I am both excited and sad to share this wrap-up post of the Nature Speaks of Love and Sorrow: 30 Poems in 30 Days Collaboration. It was a lot of fun, and while I am sad to see it end, I am even more excited about the initiatives and projects I am working on, which you will learn more about in the near future.
First, let’s take a quick look at the gorgeous poetry that each of the writers created for the 30/30 collaboration.
I would like to thank all of these wonderful poets and friends again for collaborating with me, and for sharing their talent, and hearts with all of us. I remain honored you chose to submit and to have your gorgeous poetry here.
As always, thank you to all of you for always being here, for your friendship, and loving support.
I am so pleased to announce that my poem, Blue Shoes, is now available at MasticadoresIndia. Thank you to Terveen Gill, and the team at MasticadoresIndia for their continued support, and for publishing this piece.
Blue Shoes
shadows trace my fingers, a space of wonder filled with lace
as other contexts make haste
sending to my heart delicate fabrics, my mind’s eye reminds me…
I would be honored if you would go here, and read the rest of my poem. Thank you!
I look into your eyes, and see reflections of our shared history…
a puppy once, around the house you trounced, with joyfulness in your heart, a beautiful dance, as the birds swayed in the breeze, and looked on entranced…
as you grew taller, I followed your lead, and led a life full of joy and pain, both, yet either way, when I returned from the day
there you were, ready to play, no dismay, only love in your heart center on full display…
an ode to you, on this day, I do then write of your birth on this most beautiful night…
I sing a song to you of love, passion, and, though we had our struggles, in the end, our relationship was ultimately full of the most blissful compassion…
In response to the WDYS#105 prompt, from Keep it Alive, by Sadje.
This week the team continued to prepare for the fall term, which starts in 5 weeks. Hard to believe, yet it’s true.
We also finished the fall schedule this week, and I am quite pleased with it. The team always works hard on the schedule, and we do so, well, 4 times a year; it is a drumbeat, if you will, that we have gotten pretty good at. Fun.
Lots of writing this week, which is always fun, and many reflections.
This week was full of writing that poured from the heart, as it always does, and was centered on love. The love that emanates from me today is quite profound, and is amazing to experience.
The poem brushed ourselves with the winds, was a poem that was reflective of the deep love I have for nature and this planet. I’ve spent a lot of time in, and with, nature, and I love the feeling of being among the trees as the winds come up, and mingle with the trees in, what for me is, an exquisite dance. It is so beautiful.
The poem I await your warm embrace was a reflection of a lifetime of watching, being in relationship with, and loving many people on this beautiful planet. Human beings are a treasure, and being in relationship with people, the sharing, caring, creating, living, and loving of people, and with people, are among the most important experiences of our lifetimes. Really.
I’m pleased to announce that 4 more poems have been accepted for publication in the past two weeks. Two poems will appear in MasticadoresUSA, edited by Gabriela Marie Milton; and, two will appear in MasticadoresIndia, edited by Terveen Gill. I am super excited, and would like to again thank Gabriela, Terveen, and their respective teams. I invite you, if you’ve not already done so, to visit the former, MasticadoresUSA, and visit the latter, MasticadoresIndia, once it is launched on September 1. Thank you.
When the poems are published, I will let you all know. Exciting.
I ordered several books a couple of weeks ago. These books hold a special place in my heart, as they have all been written by blogosphere friends. It is such a treat.
I’ll be enjoying these lovely works of art in the coming weeks. Beautiful people, inspiring writing.
Social Media Poetry
I’ve been reflecting more about writing some shorter pieces of poetry for social media, such as Instagram and, maybe Twitter. Therefore, this week, I am leaving you with a short poem on living and loving, titled live again.
Made with Canva and Prisma
Stay healthy and well, and have a blessed week, everyone.
This week I learned that my cousin passed away in a car accident. I was, and am, saddened by the news; and, my heart goes out to all of my family in Los Angeles, and everywhere else that my family is today. Sending love and blessings to all of you.
At work this week, I prepared to take the team through a team building in two weeks, which is about creating next year. I am excited, as the entire team has not gathered in a while. Should be fun.
Writing did occur, as it always does, and was, well, quite prolific this week. Meaning, poems continue to come, and I am deeply grateful for the experience.
It’s interesting, sometimes there’s nothing there, and at others, it’s like a flood of emotions and writing all at once. Pretty amazing, indeed.
I am super excited about these two poems being published, and am grateful to Gabriela and the team at MASTICADORESUSA for accepting these poems.
Thank you.
I also submitted two poems to Spillwords. I’ve not heard anything back from Spillwords yet, and will keep you posted on these two submissions, as well as the two submitted to MASTICADORESUSA. Grateful, grateful.
I also found out this week that my WP reader is not linked to all of the sites I’m following, which makes interacting with everyone a little more challenging. Therefore, I am planning to unfollow and refollow a whole bunch of sites in the next two weeks.
I think this will work, as it has in the past. So, if you see me unfollow and then refollow, that’s what’s happening. Thanks for being patient with me!
Gardening
It’s been a few weeks since I’ve created a Community Gardening post, and I chose this week to update all of you via my diary entry, as writing another Community Gardening post eludes me at the moment.
Yes! Everything is growing quite well; and, yep, I’ve got some weeding to do too!
The peas and broccoli are delicious, and I am really excited about the tomatoes, squash, and, well, everything else that’s planted.
I am ecstatic to share that the site has surpassed 950 followers. My goal at the beginning of the year was to get to 1000 followers by the end of June. Though I’ll fall a little short of that goal, I am overjoyed about, and appreciative of, each of the 950 people that are following this site. That’s you! Thank you!
The past year has been lots of things. Hard, sad, and, it has also been wonderful, and beautiful. And, at this moment?
I am grateful.
Grateful to each of you for viewing, liking, commenting, and sharing my posts. Beyond grateful.
I appreciate each of you, and am thankful to have met each and everyone of you.
You are all inspiring and beautiful.
Sending love and blessings for a splendid week.
Utmost Feelings – Coming Soon!
If you’ve not yet checked outAstha’s Anthology,Utmost Feelings, please check it out when you have a chance, and share as you are able. Thank you.
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 tothis form, thank you, and stay blessed.
Beauty exists in a vacuum of space and time, and is all around us, beckoning us on a heart’s journey toward fulfillment of all that’s sublime.
Purpose and destiny, bundled up with tender loving care, and sealed with a kiss from all those we’ve touched
and shared
moments with, like these.
Just reading or writing a little before we drift off to sleep, and dream dreams of a land so deep and rich, we’ve wondered where it’s been while we were out in search of all that bliss.
Right here, right now, present to humanity within, and all those family, friends and kin.
Shadowlight Words 