Showing posts with label acrostic. Show all posts
Showing posts with label acrostic. Show all posts

Thursday, August 2, 2018

Spiritual Journey First Thursday - Returning to Fall

Welcome to Spiritual Journey First Thursday,
a group of friends who blog monthly about our spiritual journeys. 
Pat, our host at Writer on a Horsehas chosen things
we can't wait to return to as our focus for this month.

I love all the seasons of the year. Each one fills me with joy and makes me think of these words from Psalms 118:24:  "This is the day which the Lord hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it." Each season brings us reasons to rejoice. I am blessed to live in an area where we have four distinct seasons. I delight in the turning of each season, but fall is my absolute favorite. Thanks to Pat for the encouragement to think about some of the things I can't wait to return to when summer turns to fall. . . 

Rustle of marching feet at the homecoming parade, the
Enchantment of Halloween and the aromas of Thanksgiving,
The brilliant colors of fall leaves, relaxing
Under a cozy blanket with a book & hot chocolate on
Rainy gray days, and a crisp
Nip in the air perfect for bundling up & swishing in the leaves.

Monday, April 30, 2018

NPM 2018: A Sabbath Acrostic!


National Poetry Month 2018
"Give praise with friends near and far,
flinging words to the sky!"
- Amy Ludwig VanDerwater

Day one of 
Every week brings
Light and
Inspiration as I 
Give my
Heart again 
To Him.

-Ramona Behnke, © April 2018

Sunday is one of my favorite days of the week. Last week, I attended church in Oklahoma with my brother and his family. I was filled with delight to be in the congregation where I grew up and to watch my nephew James with his children, Leah and Asher,  in the pew in front of me. My niece, Kara, taught the ladies' class. I celebrate being with family last week. I celebrate that today I was able to worship with my church family in Washington. And always I love the joy  that comes from worshipping and receiving light each week as I attend church. I wrote this "delight" (my OLW for this year) acrostic to celebrate the joy I feel each Sabbath day.

Thursday, March 1, 2018

SOL 1/31: Room at the Table for Planners and Pantsers and Everyone in Between

Today I join my fellow bloggers in "serving up a slice" 
to the March Slice of Life Story Challenge  community.
Thanks to Stacey, Betsy, Beth, Kathleen, Deb, Melanie, and Lanny
 for hosting this meeting place each day in March
and for nurturing our writing lives.

As a charter member of Procrastinator's Anonymous (not really), I've been concerned about the plethora of posts that have appeared recently touting the benefits of planning ahead for our month of writing. I am here to speak to those who have not set up their posts for each day, who have not made a list of possible topics, and who have not written several posts in advance. This is my seventh year to participate, and I've never had a single post written ahead of time. I recognize that many individuals need/want this kind of advance planning, but rest assured that this challenge is possible even for the disorganized and least prepared among us! I wrote this acrostic to encourage the pantsers* in our midst! 

Rather than feel discouraged by the
Ones who are
Organized  and prepped for a
Month of slicing,

A fellow pantser* encourages you
To embrace your own style,

To remember that
Having any small thing to write about is
Enough to create a slice of life,

To provide reassurance that you will find topics and inspiration for              writing
Astounding yourself every day for thirty-one days.
Be open to the moments in your own life, and
Linger in the slices of fellow bloggers who will
Enliven your own writing and provide support for your March journey. 

(* a last minute, write by the seat of your pants slicer)

The idea of planners and pantsers was presented last year along with a badge to post on our blogs for each style of writing. I wrote A Meditation on Badges to posit that some of us fall in between and qualify as plantsers!

No matter where you fall on this continuum between those who plan and those who fly by the seat of your pants, here's to a delightful month of writing. March forward, slicer friends!

Saturday, April 15, 2017

NPM Day 15: The Letter M: Two Poets & Celebrate This Week

My book spine poem for NPM 2017:

She walks in beauty
A jar of tiny stars
Awakening the heart
Open the door
House of light 
Pass the poetry, please!

Each weekend I join a group of blogger friends to celebrate the week.  I have many celebrations this week.

I've made it halfway through National Poetry Month and my stroll through the alphabet continues.  Today's featured letter is M.
And of course, Eve Merriam comes to mind.  This is a favorite visual poster of Merriam's poem, "How to Eat a Poem" that a parent made for me more than a decade ago.  
Another "M" poet is Lilian Moore.  Her book, Mural on Second Avenue and Other City Poems, includes several favorite poems.  
  • "To a Red Kite"
  • "Forsythia Bush"
  • "Rain Pools"
  • "The Tree on the Corner"
  • "Winter Dark"
If you've never explored this picture book of Moore's poetry, it's time to treat yourself.  

 Join us each weekend for Celebrate This Week with Ruth Ayres.
When we pause to celebrate, we find the joy.
Discover. Play. Build. 
   A week filled with moments to celebrate and remember.

While I was busy writing my daily posts, an important number passed me by.  I completed my 700th post when I saluted 
Irene Latham (for the letter I), poet extraordinaire,
on my Tuesday slice of life post.  

I received a free book from Irene.  Out of her abundant spirit, she offered one of her books of poetry free during NPM if you emailed her.  I did and she sent a book to me and one for a friend,
both inscribed.

Both sets of grandparents and friends
gathered in celebration for Jack's blessing
at church on Sunday. 
Jack went to his first story hour at
Island Books, our indie bookstore,
and even stayed awake the whole time.
Teddy officially began walking this week. 
He's a big fan of swinging too!
Love this springtime pic 
and Teddy's charming smile!

And in honor of Easter weekend, here's an acrostic I wrote for Spiritual Journey First Thursday earlier in the month.

Everlasting joy
As we praise the God who
So loved the world 
That He sent His son.
Every soul has cause to 
Rejoice!  He is risen!

-Ramona Behnke
Happy Spring!

Thursday, April 6, 2017

SJFT & NPM 2017 Day 6: Easter



What a coincidence that my poetry travels have ended up on "E" for Spiritual Journey First Thursday.  I enjoy blogging with this group of friends as we gather monthly to reflect on our spiritual journeys. Violet Nesdoly has the link up today with a delightful post about bible journaling.  I'm linking my National Poetry Month posts to a letter of the alphabet.  So I turned to a favorite poetic form for this Easter acrostic.  

Everlasting joy
As we praise the God who
So loved the world 
That He sent His son.
Every soul has cause to 
Rejoice!  He is risen!

-Ramona Behnke


I like noticing where my poetic impulses come from.  You'll recognize some of the words come from John 3:16 and the song "For God So Loved the World."  "He Sent His Son" is a song in our children's songbook that I love.  "Rejoice, The Lord is King" and "He Is Risen" are two favorite hymns, made even more meaningful during this Easter season.   I look forward to the glorious Easter promise of the empty tomb which assures us of the gift of the  resurrection to all, "Because He did, so can we."

My book spine poem for NPM 2017:

She walks in beauty
A jar of tiny stars
Awakening the heart
Open the door
House of light 
Pass the poetry, please!

Sunday, March 27, 2016

SOLC 2016 27/31: An Acrostic for My OLW

Today I join my fellow bloggers in "serving up a slice" 
to the Slice of Life (SOL) community.
Thanks to Stacey, Tara, Betsy, Dana, Beth, and Anna
for hosting this meeting place each day in March
and for nurturing our writing lives.


quiet word, a 
Believing word, 
Inviting me to
Delight in His gift 
Encircled by His everlasting love.

I visit my OLW each 5th Tuesday throughout the year.  But I decided today that it's a perfect word for Easter Sunday.  This word lodged in my heart and claimed me for 2016, but I'm still trying to discover what it means for me this year.  I spoke briefly about abiding in my field in January.  

Today I'm thinking about abiding in faith.  I love the story of Zacchaeus who climbs up in a tree to see Jesus because he's so short.  And then Jesus looks up into the tree, sees him and says, "Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for today I must abide at thy house.  And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully."

Am I ready so that Jesus abides with me?   Do I delight in His word and receive Him joyfully in my home ?  Or do the cares of the world interfere with my ability to receive His gift so freely given, to cherish His words and to spend time in prayer?  I yearn to abide in faith, to count myself with Zacchaeus and others who made haste and received the Savior joyfully.    

Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Slice of Life: Time for a Stretch Check

Today I join my fellow bloggers in "serving up a slice" 
to the Tuesday Slice of Life (SOL) community.
Thanks to Stacey, Tara, Betsy, Dana, BethAnna, Kathleen, and Deb
                    for hosting this meeting place each Tuesday and nurturing our writing lives.
Fifth Tuesdays are my personal check-in time for my OLW, stretch.  Today I contemplate the changes that bring us the golden days of fall while reminding myself that change requires earnest effort in order to bring much wanted results in this "stretch" acrostic.
    September leaves
   turn from green to gold. Fall 
   reaches forward to 
   earnest endeavors, recognizing change as 
   the catalyst,
   creating cathedrals of 
   holiness.