Nature at Peace

In the silence of evening, stillness evokes peace. Nature floats in the quietude until the morning breaks. At that time, the world stretches its arms, unfolds its layers, and renews another day. 

This morning I pause with prayer waiting for a sliver of light to break through the darkness. "Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. -  Psalm 90:14

↓

morning breaks

slivers of light unfold darkness

earth sings its praises

gentle winds bring renewed thoughts

nature spreads its seeds of joy

©cvarsalona, 2025 draft tanka

If you have not heard Morning Has Broken by Cat Stevens, it is one of my favorite songs. (Beautiful song sung at my wedding) 

Today is Poetry Friday and I am delighted that I woke early to write my post.

Janice Scully is our host today. She honors Women's History Month with pride.

Logo created by Margaret Simon

Today is also Day 14 of the March SOLSC #SOL25

Thank you Two Writing Teachers for the space to write 

with a reflective, worldwide group of educators.

The Pause Continues

Last week my family returned home from our beach vacation in Cape May. The house welcomed us. Laundry was piled across the laundry room and the luggage was ready to return to the shelves. The garden flowers were still beautiful and patiently waiting for their water routine to begin again. As returning vacationers, we knew we needed time to pause and recalibrate. Yet, there was unpacking and a couple of days of Grandparent-sitting as must-dos.

What August Knows

Dog days continue.

Humans move slowly in the heat.

Brown spots mingle between once-vivid green grass.

Weeping flowers yearn for cool spritzes of water.

Memories of a creamy-colored,

Sandy beach and turquoise waters remain.

Conversations revolve around downpours

That swept across the sky and slid

Down to earth in a splish-slash manner.

August knows to unplug,

Amidst must-do moments.

©CVarsalona, 2024

Haiku Heartnotes

from Cape May, New Jersey

pause each day

wrap yourself in self-care thoughts

sunsets offer peace

©CVarsalona, 2024

painted ladies pose

as artifacts of the past

summertime's showcase

©CVarsalona, 2024

evening whispers

of peace in the dimming light

seagulls congregate
©CVarsalona, 2024

Find peace at the Poetry Friday Roundup with our host Janice Scully at Salt City Verse. Janice discusses Nikki Grimes' 2023 picture book, A Walk In The Woods, Illustrated by Jerry Pickney and his son, Brian Pinkney. 

Spiritual Medicine

“I see poetry as spiritual medicine.”

– Mahmoud Darwish

Without a doubt, I believe in the power of prayer and medicine. After finding the above quote, I realized how much poetry has helped me soothe my soul during difficult times. Both reading and writing poetry have helped me find inner peace. While returning home from a two-and-a-half-week stay in the hospital after two surgeries, I was not only drained of energy but eager to find words to express my feelings. Because I was in isolation in the hospital, I longed for wisps of nature to bring me to an inner place of joy. I penned this draft poem during the week while sitting inside my house and looking outside.

I stare
out my window
watching the arrival
of an upcoming storm.
Winds s w a y
at rapid speed
as raindrops nestle in
between broad leaves.
Nature continues
drenching earth
from her gray sky
to verdant lawns
until showers
abrupty stop
and sunlight
s u r ro u n d s.
©CVarsalona, 2024

Studies show that reading and writing nature poetry increase feelings of connection, wonder, and appreciation for the outdoors (Aulkins et al, 2006). Tonight, I took my first short walk to the muddy pond down the street. Feeling the warmth of the evening sun and listening to the gurgling sounds at the pond, made me grateful for being home. Small steps lead to a new beginning.

Although I wished to join the Poetry Friday Roundup earlier, I shall add my post now to Janice Scully's blog. Janice is sharing the beauty of Carol Labuzzetta's new Picture Perfect Poetry Anthology filled with amazing ekphrastic poems and gorgeous nature photographs. Janice is proud to be one of the contributing poets. I am also one of those poets but that is for another blog post.

Holiday Poem Swap 2023

Holidays are a special time of year. There's Christmas, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day. They bring joy and the spirit of "just being" with family. There's another holiday event that connects me to dear friends in the Poetry Friday community. It is the Holiday Poem Swap designed by Tabatha Yeatts. Each year, Tabatha creates a sparkling logo for chosen partners who exchange poems and a present. 

This year, I am delighted to partner with a hometown poet friend of mine, Janice Scully. Janice has a broad career background. Not only is she a writer and poet but followed in her mother's footsteps and chose nursing as her initial career. Then, she moved on to medical school and became a doctor. 

Janice's Holiday Poem Swap arrived with a lovely assortment of items to make me "most happy". The Christmas card was an artist's rendering of Christmas in the city that reminded me of holiday time in New York City. Her lovely poem, I'm Most Happy, is filled with imagery, rhyme, and a beautiful ending. Please see the poem below. Inside the card was a note about the handmade journal that Janice found in New Orleans. The journal is unique and has two envelope pockets on the first and last pages. It appears too pretty to write on but it will share many a thought and poem. I did not know that Janice sewed until recently. From different pieces of pink material, Janice stitched a lovely bookmark. This reminder of my own sewing days with my mother will be a keepsake and assistant while I read and write.

This swap present is a gift from the heart. After much thought, I decided to concentrate on my hometown of Syracuse where Janice resides in one of the suburbs. I did research about Salt City, read some of Janice's poems, found a news article about her family when she was young, and then created a slide show. Where did I start? I borrowed a line from Janice's poem, Begining, that became my strike line. "At the beginning is where everyone in the world begins." Her poem gave me the incentive to write a golden shovel memoir poem about my beginnings in Syracuse. With an enjambment, I ended my poem with "Life/Begins with trust and faith. I learned this in Syracuse". I moved on to historical photos of places that were memorable to me during my pre-teen years. The next slide showcased Janice's card to me with a poem I wrote for her about Christmas. Then, of course, I needed to write about Syracuse's snowy winters that can start in November and end at Easter. On the thank you slide, I shared a small poem in appreciation for Janice's lovely Holiday Poem Swap. I wrapped my thoughts around a memorable line from Janice's I 'm Most Happy poem. 

To Janice from Carol, Holiday 2023

🌲🌲🌲

swaps

personalized, artful

rich in content

hold dear to recipients

gifts

To Poetry Friday Friends from Carol, Holiday 2023

My one word for 2024 was unveiled on 1/4/24 for January's Spiritual Journey that Margaret Simon hosted. Click here.

🌲🌲🌲

I am eager to join the Poetry Friday community at our host's Marcie Flinchum Atkin blog here. Marcie dazzles readers with her beautiful nature photography and accompanying haikus.

Holiday Elfchens to Play With

It's post-Christmas time. The quiet in the house adds an extra layer of peace to the holiday spirit, so I find a spot that allows me to just "be" while preparing for a new year.

I wish the little elves (on the shelf) would lend a hand but they only seem to be happy as ornamental fixtures after finishing their job of being keepers of Santa's huge naughty or nice list. 

When I was sent an invitation by the Poetry Sisters,  Tanita, Laura, Mary Lee, Liz. Sara, Tricia, and Kelly,  to join their December Challenge I wondered what an elfchen is.  Little did I know that it is a German cinquain. I learned about the Elfchen poem at German With Nicole. An "Elfchen" is a set form, similar to a haiku but it has 11 words, the lines having 1-2-3-4-1 words, respectively.

After writing a few, I found a table on Wikipedia that explains the lines further:

I decided to play with the form earlier this month and these are the ones that I shared on my blog as one of the #PoetryPals.

🌲Holiday Time🌲 

darkness

shortens day

earth waits patiently

for a Silent Lght's

arrival

©CVarsalona, December 8, 2023

Santa

offers wisdom

to all children.

Be nice, not naughty.

Listen!

©CVarsalona, December 15, 2023

lights

glitter against

December's cold darkness

bringing brightness and hope

luminescence

©CVarsalona, December 22, 2023

season

of preparations

and annual rituals

flow quickly throughout December

joyful

©CVarsalona, December 28, 2023

After trimming our new tree, I wrote the following Elfchens.

star

of wonder

leads me onward:

 my  "just be", peaceful

guide 

©CVarsalona, December 28, 2023

elf

vintage childpleaser

quick and sly

moving everywhere each day

dimunitive

©CVarsalona, December 28, 2023

candle

sparkles for

New Year celebrations

a blessed stress reducer

taper

©CVarsalona, December 28, 2023

****************************

Logo created by Michelle Kogan

Thank you to our Poetry Friday host, Michelle Kogan, who has amazing artistic talents, poetic flair and creativity, and joie de viver. Her post is filled with a beautiful cover illustration, Tufted Coquette and Elfchen Work in Progress, and a variety of Elfchens featuring her family.

Next Week, I shall share a fabulous Holiday Poem Swap 2023 from Janice Scully.

Thank you Tabatha Yeatts for bringing holiday poem gift-swapping to the Poetry Friday community each year. 

Cookies With Santa

Twas a dark, gray morning, when all through Creekside Clubhouse, not a creature was stirring, not even the kitchen mouse. The Cookies With Santa committee arrived smiley and cheery despite the weather being rainy and dreary. As busy as elves on this well-planned day, we settled down waiting for Santa's short stay. Families arrived in the nick of time, just before Santa's bells chimed. Then, what to our wondering eyes did we see, Jolly Santa and sweet Mrs. Claus greeted with uproarous applause. 

Letters were written and cookies were dispersed by Santa's helpers who chose which family visited first. Onto Santa's lap children were placed without a single moment to waste. Even the six-month-old baby, youngest and small, seemed quite content and not fearful at all. 

When the clock struck four, families waved to Santa and walked happily out the door. 

Santa's elves and helpers, busy as bees, cleaned the Clubhouse with dutiful ease. Then, full of delight, Santa and Mrs. Claus bid all a merry good night

Santa

offers wisdom

to all children.

Be nice, not naughty.

Listen!

©CVarsalona, 2023

Thank you Clement C. Moore and Santa Claus for writing inspiration!

Santa came as promised bringing his message of goodness, love, and the act of being nice. His jolly, loving nature brought cheer to Creekside. May the families who visited and met Santa bring the Christmas spirit back home. Ho! Ho! Ho! Have a Merry Christmas filled with love, joy, and hope.

"Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful." (Norman Vincent Peale)

It's Poetry Friday, so join me at Janice Scully's blog here. She is hosting the poetic festivities happening at her home in Syracuse and offering more poetic goodness from the community of poets, writers, and authors.

n/a

Just "Be" in Spring's Presence

Nature is always inviting you to see her beauty and power.

She is attracting you with her dance, song, and love.

- Author, Debasish Mridha

With the art of storytellers, Springsation poets paint a tranquil museum-like walk through the early part of the Spring season. If you travel to the Springsations Gallery of Artistic Expressions Vol. 2. Padlet you will see a showcase of springtime artistry. As you move mindfully through the gallery breathe, rejoice, and "be" centered in the serenity of spring. Pause, gaze, and let nature mystify you with her endless color palettes, dazzling landscape, and poetic goodness.

         Spring photos were captured by  Diane Anderson, Ramona Behnke, Leigh Anne Eck, 

           Bob Hamera, Jone Rush MacCulloch, Linda Mitchell, Lou Piccolo, Carol Varsalona

                           

After you take a gallery walk through Springsations Gallery of Artistic Expressions Vol. 2. Padlet, read the Cento, collage poem, below. It was created by lifting lines from each of the image poems written by an amazing group of poets who grace the Gallery. 

~Just BE In Spring's Presence~

Open your senses to Earth's beauty.

Follow a flower's fluttered edges.

Her morning song,

Spring's first act,

mounts translucent music

and envelops me in marvelment

as hummingbirds fly on high.

Spring Scoop:

Mother Sun hovers.

Dandelion fluff launches skyward.

A bee crawls inside while

daffodils lift their thirsty heads.

Spring's new beginnings 

flutter in hearts,

vaporizing, 

peering up into the heavens.

Behold the cycle of life.

 From wayward, wind-caught seedlings,

sunshine buds whisper.

Bare branches banish winter

and announce spring forsythias.

Muddy browns retreat.

Fresh white is in sight.

Trails wind through.

Planes embroider

white criss-cross stitches.

Be present in these movements.

Springsations echo,

awakening splendor.

Reflect on Nature's blessings,

her magic in small moments.

Spread hope, kindness, and love

that our world needs!

Open May's door,

cracked just enough,

to give those caught in Spring

a glimpse of Summer green.

©CVarsalona, designer/poet, with Springsations Poets, 2023

Diane Anderson

Linda Baie

Ramona Behnke

Rose Cappelli

Leigh Anne Eck

Matt F. Esenwine

Margaret G. Simon

Bob Hamera

Devin Hartnett

Jane Heitman Healy

Carol Labuzzetta

Irene Latham

Michelle Kogan

Melanie Korach

Denise Krebs

Jone Rush MacCulloch

Bridget Magee

Faige Meller

Linda Mitchell

Janet Nestor

Elizabeth Neubauer

Lou Piccola

Laura Purdie Salas

Janice Scully

Kiesha Shepard

Donna Smith

Sandie Vaisnoras

🥀🀦🥀🀦🥀

Nature will continue to showcase her beauty this month of May in song, dance, poetry, and photos. If inclined you can add more image poems or other artistic expressions to the Springsations Gallery Padlet. I hope you enjoyed the unveiling of the Springsations Gallery. I applaud all the poets who joined me to praise the beauty of Spring.

Please take a peek at Springsations Gallery Vol. 1. You may see one of your artistic expressions in that gallery from 2017. Thank you for perusing both galleries.

🥀🀦🥀🀦🥀

For more poetic goodness, please visit this week's Poetry Friday's host, Janice Scully, at her blog, Salt City Verse. She is reviewing books by two of my favorite children's book writers, Laura Purdie Salas and Charles Ghigna. She also has a poem about the weather that has been changing quite a bit this spring. Janice also is one of the Springsations poets.

by Linda Baie