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| one of thirty-one |
Today is the beginning of the month of
March, the Slice of Life Writing
Challenge when we write every day and link together on the Two Writing Teachers Blog of Ruth Ayres
and Stacey Shubitz. Best wishes to
everyone who are taking this challenge.
I hope you enjoy every minute!
Tweet at #Slice2013!
It is also Poetry Friday where those who are poets and who love poetry meet to
link up each week with different hosts and share a poem or something
poetic. This week we’re hosted by Julie
Larios at The Drift Record.
I also want to say that I felt honored and thrilled this week by winning a spot in a poetry event, created majestically by Ed DeCaria at Think Kid Think. It's the March Madness poetry competition for 2013, and I am one of the 64 starting authletes. More to come!
I also want to say that I felt honored and thrilled this week by winning a spot in a poetry event, created majestically by Ed DeCaria at Think Kid Think. It's the March Madness poetry competition for 2013, and I am one of the 64 starting authletes. More to come!
Thanks to everyone who takes time
to enrich our lives with words and images. I have an original poem today about these first days of March.
Images In My
Mind (the time, the day, the hour, right now!)
According to Merriam-Webster:
convergence is
“moving toward union or
uniformity”.
Today begins the March Slice of Life challenge
and
it’s Poetry Friday.
Saturday I am finally selling
our dear family cabin;
It is a good thing to have
buyers who already love it as I have.
Sunday I sign the agreement to
place my home
up
for
sale.
Newly primped and painted, carpeted
and cleaned,
decked out and fancied up,
one can no longer see the
marks of years-now covered, gone.
I could call it the old
house.
I’m at the exact point of convergence, but I refuse to stay!
All things at one point in
time, early March 2013,
month of yearnings for
spring,
a turning in my life.
I’m headed toward different
constellations;
one star brightens and
another dims.
I am not as surefooted on
this path
as I may appear.
I will stumble,
may fall,
and move on
with trembles,
yet converging with other parts
of life that buoy my spirit.
I will keep going.
Such a beautiful way to begin your new journey! You have such a way of putting thoughts together in your poems! Goodluck with the selling of the old house...hope all goes well!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the wishes Amy. I hope so too!
DeleteDear Linda ~
ReplyDeleteYou are brave and adventurous--both in your writing and in your life.
I raise my glass to both!
xxx
I appreciate the words, April!
DeleteChange is exciting as well as scary and the happy memories as well as the potential for future happiness - for someone - as well as for you - comes through your words.
ReplyDeleteI really would be quite bored without new things to do, Anita. Thanks for your comment.
DeleteGood morning, Linda, This poem is filled with grace under pressure: "All things at one point in time." Not easy, but your writing (and I do think you too) handles the moments with aplomb. Kudos to the successful sales of both treasured spaces.
ReplyDeleteIt's been such a long process that I never thought it would happen, & now all at the same time. I just had to respond to this. Thanks Lee Ann.
DeleteI love the way you view life - how you embrace the past even at you look forward....and head to bright new constellations.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tara. I know no other way to be, I think.
DeleteLinda, you are such an inspiration. I love how you just attack life with all it brings (and I LOVE your poetry) Here's to "converging with other parts of life that buoy my spirit." Happy slicing
ReplyDeleteThank you Deb. Here we go again! Can you believe it's year # three!
DeleteLove your writing, Linda. What a beautiful poem.
ReplyDeleteThanks Katherine!
DeleteWords give you support and you will support others with your words. I agree with Deb, you are inspirational.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Terje. You are so right about the words.
DeleteThanks for sharing this with us, Linda. I'm especially struck by this line:
ReplyDelete>>one star brightens and another dims.<<
The best to you in this time of change.
Thanks Carmela, it's good to hear your words.
DeleteI love your movement in this piece, especially "I am at the exact point of convergence, but refuse to stay." It really catches that feeling of time moving you along will ye nil ye, but with positive hope!
ReplyDeleteThanks Katie.
DeleteHi, Linda. Convergence is a perfect word for what you are experiencing. Good luck handing the cabin off to its new owners. I'll be thinking of you.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it interesting how THE word appears, Laura? It'll be a big day tomorrow, but the new owners are just wonderful, which I referred to above. Thank you!
DeleteLinda,
ReplyDeleteWhat a good word...and I love the fact that you refuse to stay at a point of moving toward uniformity. I always feel stretched because of your words. Thanks for writing (and encouraging the world to write too).
Hugs,
Ruth
Thanks Ruth-Keeping moving is certainly a key to living. What an exciting time for you this year, too!
DeleteSo beautiful, Linda. Thank you for sharing - and I hope you smile at the number of times people refer to you as "inspiring" - you truly are!!! Wishing you all the best as you dance your way through this season.
ReplyDeleteThank you Robyn. You've just given me an idea for another writing-that dancing!
DeleteCount me in amongst those who are inspired by the way you meet each challenge and move forward in your life with such grace and optimism. Your poem is yet another wonderful snapshot of this period of transition. Good luck with the sale of your old home.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jama. It is really quite a process, but I am blessed with all the support, online & off. I am grateful!
DeleteLinda, I really, really love this poem. You have captured a significant life change in beautiful words. I know several people at a similar crossroad - I admire your strength and determination about the changes you face. My heart soared when I saw the picture of your cabin - what a lovely, sweet place! Finally, I've never heard the word "authlete" - I love it! Here's to the 31 day challenge!
ReplyDeleteThank you Maureen. The cabin has been a special place for a long while, & now it's really time for some other family to carry it on. Authlete is from Ed DiCaria, our host for March Madness. He is very creative & started this tourney last year.
DeleteConvergence--never thought of life in this term. Old with the new. Cabin has to be more heartfelt--one in a billion. March is a new beginning for us all, especially you, Linda. You're an inspiration and am glad to be with your thoughts.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tam-the convergence is these life changes seeming to happen all at once, although the path to them has been longer.
DeleteWow, Linda, so much in one poem at one point in time in your life. I love the line:
ReplyDelete"I’m headed toward different constellations;
one star brightens and another dims."
A beautiful way to look at all the changes ahead. I'm sending you my good thoughts at this time of convergence. =)
Thank you Bridget, I'm glad for the wishes!
DeleteAs always your poetry touches everyone. You are an amazing writer, so many avenues you travel. I am in awe. I love being on this writing journey with you and know that you are there with an encouraging word. My best to you on all the changes taking place. If you stumble, you will have help getting up.
ReplyDeleteThanks Elsie, glad to be on this month's journey with you!
DeleteLinda,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the pictures of the cabin and your former home. What memories--the important things. I loved your poem, it is filled with so many good lines and inspiration. Keep moving forward. May your days be filled with sunshine.
Joy, thank you very much. I appreciate your wonderful thoughts. It's quite the weekend!
DeleteI'm really look forward to seeing your first round poem -- your poems are always so warm and personal.
ReplyDeleteYour cabin looks cozy and inviting. I'm sure the new owners will love it.
Good luck on this month's journey.
Thank you Katya. What a nice & warm comment!
Delete...the trembles...feeling so much the same way as I feel so unsure of what my next steps will be, also....I loved the last line...so positive, so you. You are a terrific writer, I admire you so much. I'm so glad the new owners will love the cabin like you have. xo
ReplyDeleteIt's a different way of feeling, isn't it? My mother used to say, don't gripe, think how much worse things 'could' be. I'm sure it's ingrained in the brain!!
DeleteI LOVE your poem. I love the up for sale part! Was just reading the upcoming third grade poetry unit and it talked about how we create line breaks and the power those line breaks have. You SO demonstrate this. Would you mind if I showed this poem to some of the teachers to use as a mentor? Your positive outlook always shines through and I always look forward to your posts as a reader and now as a writer.
ReplyDeleteMelanie
Hi Melanie, how nice of you to want to use my poem. Sure you can. And thanks for the compliment!
DeleteYour words speak to me here.
ReplyDelete"yet converging with other parts
of life that buoy my spirit.
I will keep going."
Yes, you will. :)
Thanks Betsy-nice words!
DeleteWhat beautiful, honest, heartfelt words. Moving forward, especially along a new path, can be so challenging. It sounds though that you have started the opath well. May all these challenges and changes strengthen and emposer you.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your supportive words. I like the idea of starting the night before - I will have to dothis. Have a wonderful weekend!
Happy you like the idea, Beverley. It'll be fun to look for each other! Thank you!
DeleteYour words are inspiring. I love that so many people identify with your words, maybe not in the same way but still meaningful for many people at once. That is powerful.
ReplyDeleteThanks Robin-I guess getting to know each other is that important piece. I remember so many people's posts!
DeleteLove the post, and thank you for the picture of the cabin. It looks like the kind of place I love, and I like to have images of such places in my mind to think about, pull up when reading, or just to imagine being in. I can tell you packed up a lot of memories along with everything else.
ReplyDeleteYes, and they're good memories, which is the best thing, Ruth. I'm sure you would love the cabin surrounded by forest, with a perfect meadow & stream right in front. Luckily I can visit any time, but now it will be used more again by the new owners. Thanks!
DeleteA beautiful and hopeful depiction of your feelings! You are always so positive and resilient, even when you are feeling such turmoil. I especially loved the lines about the stars. Can't wait to write with you every day again! :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Jennifer-same here!
DeleteI love your power my friend
ReplyDeleteAll things at one point in time, early March 2013,
month of yearnings for spring,
a turning in my life.
I’m headed toward different constellations;
one star brightens and another dims.
I am not as surefooted on this path
as I may appear.
I will stumble,
may fall,
and move on
with trembles,
yet converging with other parts
of life that buoy my spirit.
I will keep going.
Bonnie
Thanks Bonnie-repeating those words to me is powerful too! I appreciate it!
DeleteChange is hard. Memories hold strong. Writing will capture it.
ReplyDeleteYou will keep moving on. Thank you for sharing your spirit.
Thanks Michelle-We all have times of change as witnessed by your Tuesday post.
DeleteLinda,
ReplyDeleteLike so many others, I so admire the way you have approached what seems like a really difficult journey with optimism and hope. Hope the house sells quickly!
Carol
Me too-It's time to say goodbye! Thank you Carol. Maybe it's time for a TC visit over spring break?
DeleteYour words echo your willingness to embrace both the struggles and the adventures that await. You have a lovely way of holding on to all that is dear to you through your words. So I have no doubt that the best of each layer of your life lives in your heart like it lives through your words.
ReplyDeleteThank you Christy. Your words themselves are beautiful!
DeleteYou take such clever notice of all these convergences and with such attention comes appreciation and growth. I'd like to lend my voice to your bleacher full of fans. I cheer you on!
ReplyDeleteThank you Violet. It's good to make this connection through poetry!
DeleteYes, keep going! You're an inspiration!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ruth!
DeleteThis is so lovely, Linda. I love this line: one can no longer see the marks of years-now covered, gone. I love the honesty, the "trembles," and the tentative steps toward new joys. Such wonderful words!
ReplyDeleteThank you Doraine. I appreciate the comment!
DeleteWe put our homes 'on' the market and 'up' for sale - I love the way your poem captures the feeling of our lives miving upward and onward as well!
ReplyDeleteThanks Cathy-interesting to see how we put our words together, isn't it?
DeleteI'm always inspired by your resilience, indomitable spirit, and unwavering sense of purpose and great cheer. It comes across even through this virtual space we occasionally call home. It's a privilege to know you through the kidlitosphere dearest Linda. :)
ReplyDelete