I hope you’re doing well. Our family has been spending as much time as possible with my father-in-law who is nearing the end of his life. He is on hospice, living in a lovely facility with the best care. It has been difficult to witness his body failing, but the silver lining is that spending more time with him has been a gift – these moments have given us room to prepare for the inevitable. When he is lucid on occasion, the gift is even greater.
Writing poetry during my break has been soothing. This surreal experience has been emotional for all of us, but if it inspires me to write, my husband feels it’s a beautiful thing. I was motivated to try a Haibun for the first time after reading D.L. Finn’s gorgeous poetry book, Deep in the Forest Where Poetry Blooms. I loved her collection and will share a review and a couple others in the next few weeks.
This piece may not qualify as a Haibun, but it’s a beginning…
The Last Days
The outdoor temperature feels like a summer day in August though ghosts and goblins lurk around the bend. The orange ball shines brilliantly lighting up the clear blue sky. But inside his room, death awaits in the corners – a dreary atmosphere until we turn on lights to uplift our spirits. Classical music drifts out the windows, swirling around the trees and gardens still bursting with reds and oranges. Photos of family and friends, and ball caps from favorite sports teams embellish the bare white walls.
He lies in bed each day, body frail. A vision we hope will fade over time. A vision contrasting to the man who hiked mountains. The small clock ticking on the bedside table and the calendar hanging on the wall irrelevant. His words, an untranslatable language. His appetite, diminished, but it’s time for breakfast, so we pull the lids from each tub. He slightly opens his mouth like a mama bird feeds her chick, and we gently hold the spoon so he can take in tiny bites of pureed eggs and oatmeal. The tubs still look full, but so is his stomach. Sleep calls him. His chest slowly moves up and down with soft breaths. We stretch out this moment, then we lay a kiss on his forehead, tell him that we love him and that we’ll see him later. We steal one more glance at Dad, then we slowly walk out the door with tears struggling for freedom.
a routine until he slowly draws his last breath preparing our hearts
**A Haibun is a combination of prose and haiku, and usually includes autobiography, diary, essay, prose poem, short story, or travel journal.
My latest collection of poetry – I prompt you to reminisce and reflect on your past, present, and future. Through the ups and downs, what matters most is to love and live ever so gently. Please click on the link to purchase your copy. Thank you to those who have bought a copy and who have shared wonderful reviews. My heart is full of gratitude.💙🩵💙
Thank you for visiting today. Have a wonderful day and week ahead! ❤️
Lately, my days are spent ‘over the moon’ because of the incredible reviews coming in for my book, Ever So Gently. Cindy at Unique Times shared her lovely review of my book, and once you read it, you’ll know whyI love that moon!
Cindy is a wonderful friend in this community. She is generous, funny, kind, uplifting, and real. She also recently published her debut book, Re-Create & Celebrate: 7 Steps To Turn Your Dreams Into Realitythat can be purchased here. “Through her transformational techniques and practices, which she has gained from decades of experience in the field of life coaching, she provides a teaching memoir and workbook containing the tools to build a blueprint to a life of fulfillment, inner peace and happiness.” Check out the 5-star reviews on Amazon where you’ll also find mine, and if you don’t already have Cindy’s book sitting on your coffee table, get your copy now!
And now for Cindy’s awesome review of Ever So Gently: A Collection of Poems:
Ever So Gently is A Collection of Poems by author, Lauren Scott, who walks us through her day with the first encounter of morning light “Ever So Gently” to start our day. I’m absolutely delighted to share her latest book with you and share some of my favorite poems from her wonderful new book.
If you haven’t met Lauren yet, you’re in for a treat. Lauren lights up our blogging world in the most supportive of ways with her comments and support of other writers. I am always inspired by how much she is able to do working, caring for her FIL, children, husband and writing reviews.
Her book is divided into 3 segments to set the tone and is an entree into all of the flavors of her writing which is beautiful, sometimes whimsical, inspiring, and always insightful.
~ The Wisdom of Nature takes you on a journey of her daily encounters with the great outdoors.
~ The Noise, The Laughter, The Chaos, The Loved Ones represents all of characters in her life that are so endearing to her.
~ Lost In Thought is an inner journey of her insights, questions and joy through her observations.
Each transports you into her inner world of reflection that give her life meaning and richness.
In her first section you can feel her words float through the winds by her well articulated choice of words which beacon you to sit and take in the horizon or get up close and personal to the hummer and ponder questions as you bask in the moment.
She starts off with a poignant poem to give you a glimmer into her mornings with her beloved at her side to share it with. You can almost feel the respite of their lovely setting in their Marin home in a gentle tranquil setting with their dog, Copper, underfoot.
When we stroll among the redwood trees, our steps slow down, we are in good company. There is no reason to rush and we won’t hesitate to hug them with open arms, because why not? They deserve reverence for their generosity. In their company, fine fibers of peace flow through our hearts and souls, centering us. Any worries burdening our minds fall to the earth to be walked upon and buried. We listen as the leaves whisper in the breeze, Be filled with joy and do not fret, for their is no time for that nonsense.
Her words are a journey much like the ones we are all on but unique to her personal insights, experience and family.
Lauren’s love of connection with nature and people ring through on every page paying homage to each one that has touched her heart in a most powerful and profound way. Her poems epitomize the sacred time with family and friends.
She knows loss and shares that in many of her poems but the one that shines through to me the most is the one about her mom who is near and dear to her heart.
Mom’s Plea
I remember our conversation…. the effort it took to calm my emotions, phone glued to my ear like a natural extension. Days later Mom asked Dad, “When will this be over?” He could be gentle or travel the path of honesty. I don’t know the words he pulled from a seventy-year love…. how he tenderly tiptoed through the syllables, since his heart was shattering into millions of tiny fragments. Her time was close. Our awareness vigilant. Each day, another breath held until the hands of time would pause. Then as quickly as a gray sky opens on a winter day, she had ascended. Memories of her loving spirit followed in the years to come. But not one day passes withouther gracing our thoughts. Not one day slips by without her knowing our lives are changed forever.
She captures the essence of the moment with her poetic charm and style, leaving you able to ponder your thoughts.
This is Scott’s 4th book that impresses upon the reader just how special and sacred each day is.
In the lost in thought she explores a range of emotions which beg for answers and an invitation to explore your inner world. I loved her poem in this segment,
Maybe
When you sit by the window, evading life’s demands watching hummingbirds flit about, do you wonder if our existence is the only breathing form? Who’s to assume we’re alone with stars millions of miles away glistening in the night? Maybe other beings wonder if they are simply a tiny atom or molecule floating in the larger picture. Maybe we’re just a raindrop in someone else’s universe.
Each word is peppered with her love and memory of her parents, her soulmate, Matt, whom every moment is one of wonderment and joy, her children and the love they share. A delightful read with your morning Coffee or tea or sitting in your garden for an afternoon pick me up. ~Cindy at Unique Times
If you don’t also have this collection sitting on your coffee table, click on the image to purchase. 💚
I can’t thank you enough, Cindy! Just knowing your takeaways from my book are rewarding, and then your amazing review is the icing on the cake. And thanks to everyone who has bought my book and shared their wonderful reviews! 🙏🏻
My wish for you after reading this poetry collection is that you’ll discover a few poems that evoke a special memory or act as a reminder that you are not alone in living with your emotions. Maybe you’ll get a good laugh or experience an ‘aha’ moment. Above all, when you turn the last page, may you discover the reward of living ever so gently. 🩵
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!
Thanks SO much to you who have already voted! My heart is full of gratitude regardless of the outcome!
And Thank You to Dagmara and her team for offering their site as a home for my poetry!
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.
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.
Please note that voting will conclude on 9/29, and soon after, we will reveal the well-deserved recipient of this prestigious title.
To vote, kindly register and/or log in to ensure your voice is heard.
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.
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.
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! ❤️🙏🏻
I introduced my wonderful friend, Selma Martin, in my prior post here, and spotlighted her debut poetry book. Today I am sharing my 5-star review. If you don’t have your copy in hand yet, I recommend you click on the link below to order yours!
And now for my review:
When I immersed myself into Selma Martin’s debut poetry book, I fell into a familiar place like I was relaxing on the sandy shore of the lake that my husband and I frequent each summer, absorbing the music and tranquility of nature. The essence of her poems drew me in, casting me under a spell, entranced by her lyrical words. I read this collection over a few evenings, savoring the experience like a sinfully delicious dessert, and rereading each poem. Selma’s lovely language portrays stunning imagery, beautifully expressing personal experiences. Shadows and rainbows find themselves sprinkled throughout, and the writing is superb with its soothing flow, cadence, and rhyme.
Selma’s special wish is for you to find your poem. A poem that resonates, the soft message flowing around in your heart and mind, embracing you like a welcomed hug. But as I read each beautiful piece then with each turn of a page, a sigh escaped, and I realized that finding one poem was impractical because there were so many that rang true with my experiences and emotions.
In “Extra” I am reminded of how precious it is to wake up to a new dawn: To put the squanderer to rest call forth the Sower of hope and from within, bring out your best.
I revel in spending time outdoors, and Selma’s writing in “You Know Her” is brilliant:
Like clockwork, she steals over the horizon and for a moment, hides between the blinds Slowly she sluices me with her aura And on my eyelashes, perches twined.
Her enchanting verses in “That Sea” captivate me:
Then you dwarf me with your magnificence I smile, so fond of your temerity But you gobble up my words the moment they’re spoken and cunningly, you bid me close to wet my skirt.
“Nature’s Tender Doings” is absolutely delightful, and in “Poetry” – a most endearing poem, I am thoroughly entertained and charmed by the bees, squirrels, and birds. Changing subjects dramatically, I’d be lying if I said I never thought of death. With adult children and our 35th anniversary just around the corner, time passes quicker than I can flip the calendar page each month. But I don’t fear death; I’m just not ready for it, and Selma’s poem “When Death Comes” makes me pause…
When death comes I don’t want to look back lovelorn, empty, frightened – Oh, no! When death comes I want to be led into eternity curious, full of joy knowing the world I leave is better for the love I gave.
I definitely want the same, and I will remember this poignant reminder about love being the best gift of all.
The empowering and unified motivation in “Enough” gives me goosebumps:
Forget tall fences. You want to feel the sun on your face, the touch of the wind, the melody of their spoken language, of which only the smile you understand. Together we can create a life that ebbs and flows like the tide that never competes or berates the other for its ways.
I could continue to enrich you with stunning samples of Selma’s exquisite poetry. But if I have to choose one poem that stirs emotions, it will be “Kindred” because this poem transports me back in time when my parents were alive, to the big family gatherings with them, my husband and children, and my sisters and their families. Moments filled with love, chatter, and laughter. Memories that slide into my mind now and then, warming my heart once again.
A verse from this touching poem: For the rest of my days, when December comes slip sliding humble love memories I trace – decidedly December. Daddy brought us white Christmases to revel and boast, and Mommy brought us Yuletide joy to last forever.
Truthfully, Selma’s entire collection is a gift that speaks to me in the most elegant and personal way. I highly recommend this beautiful collection for all poetry lovers who wish to be reminded of the miracles of life.
I would like to introduce you to my wonderful friend, Selma Martin, and spotlight her debut poetry book that was released in July, In the Shadow of Rainbows. If you haven’t met Selma, I suggest you visit her ‘corner on the web’ where she shares her brilliant poetry in all forms. You will be glad you did! So sit back, relax, get comfy, and enjoy the Q & A:
1. Tell me something about yourself/your life that readers wouldn’t know otherwise:
I think you will smile at this. But not too long ago, when the younger of my two sons was in high school, I was the lead singer in a school band. Yup, me! This is how it happened: besides offering extracurricular classes to its students on Saturdays, my son’s school offered to the kids’ parents. My husband, a history enthusiast, opted for history classes, and I, hoping to cover the same two hours at the school as him, chose to spend my time practicing in a music group. And get this, not just any group–a Samba group! Are you smiling yet? Seeing as I don’t play any instruments, I was bestowed the honor of lead singer… and you got it– yup, Portuguese language! Years prior, I took an off-campus extension course in Portuguese and felt an affinity with the language, so seeing that option in the list drew me in. We practiced hard– at my house, in studios during the week, and on Saturdays at the high school and performed at school events for two years in a row. It was so much fun–that feeling has remained with me as precious. Time well spent.
2. Tell me why you wrote In The Shadow of Rainbows:
I enjoy writing. And I attribute this to my late mother who encouraged me to write thank-you notes to friends and acquaintances for everything. We were not affluent, so these appreciation notes did plenty for us. As a young girl, my late mother got me my first pen pal from abroad, and I learned the real joy of sending, receiving, and waiting on precious letters to arrive. My mother was the only one who kept loyal to my hand-written letters when I left home. And whenever she found requests for submissions in old magazines (usually outdated), she always sent them my way. But I was never brave or confident or felt worthy enough to do any of that. After Mom died in 2014 and thereafter felt at a loss when no letters arrived for me, I felt prompted to seek a way to fill that void. I enrolled in an online writing community in 2017, started blogging and pen-paling (through my newsletters), and interacting with like-minded writers until eventually I arrived here, and writing a poetry book felt like the right thing to do. Because my mother found me worthy, and others have shown that they like my words, I dedicated my first book to the people investing their trust in me and holding my book. And to me, that translates to my dear mother looking down at me from heaven approvingly.
In ‘In The Shadow of Rainbows’ I include a page about what I want my poems to do: I want to contribute a verse; want to write poems of awareness; want my poetry to be a springboard to the sacred; want to delight you; and attempt to offer a form to heal. ‘Are you my mother?’ Each poem will ask. The poems are not autobiographical, and in the 60+ in this book, there’s only one poem ‘about’ MY mother. All the others are about someone else, and now that you know more about my intent in this collection, I invite readers to come find their poems.
3. Share one poem from the book and tell me what inspired it:
Slice of Life
Flanked between two wanings, I live you, planting the light hours with loving acts, for you, for us, for our ménage, and when I meet the dusk, filled, ready for our mingling at the table, where we swap slices of lived moments of the same day, hearts swell replete.
I chose one of the shortest poems in the collection to share with you. It’s strategically placed as the penultimate poem in the book, and I’m happy to elucidate on this poetry form that touched me. In its true form, it’s a Kwansaba poem, an African American verse form of praise: a praise poem that celebrates family. The Kwansaba (Swahili kwan -first fruit/saba -principle) was created in 1995 by Eugene B Redmond, East St. Louis Poet Laureate and professor of English at Southern Illinois University-East St. Louis. The form was developed in honor of the celebration of Kwanzaa. The poetic form adopts the number 7 from Kwanzaa’s Nguzo Saba (7 principles) as well as embraces its roots in the South African tradition of the Praise Poem. The 7 principles of Kwanzaa are unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Each day of the celebration focuses on one of the principles. Isn’t this just such a beautiful principle? I think it is, as all the principles take off at unity which starts at the family level. (ready for our mingling at the table).
I wrote it originally for a dVerse prompt in December 2021–then, I abbreviated some words to meet the exact count of sevens but changed it a bit for clarity to include in the book. It’s about family, and I hope you like it.
To preview Selma’s book and to purchase your very own copy, click below:
4. If you were to leave a ‘message in a bottle’ for the future, what would you say?
Just for you: Stop waiting for Friday. For summer. For someone to fall in love with you. For luck. For permission.
Happiness is achieved when you stop waiting for it.
Stop looking for yourself in others. In things. In outside validation. In trends. In drugs.
Everything you are is already within you. Trust!
Make the best of the moment you are in now, for this moment is the only one that matters. Please make it so that WHEREVER you go, you ARE there. Fully present.
Believe that you are no mistake. Believe that you are the Miracle you’ve been waiting for.
Selma Martin is a retired English teacher with 20 years of teaching children ESL. She believes in people’s goodness and in finding balance in simple living. She lives in Japan with her husband of thirty-three years. In 2018, Selma participated in a networking course whose final lesson was to publish a story on Amazon. After many failed attempts, she completed the course and self-published her short story, Wanted: Husband/Handyman, in 2019. Later, collaborating with peers from that course, she published Wanted: Husband/Handyman in an anthology, Once Upon A Story: A Short Fiction Anthology. Selma has published stories on Medium for many years, in MasticadoresUSA, The Poetorium At Starlight, Short Fiction Break, and Spillwords. After her first NaPoWriMo 2021, Selma writes poetry on her website, selmamartin.com, and in July 2023, published a debut poetry collection on Amazon. You can find Selma, selmawrites, on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. But if you wish to engage and create a meaningful interaction with Selma: add value, nurture trust, and share engaging content from the ordinary perspective of someone navigating life in today’s high-paced culture, you may join her once-a-month pen pal newsletter. She goes slower and savors the gentle rhythm of life, much like her practice of snail mail, which she learned so many many moons ago.
You can connect with Selma on her blog, selmamartin.com and the other social media platforms below:
Thanks always for stopping by, and I hope you’ll immerse yourself in the tranquility of Selma’s lovely book! Tomorrow, I will post my 5-star review, so I hope to see you then! ❤️
Happy Friday! Hubby and I are finally feeling human again after being down with our first spell of Covid. The last few weeks reminded me of a poem from my recent book. And even though I’ve shared it before, I feel it’s a good reminder for all of us. I hope you feel the same…
Life is like a package wrapped in festive paper. The matching ribbons fascinate in their delicate, entwined company, fingers gently unravel, heartbeats increase from excitement. We lift the lid, peek inside, letting our inner child frolic to the forefront of our minds.
But unlike recyclable paper, the gift of life cannot be tossed back into the universe. There is no spare awaiting on the sidelines, and we should be mindful that the contents require tenderness with instructions solely for each one of us individually, because as visible as a ruby rose in a garden of white daisies…
we are beautifully unique.
Once we follow these with gratitude and vivacity, the purpose of our gift will reveal itself as naturally as moonlight on a night darker than the deepest sea.
My latest collection of poetry – I prompt you to reminisce and reflect on your past, present, and future. Through the ups and downs, what matters most is to love and live ever so gently. Please click on the link to purchase your copy. Thank you to those who have bought a copy and who have shared wonderful reviews. My heart is full of gratitude.💙🩵💙
And thank you for visiting today. Have a wonderful weekend! ❤️
Baydreamer Writes ~ Lauren Scott, Author & Poet 
