Poetry Friday, Week 51: Collaborating with Fernanda Valentino and A Link to The Poeming Pigeon Reading

12/22/2022

Graphic design by Amber Fleek

Welcome to a cold and breezy Poetry Friday. I hope you have a warm fire or something warm to drink as you enter this special community. And thanks to Irene at Live Your Poem for hosting us all this Friday before Christmas Eve and Day.

May this weekend be filled with magic and mystery for all who celebrate.

Besides collaborating with Linda Mitchell for Spark 53, I reached out to some new poetry friends. Fernanda Valentino shares a poem in What is a Friend edited by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong. She volunteered to write a response to this photo I took in Glencoe, Scotland.

Fàilte
Heavy clouds cascading
Looming low, they skim
And brush these emerald valleys
With winter's thick, cold kiss.

Laden with burdens
The storm clouds linger, dense
Their damp and dewy fingers
Caress this desolate place.

Melancholy mornings
As sunlight struggles through
Each day another battle
For sunbeams, pale and new.

What is this lonely, far-flung place?
What does this small hut ponder?
What secrets does it hide?
What memories dwell inside?

Let the clouds become nostalgic
And the darkness dissipate
To reveal the face of Spring
Impart her warm embrace.

This isolation's fleeting
The time must surely come
When the soothing voice of Spring
Whispers “Welcome home”.

©Fernanda Valentino

Here is the link for the reading at The Poeming Pigeon.
Shawn and Robert, the editors, created a beautiful evening to celebrate art and poems.
I was so fortunate to be able to read (I am at about 25:00 minutes in ). I highly recommend to settle in and watch the whole event.

Are you thinking of a One Little Word for 2023? I have been. Last Saturday, I met Pamela Sue Johnson, a local mixed media artist at The Procrastinator's Market (on of my favorite event in December) It turns out she's offering an online class to create an art piece with your2023 word.

I've signed up. I also bought a journal with this art as it has my word, flourish, from 2021.

janice scully link

12/22/2022 08:07:08 pm

Jone, you did a fabulous job reading. You were beautiful and poised. Well done! I enjoyed Fernanda's lovely response to your dark and cloudy Scottish landscape, so hopeful.

Linda Mitchell

12/23/2022 03:54:45 am

The photo illuminates that poem and the poem illuminates the photo. A match made in heaven. I love "winter's cold, thick, kiss." Bravo! And, it's really fun seeing you network and build the greater poetry community with your work and enthusiasm. You inspire, Jone.

Tabatha A Yeatts

12/23/2022 04:55:02 am

I ADORE that photo, Jone. I like that the clouds are nostalgic and have damp, dewy fingers. Is math sin! Nollaig Chridheil

Irene Latham

12/23/2022 05:36:02 am

Jone, you are the very picture of "flourish!" I love how you invite experiences to enrich your life...beautiful and inspiring! And I am always looking for new ways to express my OLW. Thanks for the link! And now I am thinking about that little hut and what it's pondering...thank you Fernanda, too. xo

Linda Baie link

12/23/2022 06:48:04 am

"Flourish" is an apt word for your post, too, Jone. I loved seeing you read the poem & the response of that photo from you, lovely & lonely, but hope springs! "Let the clouds become nostalgic" HAPPY HOLIDAY TO YOU!

PATRICIA J FRANZ link

12/23/2022 07:01:27 am

You FLOURISHED, Jone! Thank you for sharing the link and Fernanda's poem. Those clouds! Yes, cascading! Enjoy your holidays!

JoAnn Early Macken link

12/23/2022 09:29:32 am

Beautiful photo and beautiful poem! I love the image of the storm clouds' "damp and dewy fingers." Yes, let the darkness dissipate--I look forward to spring all year round. Happy holidays!

Mary Lee

12/23/2022 12:21:41 pm

Thanks for all of this poetry goodness! So fun that you are networking and collaborating with other Wong/Vardell poets, and your reading was fantastic!

Michelle Kogan link

12/23/2022 02:08:59 pm

I enjoyed your beautiful reading Jone, and many of the others too, such a rich collection to be a part of, Brava! And a great pairing here with your sky-moody image and you both referencing the mysterious hut, I liked that questioning stanza.
Looks like a lovely journal, have fun with it and your new olw, thanks!

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Poetry Friday, Week 51: Collaborating with Fernanda Valentino and A Link to The Poeming Pigeon Reading

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