Wrapped in Autumn

With the flick of her delicate hands, she brought back the crispness of Second Summer weather, complete with an effervescent sky. I slowly inhaled Autumn's October return, much different than the cold, damp rainy weather we had for days. She was clothed in the brilliance of kaleidoscopic color. Leaves gently danced before descending and by dusk, the sky paid tribute with an array of layers. Pink hues with melon-colored edges softly caressed the clouds until nightfall blackened the sky. 

The scene encouraged me to continue decorating for the season. As I brought out more boxes labeled Autumn, I purposely added more layers to the areas I had already prepared in the house. The mantel was festively decorated with artificial garlands and leaves so the great room just needed some additional touches. A new wooden pillar light candle holder gave the room a cozy atmosphere while watching television. As I finished some indoor details, I visualized creating a pumpkin patch decor outside on the front porch. This annual ritual took on a different tone this year as I also prepared for my husband's hip replacement. The decorating was fun and such a tension-relieving activity. There are now autumn vibes in many rooms of my house to brighten the convalescence period.

photo by Alice Alinari, Unsplash

awe-inspiring Autumn,

dressed in stunning runway style,

swept in, glamorized in leafy couture,

taking everyone's breath away with a

dazzling, colorful showstopper attire

that was truly beyond the ordinary

her entrance was wondrous,

an impressive opening

of seasonal beauty -

breathtaking

©CV, 2022

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The above definito poem is posted to my Finding Fall 2022 Padlet which is a work in progress. I am in the process of gathering image poems, nature photography, and inspirational quotes to showcase the talents of others who love autumn as much as I do. Add your offering by clicking here on the padlet.

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Today is Poetry Friday and Sarah Grace Tuttle is the host of the Roundup. If you travel to her website here, you will find her very interesting post on writing metered poetry and a bounty of other posts with poetic goodness.

Summertime's Poetic Gift

"Summertime is always the best of what might be." 

With his key eye of an investigative journalist, author, essayist, Charles Bowden, penned the inspiration above. I sit back and read the line again noting what truth lies within the words. Summertime nourishes my soul. It brightens what is and saturates what might be with vivid colors, summer breezes, and leisurely days that free the spirit. Each summer, poet Tabatha Yeatts brings the best of summer wishes to the poetry world in a Summer Poem Swap exchange. I have previously shared my first poem swap with my far-away poet friend Iphigene Daradar. Today, I showcase creative expressions from Tabatha Yeatts herself. How lucky for me to be gifted with zentangle poems and artwork that Tabatha crafted from my own poems. 

Tabatha used my line "Everything around you is nature-scented", to "write a found poem about how our lives are a mix of the good and the bad". I find truth in that statement for life is a series of ups and downs. We find optimism and hope in the thought that life is a cycle and as Tabatha says, "we must find a way to be comfortable and at home with the duality of these aspects of life."

In the above digital poem, Tabatha's artwork compliments different aspects of life, from the words sweet and shadow to the images of the crescent moon and sun.

The second grouping of zentangle found poems center once again around my words, "Everything around you is bathed in beauty". Each found poem is lovingly created into digital artwork on marbleized paper.

Poem Swap Wishes

celebrating  summer you pause; welcome

a new season with new stories.

birthdays come and grow.

you reflect and write!

circle words and

one day leave

skyward and refreshed!

©CV, 2021

Now, I am off to celebrate the Poetry Friday Roundup at our host, Mary Lee Hahn's blog.

This week I was lucky to have the muse visit as did Mary Lee. 

You can find the fruits of my weeklong labor, a cherita and a definito poem.

Respect

Our small community of writers gathers together this month at Spiritual Journey Thursday to explore the timely topic of respect offered by our host, Linda Mitchell. 

Respect is a focal point in interpersonal relationships and personal identity. It is the basis for healthy living but there has been a rise of disrespect in the world. Incidences of disharmony have been recorded in newspapers. Evening news bulletins show areas of open strife that have led to violence. Hate, major misunderstandings, and ill will to others seem to be some causes. All of this saddens many. The lack of respect seen disrupts everyday living causing the downfall of positive relationships. 

This year, adults will return to the workplace and students to their classroom from all different situations. How they interact with one another is a concern. A growth-minded viewpoint is key to creating an environment where all are encouraged to positively relate to one another, take risks, and thrive in joyful settings. How shall we proceed this year? Will will take on the banner of respect and make it our mantra? Shall we listen to the wisdom of scripture?  

"Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord." - Romans 12:9-11

Shall we look to ancient philosophers, like Confucius, for guidance or the gentle wisdom of Mother Teresa?

"If a man is respectful, he will not be treated with insolence. If he is tolerant, he will win the multitude. If he is trustworthy in word, his fellow men will entrust him with responsibility. If he is quick, he will achieve results." -Confucius

"Works of love are always to accept and respect others." - Mother Teresa

As this year brings people back to the workplace and students to their classrooms, we are faced with the issue of how to create communities of joy where respect for one another leads to honoring all voices. This type of environment builds a safe community for all to coexist in peacefully. Are we ready to take on the mantra of respect for the betterment of society?

In 2019, poet-teacher Heidi Mordhorst introduced the definito poem form. It is a free verse poem of 8-12 lines (aimed at 8-12 year olds) that highlights wordplay as it demonstrates the meaning of a less common word, which always ends the poem. I deviated from the format by introducing a universal word that should be posted in every classroom and practiced in the workplace and homes. 

Respect

not a 

      disapproval of others

 not a disregard 
      for self 
     just
a feeling of admiration
     just
regard for one another in

communities of joyful interactions and explorations

sharing gifts of trust and consideration

    for life and living

    r-e-s-p-e-c-t

   ©CV, 2021

Let's remember this quote as begin anew carrying the mantra of respect.

Kindness leads to mutual respect.

Wednesday Wisdom on Twitter

Sent by Arthur Plitt @ReikiArthur

Coddiwompling Through Life

Ever since I read fellow slicer, Molly Hogan's blog I have been intrigued with a new word, coddiwomple. What does it mean?, I wondered.  The word has a lilt to it, making me think of our family's winter walk in Reston, Virginia.

Coddiwomple

Under a winter sky,

she meanders down the trail,

stopping to notice the sun's brilliance 

casting shadows along the path.

Pausing, she wonders, peeking into fallen logs.

"Where are the animals?" Then, moves on

following the sounds of the woods.

A wayfarer of life marks her steps

finding solace in the winter woods

as she coddiwomples along.

©CV, 2020

(coddiwomple- a slang word to move or travel for a purpose but without any fixed destination) 

Oh, to be a child again, finding delight in simple walks, intrigued by nature and the beauty of the woods on a winter day! Watching my 2 1/2-year-old granddaughter walk along the path made for a joyful family outing. While most of us did not know the trail, we traveled to soak in the warmth of the sun, delighting in the weather and the sights. It was time to inhale the fresh air, purposefully walking and talking as a family and being surprised by a small stream that we needed to cross. "Balancing on the rocks-could we do this, my husband and I wondered?" If my granddaughter could cross the stream without fear, we could. I was the first to cross over successfully but managed to get my sneaker wet by stepping in the water on top of the rock. With a positive outlook, I realized that I conquered a small fear, and kept my balance without falling into the stream. When my husband and son finally made it to the other side of the stream, we kept moving on, feeling proud of our accomplishment.

How often do we walk through life fearful of tasks or situations? Can we accept life with its challenges and victories? We can choose to move on with a positive attitude, purposefully coddiwompling on our journey. Understanding that our destination is not a fixed one, helps us realize that life is fragile and uncertain with many turns, detours, and crossings to encounter.  In our personal and professional lives, we journey onward realizing that it takes courage, stamina, and faith to walk the walk. On a winter day, I found contentment in a simple family walk.

It's Slice of Life Tuesday at Two Writing Teachers.

Join me there to read a variety of posts and check out the 2020 March Slice of Life Challenge.

Misty Thoughts Revisited

Last Saturday I traveled to visit my sweet granddaughters. A thick grayness followed me throughout the trip. Upon returning to Long Island, I was surprised by the same gray tones hovering over the Verrazano Bridge. 

A drizzling rain left dampness in the air. As our car approached the bridge, an intense desire to capture the sight of the harbor shrouded in mist came upon me. I decided to explain the sighting through a definito poem introduced by my poet friend, Heidi Mordhorst. Heidi explains her definito as a "free verse poem of 8-12 lines (aimed at readers 8-12 years old) that highlights word play as it demonstrates the meaning of a less common word, which always ends the poem". 

The photo below set the stage for my mind to wander in thought. I modified the word play fun to reach an older group of students. I also added my definito word in a phrase at the end of the poem. 

A misty chill of winter hovers

over an indistinct shoreline.

Nature wraps itself around 

a February morning,

sharing only a fraction of light

within a hazy, hanging fog.

A groggy world passes by,

blurred by discontent as

a single ship glows like a beacon

in the brumous haze.

©CV, 2020

Today is when the Poetry Friday writing community gathers for its roundup. The fabulous poet/author and friend, Laurie Purdie Salas, is this week's host. Join me at her site to read about her new venture. 

*I hosted Spiritual Journey Thursday yesterday. A few of my Poetry Friday friends joined me in writing about seasonal bliss. You can access the post here. If you would like to share your thoughts, please follow the link up. The site is open all weekend.

Within the Silence

After I woke from another odd dream on Sunday morning, an uneasy feeling overcame me. With gratitude for the silence of the house, I started reading my morning book of inspiration. I began to settle into the stillness.  Words started popping into my head.

Within the silence 

this Sunday morning,

there is a gentle calm.

It floats in and out

centering my mind,

removing the clamor 

of the outside world.

I hear the hushed sleep

of a newborn's world.

I feel the placidity of a 

rippling lake in sunshine.

Within the quietness 

of this moment, I indulge

in the warmth of self-love,

feel the letting-go sway

of restless thoughts,

and bask in the splendor

of serenity and stillness.

Quietude has found me.

©CV, 2019

I took this poem to another level of creativity when I paired it with an inspiration quote on top of a digitized photo of a waterfall in autumn. 



What poured out was a definto poem, the format created by Heidi Mordhorst. A definito highlights wordplay as it demonstrates the meaning of a less common word, which always ends the poem. I do love the word quietude and realized after I wrote the above poem, that I created other definitos using the same word a few weeks ago. 

I am sharing these Tuesday thoughts, my slice of life, with Two Writing Teachers

while at a state ecuation conference.

The above digital inspiration will be part of the Abundant Autumn Gallery collection.