Poetry Monday, Once Again

Tags

adoption, birds, Flowers, haiku, mountains, Seasons, serenity, Snow, Sun

Note from Elaine: I’m adopting poetry for this first post of 2017, contributed by a writer friend whose work I’ve admired for many years. Her beautifully crafted images capture much of what there is to love in northern New Mexico. Join Roberta as she takes you through Northern New Mexico’s palette with intimate details, sweeping panoramas, and all kinds of weather!

Grace Notes of 2016 in Jaconita

A form that’s perfect for today.

by Roberta Fine

JANUARY
Snow enhancing trash.
Crystal-crusted broken hoe
Crowned by red-topped finch.

FEBRUARY
Wrinkled, folded hills
Holding ancient secrets.
Spinning fireside tales.

MARCH
Finely crafted nest.
Feathered weaver’s masterwork.
Lying on the ground.

APRIL
Silver silhouette
Truchas Peaks shining in new
White Communion dress.

MAY
Hummingbird stealing
Insects from spider’s rich cache
In window cobweb.

JUNE
Slim moon slice smiling
In arching black velvet sky
Empty of storm clouds.

JULY
Coral fruit crowning
Lushly-leaved apricot tree.
Feathered thieves dive in.

AUGUST
Monarch’s stained glass wings
Fanning magenta blossoms.
Sipping as it clings.

SEPTEMBER
Apple scented breeze
Stirring hollow wooden chimes
Into two note song.

OCTOBER
Caught in burnt-red sprays,
October sun igniting
Locust’s vibrant leaves.

NOVEMBER
Yellow butterfly
No bigger than a nickel
Finding last flower.

DECEMBER
White veil laid smoothly
Overnight over Sangres.
Valley brown, leafless.

Poet Roberta Fine lives and writes in Jaconita, New Mexico. She finds inspiration from the diverse seasons and scenery of the Southwest.

What are your favorite scenes from home and environs in your corner of the world? Please send comments, and tune in to Elaine’s website every other Monday for a fresh blog post about adoption, hiking and life.

Roberta Fine has adopted Haiku as her medium of expression

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Haiku Monday – Adopting the Seasons

Tags

Adapting, adoption, Blossoming, Cycles, haiku, Months, Rebirth, Seasons, Skyscapes, Time, Withering

Note from Elaine: My poet friend Roberta Fine loves Northern New Mexico’s landscape, weather, moods and terrain. Like me, she has lived in this part of the country for many decades. The drama of Southwestern landscape is captured in her exquisite word sketches. Enjoy this poetic retrospective of 2015.

2015 BEAUTY BEHIND ME

Sunless and socked in

by Roberta Fine

January
Clouds obscuring sky
Three grey days without a gleam
Faces growing glum.

February
Snowflakes hurrying
Falling fast as twilight falls
Fire popping, sizzling.

March
Yesterday’s whiteness
Warming into rich brown mud
Finch splashing puddle.

April
Apricot blossoms
Ahead of time, yet again
Meeting early death.

May
Twitter filled morning
Moist, soft air muffling bird talk.
Coffee scent drifting.

June
Fat English roses
Exhaling spicy perfume
Arching branches low.

Along with zinnas, sunflowers grace the late summer months.

July
Ragweed, tumbleweed
Stalking roadsides, lanes, gardens.
Rabbit chomps zinnias.

August
Roasted rose petals
Thirsting for the cool of cloud.
Zinnas flaunting red.

September
Summer lingering,
Apples dropping to the ground.
Nippy night begs fire.

October
Bluebirds gracing fence
Stopping for a feeding break.
Copper breasts match leaves.

November
Snow flowers blooming,
Clinging to long pine needles
Moist rug spot widens.

December
Full moon owning night —
Pearly light on festive crowd—
Church bells summoning.

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HAIKU–short poems that use words to capture a feeling or image of nature, beauty, or a particular sensory moment.. They are usually written as three lines: the first contains 5 syllables, the second line 7 syllables, the third line 5 syllables.

Roberta Fine lives in Jacona, New Mexico and has been known to write a Haiku every day for entire years. In addition to writing poetry, she is a talented artist and creative cook. She can be reached at robertafine@centurylink.net

Haiku Monday

Tags

adoption, birds, Flowers, haiku, healing, Moon, Poetry, Seasons, Snow, Sun

Note from Elaine: I’m in the final stages of editing a novel (All the Wrong Places) to be published in late 2016 or early 2017. The process has so consumed me, today’s post, one of my favorites, is a repeat.  My goal for this new year is to focus on gratitude for everything. I’ve flipped the script, from anger to appreciation. Understanding at the heart level has come about after years of searching and reinvention. As an adopted person who’s “adopted” many routes to healing, I’ve found that reading poetry is a balm. It is with great delight that I re-publish these haikus by my poet friend Roberta Fine.
Twelve Graces of 2014

Above the Clouds

January
Baldy’s white cap thins
Brown skull showing through the white
Waiting for a storm.
February
Fresh snow on Sangres
Opal tinted at sunset
Glow fading slowly.
March
Lady hawk surveys
White fields from catalpa tree
Great head swiveling.
April
Buried bulbs revive
In frozen lifeless garen
Reaching for the sun.
May
Clinging to twin trees
Raven pair tear at pine cones
Then leave together.
June
White threads vein mountain
All that’s left of winter snow
Garden pants for rain.
July
Fledglings line up
To take a turn at feeders
Lone bird pecks at ground.
August
Ravens’ raucous call
Splitting summer morning peace
Dewdrops shine on leaves.
September
Head held high, lone rose
Surviving frosty warning.
Someone’s chopping wood.
October
Tawny gold valley
Flaunting bold farewell to sun’s
Declining power.
November
Red chrysanthemums
Capturing sun’s chilly fire
In sundown’s last glance.
December
Fuzzy moon peering
Down through tree’s bare black branches
Suggests snow tonight.
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HAIKU-short poems that use words to capture a feeling or image of nature, beauty, or a particular sensory moment.. They are usually written as three lines: the first contains 5 syllables, the second line 7 syllables, the third line 5 syllables.
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Poet Roberta Fine lives and writes in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Finding inspiration from

Haiku Monday

Tags

adoption, Adoption recovery, awareness, birds, haiku, Nature, reflectiveness, Snow, Winter

In dealing with adoption questions such as, Are my “real” parents my adoptive mom and dad or the parents who are biologically related to me?, I’ve learned that a lot depends on perspective. Some people, especially those living in the harsher climes, look at winter as tedious, dreary, uncomfortable. Others, ignoring the cold, choose to notice the beauty. Today’s guest blogger and poet Roberta Fine has adopted the season in all its loveliness. She’s chosen details that feed the spirit and imagination. As we begin the shortest days of the year, enjoy her Haiku Scenes of Winter…

Baldy disappears

Above the Clouds

Behind descending veil–

Birds crowd feeder.

****************

Brown, wrinkled, puffy–

Frozen apples still on tree

Feed the winter birds.

*****************

Ravens trail coyote,

Hoping he’s a good hunter,

Will leave leftovers.

****************

Cooking up a stew—

Birds aren’t the only ones who like apples even if they’re frozen.

Sunlight streaming through window

In my warm kitchen.

****************

Mountain emerges

From cloud in late afternoon—

Sparkling, massive jewel.

***************

Winter moon shining

Softly on violet snow—

Dogs barking to come in.

******************

Shopping for some bread

In the store a stranger’s smile

Brightens the cold, grey day.

******************

Cutting wind shakes trees.

Scatters seeds from bird feeder.

Birds peck through ice film.

**********************

NOTE FROM ELAINE: Adoption issues occupied up my psychological “real estate” for too many years. It was more than time to transcend them, to wake up and live more positively. Christmas and the holiday season, I propose, offer the perfect time to shed any self-images that tarnish and corrode. The luminosity of Roberta Fine’s winter haikus reminded me of the world’s beauty.  What are YOUR favorite winter images? I’d love to hear about them! Please comment below or reach me on Twitter @TheGoodbyeBaby.

See the world through adoption-colored glasses-Every other Monday.