Thursday, May 28, 2020

Spring's Woodside Beauty

“Come with me into the woods where spring is
advancing, as it does, no matter what,
not being singular or particular, but one
of the forever gifts, and certainly visible."
-Mary Oliver, Dog Songs 

Come join me as I share nature's woodside beauty in springtime with 
nature photos from Virginia and Maine.



I also created a Golden Shovel poem using Mary Oliver's opening line,
Come with me into the woods where spring is.

Little one travels the trail "Come,"
nature calls softly with
her lilting voice. Sierra turns to me
running deeper down into 
leaves seasoned by wear, following the
twists and turns marked by woods.
We stop to notice where
the birds coo their spring
song because that is where peace is.
©CV, 2020






Ah, stepping softly back into my neighborhood where Spring is a forever gift and one of the main characters in my upcoming #NatureNurtures2020 Gallery. You can see the growing collection of poetry goodness at Nature Nurtures! Padlet but if you do not see what you offered, then please add your artistic expression.

I hope you enjoyed today's mini-meditation (as poet Laura Purdie Salas calls these mini-galleries).




Now turn your attention to the Poetry Friday Roundup at Mary Lee Hahn's blog here. This week she is offering us The Reading Without Walls Challenge, Library of Congress "The Life of a Poet" session featuring poet Marilyn Chin, and adds two poems by Chin. She is also inviting everyone to join her as she facilitates the NCTE webinar conversation with Marilyn Chin in conjunction with the Library of Congress on June 11th. You can find out more information here

15 comments:

  1. Beautiful mini-meditations, Carol. Thank you for sharing. I love the lines:
    "We stop to notice where
    the birds coo their spring
    song because that is where peace is."
    We are always looking for where peace is, aren't we? :)

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    1. When I go outside and feel nature's breath, I find peace, even if it only for moments. Thanks for enjoying the mini-meditations, Bridget.

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  2. Each one's a gem, Carol, & I love your phrase "The solemn silence of springtime". Have a good weekend!

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    1. Linda, it is the outside calmness even when it is dark that helps me find balance. Unfortunately, the reality of life is weighing the bright moments down. Poetry soothes souls. Thanks for joining me today.

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  3. Oh, the words and images tie together here so beautifully. I really need to pop back and try my hand at another golden shovel! Here's to more beautiful Spring wanderings.

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    1. Thank you, Tanita, for stopping by and commenting. Do you have an image poem to offer to my #NatureNurtures2020 Gallery?

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  4. Ahh...others might want to go to the ocean for calming, but the woods are what I choose. Thank you for this rich buffet of woodside beauty!

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    1. Mary Lee, while the beach is my go-to-nature-loving place, the woods's nature trails are a close second. I found out recently that one of my favorite spots in my hometown was cleared of many of the trees.

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  5. This is beautiful, Carol. I'm so glad I stopped by and feel like I got to walk alongside you and your adorable granddaughter in the woods. She is growing so quickly!

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    1. Oh, Ruth, I am delighted to connect with you. I always found inspiration in our small writing community and continue to think of you. I hope we stay in contact and I am so glad that you stopped by. Yes, my little Sierra is going to be 3 this month and she is now a big sister to our new granddaughter, Aurora who is going to be 5 months. I have had many quiet moments gathering image poems and nature photos from colleagues around the globe. I would be delighted if you stopped by when I unveil the full #NatureNurtures2020 Gallery. I think you will enjoy seeing artistic expressions from our Celebrate community friends. Thank you for the lovely comment Ruth.

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  6. I love that poem with searching for just the right rocks. So adorable!

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    1. Linda, it is one of my favorite photos that was placed in the Toddler Sierra album. It is so exciting to get the ping because it means we can see the children while staying in place. Who would have thought that life would be so changed this year.

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  7. I also love the woods. And if water is nearby, all the better. This is a lovely collection, Carol. No hint of the dark evil woods that so much early literature conjures. I often retreat to the woods near me, listening and looking for inspiration as I go, just as your little grandchild looks for the perfect rock. Thank you...

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  8. Thank you for stopping by Karen and commenting. It is nice to hear of your fondness of the woods. When I visit Sierra, we always go take a walk on the nature trail and listen to the sounds of the forest.

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  9. I love to be out in a forest anywhere. Love your verse and pictures. Last winter I was in a redwood forest in California with my sister and I treasure that time. Sierra is so fortunate to have you as a grandmother. I have another contribution to NatureNurtures 2020. Will post.

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