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 

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for my 2024 National Poetry Month Project

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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.

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

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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.

Everyday Miracles

Are there times in your life when you pause to breathe in and breathe out the gentle rush of the wind or stand in awe of a small flower growing in a spot you did not plant? The act of wondering strengthens our ability to find calm in an upside-down world but challenges are ever-present. It is faith that helps us journey onward. 

Bob Hamera, aka arjeha, is this month's host of our Spiritual Journey community of writers. His topic concerns: "What miracles have graced your life?" He also found a song, Flower Drum Song, "A Hundred Million Miracles" to reflect upon. In response to Bob's questions, I have witnessed everyday miracles, such as the awakening of seasons and my little grandgirls enjoying nature's bounty. I have seen medical miracles, the continuance of life after the traumatic birth of my son who almost died the first week in ICU, and the celebration of twenty years of remission from non-Hodgkins lymphoma. Both of these events brought fear and anxiety into a fragile life but faith sustained me through the power of prayer and medicine. 

Miracles are not magical. They are precious, spiritual gifts bestowed on the land and the living. They are powerful signs from God, the Divine Giver. The free graphic below speaks of the greatest miracle, the rising of the Lord from the depths of death.

                                                                             

By The Girl Creative blog

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I found a poem by Walt Whitman, Miracles, that is uplifting. It starts with a question and follows with "As to me I know of nothing else but miracles". I believe in miracles but I need to pause more often to fill my heart with the joys of small, everyday miracles.

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Why, who makes much of a miracle?

Strike line from Walt Whitman's Poem, Miracles

                     

I am blessed by miracles big and small. Then, why 

do I question nature's nurturing of the earth? Who 

hears my heart beating so fast that it makes

me rush into daily life? Much

perseverance is needed on this journey of

faith. I commit to pause more and be thankful for each miracle.                        

©CVarsalona, April 2024

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Welcome to my Poetry Parade

for National Poetry Month 2024

I invite you to join my Poetry Parade this month.

If interested, create an image poem on any spring topic,

such as nature, sports, animals, etc.

I will create a Poetry Parade Padlet to insert your poem.

More information will be offered later in the week.

National Poetry Month Marches In

It's time for another Poetry Parade during National Poetry Month. April is the month I refine past poems and write new ones. Spring brings renewal to life, so I dedicate this month to a revival of life. Some of my poems need to be revived and others need to blossom. 

During the month I will visit other Poetry Friday friends who enjoy playing with words and writing poetrylicious poetry. Another wonderful stop this month is the 2024 Progressive Poem, now directed by Margaret Simon. Click here to see the opening lines. Leo Tolstoy's statement below with my digitized nature background inspires me to observe the season's evolution and add new plants, poems, and digital artwork to my collection of spring's blossoming time.

April comes once each year

with raindrops spilling onto earth.

Winter does not disappear 

as daffodils begin rebirth.

With raindrops spilling onto earth

blossoms whisper in delight.

Daffodils begin rebirth.

Little buds try to sprout upright.

Blossoms whisper in delight

as the weather turns and tosses.

Little buds try to sprout upright.

Earth pleads its causes.

As the weather turns and tosses,

 nature continues nurturing life.

Earth pleads its causes

Despite environmental strife.

Winter does not disappear

but slowly pauses and retreats.

April comes once each year.

Spring refreshes and takes its seat.

©CVarsalona, March 2024, pantoum

Welcome to my Poetry Parade

for National Poetry Month 2024

I invite you to join my Poetry Parade this month.

If interested, create an image poem on any spring topic,

such as nature, sports, animals, etc.

I will create a Poetry Parade Padlet to insert your poem.

More information will be offered later in the week.

Thank you Two Writing Teachers for the March 2024 Slice of Life Story Challenge. 

Even with life's interruptions, I wrote 20 slices during the month-long writing challenge.

Easter Sunday Thoughts

Today, morning broke with sunshine that pierced through the sky. Churchbells chimed in sync to verify the truth. Resurrection Sunday brought renewal to life, whether it be human life or nature's tending to the earth. Spring's path will continue with its sweet scents floating through the sky like burning incense rises and perfumes an altar. 

As the 40 days of Lent ended, so has the 31 days of the 17th Annual Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Story Challenge. Challenges may have created pauses along the way but faith brought each writer closer to the end of a faithful journey. May each new friend I met find continue to write with zest and the many slicers I have met throughout my 10 years of slicing continue to meet each Tuesday of the year. I look forward to continued friendships.

As evening slows life down,

Memories of this Easter Sunday family day

Spins around like a top.

Faith and love connect.

Blossoms open.

Hearts renew.

©CVarsalona, 3/31/2024

Successful Easter Egg Hunt  

Day 31 ends the journey. I extend sincere gratitude to the leaders of Two Writing Teachers for opening their space that brings reflective writers together from across the globe.  

The Easter Triduum

Last night started the Sacred Tridum, a solemn three-day period leading to Easter Sunday. These final days of Lent are honored by my family each year. I offer a sigo poem from today's Good Friday service,  7 Last Words.

A sigo consists of three lines of 14-16 syllables each. Each line contains a pause near the middle. The first half of the line contains six to nine syllables; the second half should contain no fewer that five syllables. The first line introduces an idea or story, the second supplies a turn, and the third provides closure.  

 The Sacred Tridumm

Disciples gathered at the Lord's supper unaware

treachery brewed within, scourging, crowning with thorns, crucifixion

until Resurrection Sunday when a miracle evolved.

Draft©CVarsalona, March 2024, sigo

icon written by Julia Stankova

gathering of friends

sleeping not waiting

as requested

do we also not listen

not hear spoken words

time to awaken and renew commitment

©CVarsalona, March 2024, cherita

Thank you arjeha, aka Bob Hamera, for suggesting a sijo poem. 

I offer this Slice of Life to Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Story Challenge.

Day 29. The month-long writing challenge is nearing an end. I am delighted to have met new slicers while chatting with writers who have become friends.

Poetry Peeps Challenge as March Marches On!

A few years ago, I was invited to view my first hummingbird. It looked like a little fairy as it flitted around my friends' upper deck. I tried to take a photo but it popped up and down playing peek-a-boo with me. Hence, no photo was captured, but I was delighted ans inspired by the tiny bird's sight.

The above creative invitation is from the Poetry Sisters.

Tanita, Laura, Mary Lee, Liz, Sara, Tricia, and Kelly.

Pantoum poems are marvelous nuggets of repetitive lines.

You can read more about this poetic form here.

Hummingbird's Flight

a small fairylike bird hummed

while moving through the windless sky

with no care in the world, it shunned

my camera as if it were shy

while moving through the windless sky

playing peekaboo it avoided

my camera as if it were truly shy

then flitted away - beak pointed

playing peekaboo it avoided

photos though fancily dressed

then flitted away - beak pointed

flying backward toward the west

©CVarsalona, 2024

I also penned a pantoum to two seasons, winter and spring  

You can read my "Seasons Transition" blog post with the pantoum here.

Exciting News!

Laura Purdie Salas' new kidlit book, Oskar's Voyage, arrived. 

Stay tuned for my book review of this amazing story.

 is hosted this week by

 one of the talented Poetry Sisters, Tricia Stohr-Hunt,

 at The Miss Rrumphius Effect blog. 

Enjoy the Poetry Friday Roundup!

I also offer this Slice of Life to Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Story Challenge.

Day 28 with thanks for their month-long writing challenge.

Weird Words

Being a wordynerdy writer is wordplay fun. I remember my upper elementary years. My teacher told the class to have a dictionary nearby while reading. That was a boring idea but I bought the dictionary. I learned soon enough that I needed the book to enhance my vocabulary. Years later, I still love learning new words and was excited when Leigh Anne Eck invited Two Writing Teacher writers to her March 2024 SlicerParty with its theme, Word Buffet. 

I responded to Leigh Anne with five interesting words for her word buffet. You can see the five words I sent her for the party here. Today, I found a list of weird words and chose 6 to send to Leigh Anne as party favors.

Lollygagers

enjoy lounging lazily or dawdling.

They may be lackadaisical wanderers

or overconfident whippersnappers

but they seldom make a kerfuffle.

A lollygager may say, "Poppycock!

 I enjoy strolling with my faithful kennebaker".

draft ©CVarsalona, 2024

Can you guess the meaning of the underlined words? Check out the parade.com link here. Have fun expanding your lexicon with some of the weird/not-so-common words.

I offer this Slice of Life to Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Story Challenge.

Day 27

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.

Winter-Spring Tug of War

When I woke up yesterday morning, I could barely see outside. The rain came tumbling down, making a trip to the hair stylist unpleasant. Luckily, my husband saved the day and drove me thinking there would be little traffic. What a surprise to find that the highway was filled with huge trucks and drivers in a rush. In addition, the temperature was colder than expected. The heavy rainstorm and cold winds did not stop the traffic. We were surprised to see several trucks lined along the highway waiting for the unrelenting rain to stop. The long trip was filled with pounding rain until I reached my destination. 

I reflected on yesterday's poem, Season's Transitions. The first stanza is below. 

winter winds wistfully whisper

a tingling tune across night sky

rejecting departure, earth's resistor  

allows spring to sashay by

You can read the full draft of the poem here and then

see what you think of my image poem below.

waves of water slide

down in unstoppable rain

seasons' tug-of-war

©CVarsalona, 2024

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I offer this Slice of Life to the 2024 Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Story Challenge on Day 24 instead of 23. After the storm, the long ride to the hair stylist, and Saturday night Mass, I fell asleep while writing this slice (not an unusual experience for me this winter).

Day 24

Will March exit like a lion or lamb?