Move Darkness into Light

The solstice came with light instead of darkness. For me, it shifted time and perspective in a positive way. As more light slowly continued a sense of momentary peace arrived. I accepted the invitation to slow down, release some stress, and hope that my 2025 one word, renew, would move beyond darkness.

Moving Darkness into Light

shadows stream

splitting serenity until

the solstice arrives

winter shadows slew away

as light awakens

peace evolves

if only for a moment

©cvarsalona, 2025

I am still debating which one word to choose for 2026 since 2025 brought many deep bumps on my daily travels. Yet, I managed to move forward and will continue to do so.

Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for the meeting place that leads writers to reflect and share thoughts.

Energetic Enthusiasm

It was a get-up-and-go trip, full of energy and enthusiasm despite the addition of a stabilizing boot and a walker. My destination was the 2025 NCTE Convention in Denver, and I was ready to learn, listen, meet up with literary friends, and make new friends.

I was fortunate to have a helpful poet friend, Heidi Mordhorst, who flew with me after our delicious breakfast at the Capital One Lounge at Dulles Airport.  As we entered the hotel area, we saw a 40-foot-tall sculpture of a blue bear looking into the Denver Convention Center. The creator, Lawrence Argent, designed this iconic treasure to "inject a welcome sense of fun and playfulness into the convention center experience." 

After settling in at the hotel, I carefully walked across the street to register for the convention. While resting and reading about the many fascinating presentations, another poetry friend, Margaret Simon, walked by. The last time I saw her was at the 2019 Conference, so there was much happiness shared. Off we went to the Elementary Session, where Mary Lee Hahn, third poet friend, was waiting with Heidi. There were so many more literacy friends that I was happy to see. 

Day two started with a morning breakfast with Two Writing Teachers' friends that I have also not see since the 2019 convention. Melanie Meehan, co-author of Two Writing Teachers organized the event that had us all chatting with one another before the General Assembly. 

After a long day of listening and learning, Irene Latham and Matt  Forrest Esenwine invited friends to the Poetry Peeps gathering that was a wonderful way to end a long day filled with energy and enthusiasm.

Saturday was the day for my team's presentation. I was honored to present with my distinguished colleagues, Matt Forrest Essenwine, Georgia Heard, and Allan Wolf on the topic, Free Your Students (And Yourself) With Free Verse. 

The last day of the convention, I packed my bag with wonderful, new children books for my little grandgirls, listened to more presentations, and flew home. I was tired but happy that I was able to navigate the convention center with my stabilizing boot and my walker. 

It is always a great experience to attend a NCTE Conference where I listen to engaging presentations, learn new ideas and techniques, meet up with literary friends, and make new ones. 

INVITATION

Would You Like to Play with Free Verse

Using a Well-known Poem, Stopping By Woods On a Snowy Evening?

Matt Forrest Esenwine originated the idea of taking Frost's poem and writing our own poem in free verse. You can read Matt's, Georgia's, and Allan's well-written poems at here at Matt's blog.. My poem below is in draft form because I wanted to show how ideas flow when in the writing zone. I mentioned in my part of the presentation that I would like to revise and refine my poem but that will be for another blog. If you are interested in playing along with us, send me your poem and I will showcase it in a future blog post.  

  

Hosted by the artistic Michelle Kogan

who sends us a calming, peaceful blog post

after more horrible news has been reported this week.

Peace to All during the Holiday Season!

Silence's Sacred Space

blazing artwork

silently layers the sky

nature's gift of gold

©CVarsalona, 2025

For this month's Spiritual Journey Thursday, our creative poet, artist, librarian host, Jone Rush MacCulloch, offers a quote from Thomas Merton, "The world of men has forgotten the joys of silence, the peace of solitude, which is necessary to some extent, for the fullness of human living!". Following that, Jone poses a question, "What are you doing to promote periods of silence each day?" 

The world is saturated with chatter that encourages loud noise regarding political, environmental, financial, family concerns, etc. I sometimes feel overwhelmed by the news and humanity's lack of kindness across the world. Often, I slip and stumble when grief sweeps over me. Internal noises lead to sadness. Yet, I know that "For God alone my soul waits in silence" (Psalm 62.1) Nature brings the essence of love from the Creator. With thanks, I lean into the beauty of the land, the flight of birds, and glorious garden grounds wondering if is this enough for me to remain present in still moments pondering what life will bring on my spiritual journey. Some days seem dark. Restlessness sets in and shuts out stillness. I reach out to nature to nurture my soul so I can find silence's the sacred space where I can contemplate in peace. 

I sit here now listening to the sounds of silence, feeling the rise of breath and the exhale of what does not belong. This sacred space refreshes me and lets me contemplate about reaching the fullness of human living. I realize that I need to embrace silence more and revere it as a sacred space for inner growth.

In the book, "Healing After Loss, daily meditations for working through grief" by Martha W. Hickman, December 4ths' meditation speaks of silence. The ending thought brought clarity. "In the flurry of the next couple of weeks, I will try to spend a few moments each day in prayerful silence-my own particular stay against the emotional and physical tumult of these days." I thank Jama Rattigan  for sending me this book that helps me slowly move beyond loss and friends that have walked this journey before me. 

My Closing Thought on Silent Meditation: 

• I will continue to write and provide time to ponder on how to remain calm in the midst of disquiet. 
• I will quietly await for peace to settle in my soul.

 

The image above is a magical scene I

photographed before we moved to Virginia. 

It has an ethereal quality reminding me.

Thank you Jone, for the creative, amazing Holiday Poem Swap she sent me. Thanks to Tabatha Yeatts for organizing the Holiday Poem Swap.

More will be shared in the future.

☁☁☁☁☁☁☁☁☁☁☁☁☁☁☁

I am also offering this blog post for the Poetry Friday Roundup hosted by a talented poet, author, and cellist, Irene Latham.  You can find Irene's blog at Live Your Poem where she is sharing information on her Open Call submission, a Barbara Crooker poem, and offers her new poem, "ArtSpeak Picasso.

autumn leaves

flitter-flutter in silence

winter's coming

©CVarsalona, 2025

A Bump in the Road

There have been many bumps in the road as I journey, but I always try to move forward. After twisting my ankle In October, I tried the usual remedies, ice packs, and elevation but they did not work. A few days later, an xray showed a fractured ankle. While this  bump in the road made me antsy for days, I decided that I needed to bring nature inside. 

The healing time may have been and still is a bump in the road but with friends and family it became a time to move forward. Nature nurtures my soul during it's annual autumn fashion show. 

🍁🍃🍂

bumpy rides are annoying

and at times soul destroying

 so to the countryside we go

spotting trees with color flow

nature eases antsy stresses

that life sometimes addresses

listen to fall's quiet voice

strike the cord and rejoice

Being in the moment is the positive choice!

©CVarsalona, 2025 

🍁🍃🍂

A month later, I visited my foot specialist doctor once again. I waited with bated breath. Would she approve my travel to Denver for the NCTE Convention? After spending Zoom time preparing a presentation on free verse with my talented poet/authors, Matt Forrest Esenwine, Georgia Heard, and Allan Wolf, I was eager to take the trip. After all, the last time I saw my writer, poetry, and and literary friends was at the 2019 NCTE Convention in Baltimore. 

With an ankle that was still in the early healing stage, I was more than happy to wear the stabilizing boot, walking with a walker, and using a wheelchair in the airport. So off I went to Denver hoping  for four days of learning and enjoyment.  Both were found but that's another Slice of Life.

🍁🍃🍂

A poem from the past that brings peace to me:

🍁🍃🍂

Thank You To:

• Melanie Meehan for organizing a breakfast get-together for Two Writing Teachers' friends at  the NCTE Convention. 
• Matt Forrest Esenwine  and Irene Latham for their open invitation to the  Poetry Peeps evening event at  the NCTE Convention.

🍁🍃🍂 

I now join Two Writing Teachers on their special day, Giving Tuesday. "Every year, on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, this organization leads a movement encouraging others to give. This could be giving your time, creativity, care, or any act of generosity you can share with others."

I give you my Slice of Life with inspiration from the season of autumn in Virginia, and nature photography turned into digital art image poems.