Compassion Moves Hearts

October is the month that shares the beauty of falling leaves, changing colors, and the crispness of the landscape. We move through the newly fallen leaves slowly, watching and listening to the sounds of the woods. The woods share this pleasure with many walkers in my community. Besides nature's healing, the Bible offers stories of healing by the hands of Jesus. One in particular reminds me of Jesus' hands healing the lepers. A teacher at Catholic High School shared stories of the leper colony in her home state of Hawaii. The stories were sad, but they defined the meaning of compassion: "a deep awareness and empathy for the suffering of others, with a strong desire to alleviate pain." I researched many definitions of the word compassion. The one I shared helps me understand why renew is an important one word for me. In the silent pause of morning, I consider how I can help others move their cross forward. My one word, renew, surfaces at a time when life across the continents is troublesome. 

Some compassionate people come forward to ignite new lights. Others who are self-indulgent waffle.

I thank our Spiritual Journey Thursday host, Kim Johnson, for offering the awe-inspiring word, compassion, for our prompt today. I am still trying to not let grief drown me in mourning over my husband's sudden passing. 

Overwhelmed By the Unforeseen 

grief robs our beings

sends sorrow to our souls

leaves us restless in need of compassion

we pause in the wake of compassion

understanding others' needs to strengthen their beings

with cause, we stand to strengthen our souls

October's landscape will play a part for overwhelmed souls 

 while nature spreads her compassion 

with sweeping arms around human beings

human beings whose souls are scarred need comfort and compassion

draft ©CVarsalona, 2025, tritina poem

May we all fill our hearts and others with compassion to bring moments of true peace into the world.

Thank you to my author friend, Matt Forrest Esenwine, for hosting Poetry Friday this week. Due to many to do lists, I am combining Spiritual Journey with Poetry Friday. because the topic of compassion needs addressing in this mixed up world.

October's Beautiful Change

Lady Autumn's seasonal changes surprise me each year. This season, she chose sunshine-summer attire and switched to raincoat-weather clothing. The last few days, she was clothed in leafed designs for a stroll under a bright blue sky with pillowed clouds. Variety is Lady Autumn's wish so I cannot wait to see her October sneak preview. Will it be dazzling with Crayola colors or soaked from rainy weather? 

Beautiful Change

Autumn lets go

moving slowly

with season's ease

In mindful pause

gentle winds blow

Autumn lets go

releases leaves

dancing  to earth

gathering  begins

leaves fall 

Autumn lets go

flits across earth

sunsetting peace

dazzles nightsky

with fall crayons

Autumn lets go

©CVarsalona, draft

4 x 4 poem-see information here.

Photo from Unsplash

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• Anyone who thinks fallen leaves are dead has never watched them dancing on a windy day. - Shira Tamir

Autumn woke in the morning with a crispy feel of summer-like weather and bright blue skies. Watching in awe, a gentle flight of assorted leaves moved gracefully toward the cars.  October's first dance of the season brought a beautiful change.

autumn's flight of leaves

free-float and dance in the breeze

October's gift

©CVarsalona, 2024, haibun

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Welcome to my Slice of Life, which I am sending to the Two Writing Teachers, a reflective community of writers.

Connecting with October

There is something magical about October's crisp air and a countryside outing. When the weather report changed from rain to sunshine this past weekend, the family took advantage of the weather to celebrate autumn. What awaited us was a few hours of unequivocal joy. 

We packed up the grandgirls who stayed with us throughout the weekend and followed their parents to Buckland Farmer's Market. The country store was filled with the tastes of the season but I first followed the little grandgirls to the playground area. It was filled with large bouncy areas, slides, and structures to get lost in, like the huge corn maze. Excitedly, I edged myself toward the corn maze. 

I took the lead into the first pathway. My son, daughter, and youngest grandgirl were immediately immersed into a maze of corn stalks taller than any of us. Corn was all over. Being dazzled by the sunlight and walking paths, we sauntered through row after row. At times, we stopped to take in the sights. Other times, we tried different walkways only to find a dead end with no further path. Aurora was amazed by what she saw inside the maze.

corn maze connection

nature trail filled with pleasures

little eyes open wide

©CV, 2021

Upon leaving the corn maze, I joined my four-year-old grandgirl who was enjoying her Sunday funday time on the farm playground. A huge series of tires embedded in the earth awaited her. The first time trying to climb up was unsuccessful but determined to stand on top of the tire, she tried again. I could not believe how proud she looked as she found her balance.

poised above the earth

she finds her balance and smiles-

stability

©CV, 2021

autumn memory

child and pumpkin connect-

hued splendor

©CV, 2021

Nature shines in color during the autumnal season inviting us to connect with the earth.

Autumn that year pained the countryside in vivid shades of scarlet, saffron, and russet, and the days were clear and crisp under the harvest skies.

-Sharon Kay Penmann

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I've wanted to join the Inktober and Poemtober challenges this month but never seemed to find the time. The prompt for October 25th is connect. Since I love the word, connect, I made time to compose my ideas both in digital art form and poetry.

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Today is Slice of Life Tuesday at Two Writing Teachers.

Thankfully, I join the writing community.

October's Transition

Because nature has brought a sense of peace to troubled times this season, I am grateful. October, the high point of autumn, paves the golden path for November to usher in a slower pace with thankful thoughts. For this transition, I have created my first pantoum.

A pantoum is a poem of any length, composed of four-line stanzas in which the second and fourth lines of each stanza serve as the first and third lines of the next stanza. The last line of a pantoum is often the same as the first. 

October's Transition

October ends its stay with slipsliding stride.

Crunching rustling leaves.

Spreading multicolored layers thin.

Preparing a way for more crispcool times.

Crunching rustling leaves,

October's evening blush dims,

Spreading multicolored layers thin

as enchanted evening dreams begin

October's evening blush dims

into a speckled indigo sky.

As enchanted evening dreams begin,

nature golddusts earth with thankful sighs.

Into a speckled indigo sky

November sweeps through like a feather duster

as enchanted evening dreams begin

flowing through crispclean air.

November sweeps through like a feather duster

refreshing late autumn's terrain.

Flowing through crispclean air,

October ends its stay with slipsliding stride.

©CV, 2020

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turns into November thanks

Autumn walks in beauty on days

of lustrous hues, muted skies, and

earth bedecked in dazzling jewels.

©CV, 2020

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To add a more gratitude for a season of grandeur, I honor the work of fellow slicers who write alongside me for my Abundant Autumn Global Gallery of Artistic Expressions.

Pandemic Getaway

Fall

reflects

pensively

on pandemic

woes as it invites

travelers to peaceful

shores filled with wishwells of joy.

Pause to bask in nature's grandeur

during getaways that provide rest

from the stresses of a compromised world. 

©CV, 2020, etheree

May October's beauty transition joyfully

into November's crispcool settling time.

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I am sending this Slice of Life to Two Writing Teachers.

#SOL20

Thank you to the following slicers for offering your artistic expressions on the Abundant Autumn Gallery of Artistic Expressions, Slicers' Edition.

Terje Akke

Ramona Behnke

Fran Haley

Bob Hamera

Kevin Hodgson

Molly Hogan

Margaret Simon

Autumn Writing

I look out my window each day, wondering what new surprise nature will provide. I slowly discover a rhythm, inspired by the tinges of autumn I see. Writing finds its way into morning. I settle in. From consciousness to paper, words appear as I reveal my inner thoughts. What starts as a glimmer of an idea becomes a messy synthesis of flowing words. With faith and a rewrite, voice will rise on wings that fly. 

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While leaf peeping is not a robust activity on Long Island this October, I seek autumnal beauty through the eyes of others. 

My colleague, Sylvia Vardell, captures the beauty of autumn's colors in the following image poem.

Thanks to my friend, Barbara VanIderstine, 

her magnificent photo of upstate New York provided me with inspiration to create a tribute to autumn.

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Today is the National Day On Writing. 

I celebrate the power of the written word through poetry.

Why do you write? 

Share your thoughts on social media with the hashtag #WhyIWrite.

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Share your digital expressions on the beauty of autumn at my upcoming gallery, #AutumnAblaze. The invitation can be accessed here.

I'm off on a leaf-peeping adventure but before I go, I am checking in with others at Poetry Friday. 

Today's Poetry Friday roundup is hosted is my writing friend, Leigh Anne Eck who offered the following for Autumn Ablaze. Her poem was inspired by Terje Akke's photo of autumn in Estonia.

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October Greetings

Dear Mother Nature,

October snuck up me this year. Being caught up in designing my Summerscapes Gallery and still enjoying the feel of summer seemed a priority until I realized that all of a sudden Columbus Day Weekend was here. Perhaps it seems odd to you that I would still be celebrating the summer season while other parts of the northeast are greeting autumn. Truth has it that I was having a difficult time saying goodby to Long Island's beautiful summer season. Because the weather has been so temperate lately, I forgot the heated days of July and August, the mosquitos that were pesky, and the lawn turning a brownish shade with the lack of rain. But those details paled in comparison to the walks on the beach listening to the waves roar. With each entry I added to the Summerscapes Gallery I seemed to linger in summer a little bit more. Can you begrudge me this small delight? 

Recently, I caught glimpses of your fall fashion sense with a few different colored leaves making their appearance. Now with my summer gallery unveiled, I decided it was time to coax you, Mother Nature, into waving your magical wand and transforming my neighborhood into a tapestry of color. Afterall, October is here now and I want to celebrate the beginning signs of autumn on Long Island. Since you have not debuted your autumnal dance of leaves I am shifting my focus to creating a fall-like ambiance both inside and outside my home. 

While designing a new seasonal look, I try to imagine how you will grace the earth with color this fall. After several hours spent transforming my home, both indoors and outdoors, into a setting fit to announce your debut, fashionista that you are, I am pleased.

Nature's runway show begins-

October dresses in gold hues,

the grand diva that she is.

Fashionistas line leafed paths

Parading in regal style

as Autumn takes center stage.

Leafed in fall's majestic train,

Autumn whispers to the wind.

Color guards stand in salute.

©CVarsalona, 2016

Mother Nature, I hope you will take the time to create a vivid setting, as you have in the past, and showcase autumn ablaze in glory. Until we meet again, I thank you for listening to my October greetings and inspiring me to create. 

Humbly,

Your Admirer

NOTE:

I had fun celebrating the transition into fall this week after unveiling my summer gallery, Summerscapes that you can access here. To honor all the voices that contributed to the gallery, I ask that you take a small portion of your time to peruse it. Besides that please visit Ruth Ayres's site here to read how other bloggers are celebrating their week.

DigiLit Sunday: Crafting an Online Collection for the Finding Fall Gallery

October is slowly closing its calendar pages this week but to my amazement fall has not peaked in my locale, the western part of Long Island. So being a seeker of natural beauty, I decided to see if I could capture some of the colors of the season for the Finding Fall Gallery. With my new iPhone 6, clippers, and a bag my family and I set out for a walking tour of a nearby park. The weather was crisp and the sun bright enough making me think about Indian Summer days when I was a child. I was not disappointed with what I found. 

The walking trails were picturesque and there was even a fallen tree that blocked the path as you would find in a movie. Since Vine was not loading up properly, I used the iPhone camera to take camera shots and short videos of the variegated trees that were mostly green with some pops of color. These trees stood together on either side of the trails as an archway for visitors. What you see below is the photo collection  from iPhoto that was created into a online scrapbook. This reminds me of my college and early teaching days shooting photos in the countryside to feature in a professional scrapbook. 

The images below are pages from an online collection
that will become sparks for future reflective writing.

As an extension activity, do it yourself enthusiasts can create a fall display from the findings discovered during the walking tour to grace the home. My bag of fall items led to the production of a outdoor decoration that is totally composed of natural items except for the autumn ribbon.

Teachers can ask the children to bring in a bag of items from their fall findings to spark poetry writing. Parents who would like to encourage writing can ask their children to do the same. 

Teachers who are interested in submitting a poem and original photo for the Finding Fall Gallery can use their work as a mentor text when implementing a seasonal writing lesson. One piece of student work can accompany each teacher's offering for the global gallery. I hope you are your students will engage in finding fall  work with me. 

Unfortunately, I could not get into the flow of creating an online scrapbook that transferred over correctly for this Digilit Sunday post.  What you see below is the first attempt that will need to be refined. Until then, enjoy viewing these photos and travel over to DigiLit Sunday brought to you by Margaret Simon.

DigiLit Sunday

My attempt to create an online scrapbook

Enjoy this bountiful season!