Simply Raking

Copyright 2014 by DM Denton

Copyright 2014 by DM Denton

The light was low,

shadows soft,

layers of leaves

gathered

with my thoughts;

no wind

to blow

them away.

 

1. Out of clutter, find simplicity

2. From discord, find harmony

3. In the middle of a difficulty lies opportunity

~ Albert Einstein

 

 

This repost is for my dear friend and the amazing poetess, Ina Schroders-Zeeders and her husband, Toussaint. They are going through a very difficult time at present due to Toussaint’s illness. I ask you to join me in prayers of hope and healing for them.

 

 

donatellasmallest©Artwork and writing, unless otherwise indicated, are the property of Diane M Denton. Please request permission to reproduce or post elsewhere with a link back to bardessdmdenton. Thank you.

Candles and Continuation

“How far that little candle throws his beams! So shines a good deed in a weary world.”
~ William Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice

As I heated up some soup for my lunch at work on this last day of 2013, I became very sad listening to a conversation that happens far too often – begun by someone ranting about how those who receive welfare or depend on social security or receive any kind of assistance are undermining what he has or might have or should have.

Why is there any reason to feel threatened by the safety nets or safe guards that attempt to alleviate poverty and injustice, create better working conditions, ensure education and healthcare for all, and offer help to those who have been caught in cycles of addiction or abuse or any number of “but for the grace of God …” situations?

Does it not serve all to try to lift up those who have fallen on bad times even when it might be because of their own behavior or choices?  If starving children are fed, does it matter that someone out there is “too lazy to work”?  If another life is helped to reach its highest and happiest potential, does it not give the world and every one of us who live in it more not less?  Greed has never made the world richer in its heart; judgment has never cleared the conscience of the soul. Is compassion not the creativity each of us has to offer?

“Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared.”
~ Buddha

Neither is the quality of any one life diminished by the benefits another receives.

“When we are generous in welcoming people and sharing something with them—some food, a place in our homes, our time—not only do we no longer remain poor: we are enriched. I am well aware that when someone needing food knocks at your door, you always find a way of sharing food; as the proverb says, one can always ‘add more water to the beans’! Is it possible to add more water to the beans?…Always?…And you do so with love, demonstrating that true riches consist not in materials things, but in the heart!”
~ Pope Francis

Below is a re-post from last year, with heartfelt thanks to all who have followed my reflections, supported my writing and artwork, and lit the way for me and others to live and create in the best way possible.

I wish you all abundant blessings for the New Year
and far, far beyond!
May you and yours and all you love flourish and grow
and find comfort in continuation …

Copyright 2012 by DM Denton

Copyright 2012 by DM Denton



The year

even as

it’s dying

grows

into another.







donatellasmallest©Artwork and writing, unless otherwise indicated, are the property of Diane M Denton. Please request permission to reproduce or post elsewhere with a link back to bardessdmdenton. Thank you.

Repost: Thanks Given

Copyright 2012 by Diane’s Mom, June

Snapdragons still bloom

wintery chills loom

pumpkins for taking

pies in the making

sunshine falls brightly

forgotten nightly

shadows stretch designs

all nature resigns

arresting in growth

a mutual oath

leaves fallen in faith

barrenness awaits

beyond the ending

hope is transcending.

Thanks are now given

 for earth and heaven.

Note: The painting was done by my mom, June, on a  ceramic tile and is part of our autumn decorations.

Happy Thanksgiving to my US friends and Blessings to all!

And as a special thank you, my new holiday short story,

 The Snow White Gift

is available on Kindle for FREE download

this Friday, November 29th!

©Artwork and writing, unless otherwise indicated, are the property of Diane M Denton. Please request permission to reproduce or post elsewhere with a link back to bardessdmdenton. Thank you.

Alone Together – For Mother’s Day

Oh, those early years when all my shyness wanted was to go home to you. You trusted me on sick days and walked miles on your lunch hour to bring me paper dolls and make sure I was safe.  

I was the child you wanted me to be.

Copyright 2012 by JM DiGiacomo

Copyright 2012 by Diane’s mom, June

You gave me many gifts, like the gods and goddesses gave Pandora: a sense of beauty, charm, music, curiosity and persuasion. In particular there was a book, large and beautifully bound, its writing in columns and essence carved in wood.

You were as naïve as I was.

For it was also a box of unknowns, like Pandora’s, that unleashed more than either of us bargained for. I preferred the version of the myth that claimed good things were allowed to escape. All except for one.

We never lost hope.

You put the faraway in my hands, so how could I not want to go there? Of course, you meant for me to travel pages not miles.

You said you would never forgive me.

How many months we didn’t speak; how many years we paid dearly for conversations in such different time zones, trying to being ordinary when it was all so impossible.

We were both alone with our mistakes.

I never thought it would be that difficult to be away from you. My youth was lost, not to romantic discontent but missing what was true.  

How could you ever forgive me?

Perhaps you did a little. When you traveled as I did, because I did: over the sea, to another country, to places you had and hadn’t visited. You walked up the hill, heard your heels on the cobblestones and voices of the dead, inhaled the mist, saw the parsonage, the windswept trees and moors, and turned the pages back.

I didn’t see if you eyes sparkled, but I like to believe they did.

Bronte Parsonage, Haworth, West Yorkshire, England
Painted in the 1970’s.
Copyright 2013 by DM Denton

“I have dreamt in my life, dreams that have stayed with me ever after, and changed my ideas; they have gone through and through me, like wine through water, and altered the color of my mind. And this is one: I’m going to tell it – but take care not to smile at any part of it.”
―    Emily Brontë,    Wuthering Heights

Written for my mom on Mother’s Day,
Sunday May 12, 2013.

Blessings to all who nurture and care, love and forgive, and who never lose hope.



donatellasmallest©Artwork and writing, unless otherwise indicated, are the property of Diane M Denton. Please request permission to reproduce or post elsewhere with a link back to bardessdmdenton. Thank you.

To Give Hearts Ease

Violets and Fairy

Copyright 2013 by DM Denton

Look up, look down

for what is found

to ease the cares

and catch the tears:

little pansy,

Mary’s mourning

gave you color

but left you pure;

or, if you please,

to give hearts ease

like fairies dance

Easter Egg Back with Flowers2

Copyright 2012 DM Denton

upon the sense

that renewal

is hope’s pupil.




Writer’s note: The violet/spring fairy in the center image at the top of the poem is one I have left from a series I made in the early 90’s.




Writer’s apology: To the blogs I follow – please accept my apologies for being behind on your posts. I just started a new ‘day’ job and am on the last stretch of the sequel I am writing to my novel, A House Near Luccoli (for which marketing endeavors take up a lot of my time, too). I know I am missing some wonderful writing, artwork, photography, and more, and hope to catch up as I can. Blessings to all.




donatellasmallest©Artwork and writing, unless otherwise indicated, are the property of Diane M Denton. Please request permission to reproduce or post elsewhere with a link back to bardessdmdenton. Thank you.

Inspiration Awarded

A sound, a scent, a sight,
a hope, a dream, a memory,
creative tunneling towards the light;
one word, then two and three,
a poem, a page or more of prose
set out on a never-ending journey;
there’s loss, there’s love, not less
than the unsettled heart should need
to imagine how it is doomed and blessed;
the stars, the sun, the moon,
a breeze and, oh, the stillness, too
give the birds and composer’s hand a tune;
a brush, a lens, a thought,
what is known and never can be
explained except as inspiration sought.

Copyright 2012 by Dm Denton

Copyright 2012 by Dm Denton

I want to thank onwindydays for recently nominating me for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award!  Such a lovely gesture. I am humbled and it makes me very happy to play it forward!

veryinspiringblogaward

First (this is rule I almost didn’t follow) I am supposed to offer seven things about myself … 

  1. I have a milestone birthday this year.
  2. I have been writing stories and poems since I could write.
  3. I have had nineteen cats, two dogs and a budgerigar named Billy.  
  4. I worked as a gardener on a large estate.
  5. I lived in a medieval abbey.
  6. I live in a log cabin.
  7. I believe in reincarnation.

The blogs I nominate (in no particular order as I am inspired by them all, and a few more than ‘the rules’ require) are:

Journey into Poetry journeyintopoetry.wordpress.com

Ina inaweblogisback.wordpress.com

Countingducks countingducks.wordpress.com

By the Sea www.ingebrita.net

Rae Spencer www.raespencer.com

Caddo Veil caddoveil.com

frommymusings2u frommymusings2u.wordpress.com

Martin Shone – Silence Happens theearthneedstobreathe.wordpress.com and likethesunshone agapintheclouds.wordpress.com

Linda willows lindawillows.wordpress.com

Margaret griffin margaretgriffin.wordpress.com

Bodhirose’s Blog bodhirose.wordpress.com

Seasonings raindancepoetry.wordpress.com

Contemplative Moorings contemplativemoorings.wordpress.com

The Tale of My Heart  justsimplyinlove.wordpress.com

Kiwsparks kiwsparks.wordpress.com

LScott Poetry lscotthoughts.com

Pitching Pennies Poetry smzang.wordpress.com

Poems From Oostburg, Wisconsin ellenolinger.wordpress.com

For those nominees, here are the rules, certainly your option to follow or not.

* Display the award logo on your blog

* Link back to the person who nominated you

* State seven things about yourself

* Nominate 15 other bloggers for this award and link to them

* Notify those bloggers of the nomination and the award’s requirements

Blessings to all for continued inspiration! Follow your bliss!

donatellasmallest©Artwork and writing, unless otherwise indicated, are the property of Diane M Denton. Please request permission to reproduce or post elsewhere with a link back to bardessdmdenton. Thank you.

Nature Insight: Comfort in Continuation

Copyright 2012 by DM Denton

Copyright 2012 by DM Denton

The year

even as

it’s dying

grows

into another.

















Something simple this week, that I painted and captioned many years ago, with the intent of adding a little hope even where there is heartbreak – especially with the tragedy at Newtown, Connecticut in mind and heart. Prayers of healing for all who have been so broken by untenable violence – with the belief that love can prevail.




donatellasmallest©Artwork and writing, unless otherwise indicated, are the property of Diane M Denton. Please request permission to reproduce or post elsewhere with a link back to bardessdmdenton. Thank you.

Thanks Given

Copyright 2012 by Diane’s Mom, June

 

Snapdragons still bloom

wintery chills loom

pumpkins for taking

pies in the making

sunshine falls brightly

forgotten nightly

shadows stretch designs

all nature resigns

arresting in growth

a mutual oath

leaves fallen in faith

barrenness awaits

beyond the ending

hope is transcending.

 

Thanks are now given

 for earth and heaven.

Note: The painting was done by my mom, June, on a  ceramic tile and is part of our autumn decorations.

Happy Thanksgiving to my US friends and Blessings to all!

 

 ©Artwork and writing, unless otherwise indicated, are the property of Diane M Denton. Please request permission to reproduce or post elsewhere with a link back to bardessdmdenton. Thank you.

Nature Insight: Dawn Speaks

At day’s break the only chatter that needs to be heard rises up—not with alarm but conviction for what waits to be enjoyed and avoided.

“Hope” is the thing with feathers–
That perches in the soul–
And sings the tune without words–
And never stops–at all–

Emily Dickinson (American Poet, 1830 – 1886)

©Artwork and writing, unless otherwise indicated, are the property of Diane M Denton. Please request permission to reproduce or post elsewhere with a link back to bardessdmdenton. Thank you.