TRANSFORMATION'S PROMISE

As the muted glow of evening
flows into to 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/in...

Thanks always for your visits and comments.

Lots of Love and Big Hugs.

~barb~

Tags: BarbaraK, poetry, photography, butterfly, nature

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PhotoArt by Sharonlee

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/sh... always for your visits and comments.

Hoping all is well and that this has been a really good weekend so far.

~barb~

Tags: BarbaraK, poetry, Sharonlee PhotoArt, peace,

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LOOKING FORWARD

(A New Year's Collab)

Embers fading

at the end of this day,

this year taking a final bow

and exiting the same way

as it has each year before

with a bang and a flash.

Snapshots recorded

and tucked away

and letting go of residual

bitterness and pain,

the old is tossed out

and I’m letting in the new

for it’s time to rearrange,

time to set new sights,

time to get up

and get out

and to be the change.

Tomorrow is going

to be a brand new day

for change is welcome

and on the way

as the new replaces

the old that we’ve had;

New Years bring new rules

and big changes within.

So as the new year begins,

I’ll make that call

to a loved one

I haven’t talked with

in such a long time;

I’ll build those new bridges;

I’ll tear down those walls;

I’ll wipe the slate clean

as the New Year begins.

It’s time to start life anew

in a rainbow

of every color

and hue;

time to release

what has held us back,

anything that has allowed

fear and sadness

through the cracks.

So out with the old

and in with the new,

my heart spreading its wings,

my dreams and hopes

taking flight

toward a new day,

a new year

and all that lies ahead,

toward that place

beyond the horizon

and a future looking bright,

and where new hope

is born once again.

(c) barbara kausteklis 12-31-11

Thanks to CPC Friends for sharing their lines as I've woven them in with my own.

And thanks to my friends here who share smiles and encouragement and love with me.  Wishing everyone a most Happy New Year.

Giant Hugs to You.

~barb~

Tags: BarbaraK Poetry

12 comments View Entry

Our nearby Los Angeles County Arboretum sustained major damage during the windstorms of late November. Over 200 trees and exhibits were either destroyed or damaged. Thanks to the hard work of so many, it was able to re-open the day after Christmas, a wonderful present to all of us who love it.

BLESSED BY NATURE'S BEAUTY

And even in the midst
and the aftermath
of profound damage
to so much,
there is still beauty
left to behold,
a testament to
Nature's strength
and resilience
and to those who love her
and have dedicated countless hours
to help clean up and restore,
a gift to us as
we wake up each morning
to a brand new day.

The flowers are still blooming.



The trees are still beginning to bud.

The geese and ducks still delight.



The heron still presides over the pond.



The hummingbirds still make me smile.



And the sun begins to set once more



on a beautiful day.

And while we are saddened by the loss,
we remain thankful and relieved
for what has been preserved

(c) barbara kausteklis 12-29-11

Thanks always for your visits and precious comments.

Big Hugs to All.

~barb~

Tags: BarbaraK poetry photography

1 comments View Entry

PARADISE DREAMING

Paradise dreaming
within this winter array,
palm trees swaying in the breeze
despite what the weather says;
seabirds and snowbirds
upon the trade winds sail.
as dolphins dance
upon the waves,
and inviting me to swim,
my senses bathed
in surf and sun,
so chilled am I
with winter's
snow and wind.

And I dream sweet dreams
of paradise and sun
amid snowflakes falling
as I'm dreaming still
of blue skies and palms
on this winter morning
so chilly and gray,
my snow globe taking
my breath away
and transporting me
to paradise once more.

(c) barbara kausteklis 12-19-11



Create a MySpace Playlist at MixPod.com

Written for CPC "Magic Monday/
Magic YOU Create Within Your own Snow Globe."

http://www.friendburst.com/blog/74406/magic-create-snow-globe/

Thanks always for your visits and comments.

Big Hugs.

~barb~

Tags: BarbaraK Poetry Photography

14 comments View Entry

BEYOND MEASURE

Melodies of exquisite
and tender rhapsodic bliss
across the candlelit moments
on a moonlit night such as this,
each melodic tone
caressing my soul,
exquisitely molded
and finding pathways
to my heart;
one by one shaped
and made our own,
their velvety smooth
darkness sublime,
their harmonies drifting,
so soothing and rich,
in velvety smooth darkness,
a keyboard of dreams,
one exquisite note
at a time,
soothing beyond measure
to this restless and dreaming
heart that is mine.

And for a time,
measured as it is,
they perform their magic
as we find sweet release
within the subtle notes
of these enchanting
and delectable delights.



Create a MySpace Music Playlist at MixPod.com

(c) barbara kausteklis 12-21-11

Written for CPC "Wonderful Wednesdays/
Chocolate and Swiss Cheese."

http://www.friendburst.com/blog/76124/chocolate-swiss-cheese/

Thanks always for your visits

Tags: BarbaraK Poetry

8 comments View Entry

ANGELS IN MY MIDST

My everyday angels,
the sweetest I know,
looking out for me
wherever I go,
saying just the right thing
when my spirits ares low;
lift me up so high
when I begin to fall.

The angels who cross my path
each and every day,
go out of their way
and are there for me
at just the right time,
making me smile
when I just want to cry;
making me dance
when my feet begin
to slow down.

The angels in my midst
sing the very sweetest songs,
their harmonies,
their melodies
in every way sublime,
each breath,
each note,
sweet music to my soul,
my everyday angels
who always make me smile.





(c) barbara kausteklis 12-22-11

Written for CPC "Thematic Attic/Modern Angels."

http://www.friendburst.com/blog/76362/thematic-attic-brings-modern-angels-jon-diane/

Thanks always for being among those precious angels who have crossed my path and have been an encouragement

Tags: BarbaraK poetry photography

4 comments View Entry

TOWARD THE BEYOND

Outside the windows
of my morning,
shadows of distant
summers past
surrender to the leaves
of autumn,
my mind traveling
forward through
uncharted space and time
toward sundown,
through eternity,
and beyond
the limits
of the unknown.

(c) barbara kausteklis 9-27-11

Written for CPC Pick-Apart Poetry
Featuring Valentine Smith's "In a Field of Gray."
The idea of "Pick-Apart Poetry" is to choose 25 words
from the posted piece (in this month's challenge a work of prose)
and use only those 25 words to create a new piece.
The 25 selected words may be repeated
and tenses altered. It has always been a
favorite monthly challenge of mine.

http://www.friendburst.com/blog/65681/in-field-gray-featuring-valentine-smith-pick-apart-poetry-barbara-k-cherie/


Thanks for all visits and comments 
on this piece and previous ones posted.

Big Hugs.

~barb~

Tags: BarbaraK Photography Poetry CPC

6 comments View Entry

Tags: BarbaraK Poetry Photography

1 comments View Entry