Inspiration for February

“Don't be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.” Roy T. Bennett, The Light in the Heart. 

Time steals minutes, hours, days away.

Fear enters interrupting life.

Look around.

Find possibilities.

Cast uncertainty

into the abyss.

©CV, 2022

While I was intent on doing just that (casting uncertainty away), inspiration floated in when Margaret Simon's balancing stones photo (see below) for This Photo Wants To Be A Poem popped into my FaceBook feed. I immediately sent Margaret a comment, "Thank you for the brief moments of restful existence", and my small poem.

-tranquil moments of peaceful existence-

balancing stones

mindfully placed

nature hugs each

©CV, 2022

Photo by Margaret Simon, 2022

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Letting dreams in my heart lead me, I offered prompts for Day 9 of Laura Shovan's Annual February Poetry Project. I was inspired by research to find two videos that provided a choice for the poet writers. Below my digital graphic invitation, you will find my poem.

Side Note:

When I open Laura's February Poetry Project each day, I am dazzled by every poem that passes by. Sometimes, a quick jolt of fear and/or uncertainty pangs charge through my mind. Despite this interruption, I continue to write in short spurts knowing that the practice is more important than the end product. 

 

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Commitment:

In order to accept the challenge of my one word appreciate, I shall acknowledge the wisdom of the Japanese proverb, "Fear is only as deep as the mind allows."

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Sweet Valentine Wishes to All!

I hope you enjoy my humorous Valentine image poem created from the photo prompt  below. Diane Mayr offered the snaky creature image

during Laura Shovan's 6th Annual February Daily Poem Project in 2018.

I transformed the image into a  humorous Valentine poem.

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It's Poetry Friday so join me at TeacherDance, where Linda Baie,  the sweet host opens her blog to the Poetry Friday community and guests for a Valentine treat.

I send gratitude snaps to Linda for always bringing sunshine to the Poetry Friday community. I look forward to reading what Linda offers today. 

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Special Note on the February Poetry Postcard Exchange created by Jone MacCulloch.

I have been fortunate to receive small image poems from the Exchange. Since the mail must be delayed, I will share my collection when I receive more postcards. For now, I thank Robyn Hood Black, Carol Labuzzetta, Linda Mitchell, Sarah Grace Tuttle, and Tabatha Yeatts, for their creative designs and poetry that have been delivered to my mailbox.

March Musings 30: Dreary Day

Strange Occurrence

Crackle!
Boom!
Total Quiet!

You came through the gray clouds
 with a lion's roar
and the speed of a cheetah.
You jolted the sky,
and then, quietly left,
leaving the pelting rain
as your calling card.

Did you mean to announce
your entrance with forcefulness?

No, I was just playing a spring song
to spark a dreary day.

©Carol Varsalona, 2017

Only once before in my lifetime did this strange occurrence happen. I thought I had forgotten the incident but yesterday the drive in the rain to the hair stylist brought back a dreadful childhood memory. When I arrived at my destination, the talk of the day revolved around the booming noise in the sky. No lightening followed, just the rain and a darker sky were present. Everyone was truly amazed by what occurred.

I last experienced this strange phenomenon when I was five. It was an equally dark day so I remember being wearing a yellow raincoat and carrying an umbrella but the rain gear did not protect me from what happened after I was dropped off. 

As I made my way to the entrance of the basement classroom, huge, roaring cracks ripped through the sky. I was frightened. These strange noises were followed by bright bolts of lightning. I grabbed the handles on the massive soors but  they would not budge. I was locked out of my Kindergarten class. "How could this be?" Feelings of isolation and fear overcame me. I was alone and afraid under a sky that continued to grow darker. With each consecutive booming of thunder, I shouted louder and pounded harder on the doors. My eyes welled with tears. I was just a small child under a darkened sky filled with cracking sounds, lightning bolts, and teeming rain. I could not contain my fear and then, like an angel from the sky, the nun in full habit came to my rescue. I was so relieved to be inside that to this day, I don't remember anything other than total fear and wet clothing that chilled me to  the bone. Yesterday's deafening crackle brought back the heaviness of a five-year old's heart on a dreary, rainy, thunder-and-lightning type of morning.

This is my thirtieth posting in a series titled March Musings for Two Writing Teachers' March Slice of Life Story Challenge.