Cascading Along With Words

Join me as I continue to add poetry to my "Spring Seeds Gracing April Gallery and Padlet". I invite you to add at least one original image poem (or other options) to the padlet I created. You can find the invitation here.

Spring Graces Our Earth

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early spring unfolds

golden rays sparkle

zephers whoosh along

lush azaleas burst

renewing post-winter gardens

early spring unfolds 

in afternoon splendor

blossoms spread beauty

golden rays sparkle

dusk's colors dance

awakened buds rest  

zephers whoosh along

©CVarsalona, April 2026, poem and photo

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I was inspired yesterday to use a new poetic format, the cascade poem, shared by Margaret Simon's This Photo Wants to be a Poem. 

Spring's Meet-and-Greet at the Pond

baby ducklings splish and splash

in the pond at the end of the street

grandgirls frolic while watching ducklings play

—–

But Mother Duck hides in the shadows of day

observing her little ones

baby ducklings splish and splash

—–

few more minutes to watch and dash

rows of ducklings follow the leader

in the pond at the end of the street

—–

sunshine warms our meet-and-greet

time to say goodbye-no one wants to leave

grandgirls frolic while watching ducklings play

CVarsalona 2026, first cascade poem.                     Duckling Nature Photo by Margaret Simon

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Margaret Simon stated: "At Ethical ELA, Erica Johnson is leading us in writing a “Playful Cascade” which is a poem form that takes each line of the first stanza making them the last line of the next stanzas. I decided to use tercets, 3 lines per stanza."

Thank you to Heidi Mordhorst for hosting the Poetry Friday Roundup here. I appreciate that Heidi has gathered two other poetry friends, Margaret Simon, and Jone MacCulloch to create a lively conversational video on poetry with and for kids! The key thoughts they explore are: 

1. Approaches to the teaching of poetry with elementary-aged kids 
2. Why it's important
3. How writing with kids inspires and sustains us, three middle-aging white ladies

Nature and Writing Nurture My Soul!

May it do the same for you.

MARCH, a Mercurial Month

March is here with its mercurial spirit, continually changing from bitter storms to golden, sunny days. It's a month of transition for nature, from lion-like roaring to lamb-like gentleness. I march through March, a month of memories, a time to celebrate my husband's life, and honor his passing. The following poems come from my heart as I near the upcoming Year Two. 

  SUPPOSE-Then and Now  

we weaved through life 

like gentle lambs, calmer, calmer

moving through stormy weather

suppose we stretched across the sky

like billowing clouds of beauty, slowly, slowly

floating to nature's rhythm

   suppose we meet in evening dreams

like fairies whispering, circling, circling

into a magical web of forever  

(c) CVarsalona, March 2026 - based on Wendell Berry's poem, Like Snow

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Thank you to Jone MacCulloch

for her Wendell Berry-like poem

Suppose we did our work

like winter, renewing and replenishing

Readying ourselves for spring

© Jone Rush MacCulloch, 2026

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I offer my work to two writing communities

that I belong to: 

Poetry Friday

Linda Baie is hosting the Poetry Friday Roundup today at her blog site, TeacherDance. She offers us a few Friday the 13th superstition stories and a beautiful picture of the sky with an original poem about nature and loved ones.

 

Day 13, March 2026

 12th year with Two Writing Teachers

Year of the Wood Snake

2025 is the Year of the Wood Snake. The last celebration occurred 60 years ago so there is excitement for this year's event. Years ago, my family traveled to Chinatown in New York City and watched the colorful parade followed by a delicious dinner. 

To celebrate this momentous Year of the Wood Snake, Jone Rush MacCulloch invited writers to join her annual New Year's Postcard Project. Below are the names of poets (Linda Baie, Patricia J. Franz, Michelle Kogan, Denise Krebs, Linda Mitchell, Mona Voelkel, and Tabatha Yeatts-Lonske) who sent me offerings on various topics: Year of the Snake, florals, light, and hummingbird poems that share creativity and artwork. Since my computer is acting up, I will need to delay the sharing of these wonderful poems for another date.

*My Poetry Postcards will hopefully be sent out this weekend. I thank all of the poets who sent me their postcards. Each one is unique and interesting to read.

Below are two poems I created for the Year of the Snake.  

Happily, I added my one little word to the above poem
with advice that I need to remember. Below is another short example.

2025 Year of the Snake
r

I recall many Chinese New Year's parades in the streets of Chinatown, New York City. Colorful costumes dazzled onlookers. There was music, dancing, and a costumed animal, symbolizing the year of a specific animal. Streamers and firecrackers added to the excitement of the parade. Many people shared Chinese cuisine throughout the day. 

This year the wise wood snake encourages people from different parts of the world to gather together in joyful merriment. As a sage filled with wisdom, the wood snake reminds us to:

 Embrace new beginnings.

Paint a blank canvas.

Walk in stillness.

Join a parade.

Unfold the new and

Let go of the past.

Be mindful of 

Wood snake's wisdom:

Growth requires patience,

Adaptability, and inner strength.

A year of newness and

Transformation awaits!

draft © CVarsalona, January 2025

Thank you, Tabatha Yeatts, for hosting today's Poetry Friday Roundup.

Join Tabatha at her blog post to enjoy the poetic goodness of poets and see the online booklet she created with poems from a variety of writers.

I thank her for adding my poem to the Brave Poetry Project.

 Within yesteryear's corners

darkness held hidden patches of fear.

An image, a sound, and thoughts

bring flashing moments to life

haunting a withered soul.

Is there enough moral strength

to sweep away persistent fear?

Within corners of today,

life finds a light to extinguish

grief-stricken moments.

A mindful pause searches to

release hidden patches of fear.

Bravery finds its soul.

©CVarsalona, 2025

Winter Light In The Dark

Eight days ago, December announced her runway debut with easy strides to end the year with joy. Her first task was to shorten daylight and let darkness bring a sense of chilled calm to earth. During these first days of December, I looked for traces of light flickering in the darkness. I sat by the fireplace watching flames flicker warming the chilled rooms. While I cherish the silence of darkness, I also enjoy the brightness of lights, especially at the holidays. 

To keep the light shining in our home, we had pathway lights and spotlights installed illuminating our new trees. One Magnolia specimen tree stands proudly in each seat wall garden area. In addition, the front of our house has a new bush, a Ruby Falls Red Bud. It's devoid of its leaves now but arches gracefully. Each night, a long strand of lights and six round balls illuminate the front garden attesting to Mahatma Gandhi's quote, "In the midst of darkness, light persists." In the Bible, John 1:5 states, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." 

darkness

shortens day

earth waits patiently

for a Silent Lght's

arrival

©CVarsalona, 2023

German Elfchen cinquain poem

Jone MacCullock, the host of the December Spiritual Journey Thursday, invited our community of writers to ponder several questions on Light and Dark.

1. How do you honor/embrace this time of darkness?
2. Where do you find the points of light in your life?
3. In a few weeks, the winter solstice will be here, how do you honor this and Christmas?
4. How do you use this time of year for self-reflection? 

Reflection is warranted during the last month of the year. I honor December's time of darkness with firelight, warm blankets, and spotlights on our new trees. Finding points of light begins and ends with the real meaning of Christmas. "Longing for light, we wait in darkness. Longing for truth, we turn to You. Make us you own, your holy people, light for the world to see." (Christ Be Our Light song) 

"We are not here to curse the darkness, but to light the candle that can guide us through the darkness to a safe and sane future." (John F. Kennedy)

While the sun is shining and the outside temperature mild, I continue to sit and stare at the magnolia trees and the beginnings of Christmas decorations. I will invite you inside when the preparations are ready for a showing. In the meantime, follow me to Jone Mac Culloch's Spiritual Journey Thursday blog and the Poetry Friday Roundup hosted by Patricia Franz on her blog. While Jone chose the theme for Spiritual Journey Thursday, I think Patricia's Dear Santa post allows for reflection also. There are so many people in our lives and on this earth that need light this year. The holidays are the best time to remember all and send good wishes.

Reflecting on Springtime Joy

Spring adds new life and new joy to all that is.

-Jessica Harrelson

This year springtime brings fluctuating weather patterns and the burst of blooms earlier than expected. Tree-lined roads share their blossomed branches with passersby. Birds chirp, tweet, and spread their birdsong every morning.  Spring welcomes warmth, color, and the renewal of life.  

I cordially invite you to add your digital inspiration to

Springsations Gallery of Artistic Expressions.

The invitation with all information needed can be found HERE.

The deadline to offer original artistic expressions is April 30, 2023, the end of National Poetry Month.

*****

I extend a thank you to Bob Hamera and Matt F. Esenwine for contributing their original image poems to my Springsations Gallery of Artistic Expressions Padlet. Their digital artistic expressions will become part of the Springsations Gallery.

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 I also extend a thank you to Marcie Flinchum Atkins and Irene Latham for sending me a postcard for National Poetry Month.

Sent by Irene Latham with illustration by Melanie Mikecz

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Now it's time to stroll over to Jone MacCulloch's blog who is this week's Poetry Friday host. I am eager to visit her National Poetry Month project, Classic Found Poetry Palooza. There are interesting poems created from different classics.

Notes:

Please consider offering a poetic/digital artistic expression for Springsations Gallery. 

Please stop by my blog on April 17, 2023, Day 17 of this year's Progressive Poem will be at my blog.  I am looking forward to reading the line Linda Baie will add to the poem that she will pass on to me.

Poetry as a Gift

It is mid-January and I still feel the holiday spirit. It exists in my heart. As I "de-Christmas" my house, I muse on how putting away Christmas items is a labor of love. I appreciate each wonderful piece I've collected over the years. The beautiful poetry postcards and swap gifts that arrived from friends across the states not only are wrapped surprises offering delight and wonder but they are now part of my treasured poetry collection.

Today, I share the Holiday Poem Swap organized by Tabatha Yeats.

My swap partner is Gail Aldous.

Check out this gift, a bountiful mix of hibiscus herbal tea, colorful bookmarks, a journal with Gail's favorite quotes, fragrant oatmeal/honey soap, a card, and two poems both focusing on nature.

Seasons is a full collage, poster size focusing on each season and what it brings. Please see the poem that offers spring floating in, summer whispering, autumn painting, and winter waltzing.

Snowgirl Tanka allows me to visualize a peaceful winter day with snow. Isn't the bookmark adorable? I am grateful for Gail's creativity offering her poetic goodness.

A quote by Louie Schwartzberg that inspires me is, “Nature's beauty is a gift that cultivates appreciation and gratitude." The poems Gail wrote for me incorporate one of my loves, the seasons, a gift of nature. The collage poster Gail created shares the various seasons with their changing colors and landscapes. Below is another example of nature's beauty, a full moon.  

Are you transfixed by the moon's luminescence? I love to stare into the night sky and feel its peaceful gift. Yesterday, Margaret Simon showcased a beautiful image of the moon photographed by Jone Rush MacCulloch. She asked observers to write a small poem of presence for This Photo wants to be a Poem challenge.

Full Wolf Moon

layered in velvet

night frames a glowing wolf moon

winter winds howl

heavenly art brushes sky

luminescent beauty reigns

©CVarsalona, 2023

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Look what came in the mail? Thank you, Bridget Magee for creating, editing, and publishing such a fabulous poetry anthology. I look forward to ready fellow poets' entries. My two truths and a fib poems are entitled Kindergarten.

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At the close of a long day, I abide by Gail's thoughts inside the journal. One of her inspirational quotes is "I inhale peace and exhale worry." Tonight, I am appreciative of the gifts bestowed on me. Tomorrow, I will continue "de-Christmasing" my house. I now join fellow writers at Chicken Spaghetti where Susan Thomsen is the host of Poetry Friday this week.

March Musings: Dazzling Winter Greetings, Day 4

Did you know that I am a delitologist?  I collect postcards from the turn of the 20th Century  when "postcard collecting caught the national eye." I enjoy the feel and look of postcards from the past. Some of mine are ornate and embossed without the year that the postcard was sent. Many have inspirational thoughts and lovely illustrations. All of my postcards are sent by women to their families in different towns. The wording is short and usually, a greeting or a short note.  All allow me to reflect on the lifestyle of the early 20th century. 

Recently, I added current poetry postcards sent by poet friends to my collection of paper ephemera. Please see below my new poetry postcards that will decorate my house during future winter seasons. Thank you, Gail Aldous. Linda Baie, Robyn Hood Black, Carol Labuzzetta, Jone Rush MacCulloch, Jone Rush MacCulloch, Linda Mitchell, Sarah Grace Tuttle, and Tabatha Yeatts for your inspirational postcards for 2022, the Year of the Tyger. Thanks also go out to Jone Rush MacCulloch for continuing the Victorian practice of exchanging postcards.  

Within the postcards sent to me, I found poetic lines that spoke to me. I delicately lifted lines and combined them with a few additions to create a new poem.

(Found lines from poetry friends are underlined below.)

Here's To Poetry Running Wild (Robyn) in 2022!

 Alive with wonder, (Jone)

Keenly see the future. (Carol L)

Blue skies smile at you. (Linda B)

Stillness deepens (Linda M),

indulging life layers. (Tabatha & Gail)

Arise, heart! (Tabatha)

Threads of moonlight glitter (Gail)

Soothe the frantic world. (Sarah)

Open wide. (Tabatha)

Aim for the sky.(Linda Bfrom Chandra Kochbar)

Summon your songs.(Tabatha)

Then, rest in the (Sarah)

purple shadows of night. (Sarah)

©CV, 2022, found poem

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I join two writing communities today:

Poetry Friday hosted by Australian poet/author, Kat Apel.

Two Writing Teachers 

A  Meeting Place for A World of Reflective Writers

Helping Hands

A new term popped up in the news this week. Although it rang of truth, I was disheartened by its nomenclature, Long-Haul Pandemic. With this said, I am thankful for helping hands during these trying pandemic times. The following are thoughts and images on the need for thoughtful acts of kindness delivered by helping hands.

The golden shovel poems below are based on the strike line, "Since hands exist, you have had hope", from the poem, Hands by Hawre Khalid.

Helping Hands

Dedicated to All helping hands during pandemic times.

Life has changed since

COVID 19. Your gentle hands

Comfort those who exist

In closed quarters. You

Know pangs of sorrow that have

Evolved each day. Your hands had

Leaned into pain and despair on the wings of hope!

©CV, 2021

👐

Hope crouched in corners since the beginning of the pandemic. Gentle hands continue to reach out to those who exist under a veil of sorrow. The collective you touch lives who have known the confines of a sterile PPE word and those who had few pathways to hope. 

Thank you, Laura Shovan, for offering space to write during 

your 9th Annual February Daily Poem Project.

👐

Remembering Her Hands

Dedicated to my dear grandmother whose hands brought joy to my childhood world.

When Nonnie's hands held mine,

summer unfolded in simplicity.

Fragrant flowers bloomed.

Caterpillars tickled the path.

Clothing hung to dry.

Time stood still.

When Nonnie's hands held mine,

Books became my friends.

Curiosity awakened.

Nature's wonders explored

And childhood dreams celebrated

with a hopeful heart.

As summers passed

And hands grew still,

Rose-petaled memories

Carried me home

To when Nonnie's hands

Gently held mine.

©CV, 2021

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I give thanks today to Jone Rush MacCulloch, host of Poetry Friday who also provided the Poetry Postcard Exchange for the start of the new year. At her blog, you will see her poetree she created to showcase each of the eleven poems in the exchange, one of which was mine. Her project brought joy to our small group of poets.