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In Tune with Nature


Today was another beautiful day. The temperature was perfect for gardening a little more and for just visiting with nature. I took a walk around the neighborhood and noticed the trees were starting to show off their foliage.

The trees with bright red crimson leaves seemed to smile back at me. The trees in my backyard are still very bare. I looked at the grey limbs and tried to visualize them full of leaves.

I read a few poems every day. This month is National Poetry Month so I even keep a poem in my pocket as suggested by the Poetry Foundation. Poem in Your Pocket Day is a part of the National  Poetry Month celebration.

I looked for poems about trees or the beauty of trees. I want to share this excerpt from “When I Am Among Trees” by Mary Oliver in her Collection of Poems titled Thirst. I hope you enjoy it. Happy Gardening and Nature Watching. Also Happy National Poetry Month.

“When I am among the trees,

especially the willows and the honey locust,

equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,

they give off such hints of gladness,

I would almost say they save me, and daily.”

 

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A Poem in Your Pocket Day


I am reblogging some of my posts related to National Poetry Month. Please leave comments and please use the poetry prompts. I will forward to seeing them in the comments section. Happy Writing!

Melba Christie at Poemattic

Poets.org sponsors Poem in You Pocket Day (which was celebrated today) and which offers a wide variety of poems to use for the celebration of the day. Someone surprised me today with a beautiful poem she had written about the latest acts violence and terror  that caused chaos in the city of Boston. She did want me to post it but the truth is that the poem was written with her heart. To those of you who read a poem to someone today I applaud you. Here is a poem I wrote:

A muse lives in the silence of a busy mind

where dreams connect to each other

and daffodils dance

a centipede relaxes and kicks off its shoes

to listen to the hummingbird  who seemed amused

A muse lives in the silence of a busy mind

and eavesdrops in on a conversation with itself

where there is talk…

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Good Day Sunshine


After a full day of snow and the cloudy and damp weather, everyone welcomes the sunshine.

Melba Christie at Poemattic

Emily dickinson Emily dickinson (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

“The sun proceeds unmoved

To measure off another day

For an approving God.”

– Emily Dickinson

Good Day Sunshine

So many have had something to say about you

whether you were on the rise in the morning

or falling into deep slumber in the evening

I like you best at morn

when you so well adorn

the sky and make me want to sigh.

– Melba Christie

 

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Happy National Poetry Month


In celebration of National Poetry Month I am inviting all poetry lovers to participate in  several activities I have planned. This week I will provide a few prompts for writing poems. Please submit your poems in the comments section.

Some prompts may look familiar because they are the first lines of some well known poems.

Some tips:

1. You may want to change a word in the prompt and then write a few stanzas.

2. Write your poem in any form you wish. You may want to try writing a Tanka, a sonnet, a cinquain or a haiku.

3. Poems should not exceed 15 lines.

Prompts:

1. Write a poem about a special day.

2. “For we can still love the world …”

3. “Who said you should be happy?”

4.”You are all you’ve got.”

5. “How do I love thee”

 

 

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A Celebration Promoting Happiness


    

Today is designated the International Day of Happiness and it is celebrated worldwide. Happiness Day was first celebrated in 2013. It was declared by the United Nations in 2012. it was founded by Jayme lllien and it is observed by 193 nations.

Frankly I had not heard of this day until today. I wondered if this is because today I was very much happy with the things going on in my life. Then it dawned on me. What if someone is not happy on this day specifically? Are we suppose to pretend to be happy?

According to reports I read, we are suppose to spread happiness as best we can. I called up a few friends and wished them well. They did not know about the commemoration. I made a special lunch for my husband. Food always make me happy.

But then I hear that there was another shooting at a high school in Maryland. I thought of the students who must have been terrified. Happiness became just a word.

Someone very unhappy had decided to horrify others. How do we help someone who has become so miserable with life?

I do not want to finish this post on a sad note. I guess we all need a day proclaimed for the celebration of happiness. it just seems to be harder to actually be happy these days. I propose we start by making ourselves happy first. It may sound egoistic but it is really up to me to make me happy. It is the only way others will be happy too. I thought long and hard about what truly makes me happy what really matters. For me it is my family and being around my grandchildren. Painting, writing, and looking up at the blue sky make me happy.

We may be bombarded by negative and the sad and tragic things that happen in this world. But if we keep track the happy moments probably outweigh the sad ones.

I remembered an activity I would do with my students. I told them that I was keeping a FBI file on each of them. It was an acronym. I would share with them my observations of the Fabulous, Beautiful and Interesting things they had accomplished. Without a doubt I would get many smiles. Some would tell me I had made them happy. I think I will continue this practice with family and friends. Hopefully, happiness will grow stronger. Have a great International Happiness Day!! Breathe, smile and be happy!!!

What makes you happy? I would love to hear from you.

 

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In Celebration of Women’s History Month


Melba Christie at Poemattic

It is very simple;

women are life’s force.

and of course,

our hearts in unison always beat strong,

no matter what goes wrong.

Forever to be remembered

for their courage

honor and praise is due

Let me name a few

that made history her story too:

Mother Theresa,

Harriet Tubman,

Maria Montessori,

Eva Peron,

Indira Gandhi,

Helen Keller,

Anne Frank,

Marie Curie,

Gabriela Mistral and

Joan of Arc

Maya Angelou.

There are so many others

who deserve equal recognition.

So let me also honor them

as well today.

And to the women in my family:

I salute you above all.

It is very simple,

and let us never forget.

Women are life’s force,

no matter what the course,

our hearts without regret

always beating strong

ready to make right

whatever might go wrong.

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Quote: Food For Thought


“A generous and elevated mind is distinguished by nothing more certainly than an eminent degree of curiosity.”   Samuel Johnson

She Learns Everyday

Today she learned

why the sun shines so much

then she touched a daffodil.

Her lively sense of curiosity

The wondering of why

will germinate seeds

filled with questions

about what is eternity

and as millions before

see how apples fall

only a few like Newton

asked why

She will never shy

from the curious

child within

How marvelous to be just three

and so full of curiosity.

 

 

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A Quotable Quote


“All that we are is the result of what we have thought; it is made up of thoughts; if a man speaks or acts with a pure thought, happiness follows him like a shadow that never leaves him.”   – Buddha

I thought we’d seen the last of mass shootings

at schools, concerts, churches, and theaters

but I guess my thoughts

were not strong enough

perhaps not pure enough

What will it take?

I keep thinking and hoping

I keep speaking with passion

I keep acting to be the example

But what will it take?

I wish happiness will follow.

I wish truth will follow.

I wish we will all get together

to find a solution.

 

 

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A Found Poem –


The following poem is composed of my lines and lines from other poems I found on WordPress. I have included the attributions at the end.

Soft promises made

By hidden thoughts

Only I could see

 

I know you love the ocean

And the magic of its waves

You see at the distance  

a rowboat sway in peace

And nature whispers in the dark –

How much the earth loves you back

 

A super moon appears

To light the way

And if

If you want to keep a secret

And keep it well

Then I will tell

The world

Miracles are real.

Attributions: