People lose themselves
To the things they
Seek and crave
The essence of
Being lies in
Love -
Your search is in vain
Remember -
Only love

A few weeks ago I got together with an old friend. We met 13 years ago in college. We talk on the phone 2 to 3 times a week and often daily. It had been a while since she and I had got together to go out and then spend some time talking face to face. I drove to her house, we talked, went out to dinner, then back to her house. The two of us talked and laughed for hours. We ended up talking as sunset turned to dusk, which turned into night. As I drove home in the middle of the night I felt a happy contentment that only comes with getting together with a cherished friend. That is when I remembered a wonderful book I read at the beginning of summer. The main character in the novel was named Sammar, pronounced like summer. Someone asked her why her parents named her that and she said Sammar means deep conversation between friends that lasts way into the night. There is something about those long talks between friends which last for hours that hold meaning for people; those seem to be the best conversations, so meaningful. I hope that everyone gets to experience sammar more often to bring us closer together, more understanding, clarity, and deeper friendships.

This poem was written after I had just spent some time praying and meditating.

The labyrinth
Of my heart
Burns with goodness
Majestic colors
Unite and ignite
In my soul
Sky blue
Expanding with
Each breath

I haven't updated in a while. I was busy most of March, April, and May wrapping up the end of the year teaching paperwork. Then I taught summer school the month of June, which was only half days and very rewarding to see how much the students grow and get ready for the next grade level. So July is a time when I get back to being fully engaged instead of on autopillot trying to get everything finished. A new goal is to cultivate an awareness and engagement with all things all the time. I can accomplish this some of the time but not all of the time. After a restful break my concentrated awareness will last several months until work gets stressful again. I am working hard with strategies at this point to remember to remind myself when things do get stressful that I can be more fully engaged. I plan on keeping these strategies in place, kind of in a reservoir for when I need them most.

The first week of July was clear of all demanding tasks. I felt a little untethered and restless because when you go from being task oriented for months and months and finally it's time to settle down for a while, I felt lost almost. It was the first time I did not have any to do list since Spring Break. I went to the beach for Spring Break and had a wonderful time.

I went to Asheville for summer vacation last week and had an even better time than I did at the beach. I absolutely love the mountains. There is a calming energy that soothes me when I am in the mountains. The trip to the mountains for the week was just the tonic that I needed. I loved sitting out on the deck of the cabin looking across to mountain peaks and down to the lush green valley below me. I enjoyed touring Biltmore, going to the botanical gardens at UNC, I walked a few of the trails there and loved that, and toured downtown historic Asheville. I loved going to the art galleries, antique shops, all the speciality shops there. There is an eccelectic taste in the town that bites of originiality, uniqueness, and this in turn brings it out in yourself. At least it does for me. I especially loved one coffeehouse that stands out in my mind, The Green Sage. It has delicious lattes, almond coconut mini cupcakes, and a terrific atmosphere. It is on a corner of the street and you see all the people passing by going to their desitinations. I sat there drinking my latte, watching the world go by both inside the coffeeshop and outside also. I went there several times and did a little writing also. The place's atmosphere is very conducive to writing.

Coming from struggling to get everything done in a certain amount of time to having an abundant amount of "open" time takes some getting used to. With a little bit of patience and nurturing myself I now feel I'm centered and balanced which leads to happiness, or because of happiness I now feel centered and balanced. I feel the coming together, the cohesion, everything melding, and now I have again found my creative voice.

In the dark night
It is only me that
Fills the silence
Breathing
A natural rhythm

Evening light
Plays across
The dining room table
Dappled and dancing
Doves coo their peaceful
Melody, winter wind
Carries the song aloft

The days have begun to gradually get longer with noticeable more sunlight. This makes me smile a huge smile. Although I know some of the coldest days and nights still await us, the knowledge of more sunlight warms and fills me with optimistic happiness.

Ripples reflect
A changing image
Days race on
Stark, barren trees
Dark against a
Sapphire sky

In the essence

Of my being

I hear creativity's

Urgent whisper

Which my

Soul craves

If I am only still

And quiet enough

To listen

Every moment
Breaks, shatters
Into an array
Of hopeful possibilities

Fire of winter’s
Sunset fades
To glittering stars
In a cloudless sky

Remnants of a discarded life

Lay scattered on the floor

Sky a constantly changing blue

All of this inevitable but until then

I want to dance at

Midnight underneath

A full gleaming white moon

Watch stars streak across

The wide expanse of cobalt sky.

I painted the whole canvas in vibrant yellow
Last night with the lights dimmed, the moon
Casting rays as strong as the sun's through my windows
Thick, happy yellow sunbursts of color while listening to
Tranquil Nora Jones and Enya tunes, adding mixes and splashes of
Related pigments
Umber and sienna providing depth.

Ripples move from the source
Gliding, growing larger
Swirl and swill becoming
Muddy rather than clear
Spring duels with winter
Capturing the day

Silver moon
Stretching across the sky
Casting shadows
Past the ancient cypress trees
Blowing in the night breeze
Monochromatic colors of blue,
Black, silver.

In the gazebo of my heart
Stars burn brightly, a wide, wild expanse
A meadow where exotic birds flutter
Glimpses of flowing colors, each a dynamic facet
Starry, sunny
Crisp, clear.

Jazz wafts lazily to the ceiling smoky and soulful
Friends and I at a modern day speakeasy on the outskirts of Atlanta
The crimson haze of Chianti flows freely through veins
Smooth, soft, sensuous, swaying
Transcending time and space
Only jazz and Chianti

Rose petals and thorns
Abundant nectar for all
Silky on my skin.

Color of red blooms
Pure white flecks of snow descend
Petals gently fall.

An open window
Cuddled in a warm blanket
Ice and snow thickens.