A New Journey

Hi! Thank you for stopping by. I am excited to share that I am writing another poetry book! I am  tentatively calling it Journey of a Dream. I am 20 pages into it! It feels very good to be writing again. In the meantime, if you would like to check out my latest work, Notes to Self is my latest poetry book. It is available on Website https://www.claresongbirdspub.com/poetry . Thanks!

Hello! Thanks for stopping by! I have been very inspired by spring colors this week. With so much bad weather happening all over the place, I sought out photos and flowers to give me that much needed burst of color. That got me thinking about the act of providing ourselves with color. With joy. Our lives are colorful, beautiful expressions of love; we say we "brighten someone's day" or that someone has a "vibrant personality". What word speaks to you? sparkle? shine? vibrant?colorful? bold? Let that be your word, your inspiring platform, your self-descriptive tune. I say, it is time to be all of the above! Here is a little poem on the topic of Spring and renewal. Enjoy! What lies within What lies within lies dormant only for a time then bursts through the earth shooting upwards heavenward releasing potential even dreams ; beauty and power lie within dormant waiting for the sun of our allowance to shine upon the...

Hello! It is National Poetry Month! I am so very glad to have writing, poetry in particular, as part of my life now. I am so glad you are a part of my poetry life, too. Sharing in something so personal is soaffirming and invigorating! I wanted to start with a quote on poetry today. What do you think? I think this is true. What truth could Plato be referring to? I leave that for you to ponder, but I think it has something to do with eternal truth,wisdom, and peace. For it to be vital, to me, it would have to include elements of those things. Things that impact your life, your spirit. You. What do you think? I also think poetry, in the form of nature, of beauty and love, is all around us all the time. We just have to be open to seeing it. Our eyes and heart have to open and receptive to seeing it! Well, in celebration of poetry this month I am going to be writing some new poetry and sharing it here soon. I enjoy quotes, though, and wanted to share a few...

Hi! Thanks for being here today. In thinking about poetry and looking over what I have written so far, in addition to what I have been reading, I realized something. I have been creating and also recreating, I have been giving voice to my ideas and dreams, through the act of writing. I have expressed a vision as well as hope and faith. The life I desire for myself and others comes to fruition after it begins as a thought, held and nourished by the mind and heart. The words I long to write, need to write, do not come if I am not in that sacred place of unity within myself. Periods have gone by lately where I have no words to write because I am feeling an emotion that leaves me dry, uninspired, stuck. I long for that feeling of inspiration to come back but it cannot be forced. So imagine my thankfulness when a poem begins to form in my mind, slowly, gently. Not in a burst, a flash, like in the past, but rather like the slow rising of the sun that spreads it warmth and seeps in...

     Hello! Thank you for stopping by today. I hope you like my newest poem. I get inspired by what I read and after reading this week I felt like I had a good topic for a poem- the gift,or gifts, that are presented to us every day. Simply by slowing down and appreciating all aspects of ourselves, our lives, we see that we are indeed given much to be thankful for. I am thankful for all that is present in my life, and one thing I look forward to is many more inspired moments of writing ahead!! Hope you enjoy the poem!  Still in the Moment   All of your moments come to you, by and by, with the intention of delivering the message of your divinity. Do not waste them!  Through the ages, through time and space, you learn to honor your humanity.  Cherish it!  Both are present. Now. One is eternal. There is joy is knowing that the flow of your breath links you to the source of all. All of your moments and all of mine ...

         Writing poetry. Such a personal matter. Yet we share it with the world, and what was once in the most private recess of our hearts and minds is private no longer. Once on the page, our feelings and ideas are out there, exposed for all to see.  It is, for me, many things are once. Scary. Therapeutic. Healing. Joyous.      When I said "yes" to writing poetry, things began to change in my life. Funny how that works! I had so many poems bottled up inside that it felt as if I were literally releasing them, pouring them forth from somewhere deep and onto the page. The process of  my first book, of compiling those poems, was amazing. Then I wrote more and complied them into my second book. That one felt different. It was harder to write and yet each poem within it means something very special to me.      Now? I have a chapbook I am submitting and I am looking into contests. I am grateful to have...

Well, I finally did it. I put my feet in the sand and read. I read my poetry book. My very own book, in my hand, on the beach!     It was a moment I had been looking forward to for months. It signified something special for me, almost hard to define. I had early visions of moving to/ living on the beach when I first started writing. I love how being near the ocean makes me feel. For this trip, I envisioned reading my book and then writing some more poetry for my next book. I did write a few poems later, but on the morning I read my book on the beach I was overwhelmed. I was brought back to the emotions I was feeling when I wrote the poems. To what was happening in my life, both outer and inner.      I sat there, reading through my poems, and I felt such gratitude for the opportunity to write, to put my work out there. I felt awe and a growing thankfulness for being able to reach others through my writing...

Writing my poetry. Then reading it. Repeat.      The beginning of a poem for me usually comes all at once- a line or phrase, maybe a bit more. Then I freeze. I read what I have and sometimes the rest just flows. Other times I stop, thinking that it isn't quite done yet I am hard pressed to add more. More and more I am stopping at some point in my poem. I don't get frustrated. No. I get excited! I know something delicious is cooking, stewing, almost ready. I can't rush it- like I can't rush a roast or turkey or even a pie. So, the part where I step away and let myself relax into my poem is becoming a favorite part. An enjoyable part of my writing. I do have a poem I wrote in one sitting. It came to me all at once like I was writing down something already written. I think this poem was already written - in my heart. It describes how I have felt in the past about certain books, certain authors. I get so much from books! Here is  poem I hope you enjoy, go...

Hi! Today I just have a short poem about spring. I love many things about Spring. What's your favorite season? Spring Embracing the warmth of spring sunshine floods the air, color explodes into  a riotous display of exuberance; with the promise that new life brings blowing on the wing of a butterfly. Spring immerses the senses in delight in joy in Love.

Hello! Thank you for joining me today. I hope things are well for you as we near the first day of Spring! I need to purchase a birthday card as that day is also my sister's birthday. At any rate, I have hopes of warm days ahead when I just know I will be both motivated and inspired to the point of distraction. Warm weather does that to me! I just want to take a minute and share a poem I had meant to be part of a collection but decided to let stand solo. I hope you like it! The Grace of An Angel I sense your presence in stillness and beauty; I hear your voice in a song. Love echoes back to me your sentiment, your intent. Standing before me I see outstretched all things lovely and divine; deep within I recognize them as you. My life has never been left to chance my days are not set to circumstance- you helped me see that. Reaching for dreams has been our forte releasing myself from the chains of illusion our delight. How grateful I am...

Hi! Thanks for stopping by. Lately I have been working on new poems. I am inspired by spring coming up, by books I have been reading, by quotes that I have saved on Pinterest. But most of all I have been inspired by the recurring word; "Listen." The same word keeps appearing in all my reading material, and again as I browse on social media. In books, on Facebook posts, on Twitter. Over and over I see the admonition to listen. Listen to what? Perhaps to my inner Self. That part of me that responds to poetry, to spiritual and self-growth books. The part of me that feels the words that I write down. When I do, I notice that my poems come easier. They are more expressive. Ah. My poetry comes from a place that I listen to in silence. Sit before in silence. Open up to in silence. When we listen to others, we are giving them a gift. We are honoring them. When we listen to ourselves, we give ourselves a gift and honor ourselves. True? In the spirit of listening an...

     Hi! Thanks for stopping by to share in my love of inspiring words. I have been reading a great deal about Laura Ingalls Wilder lately. I had forgotten that she wrote some poetry and also had forgotten how long she wrote for The Missouri Ruralist before penning her books. I loved those books and loved the show growing up! So much, so, that I named my cat Half-Pint when I was nine. Of course, it doesn't help that I am very petite myself (I am four-six. Thus the name for this blog!). In reading my latest find, titled Writings to Young Women from Laura Ingalls Wilder, On Wisdom and Virtue,  by Stephen W. Hines, I came across the phrase "these gardens in our minds." Laura is discussing when, in January, a friend calls and teases her about making a garden around the table in winter (looking at seed catalogs), she realizes that a successful garden does begin first in the mind. It is that way with anything we create- visualization is key!    ...

     Hi! Thanks for stopping by. Here's what's new:I have been looking through notebook after notebook of poems and notes lately and found a tiny notepad meant to keep in your purse. I bought it last year and ended up writing a few inspired sayings in it after I bought myself a Rumi poetry book for my birthday. I am so inspired by Rumi, and love so many of his poems. I even started a board on Pinterest! I thought for today I would share some of my musings. While these aren't poems, they still evoke a sense of mood and mystery. Rather like the micropoems I have posted and read online, sometimes much can be said with very few words. I hope you enjoy! * Do we possess the moment or does the moment possess us? It is up to us to decide. *Quiet moments offer wisdom a window; do not close it once it has been opened. *Carry your vision instead of division in your heart. All dreams, all hopes, are valid. *A question. A look. My answer is a...

Hi! I am busy writing poems again. Reading poetry, too. Do you have a favorite poet? I like Rumi. My plans for this year include submitting to contests and completing another full-length book of poems. I have been a bit inspired as of late to focus on affirmations and so my next collection of poems will be themed around that. I am so excited! I can hardly believe it is almost February already. On that note, I have written a love poem in anticipation of Valentine's day. Here it is: Excess I love you to excess- too much so they say but they haven't been in my shoes haven't felt the pain I have only to have it all washed away by a smile a touch, a look, a word. You saw me and I was seen for the first time and I knew you, too somehow. Our dreams support each other moonlight offers sanctuary in your arms; I think it is fine thing to love to excess.

      Welcome to my first post of the new year. I am so encouraged by the way things are starting out. How are things going for you?      One thing that started my year off well is that I have started writing another collection of poetry that I hope to see turned into my third (!) book of poetry. The title even came to me, as if out of thin air, in a moment. I might change it, but so far I like what it is: Note to Self; Poetry of Affirmation. It feels good to be inspired again!      I hope things are starting off wonderful for you and that this year blossoms into something amazing.      Below is a current poem. I hope you enjoy!                                        ...

Hello! Glad you are here! Thank you for stopping by. This is my last post for 2015. Hard to believe.      This year has been very eventful, but not in a physical sense. It has been eventful in an emotional sense. I have been on a journey with my writing, from completing and self-publishing my second poetry book to working on a very personal story. I jumped back into the school setting as a substitute and have had many experiences with that! I have had to completely alter my path that my writing life is on, and I honestly froze up inside and experienced something I did not enjoy - the absence of my enthusiasm. My motivation and positivity felt distant, inaccessible. It was strange. I had to learn to summon my desire, my gratitude and openness. The writing I wanted to do felt stuck and that made me so sad! It was like a spiral. Luckily I surrounded myself with good books that brought me back and filled me with inspiration. Acceptance and enthusiasm returned, along ...

    Hi! I am thinking about Autumn right now. I know it is a little early, but the change of seasons seems to be in the air. I like the cooler nights and the colors. Pretty soon we will be seeing maple leaves turn, my favorite!      What is it about seasons that draw us to embrace them or dread them? Spring has color and newness, summer has sun and water, and Fall (what I call Autumn) is ablaze with color and harvest, cooler temps and the beginning of holidays. Winter brings cold, Christmas, hot chocolate. I had to stretch on that last one, as Winter is not my favorite.             Do you have a favorite season? What is it about it that you anticipate? Feel inspired by?      I hope to enjoy this change of seasons. I'd like to take lots of photos and spend time reading and writing outside. I might even get those three pumpkins on the porch like I say I will every year ...

Today I have a poem about life changes, creating yourself anew. It has been a theme with me for a while now. I dedicate this poem to Wayne Dyer, author and inspirer-of-my-soul. I am saddened by your passing, wish I could have told you how much you influenced my life, yet hold the knowledge that we are one (so you know) and that love is the answer to it all. Birthing I am birthing a vision a dream creating  the reality my soul longs to breathe; with raw passion burning nurturing my desire a hunger thrives and grows. I am busy birthing a new life- my Self, reborn taking constellations creating galaxies. It is no easy task creating a new life my mind is occupied with the task of using the building blocks of intention and purpose; I cannot sleep when inspiration strikes and a grounded sense of being and oneness washes over me. So now you are a witness now to the anticipation growing within me to the new life I am birthing; this new ...

Hi! Here are a few poems today. I have been busy finishing my WIP and have been doing a lot of reading. For my birthday I bought myself a book of poetry, a book of poems by Rumi , of course! Staying inspired is my goal. Ah, poetry! Thanks for reading and reflecting on the many moods of my poetry. Life is awesome. Be aware of the beauty all around you today. Quiet It is in the quiet that your soul expands rises to the blossoming it was made to do Stillness coaxes joy out of something something magnificent and hidden; Love settles down in the quiet recesses of the heart and hope guides the activity of thought; all of this activity takes place in quietness with steady focus and direction Life is stirred in moments of quiet truth revealed and joy expanded Live life through the whispers of quiet and watch the mystery unfold. Mirror I look in a mirror seeing not myself I see a glory yet becoming a dazzling star shining radiantly it is...

Hello!      Glad you stopped by. Today's poem is about wishes and dreams. I have been thinking a lot about personal dreams, life dreams, wishes of our heart. I have even been reading my inspirational books again. I love to read those over and over. Staying inspired is so important! Have you realized a dream recently? Are you working toward a dream? I hope you are surrounded by inspiration. I hope your  inner-fire is well-lit.      Sometimes in the pursuit of a dream things in life change more than we think they will, more than we think possible when we first start on the journey. Thinking about that, and the nature of dreams and wishes, prompted the poem below.      Wishes and Dreams My wishes are luring me enticing me my dreams shine like stars twinkling in the galaxy of my soul's expanse. I wonder what fuels my dreams, turns wishes into reality- is it love that spurs the ris...