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.
🩷
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
Beautiful post, full of heart, Carol. Yes, perhaps walking will provide a new road. I'm glad nature, poetry, and poetry friends will accompany you as you heal and feel the touch of hope.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tabatha, for the heartfelt comment. Healing is a long process but so necessary.
DeleteI gain strength from the way you share your journey. I can feel the grief and your words don't protect me from it--but there is such hope too. Thank you. This season of life that I'm in, I can see a horizon in which dear ones to me will be gone. I'm trying to spend my time being present with these special people. It's not easy for me. I've spent a lot of time in my own world doing my own thing--but I know that I will be happy someday that I've spent this time with these loved ones. Sending you thanks and strength.
ReplyDeleteLinda, I thank you for reading and commenting on my blog post. The grief is real but I am tryingt to work through the sorrow and loneliness. It is difficult to lose your dear one (s). I have seen dear friends passing away at different ages so that is why I say life is fragile and uncertain. It is also important to be near those who are or have been in our lives. Be of good cheer because love matters and life is a series of stilled moments.
DeleteSo much loveliness, Carol. Thank you for sharing YOUR time today to talk about where you are, and how you're navigating this new road you're walking. That six word poem is written on the back of my hand for today.
ReplyDeleteI have to tell you we *ALL* struggled with this form!! The Raccontino only LOOKS simple. I wrote one when I woke up at an odd hour this morning, and it's my FOURTH try, and it's just now getting better. I like your poem as is, without adhering to form because it says what it needs to say.
- and that was from me, ♥tanita
DeleteTanita, thanks for joining me here. I appreciate your comment. It is helpful to hear what others think. I am interested in trying another raccontino when I have the time. Thanks to the Poetry Sisters for a new challenge each month.
DeleteCarol, your courage and deep reflections inspire me. I pray that you are finding peace. Your opening lines: "I feel the sorrow of loss and grief/Wondering if flowers feel the same/While wilting in the heat?" are so full of raw emotion. Thank you for sharing your heart and for your writing through grief. xoxo
ReplyDeletePatricia, you comments are so kind. Thank you for stopping by and offering a genuine comment. Responses from Poetry Friday friends are comforting. I read your blog post several times and sent a comment but it is not visible. I will take a look again tomorrow morning.
DeleteYour post and poetry possess a raw honesty, Carol. When we write close to the heart our words carry with them greater insights. We have felt the words as well as written them and it shines through. When we write in this way, we place so much trust in the reader. We are writing bravely and such efforts are deserving of acknowledgement. You are there in this post.
ReplyDeleteThere’s so much hope in your post Carol, I feel bits of light pouring in through your poems. I’m touched personally by your first poem as I think I mentioned my dad was also taken by this silent disease. Hope the summer and nature continue to comfort you, xox.
ReplyDeleteMichell, bits of light offer hope so thank you for comment. Unfortunately, the silent disease comes when least expected at a time when it is too late. I look forward to summering with the family in late July-early August. It will be our time at the beach to remember my husband. I am intent on letting the ocean waves smooth future paths.
DeleteHere's a quote from John Green's newsletter this week: "Hope is always justified, even if it isn't always rewarded." Keep moving forward, keep being hopeful, keep writing. You've got this!
ReplyDeleteMary Lee, I love the inspiration you provided. Thank you. PS: The html doc for the July-December calendar worked beautifully.
DeleteCarol, it's such an act of faith and courage to open your heart to hope in the midst of such incredible, ongoing grief. It reminds me of a quote from Charles Peguy's The Portal of the Mystery of Hope: "The faith that I love the best, says God, is hope." xo
ReplyDelete