FRIENDSHIP'S SONG

FRIENDSHIP'S SONG

Friendship's song,
the sweetest sound,
delighting my heart
on this loveliest of days,
bringing joy and cheer
even to winter's cold
and throughout the summer,
as with vanishing showers
these warm days unfold.

(c) barbara kausteklis 5-30-12

Written for "Pic-Apart" Poetry.

http://www.friendburst.com/blog/89692/pic-apart-celebrates-elizabeth-barrett-browning/

SUMMER'S DELIGHT (with photos)

 
SUMMER’S DELIGHT

Summer’s flower,
such brief delight,
plucked with love
on warm days content;
dear birds sweetly singing
their joyful summer song
to brighten and cheer
and bring a renewed smile
to this heart of mine.





(c) barbara kausteklis 5-29-12

Written for Pic-Apart Poetry/
'Celebrating May With Elizabeth Barrett Browning.'

http://www.friendburst.com/blog/89692/pic-apart-celebrates-elizabeth-barrett-browning/

The idea of "Pic-Apart" Poetry (which is open now and throughout tomorrow) is to select 25 words from the featured poetry posted (this month two pieces by Elizabeth Barrett Browning) and to create a new piece using only those 25 selected words. The words may be used more than once and the tenses changed.


Thanks for all visits and comments.
 
~barb~

WILDFLOWER ELOQUENT (with photos)

WILDFLOWER ELOQUENT

Muted elegance
of a springtime afternoon,
catching my eye
and touching my soul,
the wildflowers of spring
that speak so eloquently
to my heart as I inhale
their sweet fragrance
and count their petals
one
by
one.


So perfectly understood,
the language that they speak,
their straightforward simplicity
and what they say to me
as nurturing and safe,
they’re so fragile
yet so strong.


I watch them as
they sway
and bend
but never break
in the sweet breezes
of this afternoon;
and I marvel
once more
at their resilience
and their strength,
inhaling their fragrance
and eloquent presence
as they speak in silence
to something deep
within me.

(c) barbara kausteklis 5-14-12

Written for CPC "Magic Monday/
"Give Us The Magic in your WildFlower Power."

http://www.friendburst.com/blog/85889/magic-flower-power/

Thanks always for all visits and comments.

~BARB~

MOTHER'S LILACS OF SPRING (with photos)

 
MOTHER'S LILACS OF SPRING

Mother loved the lilacs
that bloomed every year
the pride and joy of her garden --
I remember them so very well.
They filled up
the once-empty corner
of our big back yard
and our hearts,
and their sweet fragrance
always meant to her
(and to me)
that the deep snows
of winter had melted away,
that life was returning,
that indeed it was spring.



But nothing in life
ever remains the same;
and eventually we moved away
from the lilacs of spring.
And every year since
those sweet spring days,
I've looked for the lilacs,
so few to be found.
But today I went looking again
for the lilacs of my youth,
the fragrance I'd never forget
and the wonderfully subtle colors
that always meant it was spring.
And I found them
in a most unlikely spot
and inhaled those memories,
planting them in my garden
as I recall my mother
and her lilacs of spring.



(c) barbara kausteklis 5-3-12

Written for "Thematic Attic/Mother's Favorite Flower."

http://www.friendburst.com/blog/87894/thematic-attic-thursday-celebrating-mothers-favorite-flower/

Thanks always for all visits and comments.

~barb~

WITH THE SPRING (with photos)

WITH THE SPRING

Lost in emotion,
these words falter
and hesitate,
beginning and
and ending,
finding a voice
and written
across life's pages
like flowers opening up
as the snow melts away.



(c) barbara kausteklis 4-24-12

Written for CPC "Pic-Apart Poetry,"
this month featuring Robert Frost.

http://www.friendburst.com/blog/87391/pic-apart-celebrates-april-robert-frost/

The idea of "Pic-Apart Poetry" is to choose 25 words from the posted piece(s) and create a piece of your own. It's always a joy to co-host each month with Silver Lining/Cherie.

Thanks for your visits and precious comments.

Big Hugs.

~barb~

BLOOMING WITH JOY (with photos)

BLOOMING WITH JOY

The sun in the sky,
hints of blue
and muted clouds,
every bird that sings
shares its song
with my heart.
A breath of wind
flows silently
through the passes
and across the hills;
where it starts
and where it ends
there’s no one
who really knows.

But on this morning
that has brought with it
raindrops spilling over
from yesterday,
the sun begins to shine
through a break in the clouds
as the warmth of joy returns.
And once more,
as far as my eye can see,
poppies dance within
the springtime breeze,
upon a canvas of
green and gold,
vibrant and joyful
in the sweet glow
of the sun,
blooming again
for all to see.

And upon this page,
words dance once more
across the pages of my heart
and lift me up again,
bringing joy to my day
that I had a bit of trouble
beginning to find before.



(c) barbara kausteklis 4-18-12

Written for CPC "Wonderful Wednesday Writes for Joy."

http://www.friendburst.com/blog/87001/wonderful-wednesday-writes-joy/

Thanks always for all visits and comments.

~BARB~

FRIENDSHIP'S SPRINGTIME GARDEN (with photos)

FRIENDSHIP’S SPRINGTIME GARDEN

Lingering for just a moment
at my window of dawn,
I inhale the sweet fragrances
from my garden of morn,
nighttime dreams left behind
to visit another time.
Seeds of friendship
sown with care and love
are blooming in the garden,
nurtured from above,
exquisite jewels sparkling
in the April morning sun.
Sprinkled liberally with tears
of sadness and joy,
friendship flowers bloom
just outside my window here,
blossoms of precious silver and gold
filling this vase within my heart
as they’ve graced my special garden
on this beautiful springtime day.



(c) barbara kausteklis 4-13-12

Written for Friday Fling/
"Friday Fling Shares Gardening Tips Didactically."

http://www.friendburst.com/blog/86315/friday-fling-shares-gardening-tips-didactically/

Thanks always for your friendship and comments.

WITHIN THE BLOSSOMS OF SPRING -- A Springtime Collab with photos

WITHIN THE BLOSSOMS OF SPRING

Opening up to see the morning sun,
the flower buds begin to bloom,
their colors painting the fields galore;
bountiful beauty the Creator has in store.
Brightening Mother Nature's room,
new birth replaces pain and gloom
as beautiful fragrances fill the air,
Spring replaces Winter everywhere.

Mother Earth nurturing
each blossom with care,
hope springing eternal
within the lilies of spring;
forever a spark in my soul to ignite,
spring gives me a feeling
so full of delight.

Spring's delightful fragrances
take my breath away
as fruit trees explode in quilts
of pastel pinks and whites.
And I can't help but notice
that Spring has finally arrived
and that from now on
everything will be alright
as the rose and the dandelion
are clearly meant to be.




(c) barbara kausteklis 4-7-12

Thanks to the following Pals for sharing their lines with me:
Angel Love, Bettie, Dee, Russell, Scotorum, Michelle K, Diane,
Mary Margaret, Marcia, and Me, Barbara K

Written for the last week's "Saturday Share."

http://www.friendburst.com/blog/85934/saturday-share-22/
Lines selected in addition to my own:

"THE FLOWER BUDS BEGIN TO BLOOM (required)

Blooms opening up to see the morning sun (Bettie)
Colors painting the fields galore(dee)
Fields filled with beauty and bountiful blooms (RUSSELL)
Brightening Mother Nature’s room (Scotorum)
The Rose and the Dandelion were meant to be (Marcia)
New births releasing gloom (Diane)
A beautiful fragrance fills the air (Angel Love)
Nurtured with care from mother earth (Michelle K)
A fragrance so sweet it takes away all the gloom (Bettie)
Forever a spark my soul ignite(Mary)
Spring giving me a feeling so full of delight (Michelle K)
Making me feel that everything is alright (Angel Love)

Thanks always for your visits and precious comments.

Sending love and hugs from springtime-blooming Southern California.

~barb~

AS RAINDROPS FALL (Collab with photo)

AS RAINDROPS FALL

Washing away all
the tears I have cried,
sweet raindrops cleanse
my spirit when it begins
to falter along the way.
And as the drops
begin to fall,
forming puddles
all around,
the child within my heart
comes out to play
on this rainy day;
and we dance together
to the rhythm of each drop,
springtime showers
settling the fears
within my heart
and setting me free
to be really me.

And as the rains end
and the sun shines again,
we dance once more,
my heart's inner friend,
beneath the rainbows of spring,
the clouds departing
and leaving behind ,
as they do,
a better day along with
the peace to be found
and the love that never ends
as the springtime rain
comes pouring down.

(c) barbara kausteklis 3-31-12

Thanks to the following Pals
for sharing lines with me:
Angel Love, Ev, Dee, Mary Margaret,
Diane, Miz Nancy, Bettie and Me, Barbara

Required line
(tense can be altered):
"As the rain came pouring down."
A Collab written for the "Saturday Share."

http://www.friendburst.com/blog/85479/saturday-share-21/

Thanks always for your visits and precious comments.

~barb~

ALONG THE MILKY WAY (with photos)

 
ALONG THE MILKY WAY

Flowers dancing
with shining stars,
twinkling along
the Milky Way,
fill my heart
with pleasure,
even glee,
as I float
with the clouds
way above
the hills and trees.



(c) barbara kausteklis 3-28-12

A second piece written for "Pick-Apart Poetry"
which this month welcomed spring with
some poetry of Wordsworth.

http://www.friendburst.com/blog/85245/85245/

Thanks always for your visits and comments.


~barb~

NO DOUBT AT ALL (a Collab with photos)

NO DOUBT AT ALL

BY BARBARA K

A CPC COLLAB

Open the windows
and feel the warmth;
let the sunshine in
and forget all the strife.
The breezes of springtime
feel so very good;
another long winter
we have withstood.

Bright yellow daffodils
have started appearing
for even they know
that springtime is nearing.
Budding trees in the park
are ready to flower
after a refreshing
and cleansing
early spring shower.
Even the robin builds
her nest to prepare,
twig by twig constructed
with the greatest of care.
And as Nature spreads
her colorful buffet,
there's simply no doubt,
no question at all,
that spring is in the air
leaving winter behind.



(c) barbara kausteklis 3-10-12

Thanks to the following Pals
for sharing their lines with me:
Angel Love, Diane, Bettie, Michelle K,
Mikey, Scotorum, and Me, Barbara K

REQUIRED LINE -- "Spring is in the air."
Thanks always for your visits
and precious comments.

Big Hugs and Happy Sunday.

~barb~

IN THE SOUND OF THE WIND (or A BIT OF MARCH MADNESS) with photos

IN THE SOUND OF THE WIND
(or: A BIT OF MARCH MADNESS)

I hear my name
in the sound of the wind,
March breezes blowing
and spring ushered in,
sometimes marching,
occasionally dancing
to its own special song.
And when I look up at the sky
from down here below,
and see what I see
way up there so high,
I’m as puzzled as can be
as I try to figure out
what March is saying to me
in such unpredictable ways.

Sometimes I’m simply
left scratching my head
and thinking that surely
I should have stayed in bed
as on some days there’s
no logical explanation of why
things happen the way they do
and seem to go so very awry.

It’s madness, I say,
March Madness to be sure,
the comings and goings
from just who knows where,
sometimes so exotic
and other-worldly it seems
at other times just the opposite,
so calm and serene.

So for now I just take it
one step at a time
and day by day,
considering everything
that happens to come my way.

And as winter turns
once again into spring,
I’ll be looking for the rainbows
that come after the rain;
and I’ll be watching for butterflies
and puffy clouds in the sky;
and I’m sure that madness
that March seems to bring
will be be behind us soon
as we soar toward April
with the flowers of spring.





(c) barbara kausteklis 3-5-12

Written for "Magic Monday/
“Marching Into A Magical Madness.”

http://www.friendburst.com/blog/82186/marching-magical-madness/

Thanks so much for your precious comments
and for finding this piece and the others posted.

~barb~