Lure of the Ocean

"At the beach, life is different. Time doesn’t move hour to hour but mood to moment. We live by the currents, plan by the tides, and follow the sun." - Sandy Gingras

Sunset Beach, Cape May, 2026

Last Sunday, my family and I drove to Long Island, New York and midweek to Cape May, New Jersey. The ocean was calling us to enjoy its seaside beaches. I was inspired by the first line of Sandy Gingras' quote and made the decision to push grief aside and let nature nurture life. Below you will discover the golden shovel poem I created with the first line of the Gingras' quote, "At the beach, life is different."

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August's dog days call me to vacation at

shimmering shorelines that bring the

breath of breezy ocean winds to the beach

I walk on heated sand pondering my life

style, from a harried year and a half to what is 

needed for a pathway that is different

©CVarsalona, 2026, Golden Shovel

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For fifty years, my summertime days rested on nature's shores. There was a lure about the ocean. I recalled the glorious vistas of Long Island and Cape May beaches with the sun's awakening rays and billowy clouds layering a blue-toned sky. Early on the first by-the-sea-day, the brilliance of the ocean was inviting. The beach was a calm place for rest, recovery, and renewal on summer days, so this morning, I paused to remember the golden days of past summer excursions to the beach. Memories of family vacations brought images of soft, warm sand, and seagulls swirling above rushing waves, seeming to be free and unburdened by life's challenges. Small seashells and smooth rocks road through sea foam back to the shore as tides rushed in. I heard the squeal of my grandgirls, as they searched for ocean treasures that nature offered. Their excited glee blended with the swooshing sounds of the sea from Long Beach to Cape May. It was a time to relax, reflect, and recharge!

gateway to peace

golden sunrise, rushing waves

sunkissed moments rise

©CVarsalona, 2026

Sunset at Cape May, NJ

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at

Denise Krebs' Dare to Care blog.

Denise is today's Poetry Friday host who has been writing poetry and reading throughout August. The Roundup of poets and their writing begins tonight.

What's On My Heart and In My Spirit!

Prompt for August's Spiritual Journey:

What is on your heart and in your spirit?

Linda Mitchell, the host of August's Spiritual Journey Thursday, invited the Spiritual Journey community to reflect upon what we felt today. Since my life is still unpredictable, I will start with what happens in my real world. I often need to juggle my thoughts based on issues, challenges, or appointments. Let's start with the:

Evening Disturbance & Morning Thoughts

 

While reading this morning, I discovered a light on the virtual path. I would like to say that I tossed grief aside, but in reality, grief never goes away. With my one word, "restore," on my side, the Bible verse below confirms that my broken heart and spirit will be restored in my spiritual journey.

DailyVerses.Net

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What's On My Heart and In My Spirit!

On sunkissed days

I breathe in summer air, 

Pause, then listen to the call

Of my grieving heart and spirit.

I breathe in summer air and 

Clear what's causing confusion within.

My grieving heart and spirit

Accept the challenge to let go of fear and doubt.

Clear what's causing confusion within.

Divine Truth will restore my life in every part,

Accept the challenge to let go of fear and doubt.

With this, I shall walk a renewed path.

Divine Truth will restore me in every part.

Calmness will bring a crown of peace.

With this, I shall walk a renewed path,

On sunkissed days

©CVarsalona, 2026, Pantoum

Photos at Adler Hospice Center, A Place of Peace

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evening light glows

layered in peace

tranquility speaks

©CVarsalona, 2026, haiku and photo

SPIRITUAL JOURNEY

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POETRY FRIDAY

Off to the Beach

Ruth at There is no such thing as a God-forsaken town is our host from Uganda where she teaches. She shares a cheerful poem, For the Bird Singing Before Dawn by Kim Stafford.

My timing is off these days, so excuse my late entrance.

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Springtime DigiPoetry Brings Perpetual Astonishment

Beneath a sky of vivid blue and softened clouds, springtime opens its blooms. With "perpetual astonishment" (Ellis Peters), I watch nature's colors burst open in my garden.  

This vivid photo shares some of nature's brilliant creations. With the addition of poetry and a digital device, FotoJet, Spring sends a message of the beauty of her season. You can find more digital elegance captured in poetic verses at my padlet gallery, "Spring Seeds Grace April," which became my 2026 National Poetry Month project. 

A variety of poet friends, photographers, and artists collaborated with me throughout April and into May. But this collaboration did not start recently. It began in 2014, as I openly invited others to join me in designing galleries of artistic expressions with seasonal themes. On April 21, 2017, I wrote a blogpost, "Digipoetry is..." to explain my  loves: poetry, artwork, digital artwork and literacy. For this year's gallery, I started with a padlet, a place to create a living, digital gallery via a slideshow. I added in the theme of spring seeds gracing early spring in April, and thought "as spring flowers bloom, digital blossoms, and settings shall grow." 

"Spring adds a new life and new beauty to all that is." (Jessica Harrelson) So enjoy the various spring settings and let peace live in your space. Below is another image poem created when digipoetry touched my heart.

It may be late for my Poetry Friday blog but I watched the different formations of a Spring day. The day opened with beautiful weather, moved on to heated temperatures, and now it offers a gray sky, bold noises cracking, and a deep downpour. Whether your space is inside or outside, remember that your mind can blossom just like the blooms so be creative and let your imagination stir. 

Now, I am ready to enter the Poetry Friday Roundup hosted by Linda Mitchell who is celebrating the end of school. Even thought it rained a while ago, the sky is shedding light down on Earth, so celebrating life and children as Linda suggests brings a sense of calm to this spring day. You can find quotes about children and a beautiful piece of artwork to inspire you to blend art, imagery, with word weaving to create a springtime poem. My Padlet Gallery is open if anyone would like to share an image poem, ekphrastic poem, photo, art piece, or music, I would be delighted. 

Digital art by CVarsalona

Welcome to the Spring Seeds Grace April Padlet Gallery

Seeds gather.

Spring awakening unfolds.  

Poetic voices rise.

Photographers capture nature's beauty.

Artists gather at the door of spring. 

Creativity spreads in brilliant pops of color.

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It is time to view what Nature shares.

Click here to enter the gallery.

Then, press the Slideshow button to view each artistic expression that graces the gallery.

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Credits to the Following Contributors:

Verrena Diane Anderson

Ramona Behnke

Aurora Hartnett

Jill Dailey

Patricia Franz

Bob Hamera

Mary Lee Hahn

Denise Krebs

Jone MacCulloch

Kent Paulette

Joyce Ray

Margaret Simon

Carol Varsalona

Derek Varsalona

and 

28 poets who contributed to the Progressive Poem during National Poetry Month 2026

Tabatha Yeatts
Cathy Stenquist
Patricia Franz
Donna Smith
Janice Scully
Denise Krebs
Ruth Hersey
Rose Cappelli
Margaret Simon
Janet Clare Fagel
Diane Davis
Linda Baie
Linda Mitchell
Jone MacCulloch
Joyce Uglow
Carol Varsalona
Robyn Hood Black
Michele Kogan
Kim Johnson

Buffy Silverman
Irene Latham

Karen Edmisten
Heidi Mordhorst
Mary Lee Hahn
Tanita Davis
Sharon Roy
Tracey Kiff-Judson

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Thank you for viewing the Spring Seeds Grace April Padlet Gallery. I welcome any other contributor who would like to add an artistic expression to my padlet gallery. If you decide to include your image poem, song, photograph, or artwork, I will add your name to this blog post.

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Digital art of peonies by CVarsalona

This week's Poetry Friday Roundup's host is Mona Voelkel. She offers a lovely summer poem about the beach, "Sandcastle". Click here to read more.

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Since I am hosting The Spiritual Journey blog, I decided to share my blog post, This Spring Morning, I Pause and Reflect. Click here.

This Spring Morning, I Pause and Reflect

Fellow Spiritual Journey Friends,

On this spring morning, I know it is the moment to "Make Time", to pause and reflect on my spiritual journey. There is one word that has guided me since the beginning of 2026. 

Digital Collage for Opening Blog

Since New Year 2026, I travel the spiritual journey path with thoughts on my one word, restore, and a song, Restore My Soul, that reminds me to find my way. 

Seasons of Restoration

one word floats

like snowflakes'

rhythmic flight

                                         WINTER FLIGHT 

chilled winds blow

earth freezes

tears hold grief

                                      BEREAVEMENT

awaken

from winter's

loneliness

                                  TRANSITION

spring's bounty

revives life

in chaos

                                          GRIEF COUNSELING BEGINS

despite rain

hope opens

new fountains

                                 MID-SPRING

music soothes

lifts grief's weight

sings with birds

                                        SPRINGTIME WISH

hope swirls while

gardens bloom

life brightens

                                        MAY REFRESMENT

grace, peace, and 

memories

opens paths

                              MAY DAYS

summer wish

make time to

reflect, pause

                                        SUMMER BREEZES APPEAR

lead me on

find new paths

summer smiles

                           ONWARD 

©CVarsalona, May 2026, tricube sequence

Click here to listen to the song "Garden of Grace".

For a year, I passed through seasons of change. I listened to earth's movements, managed the walk (even after I fractured my foot last October), broke down as tensions stormed through life, grieved, held on to faith, and prayed in silence, noting that changes needed to unfold.

Where am I now?

I am ready to mingle, not be frightened by grief, and continue my spiritual journey. There is more to come, I am sure but for now, I feel the power of faith while holding on to hope.

Spiritual Journey 2026

Logo: Margaret Simon and Photo: Molly Hogan

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For those who walk with me on the Spiritual Journey, I am thankful. Our small community is filled with faithful companions and friends who believe in the spirit of life. I send wishes for a wonderful weekend. - Carol, June 2026 Spiritual Journey Host

Breathe in Spring's Air

I breathe in spring's air.

Morning freshness fills life.

Scents gardens; welcomes prayer,

Negates the gray and bitter strife.

Morning freshness fills life.

Pollen drops with gentle ease,

Negates the gray and bitter strife.

Birds coo from tree to trees.

Pollen drops with gentle ease,

Under awnings of sky clouds.

Birds coo from tree to trees.

City parks bring spring to crowds.

Under awnings of sky clouds,

Raindrops cascade leaving puddles.

City parks bring spring to crowds.

Nature lovers run in huddles.

©CVarsalona, 2026, pantoun poem

"Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...it's about learning to dance in the rain." -Vivian Greene

Mother Nature seems to love the month of April. Maybe this is because she can play with different weather patterns. She surprised me on Sunday with a long, whooshing rainstorm as I drove to Church and then to my grandgirls' house. Not until late afternoon did Mother Nature change her tune and let the sun shine. 

Another Surprise

As I sit writing, I hear little pings. Four colleagues have sent their image poems to my "Spring Seeds Grace April Gallery and Padlet". Thank you, Arejha (Bob Hamera), Ramona Benhke, Joyce Ray, and Denise Krebs. I invite others to add their artistic expressions to the theme.

Two Writing Teachers, a meeting place for a world of reflected writers.

National Poetry Month-Day 20/30

Friendship Is a Garden

Friendship is like a lasting garden through the years of life. It requires care, patience and time to blossom. Nature nurtures the garden each season so it flourishes. 

This month, friendships blossomed from one slice to the next. Some were new flowers springing forth, and others were deep-seated perennials. My garden was filled with peace and calming thoughts. The sun and earth supported my beds even though there were difficult climate changes. Yet, my garden of friendship weathered each moment as a lasting garden of strength. 

Gardens need care as spring sprouts. They need watering and weeding. Friendships need nourishment also. Both gardens and friendships grow over time. Trees become rooted and blossoms appear in different seasons, making for a diverse group of beauty. The Slice of Life community is a wonder-filled garden of friendship. Each slice appears as a flower of growing beauty. 

While my garden took time to battle through weather changes this year, it remains. I ask each flowering plant to honor the season of spring and blossom when possible at Two Writing Teachers' community. Imagine what beauty will appear in a garden of words. 

Dear Friends, each day of March you honor my garden with your strength and perseverance. May your new slices become seeds of growth in the garden of life. 

Drawf Cherry Tree 2026

stalwart you stand

testament to life

nature's bounty

©CVarsalona, Virginia, 2026

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It is cherry blossom season in Virginia. I was pleasantly surprised when my dward tree opened its blossoms this past weekend. I am equally pleased that Two Writing Teachers' gardens overflowed with beautiful blossoms this month. While I was unable to write each day, reading your blossoming slices brought the gift of friendship into my garden. Thank you, slicers, for making this challenge a lovely garden of resilience and beauty. 

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My

for March 30, 2026

Winter Always Turns to Spring

As winter turns to spring, I feel time fleeting by. I remember persevering during the winter months, as difficult as that was. Each day, I found one small way to unwrap twisted yarns. With bereavement counseling and support from my therapist, I walked away from each session with a spirit of hope. 

Time is fleeting. It floats through peaks and valleys. Nature moves backwards, then forwards. The sunshine of spring turns to pounding rain today. Somehow, it is therapeutic as it roars and then subsides into the darkness of morning. Nature nurtures my soul. Winter turns to spring. In its magical space of sunshine covered over by the grey of rain, I find hope floating in the air. Grief comes and goes like fleeting time. 

I ponder how I can poetically explain grief as it pours itself over me on dark days that transform into spring's warmth. I lean on spiritual faith and the power of nature to nurture and restore my grieving soul.

This month's Poetry Sisters challenge seems to be an overwhelming project for me. As I write, feelings flash in my heart. Yet, I try to make sense of my ravelled thoughts to create an Ovillejos poem that asks us to write tight little bundles of poetry. Tanita S. Davis explains the format. I thank her for the #PoetryPals invitation and the lovely graphic she added above.

"This Spanish poem bundles ten lines, made up of 3 rhyming couplets interspersed with three verrry short lines, and a quatrain. The last line is a redondilla, a little round that collects all three short lines and casts off the poem, as it were."

FLEETING TIME (Format List)

1. How does time slip away each day? (8syllables)  

2..It finds a way. (short answer)

3. Does time have power over me? (8 syllables)
4. Love lasts. (short answer)
5. Is there a balm for every soul? (8 syllables)
6. To make us whole. (short answer)

7. hough grieving moments spike, fade, roll, (summaring quatrain starts. 

8. Fleeting hours drift, I don't stray. 

9. My heart endures with hope I pray. 

10. Find a way. Love lasts. Make me whole.

 

So "winter always turns to spring" is a phrase I shall remember. The words of Nichiren Daishonin remind me that difficult times, such as this winter, reminds me to persevere because there will always be days that lead to better, brighter moments. On the positive side of time, I add this quote by Sophia Dembling from Psychology Today's Personal Perspective, "Grief and the Passage of Time". 

"Time is our friend in that it is the only thing that can dull the sharp edge of grief, although it can't end our grief, which is forever."

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The Poetry Friday Roundup is a wonder of challenges today. Besides it being the end of the month Poetry Sisters' Challenge, our Poetry Friday host, Marcie Flinchum Atkins is celebrating twilight. Her newest book, When Twilight Comes, is coming out on March 31st. Teachers and librarians can find activity copies for the book at her blog site. 

Marcie also invited readers to send a favorite photo of twilight and/or write a poem to celebrate twilight with her. 

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I am also celebrating the opening of springtime with the Two Writing Teachers, a meeting place for a world of reflective teachers. 

Day 27 for #SOLSC26 Challenge