Winter's Brushstrokes

AI states that ethereal strokes on canvas create a sense of tranquility. These brushstrokes can be used to depict landscapes. Since college, I have enjoyed photography, especially capturing the beauty of winter. Playing with different digital apps, like Graphite and Fotojet, is a current passion. I start by taking photos of a winter day. Then, I  use digital tools to create scenes that evoke different sensations. 

In a world of hectic movement and chaos, peace is a necessity. Today, I offer a slice of winter's naturework in different poetic formats.

daylight transforms

into darkened sunset shades

inked sky rests

©CVarsalona, 2025

After creating my digital artwork, I used it as a prompt for writing. I tried a variety of formats and finally settled on the cherita, a poem that conveys a story. I used a poem by Alan Wright, Australian poet, as a mentor text to weave my poem.  

in the silence of a chilled night

animals hibernate in winter's bliss

humans dream upon stars

winter transforms earth's landscape

into frozen etchings against the sky

sharing its stilled tranquility

©CVarsalona, 2025

Thank you Two Writing Teachers for providing a writing space for reflective writers from around the globe.

💙

Special Invitation to Slicers: 

Love is a canvas furnished by nature and embroidered by imagination. -Voltaire

I am hosting Poetry Friday on February 7th at my Beyond LiteracyLink blog.  I will create a heartnote, valentine, poem, digital artwork, etc. and a padlet, titled Heartnotes for all interested writers to add their work. Join me on February 7th as I honor Valentine's Day, a love-note to the rest of the year. (Jo Lightfoot)  I look forward to seeing the variety of imaginative thoughts and artwork.

Poetry Friday Wishes

For the past weeks, I have been wishing upon a star to make my dreams and my family's dreams come true. If you have not read my January blog posts you would not be familiar with my wishes that did come true so let me quickly summarize them. January was filled with the wish to switch from a rushed pace to a relaxed one. With that in mind, my dreams cascaded into thoughts of a magical land, hence a cascade poem evolved filled with wishes. A three-generation family vacation was planned by my daughter to the magical kingdom of Disney World with a cruise to the Bahamas on the new Disney Wish that followed.  Finally settled, the family shouted out their biggest argh as official pirate mateys who traveled the seas. A stand-alone wish to have a family vacation without my husband, son, and me getting COVID was granted but as fates would have it, the sirens of the Caribbean left their mark. I sit here covered in a red rash taking strong meds to bring my immune system back to normal, another wish that will be granted. The end is a tale as old of time for several trips in years that have past had medical issues surrounding them. From hurried to relaxed, I indulge in some quiet moments, With focused feelings and postcard imagery (a line from poet Alan Wright's poem) writing and recalling our fabulous trip to Disney. 

With focused feelings and postcard imagery

Wish You Were Here  by Alan Wright

magical touring

dipped in fairytale wonder

sparkles in a sea of amusement-

with focused feelings

and postcard imagery

I float in a pool of serenity

soaking in childhood delights

©CVarsalona, 2023

When you wish upon a star, your dreams come true!  

wishes are wisps of a dream come true

that

float

across

stars

that

transform

into

actions

that

come true-wishes are wisps of a dream

©CVarsalona, 2023

My thoughts float backward to a sandy beige beach with turquoise waters. A balloon filled with poetic essence transports me into a blissful state.

one word digital art concrete poem shared at my keynote presentation on Zoom last night

Click here to see the original concrete poem.

With gratitude for all the sweet memories of a family vacation, I bid you a bibbidi-boppity-boo wish for a magical day filled with color.

Please join me to celebrate the Poetry Friday Roundup with our host, Laura Shovan. Laura is showcasing Laura Purdie Salas' new nonfiction picture book, Finding Family: The Duckling Raised by Loons. 

I'm off to read all the poetic goodness provided by the Poetry Friday writers 

and then, join Laura Shovan's 11th Annual February Poetry Project.