Wake Up to Springtime

As the spring season opens, we are called to awaken from the slumber of winter.

clouds hover

wiping away winter's dust

spring cleaning time 

©CV, 2019

In the quiet of a spring morning, I peer out the window, my observatory to seasonal life. Birds have returned to sing their song. Robin Redbreast and poised Blue Jay join each other at parallel branches. I watch their flight as they crisscross in their descent. From the front window, I see our neighborhood's feral cats sitting in the driveway waiting for humans to pass by. Early risers slowly walk their dogs. Car doors slam, motors run, and workers go off to their destinations. 

The busyness of the day begins but its time to quietly capture my noticings. What awaits? It's a whole new day to explore life. Perhaps, you will even "Let yourself become living poetry!" -Rumi

It's World Poetry Day! 
Write-Tweet #WorldPoetryDay-Enjoy Life



Day 21 of 31 days of writing

March Slice of Life Story Challenge

Two Writing Teachers

March Musings '19: Dandelion Dreams

The world brightens today as spring makes its entrance. My mind drifts back to childhood. Dandelions, perky and bright, grew wildly in our lawn. There was something magical about them as they stood upright, bursting with brilliant color. They were mine to pick, carry inside, and offer as a tribute to spring. Another quick thought flashes: Mom laughingly accepting my gift, recalling dandelions being Nonnie's edible treat.  Dandelion dreams dance in my mind as I blow their seeds into a stream of indelible memories.  

dandelion roots

brilliant bitter edible-
spring's field of dreams

©CV, 2019

Terje Akke, Estonia, 2018

days of play dance in my mind

springtime memories reveal

wild dandelion dreams

©CV, 2019

Thank you, Linda Baie, for suggesting the topic for Day 20 of Laura Shovan's Poetry Project.

Linda Baie, 2018 

Day 20 of 31 days of writing

March Slice of Life Story Challenge

Two Writing Teachers

It Looked Like...But

I pulled up the sun was as bright as can be. What should I wear? Hmm, let me think about this. I transferred most of my winter clothes to my cedar closet in hopes that I did not need them. After all, spring starts tomorrow and it looked like spring outside. The birds were fluttering around. There goes the robin redbreast. That is a good sign.

“Spring starts tomorrow,” the meteorologist chimed in but his weather map showed a different picture, not-quite-spring-weather. I grabbed a light coat, no gloves, no hat, and rushed out the door.

It looked like spring but the chill told me it was still winter.

By the time I got to the physical therapy center, my hands were cold. Everyone inside was talking about the weather. The PT aide who just came back from Florida told me the weather was 85 degrees there, a spring-like winter. Our 40-degree temperature felt really cold to her (and me too).

I gratefully received my heat treatment and went off to yoga where I know the room would be warm.

By the time I returned to the physical therapy room, it looked like spring outside but it still was winter.

Oh well.

Tomorrow is spring so let's see what that will bring.

For now, I go to sleep thinking of Joyce Kilmer's poem, Spring, that speaks of the joy of the season.

The air is like a butterfly
With frail blue wings,
The happy earth looks at the sky
And sings.

Day 19 of 31 days of writing

March Slice of Life Story Challenge

Two Writing Teachers

March Musings '19: Snow Baby on Skis

Off they went to a winter wonderland vacation. Beautiful, sun-kissed Jackson Hole, Wyoming, was waiting for them. Skis were packed-even the tiniest skis only meant for a twenty-one-year-old toddler. 

I fell in love with the original photo of this winter scene so I digitized it and added a title.

I marvelled at the wonder of nature, the pristine beauty of fresh snow, a sharp contrast to dirty snow or rain-washed snow slush. Even if you are not a fan of winter, you might be inclined to change your mind when viewing these vacation photos. 

The spectacular mountain views were welcoming

in each scene.

It was as if Mother Nature painted a landscape in brilliant white with a blue backdrop. 

Each photo made winter so inviting.

Thinking about my grandbaby in Jackson Hole led me to explore snow-themed poetry for writing models. When I found the following poem, A Child's Guide to Etiquette, by Chris Forhan (from No. 177, Summer 2006), I knew it was a just right one. You may agree.

Detail of Works Progress Administration's: "January: A Year of Good Reading" Poster

Snow is a hat worn by mountains, the tallest of which do not remove the hat in summer.

Sunlight settles like a shawl upon the hills and dewy berry fields.

The sun is not a wag or hail-fellow-well-met. It does not loaf or shirk.

It keeps it's face funeral-ready, as you should.

Away you go in the car. Father and Mother. Puff and Baby Sally.

Away you go into the Country. Spot and Jane.

Will I use this poem as a mentor poem? Perhaps, I will write a poem for my grandbaby, but for now I think I will just keep looking at the beauty of the western mountains set in winter sunshine and dream.

❅

Day 18 of 31 days of writing

March Slice of Life Story Challenge

Two Writing Teachers

March Musings '19: A Wee Bit of Luck

With the sound of Celtic music in the background and the aroma of a pot of corned beef simmering on the stove, St. Patrick's Day seems lively. While it's a family day of cooking, laundry, and having conversations with family and friends far away, I am thinking back on past St. Patrick's Day events.

I grew up in a neighborhood of families that were mostly Irish and Italian. The Catholic school I attended was filled with nuns who always celebrated St. Patrick's Day. Weeks before the event, my classmates and I were lined up learning Irish songs and dances. It was a lively and enjoyable ritual.

That was back then during my elementary school years. Now, I am surrounded once again by many Irish families in my community on Long Island. One of our parish priests commented about this at last night's Mass. 

"Did you know (laughingly) that many of our parishioners are Irish? I hate to inform many of you whom are Irish but St. Patrick was not Irish by birth. He was brought to Ireland from England by raiders and sold into slavery. But St. Patrick returned to Ireland to convert the people."

Many of us at Mass did not know these facts but nonetheless respect the fact that St. Patrick is revered as the patron saint of Ireland. Our town is well known for its cathedral, the St. Patrick's Day parade, and many restaurants near the Long Island Railroad stop. While I am not Irish, I enjoy celebrating this day with my town, family, and friends. 

A wee bit of luck happened today. My husband decided to make the corned beef and cabbage and my daughter dialed us up on Google Hangout so we could talk with our grandbaby who is half-Irish. Dressed in my shamrock necklace that lights up, I enjoyed every minute of the conversation that included watching Sierra eat and play. I did get a wave by and a kiss. 

Now I am off to check up on the corned beef and listen to When Irish Eyes Are Smiling. The following wonderful lines from the song remind me of Sierra's sweet smile. 

When your sweet lilting laughter's 
Like some fairy song.
And your eyes twinkle bright as can be
You should laugh all the while
And all other times smile,
And now, smile a smile for me. 

☘☘☘

-a Then and Now slice-
Day 17of 31 days of writing

March Slice of Life Story Challenge

Two Writing Teachers

March Musings '19: #StuVoice Rising

From Irish Times

While teens around the world, led by young climate control activist, Greta Thunberg from Sweden, rallied on the issue of climate control yesterday, adults took notice. 

As I wrote in yesterday's blog post, "Teens across the world answered the call to action and raised their voices as part of a global protest movement for action on climate change. These teens as spokespersons and future citizens are asking us to listen to their thoughts."  Did we listen? 

• The poets of #PoetryFriday listened and wrote blog posts yesterday as their call to action to recognize the efforts of the teens.  These can be accessed at poet Heidi Mordhorst's blog site, my juicy little universe.

• Post-rally in New York City, Alexandria Villasenor leader of the #ClimateStrike rally spoke out on why adults should listen. She tweeted, "As #ClimateStrikeNYC #1 concludes this afternoon, we are turning towards the future. Plans now begin for #Climate StrictNYC #2." 

• Greta Thunberg has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize to for inspiring students in 105 countries to raise their voices in the #ClimateStrike rally.

It is imperative that teachers and leaders allow student voice to grow and be amplified. They are future change agents of the world. 

In our individual classrooms, teachers can guide students in teams, to respectfully interact with peers, engage in collaborative conversations, and work with excitement and diligence to dig into content and make meaning of what they have learned. 

As I worked with students in Ms. Schiavone and Ms. Vatalaro's 7th grade classroom, I witnessed them having accountable conversations, engaging respecting with each other as detail detectives, and completing the various tasks that prompted them to be articulate in both oral and written language at Chat Stations. Prior to the students embarking on their role of being Detail Detectives, they were introduced to the issue of climate control as it appears in the book, Ship Breaker, they were reading and relating it back to the global climate change rally happening nearby in New York City. I created the following Animoto video of these students accomplishments.

7th Graders Speak Out 

At Chat Stations, Bellport Middle School, SCCSD, Long Island

From the global stage to the daily classroom students can become meaning makers and change agents. We just need to recognize their individual abilities and talents with the express purpose of leading them to raise their voices.

-call to action slice-
Day 16 of 31 days of writing

March Slice of Life Story Challenge

Two Writing Teachers

March Musings '19: Climate Change

How many citizens of the world really care about Planet Earth? There is so much beauty surrounding us but yet do we recognize the need to honor our planet and safeguard it for future generations?  Each one of us needs to do our part to preserve the world.

Today, teens across the world answered the call to action and raised their voices as part of a global protest movement for action on climate change. These teens as spokespersons and future citizens are asking us to listen to their thoughts. Shall we?

Alexandria is the 13-year-old #ClimateJustice Activist who is the Co-Leader for @ClimateStrikeUS. Alexandria sent this tweet from New York City today where throngs of teens rallied. 

While I could not attend the NYC rally this morning, I am following the tweets for #ClimateStrike. I have waited patiently for the Twittersphere to recognize this global event as a trending-worthy outcry of #stuvoice from youth across the world. 

Humbly, I offer my poem created with the digital storytelling platform, Buncee as my action step to address the climate crisis issue. I will send this out into the world of social media to shed light on the power of student voice in a world that needs action to generate hope for a bright future.

Please listen to Love Song to the Earth, a hopeful song  praising Earth while noting, "Tomorrow's in our hands now."

Earth's a vessel of beauty

To be safeguarded and loved. 

Tomorrow is in our hands!

Take up the call for action.

Understand its urgency.

Tomorrow is in our hands!

©CV, 2019

I send a thank you to the young advocates led globally by @GretaThunberg for their diligent work as agents of change. I also send gratitude to poet Heidi Mordhorst for informing the Poetry Friday community about this worldwide event. Heidi, as host of Poetry Friday provides detailed information about the movement at her site, my juicy universe. Please visit and then check out Twitter that is being fired up by the #ClimateStrike movement. 

-call to action slice-
Day 15 of 31 days of writing

March Slice of Life Story Challenge

Two Writing Teachers

Energy Boost - March Musings/#Sol19/Day 14

At the end of a day filled with high energy and enjoyment, I was rewarded with a beautiful sunset drive home. Gray days moved aside to let in the sunshine that turned into a beautiful bluish, pink tone with touches of orange sun peeking through the clouds. Simply lovely. Thank you Mother Nature for sharing your high energy to make my day complete. 

-a slice of sunset-

Day 14 of 31 days of writing

March Slice of Life Story Challenge

at Two Writing Teachers

A Slice of Winter Past - March Musings '2019/#Sol19/Day 13

Years ago when I was first teaching, I started skiing. It was a novel, exhilarating experience for me, especially since I am a person who is not athletically-inclined. I recall the warmth of the sun beating down, the freshness of winter air, and the sounds of swishing. There were also nighttime skiing memories: cool, crisp air, sweeping runs on beautiful white slopes, indigo skies lit by white lights on a mountain, and the taste of steamy hot chocolate before a drive home. I eagerly moved from bunny slopes to beginner-intermediate runs and started feeling proud of my accomplishments until one winter night that turned my life around. The words hit-and-run ski accident are still seared in my mind.

What ensued on that unimaginable night was a series of events that led me down a dreadful dark hole. A swish, a thud, cries of anguish, a sled ride down a mountain, and a horrifying ride to the nearest hospital in the back seat of a car still flood my mind. Within a split second after the fall, I learned that life is fragile and uncertain. In the aftermath of this horrible accident, I was delirious, experienced excruciating pain, and faced surgery alone in a town far away from family and friends. 

My story unfolded like a thriller movie in slow mode. My lawyer friend found out months later that my nightmarish incident was caused by a careless 17-year-old ski patrolman who recklessly took a jump without a spotter at the other end. Surgery, months of recuperation and physical therapy, multiple doctors, all led to a change of heart and mood. I became more reflective and not interested in being in public nor dating until one day six months later when I decided to venture beyond these feelings. Knowing that I was leaving my teaching position in Albany for a teaching job in my hometown of Syracuse, I decided to meet my friend at one of our favorite restaurants. Limping in with one crutch, I joined my friend and her two friends from Long Island. My husband says seeing me carefully walking toward him changed his life. Later that weekend, he announced, ""You can get rid of the crutch, you have me to lean on." From my challenging situation as a skier, a new life direction took place. Within two years, I experienced a long-distance romance, engagement, marriage, and a permanent move to Long Island. 

Why did this memory return today? Perhaps, it is the bright sunshine of a cold winter day pouring in and the photos of my 21 month-old grandbaby coming in from Wyoming where she is skiing with her parents. One day she shall hear my story and her Grandpa's account of the night he fell in love. When that happens she will be an experienced skier without fear. 

-a slice of winter past-

Day 13 of 31 days of writing

March Slice of Life Story Challenge

at Two Writing Teachers

Black Cat in Winter - March Musings '19/Sol19/Day12

"It's either a raccoon or a cat." my husband said when we stepped out of our car. The first part of that statement had me recalling a time years ago when a plump raccoon crawled out through the sewer grate. I never forgot that night and hoped that this March night would not turn out to haunt me. I walked as fast as I could to the front door and hastily moved inside the house. 

Flashback to a few weeks ago during one of the overnight snowstorms-my husband was concerned about the neighborhood feral cats. "What will become of them?" This lingering question lasted a few days later when he spotted the cats calmly sitting on our driveway. They looked so relaxed that I quietly took out my iPhone in an attempt to photograph them. Luckily, I took a couple of shots before the black cat darted off. From an old photo and this new one, I blended them together as a backdrop for a poem.

Did you find the hidden picture  inside the main photo?
Check the snowflake.

So was the black cat the figure in the dark my husband saw or was it a raccoon?

No one knows for sure but it's time to join Two Writing Teachers for the March Slice of Life Story Challenge, Day 12 of 31 days of writing-

Reflect in the Stillness of March - #sol19/Day11

This weekend daylight saving time brought another layer of light to winter days and a special event to add to my #Twitter calendar. Are you ready to celebrate #NationalNappingDay today, the Monday after daylight saving time? While there is no time for me to nap, I thought I would write.

As March briskly marched in

Time bowed its head.

Winter saluted.

Reflection paused.

All launched their campaigns:

Winter lingered.

Time fidgeted.

Reflection paused.

March held on tight

To Winter's grasp.

Then,

Daylight Saving Time arrived.

Spring planned

Its resurrection.

©CV, 2019

❄❄❄

I am joining Two Writing Teachers for the March Slice of Life Story Challenge.

-Day 11 of 31 days of writing-