When awake, I relistened to the homily from the online Mass (the snow and my cold prevented me from leaving the house). Spontaneous thoughts evolved from what I heard and they merged into a poem for #haikuforhealing that is being led by Mary Lee Hahn. 

epiphany feast

fill your heart with quiet joy-

obstacles removed

©CV, 2017

FINAL REFLECTION

Was this the piece that I started off writing? No it is not, but I do know that I set out with the intent to write a post and reach an ending thought. As part of the process, I removed obstacles to achieve my end.

Writing is a journey. It takes us on path that is similar to life. There may be detours, revelations, and stops along the way. We may reach a destination that is not our last stop and interact with others in ways that we may have not planned. This is true of writing. Life's road is endless and opportunities great, if we realize that we are humble travelers believing in the journey. 

"Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans."

Allen Saunders

On this Epiphany Day, I refer back to what the priest said, "Fill your heart with quiet joy!"

I set down my digital pen now to linger in quiet joy.