Navigating Reality

Today, April 1st unveiled the wonder of a spring day. Birds called to one another, singing their sweet songs. Clouds layered their billowy, flowing apperance above distant mountains and nature dusted earth with budding trees draped in white. All appeared to be peaceful and calm. The stormy weather the night before ushered in April's breaths of newness.

If I could touch the sky with its profound beauty, I might feel the hope that springtime brings and better understand how "the heart regrows hope". (Angie Weiland-Crosby)

spring's beauty unfolds

like blossoming petals

earth renews life

©CVarsalona, April 2025

Join me during National Poetry Month as I navigate reality to find peace and feel the breath of spring renewing life.

Thank you Two Writing Teachers, a meeting place

for a world of reflective writers!

- My Opening Slice of Life for National Poetry Month -

Perhaps, this month I will be able to better navigate reality

during life's challenging times.

Thoughts on a Birthday Celebration

Every year, everyone has a birthday that arrives. This day, March 25th, is my husband's birthday. It happens to be one of those months that fluctuates with a variety of weather trends. Howling winds, chilly night, and springlike temperatures arrived. Even thought the birthday comes at a difficult time in our lives, we will celebrate because there is always room for cake, candles, and happiness on this special day.

I have a special wish this year. Let there be a pause from the medical issues. Emily Dickinson reminds me that aging is not a negative. ⤵

"We turn not older with years, but newer every day."

Time to Pause and Celebrate

years pass

life broadens

memories are etched in our hearts

while love grows like blossoming flowers

harvesting hope

renewing faith

persevering onward

©CVarsalona, March 2025

Today is Day 25  of the March SOLSC#SOL25.

Thank you Two Writing Teachers for the space to write 

with a reflective, worldwide group of educators.

Writer's Note:

This is the first trinet poem that I have written. There are 7 lines in the format. Lines three and four have six words in each line. All other lines have 2 words per line.

Welcome the Season of Renewal

I welcome a new season into the world but am perplexed that it rushed in with loud whooshes of wind. Night winds turned into early morning winds with slower speed and different swirling sounds. It was then that I realized it was Day 2 of the new season of renewal. Did Mother Nature open its azure skies to remind me, and the world, that "When one flower blooms, spring awakens everywhere" (Walter C. Hagen)?

Life is fragile, uncertain, and when you least expect it becomes a bump in the journey. I am in the middle of a unexpected happening that is gushing with whooshing winds. Yet, the beginning of spring soothes my soul. Holding on to the idea of spring, a season of renewal, alters the fragility and uncertainty of life. Spring becomes the magical potion for a spiritual awakening.

See entire poem by CRossetti here.

INVITATION to CELEBRATE the SEASON of RENEWAL

Reception this weekend-please attend.

Enjoy ebulating excitement and the

Newness of nature's season.

Embrace life's awakening and  

Wonder about the beauty of cherry blossoms. 

Applaud the sweet song of the birds-Pause,

Let's all launch the season together.

©CVarsalona, 2025

The above logo was created by Rose Cappelli, the host of the Poetry Friday Roundup. Rose shares spring poems by E.E. Cummings and Billy Collins. She also has a draft poem on Spring. You can see the poetic goodness offered by the Poetry Friday community at Rose's Imagine the Possibilities.

Today is Day 21 of the March SOLSC #SOL25.

Thank you Two Writing Teachers for the space to write 

with a reflective, worldwide group of educators.

Nature at Peace

In the silence of evening, stillness evokes peace. Nature floats in the quietude until the morning breaks. At that time, the world stretches its arms, unfolds its layers, and renews another day. 

This morning I pause with prayer waiting for a sliver of light to break through the darkness. "Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. -  Psalm 90:14

↓

morning breaks

slivers of light unfold darkness

earth sings its praises

gentle winds bring renewed thoughts

nature spreads its seeds of joy

©cvarsalona, 2025 draft tanka

If you have not heard Morning Has Broken by Cat Stevens, it is one of my favorite songs. (Beautiful song sung at my wedding) 

Today is Poetry Friday and I am delighted that I woke early to write my post.

Janice Scully is our host today. She honors Women's History Month with pride.

Logo created by Margaret Simon

Today is also Day 14 of the March SOLSC #SOL25

Thank you Two Writing Teachers for the space to write 

with a reflective, worldwide group of educators.

Dreams

I wake pondering where time went. My laptop is on my lap just where I left it last night. I don't remember not finishing my Poetry Friday post. Night must have shifted into morning like the speed of lightning. I rise surprised. What happened? 

All I remember is being exhausted by the events of yesterday. A visit to the eye specialist left me numb. Shocked by the news of a possible retina tear on top of the husband's condition. The word, CANCER, dug deeper into my thoughts. My reaction was to find a way to handle both issues, my eye and his disease. Thoughts rattled in my mind. 

Breathe in-Breathe out-Meditate! These are ways to reduce the stress that blackens the room. I found a quote from someone who understood the challenges of life. 

Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two breaths, or turning inwards in prayer for five short minutes.

- Etty Hillesum, Dutch Jewish author who was murdered in  Auschwitz during WW II

DREAMS

jagged edges

of night dreams

haunt me

back and forth

they sway

slipping away

into reality

f e a r

may find its nooks

But h o p e

becomes IMPLANTED in my HEART!

©CVarsalona, February, 2025

The above poem was originally written during Laura Shovan's Annual February Poetry Project and refined this morning. I was to write about a dream, positive, negative, or just strange - about a moment in this year's political history?

My first thought was world tensions mount. Illness adds to sleepless nights.

Did you know that politics are keeping American up at night? Nearly 60% of adults struggle to fall asleep due to political worries. - 50AASM

After reading about Etty Hillesum caught in the midst of the Holocaust, I want to learn more about her writings.

 

A new day begins. I will remember to breathe and meditate on my spiritual journey to wholeness (My Spiritual Journey post on Wholeness is here. Thank you, slicer/poet, Denise Krebs for adding my blog post for the group to read.)

Thank you Margaret Simon, host of Poetry Friday,

for the support you have provided the past two months.

I am very late for the Poetry Friday Roundup but

I am off the mark lately. I will make the rounds this weekend.

For now, I am headed to an retina specialist.

The above Poetry Firday umage was created by Margaret Simon.

Day 8 of the March SOLSC #SOL25

Thank you Two Writing Teachers for the space to write 

with a worldwide group of educators.

Spiritual Journey to Wholeness/#SOL25

On this day of howling winds, I am pondering the Spiritual Journey Thursday theme of wholeness suggested by our host, Denise Krebs at Dare To Care. I am preoccupied as a caregiver for my husband who is battling a rare form of cancer in the pancreas and liver. I feel unsure of what the days ahead will be like so wholeness is something I would like to strive for.

What is Wholeness?

It is not the charred pieces of prolonged challenges that breaks my hearts. It is not the damaged bits of aloneness or the stirring unsettled pressures of worry and discontent. Wholeness is like a puzzle coming together with patience (another something I need to acquire).

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, wholeness is the quality of being or feeling complete and not divided or damaged. In a spiritual sense, wholeness is the Unseen Hand gathering the broken or damaged pieces of my journey and binding them together. Support is needed to continue my journey of faith and hope and bringing healing moments to the assorted chipped pieces. 

I found this beautiful quote by Maya Angelou and penned a draft poem that moves me from sadness to a renewed outlook. ⬇

Nothing can dim the light that shines from within. - Maya Angelou

Nessessity

healing the dark sadness of nothing

requires a light within that can

not be dim

it must fill the

everyday moments with bright light

slowly opening that

portal which shines

and restores the soul from

unwanted stress to newness within

draft ©CVarsalona, 2025

Golden Shovel from Maya Angelo

A New Day Awakens

on a winter day an azure blue sky looks down on life

whispy cloud-cushions prepare for flight

as angels circulate sprinkling earth with warmth to awaken life

nature floods earth

with the spirit of wholeness

the journey continues 

draft ©CVarsalona, 2025

Photo from Margaret Simon for This Photo Wants to be a Poem

Day 6 of the March SOLSC #SOL25

11 years of Writing Slices of Life

A Winter Delight

An amaryllis is always waiting to delight and surprise you, even when your world seems cold and dark. - Susan Meissner, Only the Beautiful

one day a winter gift came my way

amaryllis

statuesque

in

demeanor

amaryllis

renewing

life

hope-bearing

amaryllis

one day a winter gift came my way

©CVarsalona, 2025

With my winter gift, I can lean on hope during dark days and know that my one word, renew, is guiding me. Several times since December, my amaryllis has renewed itself. Its deep red flowers welcome me to sit and be quiet. 

Day 2 of the March SOLSC #SOL25

11 Years of Writing Slices of Life

Day 1 can be found here. 

Time To Be with March SOLSC #SOL25

March opens with a flicker of light, a smack of cold weather, and  thoughts of renewal. It is a timely month where writers gather to reflect, renew friendships, and offer mindful moments of thought. 

So without further ado, I start the month-long challenge that Two Writing Teachers offer in March each year. My SOLSC #SOL25 will consist of daily dialogues in poetic formats with digital art. I will open my Sanctuary of Thought with hopes that you will join me on my journey. We all need time to dream, time to remember, time to reach for the infinite, and just time to be.

Thank you fellow slicer, Ramona Behnke, for sharing the above inspirational quote with me. It inspired me to use a digital tool, Fotojet, to pen my opening haiku.

Day 1 of the March SOLSC #SOL25

11 Years of Writing Slices of Life

Poetry Sisters' February Challenge

“Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass, it’s about learning to dance in the rain.” —Vivian Greene

-From a snow day to a freezing rain one-

This month, the Poetry Sisters' invited writers and poets to their February Challenge that asked for a "____ is a Word " poem, originated by Nikki Grimes. See  Nikki's thoughts on the form she created here.  

I am late joining Poetry Friday this week but am happy to sit alone in the quiet and write a post with the hashtag #PoetryPals.

Today is Poetry Friday hosted by the wonderful Denise Krebs who is also participating in the Poetry Sisters' February Challenge. She has two different poems that have not only wordplay but voice. See her blog, Dare To Care, where the Poetry Friday Roundup is a happening.

-It is difficult lately to try to write while having to care for my husband at the same time. I will try to make the rounds as much as I can.

Love is...

"At the touch of love everyone becomes a poet." - Plato

Valentine's Day has passed but love continues to stir in the chilled winter air. I notice that the deer family no longer jaunts across the woods but I see dog owners walking their pets daily. There is no doubt that the deer family and dog owners show their love by their actions. Even in the depth of winter, "Love is the greatest refreshment in life." (Pablo Picsso) For hundreds of years, love has renewed and rejuvenated us. 

love is

an elixir of life

renewing and energizing us

as we witness delicate snowflakes

dancing in the whistling wind-

as we unfold our journey

love is a freshly-draped blanket

wrapping us in spaces of warmth

while bringing hearts together

in synchronization

draft © CVarsalona, 2025

🩷

Love strikes a pose with 25 poems at my Heartnotes Padlet. May you enjoy the variety of poems and inspirational quotes that you many not have seen previously.

🩷

Love is the guide for the Holiday Poetry Swap led by Jone Rush MacCulloch. I hope to share all the beautiful postcards sent by Poetry Friday friends.

🩷

Love is a rainbow with poetic voice authored by Matt Forrest Esenwine (A Universe of Rainbows). It also features poems written by an amazing cast of poets. Matt's 2nd book that I will review is Tractor Dance.  My granddaughters enjoyed this board book and the signed autograph. I will add some of their thoughts to the review in the near future.

                       

I am late for the Poetry Friday Roundup because my husband was discharged from an 8-day stay in the hospital and I have to play nurse.

Golden Shovel Poem created for Day 20 on Laura Shovan's

13th Annual February Poetry Project

🩷

Poetry Friday is hosted this week by the fun-loving children's poet, Laura Purdie Salas. Laura is debuting two new books she wrote. I will join her for poetic goodness and hope you do also.