Accumulating Quiet

Flake by flake

Hour by Hour 

Inch by inch

                        a dusting,

                        whitening,

                        a hushing.

Flake by flake

Hour by hour

Inch by inch

                        blanketing,

                        covering,

                        quieting.

Flake by flake

Hour by hour

Inch by inch

                    a hiding,

                    disguising,

                    a nestling.

Flake by flake

Hour by hour

Inch by inch

                    cocooning,

                    silencing,

                    all-stilling.

The snowstorm arrived! The world is covered in white.

It began last night. Peeking out the window before bed, there was a delicate dusting of snowflakes across the ground and rooftops. The snow was offering a lullaby to the world.

Looking out the window this morning, the dusting had grown to inches and then feet. Driveways, sidewalks and bushes were hidden by a smooth blanket of white. Cars were disguised by drifts and cascades of snow. The only sounds heard were those of snowplows, snowblowers and scrapping shovels.

The snow continued its accumulation during the day. This blanket of white brought a stillness to the regular hectic schedule of life. People cocooned in their cozy homes enjoying the joys of a snow day.  

    

Am I that Acorn?

 

Tossing, turning, submerging, floating

Through cresting, crashing rhythmic waves

Cascading towards the shore

Grounded by gritty sand

As water retreats

A voyager

Rests in sun

Stillness

Calm

I was walking along the shore of Lake Ontario earlier this week and came upon a unique voyager on the waves. I stopped to watch as an acorn was batted about on the incoming waves. At times, it was visible, then not. It was upright and then topsy-turvy. Finally, it was deposited on the soaked sands as the waves retreated back into the lake. It’s wet shell glistened in the sun as it lay in stillness surrounded by other trinkets moved by the powerful force of water. I wonder if it was glad to find a resting place.

As I watched this acorn, I realized that I traveled the same path through this last year- being upright then the world being upside down. Being batted around by things out of my control- COVID, masking and social distancing guidelines, school guidelines changing daily, my college kids home then away then home. I felt like I was washed ashore at the end of the school year in June. I was able to just BE in summer stillness soaking up the sun. I had time to surround myself with friends who had made it through too and share our stories and complex feelings. I know that I was extremely glad to find a resting place for a few months this summer. I plan to soak up the last few weeks of just BEING.

Poetry Form: Nonet - a 9 line poem that has 9 syllables in the first line, 8 syllable in the 2nd line and so on. The last line contains 1 syllable.

Stillness’ Illusion

mirrored

stillness

sunlight glistening  on water

water on glistening sunlight

stillness

mirrored

Moments of pure joy and delight fill me when I have the opportunity to kayak on mirrored stillness. It is like gliding through the sky as your kayak makes ripples in the clouds, sky and sun. The only sounds are the drips off your paddle as the water flows outward from your boat breaking the pure calm. You feel as though you are doing something unnatural, sailing through the sky!  It is magical- honestly. A moment to savor as nature provides you this illusion.

Poetry form: Palindrome poem

Location: Mendon Ponds, NY