Celebrating Winter Warmth

It's amazing to me that it's February and Mother Nature is sending out spring vibrations. Birds are chirping their morning tunes, making wake-up a pleasant surprise. By mid-afternoon, my neighborhood is alive with children dressed in shorts and t-shirts. I listen to the swoosh of basketballs, and watch the parade of bicycles rolling on by. Mothers stroll with their baby carriages as they enjoy their walk on a warm winter day and I feel the beat of life as I walk the streets. Neighbors stop to converse. Weather seems to be the topic of conversation. 

What a sharp contrast this week is to the two weeks before when the snowstorm dropped mounds of white fluff for the neighborhood to clean up. At that time, I celebrated winter snow. Now I see only a couple of mounds left and I can celebrate winter warmth that flows over our neighborhood like a sweetness.

While celebrating winter warmth, nothing is more inspiring than seeing a brilliant sunset to close a winter day with a spring-like feel to it. 

It is time to celebrate this week of warm temperatures, poetry writing, and the breath of spring upon our winter days. Ruth Ayres opens her writing space each weekend for the #celebratelu community at her blog. You can access Ruth's thoughts and those of the community that I am a member of here. 

Note: I am reminding all who read this post that the deadline is upon us to offer digitals to celebrate winter at my newest gallery, Winter Wonder. Consider sending me a photograph, image poem, or inspirational quote for the gallery, understanding that winter can be signified by warmth or bitter cold and snow in your locale. There is a story in every season and digitals can be the medium to express your thoughts. 

Celebrating Winter Snow

It tiptoed into darkness

with breathtaking deftness.

I watched it glide and dance-

patterning the night sky.

Falling, it dusted earth 

with a glistening white.

No one heard its soft 

descent until dawn

when it boldly rushed in. 

Announcing its arrival,

winter snow left its 

unblemished calling card

upon an awaiting region.

©CVarsalona, 2017 Long Island

Silently, like thoughts that come and go, 

the snowflakes fall, each one a gem. 

William Hamilton Gibson

I celebrate the arrival of winter snow. It added a new dimension to life, a stilled wonder in each neighborhood that was touched by its gentle start, its incessant descent, and its glistening wonder. The snowstorm left its mark upon Long Island, especially when the day before it was only a distant thought in the spring-like warmth. I celebrate moments I was able to notice, wonder, and wish upon a snowflake. I celebrate that the cascading snow inspired me to write. Lastly, I celebrate the quiet evening hours in which I find serenity within as I reflect and write about nature's winter guest to Long Island.

Snow is a reminder that no matter how old you become and how much you've see, things can still be new if you are willing to believe they still matter. - Candace Bushnell

It is time to celebrate this week of fluctuating temperatures, poetry writing, and wishing upon snowflakes that fell like glistening, silent dewdrops from the sky. Ruth Ayres opens her writing space each weekend for the #celebratelu community at her blog. You can access Ruth's thoughts and those of the community I am a member of here.

Note: I am inviting all who read this post to join me in celebrating winter at my newest gallery, Winter Wonder, that I am designing. Consider sending me a photograph, image poem, or inspirational quote for the gallery, even if winter is not signified by snow in your locale. There is a story in every season and digitals can be the medium to express your thoughts. 

Snow Waltzes into Winter

Because it is difficult to let go of the words swirling like the snow, I continue to compose along with other Poetry Friday writers. My mission is simple. As part of my #oneword initiative, I search my surroundings for small moments of wonder to capture and then spread to release a spirit of joyfulness like the butterflies that flutter. 

Snow is the topic of conversation around the country but today there is a distinct change of spirit in the New York City area. People are filled with lightheartedness. There is a spark of energy in their walk and the meteorologist has a smile on his face. All of this is attributed to the dramatic change in weather patterns. 

FOR YOUR INFORMATION
Today, the temperature on Long Island rose to 65 degrees and broke the record high set in 1890. The snow pattern has been erratic so I decided to capture snow as a lead character in my poetry writing. 

SNOW'S DEBUT ON LONG ISLAND

PART 1

it crept in slowly
poised for its gentle descent-
vanished in the night

PART 2

it left its dusting-
marginal amount sparkling
rain kissed it goodbye



PART 3

Since I was housebound with a horrible sinus infection when the snowstorm finally arrived I could only view the frost and snow mounds from my window. The snow glistened in the darkness as the Christmas lights, still lit, reflected a serene sight. I wrote the above Part 3 haiku as a tribute to what I witnessed from my window view. Then, the rains came.

Snow waltzed into my life and waltzed back out but winter is still present.

What does winter look like in your part of the world? Does it allow you to find a poetic lens to look through? If so, I am designing an invitation to my next gallery, Winter Wonder, and you are invited to write alongside me. For those who live in warm weather climates, winter takes on a different look than the snowy scenes above. All perspectives are welcomed, though. 

If you access #WinterWonder17 on Twitter you will find some digital inspirations, photographs, and #imagepoems starting to appear. Stay tuned for my official invitation. In the meantime, enjoy the weather wherever you live. 

Please visit the Poetry Friday party at Keri Collins Lewis's blog that you can access here or here. Keri has an eye-opening video for all to watch that made me ponder how often I spend time embracing pure joy. Hence, the need to have joy as my guide on this year's journey. 

Thanks Linda Baie for the snowy Poetry Friday logo.