at last ...

i waited so long for everything
to unfold as it should

leaving no stone unturned

for the right time to stop asking why
and start saying
yes  

to soar into the sky
surrender!
no longer fearing
it would only last as long as
Spring blooms

to know the difference
between love that burns out
and love that keeps on burning

and now this flame is still ablaze
within me, between us

i waited so long for this
rebirth of hope
of what is holy and sacred-
this bond
that sprouts from the earth
and carries us to the heavens

we have risen in love

Spring has sprung even in New York City! The tulips in my first photo seem as tall as the Empire State Building, don't you think? Daffodils are also blooming everywhere.

I also found a big Easter egg! I wonder if there is a surprise inside? Smiles. There are many colorful egg sculptures like this all around the city. So fun! I'm sharing my poem and post with Poets United for the "Midweek Motif on Holy Days and Holidays."

Happy Holidays to all! xx

Spring Break

My dear friends, I'm taking a Spring break and will be back in a week or so. By that time, Spring should be in full bloom and I will be rested and refreshed. New posts will blossom soon. This is a great time of the year to do some Spring cleaning. I tend to be a minimalist and I try to get rid of clutter as much as possible, both in my poetry and in life. It's also a good time to get rid of mental clutter. Let go of any negative emotions and welcome a new season with renewed hope. I plan on doing a little re-organizing, decorating, and daydreaming. But you already know I'm a dreamer! Thanks for the love!

Happy Spring! xx

Beyond the inevitability of the sunset

Ognuno sta solo sul cuor della terra

trafitto da un raggio di sole:

ed è subito sera.

~Salvatore Quasimodo~

the night has a certain mystery, mystique-
how it unfolds from light to dark,
showing its transient colors in between,
so fleeting that i must look closely, intently

i must feel the transformation
from dawn to evening,
and all that transpires while i travel
in its multidimensional sphere

how i change along with it,
becoming a part of the sunlight
if i choose to take it all in,
to connect with its intricacies

no matter what it brings-
because without the night,
i would not know
the rise of a new day

a shadow cannot exist
without an arrow of light through it,
how can i truly understand joy
if i haven't felt pain

how can i embrace what i gain
if i have never felt loss, lost
if i haven't lived, or loved to the fullest
if i have never risked to ask the question

how can i ever find the answer
to what lies beyond the inevitability of the sunset

Poem ©2014 by Loredana Donovan

My poem was inspired by an Italian poet, Salvatore Quasimodo, who won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1959. His poem is at the beginning of my post in Italian. Its literal translation means: "Everyone stands alone at the heart of the Earth//transfixed by a ray of sunlight,//and suddenly it is evening." To me, his poem is about the transience of life, and it made me think about how important it is to live it to the fullest and stay connected. This is posted for Poets United where we are challenged to write in two or more languages. I took the photos of a beautiful sunset over the Mediterranean Sea on a recent trip to Italy. My post is also shared with dVerse. Have a wonderful weekend! xx

City Streets: Colors

as i walk down the street,

i take on the colors of the city

pieces of art//heart between glass 

sharp edges and soft curves

hues for myriad moods

reflections of people, cars, buildings

pass by me at incredible velocity,

and i see the paradox

between the pretty and gritty

the mannequin in the window

in a yellow sundress-

eyes, vacant and indifferent;

and the homeless pregnant woman

holding a sign: I'm hungry

i want to give her food, shelter

a yellow sundress just like that

to wear in a backyard of her own,

sipping fresh lemonade-

holding a healthy baby in her arms

It's been a while since I posted a poem on my City Streets series. It's actually been too cold to take pictures, but today I ventured out despite freezing temperatures to search for colors in the city. I found abstract art in the Flatiron building, and colorful display windows of summer fashions on 5th Avenue. All of this, in sharp contrast to a homeless woman I came across on the street. I don't take pictures of the homeless to respect their privacy, but I wanted to capture what I felt and wished for her in my poem.

This is posted for dVerse where we are challenged to write a poem about colors.
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Sharing also with:
Weekend Reflections

Close Your Eyes

close your eyes
and listen
to the sound of
waves
crashing against
rocks,
feel the sun
on your skin,
the sand beneath
your feet

close your eyes
and taste
the saltiness
of the ocean,
feel the breeze
in your hair,
the cleansing
of water

close your eyes
and speak to me
softly,
let me hear
the music
of your voice,
let me breathe in
the scent
of you

close your eyes
and kiss me
as if it were
the first
and last time

My poem is posted for dVerse where we are challenged to write a poem using all the senses, except with our eyes closed. I tried to use imagery of sound, taste, touch, scent. This was a wonderful exercise. I took these pictures of the Atlantic Ocean last year. Close your eyes and imagine Summer Love! Have a great weekend!

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Sharing also with Poets United

Women in Bloom

We are women in bloom--
strong, gentle, and understanding
we feel deeply, we give plenty
we are mothers, daughters, sisters

we are the love of your life
or the one that got away

sometimes we do it all
with grace and a smile on our face
we work, raise families,
rise early in the morning
and tuck our children in bed at night

and sometimes we go at it, alone

we come in all shapes and sizes
in all the colors of the rainbow
and we are beautiful just the same

we are young, we are old
and forever young at heart

we are writers, artists, farmers,
scientists, teachers, businesswomen,
doctors, inventors, entrepreneurs,
leaders, lawyers, or we play sports

yet we are not defined by our job,
whatever it may or may not be,
but by the depth of our soul
and the fullness of our heart

it is our choice to be a woman
in whichever way makes us happy
because we must be free

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Happy International Women's Day 2014! xx

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Sharing with:

Poets United

Shine the Divine

Moonless Night

i wonder what happened
to the moon-

is it hiding behind
this velvety purple sky?
i want to hold
a piece of it

sometimes you want
what you can't have

oh, this dark night-
is it holding
the moon hostage?

i want to rise with it
when morning comes

and as i fall
into a starless dream,
i find the moon-
it was always there
in the palm of my hand

and i set it free

This week, I have been contemplating about dreams. I believe we can accomplish most dreams if we really work hard at it. But there are those dreams that seem to have slipped through our fingers. Sometimes, we just have to set them free, and allow even better dreams to come true. The winter sky has been so dark, but sometimes it lights up with dramatic colors. The moon is always an inspiration to me.

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I want to take a moment to thank my dear blogger friend Rita Vaselli who gave me the Versatile Blogger Award. Rita is an amazing artist, and her watercolor paintings are stunning. In turn, I'm supposed to give the award to my favorite bloggers, but it's so hard to choose! I really love all my blogger friends, so I will dedicate this award to you all! Thank you for your continued support and welcome new followers and friends! xx

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Sharing with:

Poets United

Skywatch Friday

Unfolding Petals

i love the magic of words,
the way they unfold petals
of stories to be told

unlocking secrets
behind brick walls, unveiling
the ((center)) of our souls

written on pieces of skies,
the way words shine
or shed a tear

these petals are mine
to keep or give away
--without fear

I love writing as I find it to be a wonderful creative expression. I also love sunflowers, which inspired the imagery in my poem. I needed sunshine on yet another snowy day. This poem is posted for dVerse, where we are asked to write about something we love.

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Sharing also with:

Poets United

Shine the Divine

Is it love?

is it love

if it only lasts

the life span

of a butterfly,

if it doesn't

live up

to those three

little words,

if it comes

and goes,

hurts

and forgets,

if it doesn't

give my heart

wings,

if it dies

before it can fly,

is it love?

Personally, I think that the word "love" is often overused and misused. Especially this month, everything is heart-shaped, making "love" so commercialized. Someone once told me that true love doesn't hurt, and that changed me forever.

I took these photographs of a Swallowtail butterfly last summer. This beautiful butterfly has a very short life span and inspired my poem. This is posted for Poets United, where today's midweek motif is "heart."

Beneath the Gray

beneath the gray,
passion is not lost-
there is light
between the shadows,
a hidden treasure
inside this heart
yearning to burst forth
and break free-
a berry trapped in ice
longing to be tasted,
unrestrained
from painting
within the lines,
a white canvas
splashed with abandon
in myriad colors,
perfect in its imperfections,
this dream of mine
awakening
beneath the gray

I went for a nature walk this afternoon, and it was invigorating despite the cold. I enjoyed taking these winter photos, which (of course!) inspired a poem. I love how you interpret the meaning of my poems, which sometimes takes me by surprise in a delightful way!

My poem is posted in response to the prompt at dVerse, where we are asked to write "sketchbook poetry" -- poetry that captures a scene -- poetry that is immediate and in the moment. I love that idea, and I had so much fun preparing this post. Enjoy!

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Also sharing with:

Poets United

Shine the Divine

Skywatch Friday