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

Into the Fog

The sun peeked out from behind grayish clouds and for that moment, I felt giddy and adventurous. "Let's go to the boardwalk!" With that quick morning greeting, I was outside in a flash, aching for a chance to feel free with hair blowing in the air. I pulled out my sunglasses at the same time my husband rolled down the windows and off we went. The sun continued to brighten until we neared Long Beach - a hazy light was visible amidst the gray sky. 

By the time we arrived on the boardwalk, an intense fog hovered, reminding me of Carl Sandburg's poem, Fog. As we made our way to a railing overlooking the beach, the ocean was not visible at all. In the many years that I have lived here, I have not seen such haziness encapsulate the sea.  A man on a bicycle came rolling by laughing and calling out to bewildered beachgoers, "If we could see, we might be able to find the ocean."  Determined, I proceeded to capture what I could or could not see through my lens, even though there were stretches of nothingness beyond the beach. 

The word, nothingness, was circling back to me.  Before leaving the house, I engaged in the #SpiritChat Sunday morning Twitter convo.  Was Kumud Ajmani's opening question meant for this boardwalk encounter?  "On Celebrating Nothing(ness)" - what does the phrase evoke/inspire within you today?"  My response seemed fitting for a coming-into-the-fog scene.  "Nothingness is a state of calm, resting in the joy of living." 

No one at the beach seemed to be concerned about the fog and they were certainly enjoying the day. Surfers were fully dressed hoisting their surfboards above their heads. Youngsters were rollerblading, others bicycling. There were even children barefoot in the sand.  A few large trucks were making their way horizontally in the sand, trying to level it out. 

into the fog

they came on

silent footsteps-

waiting for sun

This joyous spring happening on Palm Sunday gave me the inspiration to finish my one line for the annual Kidlithosphere Progressive Poem. Today, was my day to add a found line from a song.  You can see the poem in progress at my site under the title 2019 Kidlithosphere Progress Poem Continues.  

It is Slice of Life Tuesday at Two Writing Teachers so I am ready to add this slice. 

Finding a Poem in Nature

Hope flows freely when you slow down to enjoy life with a new lens!

Being one with nature- 

a rite of spring,
a seasonal delight
connecting human lives,
channeling peaceful living,
Being one with nature-
a restorative practice
flowing from Mother Earth
nurturing natural life
from seed to fruition.
©CVarsalona, 2018

Being one with nature encourages active conversation about gardening and joyful living. In May, my SpiritChat community led by Kumud Ajmani enjoyed a fruitful Twitter conversation on Gardening and Joy. I participated and created a found poem from snippets of the discussion (see above).

My spring garden is on my mind because it not only blossomed into a beautiful summer one but it inspires me to write.

Today, Poetry Friday is hosted by Tricia Stohr-Hunt at her blog, The Miss Rumphius Effect. Tricia created a wonderful poem, Roller Coasters Over Fifty, that was written in response to a writing challenge from her Poetry Sisters.