Secrets Untold Unfold

On Day 9 of Laura Shovan's February Daily Poetry Project, the prompt led me to remember a secret that was untold until I was in grad school. Rachel Patton Toalson chose the theme. secrets stating "I've been thinking lately about how no matter how long you've known a person, there are still aspects of their lives that remain mysterious." I share with you a special story in my life that unfolded when I was a fledging adult.

Secrets Untold Unfold

3rd grade lesson

where are you from

didn’t know so

I asked at home

she did not tell

secret held close

others Irish

family French???

years later, secret

untold opened

mom rode boat to

America

from Italy

a little child

with her mother

father waiting

one family

together grew

American

lifestyle with friends

Italian 

speaking with grand

until age five

moving onward

during grad school

swirling with pride

tale unfolded

told with honor

dressed like old world

childhood stories

pizza fritta

joy provided

where am I from

nonnie and mom 

Rome New York- first

generation

©Carol Varsalona, 2026

Legacy from Nonnie

At a very young age, I learned how to bake in Nonnie's kitchen.

🍪🍪🍪

So you may have realized the secret. Now, I will tell you why there was a secret for so long. My Nonnie believed that her children should be Americanized once she arrived in America, around 1921. Since I was the oldest grandchild born in the United States, I needed to act like an American. That meant speaking English and graduating from college. Life was different in the 20th Century. I did not know that I was a first-generation child of Italian descent until I was an adult. Where are you from?

🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪

Join me as I share my Slice of Life with my Two Writing Teachers from across the globe. Click here.

🍪🍪🍪🍪🍪

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.

September Waves Goodbye

"Ah, September! You are the doorway to the season that awakens my soul." - Peggy Toney Horton

Today marks the last day of September, the month that says good bye to summer and announces the beginning of autumn. In order to honor the season of fall, the two older grandgirls helped me make a delicious apple pie with a variety of orchard-picked apples. My Nonnie would be proud to have her great-grandgirls learning to bake and carrying on her baking tradition. 

🍂🍁🍂

September, you know the warmth of summer

and the glimmer of early fall

when a cool breeze ushers in autumn

.

I cherish your days of autumn

mourn your short time with summer

and honor you as you let go to fall into fall

your timing transitions a green-colored summer

that melds with the beauty of early fall

celebrating the jewels of autumn

farewell summer-like September, as you fall into October's colorful autumn

©CVarsalona, 2025, tritina poem

🍂🍁🍂

My first tritina poem is here.

🍂🍁🍂

As we say goodbye to September, I invite all writers to join me as I create a Mini-Gallery of Artistic Expressions on Summering.

Summering is a state of mind that brings feelings of joy and relaxation. It revolves around the best of summertime and the ability to savor those feelings all year-round. 

I invite poets, writers, photographers, and educators to consider using the prompt to create an image poem, inspirational quote, or a photographn: How do you engage in summering during the summer season? Do you have a special photo, piece of artwork and/or poem to add to the Summering Mini-Gallery that I will create?

Thank you to Mary Lee Hahn, Janet Claire Fagal, and Linda Mitchell for participating with their image poems on summering. You can send your offerings to cvarsalona@gmail.com by mid-October. I  will gather the artistic expressions, create a mini-gallery, and share it on my blog and on social media. 

🍂🍁🍂

This is my Slice of Life for Two Writing Teachers, where it's time to write, share, give.

Pick a Peck of Apples

Picking apples at the Stribling Orchard in Northern Virginia is an Autumn tradition even when the sky is overcast and the rain drizzles down. As my son and I pulled up to the orchard's entrance, we saw my daughter, son-in-law, and three little grandgirls waiting patiently. 

Every one was eager to start apple picking. With map in hand, my daughter plotted a plan to visit various parts of the orchards. I paused to think of the history of this family-run orchard that began in 1819. For the first time I realized what a distinctive blend of history and fertile farm land had been cultivated to create an ideal apple orchard and grazing fields for raising cattle.

We began the apple picking event with the family. I watched Sierra and Aurora who are now tall enough to get a picking pole pulling down the best apples in each orchard. This year the different varieties of apples were beautiful in appearance. I was happy to join my grandgirls pick the fruit that will turn into apples pies and cookies. Perhaps, I might even have some little helpers bake with me.

I think the delight of the day was watching Little Lila enjoying running through the orchards with tiny apples in her hands. Toward the end of the adventure, we needed to taste some of our treasures and eat a delicious lunch despite the rain that started to dribble from the sky. When the rain started to fall harder, we left with bags of Kettle Corn and smiles. 

Our apple picking adventure brought back wonderful memories of past trips with Grandpa. 

we pick a peck of apples

in a picturesque part

of the Virginia countryside

picking sticks help the girls stretch

to pick the finest apples in the orchard

we cherish our pre-fall family time

©CVarsalona, 2025, cherita poem

This is my slice of life for this week's Two Writing Teachers.

Cherish the Now!

As I read through other writers' posts, I often choose a line or two that makes me pause. Cherish each fleeting now was written by slicer/poet, Molly Hogan. Her thought made me connect to the past and back to the present. If only I knew that my husband's time would be unexpectedly shortened, I might have cherished ordinary days with more intent. The if-onlys in my life still pop-up but I know that I cannot rewrite our history. What I need to learn is how to stop obsessing on what I can't keep up with. I also need to put my energy into what I can do in small amounts each day. I found the following poem by Wendell Berry several times during last week. It made me take a mindful pause. 

Peace of Wild Things

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

The above poem allows me "For a time, to rest in the grace of the world". With this thought, I decided to create a Golden Shovel poem from my heart to my husband's resting place.

The family journeyed along the coast for

nine days ready to celebrate a  

life no longer existing in real time.

My husband  journeyed also. I

honored his love and felt his spirit rest.

The sun opened our hearts in 

layers of clouds and the 

blessings of God's grace 

recycled in a pool of 

ocean waves surrounding the

memories of our world.

I shall cherish each fleeting now!

draft 2025 @CVarsalona

This is my Slice of My Life that will be placed at Two Writing Teachers, 

a meeting place for a world of reflective writers.

Celebrating, Not Mourning, Life

At the end of our nine days of celebrating my husband's life I found peace in the gentle waters of sunset. Golden layers of sky surroundied the harbor.  It was time to pause and gaze at nature's reflections and remember past layered memories.

summer sweltered

gentle waters shared stillness

sunset celebrated

sunset spoke

of life's celebration

stilled waters agreed

©CV, August 2025 

One of my writing friends, Bob Hamera (aka arjeha), offered a quieting thought to me. "Life should be celebrated not mourned."  I brought that quote on my family's trips to various ocean spots. I step back now thinking that it was peaceful to shift my focus from mourning the loss of my husband to honoring  the life lived and the impact it had on others. The celebration of life ceremonies during the nine days offered comfort and remembrance in a special way.

Thank you to Ralph Waldo Emerson for his beautiful quote:

"Every sunset brings the promise of a new dawn."

Now that I am home in Virginia, I shall remember to walk forward in peace.

nature's stilled waters

offers solace

My Slice of Life 

for Two Writing Teachers

A meeting place for a world of reflective writers.

Photos Turn to Poems

Sunshine peeks through my windows. Today's a writing day under the sun. I open my digital journal and consider the writing prompt provided by Jenna Korman from Two Writing Teachers: "What in your life is writable about today? Summertime surrounded bu beautiful gardens, layered sunrises, and tranquil sunsets always sets the mood for a dazzling day despite the heat.

I take out the drafts of poems suited to pair with the beautiful pictures shared by Margaret Simon, the host of This Photo Wants to be a Poem. Below you will find how lovely the summertime nature photos address the writing prompt provided by Jenna Korman.

Nature is filled with beauty that opens the sky each day.

morning sunshine winks

layered darkness sits above

unpredicable

summer weather dilemma

nature plays in the background

CVarsalona, June 2025 draft tanka

Photo by Margaret Simon

water

silently still

welcomes whispering wind

breezing by the daisies

awakening

CVarsalona, June 2025 draft elfchen

Photo by Molly Hogan

Why Write About Navigating Reality?

The amazing poet, professor Kaveh Akbar stated: "Writing is how I make sense of the world". There is so much to be concered about these days. Politics, environment, illness, and loss are daily concerns on the news. Beyond those heavy topics, I ponder navigating my reality. 

Some days the rain takes me to a place of sorrow and loss so I wait for  glorious streams of sunshine to flood the sky. The sun is my benefactor. It starts my day with summer beauty and streams peaceful vibes. But I am not the only one that feels this way. See the short video, "Good Question: Why does the sun make us happy?" 

Today, I shall open my eyes to the beauty of the sky and let positive thoughts filter through (even though thunderous rainstorms came through all day). I send out my letter to heaven above with continued hope that the summer season renews my spirit.

draft of an envelope poem

Writing helps me make sense of the world and my reality.I am submitting this blog post to Two Writing Teachers for the Tuesday Slice of Life. Thank You Two Writing Teachers for offering space for reflective writers ro communicate with each other.

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.

Kidlit Progressive Poem Continues

With delight, Spring enters during National Poetry Month as does the Kidlit Progressive Poem. Poet author, Irene Latham, created the traveling poem from 2012-2019. In 2020, teacher poet, Margaret Simon, began organizing the poem. Each year, thirty poets join together to pen a poem for children. This year, their imagination captures the essence of springtime. Their craft opens the door to a garden of of painted beauty. Each day someone new adds their line to the poem. Step back, breathe in the fragrance of a spring garden, and enjoy the half mark that comprises 2025's Kidlit Progressive Poem.

Open an April window

let sunlight paint the air

stippling every dogwood

dappling daffodils with flair

Race to the garden

where woodpeckers drum

as hummingbirds thrum

in the blossoming Sweetgum

Sing as you set up the easels

dabble in the paints

echo the colors of lilac and phlox

commune without constraints

Breathe deeply the gifts of lilacs

rejoice in earth's sweet offerings

feel renewed-give thanks at day's end

Touched by the majesty of springtime I I tried many different ways to continue the poem in a meaningful way. Then, near the end of day my one little word, renew, guided me forward. The image at the end of my line 15 is a photograph of my beautiful front tree that was digitized. 

I pass the poem on to the talented children's poet and author, Amy Ludwig VanDerwater. I look forward to reading how she will close the stanza and what other poetic lines will continue the second half of the Kidlit Progressive Poem. 

Thank you to the following poets for being part of the 2025 Kidlit Progressive Poem during the 2025 National Poetry Month.

• April 1 Linda Mitchell at A Word Edgewise

• April 2 Tricia Stohr-Hunt at The Miss Rumphius Effect

• April 3 Robyn Hood Black at Life on the Deckle Edge

• April 4 Donna Smith at Mainely Write

• April 5 Denise Krebs at Dare to Care

• April 6 Buffy Silverman 

• April 7 Jone Rush MacCulloch

• April 8 Janice Scully at Salt City Verse

• April 9 Tabatha Yeatts at The Opposite of Indifference 

• April 10 Marcie Flinchum Atkins

• April 11 Rose Capelli at Imagine the Possibilities 

• April 12 Fran Haley at Lit Bits and Pieces

• April 13 Cathy Stenquist

• April 14 Janet Fagel at Mainely Write

• April 15 Carol Varsalona at Beyond LiteracyLink

• April 16 Amy Ludwig VanDerwater at The Poem Farm

• April 17 Kim Johnson at Common Threads

• April 18 Margaret at Reflections on the Teche

• April 19 Ramona at Pleasures from the Page

• April 20 Mary Lee at A(nother) Year of Reading

• April 21 Tanita Davis 

• April 22 Patricia Franz

• April 23 Ruth at There’s no such thing as a Godforsaken town

• April 24 Linda Kulp Trout 

• April 25 Heidi Mordhorst at My Juicy Little Universe

• April 26 Michelle Kogan 

• April 27 Linda Baie at Teacher Dance

• April 28 Pamela Ross at Words in Flight

• April 29 Diane Davis at Starting Again in Poetry

• April 30 April Halprin Wayland at Teaching Authors

I am also submitting this blog post to Two Writing Teachers for the Tuesday Slice of Life.

I add the 2025 Kidlit Progress Poem to my 2025 National Poetry Month Project.