THE WORLD TO ME -- Blogophilia 17.6

Blogophilia Week 17.6 - On The Bookshelf

Bonus Points:

(Hard, 2 pts):   Incorporate a song title by Prince
(Easy, 1 pt):  Include a drink made with vodka

 

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THE WORLD TO ME

A wide open book
is the world to me,
each page an adventure
to places I've never been,
firing up my imagination
and setting me free
to roam,
to explore
places faraway
and nearby,
every day to travel
in every direction
under the sun,
oceans and deserts
and mountains so high
and touching the sky.

I can sail within the pages
on frigates and tall ships,
to places far-flung
all over the globe
and to the ends of the earth.
I can soar with my kite
above white puffy clouds
and swim with the dolphins,
and explore depths of the sea
as I happily read each word
of the books nestled
on the bookshelf
right next to me.

And somewhere between
awake and asleep,
as I close my eyes
for just a second
and put up my feet,
I put down my book
and sweet dreams
sweep in upon
a mountain breeze
and call my name,
as they overtake
my heart and my mind
transporting  me once again
to where I've just traveled
from my easy chair
through the pages
of the book I've read.

(c) barbara kausteklis 6-19-13

Written for Blogophilia 17.6/"On the Bookshelf"

https://www.facebook.com/notes/marvin-martian/blogophilia-week-176-on-the-bookshelf/574208122600409

GUESSES

TOPIC SUBMITTED BY:  Sharonlee

PICTURE SUBMITTED BY:  David II

PHRASES:  Back to back, role reversal, open book, opposites attract, back to the future, time warp, comical, shoulder to shoulder, avid readers, out of character, life is an open book, book ends, character actor, novel ideas, paperback writer, superhero, on the wall, mutual admiration society, friends, pulp fiction, opposites attract, odd fellows, checkered past, nose in a book, staring straight ahead, friends, paperbacks, through thick and thin, sitting up straight, shoulder to shoulder, shoulder high, imaginary friends, One Life to Live, Days of Our Lives, life stories, Biography Channel, Action Comics, action figures, superheroes, hero worship, book break, story time, silent reading, back breaking, life stories, past and present, life reading, light reading, story time, Odd Couple, out of character, losing face, two's company, can't tell a book by its cover, switching places, looks can be deceiving, shoulder blades, book cover, reading matters, Black Beard's Ghost, characteristic . . . . such fun and mental gymnastics guessing, but they are just that . . . . guesses. 

VODKA DRINK INCLUDED -- Mountain Breeze

PRINCE TITLE INCLUDED-- Call My Name

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Thanks always for your visits and comments.

Lots of Love and Big Hugs.

~barb~

TRANSFORMATION'S PROMISE (with photo)

 
TRANSFORMATION'S PROMISE
 
As the muted glow of evening
flows into the night,
I can't help but reflect
upon what I see outside
and how nothing ever
remains the same
from one day to the next,
changing,
evolving
all the time,
from minute to minute
growing,
transforming,
before my eyes.

And I reflect
upon the beautiful butterfly
as she puts me in a trance
within her iridescent winged waltz
among the roses of summer
and the precious blooms of spring,
of transformation's promises
fulfilled in symmetrically
kaleidoscopic ways,
my attention transfixed
upon the magic they weave
as they waltz among
the blossoms gracing
my garden and my heart.

And as I watch them
every changing,
I'm captivated and in awe
as spellbound by their beauty,
my heart skips a beat
and smiles,
my eyes awakened
as they continue to see,
stirred,
refreshed,
transformed once again
by their waltz as I join in.

For beneath the brilliance
of an afternoon sun,
my heart smiles
as awakened by the beauty
my eyes see,
stirred,
refreshed,
transformed
once again
from within
and without,
as a butterfly emerging
from sorrow and doubt,
the way more clearly seen,
again revealed within
the the butterflies
dancing among beads
of morning dew,
the self that was buried
so deep inside
transformed anew
on this summer morning
and kissed on the cheek
by golden rays of dawn.


(c) barbara kausteklis 6-17-13

 
Written for Apollo Blessed Challenges Abound/
Inner Metamorphosis Challenge

 
http://apolloblessed.ning.com/group/challenges-abound/forum/topics/inner-metamorphosis-challenge

 
Thanks always for your visits and comments.

 
Lots of Love and Big Hugs.

 
~barb~

FROM THIS GRANDMOTHER'S HEART - Blogophilia 16.6/A Serious Case of Affection

 
Blogophilia Week 16.6 - A Serious Case of Affection

Bonus Points:

(Hard, 2 pts): Incorporate a lyric from REM
(Easy, 1 pt): Feature a bitter taste

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FROM THIS GRANDMOTHER'S HEART
 
Ever since you were born
(and even before you
came into this world)
I've felt it coming on,
no mistake about that.
For I knew the signs
and symptoms
of this "affliction"
no one had to tell me,
I knew exactly 
what it was
and precisely
what I had.

It was
(and still is
and forever will be)
undeniably
and unmistakably
a serious case of affection,
a love that began building
even before the first sight,
after which our bonds
only blossomed even more
and grew into what they've become
since each of you were born,
bonds growing even stronger
with each passing month 
and day
and year,
as "love is all around me
and so the feeling grows."

For not so very long ago
two little boys came 
into this world
and very quickly 
stole everyone's heart,
for that's what they do,
little boys and little girls,
and the two of them
have certainly stolen mine
leaving only sweetness
and sunshine
to brighten every day,
never any bitter taste,
like dandelions
ever left behind,
no tears of sadness,
frustration
or anger;
only laughter
and giggles
and happiness
we share.

And they know the way
to this grandmother's heart.

(c) barbara kausteklis 6-12-13

Written for Blogophilia 16.6/
"A Serious Case of Affection."

GUESSES

TOPIC SUBMITTED BY Kismet

PICTURE SUBMITTED BY  Sharonlee






PHRASES  All fall down, shooting stars, by the dawn's early light, meteoric, spectacular, points of light, the sky is falling, full moon, awesome, by the light of the moon, rockets red glare, moonscape, moonstruck, red sky at night, firestorm, spectacular sight, night lights, fireflies, shock and awe, red glare . . . . 

I could keep on going but all guesses

REM LYRIC INCORPORATED -- "Love is all around me and so the feeling grows" from "Love is All Around."

I tried posting this on Facebook as well, 

but wasn't able to format it at all in the Notes.
I'll give it another try later.  

Thanks always for your visits and comments.

~barb~

SWEET SUSTENANCE TO MY SOUL

PhotoArt by Sharonlee Goodhand

SWEET SUSTENANCE TO MY SOUL

Measured thought
upon thought,
sweet sustenance
to my soul,
peace-longing,
beauty-searching,
knowledge-thirsting,
serenity-seeking
and released
one
by
one,
immersing my emotions,
bathed within the stream,
soothing waves washing over
the translucence
of my soul,
finding their way
and lifted upon
a delicate breath,
floating beyond my todays
and into my tomorrows
and beyond.

And within these fragile moments,
elusive as they are,
this tattered heart
finds a place to rest
and to make
a brand new start,
soothed and refreshed
and finally released
from uninvited emotions
found hiding and residing
in dark corners of my mind,
uninvited and unwelcome,
now pushed aside
and out of the way,
by tranquil waters
that once again flow,
a healing balm
to my heart and my soul.

(c) barbara kausteklis 6-9-13

Written for Apollo Blessed Challenges Abound/SHAMBHALA

http://apolloblessed.ning.com/group/challenges-abound/forum/topics/shambhala

Thanks always for your visits and comments.

~barb~

SOMETHING IN THE AIR TONIGHT (with photo)

SOMETHING IN THE AIR TONIGHT

There’s something
in the air tonight,
can’t quite figure out
exactly what it is —
something that makes
my thoughts drift and wander
and encourages me
to think about things.

Part of me hopes
that the rain will come,
washing away
any residual sadness and fears.
And part of me hopes
that the sun shines bright
and chases away
all those clouds and tears.

I can’t make up
my mind at all
just how I want
this day to be.
So rain or shine,
I’ll be happy
and will welcome
whatever happens
to come my way,
whether rain’s pitter-patter
on the roof over my head
or sunbeams streaming
through the window
next to me,
rain or shine
will soothe
this heart of mine.

(c) barbara kausteklis 6-5-12

Written for Inspiration Nook/"Groovin' and Movin' With Bettie"

http://www.friendburst.com/blog/89762/groovin-movin-bettie/

Selected song titles used 
(from the list of them posted in the challenge):

IT WILL RAIN
PART OF ME
IN THE AIR TONIGHT

Thanks always for visits and comments.

~BARB~

COLOR-SPLASHED (with photos)

COLOR SPLASHED

There was a time,
not so very long ago,
when the colors
of the rainbow
were completely
hidden from sight;
I simply couldn't see
all the beauty in life;
blinded as I was
to what was right
in front of me.
Every day seemed
exactly the same
as it was the day before,
little joy to speak of;
the thrill had dissipated,
each day just bit more strife.

And then I finally decided
that I had had quite enough
and made a huge change,
reclaiming my time,
and my life,
and the me
who had somehow
gotten lost in the gray
of life's days.

And in a relative instant
I began once again to see
the colors of the rainbow
that had begun to elude me.
The gray of my days
burst into rainbowed colors
so vibrant and clear,
as though never having left me
as I had begun to fear.

And as I look out
upon this world
through these eyes
that had begun to overlook
what had been there all along,
I marvel at God's handiwork,
the colors of the rainbow,
the ever-changing blues
of sea and sky,
the vibrant greens
of grass and trees,
the golden sun,
the rich brown earth,
the reds and pinks
in the gardens I see.
And as this new day
begins to unfold,
I can only be thankful
for what I can now behold.




(c) barbara kausteklis 6-6-12

For CPC Wonderful Wednesday/
"Let's Make a Color Run."

http://www.friendburst.com/blog/90209/color-run-wonderful-wednesday-cpc/

WORDS ALONG THE WAY

WORDS ALONG THE WAY

I find it really hard
to even find the words
to say just how I feel
when it’s time
to say goodbye.
There are no words
adequate enough
to begin to express
how I’m feeling
or exactly why
I feel this way.

So I’ll simply write down
these inadequate words
and say it like this:
I’m so very glad
that our paths crossed
as they did,
a most happy accident
that must have been
meant to be.

Goodbye isn’t a word
that’s really in my heart,
not a word I ever use
even when far apart.
Things happen for reasons
I seldom understand,
so I’ve stopped
the second-guessing
and trying to figure
them out.

You’ve taught me
such a lot of things
in so many different ways.
And there’s no way
to repay the joy
you’ve brought
to my heart.
And in the future,
should our paths cross again,
I’ll remember these times
and the smiles they brought.
And as I wish you well
on the journey ahead
I know that you’ll find
smooth sailing along the way,
that the paths you travel
will lead exactly where
you want them to go.

(c) barbara kausteklis 6-4-12

I've been so very blessed by all who have
crossed my path on this incredible journey
and wish them well on the new paths
they're traveling as I continue to hope
that we'll cross paths once again.

~barb~