Tis the Season to Celebrate

As fast as the snow came in, it was swept away on Sunday morning with the loud pelting of the rain. When that subsided, temperatures rose, then sprinkling raindrops fell. As my guests arrived for a holiday gathering, another loud sound arose but it was not the weather. Some guests shouted with glee. Others were startled. All ran outside to see and hear what happened. Can you guess what occurred?

It was not a flying saucer nor a commotion from the sky. 

There were lots of dazzling lights and loud fire truck sounds creating quite a stir in the neighborhood. For those who do not live on my side of the village, it was a brand new sight. For us who do live in the northern part of Rockville Centre, we were delighted to find a long parade of South Hempstead Fire Department trucks leading a very large sleigh filled with excited children and the grand master of the Christmas holidays, Santa Claus. It was Santa's annual Sunday-night-before-Christmas visit to the neighborhood. With a swoosh of light and sound, the firemen and Santa brought cheer and well wishes to all for a happy holiday.

As the holiday season officially starts, it is best to remember that life can be merry and bright beyond the holiday. What we need to do is be of good cheer, positive in spirit, and live life to its fullest potential. Let's bring on the spirit of the holidays at this time of year and continue it throughout 2017. It is our gift to our family, children, and students. 

Celebrate - Reflect - Live Life with a Positive Stance

soundtracks from santa
swoosh, swirl, shoutout cheer to all
2017 harmony
©CV, 2016

I am sharing my celebration slice with Two Writing Teachers , DigiLit Sunday, and #haikuforhealing, wishing all a happy holiday season.

Celebrate Writing Groups

When my soul needs a lift, I go to #celebratelu, the hashtag created by Ruth Ayres for Celebrate This Week writers, and #haikuforhealing group of writers, a community started by Mary Lee Hahn. They offer me either poetry or positivity. This weekend, I celebrate writing groups filled with those who live life to its fullest.

I celebrate the writing communities who send out their blogs via #celebratelu and #haikuforhealing for several reasons:

1. Creativity flows as freely as a fountain
2. Shared thoughts provide an entry into a new idea
3. Writing friends filled with poetic and positive thoughts appreciate each other's work
4. Love of language and writing is the universal bond
5. Stresses are released during the act of writing
6. All voices are honored

I wrote the poem below for #haikuforhealing last week before the prediction of a weather shift because the leaves were interfering in my decorating of the front lawn for the holidays. While I waited, not so patiently, for the gardener to arrive, I heard the news of the upcoming arctic blast and realized that my time was limited in decorating for Christmas. 

News flash! 

The arctic blast did come on Saturday, as predicted. Some of us in the neighborhood were surprised that it blew in quickly, leaving its mark across the lawns and streets.  I took a moment to reflect on my December 12th post, Writing Soothes the Soul, then, continued preparing for my holiday gathering with friends. 

arctic blast blew in

covering earth with its blanket

cozy time to write

I celebrate writing groups and the time to grow as a writer. Please visit #haikuforhealing and Celebrate This Week at Ruth Ayres' blog here. 

Poetry Friends

Throughout connected educators' lives, face-to-face or virtual friends will pass through, lining the chambers of our hearts. They spark conversations and weave tapestries of thought that bring us warm greetings, support, and understanding. They provide the mirror for us to look into and see who we are and how we choose to live our lives. They are kindred spirits, our community, our tribe whose lives are intertwined with ours. 

Poetry Friday is such a community of friends with positive, passionate people who embrace the love of poetry on a daily basis. Its circle of friendship is open to all who love the world of words and the craft of writing. 

My offerings today are responses to those who write alongside me:

• I opened my day to a haiku exchange started by Margaret Simon followed by Catherine Flynn. I join my friends to reply with this response. 

as nature opens its day

pen in hand glides across pages

haiku harmony 

©CV, 2016

• This week as I entered Long Island's superhighways to my destination, I saw morning unfold. The moon was full, a most unusual sight at dawn. I thought of Heidi Mordhorst's haiku about the fat full moon that I found at Mary Lee Hahn's hashtag, #haikuforhealing. The following words flowed. (mostly because I was disconcerted by the traffic flow):

weaving in and out

strange early morn urgency

fat full moon watches

©CV, 2016

• I like others in the Poetry Friday community are grateful to Michelle Heidenrich Barnes for compiling a lovely collection of poems that were showcased at her blog, Today's Little Ditty, and published into a book, The Best of Today's Little Ditty 2014-15 that came this week signed and with a special note. 

My entry

Life is a series of interactions and what better way to live it than filled with a circle of friends. 

Today is Poetry Friday's Round-up. Tabatha Yeatts is hosting so please visit her blog, The Opposite of Indifference here to read what is being offered by the community of writers.

2016 OLW Reflection

When Irene Latham suggested that the Spiritual Journey Thursday community founded by Holly Mueller reflect on their 2016 one little word, I wholeheartedly agreed. I have been on a continuous journey this year, following my word, #Believe, as it lit a path to possibilities.

When I first chose the word, I created a past, present, and future poem to trace what was and what could be. I found the word believe on kitchen towels and signs. I displayed it in my home as a reminder to keep the faith and believe in possibilities even when the path seemed unclear. 

With childlike faith

we come with open hearts

and listening ears,

waiting on the edge of today, 

aware of possibilities.

©CV, January 13, 2016

The 2016 journey is almost at an end. I am happy to say that many possibilities have become realities in both my personal and professional life. There are still roads to travel and paths to cross but with my previous words, openness, listen, and believe, I am ready for the challenges of 2017. 

Please listen to the powerful song, Believe, that I found last January. It has a very positive message that I have tried to adhere to this year.

#haikuforhealing

I retraced my steps to find my post with a simple creed that I created at the end of January. I believe that I have adhered to this stanza's words:

Here in your presence

I accept life as it is,

savoring what it beholds,

noticing each artistic blade

as a miracle of nature.

©CV, January 13, 2016

My one word, believe, served me well this year. It will be my guide transitioning me into 2017. Will you join me on the pathway to a new year of believing in the strength of the voice inside? 

Thank you to Holly Mueller for creating Spiritual Journey Thursday and Irene Latham for reviving it.

Writing Soothes the Soul

This month, a group of blogger/poets have been involved in writing to soothe our souls using the hashtag, #haikuforhealing created by Mary Lee Hahn. 

Yesterday, Catherine Flynn wrote a haiku alerting East Coast residents that snow was starting to fall in her area. That meant Long Island would be next according to the forecast. Sure enough, shortly after I saw Catherine's tweet tiny slivers of snow, almost invisible, started to hit my windshield. They were miniscule but snow nonetheless, so I created this #imagepoem in response to Catherine's haiku. 

wintery gray sky delivers on its promise:
fat flakes start to fall 
©Catherine Flynn, 2016

#haikuforhealing #commonplacemarvels 

My response:

I followed up with another:

it crept in slowly
watching its own descent
vanished in the night
©CV, 2016

This morning, I marveled at what I saw and wrote again.

snow touched upon earth
leaving faint trails to follow
rain took over reins
©CV, 2016

Today, life was busy so writing took a backseat until now. When I saw Irene Latham's tweet, peace was found and writing flourished. 

little poembird sings
peace - this end of autumn night
quiet requested 

It is amazing how writing soothes my soul at the end of day when the hustle and bustle of life took precedence. Can I encourage you to create alongside Mary Lee and her community of writers this month?

Please visit Two Writing Teachers because it is Slice of Life Tuesday. 

Peace to All!

Not Yet Ready

As the holidays approach, my hometown lights up like the brightest Christmas tree. Many outdoor exteriors are sparkling with a variety of decorations. White lights adorn most homes; colored lights are also seen; wreaths are hung with care. There are reindeer and snowmen properly placed on front lawns and one house has a giant dog sculpture greeting everyone who passes by. I am told it is a replica of the household dog. Even our cathedral is beginning to look more like Christmas as the priest made his way to the altar in a beautiful rose colored vestment tonight.

Christmas seems to be in the air, joy in the soul, and a chill outside. The snow has not yet made its way to Long Island, although I have been told that there were flurries in my little village this afternoon. While the town seems to be ready for the holidays, I celebrate the spirit of not yet ready as I wade through the last of the holiday boxes to prepare my home for the holiday celebration. 

Once my home is clutter free, I will be able to sit quietly in my living room admiring my tree and all the decorations that light up the inside of my home. 15 days left to prepare and the countdown begins. Not yet ready to the state of ready is where I hope to be soon.

clutter in the way
marking its territory
ready, get set, go
©CV, 2016

Did I mention that while I can exist in the state of temporary clutter, it makes me crazy? Where are the elves when I need them?

I Celebrate This Week with Ruth Ayres each weekend. You can access Ruth's site here. This week, Ruth has a message that I will treasure as I unwrap the last of the decorations in hopes of being ready!

I also celebrate #haikuforhealing, a December project created by Mary Lee Hahn for those who believe writing soothes the soul in turbulent times.

Celebrating Poetry Friday

Autumn is coming to a close here on Long Island with dipping temperatures and the meteorologists are bracing themselves for what is to come. Winter storms have already tussled with the landscape in other parts of the United States but I applaud Autumn for the marvelous colors that it bestowed on us this season. 

Final Autumn

Related Poem Content Details

BY ANNIE FINCH

Maple leaves turn black in the courtyard.

Light drives lower and one bluejay crams

our cold memories out past the sun,

each time your traces come past the shadows

and visit under my looking-glass fingers

that lift and block out the sun.

Come—I’ll trace you one final autumn,

and you can trace your last homecoming

into the snow or the sun.

Annie Finch, "Final Autumn" from Calendars, published by Tupelo Press. Copyright © 2003 by Annie Finch.  Reprinted by permission of the author.

You can listen to the audio reading of the poem here.

********************

I watch quietly 

as the stilled streets 

kiss their leaves goodby 

and autumn dances

its last waltz with

the twirling wind.

©CV, 2016, Long Island

I am currently working on the design of my Autumnventure Gallery 

so any last minute offerings will be accepted this weekend. 

Today's Poetry Friday Roundup is at Jone MacCulloch's blog site, Check It Out where Jone is announcing her New Year Poetry Post Card Exchange. 

I continue to write alongside Mary Lee Hahn and her community of writers at #haikuforhealing, the site she created for voices to be raised this December. 

Vessel of Peace

When writing is needed to soothe the soul, it is time to turn to #haikuforhealing created by Mary Lee Hahn. December is a hectic month and there seems little down time so today it was my time to slow down. The yoga studio was just what was needed. Within the dim lit space, serenity surrounded me.

Then, I followed the path of peaceful vibes to the cathedral. During the sermon, I listened, received, and now will share what evolved from the sermon on this national holyday. 

vessel of peace flow

saturate our longing hearts

nation bend your knee

 ©CV, 2016

In honor of Spiritual Journey Thursday created by Holly Mueller, I write this post and send it out to the community. 

Life's Fragile Moment

While it has been a few weeks since #NCTE16, I continue to reflect on the learning that occurred each day. There were many joyous events from the rekindling of friendships to new opportunities to notice and wonder. There were also a few solitary moments when I just needed to stop to savor the beauty of life. The reflecting pool at the Georgia World Congress Center allowed me a few moments of tranquililty on my way to my roundtable team's presentation, Authentic Voice in a Digital World: Using Technological in Our Literate Lives.

This #imagepoem is offered to Mary Lee Hahn for her #haikuforhealing challenge.

Stepping back into NCTE 16's world of learning has brought me to reflect on the slowing down of time. While it is normal to run from one event to another while at a large conference, in our daily routine it is important to slow down to savor life.

As the day comes to a close, quiet time brings writing time and so I compose my thoughts:

Reflective teachers are mindful of the fragility of life.

Each day they don the garb of zen masters

who listen, learn, and grow in wisdom.

True to self, as awakeners with purpose and patience,

they guide their students onto paths of

wonder, exploration, and discovery.

As facilitators, they provide authentic

opportunities where risk-taking is

encouraged and all voices honored.

Life calls each one of us to find the right mix of professional and personal life to enjoy. Being present in the moment is a gift we can give ourselves.

If you miss the present moment, you miss your appointment with life. That is very serious!" ~Thich Nhat Hanh

Today is Slice of Life Tuesday so please visit Two Writing Teachers here if you would like to read what other slicers are slicing about.

Winds of Change

While the temperature outside drops, a chill inside calls for reflection. 

Is the above #imagepoem what I want to say 

or 

is the following a better approach?

Is nature a predictor of what is to come?

I, along with other Poetry Friday community writers, continue to join Mary Lee Hahn this month during her #haikuforhealing initiative. May #poetrylove continue to thrive.

Gratitude for #Kinderpoets

Gratitude Gram created at
http://elementofgratitude.org/

Gratitude is a small package of warmth reaching open hearts and minds. I am sending my thanks to a Massachusetts teacher and her kinders who accepted my invitation to write alongside me for my upcoming Autumnventure Gallery. 

Christie Wyman and her #WymanWonders, a Kindergarten class of interested young poets, and I struck up an interesting relationship via Twitter this year. It resulted in several tweets, emails, a shared Google Doc and a pathway to writing using the season of autumn as a backdrop for the integration of poetry, technology, and art. 

Flip flopping between a nondigital platform and a digital one, Christie's kinders have not only embraced the spirit of the #poetrylove hashtag but went beyond talking about fall to creating list poems with illustrations. Their voices rose in a collective chorus to become a global conduit for spreading the joy of appreciating poetry year round. 

You can see the Wyman's Wonders class poem and the above video featuring individual kinder poems and Christie's poem, Season for the Senses, at my Autumnventure Gallery that will be unveiled soon.

What are the ingredients for a class' poetic journey into digital writing?

A passionate teacher 

a group of engaged learners 

interest and desire to notice & wonder

collaborative talk as a pre-writing stage

a creative environment to spark writing from talk

the writing process leading to poetic writing

digital tools to support, inspire, and create

reflection, feedback, and celebration

My gratitude is extended to Christie Wyman and Wyman's Wonder who eagerly engaged in sharing their voices for a global share-out of #poetrylove.

Please visit #DigilitSunday at Margaret Simon's blog site here to read what the community is writing on Margaret's topic of gratitude. 

Blessings of Nature

While the world passes by with hustle and bustle speed, the soul needs times to rest and be restored. Writing is a remedy to soothe the soul. 

**************

This December, Mary Lee Hahn has provided space for writers to write alongside her using the hashtag, #haikuforhealing.

**************

Reflection:

As I stepped outside yesterday, I found patches of leaves lining my walkway. Amidst the clutter of autumn decorations boxed for their attic return and Christmas decorations parading down the stairs, the outside leaves marked the passing of one season to the next. While I was not saddened by that, I did feel overwhelmed with the clutter that filled the front area of my home. A fluttering started inside and I knew it was time to step back and reflect.

Celebrating the seasons is a joyful act so I must remember while preparing for transitions, writing helps to quiet the busyness around me so that the blessings of nature can fill the soul.

I Celebrate This Week with Ruth Ayres and her blogging community today.

Enjoy the first weekend of December.