Growth on the Spiritual Journey

Springtime offers verdant landscapes with lush settings. It is a time of growth, rebirth, and rejuvenation as Earth reawakens from its winter slumber. The month of May opens the door to our Spiritual Journey host, Jone Rush MacCulloch's, theme on growth.

There is environmental growth and personal, self-growth. The digitized photo of a day with nature is shown below. I distinctly remember walking the grounds of Westbury Gardens, a Long Island historical site, with a euphoric feeling.  Nature was aglow. the grounds were manicured and the gardens blooming. 

What did I learn about springtime from this memorable day? 

• Walking in nature can become a ritual that helps boost energy while developing a positive mindset
• When the earth is blooming there is a sense of calm
• Quiet time helps to get to know yourself 
• Rather than attempting to reach the final draft of ourselves, we should find the courage to keep revising  -Susan David

News:

• I started an abracadabra, magic nine poem for my Poetry Parade Padlet. 
• I will add two wonderful artistic expressions sent via mail from Marcie Flinchum Atkins and Irene Latham. 
• Carol Labuzzetta mailed me her stunning book, Picture Perfect Poetry: An Anthology of Ekphrastic Poetry for Students. I am proud and honored to have three ekphrastic poems and another nature photograph published in her book

You can still send me your image poems or other offerings for the Poetry Parade Padlet, my National Poetry Month project.

Thank you, Jone Rush MacCulloch, for hosting Spiritual Journey with the May theme, growth, for our community of writers. I also thank Buffy Silverman, host of Poetry Friday, for her interesting science-literacy post. I plan on making the rounds this weekend.  

Story Evolves

Stories evolve as rich products of the creative spirit. While traveling to Disney World with my family, a window setting without a storyboard caught my eye. Mannequins dressed in late 1920s clothing were looking out at the boardwalk and a water body. I stopped to photograph the female mannequin thinking she has a story to tell. I knew I could create a writing prompt with her photo that would make an interesting challenge for Laura Shovan's 11th Annual February Poem Project. 

Last weekend, I did some research and added photos of a painting beside the photo of a female mannequin (see the left corner below). The other two images were a painting by Edward Henry Potthast, the American shorescape and landscape artist (1857-1927), in the top right corner, and the piece of digital art I created of children at the shore in the bottom right corner. On February 21st, I added all three photos and a prompt to spark other poets' imaginations.

Prompt-Day 21

Ponder the following thoughts:

What if the past and present timelines begin to merge?

What do the images bring to mind? (beach, children, seaside, nature, a vacation, other)

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I enjoyed creating the above prompt.  Because I was so busy reading other poets' poems, my offering was added late. My poems are below. I do appreciate constructive criticism. 

Summering in Style

I just realized that it is the end of the month, and the Poetry Sisters challenged writers to write an ekphrastic poem and use the tagline #PoetryPals. I offer the above poems.

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Tabatha Yeatts is the host of Poetry Friday this week. She is also one of the writers who participate in Laura Shovan's daily February 2023 Poem Project. You can find more poetic goodness from the Poetry Friday community here at the Roundup on Tabatha's blog.

Collage Art Logo by Linda Mitchell

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. 

Reflecting on Summer

A heatwave is upon us and it isn't even the dog days of August on Long Island.  I step outdoors each day moving from cool air conditioning to the warmth of the sun's rays. Summer's breath is intense.  My pansies on the patio cry out for a spritz of cooling water at noon.  I respond and reflect on summer's embrace.  

My thoughts revert to Salvador Dali 's beautiful, summer day painting on a summer day, Figure at the Window. This scene reminds me of the sublime beauty of Long Island in summer.

She waits.
Thoughts float on by
into restful waters.
Stillness fills empty space
as a gentle breeze sweeps in,
softening the air.
Life rests under
a blanket of
sweet summer's
breath.

©CV, 2020

If it were not for the pandemic, I could visualize me luxuriating in a mud bath of salt water at the shore. But groups of unmasked young people are caught on the news congregating too close together without masks. What I can do is imagine, reflect, and respond to this dreamy photo by art teacher/photographer, Jennifer Graycheck, found at Margaret Simon's blog, This Photo Wants to be a Poem.  

nature's cure

swirled swooshing sounds break at shore 
tranquility's hush
salted-sea mudpacks rise and
dreams floats in ocean's warmth
©CV, 2020

Continuing the urge to engage in peaceful thoughts while caught up in the midst of a next- -chapter-of-life move to Virginia, I found another restful sight. Twitter friend @lucky_budd photographed the Milky Way and I took the opportunity to comment poetically.

For those who want a respite from the news and noise of pandemic life take a jaunt over to Poetry Friday hosted by Margaret Simon. Delve into the essential question, What is Poetry? to unlock more poetic goodness for poetry lets us bathe in summer bliss without traveling to the shore.

News:

Recently, I was sent an email of distinction from Anuj Agarwal,  FEEDSPOT, #Feedspot Founder of Feedspot.com, a place to keep up with all your favorite blogs, news sites and rss feeds in one place.  

I would like to personally congratulate you as your blog, Beyond LiteracyLink has been selected by our panelist as one of the Top 40 Children's Poetry Blogs on the web. 

 This link accompanied the email: https://blog.feedspot.com/childrens_poetry_blogs/.

Celebrate: Paint Your Life in Color

Within any given week, the cycle of life takes us through a maze of activities and thoughts. At the end of the week, we need time to slow down and reflect. The words we use convey what we feel. Today, I celebrate this past week through images and words inspired by life.

The week started with Valentine wishes. One little heart provided all around her with special smiles to lighten up a room. The grandbabysitting days in Virginia leading up to Valentine's Day were filled with memories to cherish. Upon return home, ekprastic poetry, writing to art prompts with Laura Shovan's writing community, was part of my daily practice. 

Humor counts.

For those who love cats, this one is an artist's dream.

While I am still experiencing winter cold, some of my friends are living winter warmth. From reality to art...

Are you thinking springtime? Then, this image poem is for you. 

To close the week, I embrace hope as more than my one word but as my fervent guide to living a life painted in color. 

I send my thoughts to the Celebrate This Week site hosted by Ruth Ayres.

Words Carry Messages

Within our "writer band", we communicate powerfully through poetry. It is our bond, our vehicle that projects our feelings and voices out to the world.

This month our writing community, under the direction of Laura Shovan, has been writing ekphrastic poetry daily. Today's post is based on "Eclipse" by artist Colleen Sakurai submitted by Holly Thompson.

The above poem was written in response to Sakuri's corrugated artwork. Part II followed after my yoga class that began with breathing exercises that would focus us, quiet the mind, and bring fragmented thoughts together. The practice certainly helped but upon returning home, I turned on the midday news. I could not help but be saddened by the number of deaths and injuries related to the Parkland shooting. My thoughts started to race. Why are some students driven to violence? Why is there a rise of horrific happenings in today's public schools? 

I sat down to write to bring light to my fragmented thoughts. Some of the other writers in the community also decided to focus their attention on the sheer horror of rising student violence. 

For #ParklandStrong, I offer my thoughts and prayers. Change is needed but where do we begin to harness the power of hope? The #KindnessMatters initiative is a start but so much more is needed. What are important next steps?

In memory of those students and adults in the Parkland shooting:

Tonight, I am joining the Poetry Friday Round-up here. Jone MacCulloch is graciously hosting the round-up this week. She is also offering her students poetry postcard event. This marks the 10th annual poetry happening. 

Sweet Valentines

With Valentine's Day upon us, 

I send greetings to all in my writing community.

May Cupid pierce your heart with love!

Cupid certainly has pierced mine. 

💕💞💕💞

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My layered valentine was inspired by early 20th century penny postcards in my ephemera collection.

I love to share the script on the back of my penny postcards.

Another penny postcard from turn of the last century
 

Grace must have been so happy with this penny postcard from her Papa.

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I had fun creating the valentine poem below from an art prompt provided by Diane Mayr in the 6th Annual February Daily Poem Project started by Laura Shovan. Perhaps, you will find this valentine humorous.

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

I am off to read what other slicers have written.

Celebrating Wondering and Writing

I spent this week at home recuperating from implant surgery and a nasty sinus infection. Since my voice was hoarse and sore, I was advised by the ENT to stay quiet. That seemed to suit my family just fine but I had a workshop on Tuesday so I had no choice but to rest before working with the high school teachers. My foggy brain had to rally so with hot tea, honey, my slide presentation, and five boxes of contemporary books compliments of Scholastic, I was off and ready. 

The wondering began at 3:00 pm on Tuesday. The teachers and I explored how to engage the high school students in deepening their awareness of argumentative writing. I was so thankful that I made it through the presentation without a coughing attack but then when I thought everyone left the room, the nagging cough started. Water poured from the corners of my eyes and nothing seemed to stop the flow. Little did I realize that there were two teachers in the room. They kindly asked if I was okay. Clearly, I wasn't. Was I more embarrassed or fearful that the coughing would not stop. I knew I needed to go home and rest so I packed up as quickly as I could and went to the follow-up meeting. 

Would you believe that it took me an entire day and a half to regain my voice? Within that time period, I challenged myself to write ekphrastic poetry for the 6th Annual February Daily Poem Project created by Laura Shovan. Each day, I noticed, wondered, and attempted to write to the daily prompts that centered on artwork in the home. Unfortunately, my foggy brain was affecting the way I wrote but thoughts of visiting my grandbaby for Valentine's Day kept me wondering and writing. 

Day 3 Ekphrastic Poetry

This weekend, I will read the poem above and the one below to my little grandbaby and see if she has a warm smile for me before she falls fast asleep. 

Thank you Ruth Ayres for providing the space at your site to Celebrate This Week each week. I am on my way to Virginia and will check in after this weekend to read the celebrations from friends. In the meantime, I hope everyone celebrates the small moments each day. 

Tucked Inside

While winter settles in,

I recall 

summer nights-

anniversary celebrations,

mountainside.

One small photo

opens the drawer

to tucked in memories.

©CVarsalona, 2018

It is amazing how the mind triggers memories when noticing objects. While looking closely at the above photograph a series of past experiences appeared and thoughts formed. 

Thank you Two Writing Teachers for creating space for Tuesday's Slice of Life. Of course, excuse me for posting at 12:51 on Wednesday morning. This is what happens when I get lost in writing. 

The image poem above is part of the *ekphrastic poetry writing I am drafting for Laura Shovan's 6th Annual February Daily Poem Project. The 2018 theme is Ekphrastic-At home. Members of the writing community take turns posting an art piece they own while others write in response to that photographic prompt.  

*An ekphrastic poem is  a vivid description of a scene or, more commonly, a work of art. Through the imaginative act of narrating and reflecting on the "action" of a painting or sculpture, the poet may amplify and expand its meaning. - The Poetry Foundation

Poetry-Gentle Wonderings

"Poetry is the gentle wonderings of a world calling me to unravel its beauty in words." 

 

While most people do not think of residual snow patches as being visually appealing, I find beauty in their patterns. A poem rose from within the digitized design.

When art guides my thoughts, a path emergences. 

Thanks goes out to Laura Shovan for guiding the way to ekphrastic poetry writing based on a daily work of art. The writing community she created has grown this year. There are always surprises when being stimulated by prompts. For instance, I spent this week thinking about the warm-up exercise from the following artwork. I discarded several drafts and finally tonight I am ready to post my wonderings. My one word, hope, seems to find a way to sneak into my thoughts each day. 

The combination of art, technology, and language are igniters of wonder for me. As a trio, they spark my imagination and let poetry evolve as gentle wonderings. 

Today is Poetry Friday and before the clock strikes midnight, I am ready to send these poems into the universe. My writing colleague, Donna Smith is the host of Poetry Friday at Mainely Maine. She is doing double duty this week because yesterday she was hosting Spiritual Journey first Thursday of which I participate monthly. 

I am excited that additional poetry postcards have been arriving and that I sent out mine. Since I had implant surgery today, I will thank the poets who sent me poetry from the ekphrastic poetry in another post. 

I hope you have a chance to capture the gentle wonderings of winter for my winter gallery, Winter Wonderland.