I couldn't stop at just one "Pick-Apart"

as they're such a lot of fun.

So one more this morning . . . .

Thanks again CPC!

******************

WINTER'S CRYSTALLINE WALTZ

The first snow of Winter,
I so often recall,
flakes dance to the ground,
in a crystalline waltz,
my afternoon reverie
on a cold Winter's day,
my story often retold.

(c) bak 12-29-10
barbara kausteklis

Written for CPC "Pick-Apart Poetry."

The idea is to select 25 words from the featured posted poetry

and create something new.

My poem featured there . . . .

WINTER REVERIE

The first flakes of winter snow
landing upon my nose,
I watch them as they silently fall
to the ground and begin to blanket
the fallen leaves of Autumn's final days.
I can almost hear them as they dance
their glistening crystalline waltz,
Sugarplum Fairies gliding into
my snowy reveries of late afternoon.

And I recall how it was
on those days when it snowed forever,
drifting so high it touched the sky,
snowplows scraping narrow paths
through the darkened night,
snow-laden cars struggling
out of driveways and snow shovels
glistening in the first light of morning.

And on these chilly mornings,
as the sun rises up over
the snow-capped mountains of dawn,
I smile as I recall those days
when Winter
was sledding
and skating
and sliding
and skidding
and shoveling
and trudging to school
in three feet of snow,
the stuff of smiles and
retold often under the
blue-sky sunshine
of a Southern California
winter's afternoon.

(c) bak 12-2-10
barbara kausteklis

THANKS AGAIN, CPC!

And the following link will take you there:

http://www.myspace.com/mom_holtz/blog/541441024

(Back in a bit with the Boomer link.)

 Thanks always for your visits and precious comments.

Tags: BarbaraK Poetry CPC PickApart Winter

4 comments View Entry

(Back in a bit with the Boomer link.)

 Thanks always for your visits and precious comments.

Tags: BarbaraK Poetry CPC PickApart Winter

1 comments View Entry

Blogophilia 44.3

Topic: "Take Two and Call Me in the Morning"

Bonus points:

(Hard, 2pts): Impart some pearls of wisdom
(Easy, 1pt): include the words "directions not included"


IF ONLY IT WERE THAT SIMPLE . . . .

The New Year approaches
and it's so very difficult to
even begin to imagine that
365 days will have come
and gone once again.

But in just a matter
of a few days they
will have done
exactly that,
each new day
having brought with it
a bit of adventure,
a bit of challenge,
a bit of laughter,
a bit of sadness,
a bit of everything.

And how nice it would be
if living each day were as
simple as 'taking two [of anything]
and calling me in the morning.'
But it isn't because
reality just isn't like that.

While I would love to be able
to impart some pearls
of wisdom of my own,
in addition to the fact
that I do know that for
so much of what happens
from day to day,
the directions are
simply not included,
I'll share someone else's
wise words which are for me
a prescription for life
even more valuable than
two of anything I could take.

And these words certainly
do apply to me as I approach
the beginning of a new year
and wanting to see so many
things change in my life
and in the world around me.

And they are these:

"Changing the world begins with
the very personal process
of changing yourself;
the only place you can begin
is where you are,
and the only time you can begin
is always now."

~ Gary Zukav ~

Wise words and pearls of wisdom,
ones that are going to be put
not only on my fridge but
right here at my computer
and in my car and in
several other places where
I'll be sure to see them every day.

Lots of work to be done
in the New Year and I guess
it's going to begin right here
with me and right where I am.

Wishing you peace and joy
and all the best there is in
the New Year to come.

(c) bak 12-28-10
barbara kausteklis


The following link will take you
to Blogophilia 44.3 and links
to the rest of the pieces
written to this week's topic:

http://www.myspace.com/blogophilia/blog/541428256


Thanks always for your visits and comments.

Tags: BarbaraK Blogophilia Poetry NewYear

14 comments View Entry

WHAT TO DO, WHAT TO SAY . . . .

Dilemmas and struggles,
facts of life, I'd say,
so many things tend
to get in the way
of contentment
and happiness,
things that make
us feel good.
So what can I do,
what direction to take
when these roadblocks
of life simply get in the way
of what I want to do
on any given day?
I could throw up my hands,
scream and shout,
things not going my way
that's easy to do
and quite easy to say.

But quite often for me
it takes an adjustment
rather small,
changing course
in small degrees,
not much at all,
letting some things go
that are getting me down,
diverting my attention,
getting away from it all,
taking a little vacation,
just a couple of days.
Often these small things
are just what it takes
to get me back on track
and renew my resolve.

And then again . . . .
sometimes these
are but temporary fixes
and something more drastic
must come to the mix
of things that make me feel better
and improve my day and my life.
When such is needed
I think long and hard
and weigh the goods
and the bads of what
it might take and then
if the goods outweigh
the bads a big leap I take
and never look back,
embracing my decision
with a smile on my face
and look to the future,
a much happier me.

(c) bak 12-28-10
barbara kausteklis

Written for CPC "Poetic Playhouse/Struggles."

The following link will take you there:

http://www.myspace.com/mom_holtz/blog/541426547

Thanks always for your visits and comments!

~Barb~


(Back in a bit with the Boomer link.)

Tags: BarbaraK Poetry CPC PoeticPlayhouse

12 comments View Entry

ARMCHAIR ADVENTURES

I'm just resting my eyes
for a moment or two,
relaxing in my recliner
where without too much fuss
I can travel the world
putting my feet up here
right in front of the fireplace
collecting my thoughts
and reflecting upon the day.

And somewhere between
awake and asleep,
my reading put aside,
I'm dreaming sweet dreams
of places far and wide,
memories of where
I have been and
also visited there
through the words
that have captured
my thoughts
and my dreams
and have taken me
to places I might
never have been
had I not been reading
these words on this day
in my favorite book
of adventure right here.

(c) bak 12-27-10
barbara kausteklis

Written for Legacy Writers "Sunny Sunday/Relaxation." 

Incorporating forms of the following

posted relaxation words: 

Resting
Memories
Reading
Recliner
Collected
Relaxation
Sleep

  The following link will take you there:

 https://myboomerplace.com/groups/view/id_495/

Tags: BarbaraK LegacyWriters SunnySunday Relaxation Poetry Photography

12 comments View Entry

WORD THANKS

So many words
have danced across this page
as I've stopped by each day
and lingered here and there
to read the words of my friends
and write some of my own,
all the while embracing each one
and blessed by the thoughts
that have come my way,
words to savor and save,
the ones read every day.

Not a day has gone by
when I've not been so blessed
by the poetry and prose,
by the words of my friends.
So I go back to read
them again and again
and cherish each one,
thankful for all of this
as I share in your joy
and your tears
and your laughter
and and your hope
as I consider it
an honor and a privilege
to read what you share
in this way.

(c) bak 12-27-10
barbara kausteklis

Written for CPC "The Best of Magic Monday 2010."

The following link will take you there:

http://www.myspace.com/mom_holtz/blog/541412868

Tags: BarbaraK CPC MagicMonday Friends Poetry

6 comments View Entry

ON THIS DAY AFTER

On the day after Christmas
all quiet in the house,
the presents unwrapped,
not a sound to be heard
as memories of the day
dance about in my head
while I put them away
with joy and with care
the memories,
one by one,
into that very special place
reserved for the most
special ones.

Memories of children,
whose faces lit up with glee
as they opened the gifts
they found under the tree;
the turkey roasted
to perfection,
dinner with family
and friends,
memories that
won't be forgotten,
a joyful Christmas again.
And the birth of a child
that started it all,
under a star so bright
on that night long ago.

So on the day after Christmas
I look back on it all
as throughout the year
I'll remember this day
and cherish the memories
that bring warmth to my heart
and look forward to next year
as we get together once more.

And I wish one and all
of my family and friends,
the Happiest New Year,
full of promise and hope.

(c) bak 12-27-10
barbara kausteklis

Written for BFF #79 "Twas the Day After Christmas." 

The following link will take you to the BFF #79 Inspiration here on Boomer. 

Nothing to join.  Everyone is welcome to participate. 

https://myboomerplace.com/BLOG4FUN

Tags: BarbaraK BFF BloggingForFun Christmas Holidays

15 comments View Entry

Tags: BarbaraK CPC Poetry SimpleSunday Adventure Imagination

10 comments View Entry

Toward Peace and Joy

by Barbara K

A Cheryl's Pals Collab

On this Christmas morning,
the stars still shining bright,
I marvel at the wonder
of the heavens,
their vastness and scope,
the landscape
of my dreams
and beyond,
as I begin
to dream once more,
my imagination
captivated and moved
by the morning star
still shining so brightly
as night approaches day
on that canvas of velvet above.

And I welcome the morning
on this Christmas Day
and pray that peace and joy
find the hearts of family
and friends and
that their dreams
splash into reality again.

And I pray once more
that the good will
still resting within
our hearts rises
above any sadness
and sorrow,
broken dreams
and unfulfilled wishes,
making dreams come true
as we sing once again
a song of praise
and thanksgiving
for what we have
on this day
as we wish
Merry Christmas
and Happy Holidays
to one and to all.

(c) bak 12-25-10

Thanks One and All: Lady "Cheryl" Death,
Lady Seda, Sharonlee, Cherie, and Me, Barbara

Written for CPC "Saturday Share."

The lines I used:

Making dreams come true (Lady Cheryl Death) (required)

Penny in the wishing well and a dream splashes into reality (LadySeda)

broken dreams and unfulfulled wishes (sharonlee)

the landscape of my dream... (sharonlee)

the moons eclipse, wonder of the heavens (Cherie)


The following link will take you there:

http://www.myspace.com/mom_holtz/blog/541389917

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Thanks always for your encouragement and comments. Treasures all . . . .

~Barb~

Tags: BarbaraK CPC Poetry Collab SaturdayShare Christmas Peace Joy

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