The circle stretches miles long
Hands held, leaving no room
Baring the strength of steel
Some things cannot be forced
Tiny nuances glow in time
The truth, clear as pure water
Emotions flood out
Frenzied with freedom
The agony is extreme
Floating…down, down
Falling reckless
Into arms open wide
To guide and to calm
Into moving forward –
The circle remains as is
Lauren Scott (c) 2020
I stare at this page,
milk white as the
blanketed ground
in winter’s staging.
Where are the syllables
to create
a mixture of magic?
I fear they have flown
to faraway places,
across desert dunes
and boundless oceans
and might not return
so that I may tell him
(again)
how irreplaceable he is.
Instead,
I’ll touch his lips
with mine
and steady myself
in the arms of a man
who is satisfied
with my simple existence.
Romantic musings from years ago for this Monday…
Wishing you a peaceful day.
Lauren xo
Each day, we search within ourselves to find beauty that soothes us during these pandemic times. I’ve always loved flowers and what they symbolize: New Life and Hope. But I’ve never had a green thumb – hubby has two for both of us. Given the fact that we’ve lived under a dismal cloud since March, blooms have been more dazzling than in past years. Did I value these precious gifts before? Or did I take them for granted? Have you wondered the same?
This weekend, I planted white alyssum and orange geraniums (of course, with the guidance of Mr. Hubby Green Thumb). Their brilliance enriches our landscape of pinks, purples, and reds. I’ll admit, though, the whole process was hard work, but I felt quite accomplished when the job was done. And when I gave them their first drink of water, it was as though I could hear them sigh…Now I have a better appreciation for those who find planting annuals and perennials cathartic.
We know beauty lies in many other forms, poetry for one, and recently, a friend sparked my interest in writing a Triolet poem, a form I’ve never dabbled in. So, because I’ve been profoundly drawn to flowers this year, below is my first Triolet attempt with them in mind…
Blossoms
They’ve graced us with their presence
But have we missed their shades in haste?
In this shelter are there lessons?
They’ve graced us with their presence
And mastered their attendance
With joy and beauty interlaced.
They’ve graced us with their presence
But have we missed their shades in haste?
I hope you enjoyed my Triolet and I’m sharing these blooms that were part of my Mother’s Day gifts from my husband. Lately, I’ve been into the vibrant oranges, yellows, and reds. Aren’t they gorgeous?
The impact of Covid-19 has been different for all of us, but I hope you will search within to find some form of beauty each day to carry you through. Stay safe and well.
Sending love and virtual hugs,
Lauren ❤❤❤
Dear Friends,
I want to share that one of my poems, The Virus, was published in the SF Chronicle yesterday! A writing friend read it and she suggested I send it in to the paper. To my surprise, it was published! So, this news from yesterday was a great start to my Friday and also a positive kick-off to the new month of May.
During the health crisis, I have often written in my journal, expressing how my family is affected and how we are faring in these uncertain times. Then some of those thoughts turned into poetry and the Palindrome form evolved.
If you are interested in checking out the poem in the SF Chronicle, the links are below:
https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/
Otherwise, here is the poem:
Its effect appears as shattering
As it slips unnoticed into homes,
When death numbers continue to rise
Like the Spanish flu filling tombs.
But each night there is howling
And each night there is singing,
So even under gray clouds hanging,
The music becomes encouraging
As we crawl through this haze.
Our spirits lift, feeling optimistic
When the darkness plays that song.
As voices make a touching statement
Needless boundaries are withdrawn.
Needless boundaries are withdrawn
As voices make a touching statement.
When darkness plays that song
Our spirits lift, feeling optimistic.
As we crawl through this haze
The music becomes encouraging,
So even under gray clouds hanging,
Each night there is singing
And each night there is howling.
Like the Spanish flu filling tombs
When death numbers continue to rise,
It slips unnoticed into homes,
The virus appears as shattering.
Lauren Scott Swalberg (c) 2020
I hope you enjoyed my poem and may you find a sense of calm and a glimmer of joy in your weekend as we continue on this unprecedented journey.
Dear Friends,
My blog sat alone for almost a year and a half, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Baydreamer and I had been forgotten. At the end of 2018, I posted about the success of a medical procedure, and then I fell off the blog for over a year? Since then my health has been back to normal, but soon after, I felt the need to disengage from technology. Now, I’m drawn to blogging again because with physical distancing, the connections that blogging offers are welcomed. As to writing, I drifted from poetry; instead, I have been writing personal essays and trying my hand at fiction, which has been challenging but rewarding. Occasionally, though, a poem begins to form.
How surreal I return in uncertain times, living in a pandemic world. I realize when the sun shines and the sky brightens to a beautiful cerulean blue, my attitude shifts to positive thoughts. When I stroll around our backyard, enjoying all the spring blooms, I wonder if the flowers have the slightest hunch of what Covid-19 is and its impact on human society. Probably not, which is why they bloom in spite of the bleakness all around the globe.
Don’t these flowers radiate joy? How can the same elation flood through our veins despite hearing the grim accounts of this virus? Answers vary, but two thoughts come to mind: Faith and Hope. Whatever you believe in and no matter how far you need to stretch to grasp even a fraction of Hope, without these, we can easily become defeated and remain in that gloomy headspace. It seems taking one day at a time is applicable once again.
Even while practicing physical distancing, there is some good that comes to light: I have seen more smiles on the street while walking our chocolate lab mix, Copper. Not to mention, the neighborhood has never been so joyfully packed with people of all ages out for a walk. This truly is a welcoming site. Stories of people helping each other are abundant – offering to grocery shop for a neighbor or reaching out to those who are lonely where isolation is more challenging. These simple gestures are a means to stay sane in the midst of this insane scenario. Acts of kindness make us feel good and they afford a sense of purpose. At 8 pm each night in our community, everyone howls in gratitude for the heroes working in essential jobs risking their lives for us. My family participates in this gesture of appreciation, and Copper sings his part in the chorus, too.
However, five weeks into sheltering-in-place does not advise complacency. It’s not over until it’s over. We still need to be responsible in taking precautions to help mitigate the spreading of the virus. We wash our hands a million times a day, hand sanitizer and antibacterial wipes stay within reach, and we wear masks and gloves, not just to protect ourselves but to protect each other. Those who have lost loved ones to the virus remain in our hearts. This health crisis is serious and if any doubts arise, simply turn on the news. There is no exemption card. The effects from Covid-19 are devastating, overwhelming, and heartbreaking.
But while staying at home, the time is at hand to find beauty in each day: an opportunity to complete unfinished projects, spend quality time with family, get exercise, pick up a good book, put thoughts to paper, or step outside where flora and fauna are abundant. I revel in the gorgeous spring blooms where hope blossoms. They provide a sense of normalcy in these most abnormal circumstances. My family and friends are doing well and we are beyond grateful. And after all this time, thank you so much for stopping by, but mostly, I hope you’ll stay safe and healthy.
For those of you who are new to my site or who haven’t visited my other pages, I encourage you to visit my “About Me” page and sign my “Guestbook.”
In Love and Friendship,
Lauren
Lauren Scott (c) 2020
Care less about what others think
Own up to your awesomeness
Nourish your hopes and dreams
Find light, even if it is obscured
Improvise, if necessary
Dance, celebrating the true you
Encourage others who live in darkness
Never give into negative criticism
Calm is always the best choice
Enjoy life by living in your happiness
Everyone owns it, but sometimes it slips out of grip. The truth is even if you feel insecure, looking and acting confident will not only make you feel better, but others will perceive you in that positive way. Walk with your head up, chin up, and notice what and who is around, i.e., be aware of your surroundings. In doing so, you will appear strong to others. The more you practice this, the more confident you’ll feel, which will cause a ripple effect of positive thoughts, emotions, and actions in your life.
On this positive note, I wish you a very Happy Thanksgiving, and let us remember to be thankful not only on this one day, but throughout the entire year. And with these words, I continue to keep the fire victims in CA in my heart and prayers.
With Love & Friendship, Lauren 🧡🧡🧡
Photo: Google
Lauren Scott © 2018
(To my daughter) ❤
WordPress tells me that it’s been 8 years since I embarked on this blogging journey. As most of you know, I created this blog around my 50th birthday after encouragement from my son (then 15 years old). Becoming a blogger never entered my mind, so it was similar to taking a step into a whole new world.
Let me tell you that it’s been such a wonderful experience, and although it’s been 8 years since inception, I didn’t become truly active until the following year. But who’s counting, right? This virtual adventure has been a “cup runneth over” experience between meeting people from all over the world, making new lovely friends, exploring art in every form, learning new styles of poetry, having the ability to share my writing, and then, of course, to receive the abundance of support throughout the years.
So, will you celebrate with me? I’d love it if you would because the more, the merrier!
And below I’m including a poem I wrote a few years back about this amazing experience…
Connections
I pondered long and hard for the answer
wondering, wavering of emotions inside
How relative time has been in this journey
this crazy, happy, emotional ride
The voices unheard, yet heard of so clearly
in universal languages for all to hear
The faces unseen, yet seen in tiny glimpses
of those who opened their windows for air
How thoughtful the praise each time I read
How warm my hopeful heart became
How humble it felt from deep within
How grateful my soul will surely remain
Lauren Scott 2015
SO HERE’S A BIG THANKS TO YOU ALL FOR YOUR LOVE, FRIENDSHIP, SUPPORT, AND ENCOURAGEMENT OVER THE YEARS!
And the journey continues…
Love, Lauren ❤❤❤
Image credit: Google
When emotions are
exhausted again, I find
myself at home, alone,
closing all windows, then
stopped in the middle of
the hallway, I scream at
a volume that causes the
Golden Gate to shudder in
acknowledgement.
A moment for prayer.
Lauren Scott © 2018
Inspired by Margaret L. Mitchell’s poem:
Sometimes,
when it is all, finally,
too much,
I climb into my car,
roll the windows up,
and somewhere between
backing out of the driveway
and rounding the first corner
I let out a yell
that would topple Manhattan.
How do you pray?
***Thank you for your compassionate words, thoughts,
and prayers from my prior post. All is better for now,
and we live one day at a time as each day is a gift…
I was talking to my pastor the other day, and she
sent me Margaret Mitchell’s poem. I’ve read this
before, love it, and couldn’t believe how perfectly
it resonated. So I was inspired to write my own version,
but since the idea and wording are similar, I wanted
to cite the author.***
Within the four walls
memories stir, the smell
of cologne remains
poignant, the sound of
laughter echoes a favorite
tune, tears struggle to
be set free.
The closet’s belly stays
nearly full after six months’
worth of grieving. Clothes
hang proudly as if he’ll
search for the right shirt
and matching pants for the
day’s activities, all hoping
to be chosen for the outing.
Shoes sit tightly for their
next walk like dogs eagerly
awaiting their master’s call.
Some belongings have
warmed the backs of those
in need. But emotion’s pull is
firm, so to surrender all
feels like a balloon slipping
through fingers, escaping
into the big blue, slowly
fading away…
Lauren Scott © 2018
