Nature’s Doorway video poem was created and posted last year but sometimes repeat performances are called for at just the right time! After viewing the video, take a few moments to step outside and enjoy all the beauty around you!
Have a blessed day!
Love’s Presence
The soothing breath of spring
In its light of innocence
Suffuses the meadows
With a hint of tenderness
Nature’s arms embrace
The warmth of the sun
As buds and blossoms
Awaken with the dawn
Within winter’s wake
Fields and forests come alive
Stretching and yawning
As flora and fauna arrive
Freshness of the air
Bares the arrivance
Of new beginnings
In winter’s absence
Lovers solemnly stroll
Arm-in-arm, hand-in-hand
Admiring magical wonders
Within splendor of the land
Beauty of springtime
Void of the bitter cold
Propels love’s presence
Deep down into the soul
©2013 catnipoflife
Sharla Lee Shults
“In springtime, love is carried on the breeze. Watch out for flying passion or kisses whizzing by your head.”
—Terri Guillemets
What common thread binds families together?
Must be those silent unspeakable memories
Which hide in the attics of our minds
Gathering dust, but never brushed away
Episodes of loving, laughing, defending each other
Strengthen emotions to immeasurable depths
Wanting not, wasting not treasured moments
That natural instinct directs along the way
Domestic chatter that may breed bitterness
Welcomes forgiveness with open arms
Knowing a quarrel is momentary
Quickly resolved and not for keeps
Times with friends, pets, even the common cold
Bare little resemblance to a naked forest
But instead resemble a sheltered canopy
To inherently stay even while winter sleeps
Recollections of coveting Mom’s cake batter bowl
Hiding tooth brushes, locking the bathroom door
Borrowing money without any vision of payback
Reveal frowns only later lifted with a kiss
Family ties shed radiant lights like chatoyant gems
Making us at our absolute worst look our best
Are never meant to be broken
And ultimately become bondages of bliss
©2009 Remembering
Sharla Lee Shults
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Contact poetrybysharla@gmail.com
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Life can be described as an avalanche of unexpected tears. These may arrive as soft teardrops or unyielding sobbing. There is simply no way around tearful emotions for they constantly simmer within the heart. From the most passionate of lovers to the coldest of cold hearts, tears can be the tie that binds or become the final straw. They may appear within a fleeting moment or build up over a period of time.
From a surprise reaction, a past recollection, a new beginning or an anticipated, as well as unintended, ending, tears can swell so emotively they become hotter than a smoldering cauldron. These are the times when we feel life has thrown a curve that we simply don’t understand. Because of the lack of understanding, emotions can quickly turn to anger. As a result, anger becomes the knife that severs.
Sometimes there is just a need to cry. Let the tears flow for they are the dewdrops of an early morn or the pouring summer rain that cleanse, nourish and refurbish the human soul.
What is life as you see it…
Is it a loving embrace
Or a solitary place?
Does it reflect a sense of devotion
Or is it filled with senseless emotion?
Are there moments of unchangeable dread
Or have you solidified your life’s thread?
How do you greet the morning…
Is it with a gentle smile upon a happy face
Or a frown wishing you were in a different place?
Do you bring sunshine to a rainy day
Or does the rain take the sunshine away?
Are there thoughtful images of someone dear
Or do remembrances of sadness appear?
What awaits you at the close of day…
Is it time with caring family
Or just another anomaly?
Does sunset bring an admiring, restful glow
Or do thoughts detail more than you need to know?
Are you with friends ready to make merry
Or are you alone and solitary?
Life IS as you see it…
As life’s proceedings command a new-found way
Greet each morning as the dawn of a new day
If you are dangling on the edge
Come back with a fresh, new life’s pledge
Be a sister, brother, lover or friend
Cherish each moment to the bitter end
Make the most of it!
Life is filled with countless challenges to endure
Times of uncertainty, times when you are sure
While tears may flow like falling rain
Let them cleanse easing any pain
Within the shadows learn to cope
Keep faith alive as well as hope
©2012
catnipoflife
xxx
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[This is the original poem published in Remembering, 2009. An adaptation is presented in slideshow video format at the end.]
Foxie, The Cat
Independent, full of curiosity
Agile, former creature of the wild
Foxie shares our home taking over the place
Demanding attention like a child
Curious by nature, held in awe
Cuddlesome, yet loving all the while
She expectantly meows for ‘tasty’ treats
At times leaving her prizes behind in style
Behind the settee, under the bed
Foxie scampers constantly without a care
Mysterious, perplexing, aggravating
Preferring to curl up in Daddy’s chair
Going from indoor to outdoor
Never looking for a new home
She emits confidence, strong will
Unhappy only when left alone
Distant and aloof, yet cherished
Quiet as though in simple meditation
Foxie resonates a soothing purr-r-r
Inviting soft cuddles and loving adoration
Finicky, picky about her food
Moody and sometimes remote
She prissily swishs her fluffy fox tail
Like a tiny, little woman in a fine fur coat!
©2009 Remembering
Sharla Lee Shults
Do you have a favorite pet?
(Click HERE!)
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As you lay weak and weary in the hospital bed. . .
i take your hand
i take your hand
to ease the pain
lend comforting words
for hope to remain
i watch you sleep
restful it seems
questions surmount
nightmares or dreams?
that impish grin
the one i do adore
implies a dream
perhaps of the seashore
a time together
jumping waves, kicking sand
moseying along
side-by-side, hand-in-hand
suddenly the grimace
followed by a shout
grabbing sheets, drawing knees
imply nightmares about
what is it that lurks
in the shadows that bind?
are you searching, seeking
erasers of the mind?
gasping for breath
a soft whisper in your ear
reassures the moment
you know you’re still here
ever so cautiously
struggling to see clear
a soft kiss on the cheek
lets you know i’m near
. . .watching and waiting ’til you are able to come home again.
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REMEMBERING GRANDMA
“Nothing like walking in the door fresh milk in hand,
except the smell of bacon sizzling in the pan!” ~catnipoflife
Need nourishment? Visit Daily Soul Food at Pinterest!
“A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.”
~Tenneva Jordan
To my mother, Anita Louise Weston Lee (1919 – 2010):
Sometimes you seem so far away
Memorable moments shorten the way
Moments you firmly held my hand
Guiding me along life’s hardened land
Distance spans an epic terrain
Visions of your smile block out any pain
Smiles of delight as well as tears
Carrying us through the roughest years
As tears fall with each passing day
Voice of memory keeps sadness astray
In other words. . .
Though you seem so far away
You are as close as my thoughts
Thoughts remaining ever so clear
Never to fade from year to year
Images implanted in my mind
Lift my spirits at any time
Spirits to refresh my soul
Keeping me toward life’s goal
For you see. . .
Thoughts of you eternally stay
You don’t seem so far away
Echoes ©2012
Sharla Lee Shults
From: catnipoflife
To: all Mothers near and far
May your sons and daughters
Know how special you are
Roadsides are dotted with clusters of brightly colored daisies engulfed in rain-aided green grasses. The smiling face of each flower brightens the view of fields and ditches along nature’s highway. Butterflies flit and flutter from flower to flower beckoning “come dance with me.” ~catnipoflife
Here we are at the beginning of a new week and where will you seek/find inspiration? Perhaps you need only to simply stop, look and listen within your ordinary surroundings for its discovery may take little or no effort at all. Within our daily midst, sights, sounds and smells are waiting to be awakened, explored, enjoyed and shared.
That which is seen with the naked eye is often interpreted differently from individual to individual. With each vision comes thoughts and emotions that may strike an emotional chord of harmony or cast shadows of discord. Through these visions comes the ability to put what is seen only once into words that can last for a lifetime. Of course, thoughts might instead shift to that of a camera with the old adage ‘a picture is better than a thousand words’ immediately coming to mind. But, oh-h-h, how many times has that miraculous once-in-a-lifetime Kodak moment been missed? How many times has it been said or heard, “If I only had my camera. . .” More times that can be counted for sure! Yet, the vision is still there, stored in the scrapbook of the mind. Each time a page is turned in the mind’s diary that vision reappears. The recourse: write about it!
Nature is overflowing in its natural awe-inspiring, breath-taking wonders, none of which more
mystical, nor mysterious, than the butterfly. What is it about this delicate insect that unites the heart with the soul? Some might say it is its symetrical beauty, others feel it has sensory powers of healing, while many purely delight in its wispy nature. Its beauty is consuming, none of which more captivating than when feeding on sugary nectar. (View Beautiful Butterflies from around the world.)
One of the butterfly’s favorite sources of nectar is the flower, especially the daisy. Butterflies and daisies go hand-in-hand within the natural wonders of nature. Watching the butterfly feed is a wonder in itself as it perches atop the flower dipping deep with a strawlike tongue into the rich 
nectar, opening its wings wide, bringing them in again, all the while savoring each drop. Ah-h-h, but this sweet fluid is not the only treat these little insects enjoy. Did you know they also love fruit? Of course, that is totally understandable since the fruits of nature are filled with sweet, natural juices.
Book Connection – Echoes
Inside my book Echoes, Chapter Three reflects poetry surrounding the beauty of nature. Within this chapter is the poem Butterflies ‘n’ Daisies. As you read its verses, Do you see what I see? It is hoped through its reading, you will be inspired as its words guide you toward meeting the challenge of your daily inspiraton!
“Butterflies count not months, but moments, and have time enough.” ~Rabindranath Tagore
“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”
~Leo Buscaglia (1924 – 1998)
Authors are challenged in their writing to reflect senses that can be captured by readers in the manner in which they intended. A paraphrase of a quote by Plato (born c. 428 BC), “Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder,” can be rephrased for the writer into “perception is in the eyes of the reader.” In order for our readers to perceive through their eyes what is proposed by our writings is often a delicate task. Word choice initiates feelings and visions, which if not chosen wisely could totally shift meaning in the wrong direction or portray a completely different image from its intentions.
For most of us, ideas come from our own experiences or stories related to us by family or friends. Thus, it all begins with our perception. It is much easier to feel an emotion by listening to a story being told or read aloud because of the tone and intonation of a person’s voice. For example, if an event depicted a scream in a scene, the actual sound of that person screaming could send chills to the bone, whereas if you read “she screamed as the door opened” might not provoke the same chilling reaction. Our voice, therefore, must become just as powerful but through the medium of the written word.
In the upcoming weeks, I will be posting verses from Echoes. Within this volume of poetry are five chapters ‘intended’ to tap into your senses as you focus on the following:
Family and Friends – Do you sense the emotion?
I’m a Believer – Do you believe?
The Beauty of Nature – Do you see what I see?
Good Vibrations – Do you feel the spirit?
Whispers of Yesterday – Do you hear what I hear?
Hopefully, you will be touched by words that will evoke personal thoughts and ideas. As these thoughts surface, write them down. Such thoughts could trigger a poem, a story, a personal reflection: Who knows when someone somewhere in time might read them and how a life might be touched in the process.
One Final Thought
“Everything that we presently feel and see moving and taking place in our hearts, our minds, and our lives is His gift to us. We know not what it is or where it is going but He does and He gifts it to you. . .drink in His goodness, savor, and cherish every drop. He gifts it to me. . .I drink it in, savoring and cherishing every drop. May the verses to follow be His instrument of joy to you.”
From Family and Friends is a recollection of days with grandparents. Click the link Do you sense the emotion? and read Betwixt ‘n’ Between.
