Sea Scattering Remembrance

"To the waters and the wild-I leave you not in sorrow, but in love." 

Sea Scattering Remembrance

on a sunkissed day of memories

tiny feet mark morning sand

seawater sparkles in sunshine

little grandgirls quietly wait  

tiny feet mark morning sand

a tranquil ceremony begins

little grandgirls quietly wait 

gentle waters offer solace

a tranquil ceremony begins

seasparkles illuminate the ocean

gentle waters offer solace

our heavy hearts sigh

seasparkles illuminate the ocean

peaceful waters move closer to shore

our heavy hearts sigh

tiny hands watch and wait

peaceful waters move closer to shore

grandgirls tiptoe forward

tiny hands wait their turn

on this sea scattering morning

grandgirls tiptoe toward the tide

light sweeps across the ocean

on this sea scattering morning

we honor Grandpa's endearing love

light sweeps across the ocean

in tribute to what was

we honor Grandpa's endearing love

his story remains in our hearts

©CVarsalona, Summer 2026

"Let the gentle rocking of the ocean carry you away. You are loved, you are cherished, you are deeply missed."

Note: The above quote and the opening one are signed anonymously. AI states that the first quote "adapts phrasing from W. B. Yeats' poem, "The Stolen Child".

The Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted by Tanita S. Davis, who is enjoying the excitement of new publications and a reminder that the Poetry Sisters will open the door to a new challenge for next week. Click here to read her blog and many others in today's Poetry Friday. 

Celebrating Earth Day 2024

With ups and downs in weather, Spring, the season of rebirth, broke out afresh after being quiescent throughout the winter months. Nature welcomed spring rains that brought verdant landscapes and blossoming flowers. Even the calendar has celebrated springtime each year on April 22nd. Since 1970, billions of people across the globe have celebrated Earth Day, an annual event to support the cause of environmental protection. 

This year's Earth Day theme is "Planet vs. Plastics". It is a theme that has been wrestled with for years. According to earthday.org, the goal this year is "to reduce the production of plastics by 60% in 2040 and ultimately build a plastic-free future". Our children deserve a better world and so does our planet. As residents of the earth, we are its stewards. This year's initiative strives to rid the earth of plastics "for the sake of human and planetary health." Many educators have created lessons and events to honor the earth by bringing the message of stewardship to their students. The artwork below is the 2024 NASA Earth Day poster that can be visible in classrooms.  "It is composed with real satellite imagery from NASA's Terra, Aqua, and Landsat missions." 

In 2019, a 32-foot, 2500-pound hand-crafted metal sculpture was installed at Jones Beach on Long Island, NY. Jonesy the Whale has its own Twitter (X) account. I remember when it was first installed. Recycled plastic bottles were stuffed inside to remind us of our civic duty to protect our world.

You can see the YouTube video, The Story of Jonesy the Humpback Whale Jones Beach, Long Island here.

Stewardship

springtime spills over in abundance - we are stewards of the earth

observe the verdant landscape and smell fragrant buds blossoming

pause, breathe in winds of change needed for future generations 

©CVarsalona, 2024, sijo poem

Slice of Life Thought for the Day After Earth Day:

"Plastic pollution-free world is not a choice but a commitment to life - a commitment to the next generation. - Amit Ray

INVITATION

Please consider offering one image poem, photography, or inspirational quote on springtime or Earth Day for my

Padlet and later Gallery of Artistic Expressions.

Students' work is welcomed.

Three more image poems by Tricia Stohr-Hunt, Linda Baie, and Bridget Magee have been added. 

Thank you Two Writing Teachers for the space to add my slice of life.

Summer's End Note

When day ends and hope survives do you long for peace, the quiet of a summer's night, or the fresh breath of sea salt skies?   If so, join me on a virtual evening stroll of a historic Long Island site, Jones Beach. 

 

It was the end of a Long Island, August dog-day when the family decided to take a walk on one of Long Island's beaches.  We were longing for the calm of the night sky along the ocean since we're moving to a beautiful new build in Virginia soon.  Saying goodby to summer is always a bittersweet event but now more so than ever.  Luckily, the weather obliged and a ride to the historic Jones Beach boardwalk afforded us the opportunity to take a peaceful evening stroll.  Upon entering the parking lot, we noted the new normal rules of parking (cones marking spaces one car away from each other) and joined masked beachgoers in an exodus-style line of walkers. As we strolled, the sky opened wide with changing colors from muted, hazy ones to glowing, vibrant sun streaks of reddish-orange.  There was the low hum of beach family conversation and activity from zip liners in the massive new structure facing the beach.  It was a night to remember so a digitally-created memory was a must.

chasing serenity

eventide at the beach

sea, sand, and sky intersect

©CV, 2020

It's Slice of Life Tuesday so I will share my virtual walk

with the Two Writing Teachers community of writers.

Note:

With summer around the globe estranged in many ways due to COVID-19, I am gathering a collection of image poems for my #EmbraceableSummer Gallery Collection.  If so inclined, join in the fun of creating image poems on the topic, Summer 2020 in the Midst of Quarantine Life. I am hosting Poetry Friday at my blog on September 4, 2020 where I will share creative work to showcase the beauty of summer even during trying times.   

Finding Inspiration

When the day calls for sun-drenched inspiration my family and I pack up for a quick jaunt to the Long Island shoreline. The usual accoutrements travel with us: a book, newspapers, suntan lotion, refreshments, chairs, and a patchwork blanket. The walk down to Jones Beach is a short one on a stretch of blue netting carefully placed on top of the sand for sure footing. People-gazing down the walkway is a must as is the search for the best spot to relax for the brief stay.

All sorts of folks frequent Jones Beach that has been a favorite haunt of beachgoers for decades. Families line the beachfront with their colored umbrellas and sand equipment. Children frolic in the waves and dig trenches in the sand. The seagulls often swoosh down along the shore so people carefully hide their food. The shrieking birds balk at the unpleasant behavior of humans and continue their search without haste. 

An afternoon at the beach can be filled with wonder.  Some daring folk plop chairs at the shoreline watching for the waves to rush in. Sea-shelled walks and children squealing with delight add to enjoyment of a few hours spent in pure relaxation. Reading, walking, ocean dipping, and people gazing are all part of shoreline delight when at the beach. My iPhone captures it all. 

There has been no shortage of inspiration this summer. Here are a few digitalized inspirations that I created after my afternoon at the beach. I started with a salt water splashing and transformed the sea foam into digitalized inspirations.

How do you find wonder on sun-drenched days?

Please visit the Two Writing Teachers for the Tuesday Slice of Life. 

Below is a wonderful thought that was posted for this week's #SOL15

Beaching

To those who love a summer day, the south shore Long Island beaches that I frequent are special places of beauty. While there are many on Long Island, Jones Beach State Park has been renowned as a getaway destination since it opened in 1929. Designed by Robert Moses it became the mecca for summer beach going on Long Island for the middle class. 

www.jonesbeach.org

While I never grew up in this area I often heard of the beauty of the 6.5 miles of white sand beaches that stretched along the Atlantic Ocean. Seeing is believing though. As a young bride, I moved to Long Beach from central New York to my husband's once bachelor apartment at the shore. Most of my family's growing up years were spent at Long Beach and Malibu Beach but recently we have frequented Jones Beach to savor summer moments.

This summer, the beach has been the backdrop for many relaxing moments. Each day that I travel to the beach I am rewarded. Light from the sky intersects the ocean reflecting like jewels across the sea. Frothy waves surge and splash on their way to shore causing children to laugh with glee. Bathers tiptoe to the ocean for their first wave or body jump in depending on how brave they are. Tents are pitched, umbrellas poised as shelters from the sun's rays, and beach blankets of bright hues line the shore. For those who love the ocean, beaching is a favorite pastime on Long Island. 

Ode to the Sea
Pablo Neruda

HERE
Surrounding the island
There's sea.
But what sea?
It's always overflowing.
Says yes,
Then no,
Then no again,
And no,
Says yes
In blue
In sea spray
Raging.
Says no
And no again.
It can't be still.
It stammers
My name is sea.

Read the rest of the poem here.

For your pleasure you can listen to Beyond the Sea as you view stunning photos of the beach.

I am in the process of collecting combined poetry and photograph offerings 

for the global gallery of artistic expressions, Summer Splashings,

that I am creating. You can access the information here.

Now travel to Tabatha Yeatts' site at The Opposite of Indifference for the Poetry Friday Round-up. Tabatha kicks off today's Poetry Friday with a humorous true-story poem.  

Celebrating Life on Long Island

Children Frolicking at Jones Beach, Long Island, NY
August 5, 2014

This is the 2nd week that I have participated in Ruth Ayres' Celebrate This Week. I would like to thank Ruth for focusing on reasons to celebrate life before I begin to write. 

Sunshine cast a warm glow over Long Island this week, making spirits soar as July turned into August. Meteorologists cheerfully broadcasted the unusual weather pattern. Temperatures in the low 80s were reported, not the usual dog day heat of past years. Beaches were packed with frolicking children and adults were either surfing, bathing, or relaxing in the sun. Lifeguards' were on careful watch as high tides with rough undercurrents swept in and bounced shorefront beachgoers off their blankets and chairs. But this did not seem to stop swimmers from jumping in the ocean as the waves came close to shore. 

Back in my neighborhood, streets were filled with people interested in celebrating the good weather. Walkers had a sprint to their stride; bicycle riders traveled in pairs; children shouted as they played ball. Even the dogs were barking to a beat and one of the best spectacles of the week was a free parkway for traveling~clearly something to celebrate on Long Island. 

During this past week, I found myself pursuing activities that celebrated family, friends, and life. Now that the week draws to a close, I think of these summer days as gifts to be remembered - heartfelt memories that will flow in and out of my mind similar to the movement of high tide that I witnessed at the shore.  

Celebrate August as an:

Awesome summer month that

Ultimately, is the last hurrah of summer with

Grand summer memories locked in hearts as it

Ushers in back-to-school times and

Sharpens our awareness of fall

That makes us want to spend more summer days thankfully building memories.

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DigiLit Sunday

After learning of the tool Tapestry from Margaret Simon, I decided to try to create a digital poem. My product is a modest attempt and will be posted to Margaret Simon's DigLit site where other posts about digital literacy will be collected. 

The link to this slideshow is https://readtapestry.com/s/pl9zk2oE9/

Just tap and see 3 slides.

*************

Since I thought I lost my first slideshow, I tried a 2nd one but I still need to practice to perfect my skill at creating digital stories. You can decide which presentation is the better 1st attempt.

Let's hope this can be viewed.

See 

https://readtapestry.com/s/aTmRUma6P/