I look at the frail man lying in the hospice bed whose body is slowly giving up. My eyes close.
Is he my father? The pillar in my life?
It’s tough to accept because my father stands next to me in the 8×10 frame on the peak of San Gorgonio mountain, highest in Southern California.
At 65, he hiked up and down that mountain, 18 miles round trip. Sun hat, t-shirt, long pants, smile, heart full of adventure, this man, so full of life.
The end of his trail draws near. Grief will find its way, no doubt. and I will surrender, then I will shout to the universe in celebration of the incredible man he used to be.
Until that time, I look at his face, I bend down to kiss him on the forehead. I focus on his good eye, and I see my wonderful father who stood beside me on that mountain top.
I was excited when Colleen at wordcraftpoetry.com invited me to be featured in her Meet the Poet series. This is part of the blog tour for my book, Ever So Gently. And if you’re following along, I greatly appreciate YOU!
She created the interview which gave me an opportunity to talk about poetry and to discuss Ever So Gently. What a wonderful way to meet new authors and to learn more about the writing process of the authors we already know and love. If you haven’t met Colleen, please visit her site and take your time perusing around. She is the queen of syllabic poetry!
Here’s what Colleen has to say about her wonderful series:
This is a way to get to know more about the poets and their work. Many of our poets have written both fiction and non-fiction and published and self-published their works.
Some of our poets are also artists, crafting their magic through watercolors or other artistic means along with the written word. There are even a few musicians in our poetic community!
At least once a month, I’ll be introducing you to the poets in our community! Grab a cup of tea or coffee, and meet the poet!
A preview of our interview:
(L) Hi Colleen. Thanks so much for your invitation. I’m really looking forward to our chat.
(C) Hi Lauren! I’m glad you stopped by! How long have you been writing syllabic poetry? What’s the first form of syllabic poetry you wrote?
(L) I’ve been writing syllabic poetry since I started my blog, baydreamerwrites.com, over eleven years ago. The first form I explored was haiku. I love the idea of painting a picture or evoking an emotion with so few words. Since then, I have taken the challenge by trying other forms such as Tanka, Etheree, Shadorma, Didactic Cinquain, Oddquain, and Double Ennead, which was created by you, Colleen.
(C) Thanks, Lauren. I’m glad you enjoyed writing the Double Ennead. I know you have published several poetry books, and a brand-new poetry book you’ve just published called Ever So Gently. Tell us about the book and why you wrote it.
To read the rest of our interview, please visit Colleen’s posthere, or click on the blog link below!
I have to add that while conversing with Rebecca Budd on Colleen’s post, she invited me to be a guest in 2024 (her 6th year) on her Tea Toast & Trivia Podcast . I am honored and so excited for this opportunity. Thanks to Colleen for opening this door and to Rebecca for opening it just a little bit wider.
And to purchase a copy of Ever So Gently, you can clickhere or on the image above. A huge Thanks to you who have read my book or who are currently reading the collection. I hope you find a poem or two that you can call your own, and by the turn of the last page, I hope you’ll discover the reward of living ever so gently.
Thanks always for stopping by to show your support, and Colleen, you rock! I loved doing this interview with you and am grateful for being featured in your Meet the Poet series.
~ Lauren ❤️❤️
To read the rest of our interview, please visit Colleen’s posthere, or click on the blog link below!
And if you missed any part of the tour, check out my prior posts. Thank you!
Today, I am more than excited to be featured on Resa’s blog. If you know Resa, you’ll understand how her words about my poetry collection fit exquisitely. Here’s a glimpse of what she felt:
“I read the poems in order, but not at first. Deciding to try a different approach, I dove into the book like it was a box of chocolates. I read whatever poem in any order, as the fancy lead. Yet, as delicious as it all was; it’s more than confection.
It’s like collecting beautiful fabrics and trims. Poems were read, materials collected and a pattern designed. When the poems were over, they had draped a rich, beautifully adorned gown over my spirit.”
To read the full interview with her gorgeous images and creativity, please visit her post.
I hope you all had a great week!Hubby and I had a wonderful time at our favorite lake. It felt good to unplug, to just be together, to read, and enjoy good wine and coffee along with the stunning views and tranquility. We also did some light hiking and walking around, but with each step, I was mindful of where my right foot landed. And gratefully, I had zero pain.
For those of you who tent camp, you know what the adventure entails. The experience is relaxing once the ‘wilderness home’ is set up, but until then, it takes a lot of effort. We were lucky to reserve our favorite site that offered a short walk down to the lake.And though the weather report didn’t indicate rain, several thunderstorms entertained when light rain turned into downpours! But we stayed dry under the easy-up and our backpacking tent kept the deluge of rain from seeping into our sleeping bags and clothes. In the mornings, when the days looked like they’d be glorious, I stole a few moments, sitting by the shore, jotting down thoughts in my journal. But I don’t have anything completed, so I’m sharing photos for now:
“The mountains are calling and I must go.” ~John Muir
stunning lake
coffee time
fire and sky
awesome Jetboil and sample of delicious backpacking food – we kept things simple so we could enjoy more and work less
ambience
there is no such thing as too many sunset photos
stealing a hug (and kiss) while witnessing another gorgeous sunset
lake view from campsite
beautiful blues and greens on the north side of the lake
organic landscape along the trail
too cute
lots of bumblebees around – these are a little blurry
kayaker sunset
beautiful sky
silly, silly selfie
light rain before the storm
I hope you enjoyed these photos; they’re only a fraction of what I took. 🙂
If you enjoy ruminating over life’s rewards and mysteries, my latest book, Ever So Gently, a collection of poems, is available for purchase by clicking on the image below:
Thanks for stopping by, and I look forward to reading your posts again. ~Lauren ❤️
It has been a wild, exciting ride with the launch of my new book and all the wonderful support I’ve been given. But in the midst of the excitement, my father-in-law has been on hospice for almost two weeks, and it’s been tough, to say the least. A surreal time, waiting for the inevitable. But his large support circle ensures that he is comfortable and loved, which is most important.
Before he started to decline, we already had our backpacking trip reserved in the Sierra Mountains, but with his encouragement, we are still going. Although, due to my foot issue, we decided that I shouldn’t push it. My foot has been cooperating, but I’d hate to overdo it and take five steps backwards. So, we’re camping. We’ll be relaxing by the lake, surrounded by ponderosa pines and nature’s warm embrace. And this is really what we need. My brother-in-law will ‘hold down the fort’ while we’re gone. He also told us to go. “Dad wants you to enjoy the adventure.” We will have our Spot X satellite device though to stay in touch. And obviously, if something changes before we plan to leave, we won’t go. Always ‘one day at a time.’
So, I’ll be offline next week and will return the following week of the 21st. The photo above is from one of our trips to our favorite Sierra lake, and the poem below is in my book and one I wrote while sitting on the shore in the company of the smooth water, and journal and pen (and hubby, of course.)
The Sun Knows
Evening advances. The shore wears nothing but a few rocks scattered on its sand. In their quiet space, a father and son hold fishing lines hoping their luck will lift. A lone sailboat glides by pausing for the unfolding. With hair the color of an egret, an older man leans against a stump.
Clouds understand why we wait. A fine yellow highlighter has delicately outlined their smooth edges. Occasionally, trout jump out of the still water, only a few ripples show their excitement.
Then suddenly the sky explodes in tangerines, salmons, canary yellows – brighter with every second. It’s as though a painter swished her brush back and forth on the immense backdrop, to the left, to the right, repeating with the grace of an orchestra leader. Can the sun slipping behind downy clouds be more spectacular?
The blog tour will continue when I return and I have to share two more beautiful reviews:
Reading Ms. Scott’s poetry is like roaming the pages of a spiritual book and you can feel a connection. Upon picking up this book I first read “Ever So Gently” and felt an instant connection, as I’ve lived such moments myself during bushcrafting adventures, connected to nature and all of creation. As I continue to read, each poem is equally as deep and reveals not only the writers soul, but my own. ~ Scott Mitchell – Lauren Scott will touch your soul.5 stars
What an endearing gathering of short poems, some written as Haiku and other syllabic poetry, but all comforting, calming, restorative. Presented in three sections, these verses pose the wonder of nature, the love of family, even the delight of a pet. An elegant medley. ~ Joy Neal Kidney – An endearing collection.5 stars
I am humbled and grateful for these lovely reviews, and I want to thank you all for the ‘book’ support, the visits, the comments, and the love. So, have a Fabulous week! Stay well and Be happy!
I am delighted to be featured on Balroop Singh’s blog today, Emotional Shadows, as the blog tour continues for my latest release, Ever So Gently. Balroop shares her stunning review that has me over the moon! Please visit her blog if you haven’t already met Balroop. She is a fabulous poet!
And I’m sharing the book trailer again below that Robbie Cheadle created with my photos:
Balroop’s 5-Star review:
Scott’s poetry celebrates memories and moments in her latest collection – ‘Ever So Gently.’ Her connection with the surroundings blends into the wisdom of nature that unfolds through stunning imagery like: “hear the rustle of a skittering squirrel,” “petals of velvet invite raindrops to bask in their peach enchantment,” and “breeze carries burdens down rivers.”
From the birds that ‘flit and flutter’ to build their nest to the owl who proclaims his presence with his ‘high-pitched toots’ and the hummingbirds that flutter around the “bright pink petals” – all find a place of honor in this book to delight your moods. Lauren’s realism captivates and appeals to all the senses. Some of her poems express profound love that we cherish and yearn for – she tells you how valuable that love has been in her life.
From ‘The Peach Rose’ to ‘Firestorm’ and not to forget ‘I Was Adopted,’ her poetry slides most naturally on the wide canvas of creativity. However, poems that speak of love, of growing up and bonding are the ones that touched my heart. Who can ever forget ‘The Old Afghan,’ which is most relatable!
I haven’t read a more beautiful description of sunset – “The sky explodes in tangerines, salmons, canary yellows – brighter with every second. It’s as though a painter swished her brush back and forth…” Some more examples of Scott’s brilliant style: “And water hasnt caressed the hills The earth, parched like Chile’s Atacama.” “Silk-thread drizzles dusted rooftops and parched hills.” “How he tenderly tiptoed through the syllables.”(I could feel the poignancy of the emotion)
A combination of free verse and syllabic poetry like haiku, tanka, etheree, shadorma etc. this is a lovely collection of poetry. Read it slowly to savor each emotion.
Thank you again, Balroop! ❤️
My book is available in paperback and e-book versions.
If you’ve already bought a copy, Thank you! And if you’re currently reading my collection, I hope you’re enjoying it and discovering the reward of living ever so gently. And just a gentle reminder that book reviews are like hugs to Indie Authors, so your ‘hug’ would be greatly appreciated. 🙏🏻
Thank you for stopping by and for your support! Visit Balroop’s posthere.
I’m delighted to be featured on Sally’s Smorgasbord blog! She shares new books on the shelves and is always so generous and willing to help other authors. Please check out her blog to read the full post. Thanks so much, Sally! 💖
I also want to thank everyone who has already bought a copy, and I truly hope you enjoy the collection. Yesterday, another review was posted to Amazon and Goodreads, and let’s just say, “I’m over the moon!” Stay tuned for the next post on the blog tour that will be on Monday, August 7th. You may get tired of seeing these posts, the joys of a book launch, but I appreciate you stopping by and reading. ❤️
Baydreamer Writes ~ Lauren Scott, Author & Poet 