Three More Hearts ๐Ÿงก๐ŸŒˆ

This weekend, I was surprised to find more touching reviews for King Copper. I’m beyond grateful to my friends, Selma, Lori, and Marie. I appreciate the support from these lovely ladies and also from you who have read and reviewed this special book for my family. I’m repeating myself, but my heart is fuller each time I read about how my poetry collection of Copper’s life affects another reader. I am in awe of every review, how everyone discovers something unique that stirs their emotions. Simply put, it’s profound and heartwarming…

The back cover of my book.

Below are portions of each lovely review, but I invite you to click on the blog links that will gently carry you to these beautiful sites to read the reviews in their entirety. And while you’re there, I hope you’ll spend some time to get to know these talented women if you haven’t met them already. โค๏ธ

I felt this authorโ€™s immense grief in King Copper: Our dogโ€™s life in poetry by Lauren Scott, but I also saw her light flicker on. Hereโ€™s a quote I want to include and my honest thoughts:

โ€œMy candle burns, not to dispel the darkness, but to put forth the Light.โ€
~ Charlie Siegel.
Like Charlie Siegelโ€™s quote, this book might help you put forth the light.

The setup of the two parts works well, as do the color photographs. This short 70-page book (digital) is for anyone who has ever loved another person or petโ€”โ€œloveโ€ being the keyword hereโ€” and has to go on living without them. How, you ask? Trust me, this book will help you discern the light that resides inside. And bring you comfort too.

The words in King Copper are heartwarming and lulling like whispered confidences in a comforting tone, like a messenger of the holy. Yes, the best Iโ€™ve heard this year. Just when you feel leafless and stark like a bare tree in winter from a recent loss, the bird in your soul will open its eyes, and locate the light; open its beak, and be encouraged to sing again. In your โ€œhouse of silenceโ€ and you will โ€œfind your shadowโ€. Thatโ€™s what this book will do…

Lauren Scottโ€™s love of her familyโ€™s beautiful chocolate lab, Copper, shines in this sweet little volume of photographs and poems that follow their lives together from adoption day on. In her words, King Copper is โ€œa poetic account of the joy that arises when a lovable chocolate lab walks into your life and changes it forever. And the eventual heartache you feel when he crosses over the rainbow bridge thirteen years later and still too soon.โ€

What a touching account, and what a testament to the glorious impact our beloved pets have on our lives. If only all dogsโ€”all petsโ€”were as well loved and appreciated as the delightful lab Lauren writes so poetically about, the world would truly be a better place. Brava to Lauren for giving her beloved Copper a tribute worthy of his beauty and goodness!

Did it make me cry a bit? Absolutely. But tears shed over the loss of a dear dog are never wrong. There is nothing purer than a dogโ€™s affection and devotion.

Copper wasnโ€™t my dog, but I, too, have loved wonderful dogs. Like Lauren and her family, I know our animal companions deserve our deepest affection in return for the many gifts they give us. Part of the price for that gift is the same as it is for anything we open up our hearts to fullyโ€”the possibility, even the probability that one day there will be pain and loss…

Not so long ago, Lauren had to say goodbye to their lovable chocolate lab Copper and as a way of soothing her grief, she wrote a book about the welcoming of Copper into their family, his sweet temper, the joys shared on the road and the terrible decision they had to make, as Copper couldnโ€™t keep going, suffering.

In the past 3 months, two of my friends lost their beloved pets. I was the witness of their pain, of the emptiness they felt, tears flowing down as they recalled the time they met, the โ€œlove at first sight โ€ feeling , fond memories.
Nobody is ever prepared for any loss. Itโ€™s always a heart-breaking story.

In her book, Lauren shares Copperโ€™s Story with her readers, via sweet photos and her wonderful poetry! We can even feel at times Copper’s presence as we unravel the fantastic relation they shared as a family. I liked the way she mixed poems from her point of view and some from Copperโ€™s viewpoint. We understand how much love they both got from this special bond.

Some people come to your life at times to change it forever. Itโ€™s what happened to Lauren and her family โ€“ for 13 years Copper brought happiness, unconditional love, affection and much more, as they gave him a safe place to grow and simply be. I feel that Lauren’s recollection of moments can be a great gift for anyone going through such a bereavement…

And thanks so much for visiting! I appreciate you!
Have a wonderful week! โค๏ธ

ยฉ Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com

Click on the image to order your copy! ๐Ÿงก

Lauren Scott

Author โ€“ King Copper: Our dogโ€™s life in poetry
Author โ€“ Coraโ€™s Quest (a childrenโ€™s book)
Author โ€“ Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poetry
Author โ€“ More than Coffee: Memories of Verse and Prose
Author โ€“ Finding a Balance: A Collection of Poetry
Author โ€“ New Day, New Dreams: A Collection of Poetry
Co-Author โ€“ Tranquility: An Anthology of Haiku
Co-Author โ€“ Petals of Haiku: An Anthology
Co-Author โ€“ This Is How We Grow
Co-Author โ€“ Poetry Treasures 2: Relationships
Bi-Monthly Contributor on Gobblers by Masticadores
Spillwords Author of the Month May 2023
Spillwords Publication of the Month October 2024
Spillwords Publication of the Month June 2025

Happy Friday! Today is the last day to vote!

As I stated in my previous post, I am honored that my poem “Chilling Embrace” is nominated, and today is the last day to vote for Publication of the Month at Spillwords Press. I hope you’ll support me!

Here is the link: https://spillwords.com/vote/ and you’ll have to log in to vote.

Chilling Embrace

I have been embraced
by the chilling presence
of loneliness.
I have wondered
where the niche
designed for me
exists in this world
in which my breaths
originate.
I have waited
for the glow
to emerge from
behind the shadows.

But when I take
that wise step
into the splendor
of nature,
listen to the trees
whisper their sagacity,
feel the flowing rivers
move my pain,
creating vast distance
between it and me,
I have been revived
by the compassion
that nature offers
so unselfishly.

ยฉ Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.
Poem photo & Logo: Spillwords Press

Nomination from Spillwords Press!

Dear Family and Friends,

I am excited to share that my poem “Chilling Embrace” which was recently published at Spillwords Press has been nominated for Publication of the Month. The email that brightened my day is below:

Dear writers,

We are thrilled to extend our heartfelt congratulations to each and every one of you! Your exceptional pieces have been nominated due to popular demand for Publication of The Month of September.

We also encourage you to share this link with your family, friends, and supporters, as their votes can make all the difference.

The winning publication will be prominently featured on the Spillwords.com sidebar throughout the entire month of October, gaining well-deserved recognition from our global audience.

HERE ARE THE NOMINEES:

Fever by Suman Pokhrel
The Falling Man by Stephen Kingsnorth
Kings of The Water by Tim Barlow
Chilling Embrace by Lauren Scott
Love Lane by Simona Prilogan
Two Black Cats by Tamara Lindsay
Ruth by James Walmsley
True by Ivor Steven
You’re No Good For Me by Sheila Henry
Rubble Women by David Milner
Harvest by Elaine Nadal
Unobtainable by S.J. Walker
Two Weeks Today by Elizabeth Ricketson
Endless Scale by Vasile Trif

To all the nominees, good luck! Your contributions have enriched our platform, and we deeply appreciate your excellent collaboration and participation.

Warm regards,

Editing Team | Editing Department
editor@spillwords.com

Chilling Embrace

I have been embraced
by the chilling presence
of loneliness.
I have wondered
where the niche
designed for me
exists in this world
in which my breaths
originate.
I have waited
for the glow
to emerge from
behind the shadows.

But when I take
that wise step
into the splendor
of nature,
listen to the trees
whisper their sagacity,
feel the flowing rivers
move my pain,
creating vast distance
between it and me,
I have been revived
by the compassion
that nature offers
so unselfishly.

ยฉ Lauren Scott
Photos: Spillwords Press

A Big Thank You to Dagmara K. and her team for publishing my poem and for this wonderful nomination!

** Please remember that you’ll need to log into Spillwords to vote, and voting is happening now and will end on Friday, September 29th.
Thanks so much for your kind support! โค๏ธ๐Ÿ™๐Ÿป

Photo by alleksana on Pexels.com

ยฉ Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com โ€“ All rights reserved.

The Hummingbird

Laura folds into the patio rocker, breathing in summerโ€™s fragrance. The sun boldly hangs in the bright sky, but today marks the tenth anniversary of that day. Her heart feels heavy.

โ€œI miss you, Mom, and the kids miss their grandma. I just long for another chat, a hug, even one more piece of unsolicited advice.โ€

She watches a hummingbird soar to the pink geranium hanging from the gazebo. Her mother loved these delightful creatures.

โ€œIs that you, Mom?โ€

The little bird glides to Laura, hovering at eye level.   

Rocking gently, Laura feels the comfort of her momโ€™s presence.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ยฉ Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.
Photo by Frank Cone on Pexels.com


I’ve had fun writing 99-word stories, and I hope you enjoyed this one, too. ๐Ÿฉท

The Best Friend

โ€œWhat a day I had at school, Bella,โ€ Nick said to his loyal black lab cuddling against his leg. โ€œI finally got the courage to ask Rachel to prom and she said no! I thought she liked me!โ€

Bella just stared at her human brother, ready to give him a big sloppy kiss on the cheek. She couldnโ€™t help but wag her tail, hoping to get Nick in a tail-wagging mood.

โ€œI can always count on you to cheer me up, Girl. No matter what, you wonโ€™t betray me. I guess thatโ€™s why they call you โ€˜Manโ€™s best friend.โ€™

ยฉ Lauren Scott, Baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.
Photo: Credit to my daughter of our Lucky Girl who left this earthly world in 2011.

She was 11 years old. ๐Ÿฉท

P.S. I’m not sure if this little piece of writing qualifies as a story, but it is 99 words, and you get the message I want to convey. If you’re an animal lover, I hope this story warms your heart.

Happy Friday and weekend ahead, and for those in the U.S.,
have a safe and fun Fourth of July!
Hugs, Lauren
โค๏ธ

One thing is certain

Have you ever sensed
the tingling of a feeling
arriving without a label?
It stirs through your reflections,
your layers, and you find yourself
walking around in a daze
where reality offers no place
of comfort. So, the sun sets
for the moon, but what does
this clarify? One thing is certain –
within the constellations,
among the celestial stars,
this emotion finds balance,
graciously treasuring the safety
it has stumbled upon.

ยฉ Lauren Scott, baydreamerwrites.com – All rights reserved.
Photo by Guillaume Meurice on Pexels.com

Little Comfort

It’s not likely to be tougher than this
Pain exceeds the wildest of imaginations
Sunsets fade into melting memories
Pleading is heard with no negotiations

Control keeps its distance on the furthest horizon
Progress stays on the trail of stagnation
Sunrises fail to uplift with their vibrancy
An opened door leads only to resignation

LS 2016