A Poetic Round of Seasons

The summons-

winter wildflowers

waterfalls frozen in a moment.                                 

                

The birds SANG!-

two season intertwine

guardians of Spring's door.

Skyscrapers in the woods-

dance of joy

Spring serenade.

Small masterpieces-

golden warrior

the knowledge of trees.

Love in the lilacs-

Comforting coo

Beauty, gratitude, peace.

                                                                                                           Ombre blue-

innocence

stillness' illusion.

Summer lights-

embrace or wither

a square of sunshine

jewels of a storm.

Flowers= memories and smiles-

some love for shade

am I that acorn?

Caught in a glance-

beams of heaven

summer slips to September.                                                                                                               

Reiterate wishes-

behold the beauty

nature= truly me.

The beauty in an ending-

fading mask

maturing to let go.

Bathing in a forest-

beautiful or horrific?

shining delight- December sunlight.

                                                                                                    

A whispered wish-

triggered transformation

accumulating quiet.

                                                                                                        Beautiful winter blues-

a cry unfrozen

a poetic round of seasons.

I honestly can't believe that I have been posting to this blog for a year. The first post was February 15, 2021. I have walked and written through all four seasons. I hoped to have captured the beauty that nature possesses during the changing seasons in my words and photos. 

The above poem is a Found poem.  I just took the titles of my blog posts in order and the above poem is the result. I was surprised at how well the titles could flow from one to the other- well,except- Am I that acorn?

I want say thank you to...

• you, the reader. I hope you have enjoyed the posts and experiencing the awe the can be found in nature.
• Jen Knight Laffin for inviting me to Time to Write and Teach Write. You made me be able to say- I AM A WRITER! Your coaching was so valuable to me. It made me be able to put my words out into the world.
• Donnetta Norris and Teach Write for offering courses that helped me develop as a writer and specifically how to begin a blog. Donnetta - you were a wonderful teacher!
• Greg and Felicia for going on hikes with me in all types of weather. 

Thank you for reading through a year. I hope that you will continue to check in with this blog. I will keep walking, writing and sharing. 

A Cry Unfrozen

 

Another's light spurs warmth from within

Unfreezing and changing hardness

to quiet tears traversing

the formed frigid facade

of rippled shadows

along the path

to release...

freedom

.

.

.

drops

The sun was glinting off the icicles hanging in front of my window. The rays touched them bringing light as well as shadows. They were frozen beauty. As I watched, I noticed that small drops of water, maybe snow tears, were gliding down the edge of the icicle with all of its bumps, ripples and slopes. As the drops reached the tip, they clung for a moment almost afraid to let go and plunge into the unknown. Then there was the release and freedom for a few moments in freefall. 

As I watched, it struck me that we are like icicles in the sun. We may show a tough skin to the world but when another's kindness or compassion touches us, we soften a bit. Sharing their warmth, through even the smallest act or just the right words, warms us from within. This kindness can free tears that travel down our faces but also flow through the path of hardness created by hurt. Often these tears can be cathartic. After those tears dry, a new feeling of freedom or hope fills us. 

I know that I have definitely experienced this many times in my years. Thank you to those who have been the warmth to help ease my hardened heart. 

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.

Beautiful Winter Blues

 

Cerulean pool

Deep depressions bloom in snow

Colors of the light

While out snowshoeing last weekend, I noticed one of my favorite winter phenomena- BLUE snow! In the holes made by ski poles, blue light glowed out across the endless white field before me. It looked like blue flowers blooming in winter. (This photo is truly what I saw last weekend! There are no filters applied. I don’t think the photo does it justice. It was much more beautiful and awesome.)

So I came home to investigate how this happens. It doesn’t happen all the time so I was curious. To paraphrase from an article on Webexhibits.org- Sunlight is white light. As sunlight penetrates deep snow, red and yellow light is absorbed  and filtered leaving the blue light. Deeper snow filters out more of the other wavelengths. That is why we see blue when we look into the depressions. 

The beautiful blues of winter!

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.  

    

Triggered Transformation

 

32 degrees

triggers transformation.

Oxygen atoms plus the four nearest hydrogen neighbors

bond in a rigid lattice

stretched with openness,

as a paper thin sheet of frozen crystals

encrusts

the pond. 

I was walking a trail the other morning, actually one of the only mornings below freezing that we have had this year, when I was stopped by the beauty of the sun reflecting off the ice (it also has been pretty gray around here).  It just made me stop and notice one of the beauties of winter that cannot happen in any other season.  

Then it made me wonder- how does ice really form? how can it form such a thin layer?  I went home and googled more information about how water turns from liquid to solid. It is a pretty amazing thing that happens with this liquid becoming less dense as a solid. The new learning I had inspired the poem above.

I love how a simple walk caused a wonder that brought me new learning and understanding. 

A Whispered Wish

A garland of white 

lays gently atop the glossy, serrated leaves 

as vivid ruby berries 

adorn the thin brown branches.

Mother Nature whispers,

“Merry Christmas” to the world. 

Finally, last weekend snow covered the ground-at least for a few hours. It looked so beautiful cascading to earth. As I paused in my wrapping, I glanced out the window. I noticed that my holly bush looked like it had been decorated for Christmas. The snow was captured by the leaves allowing it to encircle the bush. The red berries were clustered in groups adding vibrancy to the darker green. It seemed that nature was prepared to join in the joyous celebration of Christmas. 

Thank you Mother Nature for making me see the beauty in the season and the gift of recognizing the joy in small things. 

Shining Delight- Ode to December Sunshine

 Oh sunshine

brightening the dawn's sky

announcing the day will be fine

the storm has blown by.

Oh sunshine

you cast energy into me

chasing away my cloudy whine

changing the way I see.

Oh sunshine

my face basks in your light

weaving through branches of pine

 spreading warmth to all in your sight. 

Oh sunshine

you are pure delight

the world's hopeful sign

glowing with positive golden might.

Awakening this morning to a quiet, calm that replaced the rushing, powerful destructive winds of the night. It is truly amazing how the weather can be completely different in a very short amount of time.

Looking out the window, I noticed blue sky and sunshine.  SUNSHINE!!! Immediately, I knew this was going to be a great day. There was no gloomy gray cloudiness that is often the daily existence in December. I knew I needed to get outside and soak in as much vitamin D as possible. 

Walking with the sun warming my face, just brought forth a feeling of love for this glowing orb in the sky.  It does so much more for me than just provide light and warmth. It brightens my soul and gives positivity to my perspective. Thank you for all that you provide me with oh sun!

Poetry form : Ode

An ode is a lyrical poem that praises or glorifies. This ode was inspired by my walk today and wanting to praise the sun.