A Selection of Poems by Christine DePetrillo

I often write poems when I'm experiencing writer's block. I'd like to share some with you today. Enjoy!

Here are two serious, nature-inspired ones:

LEAVES

Summer green

         fades,

autumn red

         flares,

to orange

yellow,

brown,

blankets the

         ground

awaiting the

         arctic veil

of

snow.

Fading sun

graying sky

frosty crispness

quiet hush

leafless trees

dark twigs

wait like soldiers

                  for the icy assault

flakes fall

frozen bullets

covering all in

         white

                  folds

                           of

                                  snow.

****

REFLECTION

Silent soldiers

standing tall in the ranks

needled arms raised

against the ambushing

sun

Autumn marches in

spraying its yellow, orange, brown

ammunition on the

vulnerable

Only the strong emerge

unscathed

true green

evergreen

Quiet river

remembers the battle

reflecting the victory

of the

pines

****

And here are two silly, food-inspired ones:

OH, THAT CRANBERRY SAUCE!

Wiggly

jiggly

red

sloppy

floppy

round

Sliding

off my

plate

headed

for  the

ground

Slipping

through

my fingers

landing

in a

mound

Grandma

steps

right in it

and it

doesn’t make

a sound

Sticky

icky

blob

three days later

when it’s

found.

****

SQUASHED

It’s orange.

It’s bumpy.

Mom’s is

Always lumpy.

It’s squash.

Serve it cold

Or serve it warm.

Either way

It’s got no form.

It’s squash.

Eat it now.

Don’t delay.

Best to get it

Out of the way.

It’s squash.

Take a drink.

Wash it down.

I’ll try my best

To hide my frown.

It’s squash.

Time for dessert.

Oh me, oh my

Cut me a slice

Of that apple pie.

Oh no…

it’s SQUASH!

Be sure to check here after Thanksgiving and into December for The Roses of Prose Annual Holiday stories! Free holiday cheer! Also, join the Facebook reader group I co-host with author Amanda Torrey at Small Town Hearts. We have a blast over there and we want you to be a part of it all!

Toodles,
Chris
www.christinedepetrillo.weebly.com

View From My Writing Window

I moved out here last November and have been entranced with this view from my writing window. It is an ever-changing panoramic of seasons and visitors and a constant source of entertainment.

Since I'm currently deep into revisions, I'm going to cheat on this post and just share a few of the pictures I've taken. Oh, heck, these might be preferred over my ramblings...

 Great Blue Heron

 

Snowy White Egret

Canada Geese

My own personal Bluebird of happiness. Looks a little disgruntled, doesn't he?

 Female Oriole

Fawn has just about lost its spots.






Is it any wonder I often have trouble getting any writing done? 
(I promise I'll actually write something next month. See you then.)

REMULLINS: Author of the Blautsaugers of Amber Heights Series
IT'S A WONDERFUL UNDEAD LIFE
VAMPIRE IN THE SCRYING GLASS
A VAMPIRE TO BE RECKONED WITH

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Poetry Walks by Christine DePetrillo

I left formal religion to worship nature. I find divinity in all the gifts Mother Nature has shared with us.

I hug trees. Maples are my favorite. They have a great eco-rhythm.

I dig my toes into sun-warmed soil and soak up the Earth’s energy.

I inhale oxygen and marvel over the science of what makes humans live off something colorless and without form.

I run my fingers over flower petals, leaves, stones, caterpillars, loving the unique sensations each bring.

I spread out in the grass, the blades cushioning my body, meshing with my hair, absorbing me into its green.

I am connected to it all, a giant wheel that constantly turns, grows, changes.

Most of the poetry I write is about nature. I spend a ton of time outdoors and frequently find inspiration in what I witness. A tree’s reflection in a pond. A bird’s flight across the sky. A cricket’s nighttime song. It’s all art and music to me, and I try my best to capture it with words so I can share the experience with others.

I took my students on a poetry walk through the outdoor classroom and nature trail we built behind our school. We stopped off to observe one of my poems that was put on a plaque and installed on a regal-looking boulder back there.

Cold Faith

Winter winds

howl their chorus

over frosted lands.

Leafless trees

heavy with snow

dream of budding.

For now,

they wait

as ice imprisons them.

Glassy branches

reach to the gray sky

in silent prayer.

Searching for inspiration, students brought notebooks and wrote down observations. They sat quietly and listened. They got on their hands and knees in the leaves and became part of the woods.

We don’t do that enough. Become part of the outdoors. The health benefits are many. The chances of finding your Muse are abundant as well.

Connecting with a high power in nature is a guarantee.

Students came back into the classroom and composed poems that rocked. Full of imagery and figurative language, they wrote as if fueled by an eternal flame. I hope they always remember that nature is there for them, just waiting to be explored, waiting to help.

Waiting to embrace.

Where will you walk today? What will you find?

Toodles,

Chris

The Maple Leaf Series, Book One – More Than Pancakes, always FREE!

Books Two through Five, available now!

Book Six, available for preorder now! April 29^th release!

www.christinedepetrillo.weebly.com   

Butterflies

“Happiness is like a butterfly which, when pursued, is always beyond our grasp, but, if you will sit down quietly, may alight upon you.” ~ Nathaniel Hawthorne

Have you ever had a butterfly alight upon you? I have. You must, as Hawthorne suggested, sit down quietly. You have to still everything going on in your body, in your mind. Release all tension. Be in tune with the natural world. Open yourself.

It helps if you have a butterfly bush too. That might be cheating, but hey, I’m not above that. I go to great lengths to bring wildlife in plain view. In the summer, the two butterfly bushes in my backyard provide an all-you-can-eat buffet for butterflies, tiger swallowtails in particular. When the temperatures soar, the summer breezes are like warm caresses, and the purple blooms are at their peak, the butterfly show is in full swing.

I love to take writing breaks to watch them when I’m in The Outdoor Writing Office, one of my favorite places to be. The swallowtails are like yellow and black trapeze artists, swooping and looping and hovering. I always want a closer look, but as Hawthorne said, if you get too close—if the butterflies know you’re there—they’ll take off. When that happens, I can’t help feeling a little empty. I berate myself for not being stealthy enough. I curse my clumsy human form. I give my dog the look that says, “You’re not helping things, you big oaf.”

Then I remember. Be quiet. Be still. Be open.

Put the extra large German Shepherd in the house.

Back outside, I’ll take a few cleansing breaths. I’ll sit, closer to the butterfly bushes this time. I’ll wait. The butterflies always come back. They can’t resist. The eating is just too good in The Outdoor Writing Office.

And if I can manage to barely breathe at all, a butterfly will land on me. I’ve had them land on my shoulder, my head, and in the palm of my hand. The trick is to not get too excited when this happens, which of course, is exactly what I want to do. Any sudden movements though, any vocalizations, and POOF… the butterfly will flutter by.

I can see that happiness is much the same. Whenever I have become too consumed with chasing something I think is going to make me happy, it never works out. I end up missing out on the great things that are right in front of me. I don’t take pleasure in the simple things. I lose my true path.

I forget to just be.

When a butterfly lands on me, I take it as a reminder to scrap the superficial stuff and appreciate the things that really matter. My family. My friends. The natural world. That extra large German Shepherd. I remember that getting in a good laugh is more important than getting ahead. I remember that having love is better than having pretty much anything else.

I remember to stop and hug the butterflies.

My wish for you this April, as you enjoy all sweet Spring has to offer, is that you spend some time outside, looking for your own butterflies to hug.   

Toodles,

Chris

www.christinedepetrillo.weebly.com

The Maple Leaf Series

More Than Pancakes (Always FREE!)

More Than Cookies

More Than Rum

More Than Pizza, Coming Soon!

Getting Back to Nature

I visit Vermont often. While the fall foliage this year was less than impressive—most of the leaves went straight to yellow-brown and fell off the trees right away—I was still captivated by the natural beauty of the state.

Particularly at night.

 
I had a few moments during this last trip late in the evening, so I stepped outside and looked up to the night sky. The moon looked back through the darkness, along with the stars while the breeze rustled the leaves and crickets chirped their songs.

Incredibly small. That’s how I felt, yet at the same time, I sensed a great energy, a cosmic power, coursing through me as I gazed up at the bright, white moon, symbol of the Goddess. The energy came from all around me. The sky, the Earth, the things I could hear scurrying in the fallen leaves. I was connected to all of it for the briefest of seconds. Nothing manmade came into my mind during this time.

 

I was completely organic.

Totally a part of the planet. I had no desire to hop online, to call anyone, to drive anywhere, to watch TV. I simply wanted to be. To exist. To be a link in the natural chain. I swear I could feel the Earth spinning on her axis, feel her orbiting the sun.

The experience made me think about how in tune with Earth people used to be. I work with children and am always disheartened by how disconnected they are to the outside world. On a recent field trip, my students were horrified that I wouldn’t allow any electronics.

 

“But what are we supposed to do?” they lamented.

 
“Talk to each other, read, enjoy the outdoors,” I replied. This response was met with quite a few blank stares. So sad.

I hope that my students (and many adults too) can find a few minutes to shut off the technology that bombards us every nanosecond of every day. I like modern convenience as much as the next gal, but I love nature more. I find inspiration in her daily. Here’s to hoping you do too.

All of my books have strong connections to nature. Check them out at my Adult Romance website here and my YA Romance website here.

 

Toodles,

Chris

www.christinedepetrillo.weebly.com
www.christymajor.weebly.com

A Peek In My Backyard by Claire Ashgrove

Being outdoors month and all... combined with this crazy RomCon preparation that has chewed away at my creative mind and eaten all my time... I thought I'd stick with super simple and give you a peek at my backyard. 

Many of you know I live on a farm.  When I first bought the property I spent that first evening on a picnic in the grass, looking up at the brightest stars I've ever seen.  At night, the crickets sing like they are in concert.  In the distant, (and sometimes not so distant) tree lines coyotes howl, yip, and play with one another.  The first time I heard young pups playing was an eye-opener.  I've never heard such racket.  Once the sun goes down, we don't get much road traffic, but we can hear the train a good 7 miles away.  Not just the whistle, but the chug-chug of wheels on the track as well.  Occasionally the Air Force Base sends an A-10 or a B-2 on a mission or there's something flying in.  And in between all this, we hear the horses in the pasture.  Nickering now and then, an occasional whinny, and just the quiet hooves walking from one place to another.

The other day I went looking for a screw and encountered this guy:

Okay, maybe not that precise one, but that's a great representation.  He was curled up in a plastic tub, not the least bit bothered by us.  We left him be, and I assume, since I haven't seen any baby pigeons this year, he's still in residence.

Speaking of pigeons -- last spring we found a fledgling on the ground in the same barn.  She now resides in the house.  We hand-fed her, and at night she coos to us.  Very soothing melody.

Right now, we're fascinated by our newest old edition, Baariq.  He's been in a boarding facility for about three years, and we just brought him back home.  This photograph is pretty old; he's grown up a lot since this, filled out into adult form, and follows us around.  He lives in our front yard, because the gentleman beneath him, runs the pasture. (Khemo is a yearling in this photo)



Baariq



Khemokaizee

And then, every now and then, we stroll to the far corner where those who've been with us and left us now rest.  It may sound morbid, but really no... it's nice to go back and walk through memories and know our old friends are still nearby.  And that's what makes a house ahome, I think.  The little tidbits of us we leave behind.  Then we can turn around and see their legacy, and everything's a happy place.

Isabella

Isabella's daughter

We love our piece of the outdoors.  My boys pick flowers as often as they can for Mom (of their own accord!), bring me grasshoppers regularly, caterpillars, beetles, and great big honking clods of mud.  The dogs leave me presents in the yard that, quite often, I don't want to know what they were.  But those little gifts draw visitors like the big old buzzard who perched one morning on the kids' picnic table.  The hawks talk to us, two days ago we saw a golden eagle.  And all around you can hear the echoing chorus of mooo-mooo.   Calves in springtime are such an adorable thing!

On that note, I'm heading out the door and shipping off to RomCon 2012!  Hope I will see some of you there!

Claire

http://www.claireashgrove.com/



Great Outdoors Month by Jena Galifany

June has been designated Great Outdoors Month. It is the time to get out in the open as much as possible and enjoy the world around you. I live in the high desert so being outside in the daytime can be hazardous to my health. Temperatures can reach from high nineties to the low hundreds. It is better to get the outdoor time in after the sun goes down.

Doug and Steve @ Knotts 2011

What can be done after the sun goes down that’s fun for the kids? Did you ever play hide and seek? It’s a simple childhood game where one person is “It”. That person would cover their eyes and count to twenty while the others all hide. Then the It person has to find them. If they are found but can make it to the counting spot, aka “home” before It tags them, they are free. If It is looking for someone else, the others can try to run for “home” and be free. Simple, right?

Now, our version of the game is this: Everyone wears black clothing that they don’t care if they get wet in and a sturdy pair of old sneakers. Each player is armed with a super-soaker and a squirt gun. Have a centrally located plastic kitchen sized garbage can filled with water. Floating in that water is a large stockpile of water balloons ready for use. If an attack is going on a balloon can be scooped from the container as you run by. These are ammo for every one to use.

The game is now played along these lines. No lights should be on in the yard so hiding can be creative. Be sure that there is nothing that can be a hazard in the dark yard. You don’t want anyone to fall during the game. Everyone hides. I’ve hidden by lying down in the shadow of a fence. I suggest checking for ants before trying this. My husband has spent time sniping from up in a tree. My youngest took a pail of water balloons up into her tree house and clobbered anyone who tried to sneak by below her. She was only five when she did this.

Now, everyone is It and everyone is fair game. The players may take up a hiding place to snipe from or if they are more adventurous, they can go out hunting the others. It’s all good fun and cooling in the summer heat. I have two and a half acres so our games got to be rather large.

 For her sixteenth birthday, my older daughter wanted a game of water wars, our name for the game. She wanted to have a couple of her friends on her team and she wanted to “hunt” boys. My son, my nephew, and my husband were the branded targets for the night. The girls had a blast keeping the guys on the run.

One should note that after the game has ended, be sure to let all the targets know. After the girls had their fill of hunting, they came in to watch a movie and eat popcorn. After a while, I noticed that my husband was missing. I went out to the yard and found him. He’d been sitting up in a tree, getting eaten by bugs, waiting for the girls to sneak by. No one told him that they were coming in for the night. Now, there’s dedication to fun in the out doors!

Jen in meditation @ Knotts 2011

All of this fun can take place once the sun goes down, after a barbeque or a day spent back-packing or taking a nature walk at a local park. The important thing is to get outside and enjoy the health benefits of fresh air and exercise.

What are your favorite out door games? Did you ever have a Badminton set or a croquet set out in your yard? We did when I was a kid. We also had a large tent set up in the back yard all the time. I spend a lot of time in that tent. My siblings and I were always out side and we had a great time. How about you?

Cheers!

 _____________________________
Jena Galifany writes in the genre of sweet romance and adventure. She can be found at her WEBSITE, or on Facebook.

Gifts From the Garden Month

I absolutely love my backyard garden. I’ve got a peach tree, blueberry bushes, grape vines, herbs, and dozens of flowering plants. In this space, I find so much beauty, peace, and creativity. I thought I’d share a few original poems that have been inspired by my garden.

Dragonfly

On wispy wings

you take to flight

flittering through

bright sunlight

Spring blossoms

draw you near

I’ll love you

from a distance here

Stopping for

a moment’s rest

before continuing

on your quest

Glittery trail

left behind

a touch of magic

to remind

Natural wonders

although small

are treasures

for us all.

Summer is over.

The sun feels it.

The gardens feel it.

I feel it.

It brings such bitter sadness

that perishing with the fragrant blossoms

tempts me.

The cardinal's song,

once a lively melody,

now falls like a dirge on my ears.

Summer is over.

and yet, the leaves,

once August green,

have donned an autumn costume.

Chestnut, amber, crimson, maize,

the colors, like a harvest paintbox,

wave in the crisp air.

Cinnamon and cider breathe

a second wind into me.

I shall face a season more

among the pumpkins and apples of fall,

and await a new Summer’s dawning.

Listen

the Earth whispers my name
on her caressing breezes
her hearbeat drums
in time with my own
birdsong echoes in my mind
sweet music
if only we'd all listen to her plea
she'd stay beautiful
for eternity 

I challenge you to sit outside somewhere with a notebook and a pen. Empty your mind of everything. Leave the stress, the tension, the annoyances of life inside. Keep your eyes open and on the nature around you. Let the Muse whisper in your ear on the breeze and see where you end up. I’ll guarantee you two things. One, you will write something on that page whether you meant to or not. Two, you’ll feel so in sync with nature you’ll wonder why you don’t do this every day.

How does a garden inspire you?

Chris

www.christinedepetrillo.weebly.com  

The Outdoor Office

I’m off from my regular job during the summer so I get to spend my sunny New England days writing, writing, writing. It is, of course, the most wonderful time of the year. Christmas pales in comparison to two months of being in The Outdoor Office with my characters.

 


The Outdoor Office is located in my backyard, which is a National Wildlife Federation-certified backyard habitat. That means that it has four basic features conducive to supporting local wildlife: food, shelter, water, and places to raise young. The yard is not huge by any means. I live in a suburban town where the houses are pretty close to one another, but you’d be amazed at what you can create in a small space. Bird feeders attract everything from cardinals, sparrows, finches and bluejays to my favorite woodpecker, the Northern Flicker. Their music provides a natural soundtrack while I write. It’s fun to watch them splash around in our birdbath too.

Butterfly bushes bring in the Tiger Swallowtails, Monarchs, and dragonflies, who are a sign of a healthy ecosystem. A dry creek bed, rock walls, and wide-leafed plants provide areas for chipmunks, squirrels, moles, and mice to live and play hide and seek. Catmint gets all the neighborhood cats high. I love to look up from my laptop and see cats rolling in the catmint like nothing on Earth would give them more bliss. Makes me want to try it.

We’ve also got fruit-bearing plants, such as blueberry bushes, grapevines, and my absolute favorite—a peach tree. I’ve caught more than one neighbor and a few garbage men stealing the peaches when they are ripe. Can’t say I blame them. I think Eve would have brought Adam over to the Dark Side even quicker if she’d had access to this peach tree.

Tall grasses swoosh in the warm summer breeze. Potted flowers add splashes of color amongst the green. A wooden swing and Adirondack chairs built by my husband offer places to get lost in a book. And when the neighbors’ kids aren’t screaming their heads off, this yard is the perfect place to write a romance novel. A natural energy permeates up through each blade of grass. A golden hug of sunshine offers support from above, and all around me, life thrives. I feel connected to it all. My mind is clear, my heart is open, and the words flow onto the page. I love it out here.

And yes, I do grow roses. 

To see some of my habitat, watch this video interview one of my publishers did. The backdrop is my yard.

Where’s your favorite outdoor space? What do you like to do there?

For some stories that include some fun outdoor spaces, visit me at www.christinedepetrillo.weebly.com.

Toodles,

Chris