Wondrous June

Are you surprised that June is almost at its end and spring turned into summer two days ago? It's time to sing June's praises.

The solemn hour of midnight breathes

sweet thoughts everywhere.

It is the month of June-

So mellow the gentle breath of June day breeze. 

The sun is rich. 

The summer morn is bright and fresh.        

I know well that the June rains just fall.

Do you recall that night in June?

We watched the moonbeams quiver.

In golden hours, silver days, 

The month of June trembled like a butterfly.

June, hushed and breathless, waits and I wait too, with June.

The time is ours to spend.

©CVarsalona, 2022, Cento Poem & Nature Photo

The cento poem (or collage poem) is a poetic form composed entirely of lines from poems by other poets.  I organized the lines from the following poets to create the cento poem, Wondrous June.

Lines 1-2    -  Emily Jane Bronte

Line 3         -  The Month of June by Nathaniel Parker Willis

Line 4        -  June by Francis Duggan

Line 5         -  June by John Updike

Line 6         -  William C. Bryant  

Line 7         -  Onitsura

Lines 8-9  -  Daube River by Charles Hamilton Aide

Line 10       -  June by John Updike

Line 11         -  Pablo Neruda

Lines 12-13 -  In Fountain Court by Arthur Symons

Line 14        -  June by John Updike

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Logo created by Michelle Kogan

The poem below was created while designing my Summer Poem Swap #1.

In muted morning, earth moves

Like swishing, melodic chimes

Breezing through June's gentle winds.

Nature nurtures us, framing each

Glorious moment in time.

©CVarsalona, 2022

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This month I have been so busy with end-of-cataract-surgeries' doctor visits and my first Summer Poem Swap 2022 hosted by our marvelous organizer, Tabatha Yeatts. I did not have time to begin The Poetry Sisters' June challenge: write a byr a thoddaid. Perhaps I shall  try the format at some other time, albeit it appears to be complicated.

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"What is one to say about June, the time of perfect young summer, the fulfillment

of the promise of earlier months, and with as yet no sign to remind one that its fresh young beauty will ever fade."-Gertrude Jekyll

"June is the gateway to summer." - Jean Hersey

Enjoy the relaxation that summer brings!

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Catherine Flynn, the host of the Poetry Friday Roundup, is greeting us this week with a beautiful end-of-the-school-year poem that you will enjoy reading. Join me at Catherine's blog, Reading to the Core. She is sharing the delightful logo above. It is so lovely that I wanted to add it to this post.

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.

Turning Five

June 15, 2022

Dear Sierra,

Just one year ago, you turned four and everyone cheered with pride for the sweet little girl you became. Since then, I watched you spark many adventures with your imagination, become a wonderful big sister to Aurora, and enjoy various loves, including skiing, baking, and drawing. For months, we have talked about your 5th birthday and entrance into Kindergarten. It is hard to believe that five years have gone by since you graced us with your sweet presence.

 

Happy Pre-Birthday Party with the cake you suggested we make.

Sierra at birth in 2017

Grandma love 

is a kiss,

a sweet smile.

It flows from

one heart to

another,

creating

one solid

foundation.

©CVarsalona-Grandma, 2022

Birthday Wishes to My Little Miss!

Love, Grandma

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Thank you, Linda Baie, for sending me the above poem from a Victorian book, Lilies of the Valley, during the Summer Poetry Swap of 2016.

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Thank you, artist, poet, and friend Michelle Kogan, for hosting the Poetry Friday Roundup this week and creating a fairy birthday card for my granddaughter, Sierra that can be seen at her lovely Etsy shop. I look forward to watching Sierra open Michelle's whimsical card.

Join me at Michelle's blog to read her poem for Dad's Day and for more poetry goodness.

Celebrating The Small Things

Celebrations are often thought of as grand occasions but this month Spiritual Journey Thursday is writing about the celebration of small things. What if I start looking at small everyday accomplishments as building blocks to something larger? As Mother Teresa says, "Be faithful in small things because in them that your strength lies."  

While healing from cataract surgery, I try to accomplish one small thing. This past week, I gardened to beautify the beds. We purchased a cascading water fountain that added an ornamental touch and a pleasant zen-like trickling sound. 

Nature calls me to slow down and go with the flow like my gardens do daily. I need to listen and just take small steps to accomplish larger goals; meditate to find peace. As Rachel Carson says, 'Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts."

I imagine my Virginia garden to be a place for rest and meditation like the one in my Long Island home. If there is a sign to be made for my garden, it should read "Nature is the art of God." (Dante Alighieri)

• 
• Tomorrow, I shall share the beauty of God's blossoms with my toddler granddaughters.
• 
  
  
  I celebrate my time with my sweet little grandgirls.

I celebrate grandma & grandpa sitting tomorrow.

I even celebrate the challenges of feeling overwhelmed

that will be erased by the girls' smiles.

There is much to do each day

but 

there must be time to celebrate the little things. 

Don't you agree?

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Thank you to Ramona Behnke, Washington poet friend, the host of Spiritual Journey Thursday for our topic. She shares a splendid photo gallery of her recent celebrations at her blog, Pleasures from the Page.

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I celebrate poetry with the host of Poetry Friday, children author Buffy Silverman. I thank her for  for her beautiful nature photography and poetry at her website link, that you can visit here.

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Poetry is the rhythmical creation of beauty in words.

-Edgar Allan Poe

I am in the midst of slowly designing my Poetryliscious Global Gallery of Artistic Expressions but you can see the recent additions from Alaska, Kashmir, Estonia, and poets from across the United States at the Poetryliscious Gallery Padlet here.

Just Tired

Have you ever been so exhausted that you nod off with your computer in your lap? This has happened to me too many times. I think back to my last cataract surgery. A bit too much anesthesia was the culprit. I continue to wonder what causes my exhaustion and all of a sudden I nod off. About thirty minutes later, I woke up too late to meet the deadline for submission to the Tuesday Slice of Life at Two Writing Teachers but I decided to write anyways since my mind was racing and it is Cataract Awareness Month.

TIRED EYES

There is never enough time to savor the fullness of life.

It (time) slips away from me as I write,

Retreating into the netherworld.

Energy-sapping motion

Depletes my tank-

Edging me closer to 

Yet another night of

Edgy

Sleep.

Now, I need to reprogram my thoughts so I can go back to sleeping and hopefully not wake up until the morning. Good night!

Thank you Two Writing Teachers and Amy Ellerman for adding the above quote tonight.

It's June!

"It was June, and the world smelled of roses. The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside.” (Maud Hart Lovelace) This quote reminds me of my childhood's summer years visiting my Nonnie. 

It was a June to remember.

Nonnie's rose gardens

filled the air with aromatic smells.

Large blooms of brilliant colors

radiated under the blazing sun

like buried golden treasures.

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Her watering can remembers my childhood.

I clutch the old can she used

trying to fix the nozzle chipped away by the years.

Watering my small garden beds brings me back.

Memories flood the earth

along with teardrops.

©CV, 2022

"What is one to say about June, the time of perfect young summer, the fulfillment of the promise of the earlier months, and with as yet no sign to remind one that its fresh young beauty will ever fade." (Gertrude Jekyll)  

June is the closing of spring and the opening of summer, a time to be realistic about what can be done and what needs attention during the rising heat. Due to the slow healing of my eyes after cataract surgery, I am still designing my Poetryliscious Gallery but you can still visit my padlet to see the artistic expressions that have been gathered. The latest insert is from my artist/poet friend, Michelle Kogan.

 look close

what will you find...susie's leaves,

milkweed sprouts, and be

©2022 Michelle Kogan

The Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted this week by author/poet, Karen Edmisten. With Yeats at her side, she takes us to the Lake Isle of Innisfree. Join me there for more poetry goodness.