NaPoWriMo - Untitled Reflection

It is darkest before the dawn

my space is warmed by soft light 

sounds and scents 

rendered sweet

there is comfort here

of care

a willingness 

to practice what supports

instead of distracts

it is a place

a state of being

that I share 

with a minion of thoughts

all vying for my attention

it is ok

I do not mind

I like company at the table

as my words wake

bit by bit

with every stretch

scratch 

and scrawl

the darkness 

makes my windows

a mirror

 so instead of seeing outside

I see myself

as I am sitting here

but the image is transparent

spiritlike

ephemeral

she rests her face in her hand and looks back at me

 accepting we are one

the streets are flooding

 with the sounds of rain soaked roadways

and early commuters rolling

 through the intersection

 of night and day

it is the urban ocean wave

crashing on the sidewalk shore

without rhythm

or pattern

only the continuation

as they come

like moments

the breath

and being

we are here together

waiting for the sun

as the earth turns over

in her bed

towards the start 

of a new fresh day

NaPoWriMo/GloPoWriMo 2018 - Day 3

Jenny Astramowicz is a writer, poet and aspiring wellness coach.  She resides in San Francisco where she works at the local university and trains for endurance events.  Her long term dream is to live in France with her two cats.

Not all who wander are lost...

#OctPoWriMo  #NaPoWriMo #NaNoWriMo #Poetsonthepage

Find her on  Google +  Twitter Instagram

You can read her poetry at https://zwabisabi.blogspot.com

Life's Seasons

Photo by Annis Cassells

“All seasons have something to offer.” ― Jeannette Walls, The Glass Castle

Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring. We can count on the seasons like clockwork to follow each other. We can compare and predict. “It’s going to be a cold winter.” Or, “We had a shorter spring and went right into summer.”

Life’s seasons, though, are non-linear. They may be sudden and random. And we can never predict their duration. The seasons become a metaphor, a symbol, for how our lives play out.

With regard to Life’s seasons, within days or even hours, we can experience each one. They often catch us by surprise, and though we deal with them, we may not see the seasons as a metaphor at the time. That insight comes later, upon reflection, but life’s seasons correspond to weather’s.

Summer – When we are carefree and relaxed, when experiences and places are welcomed and enjoyed. 
Fall – We’re in contemplation and preparation, harvesting ideas or gathering skills or insights we’ll need.to carry on. Or move on. 
Winter – Which we find challenging, even difficult, yet filled with blessings. Blessings that we may not see until Spring. 
Spring – The season that always follows winter with light and new life, with hope, renewal, and possibilities. We catch our breath and reflect on the wonder and blessings Winter provided. 

Life’s seasons may change as often or as fast as the wind. We wake up in Summer – all is great and we are happy. Life is going our way.  Within hours, there’s a SNAFU and we feel the ice of Winter. Then we’re in Fall as we react, marshal our resources, figure out a plan, and begin executing that plan. Sometimes, we have to come up with alternate ideas before we reach Spring. But soon Summer is on the way again, and we bask in its goodness. 

The Prompt 

Think about what season you're in right this minute. What got you there? Was it the rocky-ness of life or a smooth path? Make a list of all the words that come to mind as you think about your seasons -- now and past. Come up with a first line using some of those words. Then let your free verse or haiku or couplets flow.

OR

Write a poem about your favorite  OR your most dreaded season of the year. Maybe this will take you back to your younger days. Maybe it will take you to looking forward.

Word Bank

cycle

change

growth

dormant

awakening

light

harvest

Photo Prompt 

Photo by Annis Cassells

Please share the link to your poem (or post your poem) in the comments below. And, if you're on Facebook, post it to Poets on the Page. We're looking forward to reading your work.

Annis Cassells is a writer, poet, life coach, and teacher.  She divides her time between Bakersfield, California and Coos Bay, Oregon. She is a member of Writers of Kern, a branch of the California Writers Club. See Annis’s blogs at www.thedaymaker.blogspot.com and www.poemsbyannis.blogspot.com and her website at www.connectionsandconversations.com