Author: southerngrandmother

My hone is in North Carolina, my residence is the in the Western NV Mountains. I am an educator, poet, published author. At this aging stage of life I find wonder in the manifestations of creation, continue to seek wisdom to guide my path. I cherish being the mother of four, and soon the grandmother of four. My pleasures include hiking, playing dulcimer, and dabbling at art journaling.

Fuchsia Flash

Note: months since my word space felt the stirring to share;
and then there is a moment I desire to shout out;
words I know have a power

Winter words buried in silence,
Spring stirring inner reflections
evokes a shared exclamation.

This morning thunder clapped,
lightning appeared before
dawn skies arrived. 

I heard the dogwoods sigh 
as a downpour of rain 
quenched their thirst

Muggy noontime, sun awakens
Hanging pots of fuchsia,
waiting for hungering hummingbirds, 

An unexpected invitation 
To stop and see – what beauty
transforms in any given moment.

A portal opens, delights emerge,
Prompting my spirit to
Take in the good, 

Revel in the moment of
joy awakening.
Say aloud 

Here, hear,
Words to share
I want to lift you too. 

After the Melt

Plowed snow boulders along curbside,

Industrious squirrels in hunting gear

Cranky crows, afternoon squabbles

Scattered limbs, crushed acorns and walnut shells,

Two skinny snow figures, standing sentinels;

Under the dogwood, brave daffodils emerge,

green fingers holding tightly wrapped buds.

A slight wind stirs up conversation, twittering

maple twigs and crackling white oak leaves.

Nature welcomes winter’s unhurried pace

While celebrating signs of transformation..

All is Calm. All is Right.

In my now time

The leaves fall

One by one,

The autumn dance

 is nearly done.

A single yellow bloom,

In the leaf-buried garden

Gives an Unexpected showing,

Ignites an Unanticipated Joy,

 

Reminder of an unseen force,

A nurturing presence, while trees

settle for winter and roots ready

to stir up new life

Can you feel it?

All is Calm. All is Right.

Now that is a world

To dream about,

Imagine a time when

the power of peace rules.

Truth is the norm,

Justice takes root.

We enter into yet another winter.

Hopes burdened with the past,

While love bears the promise,

the possibility of a new spring.

Daisy in November

Lesson from the Coneflower

In the August reach of summer
the coneflower is content
To be, bearing witness
to earth joys, inviting bees and
butterflies to feast on sweet
vanilla scented nectar.
Breeze stirs, flower sways,
neither sweats nor toils.

To be, just to be for
a short while sitting
with the coneflowers,
bathed in the spirit of delight.
Breathe in gratitude,
Breathe out contentment.

Just To Be

Generous Sun

Catching the shimmering glimmering
sparkle through the kitchen window,
I accept an invitation to come and see.

Moving through the rain drop jewels
scattered on the green clover lawn
I think, yes, this is good.

A touch of wonderment, a moment’s
release from the day’s difficult whatevers. 
I seek the source of the morning gleam.

In new shoots of the kousa dogwood
cupped leaves hold droplets of water
dancing in the rays of a generous sun. 

Just yesterday I wanted to recall
the taste of joy. What return
can I make for such goodness?

Gratitude that evokes attention,
Awareness; care, concern;
regard for the ongoing relationship.

Pooling Words

Inside the entrance of a museum in Boston is a fountain and the waters rising up carry words. Words begin to form phrases. Phrases swept with light across the floor rise up on the walls as passages of wisdom.

Never before or after have I witnessed such an impressionable image of words coming to life.

I savor words and phrases,
Truth seeking wisdom,
Sources of life, love,
courage, union;
Words that enlighten,
refreshing my desire
for understanding
and my purpose
to live fully, wholly.

Holy, prophet, word-bearer
casting words like seeds;
trusting grace and nature
will find the proper opening
where they may take root.

Here – catch
Love transforms;
Justice sustains;
Oppression destroys;
Grace restores;
Choose courage.

We can make a better word;
We know what that looks like.

Reflecting

Not a Wilderness

Weeks, months pass
with no words to post.
“How about that!”
These have not been
wilderness months.
I connect, create,
explore, expand,
understand, appreciate;
mourn the losses,
cheer the resilient,
advocate for equity.
Splendors appear
outside my windows
postcard ponderings
arrive in the mailbox,
teabags  tucked into
note cards from friends;.
Mandala meditations,
dulcimer duets,
long walks with my
rescue-in-training
Then a March stirring,
flow of words appearing
on red tips of maples.
Yes, how about that!

A Pandemic Year in Haiku

My Glory Be Year
Dissipated in Dis-ease
Gathered up in Love

Being home alone
A solitude that settles
Like a day of grace.

Virus imperils
Body with deep aches and pains
Slow recovery

Sadness marks our days
Counting those lives lost, failed dreams,
Life won’t be the same.

Sun, rain, summer days
Long walks detouring around
Changing horizon

In March sycamores
leafed green, today a golden
arch marks time and change.

Anticipating
Fall, harvest traditions masked
With disappointment

Holding together
In our trials and triumphs
We are not alone.

Mercy, gratitude
Good things zoom into close view,
Feasts for Diversion

Inspired by Brian Bilston FB “Year to Date”

Mockingbird Chat

Mimic
Imitator
Fierce protector of home
Sharply demands that visitors
Move on.

But wait,
King of Songbirds,
My porch, my cedar tree, your nest,
I am willing to share my space,
And you?

Grey Bird
White banded wings
Tail upright, eye-to-eye
Insists this space is his domain,
Move on.

From pole
He announces
To all who will listen
Intruder alert, stay away,
Take flight,

Listen
Clearly I say
Let’s be friends, not foes,
He stands his ground, going nowhere
That’s that.

Mocking Bird  Chat in Cinquains

Take a look at Crapsey’s Cinquains
http://www.poetrymagnumopus.com/topic/621-crapsey-cinquain-and-some-of-its-variations/