M&M's Musings » Poetry Corner

A Year in the Life … revealed …

Marcia Mae Nelson Pedde — Mon, 23 May 2011 04:27:26 +0000

Hello Dear Ones!

Two years ago today, on the Sunday of Canada’s Victoria Day long weekend of 2009, I stepped onto the retreat grounds of Queenswood and an incredible journey began … leading me to write my first book:

It has been – and is still – a magical journey, one in which you, Dear Reader, took an active role … as one of my dearest inspirations! That’s why I thought to stop by today to share this exciting news with you … my book has been published and is now available for sale! You can check it out here: http://bit.ly/buspoet

And, as a tantalizing little bonus for you, a glimpse of one of my very favourite sections:

“Here’s an exercise for you if you’re so inspired to indulge:

Below I’m going to give you the description of someone I saw one day last summer. I would encourage you to write a poem – or several poems if inclined – about this individual. Be playful. Be inventive. Trust the words that come to your mind. Write them down no matter how foolish!

Don’t edit what words you hear in your head before you write them out, and don’t edit them once they’re on the page. Never use an eraser! Never use the delete key! Once words have been removed, you can’t get those thoughts and inspirations back. And trust me, some of my worst phrases or sentences may have been inappropriate for the piece I was working on at the time, yet – lo and behold – I found them to be modifiable and ideal for something else along the way!

Here’s the description:

An 80 something woman with long ringletted hair, wearing a sun-faded yellow, broad-brimmed hat with wilted blue silk flowers. She sports an aged gingham print summer dress hiked to her knees, showing off her rolled-down support hose while riding a rust-red bicycle. She hums a tune that has her smiling. Though you do not recognize the tune, imagine it to be … any tune you choose. Possibly: K-K-K-Katie, Beautiful Katie, You’re the only G-G-G-Girl that I adore … Or maybe: Barney Google, with the goo-goo-googly eyes, Barney Google with a wife who’s twice his size …

(yes, those really were songs that were popular in her day!)

Now, may I suggest you make a poem from the description [ ... ] as it inspires you. Make it playful, fanciful, light, loving. Yes, you can make it sad if you are so moved … yet my hope for your expansion here would be to show you how easy it can be to become poetic – in every aspect of your life, from the frying pan’s sizzle to the awe of dew drops on the first crocuses of spring – and to do it playfully as a child might.

Here are a few examples from my own inspiration:

The yellow hat brim flapped and flapped
Against her cheek it slapped and slapped
The bicycle chain it tapped and tapped
As the old woman hummed a tune.

Or how about?

The blue flower wilted, drooping sadly
Rolled support hose retracting badly
Little old lady peddling madly
Humming gladly.

Or this one?

Yellow hat and wilted flower
Hair in ringlets a winded mess
Support hose rolled beneath the knees
Above the knees a gingham dress.

I’ll leave you now with, hopefully, inspirations floating around in your own mind. Go find that pen and some paper, open up your word processor, or be brave and use the white space here in this very book! Whichever method you choose to use, have fun with it!

Happy poeming!!!!! “

Like what you’ve read here? To learn more … here’s that link once again: http://bit.ly/buspoet

In Light and Laughter and Love,

Marcia

P.S. Have a QR scanner? Use this:

A Year in the Life of a Bus-Traveling Poet

Poetry ‘n’ Pics IV

Marcia Mae Nelson Pedde — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 20:42:26 +0000

Greetings Dear Ones!

Lots of poetry to share with you today and I’ve decided to include two apophysis pics for you as well!

// slipping softly in / through open window flowing / o’er the bed ~ a breeze // (haiku)

***//aspen leaves rustle / in tree tops / played by the hand of the wind / like Mama Cass’s tambourine / in full swing//
*****************(tanka, gogyohka)

******// child skips through gardens / laughter bubbles forth with glee / mimics waterfall // (haiku)

*********// heron cautious stands / patient its intent to fish / still life on canvas // (haiku)

// ducklings furry swim / braving waters yet unknown / mother within view // (haiku)

***// wind / blows in change / direction and strength / defines / message // (gogyohka)

******// happy be the child / within the adult seated / in wheelchair dreaming // (senryu)

*********// deep greens of summer / depth of colour signifies / maturity’s peak // (haiku)

// ever be the joy / playful abandon expressed / adult jumping rope // (haiku, senryu)

***// trees bent with sadness / bearing the weight of raindrops / like tears of great pain // (haiku, senryu)

******// warmed by summer winds / words melt the cold heart of time / to reveal lost youth // (haiku, senryu)

*********// happy be the tales / the stories I tell myself / to keep me amused // (senryu)

// summer scents / reveal memories / dug up / like shoveled sand / into castles // (tanka, gogyohka)

***// the art / of wind / and leaves / expressed / as play // (gogyohka)

******// small sparrows hidden / by the dozens in the leaves / of one single tree // (haiku)

*********// expressions of love / as varied in form and face / as stars in night sky // (haiku)

// filling night with love / sisters talk into wee hours / chit chat and giggles // (haiku)

***// beauty of a soul / radiates beyond form with / ethereal glow // (haiku, senryu)

******// beauteous / lace weave / delicately stitched / like your kisses / round my heart // (gogyohka)

*********// step to the music / dance to the beat of your heart’s / rhythmic orchestra // (haiku)

// inspiration flows / around brain cells like river / water over stones // (haiku, senryu)

***// the hand aged and tanned / reaches out to touch the bud / both are delicate // (haiku)

******// revealed like road signs / journeys of joy and challenge / her face ~ map of life // (senryu)

What if
I sing
a song for you
to lull you
off to sleep?

Suppose
I write
a verse for you
a poem
you can keep.

Perhaps
I’ll paint
a scene for you
of trees
of grass and sheep.

Perchance
I’ll touch
your gentle heart
with love
that’s ever deep.

That’s all for this week, Dear Ones! Enjoy the rest of your day and be sure to create amazing days ahead … after all, you are worth it!

In Light and Laughter,

Marcia

Poetry ‘n’ Pics III

Marcia Mae Nelson Pedde — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 00:18:08 +0000

Hello Dear Ones!

My book – A Year in the Life of a Bus-Traveling Poet – went to the printers on June 29th. Blessings be, we beat the deadline! Since then I’ve been filling all my spare time writing poetry galore! Lots to include today … enjoy!

//walk fast into run / exploring, expanding life / child on tippy toes// (haiku)

***//emotion / spewing up / happiest of feelings / book completion / celebrations! // (gogyohka)

******//fiery temper / flaming red hair atop small / tight-fisted pixie// (senryu)

*********//happiness explodes / lava bursts from the heart’s core / spewing forth laughter// (senryu)

******//the softest of soft / green shoots new to this season’s / expansion factor// (haiku)

***//poetry written / from the heart of the lover / kisses the senses// (haiku)

//to own / our now / move the letters / and our beliefs around / to alter the result// (gogyohka)

***//reaction to life / twist beliefs around to craft /creation of life// (senryu)

******//upon the lined page / the rhythm of her thought flows / pen dances smoothly// (senryu)

*********//elegant building / exquisite face to world from / two centuries past// (senryu)

******//home away from home / toes in the sand, face to the / sun – Florida beach// (haiku)

***//in nature / water flows over stone / in city / people flow between / stone structures// (gogyohka)

single rose
exquisite blossom, perfect petals
straight, thorned stem
graces her form calf to ankle
a tattoo
(gogyohka)

//Independence Day / son born July fourth ~wise man / grew into his choice// (haiku)

***//the sight breathtaking / never tire of the beauty / the man before me// (haiku)

******//from within the depths / of inner knowing / comes the peace / and perfection / of the Divine// (tanka)

*********//loves laughter levied / as weapon to entice life / to all in arm’s reach// (senryu)

******//basking in the sun / broad branch tip brushes lake’s edge / painted turtles sleep// (haiku)

***//sun teases shadow / out from hidden recesses / form to fact revealed// (haiku)

//fear ~ whirling dervish / dancing with wild abandon / stomping on my heart// (senryu)

***//sun’s warm rise in spring / new shoots future blossoms touch / night frost becomes dew// (haiku)

******//walking through challenge / supporting strong stand on life / blessings be to feet// (haiku)

*********//adding spice to life / growing tall despite parched soil / tiny mustard seed// (haiku)

******//wee sparrow nestles / within cedar foliage / hidden from world view// (haiku)

***//serious intent / getting down to business of / uplifting laughter// (senryu)

//heat waves visible / like hum through power wire moves / children’s laughter rings// (haiku)

***//sixty-two items / appears a large quantity / till counting the years// (haiku/senryu)

******//poem written down / measured in emotion’s voice / for later recall// (senryu)

*********//breathe deeply, my friend / take in the essence of life / let it fill you up!// (haiku)

Well, that’s it for both the poetry and the pics this week! Any of you wanting to check for more of my apophysis pictures, head here.

Create an absolutely fabulous week for yourself …

In Light and Laughter,
Marcia

Poetry Corner – Sneak Peek

Mike Nelson Pedde — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 20:00:54 +0000

Hello Dear Ones!

Well, June 30th has come and gone. It is now Canada Day – July 1st – and my book is at the printer, having met its deadline!

Here’s a sneak peak, especially for you: a write-up of my bio and a précis of my book – plus the fabulous cover that my hubbie Mike did up for me! Check it out here: Marcia’s New Book.

Also I’ve attached below the full cover – both the back as well as the front – to give you a fuller picture …

This book is prose and poetry … so its announcement to you here on my Poetry Corner seemed appropriate.

After we (Mike and I) had sent everything off to the printer, I did take time to go for a walk, to stop and smell the roses, to breathe deeply … and then breathe deeply once again! Golly I feel fabulous about all of this!

I will advise you when A Year in the Life of a Bus-Traveling Poet is ready to go live. The book will be available through my e-store at CreateSpace.com as well as through Amazon.com!

In Light and Laughter,

Marcia

BTW: Now that this book is finished, I have already started crafting the skeleton of my very first novel …

Also, if you’ve not read any of my stories before, you might want to start with this short one: Angel on my Finger. It should give you a feel for my work. ((((((hugs))))))

Poetry Corner – Poetry ‘n’ Pics II

Marcia Mae Nelson Pedde — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 22:44:33 +0000

//poetry and pics / the perfect combination / revealing one’s heart// (senryu)

***//origami gift / crafted by my husband’s hands / and his loving heart// (senryu)

*****//music from teen years / saddle shoes and bobby sox / worn out from dancing// (senryu)

*******//moss and river beds / happy childhood memories / sense of scents recalled// (haiku)

//listen carefully / revelation of wood lore / songs of the faerie// (haiku)

***//candy apple red / country fair transport to buy / candy floss pink// (haiku)

*****//loving intention / energy expended then / tossed away like scrap// (senryu)

*******//patio table / only patron a wee bird / any scraps for me?// (haiku)

//sunlight reflections / car windshield captures brilliance / kisses passersby// (haiku)

***//beautiful sun dogs / early evening summer gift / divine rainbow arc// (haiku)

*****//summer night cruising / revving/ antique car engines / not for girls / for grills// (gogyohka)

*******//deep breath draw to me / scents of summer fragrance lush / exhale winter thaw// (haiku)

//simple village life / ensconced amidst gentleness / neighbour / greets neighbour / with smiles// (gogyohka)

That’s all the poetry I have to share for now, Dear Ones! Create an incredible week for yourselves!

In Light and Laughter,

Marcia

(Note: new to this post? Please go here to learn more about my apophysis fractal art work and the various poetry styles shared today.)

Poetry Corner – Poetry ‘n’ Pics!

Marcia Mae Nelson Pedde — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 19:46:22 +0000

Hello Dear Ones!

Today’s Poetry Corner is being dedicated to a new category within M&M’s Musings: Poetry ‘n’ Pics.

Seems that two creative passions vie for my time and attention each day – poetry and fractal artwork. Many of you who know me through Twitter will be familiar with my micropoetry. Individual tweets of my poems get sent out in that fashion on occasion. Yet there are days – like today – when I write six, nine, a dozen or more! I don’t like overloading inboxes with tweet after tweet of my verse.

The majority of you would be unaware that I also do art work through the computer. Many of my pieces have found their way to our Flickr site (click on Fractals: my work shows up under Marcia’s Apophysis Galaxies). Here are two of my favourite pieces – the Beribboned Buddha plus Mother and Child:

Here are today’s poems for your perusal (Note: all poems are a form of haiku and will be labeled only if they are a different category within that genre – for example: gogyohka, senryu or tanka … ) :

Summer breezes blow / winds of change mature the plants / deep green longing comes

Playful wind tosses / litter like a toy gleeful / airborn once again

Pink candy floss clouds / carnival colours streaking / ‘cross sunset blue sky

Celtic music strums / harp and bard play upon heart / each reveal treasures          (senryu)

At the very depth / of my being / lives truth / sewn with silver thread / to All That Is          (gogyohka)

Balmy breezes blow / memories long forgotten / cheek feels lover’s touch

Memories reach out / touch the tendril of curled thought / twist it round the heart     (senryu)

Chitchat and laughter / fill the room, nook and cranny / silence sips coffee     (senryu)

Smiles / drive away fear / free the heart / crinkle the eyes / welcome laugh lines     (gogyohka &/or tanka)

A final word of detail for you: each day that I do a Poetry ‘n’ Pics post, I will include both the poetry of that day – or since the previous post – plus one of my Apophysis Fractal pictures.

Thank you for stopping by today – please come again! There’ll be lots more to see in the weeks and months ahead!

As always …

In Light and Laughter,

Marcia

Poetry Corner – For Poetry Lovers

Marcia Mae Nelson Pedde — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 23:04:49 +0000

Hello Dear Ones!

It has been a rather dreary day, weather-wise. I needed a bit of a lift. Poetry always provides that lift for me. I was moved to peruse through some of Mattie Stepanek‘s poetry with hopes of adding some exceptional quality to the emotional energy that seemed to be lacking in my day. I was not disappointed!

As I was preparing this post, I also went to Mattie’s website to happily discover the following article:

The World Premiere of “Heartsongs”, composed by Joseph Martin and based on the inspirational works of American child-poet Mattie J.T. Stepanek will be performed by the Houston Children’s Choir at Carnegie Hall on June 6 at 8:30 pm. The concept of placing the young poet’s words into a choral setting, has been transformed by the composer into “a gorgeous musical experience that truly captures Mattie’s universally inspirational and life-affirming message”…

That event took place a mere few days ago.

I’m sharing with you today, from his Journey Through Heartsongs book, Mattie’s accolade to someone in his life (obviously Mr. Thompson according to the poem’s title) who loves poetry. Being a poet, and loving the art as much as Mattie did, this poem is a gift to all people whose love of that art brings us all together in joy and the wonder of life.

For Mr. Thompson

The people who like poetry are special.
They are the same people who hear
Lullabies and wind chimes
When the birds are noisy together.
They are the ones who see
Star-gifts in every season -
Tree-stars in the fall,
Snow-stars in the winter,
Dandelion-fairy-stars in the spring, and
Lightning-bug-stars in the summer.
They are the ones who have
Favorite colors that are wonderful gifts
Like sunset or rainbow or treasure.
They are the ones who have a
Song in their heart and
Words in their mind that
Come together and slip out
Into the air or onto paper as a gift
To someone else, or even themselves.
The people who like poetry are probably
The ones who really like life,
And who know how to celebrate
Even when things are sad or happy.
We remember that sometimes,
Even if we don’t understand why,
That the rain falls for a reason.
We remember how important it is
To play after a storm, just because
We need to keep playing and living.
And, we are the people who remember
To say thank You to God for our gifts.

Mattie J.T. Stepanek
May 1996

Keep in mind that Mattie was six years old when he wrote that! Yes, only six!

Mattie died in 2004. His valiant , courageous and heroic life lives on in concerts (such as the one mentioned above) and his books. His passion also lives on through his mother, Jeni Stepanek. Please be sure to check out the website as she continues her son’s legacy and, in turn, travels her own journey to healing.

In Light & Laughter & with the deepest appreciation to Mattie,

Marcia

P.S. If you like what you have read above, do check out also two other posts I have dedicated to Mattie’s poetry: positively poetry and my very first Poetry Corner post.

Poetry Corner – Haiku Galore!

Marcia Mae Nelson Pedde — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 21:29:35 +0000

Hello Dear Ones!

If I submitted a tweet for every haiku I write, everyone who follows me would see my smiley-faced avatar umpteen times a day. It also means I’d not have time to do much other than write haiku and enter tweets in to Twitter! I tweet enough as it is without adding an additional load to my followers’ HootSuite or TweetDeck or other such options!

As a result, today’s Poetry Corner will offer a compilation of the haiku and related styles of micropoetry that I have recorded the past week. They are provided here in the order in which they came to me. Haiku subjects vary moment by moment in topic for me – just the way my mind works and my heart connects to all that is in my life. You’ll notice there is seldom a common theme: with one exception – the Progressive Haiku poems (seen as #progressivehaiku in Twitter) that have an emotional series or chain of thought over several stanzas from sadness to joy. Enjoy!

(BTW: if you know little to nothing of haiku and other styles of micropoetry, please go first here and then here … it’ll give you a decent understanding of what you are about to read plus the structure and significance of its style and format.)

(Note: each line below is a separate haiku or micropoem. Assume each to be a haiku – unless otherwise indicated in [square brackets].)

Sweet the rain-kissed cheek / one drop foretells nourishment / to soul and to soil

Fishes fast swim by / schools of thought to teach the young / gathering to feed

Blessings be the love / given and received with heart / reach out to inspire

Blessings be the love / given and received with heart / from those who inspire [note a different third line from above!]

Lady with red umbrella / awaiting her turn to fly / like Mary Poppins [micropoetry - not 17 syllables, so not haiku]

Coffee shops / with window views / inspire the poet / within me / to rhyme [gogyohka]

Wisteria wraps / round the arbor gracefully / purple and green shade

Wind invisible / wrestles tree limbs in contest / wind wins by a breath

Love a new journal / blank pages allow fresh new / concepts for haiku [haiku & senryu]

Hand tanned, worn, aged, scarred / outstretched palm up – hoping for / the touch of a coin [haiku & senryu]

An inner knowing / the bud of thought opens up / blossom of insight

Intuition plays / gently on strings of the heart / music of the soul [haiku & senryu]

Coffee shop writing / inspires the poet within / coffee’s the bonus [haiku & senryu]

Vibrancy of new / greens sprout out from branch tips / reach to the future

Parking lot filled with / vehicles – crimson, scarlet / a red car nation [haiku & senryu]

Monthaversary / recelebrating wisdom / of the perfect choice [haiku & senryu]

Espresso shot smooth / fast move the gulp to swallow / the feet to follow [haiku & senryu]

Antique cars displayed / convertible memories / hot summer night dreams [haiku & senryu]

Ladybug on hoop / round and round and round again / circumventing time

Dark skies, cool breezes / brightly jacketed people / and wasps buzz about

Teddy bears sitting / on chairs waiting for people / to cuddle and hug

Contrasts black and white / stunning in attire and yet / roller coaster heart [haiku & senryu]

Rainbow lollipops / plate-sized decadence to lick / sweetness into life

Summer thirst quenchers / spark explosive sensations / lemonade and storms

Dark clouds ominous / threaten storms, deter picnics / umbrella at home

Book poised on the edge / of the seat; reading glasses / just idling about [haiku & senryu]

Reading glasses hang / by a thread round her neck; books’ / secrets still concealed [haiku & senryu]

Trees – stability / wisdom, patience of ages / leaves from time to time

And finally two progressive haiku poems (a name I’ve chosen as I’ve never seen anything like this style before and I’ve researched it’s potential at length with no success). Each stanza (each line = one stanza) is a stand alone haiku/senryu. Yet the concept of one stanza leads into the next. Combined they form a full poem. Note I start with a negative or a concern. By the last stanza there is some resolve or relief.

Progressive Haiku #1:

Answer sought from heart / resolve needed for success / in stepping forward
Frustration is tough / confusion confusing to / the desperate mind
When desperation / befuddles the unconscious / mind, nothing is seen
Be ready, mind says / for major change to occur / tossing turmoil out
How? asks the mind as / solutions still elude view / of what shall arise
The how is divine / delicious the magic of / precious unfolding

Progressive Haiku #2:

Awoke with a mask / glued firmly in place; arose / heavily burdened
Limitation stops / forward motion from leading / into the future
Tears drip from the eyes / leaky inner pipes faulty / called for a plumber
Having a down day / tears moisten soil at my feet / seedlings sprout; I smile

Thank you for reading along! If you are inspired to write and would care to share any of your work, I’d be both honoured and delighted to read them! Just leave me a comment below! (Too shy to share them yet? No one sees our comments till I tell the system to publish it – I’ll not publish your work if you prefer – just be sure to tell me so!)

Trusting you will each create a fabulous week for yourselves!

In Light and Laughter,

Marcia

Poetry Corner – Punc:tu;a’tion!

Marcia Mae Nelson Pedde — Thu, 27 May 2010 02:59:39 +0000

Hello Dear Ones!

Over the years there has been controversy regarding the appropriate use of punctuation in poetry. From when to insert a simple comma, to the applicable introduction of a hyphen – and all the way to the final stop, or period.

Discussion ranges from using or ignoring an apostrophe, such as it’s and its, to the more demanding option of a colon or a semi-colon. Depending on the style of poetry used, punctuation can vary. Many poets use the breath as the only natural comma and hence end a line and create movement down to the line beneath it to effect that breath.

Gertrude Stein, who called the comma ‘servile’, expressed an interesting dispassion for semi-colons. She wrote (notice her lack of commas in this writing) back in 1935 in her book “Poetry and Grammar”:

“They (semi-colons) are more powerful more imposing more pretentious than a comma but they are all the same. They really have within them deeply within them fundamentally within them the comma nature.”

There are some terrific definitions and examples of all the usual, and some lesser known, punctuation tools to be found at the following website: “Sentence Sense“.

I am currently enjoying the delightful reading of the runaway best selling British book by Lynne Truss: “Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation!” A worth read for the pleasure. A must read for the education it provides! Truss states wonderfully:

“On the page, punctuation performs its grammatical function, but in the mind of the reader it does more than that. It tells the reader how to hum the tune.”

Well, Reader, whether you be the writer of poetry or an appreciative and perceptive audience, may you hum along to whatever choice of grammatical structure and punctuational function, or lack thereof, is used in any poetic structure you encounter.

In Light and Laughter,

Marcia

Marcia’s Meanderings – Children as Teachers

Marcia Mae Nelson Pedde — Mon, 24 May 2010 23:55:13 +0000

Hello Dear Ones!

As adults, we often hear what most of us don’t realize was originally a biblical expression: “Out of the mouths of babes.” The term is usually in reference to something a child has said or done that has adults amazed at the wisdom emanating from a tiny being, as yet untrained in things adults should know. We remark on such wisdom with awe, not giving much thought to the Source from which it comes. We all have the ability to tap into Divine knowledge and a knowing beyond our own human capacity, whether we be eight or eighty, or somewhere above, below or in between those ages.

This past weekend I had a profound experience that I wrote about in my She Says – Intrinsic or Extrinsic? post. Though I only mentioned some of my situation and the results that led to my writing that post, I had two additional teachings come as part of that overall experience, both of which came through children.

The shortened version that led up to this is that I took an orchid blossom, a canteen of water and a small pink ribbon with me to Christmas Hill near my home. There is an Arbutus tree at the top of that hill that I go visit most often ‘just because’. This particular day I needed counsel for a personal challenge and I felt drawn to be with the tree asking for some guidance and wisdom. The items I took were offerings as a gift to the tree in advance of the request – whatever the outcome. If you had asked me why I took the ribbon with me, I couldn’t have told you. It just seemed like the right thing to do.

The past few weeks I have taken two of three webinars on intuition – both were exceptional! David Morelli is the teacher, wise and sweet man that he is. Working through a clearing issue on myself, I found I could not get beyond a personal block in order to further develop the skill that David had taught us during the second session. I wanted to discover why I was having a challenge in this particular area.

These webinars were targeted to teach me how to better use my intuitive senses. It is not surprising, then, that I would ‘know’ to be here on this hill top and at this particular location. I placed the orchid at the base of the Arbutus tree. I poured the water from my canteen at its roots. Then I placed the ribbon. Now envision that there is one string snuggly tied to this and several other trees in order to rope off a secure area to be avoided by visitors – a marking or fence, if you will, to keep people out for the protection of the trees and rock surfaces. I tucked the ribbon just under the string tied around the Arbutus in order to keep it secure from being blown away by the wind. I had a momentary thought to place the ribbon at the back of the tree so that humans wouldn’t see it. Yet another thought followed immediately. This second thought came loud and clear, to place the ribbon directly in the front. It was leveled at about my waist height.

With gifts given, I went through the process of asking the Arbutus for guidance and insight. Shedding copious tears and with the writing of over 10 pages of rants, questions and insights, I was feeling this to be a very productive outing. I was ever so grateful.

It was at that point that I sensed people coming. Up till then I had been totally on my own – uncommon for that time of day on a Saturday! Quite a blessing! However, I heard a family coming. A young girl’s voice, maybe 4 or 5 year’s old, blended in with her father’s deep tones. I acknowledged that my time alone here had come to an end and I put my notebook away in my backpack and prepared to leave the area.

Yet the family took the turn to the right rather than coming to this spot. I ‘sensed’ that they were going in the wrong direction when I heard the little girl ask where ‘her’ tree was. Without thinking, I spoke up and, pointing to the Arbutus, asked the child if this was her tree. “Yes!” she said as she pulled her parent’s hands to draw them closer to where I stood. I moved away to allow them to get closer to the tree. As I did so I spoke again directly to the child.

“This is my tree too!” I said. “Special, isn’t she?”

The little girl just nodded.

“Have you ever hugged her?” I asked.

“No.”

“She likes to be hugged!” I said. And with that I left to descend the hill by a different route than I used to arrive up here.

As I made my departure, I heard her wee voice say,” Oh, Mommy! Look! The tree has a gift for me!”

She had found the ribbon that I had left behind. I smiled deeply with joy.

From that point in my afternoon, I headed off to a local coffee shop to have some lunch and do some more writing. I sensed I still had more to experience before my insights would gain clarity. The coffee shop was busy. There were few places to sit. I noticed a round table with no chairs, off in a corner on its own. I grabbed a free chair I found on the far side of the room and brought it over to make a place setting for one. Once I had ordered and paid for my items, I got my jacket off, and my notebook and pen out. I ate, sipped at my coffee and I wrote. (Again, for more on what issues I was dealing with, check out my She Says – Intrinsic or Extrinsic? post.)

I had just written something that brought tears to my eyes when a young boy made eye contact with me. He and his mother had just arrived and she was close by. But the child smiled and spoke directly to me, asking me why I was sitting alone. I told him that I had come alone, but that was okay – sometimes it was okay to be alone.

The boy was apparently not satisfied with my response because he looked about the coffee shop and spied an empty chair. Keep in mind that this child was likely no more than 5 years old. He went over to that empty chair and, with considerable effort and determination, pulled it to my table, placing it directly opposite from where I was sitting. I thanked him and told him that felt better, that it made me feel as though I were not alone today.

Yet he wasn’t done. He looked at the people in the shop and walked directly over to one woman, grabbed her arm, pointed to the chair he had moved himself and said, ” You can sit there!”

By this time, his mother had intervened and drew his attention elsewhere. And the woman he had grabbed ignored him – she was unaware of what had transpired prior to his accosting her!

But this intuitive child had sensed my emotion and did all he could to make me feel better. To him, not being alone was the solution!

Children, they are so wise … wise beyond their years. Wise in the ways of Spirit. They know how to listen, to intuit, to comprehend and to act from a place of innocence and wonder.

By the way: when I left the coffee shop I went over to where the woman and her son were enjoying their drinks. As I slid a Hug Certificate toward the mother, I looked directly at the boy and thanked him for the gift of his smile, letting him know how much I appreciated receiving it.

Blessings be to the children. May we forever learn from them!

In Light and Laughter,

Marcia