A Christmas Challenge

Christmas is over and even without snow, it was a merry weekend of family events. There was a trip to Santa's workshop, Christmas Eve dinner pajama night, and the central event, the extended family Christmas dinner with a gender reveal. The gifts were beautifully presented under the tree. There was an assortment of boxed, bagged, and beautifully wrapped presents, along with a boy/girl pinata for the gender reveal. Needless to say, it was a blessed weekend.

 

While preparing for Poetry Friday, I decided to accept the Poetry Sisters' December challenge. We were asked to think outside of the BOX or into the BOX for a poem on a box. A 4×4 poem was suggested with 4 syllables in each of the 4 lines of each stanza and a refrain line in each stanza (line 1 in the first stanza, line 2 in the second stanza, line 3 in the third stanza, and line 4 in the fourth stanza). I added a 4-syllable title-the bonus step. In a 4x4 poem, there are no restrictions on subject, rhyme, or meter. Thanks to the Poetry Sisters, Laura, Tanita, Mary Lee, Kelly, Tricia, Sara, and Andi for welcoming others to join their challenge. Check out their poems at the Poetry Friday Roundup.

Christmas Boxes

(Pre-Christmas)

Santa Baby,

you jolly man,

any boxes?

I am a fan.

Mine are ready.

Santa Baby,

check out my list-

diamonds maybe-

Perhaps, some clothes,

anything works.

Santa Baby,

a kiss will perk!

(Post-Christmas)

Christmas arrived, 

boxed with good cheer.

You are a dear,

Santa Baby!

©CVarsalona, 2022

Boxed Christmas Thoughts

Christmastime thoughts

under our trees

snuggling in love

like little bees

embraceable

Christmastime thoughts

wrapped in boxes

family sought

gilded boxes

hold all the love

Christmastime thoughts

from God above

new year coming

one word will do

just for you, boxed

sweet Christmas thoughts

©CVarsalona, 2022

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Next week, I will share the wonderful news from Bridget Magee's newest poetry anthology, Two Truths and a Fib. Check out the new video advertisement here.

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Join me at children's author/poet and my once poetry swap partner, Patricia Franz's blog, Reverie, to read her lovely thoughts. Patricia is our host of Poetry Friday this week and presents oodles of boxed poetic goodness from a variety of writers. 

Tintinnabulation

This year, like other years, Christmas rings in the good news. Bells jingle, hearts mingle, and all decorations are merry and bright. The tree is always the central focus and as a glorious dedication to the birth of the tiny savior, my tree tells a story. Birds announce the good news. Beads adorn the layers of the tree. Ribbons flounce. An angel watches over and vintage ornaments dangle against the lights.  Faith ties the family together. Late at night, Santa tiptoes in with a ho, ho, ho, and before he leaves rings one of the bells collected over the years. 

In the great room, bells from an old carriage, a cowbell, and jingle bells

are nestled in the tree waiting for Santa's touch.

The Ringing of the Bells

Ding-a-ling.

Birds sing.

Let's rejoice!

Hear the voice.

Santa shouts ho-ho

Coming in from snow.

Ding, dang-

Ring-rang.

Rudolph is aglow.

Bells tinkle to go.

Into the sky,

Deer and sleigh fly.

Bells tinkle with joy

For every girl and boy.

Bells ring

Angels sing.

Christ is born

On Christmas morn.

©CV, 2021, draft

Christmas at My New House in Virginia

Grandgirls decorate their tree on

Christmas Eve and sight two snowprints

by their fireplace on Christmas morn.

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Listen to Aretha Franklin sing "O Christmas Tree" here.

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Thank you to the Poetry Sisters who challenged everyone to write a poem dealing with bells and share it on Poetry Friday. They also suggested ringing in the New Year on social media with the hashtag, #PoetryPals.

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Thank you to Carol Wilcox for hosting Poetry Friday at her blog, Carol's Corner.

She is sharing sad news about the wildfires that broke out 10 miles from her home in Colorado. There is devastation and families without homes. My thoughts and prayers are with Carol who is tracking down people she loves and also with the families who lost their homes in the fire. 

May the New Year bring us to a more peaceful place.

Welcome Autumn's Precious Gifts

Because autumn is an unparalleled season of grandeur, it deserves praise as it opens its season.

I spent the better part of this week creating several scenes inside and outside my new home to give praise and thanksgiving for autumn. Join me as I welcome through the lens of digital art and poetry one of my favorite seasons. 

Autumn's arrival-

season goes viral.

Nature

has no denial-

Autumn's an idol.

Painter

of earth's revival.

Picturesque idyll-

Savor!

©CV, 2021 

The above poem is a laie, a French poetic form consiting of nine-lines that use and "a" and "b" rhyme in the following pattern: aabaabaab. The "a" rhyme iens are 5 syllable in length while the "b" rhyme lines are 2 syllable. I have looked at this format since Tricia Stohr-Hunt shared it at her May 21, 2021 blog Post.  

 

Gather autumn's precious gifts

in robes of golden sunrise.

Be glad for nature's blessings.

Gratitude abounds!

©CV, 2021 

The above poem is a dodoitsu poem created from the haiku oracle deck designed as a summer poetry swap gift from Mary Lee Hahn. It consists of four lines with a 7-7-7-5 syllable count. 

The digital photo above of my granddaughter and daughter in an apple orchard reminds me of the following quote from Outlander, by Diana Gabaldon: "It was a beautiful, bright autumn day, with air like cider and a sky so blue you could drown in it."

Gratitude Floats Through the Air

sweet smells of cider

bountiful trees of apples-

blessings of nature

©CV, 2021 

The Poetry Sisters offer a tanka challenge for September:  write a tanka, a five-line, 5/7/5/7/7 in response to an original poem from any of the Poetry Friday writers. After that, share it at Poetry Friday and add the tag #PoetryPals on social media.  Below is my response to Tanita Davis' tanks, Ode to the Pink Lady, from November 5, 2018. I chose this poem because it fits in beautifully with the digital artwork of my original picture at the apple orchard (above). 

Ode to the Pink Lady 

who needs pumpkin spice?
apples don’t – no camouflage
is necessary
even caramel* apples
are no match for fresh and crisp

Autumn's Morsels

seasonal delight

the succulence of apples

oven-fresh surprise

caramel, chocolate chips

tasty, little bites of fall

©CV, 2021 

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Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall. – F. Scott Fitzgerald

As I begin this season, I pause in thanks as I notice that autumn is more the season of the soul than of nature." (Friedrich Nietzsche) For the soul-filling days ahead, I feel the peace of autumn days and excited to explore new regions in Virginia with my little granddaughters and family. May autumn soothe your soul! Here is a peek at autumn around the globe. Nature photos are from Terje Akke in Estonia and Jackie Yun in Hawaii. 

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Thank you to my friend, poet Laura Purdie Salas for hosting Poetry Friday this month. She has been busy with her new move, writing a new book, and penning tankas for this month's Poetry Princess challenge.

Remembering Long Island

Crane Neck Across the Marsh, 1841 by William Sidney Mount, one of the first and "finest" 19th-century painters of everyday rural life in America

On days like these shorelines call me to a gentler place, one where to-do lists slip away.  While it is still spring, warm breezes and rising temperatures of summer fill the air. My mind drifts back to Long Island shores as I explore the above painting found on Google Arts & Culture. 

Peering into William Sidney Mount's Crane Neck Across the Marsh artwork, I have a longing to be back at the seashore, being in the moment with peaceful surroundings. I sense that Mount, a longtime Long Island resident, understood the beauty of its terrain. 

For my poem today, I am using Laura Shovan's "10 Little Words" idea to create a poem. The words come from Mount's letter to Benjamin Thompson, 1848, about digging for colors. (William Sidney Mount, Painter of Rural America) My words are: explore, pigments, astonished, bright, red, mingling, sandstone, orange vermillion, tide, water, encased, spoon.

Morning light streams through silhouette shades. 

A vision of beauty stands before me. I explore each layer. 

Earth-toned pigments of bright-red and orange vermillion

streak the landscape. The artist's brush mingles with nature's

softened hues creating a masterful work of art.

Conjuring up sandstone dreams, I move into a New York state

of mind where tidal waters spoon droplets of spray into sea-salted

air. I breathe in, close my eyes for a moment, and remember. 

Astonished by the artwork's vivid reality and richness of shoreline colors,

I recall peaceful memories of a Long Island day at the shore.

©CV, 2021, draft

This month, I am playing with words for the Poetry Sisters' challenge of creating an ekphrastic poem and posting on social media with the tag, #PoetryPals. The challenge consisted of writing an ekpharastic poem using a photograph taken in a museum. I actually forgot the last part so I searched. I was pleased to find the Mount oil painting at the Long Island Museum-gift of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Heyser, Jr., 1961. 

Now it is time to link up with the Poetry Friday Roundup with our host, Michelle Kogan, Chicago artist/poet. In her usual flair for color and poetry, Michelle offers the poppiness of springtime with much poetry goodness. Birthday greetings are in order, too. 

The Art of Summering Invitation

"There's nothing more beautiful than the way the ocean refuses to stop kissing the shoreline, no matter how many times it's sent away." -Sarah Kay

There is an art to summering: 
Sun simmering,
Heat chasing,
Waves churning-
Iced tea sipping
Porch sitting,
Fan swaying-
Sparkler swooning,
Sky sizzling,
Sunsets blazing-
Friends visiting,
Quiet chatting,
Babies playing-
Family planning,
Trip taking,
Cameras shooting-
Endless choosing,
Daily relaxing,
Summer happening
©CVarsalona, 2018

Bring on summertime fun with gusto!

😎

BLOGGERS, EDUCATORS, PARENTS, PHOTOGRAPHERS, POETS, 

STUDENTS and WRITERS

You Are Invited
to creatively depict "The Art of Summering"
for a global gallery showing

Join Me as I create a collection of summer memories from around the globe that will be collected at #TheArtof Summering on Twitter. Be inspired to capture the life living moments of summer 2018 that will be shared with social media's global community.

Challenge Requirements:

• Create a digital inspiration in the form of an inspirational quote, image poem (photo or artwork with a poem embedded on it), original artwork, original photo, short video, collage, original song or instrumental composition, or any other form of artistic expression.
• Sign the digital composition with your name and location.
• Post your digital creation in jpeg form at 450 pixels (the best size for a gallery showing)
• Upload your digital inspiration to Twitter using the hashtag, #TheArtofSummering. Also add my handle, @cvarsalona.
• Send your jpeg offering to @cvarsalona at Gmail with the subject heading,  The Art of Summering, by the deadline, August 31, 2018.
• You can view last summer's global gallery, Sunkissed Summer, here. 

😎

Examples from Poetry Friday Poets:

Linda Baie, Linda Mitchell, and Kay McGriff

There is an art to summering.

May each of you find your own way to celebrate the summer season.

😎

Join me at the Poetry Friday Roundup where poet Mary Lee Hahn is hosting. Mary Lee has a 50-line blitz poem of short phrases and images to dazzle us with today.

Exercise of Faith

While reading the poem below listen to "Winter Journey."

When the wings of fate

fly into your sight and

throw an obstacle in your way,

reach out to find an anchor

that will guide your day.

Focus on the positive

but don't delay.

Perspective is everything!

Reflect and see

in the great expanse

what life can be.

Adventures await

with twists and turns.

Pause, look, and discover. 

You will need to discern.

The path stretches on

so don't be mislead

when careening slopes miles ahead.

Listen in silence to

the sounds around.

Embrace the stillness

as you journey down.

Brave the unknown

as only you can.

With the wings of faith

and knowledge today

may you find your ultimate way.

But if you dive into snow 

as a misstep of flight.

Remember the goal

is to endure the plight.

Look to the heavens

for you will then see

perched in the mountaintops

the Spirit of the Dove

who guides our path

with understanding and love.

On our journey, we may find obstacles that prevent us from moving forward on the path we desire. It is with an exercise of faith that we can bring light to the darkness that may prevent us from continuing on our presupposed path. 

"For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth."

Psalm 71:5

This poem is written to consolidate my thoughts for three different challenges:

• Spiritual Journey Thursday under the direction of Holly Mueller where 12 one little words were highlighted with today's featured OLW being Mary Hill's word, exercise. It has been my quest to honor each word through the blending of song, nature photography, and poetry.
• Day 26 of Two Writing Teachers' March Slice of Life Story Challenge
• Heidi Mordhorst's Forward...MarCH Poetry Challenge with the word perch as today's CH word 

Please visit all three sites to read inspiring slices, posts, and poems written by a variety of writers. 

                       

Spiritual Journey Thursday: Strength

How often do we crash when sudden, tragic challenges come our way? 

It is part of the human experience to do so, but there is a way to circumvent a reeling downward spiral that sometimes happens when untimely, critical issues intersect everyday life.  

Last Sunday, one of the cathedral priests delivered a message to the parish that resonated with me. When a challenge arises, see it as a change in life, not the end point. These words reminded me that strength can be derived from faith in the Divine Lord when we are in the midst of chaos. This is not an easy task when faced with deep sorrow but it is a necessary one. 

Life filled with misery and distress is a lonely place. With conviction we can slowly move out from the edge of darkness into the light knowing that strength is provided to us from a loving Creator. Last weekend's homily rang with a a message of hope in the power of the Divine to support us, especially when life's challenges make the burden heavy. 

Life is fragile and changeable. We must listen to the Divine Voice to push through the issues, challenges, and tragedies that befall. With a mindset that is open and a heart willing to hear the message of faith and the promise of hope, we can recover from every fall, hardship, and trauma for the Lord is our strength.

While writing this post, I heard of a sudden and tragic incident that occurred to a friend's family, proving that life is indeed fragile and changeable. The conversation took my breath away so my thoughts and prayers go out to the family. I know that words cannot override the grief during this time of need, but I can ask that the family be covered in grace and held in the hands of love.

The Lord is Our Strength

Isaiah 33:2

O Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. 

Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.

When the Spiritual Journey Thursday topic was chosen, little did I know how relevant it would be this particular week. Although faith in the strength of the Lord is an important daily pursuit, deep faith is needed in the face of tragedy. May there be a message of hope that life has just changed not ended for those who suffer and the feeling that they will be uplifted and provided strength in their days to come. 

Thank you to Holly Mueller the facilitator of Spiritual Journey Thursday, who created this week's topic, The Lord is My Strength. It is as though the Lord spoke to Holly to choose this topic for us all to examine. 

While searching for additional material about strength, I came upon this poem, published on March 5, 1836, in a daily devotional post. "The poem is a testament to the authors trust in God and the strength He provides to get through each day and each trial." (godrulestb@aol.com, http://www.cfdevotionals.org)

"as thy day, so shall thy strength be" 

          by Lydia H. Sigourney

"as thy day, so shall thy strength be."
When adverse winds and waves arise,
And in my heart despondence sighs,
When life her throng of care reveals,
And weakness o'er my spirit steals,
Greatful I hear the kind decree,
That "as my day my strength shall be."
When, with sad footsteps, memory roves
'Mid smitten joys, and buried loves,
When sleep my tearful pillow flies,
And dewy morning drinks my sighs,
Still to thy promise, Lord, I flee,
That "as my day my strength shall be."
One trial more must yet be past;
One pang, the keenest and the last;
And when, with brow convulsed and pale,
My feeble quivering heart-strings fail,
Redeemer, grant my soul to see,
That, "as her day her strength shall be."

by Lydia H. Sigourney © 1999 Papercut Press, Inc.