Digital Design Inspires Poetry

Poetry loves discovering things. You're not necessarily knowing where you're going when you start a poem.   

-Catherine Graham, award-winning poet and novelist

Nor do I know what my gardens will become when my seeds are planted. 

-CVarsalona

April is a bridge

gentle connector

from winter to spring

renewer of life

restorer of earth

as a troubadour

of earth's whisperings, 

I speak of spring seeds

a gallery of

poetic writing

with a pen in hand

artists, poets work

words flow like water

nature finds its beat

ensemble rises

©CVarsalona, 2026

While I did not know what my National Poetry Month Project would be, the power of patience and the wonder of nature helped me find my connection. Last year's journey felt like a continuous rollercoaster ride. My emotions still roar with fear and the anxiety of a wild ride. The onset of April and the glory of Easter Sunday blended together, offering me a golden key to a quiet renewal of life and an awakening of my soul and senses. I embrace April as a gentle month of hope, rejuvenation, and a soft reset to life.

april's "soft reset"

cultivates new beginnings

seasonal refresh

©CVarsalona, 2026

I Invite Friends, Poets, Writers, Artists, Photographers, and Students

Join me during National Poetry Month. Offer your creativity to embellish my Spring Seeds Grace April Gallery. Add an original spring poem, nature photo, inspirational quote, or artwork to my new padlet. Click here. For a sample of one of my spring galleries, click here to see my 2016 Spring Seeds Gallery of Artistic Expressions. You may find one of your poems there.

Thank you to our Poetry Friday host, Jone Rush MacCulloch, who shares her new book, "Tilt", midterm videos from her TWU students, and her original poem, "How to Write a Poem". In addition, Jone is hosting a Pop-Up Poetry Salon tomorrow and shares the beginnings of the poetry community's Progressive Poem. Stop by to enjoy her bounty of gifts and read what other Poetry Friday poets are offering. 

Let your imagination take you on a journey throughout the 2026 National Poetry Month.

Spritual Journey Thursday: Service, Poetry Friday, and an Invitation

Lent is a 40-day solemn season for Christians.  During this time, prayer and fasting are traditions. As a child, I fasted without chocolate (a luxury for me), but over the years, I learned that praying and helping others are key. The beautiful ceremony of Holy Thursday becomes a day of service, serving, and humility.

This month's Spiritual Journey Thursday is hosted by our teacher/poet, Ruth Hersey. She chose the word "service" as our theme, based on the ceremony of Maundy Thursday/Holy Thursday's washing of the feet ritual. 

My son, sister, and I attended the Holy Thursday evening ceremony at St. John Neuwmann's Church tonight. Upon arrival, the washing of the feet stations were set up in six areas of the church. I was amazed by the large choir, beautiful voices, and an orchestra. My husband would have been equally surprised when learning that his name appeared on the bulletin and was also mentioned during the solemn Mass. 

A year has passed since his memorial mass on April 2, 2025. I am grateful for  Pastor Father Michael Murray, who sent me a beautiful Mass card stating that my husband would be honored at the 2026 Holy Thursday service. I also thank Father Sleeva, who provided a beautiful memorial service last year for Richard, and will be at the Holy Thursday Mass.

On April 2, 2026, I started to reflect on this beautiful piece of artwork, Washing of the Feet Ceremony. Please read the nonet poem below ( refreshed and refined since 2023).

Christ Washing the Disciples’ Feet. by  Rembrandt van Rijn(between 1640-1650) with a reed pen and brown ink. Some areas were deliberately rubbed with a wet finger or wet brush, framing lines in greyish-brown ink ©Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

On Serving

Jesus came to serve, not to be served.

As a great leader, He acted

with gentle, loving kindness

and caring for others.

Through His clear actions,

He modeled how 

to offer

love to

us.

©CVarsalona, 2026

As I continue to work on restoring my soul and reviving my heart, I hope that love will be my special tool. Realizing that there is a season and time for birth and a time to die, planting seeds of love and hope will renew my life in every part. (Ideas and words come from Ecclesiastes 3 and the song, Restore My Heart.)

Thursday was a day of memories, service, and peaceful intentions for my husband. I joined the Creekside Cares committee to create small bouquets for 15 hospice rooms at the Adler House and vases of flowers for 6 neighbors. It is the place of repose that my husband was transported to last year. I remember the tears, shock, and last rites given to Richard as his body lay in the room that overlooked the meditation garden. He was quiet but not alone. My daughter and I were at his bedside with the nurses. I continue to reflect upon that night., I realize that there were many caregivers and spiritual leaders who offered their service to bring peace into the silence of a room. Service is the kindness we give to others, as was shown during the Holy Thursday Mass. The priest who said the mass spoke of the ceremony as the washing of feet love. What we can do for others is not only providing a service but fill it with love, as indicated at the ceremony. 

With sincerity, I pray that the light of Holy Week will wash away some worries, increase love, and bring peace to other families who have deceased relatives that need remembrance.

Spiritual Journey Thursday

hosted by Ruth Hersey

April 3, 2026's Poetry Friday is hosted

by the marvelous, award-winning poet Matt Forrest Esenwine.

Matt is celebrating the book anniversary of his 12th book, a beautiful children's anthology, A Universe of Rainbows, with a star list of fabulous poets. 

INVITATION during National Poetry Month

Day 2-3/30

Join me this April as I look back on my Gallery of Artistic Expressions, Spring Seeds, which was originally unveiled in July of 2016. (Yes, time passes swiftly.) If interested, please write a poem and/or add a photo regarding Spring Seeds Grace April and post it on the new padlet. (https://padlet.com/cvarsalona/spring-seeds-grace-april-iqgitngvyfqwch7b) I will gather the gifts of verse to create a new gallery of artistic expressions. Perhaps, you will find one of your poems or photos residing in the 2016 Gallery (click the link on the 1st line of the invitation).

Let your imagination take you on a journey throughout National Poetry Month.

Spring Seeds Grace April

 April 1st arrives with a bit of foolery. In the early morning hours, I witness nature's transformation. The beautiful buds on my dwarf cherry tree blossomed a few days earlier, as if they were announcing the Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, DC. But, as fast as the blossoms bloomed, the tree lost its gorgeous softness of color. 

Mother Nature often surprises us with its timing. Recently, last year's pansies popped with wonder in my outside vase. Nature whispered a welcome greeting to the new season of Spring. I paused to praise the season and reflect. I, like nature, weathered many winter storms this past year. I grieved over loss, felt the pangs of hurt, and experienced fatigue, but there is something different floating in the air now. Springtime opened with blooming trees. Colors that turned from winter white to a dirty grayish hue in March waited for spring to share its runway of colors and open the doors to growth and inspiration.

Now spring seeds grace April as witnessed by my pansies unfolding and surprising me with their persistence from one year to the next. Pansies not only welcomed the season, but they also reminded me to prepare the soil of my heart for the seed of grace to germinate. 

I pray that this season will move me to a new level of growth while unleashing the grief that is deep inside. As a sliver of sunshine offers respite, some anxiety eases, and I hope for a transformation like nature's movement from winter to spring. 

April 1st marks the opening of National Poetry Month's 30th Anniversary. I will celebrate along with fellow poetry writers. Words and emotions will pop as spring seeds grace April. I shall write, read, and photograph nature's pathway through the month as my muse whispers to me and seeds of verse pop up. The richness of the soil and the germination of seeds will bring a level of calmness. 

Day 1/30

INVITATION

Join me this April as I look back on my Gallery of Artistic Expressions, Spring Seeds, which was unveiled in July of 2016.  If interested, write a poem and/or add a photo regarding spring seeds gracing April. I will gather these gifts of verse and create a new gallery of artistic expressions. Perhaps, you will find one of your poems or photos residing in the 2016 gallery. 

Let your imagination take you on a journey throughout National Poetry Month.

2016

Whispering Ink

🔏

spring seeds scatter

across palettes of color

gracing our world

soft whispers of words respond

bouquets of blossoms in verse

©CVarsalona, 2026

The Annual Slicer Party is Here!

What better way to end the Two Writing Teachers SOLSC 2026 than with a Leigh Anne Eck's Annual Party! I have an invitation but I am not ready to join in. I have today to pack my bag, decide what to wear, and join slicers. I hope some of my writer friends will be there. 

slicer parties are a must

bring your bag with fancy stuff

an analog party awaits

 no electronics at the gate

poetry journal goes with me

how about a cup of tea

gel pens are my latest rage

different formats for every page

oh I am eager to meet some friends

sad to see the challenge end

thank you Leigh Anne for an invite

you make my preparation bright

this party is an annual treat

so join with me so we can meet

©CVarsalona, 2026

quick writem rhyming poem

💮

What to Bring

one analog bag will do

with many treats not a few

a decorated journal 

for small, wispy kernals

I shall write to you, my love

even though you are above

shall I bring my newest books

to read alone in cozy nooks

and bring a floral bouquet

for our host on this last day

©CVarsalona, 2026

my list poem turned into a quick writem rhyming poem

💮

With every party there is an ending. Today marks the conclusion of the SOLSC 2026 

Day 31, March 2026

 12th year with Two Writing Teachers 

Thank you, Two Writing Teachers, for the space you offer every year during March. It is always a pleasure to meet with reflective writers throughout the world.

Until I meet slicers on #SOL26 Tuesdays, I bid you goodbye.

Happy Spring Holidays to All

September Waves Goodbye

"Ah, September! You are the doorway to the season that awakens my soul." - Peggy Toney Horton

Today marks the last day of September, the month that says good bye to summer and announces the beginning of autumn. In order to honor the season of fall, the two older grandgirls helped me make a delicious apple pie with a variety of orchard-picked apples. My Nonnie would be proud to have her great-grandgirls learning to bake and carrying on her baking tradition. 

🍂🍁🍂

September, you know the warmth of summer

and the glimmer of early fall

when a cool breeze ushers in autumn

.

I cherish your days of autumn

mourn your short time with summer

and honor you as you let go to fall into fall

your timing transitions a green-colored summer

that melds with the beauty of early fall

celebrating the jewels of autumn

farewell summer-like September, as you fall into October's colorful autumn

©CVarsalona, 2025, tritina poem

🍂🍁🍂

My first tritina poem is here.

🍂🍁🍂

As we say goodbye to September, I invite all writers to join me as I create a Mini-Gallery of Artistic Expressions on Summering.

Summering is a state of mind that brings feelings of joy and relaxation. It revolves around the best of summertime and the ability to savor those feelings all year-round. 

I invite poets, writers, photographers, and educators to consider using the prompt to create an image poem, inspirational quote, or a photographn: How do you engage in summering during the summer season? Do you have a special photo, piece of artwork and/or poem to add to the Summering Mini-Gallery that I will create?

Thank you to Mary Lee Hahn, Janet Claire Fagal, and Linda Mitchell for participating with their image poems on summering. You can send your offerings to cvarsalona@gmail.com by mid-October. I  will gather the artistic expressions, create a mini-gallery, and share it on my blog and on social media. 

🍂🍁🍂

This is my Slice of Life for Two Writing Teachers, where it's time to write, share, give.

New Ideas for NPM Month

Dear Springtime,

Recently, showers have splashed across pavements and fogged windows while blurring your spring colors. As a troubadour of nature, I pause to honor the earth and nature's seasonal transition during April's National Poetry Month. Through the lens of nature photography, digital graphics, and poetrylicious poetry, I wish to restore a colorful lens to my everyday life and renew my spirit of creativity. I will wait patiently for your palette of colors to pop and the weather to warm. 

Sincerely, Your Faithful Follower

With pleasure, I invite my poet friends, writers, artists, and nature lovers to capture the splendors of a springtime moment and  join me as I write 

⤵

for my 2024 National Poetry Month Project

⤵

Join the Gallery of Artistic Expressions, Poetry Parade 

Capture the splendors of Springtime with your creativity.

Your options are:

• an original poem superimposed on a photo (image poem)
• a collage poem with scrapbook art
• a postcard poem
• a playlist of springtime music
• inspirational quotes on springtime
• Please add your offering to my Poetry Parade Padlet here.

As Myra Garces-Bascal stated in a previous Poetry Friday, "Poetry requires one to pause, consider, and stare at the marvel of the world. the intricacies of a leaf, or be still enough to let melody wash over one's soul."

While cruising on the Potomac yesterday, I searched for the treasured cherry blossoms but many were whisked away with the rains. While this was disappointing. nature did offer a glimpse of a few beautiful cherry trees at the entrance to the docks.

☔☔☔

Below is my image poem from yesterday's Lunch Cruise in Washington, DC.

☔☔☔

It is time to join the Poetry Friday Roundup at Irene Latham's blog.

Irene has poetic goodness to share with her recent public community poetry project in Blount County, Alabama. I was happy to share some of my image poems for her project. Irene is also showcasing the beginning of the Progressive Poem up to her fifth line in the poem. I am excited to read the line for the day each morning. Besides all of this news, there is more. Irene shared her ArtSpeak: FOLK ART poem, titled Prayer. Thank you, Irene, for being this week's hostess.

Invitation Accepted to the March Slicer Party

Are you interested in wordplay and crafting? I find both stimulating so when Leigh Anne Eck invited slicers to her 2024 March Slicer Party, I said, "Yes, I'm interested". 

Thank you, Leigh Anne, for hosting the Word Buffet. 

Here are my 5 nerdywordy choices: ebullient, emulate, fortuitous, garrulous, and nudiustertian. Can you match the words with their definitions?

Definition Bank

strive to equal or match               ___________________

happening by chance                   ___________________

full of trivial conversation            ___________________

          lively and full of enthusiasm        ___________________

day before yesterday                   ___________________

PARTY TIPS:

When attending a word party, being garrulous is not polite.  Instead, be full of enthusiasm. Make sure that you RSVP in advance, preferably the day before yesterday. Emulate the hostess when sharing your nerdy words. Enjoy chatting and playing with other slicers. Perchance, the words, and their definitions will become part of your extensive vocabulary.

Since my clock-in time was after 12 midnight, I offer this slice for Day 26 of the Two Writing Teachers March Slice of Life Challenge.