They touch something so very deep within, those classic holiday cinemas and Christmas cheer from vintage black and white to animated colors so very bright, each one guaranteed to bring a tear, a smile, a chuckle, at the least a great big grin. From Main Street to 34th, from Broadway to Times Square, through the magic of the silver screen we're reminded in a special way what this holiday season is all about.
And while we might shed a tear or two or suspend reality just a little bit, for a few cinematic moments each and every year we come back to watch them time after time, re-living the magic that is Christmas and good will to men. And the peace that still lives within our hearts is re-kindled once again.
(c) bak 12-23-10 barbara kausteklis
Written for CPC "Friday Fling Celebrates Christmas Cinema."
The simplest of gifts, the ones money can't buy, the ones most precious and cherished to me, are the smile on your face as we pass by on the street; that kind word or two, such encouragement to me; that pat on the back even at my age, for a job well done or at least getting there. The small things are big things, such treasures to me.
The gift of this day that's in front of me and all the other gifts as I pass on my way from now till tomorrow, the sun in the sky, the sweet birds that sing, the flowers that bloom all treasured gifts to me.
And I hold them all close to my heart and my soul as I'm just passing through this world that I love for this time is so very much one of the greatest gifts of all. And to you I can offer my simple gifts as well, the gifts of friendship and love and a smile from my heart.
(c) bak 12-23-10 barbara kausteklis
Written for Legacy Writers II/Gifts.
Thanks always for your visits and precious comments and for your friendship here.
As the sky has opened up and it's absolutely pouring here . . . .
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BEYOND THE RAIN
With the dawn of each new day, the canvas changing and ever renewed, it's hard to know from one day to the next how things will go, what direction they'll take; sometimes sunshine and blue skies and occasionally gray and rain.
And on those days when the skies seem so gray and nothing appears to be going my way I try very hard to look through and beyond all those things that seem to stand in my way.
I turn on the music, the tunes that I know will take me beyond what I'm thinking about, transporting me to those places beyond the gray in front of me. And I focus on images sublime and serene, the ones that capture my imagination, the dreamer in me.
And in those moments of reflection and dreams I go to places reserved for times such as these and I become once again the dreamer that is me.
(c) bak 12-22-10 barbara kausteklis
Written for Flexwriters Creative Network/ "Wednesday's Corner/ Do You See What I See."
I've walked down these streets before, elm-shaded streets I've gone back to more than a few times over the years, looking for something lost, something barely remembered through this haze of today, step-by-step re-tracings down long winding lanes, around sharp corners, detours here and there.
And I have heard only the sound of my own footsteps as they cross the street in their resolute pursuit, stepping over the cracks in the sidewalk that have collected the rains of yesterday as they have begun to crumble under the weight of todays.
And I have kept walking, the stark white houses their empty windows staring at me as I pass, their windows open, their lace curtains frayed and yellowed with the passage of time.
Continuing to hear nothing except the insistent sound of my own footsteps, one in front of the other, I walk straight through those yesterdays without stopping to knock on any doors, quite content to leave them where I found them.
For my visit is a brief one to this place where everything is at once quite the same though very much not the same, lifted out of time on this morning that I once again return to find something I thought was lost, something forgotten.
Instead I walk on by content with where I am and leaving those shadows behind.
(c) bak 12-22-10 barbara kausteklis
Written for Flexwriters "Soldiers of Expression/ A Street Where No One Walks."
Flakes of snow pirouette so gracefully before my eyes on this cold winter's day. And pausing for one crystalline moment, I am once more Winter's child in the snow.
(c) bak 12-21-10 barbara kausteklis
Written for Flexwriter's "Monday Poetry Madness/Upside Down."
This is a double tetractys, a 10-line poem with lines of 1-2-3-4-10-10-4-3-2-1 syllables in succession.
The following link will take you to "Monday Poetry Madness."
Blogophilia 43.3 Topic: "All Around The Christmas Tree"
Bonus points:
(Hard, 2pts): interweave a historical event
(Easy, 1pt): include one of the lines mentioned in the Twelve Days of Christmas
Final date to post: December 28th, 2010, GMT midnight
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AMONG THE SHEPHERDS
On that very first Christmas such a long time ago, the shepherds all gathered having followed the star, I am one of them in adoration there.
And as we are gathered here around the Christmas tree so many years later, on the first day of Christmas and the second and third, I am once again that child of the dawn with stars in her eyes on this Christmas morn, who sings with the angels the songs once again of the littlest shepherd before the manger that night. And the stars in the sky are shining as bright as they did so long ago on that first Christmas night.
And as I share this story with you, may the peace of the season fill all of our hearts as we step into the New Year with good wishes and joy.
I understand them all so perfectly now, every single one, each and every thing I never understood before about how things work and how things should run and how everything ought to be. It all seems so very clear to me as I look back upon them from the vantage point of now, and from the comfort of my easy chair. For hindsight is always 20/20, you know, the clearest way to see and the best way to know what happened back then whether yesterday or before.
So if there's a lesson I've learned, it is this: If I don't understand it now or even tomorrow, just give me a year or two or three and I'll take a look at it again once I figure it all out. And by that I time I'll get it, as hindsight will have kicked in, and all things will be 20/20 and perfectly understood again.
(c) bak 12-20-10 barbara kausteklis
Written for CPC "Magic Monday/ The Magic of 20/20."
On this night before Christmas, much the same as last year, the house is all quiet, not a sound can be heard; it's not quite the same as when the children were here and had dreams of sweet sugarplums dancing about listening for Santa and his reindeer, that unmistakable sound. No rustling of gift wrap, the midnight directions read for putting together that last minute toy.
But on this night before Christmas, much the same as last year, we remember the meaning of this day that so often gets lost amid the noise and the merriment, and the lights on the tree. We remember once more the birth of a Child in humble surroundings under a star so bright.
And on this night before Christmas, just the same as last year, we pray for peace in this world, the peace of this season, and joyful hearts one and all.
(c) bak 12-20-10 barbara kausteklis
Written for BFF (Blogging For Fun) #78/ "The Night Before Christmas."
The BFF #78 "Inspiration Blog" is posted on Friendburst:
Each morning as I begin my day by surveying the road in front of me, which one to take, which direction to go upon this path of life I see? And as I travel along my way, the direction chosen, a simple path, takes me to all the places I ever want to go.
And as I wander along those pathways, wherever they go, I pause for a moment and linger there, to inhale the freshness of the day.
And I take a mental snapshot there, just a small reminder of what I see and I hold it very close to my heart, recalling what I have just seen there, and tuck it away with the others, each one, that every once in a while I bring out to share.
And I return there often to remember where I've been and to remind myself that I still have so many steps in front of me, so many directions to go, so many places to be, a big long list in front of me. And that in the morning when the day is brand new I'll open the door and venture out again and stop once more along the way with my eyes wide open and a little song in my heart.
