W3 – Surrender

red
a breath
a moment
flowing inwards
pulsing in the veins
welcoming the changes
disguised in layers of joy
opening unknown paths ahead
not always pleasant, a disruption
should we stagnate or follow nature's rules
dancing with the wind and feeling the droplets
let go of what has passed and adapt to the new
pleasure can be killed by hesitation and worries
be still and breathe
feel the moment
mind and body
in mindfulness
we are stronger
surrender now

This is a Tree of life poem. Angela, from Let’s write blog, has choosen me as the POW (poet of week) to select a prompt for this week David’s W3 challenge. My prompt guidelines are:

Changes are happening in both hemispheres for the arrival of spring or autumn. The Earth invites us to a beautiful party with colorful flowers or leaves, depending on where we are on this immense planet.

The change of seasons can be tough on us. It can shake our core and disturb our balance. The trees are a perfect example of how to adapt to changes. The branches and leaves flow with the wind and trees get bare or full of leaves, however, a tree’s strength is in the roots.

Let the words above inspire you and write a poem in “Tree of Life” poetic form about changes, impermanence, and strength.

‘Tree of Life’ poetic form
An uplifting poem in 19 lines;
Syllabic: 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-4-4-4-4-4-4;
Unrhymed;
Alignment: Centered

Thanks so much David and Angela for giving me this opportunity!

Hope you enjoyed it!

W3 – acceptance

There is a crack, a crack in everything
Unreachable perfection
Acceptance is the lesson
Don’t dwell on what has passed away
distortion  now, flawless then
Forget your perfect offering
Darkness can be a blessing

W3 prompt this week is from Angela, she offers us the poem below to use 2 or 3 lines from it and write our own poem.

Anthem’ lyrics ( Leonard Cohen )

The birds they sang
At the break of day
Start again
I heard them say
Don't dwell on what has passed away
Or what is yet to be

Ah, the wars they will be fought again
The holy dove, she will be caught again
Bought and sold, and bought again
The dove is never free

Ring the bells that still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack, a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in

W3: upside down

a butterfly flapping its wings
an old yard lady lost her rings
searching for them, flipboom!
dizziness, zoom zoom zoom
she fell down hearing lots of dings

Joining David’s W3 challenge:Lesley’s prompt guidelines a nonsense poem with at least one invented word of your own. I’ve written a Limerick poem (5 lines with the rhyme aabba) and invented flipboom, meaning flipping, falling and boom!

Hope you like the poem and also the photo, I took it with my phone under the flower.

W3 :: Writing

magic ritual
when the true self is revealed
the dawn is welcome

W3 prompt this week is offered by the lovely Sadje. She asks us to:

Write: a syllabic poem or: a poem in free verse;
Topic: “What inspires you to write?” or: “What inspires you to write poetry?”

I’ve chosen a Senryu (5-7-5 lines) to express my passion for writing, mostly journaling.

W3 :: The power of journaling

J ourney 
O pening up thoughts to the pages
U ltimate self-care
R ecognizing my needs and dreams
N ow, past and present colliding 
A nswers hidden in my being 
L ightness guides the pen
I ntuition takes over
N ever backing up 
G enuine pleasure

W3 prompt this week is: Write a poem of any style and any length on the topic of “Power.” I have written an acrostic poem about the power of journaling.

I’ve been journaling for 10 years. I remember the first time I put a pen to a blank page, it was in September, later in the afternoon, the autumn sunset bathed my living room. I got a piece of paper and a pen, leftovers of my kids homework. I started jotting down ideas, a little while those ideas transformed into deep thoughts, a yes, like magic, everything clarified in my mind.

Since then I have filled up many notebooks with my thoughts. I started getting fancy and buying beautiful journals with soft pages and pens that glide on each line or dot. Now I prefer dotted pages rather than lined ones.

Journaling is powerful!

W3 :: powerful

powerful 
slowly breaking through 
between rocks
and branches
the need to rise takes over
to be grand and loved

looking up
a sweet joy awaits
it is worth
to be brave
the true path has been chosen
darkness is behind

W3 prompt is “Write a Shadorma of a minimum of 2 stanzas on the topic of strength (physical, emotional, mental, ethical, or of character…)“

Nature’s power, this little strawberry, alone, breaking all the barriers to survive. I’m grateful it was on my path, and I could admire its strength to survive.

Wonder

One of my favourite lakes to visit in my city. The clouds’ reflection was stunning at that moment.

wide exuberance 
where imagination speaks
wonder is nearby

A haiga poem for:

Tanka Tuesday: Synonyms only – Close & Open, I have chosen Wide and Nearby

W3 – Write a poem in any style about a place that evokes emotion (a place where you find poetry) – Almost all weekends I visit the lake in the photo, it always brings me joy to walk by it. The lines in my poem also start with W so perfect for the W3 challenge.

What do you see – Photo Prompt – Castles make me wonder about all the mysteries they hide inside their walls.

W3 – Bird’s view

Happy Summer!

Isn’t it wonderful summer is finally here after a long winter and a rainy and smoky spring? Hope the wildfires are under control and give us a break during the summer.

What are your plans for the summer? I’ve decided my best option is NO plans, only take it easy and enjoy day by day.

Bird's view

look at those humans
always running and worrying
in a blink of an eye
precious moments go away

if only they knew 
how they look like
from up here on this wire
they are small dots
lost in this immense planet
pleasing others and forgetting themselves

if only they knew
how important they are
a universe in a droplet
perfection in each flaw
one of a kind

if only they knew
how to fly higher on grounded feet

W3 prompt:

W3 – transformation

wings of transformation
hidden beneath the mystery
a message from faraway
or close by
its beauty is softness
letting go of the weight
opening up to the possibilities
immersed in lavender scent
reminds me of calm
no hurry
the time will arrive
you will find the truth

My garden is blooming with flowers and butterflies, from time to time a dragonfly shows up, and I like to believe it has a message for me.

“The Dragonfly has been a symbol of happiness, new beginnings and change for many centuries. The Dragonfly means hope, change, and love.” You can find more about it here.

W3 prompt this week is “Write about the first wild creature that you see which inspires you on the day you write your poem.”

W3 – Meditation

Memories from my childhood 
Exit through each pore in my skin
Destiny masks the truth
In search of the path
Temptation or reality
Action or dream
Time is the culprit
Irrational sense of power
Overpassing what matters
Now and here

W3 prompt this week has been chosen by Punam:

Write an acrostic poem on any one of the following words:
1. Discipline;
2. Enthusiasm;
3. Meditation;
4. Tumult;
5. Trouble.

Since I’m working on my Meditation skills I had to pick Meditation as the word for the poem.

Now and here, or better, as I like to say HERE and NOW! It’s so difficult to keep our mind in the present, to observe and to feel the moment. The past always shows up, memories popping up and taking us back to the moments and situations that can’t be changed at this exact moment. I have come a long way, I’m much better now focusing on the present, but it’s a rough path, nothing smooth as the path on the photo above. I call this path a secret path, it’s in a park almost in front of my home, and only a few people walk on it. So, it’s my secret spot to do a quick walking meditation.