Imagine the Possibilities

It’s Poetry Friday!

I’ve been thinking a lot about light lately. I usually wake while it’s still dark and love watching the sky slowly brighten. Yesterday I looked out at a world being transformed by a mess of sleet (still beautiful, though), and the line “without darkness there is no light” came to me. It made me think about different kinds of light, especially since I’ve been lighting more candles lately. So I decided to use it to frame my poem.

Light

Without darkness there is no light.

Morning light
sneaks in
peaks over trees
welcomes the day

Candle light
carries warmth
sets an intention
marries glow with hope

Moonlight
gleams
casts beams
offers comfort and peace

Without darkness there is no light.
@Draft, 2022RoseCappelli

I hope you enjoy the many lights of the season. Karen has the roundup today here where she encourages profligate kindness (and where I learned a new word!). Be sure to stop by for lots of poetry goodness.

Happy Poetry Friday!

I’m so honored to be a part of another anthology put together by the talented team of Janet Wong and Sylvia Vardell. This time it’s THINGS WE WEAR. When I was invited to submit a poem to go with RAINCOAT, I immediately fell in love with the photo. There is such joy in the face of the little girl, and I wanted to be sure my poem matched her emotion. I originally wrote the first line as “My raincoat’s full of polka dots.” I wasn’t satisfied with the word “full” but I couldn’t come up with a good alternative… until I went for a walk. I was listening to a podcast in which Matt Forrest Esenwine used the word “pop” in an interview he was giving. I remember being so excited to find that word—not only do the polka dots pop with color and alliteration, but so does the child’s joy. It’s always amazing to me how just one word can make all the difference. (Thanks, Matt.)

All of the proceeds from the “Things We” anthologies go to the IBBY Children in Crisis Fund, and they make great gifts. You can find out how to order here at Pomelo Books.

Michelle has the round-up today at Michelle Kogan Art so be sure to head over there for lots of poetry goodness.

Happy Poetry Friday! Catherine at Reading to the Core has the roundup this week with thoughts on unanswered questions. Be sure to stop by for lots of poetry goodness.

It’s hard to believe it’s December already! I was thinking the other day about the holiday season and how every year it seems to start earlier with one blending seamlessly into the next. It’s not uncommon to see the goblins and ghosts of Halloween sharing shelf space with turkeys, and then even before the frost is on the pumpkin, snowflakes and Santas take over. Time has a way of speeding up as we get older, quite the opposite of when we were kids. So that’s what came to mind for me this Poetry Friday.

Last week I was on a personal retreat at the Highlights Foundation. It was wonderful sharing ideas with friends and taking the time to write and refresh in such a beautiful place. I always look forward to my Highlights visits where I am nurtured as a writer. I went with no expectations of what I would accomplish, although I did have a list of possible ptojects I could work on.

To my surprise I started revisions on a manuscript I haven’t looked at in several years, figured out a structure I might try for another manuscript, read poetry, wrote poetry, and even did a little sketching. And, thanks to Janet Wong, Sylvia Vardell, and many Poetry Friday friends (Patricia and Marcie I’m looking at you!) I also fooled around with Canva.

Outside the Barn at Highlights is a word garden. I took a few pictures, then let this one inspire a haiku.

I hope everyone enjoys a Thanksgiving full of food, family, and fun. Jama has the round up today, so be sure to head over there for some poetry goodness.

Happy Poetry Friday!

Lately I’ve been watching our dear puppy, Cyrus (who is not so much a puppy anymore), move gracefully into old age. Once a rambunctious, exuberant lover of life, he has calmed down considerably now that he is almost ten. I watch him sometimes in the morning, pausing at the top of the stairs before he cautiously finds his way. Is he waiting for his eyes to focus, for a hand to guide him, or maybe for assurance from the voice inside his heart? There was a time when he sailed down those steps, barely touching one, let alone all nine.

My poem was inspired by this poem:

“Something Told the Wild Geese”
by Rachel Field.

Something told the wild geese
It was time to go.
Though the fields lay golden
Something whispered,—‘Snow.’
Leaves were green and stirring,
Berries, luster-glossed,
But beneath warm feathers
Something cautioned,—‘Frost.’

You can read the rest of the poem here.

The Voice Inside
by Rose Cappelli

He pauses at the top
of the stairs
where once he bounded down
without a care.

Now something warns
Beware.
One cautious step,
another follows
when something whispers
Take it slow.

His eyes adjust,
he’s on his way,
then something tells him
You’re okay.
Draft©2022RoseCappelli

Buffy has the round up today here. Be sure to stop by for lots of poetry goodness. I’m at the Highlights Foundation for a writing retreat with my critique group members and a few other friends this weekend. Tonight the moon is shining, the stars are out, and inspiration is in the air. I can’t wait!