Baby's Kiss

💋

A baby's kiss is the purest form of love.

Looking back to summer, I remember the warmth of the wind with its puffy clouds swirling in a slow-motion sky. I eagerly waited for the three little grandgirls to play in my backyard, stroll to the gardens, and laugh as the birds swooped down to the neighbor's birdfeeder. 

The sound of a door opening caught my attention. Two little girls ran through the house ready for play. Little Lila, who was 15 months old at that time, entered while being held by my daughter. "We have a surprise for you," she announced. At that moment, Lila was encouraged to move closer and plant her first kiss to me on my cheek. Ah, her sweet baby lips upon my face was pure joy. You can imagine how excited I was to receive Lila's magical kiss on a sunlit summer day. 

one kiss ascends

into a warm summer sky

lighting up my world

©CVarsalona, 2025

💋

each summer day,

flutters like a butterfly. 

in a garden of love

unconditionally

kisses a sunlit world

spreading joy

©CVarsalona, 2025

💋

I thank Two Writing Teachers for sharing their reflective space for Slices of Life across the world.

Poetic Voices Rise During National Poetry Month

It's April, National Poetry Month, a sensational time of the year for writers, poets, and individuals who love poetry. Part of a quote from a historian, poet, and writer, Aberjhani, resonates with me as I continue writing almost daily since February.

"Individuals oftern turn to poetry, not only to glean strength and perspective from the words of others, but to give birth to their own poetic voices..."

My Poetic Voice Fills with Stories

Look, I found another egg!

A smiling little princess

dressed in Easter finery beams with pride.

Her basket brims with colorful treasures

hidden by a watchful Easter bunny.

Springtime wonders truly exist.

©CV, 2023

moon strolls through sky

mingling with starfriends -

pause for a light kiss

©CV, 2023

(The above poem was based on Laura Purdie Salas' NPM project's pile of words.)

Voices of Friends Fill the Spingsations Gallery, Vol. 2 at My Padlet

On Tuesday, I shared four poems by fellow writers, Jane Heitman Healy, Denise Krebs, Matt Forrest Esenwine, and Bob Hamera, a.k.a. arjeha. Click here to view my Tuesday Slice of Life with their image poems for Springsations Gallery.

This week, I am delighted to showcase a new set of image poems for Springsations Gallery shared by: 

an Anonymous writer, Janet Scully, and Carol Labuzetta

Elizabeth Neubauer, Leigh Anne Eck, Faige Meller 

and

If you are interested in creating an image poem please see the invitation here. It is due by April 30th.

The above quote by Rainier Maria Rilke is at Good Housekeeping Spring Quotes.

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Today's Poetry Friday can be found on Karen Edmisten's blog. She offers an inspirational quote by Ted Kooser that is a fitting opening to her post and a close to mine.

"A poem is a record of a discovery."

The above PF logo was created by Margaret Simon.

Appreciating the Grandgirls

It is a joy to have little granddaughters. Their smiles pop up on my computer daily and in their online Google Photo albums but the best is when the little girls stay for a weekend. Oh, the fun we have is incomparable. During this year of gratitude, my one word appreciate fills my heart. People often ask why I moved to Virginia. My first response is always, "To be near our granddaughters". It is the same response I hear from many people in our community. 

“A granddaughter is a treasure whose worth you cannot measure except by the love in your heart.” -unknown author

Our weekend was filled with firsts, golden memories, and fun.

adventures

special times

together

such a treat

to watch them

enjoy life

radiant

smiles, giggles-

sweet childhood

©CVarsalona, 2022

🍦

outdoor fun

movie, treats,

stargazing

indoor fun

at the pool

splash, kick, swim

extra treat

breakfast and

watching goats

©CVarsalona, 2022

(The above poems use the tricube poetic form.)

Then, off they go with their parents and what do the grandparents do after that hearty breakfast?  We take a long nap because it is non-stop movement when the little girls visit.  But it is so much fun to be around our granddaughters. 

🍦

Oh, I did not mention the ice cream treats, not only for the little girls but for the adults. We all enjoy ice cream in the summer, even if it melts more quickly.

🍦

It's time for Slice of Life Tuesday at Two Writing Teachers, a meeting place for a world of reflective writers. I appreciate this community of eduwriters.

during the March writing challenge

Remembering the Celebration

Oh, to be five again. I tried to remember far back to my fifth birthday. Nothing came to mind so let me savor a fond memory of Sierra's family birthday party that marked the ending of a magical birthday week. 

The celebration was deemed a Queen for a Day event. Presents, cakes, cookies, and lots of love filled the backyard with its fairy garden scenery. The weather was delightful. Sweeping winds powered a flower windmill that spun with delight. Multiple cascading waterfall fountains adorned the pathway leading up to a children's house with Adirondack chairs and a tree-stump area with a miniature table and chairs. What could be more delightful than this nature-inspired, magical wonderland?   

Come fairies, take me out of this dull world. 

For I would ride with you upon the wind and dance upon the mountains like a flame. 

-W.B. Yeats (The Land of Heart's Desire)

Nature creates a magical place

Of delightful, shaded open space.

Children play upon the ground

Where faires step and gnomes abound.

Throw a stone; make a wish.

Dream of the prince's magical kiss.

Spin a windmill in the breeze and

Listen to chimes sing under trees.

Then, say goodnight to the swooning moon

Who finds its rest one night in June.

©CVarsalona, 2022

According to Lewis Carroll, the best gift we can give is a lifetime of adventures. The 5th birthday party was only the beginning of adventures for my grandgirls. Their magic forest will be the setting for many remembrances.

Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for the magical space it has provided for writers.

Spring Day

Yesterday, a "silly thing" thing happened to my almost 5-year-old granddaughter. She and her sister ran up and down the little hill behind my patio with a giant balloon my husband bought me for Mother's Day. As I was videotaping the event, Sierra lost hold of the balloon that went sailing into the sky. She was sad but amazed at how far it soared into the air. "That was silly," Sierra said and then, decided to write a story poem with me for this week's blog post.

My balloon was flying in the sky.

I ran and lost hold of the tie.

It floated up really high

but I didn't cry!

We all said bye-bye.

©Sierra (soon to be 5-years-old), 2022

"Grandpa made me a kite to fly tomorrow."

🌞

Spring Flight

Together,

Up into the spring blue sky

It floated:

The giant balloon

And a little girl's

wonderings.

©CVarsalona, 2022

I used the mentor text - Barbara Juster Esbenson's poem, "Autumn Concert"

from Swing Around the Sun. (See here)

🌞

Poetry Friday is hosted today by Rose Cappelli, author-poet, who always imagines the possibilities of verse. Join me at her website here.

Autumn Artifacts

The warmth of the autumn sun floods the path to the creek. My little grandgirls walk beside me. We bask in the beauty of the woods as I point out what I see. I am the guide on this brief journey leading them to enjoy nature as much as I do. You can read more about our adventure at my blog post, Along the Nature Trail.

©CV, 2021

I am your guide to

autumn wonders that fall

onto earthen paths.

I play a game, naming what I see.

A group of purple wildflowers

faces sunward. You stoop,

pick a spotted red leaf,

your first artifact of autumn.

Curled-up bark leads you

to other tiny pieces of fall.

You carry these precious

items tightly in your tiny hands.

Share them with your little sister

who brushes featherlike

leaves into the wind.

With gratitude for earth's

treasures, we walk home

ready to create a

lasting memory of a

glorious autumn day.

©CV, 2021

The above poem is modeled after the beginning and last lines of Maggie Smith's poem, First Fall.

Art Project Time

Upon entering the house, four-year-old Sierra announces, "I am going to work on my project". I gather the craft supplies. Intent on her work, Sierra lays out the artifacts from her fall walk. Bark, leaves, acorns, and acorn caps line the kitchen table. 

"What did you see on your walk, Sierra?" "Fall," she responds. 

Carefully, she glues her artifacts onto orange paper. I am amazed at her preciseness in placement. Much to my surprise, she leaves an imprint of a leaf on the paper with just a crayon. As the project draws to a conclusion, we talk about poetry. 

"Fall and call rhyme, Grandma." 

"Is that the start of your poem?" 

Words pop out. We talk about what a poem is. 

"It is more than rhyming. It is your feeling, too." 

I leave it at that. After all, she is four and interested. I write what she says on paper. We read it again. She thinks. We change a few words and I write her poem where she thinks it should go on her fall project. 

"Will people like my poem, Grandma?" 

"I am sure they will."

Fall

calls

acorns

leaves

fall

from

trees

©Sierra, Age 4, 2021

🍂

You Are Invited

to Join my Newest Online,

Global Gallery of Artistic Expressions

-Bedecked in Autumn!-

Share your image poems, inspirational quotes,

artwork, digital designs, and music.

Deadline for Submissions: December 1, 2021

via my Twitter feed, Facebook page,

email: cvarsalona at gmail.com

A Sneak Preview will be shared

on November 19, 2021

when I host Poetry Friday 

at my blog, Beyond LiteracyLink

🍂

Join the Poetry Friday Roundup at Jama Rattigan's delicious poetry site, Jama's Alphabet Soup. She's offering a poem by Jeffrey Bean, cookies, and hot chocolate mixed with much poetic goodness!

🍂

#PoetryPals Challenge & More Poetry Fun

Another surprise marks the near end of the summer season. For last week's Poetry Friday, I wrote about Sweet Surprises. One of the surprises was a meet-up with my poetry friend, Linda Mitchell, who lives about 15 minutes away. While writing that post, I did forget that it was the end of the month and that the Poetry Sisters/#PoetryPals invited all to take a plunge into their August challenge, WHAT THE ________KNOWS poems. The idea was to write in the style of Jane Yolen's eight-line, rhyming poem, What the Bear Knows. This challenge was in honor of Jane Yolen's 400th book.

I wrote two drafts of different poems earlier during the month of August with the topic "What Does Baby Know?" Because we have been Grandma and Grandpa sitting on and off during August, I chose to write about our twenty-month granddaughter whom we just stopped calling baby. My first poem below is slightly different than the suggested form but I wanted to add an additional stanza. 

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What does the baby know? 

To be curious about all things

To find joy in life's flow

To figure out how to throw

What does the baby know? 

Be determined to share her sweet grin

To busy herself while having fun

Until each splendid day is done. 

©CVarsalona, Summer 2021 

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In addition to the poems and digitized images above, I created a haiku to accompany my slice of life about the first birthday celebration we had for my son. This can be found at my blog post, A Rain-Drenched Gift. Earlier tonight, our Spiritual Journey Thursday group under the leadership of Karen Eastlund wrote to the topic, virtue. While I struggled to get started, I decided to write a goal-setting poem on the virtues I would like to work on the rest of this year. That can be found at my blog under SJT Virtue.

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As the stroke of midnight approaches, I turn my thoughts to Poetry Friday. The amazing activitist poet-author-teacher, Heidi Mordhorst, is hosting this week at her blog, my juicy little universe. Heidi has an amazing array of thoughts, poems, and challenges for us to peruse at her poetrypalooza. Join me there.

I am gathering poetic and artistic expressions in the form of image poems, inspirational quotes, digital inspirations, music, artwork, and any other option for my upcoming Nurturing Our Summer Souls Gallery. If interested contact me or send in your offerings related to the topic. I have a Twitter hashtag, #NurturingOurSummerSouls, set up for incoming digital. Please send it to @cvarsalona also. 

Golden Hour

"Bursts of gold on lavender melting into saffron. It's the time of day when the sky looks like it has been spray-painted by a graffiti artist." - Mia Kirshner 

Excitedly, they raced up and down the slight slope as the birthday party began. It was the golden hour just after nap time and the beginning of a delightful late afternoon family event. Big sister and little baby romped in the grassy area beyond the patio. Their world was painted in shades of joy. 

After dinner a sweet secret brewed. Out from the small guest bedroom, a little girl transformed into a princess glided past me ready to don her royal crown and greet guests for the gathering. Loved ones circled to wish the birthday girl years of wonder and celebration at the count of four. But waiting was not her strong suit so, within a second, all four candles were puffed into the air just like her wishweeds did on her spring nature walk.

a sweetened surprise

awaits a little princess

wide-eyed wishes ready now

golden hour approaches

with promised love

©CV, 2021

As the golden hour moved closer to sunset, two little princesses walked to their coach where dancing dreams lulled them into a restful sleep. What new adventures will await a four-year-old with talents still not untapped is yet to be seen. 

A Slice of Life for Another Special Day

Birthday Surprise

For me, writing in the quiet of night is a treat but there are other magical moments that light up life.

This week, my granddaughter turned four so naturally, I wrote a poem to celebrate her amazing years of life. It was a pantoum poem that my granddaughter and I call a story poem. I added digital photos of her to entice her into the poem.

While I was not present at the children's party (I am hosting the extended family's "big people's" party this weekend), I enjoyed an online conversation and found out that there were many surprises at the party, one of which brought me Grandma joy. During the Google Duo call, I listened to Sierra's exciting details about the party with her best friends.  I then shared the story poem I wrote. First, we looked at the digital photos I created from infancy through toddler years. Next, I asked if I could read the story poem. Sierra is a reader and loves a good read-aloud so she listened carefully. At the close of the poem, I heard, "Thank you, Grandma." How endearing those words were! 

Now. let me share the events of the party where magic was in the air. The video that was sent to the family showed an excited child rushing to the back door and down the path to the wooded backyard. Ah, yes, an awesome sight awaited her! Her Mommy remembering her own childhood parties in a backyard miniature house, constructed a child-size outdoor house and Daddy helped erect it. The little house set in a wooded setting of their back year was complete with a patio laid down by the carpenter. Two Adirondack chairs, a child-size picnic table, and window boxes full of flowers against a natural setting added additional charm to the setting. Photos posted were filled with excitement and joy so I decided to write a tricube poem. It is a good format because of its simplicity that allows a story to flow.

Yesterday, I had a virtual tour of the birthday surprise. I laughed when I saw my seventeen-month-old granddaughter quite content playing on the floor of the little house while big sister enjoyed creating a bracelet from the kit given by one of the partygoers.

I am now preparing for the family birthday party at my new house on Saturday. Even though, Sierra said will not be her birthday date, I responded that the big people want to celebrate your special day. Afterall, you are only four once.

Little house in the woods,

How charming you are

With your storybook gable.

What tales will grow as your years unfold?

Mix wonder and childhood dreams

Create stories to last a lifetime.

©CV, 2021

Now, it's time for the Poetry Friday Roundup at poet and nature photographer Buffy Silverman's blog site.