Tag: Health

November rain

November rain
summer visits to parks
are memories

stored in photos
words
blog posts
archives

as a verse
from the Psalms
stays in my heart
during hard times
stored there
during easier
times

strength and beauty
for the soul

I will love thee, O Lord, my strength.

Psalm 18:1 (KJV)

Today – I love our months and seasons.  Some new health challenges this year, and all going well.

Ellen Grace Olinger

“Each of us is called . . .” Luci Shaw

“Each of us is called to cultivate beauty, knowing that as artists, and as those with whom we share our creative gifts, we become more whole and healed in that sharing of beauty.”

Luci Shaw

*
From BREATH FOR THE BONES Art, Imagination, and Spirit: Reflections on Creativity and Faith (page 33). Published by Thomas Nelson. Copyright Luci Shaw, 2007.

*

Three photos from my archives:

100_3217

Lake Michigan
August 26, 2015

100_3202

Cedar Fence
August 24, 2015

100_3304

September 16, 2015

Ellen Grace Olinger

Planting with Hope by Charles A. Waugaman

Planting with Hope

I worked because I hoped for coming rain.
The dry earth by itself could woo no growth
From seeds entrusted to its dusty care,
But there was still tomorrow,
Damp with hope.

I lingered for the lilacs were in bloom.
Great plumes of purple watched me as I raked
Prompting my trust, inspiring my desire
And there was still tomorrow,
Primed with hope.

I labored where the waves of scented wind
Embraced me, and continuing till dusk,
Thinned the rich air with freshened cool delight,
For there would be tomorrow’s
Rain, I hoped.

By Charles A. Waugaman
Welcoming Hope: Poems for those in need (2007, Elin Grace Publishing).
All Rights Reserved.

*

Please see the books page at Time Of Singing if you wish more information about this poetry anthology.  All proceeds benefit Time of Singing.

WelcomingHopeCoverBorder

Wisconsin Seasons and Encouragement

So far, I have a list of several poems for my new large print book.  The seasons here – and each month – have their own characters.  We’ll include a few of our photos.

I enjoy learning about the seasons from many places, from our blogs.

When I was recovering from a chronic illness and major surgery years and years ago, I learned a lot about the materials that may work at these times.  This is one of the ways I began writing short poems.  And when I spent time with my mother in a nursing home, I noted the bags residents had attached to their walkers, or how they carried things with them in their wheelchairs.  A change of view from their rooms to a shared sitting room, with something to read, is nice.

So the poems also express experiences in common, in addition to the seasons I know here.

Here are a few that may be in the next book, or another.  There are many layers to the process.

*

cold week
ice floats in the water
yet the light is changing
and robins will return
on time

*

reading
in a sunny corner
of the house
I could be
any age

*

roses in the sun
some ending
some beginning
and some in full bloom
good to grow older

*

seasons repeat
we tell the stories
we are given

*

country cemetery
trumpet vines
growing taller than
the gravestones

*

Credits:

my blogs – this opportunity to create with WordPress

*

Charlotte Digregorio’s Writer’s Blog (Daily Haiku)

“seasons repeat”

*

Mayfly (Brooks Books Haiku)

“seasons repeat” was published first in Mayfly.

*

WestWard Quarterly: The Magazine of Family Reading

“reading”

*

Time Of Singing: A Journal Of Christian Poetry

“country cemetery”

tinywords

“seasons repeat”

My Poet Profile page at The Haiku Foundation Haiku Registry

“seasons repeat”

*

Just a beginning, and with gratitude for all the editors, readers, friends.  I’ll include poems from anthologies in a future post.  Thank you.

100_5000

Ellen Grace Olinger

January 22, 2018 – I added more details to the credits.