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Showing posts with label Summer Poem Swap. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Summer Poem Swap. Show all posts

Friday, August 30, 2024

Slowdown Summer Overflows with Poetry

What started this afternoon continues throughout the night. Crackling noises, flashing lights, and sudden darkness break through the sky. I sit here remembering the flash announcements and the fear of traveling home amidst a terrifying twist of nature. Passing by a five-car accident, fire trucks, and police cars brought the reality of the situation. What I thought would be slowdown moments of summer's ending became Earth in motion. The severe thunderstorm moved from one section of the highway to another. Six hours later, rain continues to make its mark on life. With a deep care for life, I sit and read William Wordsworth's thoughts and ponder the magnitude of what poetry is.

"Poetry is the spontaneous overflow of powerful feelings: it takes its origin from emotion recollected in tranquility." 

This summer during slowdown moments, the annual Summer Poetry Swap found its way into fellow Poetry Friday friends' hearts. Under the superb direction of Tabatha Yeatts, writing to my poetry swap friend, Denise Krebs, became a reality. Denise became a Grandma for the second time as I began my swap writing to her. I was overjoyed by the blessing of her little pink blossom, the growth of her grandson, and the surprise mailing she sent me. The crocheted pieces for my kitchen made me smile but the clever poem from Health itself was a joy. The gift held a special message "to ponder the bounty of living in full abundance". 



Then, after receiving Denise's poetry swap gift, I found mail from Tabatha Yeatts awaiting my read. She focused on my thoughts about 48 years of my married life and created a Golden Shovel poem using the strike line from Kahlil Gibran, one of my husband's and my favorite poets.



I look back on the torrential rainstorm that just calmed down and compare it to the artistic card that Tabatha sent me. Stilled tranquility appeals to me more than an intrepid storm. The power of poetry brings sensory thoughts flowing from the corners of my mind. 

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 For the August Challenge the Poetry Sisters, Tanita, Lauras, Mary Lee, Liz, Sara, and Kelly, invited writers to create an ekphrastic poem. I decided to use the artwork sent to me. #PoetryPals

Photo from @TwinDesigns


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Today's Poetry Friday Roundup is hosted by Susan Thomsen at
Chicken Spaghetti. She shares a funny poem that will make you smile so stop by.
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May a sense of peace and quiet fill your weekend as August hands the baton to September.

Friday, September 8, 2023

Nature As a Balm

The poetry of nature is a balm for stormy times. - Friends of the Everglades

Stormy times are certainly happening in the world. Climate change and political unrest continue to cause issues while personal problems taunt us.  Humanity needs slow-down moments to breathe in new life. Allow nature's rhythms to recharge and bring quietude into troubled spaces. 


Poetic Peace

There's nothing left
to call this a home.
Doorknobs found
amongst the debris
paint a new canvas.
Storms may destroy
years you lived here.
Life goes on.
Forests planted by you
need replanting
in today's world.
There may be nothing left except
for what's left of your light
so find a simple way to be.
Let slow-down moments
spark the light within
with the gift of grace.
Let's find hope
for this land in
moments of joy.
©CV, 2023

The above is a found poem based on Carol Labuzzetta's image poem, Debris, and words from yesterday's blog poem posted here and my haibun at Autumn Arrives blog. {Italicized lines are from Carol Labuzzetta's poem.}


Nature as a balm thought is reflected in the awesome poem swap package Carol Labuzzetta sent to me. It is such a joy to have Carol, the amazing environmentalist, nature photographer, poet, and jewelry maker, create something especially significant to me.

Endearing Poem
Nature Photo Greeting Cards
Handmade Bookmark with Color Changing Beads

Carol and I are in tune with one another with our love of nature, photography, crafting, and poetry. I am eager to see color changes in the leather cord bookmark when I place it between the pages of a book to mark my spot. I have just the right book for this, A Field Guide to the Heart - Poems of Love, Comfort, & Hope by Georgia Heard & Rebecca Kai Dotlich.

Special Note: Carol Labuzzetta is inviting interested poets and writers to submit ekphrastic poems for her upcoming children's book, Nature Poetry in Pictures Anthology. The submission window is August 1, 2023-November 1, 2023. You can find the Anthology Guidelines on her blog, The Apples In My Orchard. Click here. I captured nature in photos last weekend and hope to draft some poems soon. I hope you join in also.

In closing, I leave you with a beautiful thought about nature from Anne Frank.
I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.
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Now, I am ready to join Poetry Friday Roundup at poet and children's book author, Amy Ludwig VanDerwater's blog, The Poem Farm. She is giving some (writing?) advice so check out her post and all the poetic goodness that comes from the Poetry Friday writers.

It is serendipitous that Magination Press sent me a box of books to review and share with teachers and inside was The Sound of Kindness by Amy. I can't wait to read the book and enjoy the illustrations by Teres Martinez.