Navigating Reality: Touch of Hope

Photographer: March-Olivier Jodoin at Unsplash

"Today...I open my heart's hand to allow the touch of hope.”

Julia Cameron

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I feel the sorrow of loss and grief

Wondering if flowers feel the same

While wilting in the heat?

Summer heat reminds me that

Your hand no longer gently holds mine

But there is hope waiting

Beyond my spinning dreams. 

Today under an azure sky, nature

Splendidly welcomed morning's peace.

I opened my bleeding heart to life and

Felt the warmth of nature's healing

Peeking through the slats on the shades.

I accept the invitation to indulge in life

Because where there is an open heart

Possibilities open as well!

CVarsalona, draft, 2025

I shall carry this thought throughout the day with hope for peace to settle in.

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This month, the Poetry Sisters, Tanita at{fiction, instead of lies}, Laura at Laura Purdie Salas, Tricia at The Miss Ruphius Effect, Sara at Read Write Believe, Mary Lee Hahn at Another Year of Reading, and Liz at Liz Garton Scanlon, invited  writers to write a couple of couplets and make a raccontino. I am glad they explained the format that I have never tried before. A raccontino is a form that follows these rules: composed of couplets (any number) even-numbered lines that share the same end rhyme, the title and last words of the odd-numbered lines tell a story. I must admit that I struggled with this poetic format.

Silent Disease

Would I have known

What the future planned

When my heart was full of sorrow

And there were multiple demands?

Caregiver was the title given

But I could not withstand

The extent of sorrow

Nor could I understand.

There was a trip to take,

A birthday treat that was grand

To a place of ease

A beach filled with sand,

Summering during winter's end,

Yet you could not fully stand.

Life withered over our last days

Until what was left was in God's hands.

draft ©CVarsalona, 2025

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A Special Thank You To:

Jama Rattigan for lifting my heart and helping me navigate my reality with a special gift, Healing After Loss by Martha W. Hickman. This book inspires me to write about my journey with a touch of hope that summer will open my heart to joy.

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A new poetry friend, Shirley Thacker, shared a lovely poetry swap filled with poetic goodness. She sent me her book, Wind Beneath the Pines, that provides various types of poems which she wrote. This book is special because it comes from the heart. Shirley's husband urged her to "write the stories-the tales about life" and so she did. I am thrilled that Shirley shared her love of poetry with me in such a special way. You can read more about Shirley at Jone Rush MacCulloch's blog. Click here to read Jone's Interview with Shirley. I enjoyed Shirley's poems especially Grandchildren. Her six-word  poems shared her wisdom.

Courage each

Day, walking

Life's road

©Shirley Thacker

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I have lingered a long time trying to make sense of life while piecing the raccontino poem together. I gardened outside with the sun's warmth. Hope touched me, yet I still am unsure how to navigate reality. Healing after loss is a process. I am determined to continue this journey with stride. I thank family, friends, and the poetry community for their support. 

Now I turn my attention to the Poetry Friday Roundup that is hosted this week by one of the Poetry Sisters, Tanita Davis. This week she penned two poems and provided her process. I look forward to reading the contributions of all those who are adding their poems to the Roundup but I go at a slow pace these days.

In ending, I decided to take Shirley Thacker's 6 word poem 

Courage each

Day, walking

Life's road

and write Golden Shovel as inspiration to be present in life daily.

Finding courage

is not easy on each

summer day

perhaps walking

will provide life's

journey a new road

©CVarsalona, 2025

Navigating Reality: Another Issue To Worry About

It was a day of sunshine, not rainy weather as many days have been. I drove my new car down the parkway. Cars and trucks were surrounding me as I made my way to my son's appointment. Then, the unexpected happened!

another life issue rushed by

while driving the highway on a sunshiny day

a huge piece of rubber shot up and onto my new car

there was nothing I could do during this upheaval

no truck to claim how this happened

just a warning to be ever vigilant because life is uncertain

©CVarsalona, June 2025

The rubber shot right into my car. Luckily, it did not hit my windshield and bounced off my car. I was shocked by the happening but had to remain calm. It was just one more oddity of life happening. Black marks were on the front passenger side of my car but my car salesman had the shop buff off the marks. I felt blessed that this unwarranted event did not do more physical damage and mental distress.

Life is so fragile and uncertain that every daybreak is a miracle, almost a triumph. That first blush in the sky is all the hope of the world distilled into light. I watch dark fade, and say to myself, "Okay, I'm here," and the more sunrises I see, the more I feel as if I'll live to see another twenty thousand."  - Dan Koontz, The Other Emily

I shall enjoy the sunshine today that lightens the earth. Have a Happy Summertime!

Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for offering the space that reflective writers can communicate with each other.

One Little Board Book Makes a Splashy Impression

My review on the charming new boardbook,Tractor Dance, started on a Saturday during wintertime. The weather was very cold but my little grandgirls didn't mind because they were by the fireplace ready to listen to a fabulous new children's book by the amazing writer, Matt Forrest Esenwine. 

The girls were intrigued by a colorful peek of the board book,Tractor Dance, that was found on my computer.  Mr. Matt emailed me the unpublished version of his book, in the form of a arc. This was before the official release date of Tractor Dance  and the first time the two older grandgirls (ages 5 and 7 years at that time) had seen an arc. The day was cold but no one minded. It was a special day for reading in front of a fireplace.

Sierra, my oldest grand daughter, was a fantastic reader so she read the book aloud to her middle sister, Aurora. While reading Sierra decided to pause and write down words that were new to her. I was surprised that she was interested in broadening her vocabulary in such a clever way but I remember as a young child that my teacher suggested that I become a logophile. I was pleased that this new book had a collection of words that would expand children's vocabulary. Sierra chose the following words to remember: hoedown, jig, rib, baler, promenading, backhoe, combine, drawl, and polka. My middle granddaughter, Aurora, enjoyed the read aloud. After the story was told, we left the computer open in front of the fireplace for additional reads. 

As time past and the girls visited my home, the youngest granddaughter, Lila who was almost two-years-old, became curious about the new book, Tractor Dance. Mr. Matt sent me the board book so Lila and her sisters could take took time perusing the book and enjoying the illustrations. After listening to the read aloud, Lila loved the title so much that she repeated it as she danced around the great room with the board book. 

The colorful illustrations created by Jen Taylor, and the format of the book is a gem that will engage children from pre-school to early elementary grades. My younger two grandgirls used the illustrations to pair the story line with the colorful visuals before I inquired on what they thought of this unique board book.

Girls, what makes this story by Mr. Matt interesting to you?" Sierra stated, "It was a good story about a farm tractor that enjoyed having fun late at night with his truck friends." Aurora, enjoyed listening to the story and Lila loved holding the book and turning the thick pages. I was delighted that the girls enjoyed the story as much as they did. The little grandgirls and I decided that we loved the storyline, especially the dancing parts. Since we never lived on a farm we enjoyed Tractor's evening hoedown with friends. The girls also liked listening to the rhymes in the story. Each page ofTractor Dance brought one more event of an evening dance party that lasted all night long. The moon was bright and the stars sparkling while the farm vehicles and animals spent the night dancing away until they were exhausted from party fun. 

This book is ideal for children. Perhaps, Tractor Dance, will become not only  book for a child's library but one for pre-school and early elementary classes. You may wish to ask your local librarians to purchase the book for children read alouds. This book will become a favorite for children who love to read, dance, and perhaps write a short story on what Tractor will do next.

Thank you Matt Forrest Esenwine and Jen Taylor for

offering such a fun, rhyming story book for younger children.

Let's do a "shimmy-shake " and applaud the author who wrote a charming story that children can relate to and also to the illustrator for the adorably, friendly characters who share the magic of night on the farm. Let's not forget the publisher, Susan Schadt Press, who brought this beloved book into the world of literacy bliss. Althought this book is labeled for babies to 3-year-olds you can see by the excitement my grandgirls had for the book that early elementary children will find delight also. Perhaps, the book will encourage readers to create their own story or poem about a fun summer night such as my quick write cherita poem below. 

Hoedown Boogie Magic

listen to the evening sounds

echoing through the night sky

bringing magical pleasure all around

dance along with Tractor and his farm friends

be bold, dream of a hoedown that makes you swoon

wake up to the morning light wishing for more this June

Happy Summer Reading to All!

I hope you enjoyed my little grandgirls' and my review of Tractor Dance by Matt Forrest Esenwine, illustrated by Jen Taylor.

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It's time for Poetry Friday to bring poetry goodness to all.

Thank you to my friendly photographer, author, poet, and publisher, Carol Labuzzetta, for hosting this week's Poetry Friday Roundup. She is back from her trip to Yosemite and excited about her various projects.

Tenaya Lake, Yosemite National Park. © Carol Labuzzetta, 2025

Navigating Reality in Springtime

Most people think of springtime's white, puffy clouds drifting across an azure sky, accompanied by a green vision of beauty and grace on earth. The element of light shines bright. Yet, there are many days of cooling breezes, glimpses of a darkened sky hiding behind the clouds, and puddled rain to chase away the gloomy grey. On these rainy days, I let my mind wander to springtime memories gone by.

HERALD of SPRING

looking back in time

March 30th

etched with snow-covered trees

one lone bird sings

waiting patiently for the frozen edge of winter

to join the chorus of spring

©CVarsalona, 2025, cherita

Mentor Poem, Spring by Julie Forglaro

Despite the forecast, live like it's spring! - Lilly Pulitzer

I decided that this quote would open the door for Golden Shovel poem. Even though the words are not from a poem, I decided I could make a poem from the inspirational thought.

Morning Thoughts

I am alone despite

my family being in the area. The

days of rain cause people to complain about the forecast

but not me because I know that I must live

in the here and now like

others but without you. It's

a sadness I carry around this spring.

Despite the fact that it is still spring.

The weather feels like a summer

forecast. Oh, how we loved summer

living. There were fireworks, barbecues, and enjoyment-

Like life found its relaxation mode.

It's difficult without your zest for summer but be assured

Spring will lead the way to your beach wishes, my dear.

©CVarsalona, 2025, Golden Shovel

Strike line from Lily Pulitzer's quote

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Ruth Hersey Is hosting the Poetry Friday Roundup while in the United States. Usually we see her in Uganda. Ruth's theme today is fireflies. She shares two poems on the subject that you can read on her blog, There is no such thing as a God-forsaken town.

Summering on the Spiritual Journey

The art of summering is captured in the wonder of morning light, the darkness of a starry night, and the awe-inspiring beauty of nature. Poet Wallace Stevens stated, "The summer night is like a perfection of thought." I agree! 

My love for summer dates back to my early childhood when I summered with my Nonnie. Each week was full of small excursions such as walking to the library and church, running around the multiple flower beds and vegetable gardens, and pinning laundry on a rope as the breeze flipped and flopped our wash. Each activity was an uncomplicated, valuable memory of summertime. 

As an adult, the art of summering lifts my spirits. I wander through nature, finding ordinary items to dazzle me. Even a tiny dandelion, as simple as it is, brings joy. Now that June is here, with its kingdom of beautifully selected skies, beds of colorful flowers, and my magnolia trees, I can slow down with a more mindful approach. 

Yesterday, sunlight opened the day. I felt the pangs of loss more so than before, so I decided to go on my first walk in months. I breathed in June's fragrance of fresh-cut grass and hint of lilac and lavender. I listened to the sounds of birds and the swish-swash of the water pond. I paused for a short time, just to stare at the majesty of this summer-like environment. Knowing that June is "busting out all over, I need to renew my one word commitment to enjoy life.

"It was June, and the world smelled of roses. The sunshine was like powdered gold over the grassy hillside."  - Maud Hart Lovelace 

Three reading women in a summer landscape by Johan Krouthen, 1908

So what is summering to me? It is savoring stilled golden moments (as seen above in the artwork), time to enjoy the sounds of nature and the ebb and flow of the ocean, and inhale the scent of flowers. It is also a time to relax, barbecue, and enjoy life with family and friends. 

Ecclesiastes 11: 7-8 reminds me to delight in the light of day, while acknowledging the limitations of life. (AI) On my spiritual journey, there will be stumbling and confusion but hope shall help me find a new path as summer blossoms unfold.

I wake from sleep

stumble to see the light

alone with thoughts

I feel confused

what was once is no longer

yet life moves on

seasons change

the sounds and sights

of June usher in renewal

©CVarsalona, June 2025

Thank you to book lover and writer, Ramona Behnke, for leading our Spiritual Journey community this June with the theme of Summering.

Since time is precious, I am also offering my blog post for Poetry Friday. Thank you to nature poet, author, and photographer, Buffy Silverman, for hosting today's Poetry Friday Roundup. She is reviewing two books: Flurry, Float, and Fly! by Laura Purdie Salas and Wonder Why by Lisa Varchol Perron. You will also see there are many other poets who are sharing their poetic goodness.