Swapping Brings Joy - Always

          Poetry Friday is hosted by Margaret Simon at Reflections on The Teche, and she's celebrating birthdays! Happy Birthday, Margaret. May poetry always sing to you, but especially on your special day!

          I'm taking the next week or more off to travel to my brother and sister-in-law's home in mid-Missouri, to view the eclipse! I am excited. My daughter and the granddaughters, perhaps my son, will join us and we are preparing for an amazing experience! I hope some of you will be able to view it where you are! My brother owns an antique store in the town where we'll be and he told me an artist stopped by who told him she travels the world to view the eclipses and to paint them. We're planning to see what she creates this time.

         More poetry, more wonderful swapping! I received a special package this week from across the ocean, from Iphigene Daradar in the Philippines! It's a fabulous poem and painting, and you've seen other wonderful paintings and poems by Iphigene, so you know I feel honored. Here's a picture of both, and the poem typed for easier reading. 

        Thanks Iphigene for bringing smiles to me a few days ago, and continually since!

You Are

You are the stillness

beneath the raging ocean

the depths that soothe ruffled

feathers, doubtful voices

across online landscapes

A calm washing over nerves

filling them with stories

that isolate not, building

a quiet community of 

gentle reassurance

You are arms outstretched 

wrapping itself around 

unsure bodies dancing

against life's rhythm

You are a summer day

of sandy beaches,

Watermelons, and 

children's laughter

You are what

makes living easy,

days sweet and 

kindness worth being.

        Iphigene Daradar