Tea & Paper

WQWWC :: Relax

July 22, 2021July 22, 2021Photography, Writing14 Comments

Relax. Pockets of ‘me time’ during the day, sometimes not easy to find room for self-care in the middle of the daily business, but it’s a must to be able to do so. Early ‘me time’ sometimes starts with morning pages and a cup of coffee, other times it starts with a run by the river.

Either way, these are moments for relaxing and organizing my thoughts before getting ready for the day. As an introvert, it isn’t easy to be in contact with people and socializing at the work place. I need down time, to think and recharge.

Your calm mind is the ultimate weapon against your challenges.
Bryant McGill

My garden is my private paradise. Taking care and admiring the flowers and the vegetables or just sitting down and looking at the sky and feeling the breeze washing over my face and my hair. When at home I make sure I have a garden walk at least 3 times per day, generally after each meal.

Nothing more relaxing than spending a hot summer afternoon with a book and a refreshing drink.

Ah! There is nothing like staying at home, for real comfort.
Jane Austen

Sharing with WQWWC, this week’s theme is Relax. And you? What you do to relax during the summer?

Tanka Tuesday :: Butterfly

July 21, 2021Poetry7 Comments

emerge
fluttering wings
a treasure to be found
from the soft bed of the ocean
fresh stars
the strong colours are hypnotic
the chains of a promise
pearls and pure gold
resting

Ekphrastic photo is the prompt for Tanka Tuesday this week. Annette Rochelle Aben provided us with the gorgeous photo above. As soon as I saw it, I was reminded of the freedom and passion the butterflies are able to demonstrate while kissing the flowers in my garden. I wrote a butterfly cinquain (2, 4, 6, 8, 2, 8, 6, 4, 2) to complement my thoughts.

Tree square :: Beautiful surprise

July 20, 2021Photography, Writing8 Comments

Do you know that feeling when you see an unexpected beauty on your way?

Yes, yesterday I had that feeling. This beautiful pear tree was on my way when I stopped by the grocery store. I’ve been many times to that store, but I’ve never seen this tree. Why? Because when I go, I always park closest possible to the entrance, and of course, no trees around.

Yesterday I was driving my hubby’s car, he is very careful with his car, and I didn’t want people scratching it with the shopping carts, so I looked for a distant spot for parking, and voila! This tree caught my attention.

Sometimes changing the routine can bring us beautiful surprises.

Sharing with Becca’s Tree Square.

Tree Squares :: Tree of life

July 17, 2021Photography, Poetry17 Comments

joy
willow
mystery
youth and passion
mixing laugh and tears
underneath the branches
the roots searching for water
orchestration of the branches
leaves caressing faces without shame
the bark is apt to put down fever, aches
following the motion, lightness is dancing
the music is powerful reaching up and down
dreams are alive under the willow tree, forgiveness
the tree of life
a soul mission
ready tho heal
open friendship
grounding, flying,
hearts and bodies

Becca’s squares this month is all about trees! I wrote a syllabic poetry form named Tree of Life here for WQWWC challenge from Marsha, she suggested I also post a Tree of life poem for Becca’s challenge. This poem has a tree outline. I wrote this one inspired by a willow tree in my neighbourhood.

Hope you enjoyed!

Tanka Tuesday and WQWWC :: Exploration

July 14, 2021July 17, 2021Poetry, Writing21 Comments

pause
aching
confusion
disappointment
her thoughts are sowing
her mind's a grassy field
in the middle of the night
no room for flowers or beauty
the darkness is exploding inwards
the distress crawling its way on her limbs
the silence is speaking loud, suffocating
in the ecstasy of despair, overwhelming
an aching intuition exalting to be heard
floating near spikes
terms of bondage
sound of guilty
anxiety
exploring mess
wisdom is lost

Tanka Tuesday this week is synonyms only and the words are Green and Morass, I’ve chosen grassy and confusion as the synonyms words.

WQWWC theme is Exploration – There are so many stuff to be explored around us, but I decided to go inwards, the exploration of feelings, the mind and body getting together in an explosion of uncertainties in the middle of the night.

This poetry form is a new form to me, again exploration shows off here, it’s called Tree of life, a syllabic form containing 19 lines, unrhymed, following the syllabic order: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4.

I haven’t added any image to this poem. I wish for the reader to feel the emotion of this poem without any distraction from an image. And the poem has the shape of a tree, so it’s an image by itself.

WE SHALL NOT CEASE FROM EXPLORATION, AND THE END OF ALL OUR EXPLORING WILL BE TO ARRIVE WHERE WE STARTED AND KNOW THE PLACE FOR THE FIRST TIME.
T. S. ELIOT

Hope you enjoyed it! I have written another Tree of life poem here, this time about a willow tree, I’m really enjoying this syllabic form.

WQWWC :: On my way

July 7, 2021Inspirational, Photography25 Comments

On my way to 5K! I’ve been training to run a marathon in October. I wake up early everyday and go out for a run. I love the fresh air and all the beauty I find on my path. Having a goal is important to keep my mind and body synchronized. I’d tried to keep fit many times, but I always let it go. My son run a 20K last year, and I saw many people of all ages running, each one at his/her own speed. Then I talked with my family about it, and they like my idea of joining the marathon.

Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.
Tony Robbins

I have a treadmill at home for the snowy months, but nothing compares to the outdoors for exercise. My neighbourhood has many beautiful places to walk/run. I enjoy the view and I always find some excuse to stop and take a photo.

You are never too old to set a new goal or to dream a new dream.
C.S. Lewis

Noticing the little things on my way decreases the stress in my legs and inspires me to keep going. It’s incredible how the mind and the body are connected. As the years go by, I can feel how this connection plays a role in my health.

“Life is full of beauty. Notice it. Notice the bumble bee, the small child, and the smiling faces. Smell the rain, and feel the wind. Live your life to the fullest potential, and fight for your dreams.”
Ashley Smith

This week’s WQWWC is free theme. Terri from Secondwindleisure is hosting the challenge while Marsha is busy getting her new AirB&B ready. I’ve chosen on my way as a theme. Hope you enjoyed it!

Tanka Tuesday :: Longing

July 6, 2021Photography, Poetry24 Comments

Holidays are always tough on me. The memories and dreams are vivid, it’s like I can touch them, the feelings are all over the place, urging to make new memories and at the same time keeping the old ones in the background of my mind.

Tanka Tuesday this week is poet’s choice. So, due to the holidays’ mood I wrote this double Senryu and added this photo that I snapped during in the weekend. I would call it a Haiga, but I’m not sure if a double Senryu can be used for it. Let’s see what Colleen has to say 🙂

Hope you had a great weekend and the holidays weren’t tough on you!

WQWWC :: Freedom

July 1, 2021Photography, Poetry, Writing24 Comments

This week’s theme for WQWWC is Freedom. Well, freedom has many meanings and possibilities. It depends on who is claiming it, who is experiencing moments of freedom or the lack of it.

No one outside ourselves can rule us inwardly. When we know this, we become free.
Buddha

This sidewalk drawing was on my way this morning. I was running and thinking what should be my take on this prompt. And voila! Freedom was there to be seen! I stopped and couldn’t believe it! That feeling that the universe has my back. I took the pic with a smile on my face.

None but ourselves can free our minds.
Bob Marley

I decided to go simple, a few words to describe Freedom. An acrostic poem is perfect for it.

Fierce as it can be
Resilient upon to the right time
Elusive and inspiring
Emancipation to the needed
Divine in respect
Observant in silence
Meaningful to all

Freedom lies in being bold.
Robert Frost

Tanka Tuesday :: Illusion

June 30, 2021Photography, Poetry40 Comments

This week Tanka Tuesday is a little bit silly. Colleen wants that we create our own poetry form! We should combine our favourite form with another one of our choice. And we must give a name to it!

I took this photo a few weeks ago, the foggy was dense when I started my walk and little by little it started to dissipate. It was a wonderful early morning and I knew I would write a poem about it.

I’m combining my favourite form, Haiga (Haiku + photography), with Choka (5 + 7 )n + 7 + 7 lines at the end. I’m naming my new poetry form Choiga!

a foggy morning
the fantasy meets the sky
the answer is there
ever out of reach
blending in one split second
balance is missing
transforming gloom into hope
stop the invasion
the past dissipates away
hallucination
words without any meaning
as the summer days go by

I hope you like my creativity! 🙂

WQWWC :: Vacation

June 23, 2021Journaling, Photography19 Comments

This week’s theme for WQWWC is vacation, well for a long time I haven’t had a vacation. I mean going out in the world and trying new things. It was impossible to travel last year, and I don’t think it will be different this summer. So, my best option is to travel inside my province.

It isn’t how much time you spend somewhere that makes it memorable: it’s how you spend the time.
David Brenner

I’m also planning on a staycation! My city has many parks and downtown has lots of nice spots for exploring. I want to walk on the streets and take photos of buildings and people for practicing my photography skills.

If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way.
Napoleon Hill

Being at home and doing nothing with a schedule is another thing I’m looking forward to. I’m craving free time to work on my journals and paintings. I’ve a few unfinished projects I started last year while in quarantine that I want to finish.

A wise man travels to discover himself.
James Russell Lowell

The most important part of a vacation is being away from the daily routine. It’s refreshing for the mind!

Enjoy the vacation without going; enjoy the conversation without talking.
Debasish Mridha