March Slices Create a Found Poem

Writing is a practice of the heart on a journey of self-discovery.

As William Wordsworth noted,

“Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart.” 

During this month of March, I have written alongside the Two Writing Teachers community of reflective writers, read a variety of slices of life, and responded to many slicers. I visited with friends from the past and chatted with new slicers during the 16th  Annual March SOLSC! #SOL23 Writing Challenge. 

✍

Indexing the SOLSC23! Journey

I have a quirky habit:

Very late night writing

While enjoying springtime

But I do ❤ slicing an idea like

Grandpa's birthday,

• Shangri-La: a state of mind, and
• March winds
• Going rogue
• Into the spring fog.
• You may ask, What's in vogue?
• A museum of happiness,
• Hetk, a moment in time  or
• Perhaps, a springtime pile of good things
• Where everybody counts.

Pack your bags and go

• To a slicer meet-up or
• Slicer party #SOL23.

Packing dilemma? Maybe, but

• Here are good thoughts for a wonderful Saturday.
• March slices create a found poem, and
• Pennsylvania welcomes tourists.

There are words to fall back on, such as

Internet bloops are annoying and

What Slicers Know!

While reading, enjoy a sweet treat

At It's Another Cookie Day slice.

Stay tuned=>

Beautiful change is coming

with springtime weather

and another National Poetry Month project.

©CVarsalona, 2023

• 
  
  The above index poem catalogs my past month of almost daily slices for the Two Writing Teachers 2023 Annual March Slice of Life Story Challenge. You can read any of the above titles in italics March slices found at my website, Beyond LiteracyLink.
• What's Up Next?
• Since writing is a journey of the mind and heart, I will continue to write poetry throughout April, National Poetry Month. Each creation will focus on capturing the "humanity of the moment" as stated by photographer Robert Frank. My one word for 2023 is "BE" so join me in a poetic endeavor that combines poetry and photography.
• • Two Writing Teachers Day 31 
  • 16th Annual #SOLSC! #SOL23

  • 

Beautiful Change

"Spring is a reminder of how beautiful change can truly be."

-unknown author

This Wednesday, Margaret Simon, posted a beautiful rainbow collage collection, Lake Fausse Pointe trail photo that she photographed (see below). You can also see Margaret's draft poem here. She asked those interested to write a small poem and post it on her blog, This Photo Wants to be a Photo.

I started writing #smallpoems to match Margaret's photo with the quick write below.

Photo by Margaret Simon

A Seasonal Unveiling

spring quietly flowered

rainbow colors adorned trails

winter stepped back

new arrivals made their way

©CV, 2023, quick write, small poem

Then, I decided to write etherees for this month's writing challenge from the Poetry Princesses. This ten-line form begins with a single syllable, and each line expands by one syllable until the tenth line has ten. The Poetry Princesses continued with their 2023 theme of transformation. You can find written etherees from the Poetry Sisters and others at Tanita Davis' blog site: fiction, instead of lies!}. They will also be on social media under the hashtag, #PoetrySisters.

Spring

flowered

gracing earth's

well-trodden path.

Winter sighed, stepped back, 

gently passed its baton, 

urging seasonal changes. 

Windsong breathed in freshness; exhaled

softly tossing nature's artifacts.

Spring smiled and prepared to awaken life.

©CV, 2023, etheree poem

I also wrote a modified etheree for last week's Poetry Friday & 16th Annual March #SOLSC! #SOL23 Day 23. You can access that here. I planned on refining it but I never found the time to do so.

Spring is a season of renewal and hope. May springtime 2023  open doors to new possibilities.

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It's time to join Poetry Friday Roundup. Thank you author/poet/educator, Mary Lee Hahn, for hosting Poetry Friday this week. Click here.

Logo by Linda Mitchell

Thank you Two Writing Teachers for providing a meeting place for reflective writers around the globe. I am offering this slice for Day 30 of the 16th Annual SOLSC! #SOL23 March Writing Challenge.

Slice of an Idea

Did you ever wake up and feel disoriented?  Today, a series of images rushed through my sleep. They were disturbing so my mind shifted to pleasant thoughts. All of a sudden, I felt the morning open with clarity. 

Waking up with an idea is fascinating so I opened my digital notebook and began writing. Then, I read the introduction to today's Slice of Life by Morgan Davis which linked me to first-time slicer, Schuyler Becker's blog. Morgan's question piqued my interest in mining my story and Schuyler noted "maybe it's okay to not know what I'll write or what I should write". I did not plant a seed of an idea for today's writing. It serendipitously appeared. The beauty of writing is to go with the flow, explore our surroundings, and just be present for ideas to appear.

Maybe a gray day feels gloomy, seemingly unable to find

a bright spot until I fling open the shades and stare at 

my sole weeping cherry tree. I notice several

buds dropping to the ground. Why?

A tiny bird feasts on my buds,

pecking away.

Spring's 

delight! 

©CVarsalona, 2023

My Slice of Life

Day 27 of Two Writing Teachers

16th Annual March SOLSC! #SOL23

Into the Spring Fog

I woke to 44 degrees weather, soft raindrops, and a sky of muted gray. There was silence in the neighborhood as if it was the middle of the night. As I embarked on my shopping run, I turned onto the main roads to find cars lit with headlights, window wipers swishing, and a small number of cars on the road. What struck me was the mood that was being evoked by the mixture of the rainstorm, cloudless sky, and the piping in of slow instrumental music. The name of the piece popped up on the dashboard, Still/Sound.

Wrapped in Morning Fog

on silent footsteps

it came

I drove cautiously

enjoying the scenery

waiting for spring's renewal

©CVarsalona, 2023

My Slice of Life

Day 26 of Two Writing Teachers.

16th Annual March SOLSC! #SOL23

Grandpa's Birthday

"Birthdays are special events in my family." 

The birthday person has the privilege of choosing the food and cake of the day. It is up to the family to organize the day with favorites and have a cake ready, whether it is homemade or bakery-bought. Homemade cakes were delicious specialty items for the birthday person. That tradition has lasted throughout the years as did the signing of Happy Birthday. My mother baked and designed a cake around a theme chosen by the birthday person. An at-home party with friends was also a favorite. Presents followed. I will never forget my father-in-law's tale of his childhood birthdays. "When I was a little boy, my birthday meant I could have an extra meatball for dinner." That story has been told many times to my children and now to the grandgirls. Each person has their own recollection of a childhood birthday with the family. I remember standing on a chair so I could blow out all of my candles while everyone sang Happy Birthday.

Today was my husband's birthday. He has been talking about a prime rib dinner for the last two weeks but last night, all of us decided to try an Italian restaurant, The Esposito's Fairfax, with authentic Italian recipes. Of course, this reminded me of my Nonnie's fabulous homemade pasta, huge pots of pasta sauce, and fried meatballs. 

Each person has their own recollection of a childhood birthday with the family. I remember standing on a chair so I could blow out all of my candles while everyone sang Happy Birthday. 

Birthdays are special!

As the king or queen of the day,

You choose the storyline.

As the years pass on,

Recollections of cakes, candles, and song

Build a bridge of happy memories.

©CVarsalona, 2023

Happy Birthday, Richard!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

 

Happy Birthday, Grandpa!

Best Presents from Sierra and Aurora

Happy Birthday signs, a handmade crown, and a delicious cake

On each birthday, let's remember this inspirational quote from Emily Dickinson,

"We turn older with years but newer every day."

🎂

My Slice of Life

Day 25 of Two Writing Teachers

16th Annual March SOLSC! #SOL23

Enjoying Springtime

“Let us find inner freedom in each lucky moment that we encounter, like a sun-basking butterfly that finds peace on a cherry blossom petal.”

 – Erik Pevernagie

The weeping cherry tree planted in my Virginia garden stands tall in its early stages of development. According to legend, the gift of the cherry tree brings good luck and future happiness in the days to come. I thought the beautiful little buds were going to fall down during the daylong rain but they did not so I can continue to enjoy the sight.

Thank you Two Writing Teachers for providing a meeting place for reflective writers around the globe. I am offering this slice for 24 of the 16th Annual SOLSC! #SOL23 March Writing Challenge. It is Multi-lit Friday so in honor of my international slicer friend, Terje Akke from Estonia, I ask: "Kas sa naudid kevadet?" (The translation should read, "Are you enjoying spring?")