Christmas Wondering

Three little girls snuggle in jammies

Wondering what delights await them

At Grandma and Grandpa's house.

Do they hear what I hear, and

See what I see?

Night turns into day.

Wind swishes through the trees

The Christmas tree lights up the room and

Hot cocoa sweetens the morning.

All is well as three little girls

Unwrap presents under the tree,

Sing along with their new microphones,

Let small balls roll down slides,

and a Santa Workshop is created.

I watch their frolicking fun,

Feel the love that warms the house.

Will they remember this holiday

Wrapped in tissue paper, kisses,

And the beloved 1940's manger?

These moments captured in photos

Will be savored as Jingle Bells and laughter

Flow through Grandma and Grandpa's house.

🎄

Post-Christmas Slice of Life

@CVarsalona, New Year's Eve 2024

Quick Write Poem 

Digital Image created in Collageable and Fotojet

Happy New Year to the worldwide reflective writers

of Two Writing Teachers.

November's Slow Down Time

Last week, I woke to the sight of my thriving basil plants limp from the overnight frost. While this was upsetting, I reminded myself that November is coming to the end of its trail. Darkness creeps in earlier. Winds whisper in the night and leaves swoosh across the sidewalks. Nature readies herself for a transition. During this time of change, articles and self-help guides are plentiful. November becomes the time to slow down, let go or rest. I turn to F. Scott Fitzgerald's quote, Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall. Autumn is a time for renewal.

As I reset my clock, I decide to pause and reset my self-care goals.: Find ease and peace on a daily level. Indulge in ample amounts of sleep during November's slow-down. Read and write often to unwind. Cherish small moments and find positivity.

In searching for a short poem on November, I found November Night, written by a late 19th-early 20th American poet, Adelaide Crapsey. Below is an example of an American cinquain poem that she created.

Listen.

With faint dry sound,

Like steps of passing ghosts,

The leaves, frost-crisp'd, break from the trees

And fall. 

-Adelaide Crapsey

Intrigued by Crapsey's  word choice and imagery, I penned an American cinquain poem.

Listen.

November winds

chase crunchy, fallen leaves

dancing a quickstep across trails.

Tune in.

©CVarsalona, Fall 2023

While walking the nature trail this week with my little grandgirls, we listened for sounds in the woods, stopped to pick just right leaves for a collage, and made small observations. On the way home, my 6-year-old grandchild, Sierra, began piecing together a draft of a poem about our November walk in the woods. I captured some of her thoughts and merged them into a children's poem with a photo of the two little girls marching in the woods.

What will you do during November's slow down period of of letting go and renewal?

You can find me soaking in nature.

🍁🍂🍃🍁🍂🍃

Since today is Poetry Friday, I am going to soak in the poetic goodness lining up at our host, Karen Edmisten's blog site. Karen is bringing me back to the wonders of Autumn in New York. Join me there.

🍁🍂🍃🍁🍂🍃

March Musings Day 18: A Touch of Green

There is something special about St. Patrick's Day. Is it the undeniable taste of corn beef, cabbage, potatoes, and Irish soda bread, the sweetness of homemade cookies, the closeness of family gathered together, or a wonderful combination of all? One year ago at this time, we moved into our lovely new home without fanfare so today we celebrate the wearing of the green.

☘☘☘☘☘☘

My 4-year-old granddaughter greeted me tonight with a wee leprechaun tale. "Grandma, a leprechaun came to my nursery class today. He left footprints all over but we could not see him." 

"Guess what, Sierra, I looked all over for a pot of gold for us and there was none to be found. I guess your little leprechaun was playing a trick on all of us."

☘☘☘☘☘☘ 

This week I had my first cataract surgery. While the short operation was painless, I do have a longer healing time. I did manage to keep on writing daily. if you backtrack to my March 14th blog and March 16th blog, you can read some of my thoughts right before and after surgery. 

☘☘☘☘☘☘

Thank you teacher-poet, Ruth Hersey, who is hosting Poetry Friday from her new home in Paraguay. You can read Ruth's thoughts and enjoy all the poetic goodness from other bloggers at Ruth's blog, here.

Two Writing Teachers for this daily meeting place to connect with a community of reflective writers.