painted pictures
hint
of past circumstance,
longing
in our hearts to dance
In response to the WDYS #90 prompt from Keep it Alive, by Sadje.
Haiku #31
Monthly Archives: July 2021
beyond the horizon
I love to stare off
into the distance, and
witness the birth,
and newness of each
moment,
arising, sometimes
disguising,
and always, always,
mesmerizing
me, while
also
moving me
from deep within,
to another place
and time, and
rejoining me
with
all my kin
beyond hope,
and fear, a land
full of dreams, which
comes and goes, as quick
as my heart beats thin
slowly dancing
to each moments
memory, and
the scope
of our collective hope
transfigured,
I realize these moments
last an eternity,
as the leaves
cascade down
from their mast
and, I
cast
my eyes beyond
the horizon, breathe
in deep,
and thank everyone,
and everything
around me
for the solitude,
and joyousness
I feel at last
The Moments Prose Published at Spillwords!
I would be honored if you would visit Spillwords and read, and or, reread my poem, The Moments Prose, thank you.
Have you ever lost a love
so close,
it’s left you spinning,
and in need
of a heart to slow?
It’s as if you tucked
this love away….
You can read the rest of The Moments Prose, here. Thank you again, my friends.
a heart filled to the brim
heart
beating fast,
faster,
and then faster,
slowing down
not an option,
nor is the feeling
in my gut, protracted,
and put back
together again,
without much in the way
of a knowing,
as our beautiful sun
keeps glowing
without protection,
breeze blows me
one way,
and then another,
reeling…
and,
then,
I’m feeling,
light and heavy
all at the same
time,
is this a paradox
in healing, or
is there
something else here,
and I’m just not sensitive
enough
to know it’s presence
within my heart’s beating?
breathing,
a memory,
a hint of something
in store,
stirs me from the floor,
and all at once,
I feel for
everyone,
and everything
we’ve called our home
since time’s
memory came
into
my very core
notice not coming,
and,
deep down,
the shift
in awareness
creates contemplation
once more
a sigh,
a smile, and,
the revelation
creates continuity
in being,
breathing
the awareness in,
I take all of life within,
and seal this day
with a silent prayer,
and a heart
filled to the brim
a beacon for another day
complications
abound
when we tarry,
our heads splitting
with fever
and shame’s
carry
unable
to turn on our
heart’s light,
feeling
the movement
of the breeze,
becomes agony
of the senses, as
we plead with everyone
we see,
and yet, we
still
silently believe
in something
grander,
larger than
this life
still, we cannot
grasp the
meaning,
due to
all the past,
and,
present fraught
we’ve been taught
even the future
abounds
with calamities
in our
mind’s eye,
detailed out, with
immense
feelings of
our own creation
yet,
in that silence
created long ago,
hidden
from view
for a generation
or two
a movement
rebounds,
strikes a chord,
seemingly distant,
and, right at our
very door
and,
just like that
a kindling
of some other
kind
is ignited,
takes flame,
and becomes
a beacon
for another day
Golden Bloggerz, Brainstorm, Liebster, and Aesthete Award Nominations
I am again relegating my diary entry this week, in favor of honoring 4 inspirational blogger’s for nominating me to 4 different blogging awards. Ready? Good. Here we go.
Golden Bloggerz Award
I would like to thank Ace, of Fearless Free Soul for nominating me for the Golden Bloggerz Award. I connected with Ace through Diana’s blog, and am so glad I did. Ace’s blog is full of inspirational writings, videos, music, artwork, and more. If you’ve not yet checked out Ace’s blog, please do so, thank you.
What is the Golden Bloggerz Award?
The Golden Bloggerz Award was created by Chris Kosto to motivate and reward all the amazing bloggers who work hard every day to serve their audiences and deserve some recognition.
The Rules
- Place the award logo on your blog.
- Mention the rules.
- Mention the award creator and link to their blog.
- Thank whomever nominated you and link to their blog.
- Tell your audience three things about you.
- Answer your nominator’s questions.
- Nominate 10 people who deserve this award.
- Ask the nominees 5 questions of your choice.
- Let the nominees know of their nomination by commenting on their social media or blog.
- Share links to 2-3 of your best/favorite posts.
- Three Things About Me
Three things about me
- I live in Oregon.
- I love the sun.
- I work in educational leadership.
Ace’s Questions
- What does freedom mean to you?
- Freedom is being uninhibited by oneself and others. Being able to live the fullest life possible free from constraints, either created from within, or without.
- What’s one thing you do without thinking?
- Hmmmm. There are so many! Driving, meditating, writing, living, and loving.
- Favorite childhood memory?
- Running around the backyard in the first home my parents owned. I think I was about 5. I have this vivid memory of watching the movie Rocky, and then running around the backyard, singing the movie’s the theme song. A lovely memory.
- If the whole world could hear you for three words, what would you say?
- Love each other.
- Do you think perception or belief comes first?
- All thinking and feeling emanates from mind. Perception therefore is a precursor to belief, just as belief is a precursor to perception. A paradox, just like the whole world, and all of life.
Favorite Posts From My Blog
I consider all posts my favorites, so here are three recent posts.
I want to thank my dear friend, Ace, again for the lovely nomination. A wonderful connection to a powerful and inspirational blogger!
Brainstorm Award
I would like to thank Filarance, of Words of Me for nominating me for the Brainstorm Award. I actually cannot remember exactly how I found Filarance’s blog, yet, I do know that I am so glad that I did. Filarance’s blog is full of wonderful writings, fun games, and riddles, riddles, riddles. A lovely blog, and blogger. If you’ve not yet checked out Filarance’s blog, please do so, thank you.
Rules
- Thank the one who nominated you
- Tag your post with #BrainStormsAward and follow BrainStorms if you are willing!
- Display the BrainStorms Award logo.
- Display the rules on your blog post.
- Talk a bit about your blog, why you started it, what you write on and your goal for your blog.
- Answer the five questions you have been asked
- Nominate five other amazing bloggers
- Ask them five new questions
- Answers to Nabeeha’s questions
Filarance’s Questions
- What would your ideal day be like?
- Living, loving, laughing, reflecting, contemplating, and being in action.
- Most uplifting song?
- Oooooh. I am currently listening to one right now! It’s called Guilty, by Yonaka.
- Do you have any pets.
- Though I do enjoy animals, I do not have any animals right now.
- What’s your favourite flower?
- Lilies.
- Tea or coffee.
- Tea.
- What do you hope readers take away from your blog?
- Inspiration, hope, and love.
I would like to thank my dear friend, Filarance, again for the wonderful nomination. Another wonderful connection, to yet another wonderful blogger.
The Liebster Award
I would like to thank Laura, of Lotus Laura for nominating me for the Liebster Award. I started following Laura’s blog pretty early on in my blogging journey, and am so glad to have continued to watch Laura’s blog grow and develop. Laura’s blog is full of, well, all kinds of writings, creativity, history, food, and much more. If you’ve not yet checked out Laura’s blog, please do so, thank you.
Rules
- Thank the blogger who nominated you and give a link to the blog.
- Answer the 11 questions given to you.
- Nominate between 5-11 other bloggers.
- Ask your nominees 11 questions.
- Notify your nominees once you’ve uploaded your post.
- Questions for me:
- Name one place you really want to visit someday.
Laura’s Questions
- What is your favorite planet and why?
- Earth. It is our home.
- What do you typically eat for lunch?
- That iterates often. Right now, I have a black rice, quinoa, veggie, and avocado-bowl.
- Which time period in history interests you most?
- I am quite fascinated by all history, and am particularly fond of Ancient History.
- How do you deal with writer’s block?
- Keep writing. Always, keep writing, even if it does not make sense.
- What’s one healthy choice you make every day?
- Choosing healthy food.
- What’s the last animal you saw and how did it make you feel?
- This week, my neighbor’s dog. Happy.
- Someone hands you a camera and tells you to take a picture, what do you photograph?
- Nature. Probably the ocean.
- Top three favorite music genres?
- Classical
- Musical show tunes
- Punk Rock/Hip-hop
- What would you tell your childhood self?
- You’re doing your best – keep doing that.
- What background noise helps you write best — music, TV, podcast, nature sounds, other, or silence?
- Writing to music.
- Are you a dancer?
- Not officially, yet I can dance.
I would like to thank my dear friend, Laura, again for the wonderful nomination. Another lovely connection, to yet another wonderful blogger.
The Aesthete Blogger Award!
I would like to thank Lauren, of Lauren M. Hancock Poetry and Prose for nominating me for the Aesthete Blogger Award. I quite literally stumbled onto Lauren’s blog, and am so glad that I did. Lauren’s blog is full of inspirational, elegant, and beautiful poetry and prose. Just lovely. If you’ve not yet checked out Lauren’s blog, please do so, thank you.
Rules
- Use the official logo/graphic of the award and display it on your blog.
- List the rules.
- Show some love to the one who nominated you!
- Mention the creator — Ashmita at the Fictional Journal — and link it back to the original post.
- Tell me something about this world that you admire.
- What is your favourite form of creativity?
- Nominate 7 lovely people and notify them by commenting on their posts; spread some love!
- Ask your nominees 4 questions.
- Share something you created. (can be anything!)
Tell me something about this world that you admire
- Kindness, given out to people, just to do so.
What is your favourite form of creativity?
- Some of you that have been following me for a while know I love whiteboards. I love the feeling of being present to an insight, approaching a gigantic whiteboard wall, and getting out all of that insight. It’s beautiful. A caveat. The past 6-months I’ve been present to poetry, as you all know, and I love the process of the blank page (just like a whiteboard) and getting that insight onto the page. Also beautiful.
Lauren’s Questions
- What is it that most inspires you to write?
- The insights I get – from all of life. Human beings, nature, love, despair, really the human condition on this beautiful planet.
- Would you alter a pivotal moment in your life that would alter your life to a completely different path or remain on your current path of life?
- I would not. I believe with my heart and soul that the life I’ve lived has been exactly as it was supposed to be lived, is being lived, and will be lived.
- What is your most treasured memory?
- I have two.
- The births of both of my beautiful sons.
- Meeting my beautiful ex-wife.
- I have two.
- What is an achievement you are proud of?
- Going back to University at 33 and completing two degrees over an 8 year period.
I would like to thank my dear friend, Lauren again for the wonderful nomination. Another excellent connection, to yet another wonderful blogger.
Alas, you all know I don’t nominate individual bloggers, as I find all of you inspirational. If you would like to answer any of the questions that either of the 4 lovely bloggers have asked me, please do so. You’ve each earned every award that has been detailed here.
Alright, one more thanks to each of these powerful bloggers. Thank you, Ace, Filarance, Laura, and Lauren. I appreciate each of you. You inspire me.
Have a wonderfully beautiful week, everyone.
heart and mind become one
as the leaf falls
from the tree,
and tumbles
end over end
towards the earth,
I’m reminded,
of love, and
loss, and
all the things
in life we hold close
to heart and wish to
never depart.
yet,
we know all things
are fleeting,
even this feeling
I have, as I’m writing
this poem,
sitting, and
whimsically
staring at the screen,
as one word
appears, and then
another,
and then they disappear
from heart, and
mind, one
after the other,
and then?
another
feeling and
knowing comes,
and heart and mind
become one.
the blazing light
a frozen tundra,
outside,
calling us
to heed, and
answer
questions, not easily
received
yet,
limited capacity
persists, and
recalling them
in their entirety
beguiles us
quietly
we pause,
reflect,
and remember,
who
we are
as we make
our way through
the pain,
and
present dismay
and know
within
the icy cold,
ever present,
and not so distant,
exists
the possibility
of recalling
the knowledge
that resides
deep
in our hearts,
one said,
wisely,
so long ago
unable to grasp
the feeling,
our dwelling
shines
on the inside,
frightening
off the cold, and
bringing forth
the blazing
light, of
our collective
birthright
In response to the WDYS #89 prompt from Keep it Alive, by Sadje.
Utmost Feelings – Just Released!
If you’ve not yet checked out Astha’s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, well, you can now order it online. Here’s where you can find it:
Paperback-
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/9390817455
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/9390817455
Amazon DE: https://www.amazon.de/dp/9390817455
Amazon FR: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/9390817455
Amazon ES: https://www.amazon.es/dp/9390817455
Amazon IT: https://www.amazon.it/dp/9390817455
Amazon JP: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/9390817455
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/9390817455
Ebook
Payhip- https://payhip.com/b/DjE8x
Kobo Books- https://www.kobo.com/in/en/ebook/utmost-feelings
B&N Press- https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/utmost-feelings-astha-srivastava/1139758293?ean=2940162372431
step into the self
the rain falls,
drops
known to all,
reminiscent of tears
present
when I was very young
told not to let them
show,
we pretend when
we’re grown,
that all of life
is hidden from view
and within
our complete control
a myriad
of illusory contexts
derived from
well-
intentioned people,
learning themselves,
what it’s like
to be
a pupil
life happens,
and,
as it does,
we grab onto
anything that’s solid
and stable
while also knowing
these
concepts
are mere principles of
nature’s
way
of showing us
what we’re
becoming
delivering pain
when we
least expect it,
and asking us
to step into
the self
we know is there,
and we relate to
Utmost Feelings – Just Released!
If you’ve not yet checked out Astha’s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, well, you can now order it online. Here’s where you can find it:
Paperback-
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/9390817455
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/9390817455
Amazon DE: https://www.amazon.de/dp/9390817455
Amazon FR: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/9390817455
Amazon ES: https://www.amazon.es/dp/9390817455
Amazon IT: https://www.amazon.it/dp/9390817455
Amazon JP: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/9390817455
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/9390817455
Ebook
Payhip- https://payhip.com/b/DjE8x
Kobo Books- https://www.kobo.com/in/en/ebook/utmost-feelings
B&N Press- https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/utmost-feelings-astha-srivastava/1139758293?ean=2940162372431
Additionally, the coauthors of Astha’s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, are creating a space for people to send their sentiments to Astha’s family.
If you are interested, please add your sentiments to this form, thank you, and stay blessed.
Fragments of Being, Published at MasticadoresUSA
I am so pleased to announce that the poem, Fragments of Being, is now available at MasticadoresUSA. I big thank you to, Gabriela Marie Milton, and the team at MasticadoresUSA for their support, and for publishing this piece.
Fragments of Being
as our cup fills
with the sands of time
the hourglass
herein, may break
into tiny fragments
of being,
yet you remain quiet,
and still,
in the all-pervading…..
I would be honored if you would go here and read the rest of my poem. Thank you!
Utmost Feelings – Just Released!
If you’ve not yet checked out Astha’s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, well, you can now order it online. Here’s where you can find it:
Paperback-
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/9390817455
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/9390817455
Amazon DE: https://www.amazon.de/dp/9390817455
Amazon FR: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/9390817455
Amazon ES: https://www.amazon.es/dp/9390817455
Amazon IT: https://www.amazon.it/dp/9390817455
Amazon JP: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/9390817455
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/9390817455
Ebook
Payhip- https://payhip.com/b/DjE8x
Kobo Books- https://www.kobo.com/in/en/ebook/utmost-feelings
B&N Press- https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/utmost-feelings-astha-srivastava/1139758293?ean=2940162372431
the darkness dances
the darkness
envelops me, I
cannot see, sweat
routs my brow,
my heart skips a beat,
and my legs
begin to twitch,
feverishly
fear encases me
wrapped up,
frozen solid, unable
to move, a tear slides
down my face,
and I
realize,
feeling is something
that’s left me
for the time being
numb,
confused,
withdrawn, and
disengaged
from life, love,
and even
the loss
presenting itself
to me
on a daily basis
waiting, and
wanting to know
why this happens,
not being able
to hold on
any longer
as a momentary
pause ensues,
a gift
is given
understanding
dawns,
mind takes
hold,
heart,
explodes, as
light pours forth
and,
the darkness
once fraught
with fear
and anguish
begins to dance
to a language
all its own
Utmost Feelings – Just Released!
If you’ve not yet checked out Astha’s Anthology, Utmost Feelings, well, you can now order it online. Here’s where you can find it:
Paperback-
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/9390817455
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/9390817455
Amazon DE: https://www.amazon.de/dp/9390817455
Amazon FR: https://www.amazon.fr/dp/9390817455
Amazon ES: https://www.amazon.es/dp/9390817455
Amazon IT: https://www.amazon.it/dp/9390817455
Amazon JP: https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/9390817455
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/9390817455
Ebook
Payhip- https://payhip.com/b/DjE8x
Kobo Books- https://www.kobo.com/in/en/ebook/utmost-feelings
B&N Press- https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/utmost-feelings-astha-srivastava/1139758293?ean=2940162372431
Develop. Inspire. Transform. 