Month: April 2021

Here are some scenes from Delycia’s luxuriant gardens this spring:

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SILENT AND STEADY
April 26, 2021
a picture poem 
written on-the-spot 

These stones 
have sat here for years,
perhaps centuries,
just silently praising 
where they are,
and their grayness,
and the goodness of winds
and darkness and 
shining daylight, 
and even the unfolding
of sorrow in human lives,
since the stones know
it will surely pass,
and sitting will still 
be what they will do.

IN SILENCE AND SINCERITY
an on-the-spot spoken poem
April 25, 2021, 7:29 a.m. on River Road

Grasses swinging in the breeze -
ripples sort of singing in the river -
I see runners coming along, 
lifting knees and arms in rhythms,
and leaves bouncing along 
in silence 
and sincerity. 

SO MANY BLESSINGS 
an on-the-spot spoken poem 
during a walk on April 26, 2021

Wind, 
why do you love to blow
and bring so many blessings to us?
The silence in my heart 
is helped by the flow 
of your wind,
and even a truck 
taking bottles of water to people,
passing us spreads its goodness,
and a single runner approaching us
with an orange hat 
helps me to hold steady 
on this wonderful walk
that we're doing. 

Theme for April: Receptivity

Wednesday, April 21, 2021

WALKING WITH SONGS
April 21, 2021
a spoken poem 
while walking in Mystic

I wonder if birds 
know words 
when they sing,
or whether their feelings
just flow 
with the songs.
I know this:
their songs send us walking 
in a smoother way 
than ever,
and life lends us 
its happy hand
this moment, 
and every moment. 

SMALL BUT SMART
(some flowers growing in a rock, above)

We may be small
but we see the strength 
in always finding - 
even in a rock that seems solid -
lots of space for sending roots out 
with confidence and happiness. 
We have learned 
that so-called solidness is actually 
accessible and receptive.

You could learn this, too.
 

BROKEN SKY
April 18, 2021

One summer evening 
the sky was suddenly broken. 
There was a crash, 
and a shout from friends 
afraid of being separated, 
and then the pieces of the precious sky 
descended upon our simple lives, 
our lives that shine at every compliment, 
that sing whenever someone loves us. 
We stood outside and saw the shards 
of this costumed sky 
settling in the trees 
like invitations to happiness, 
calls to stop struggling, 
and just see. 
There was sky in the streets, 
and sky in the pockets of friends. 
We came home to our families 
with specs of blue 
and gleams of stars 
in our hands and hearts.

Theme for April: Receptivity

April 16, 2021

APRIL SIXTEENTH
April 16, 2021


April Sixteenth 
says thorough sentences to us 
in all its moments.
It makes truths that take their time 
in telling us exceptional news
about silver spring skies 
and desks scattered with words 
and daffodils filling up our lives
and forsythias finding hopefulness 
and unfolding it for us. 
Study April Sixteenth.
Say your dearest words 
to this sweetheart day,
and it will lend you 
all the love you need. 

        

AS EASY AS THAT
(writing near the Mystic River)


Two cars came by,
then a leaf left a tree,
then a pencil started
to move across paper.
It's as easy as that.
Did the sun strain
to rise this morning?
Do stars shine
because they work hard?
This old river rolls along.
It's as easy as that.

BLESSINGS FOR US
An On-the-Spot Oral Poem
(spoken in the Peace Sanctuary, 
Mystic, CT, USA, 1/2 mile from I-95)
April 15, 2021

Oh, the highway
can hold blessings for us, 
even when we're in the forest 
far away from it. 
We can hear the sounds of trucks
taking goodness 
like gifts for people. 
And the birds are singing 
their songs of friendship, 
and the old trees 
take their time 
growing beside me 
as I walk, 
old trees standing with assurance 
and friendliness 
as I walk on the trail 
with the beautiful birds 
and their music. 

SHE DIDN'T NEED MUCH
(about Braelynn J., 52, Blessings, CT, USA)

She didn't need much.
The sun shining for a few minutes 
in the midst of a dark day
was fine for her. 
A glass of silvery water in her hand,
a piece of toast perfectly cooked,
the sound of her footsteps 
in soft snow -
all of these were sufficient 
to bring her a feeling of fulfillment. 
She ate her meals 
on a small plate on a small table. 
One simple window in the kitchen
let in the light
which always seemed
to surround the table
and the small plate 
with modest cheerfulness. 

BIRD SONGS SHARING
(an on-the-spot spoken poem
recorded on April 13, 2021, 
at about 7:44 a.m.) 

The songs of birds 
always share some good news - 
the gifts they give 
to the universe. 
They're just small birds, 
but they bring 
the silence of songs
to all of us.
Forever and forever, 
we can find our peace 
by presenting ourselves 
to the music of birds, 
bringing our gifts 
to the birds 
like they give to us. 

On our walk in the cemetery this morning, we luckily caught a glimpse of the Stonington High School crew team sculling smoothly up the Mystic River: