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Paper Whites, Margaret Simon
For the next few weeks, blogger-friends and I will be posting about the spiritual aspects of our chosen words for 2016. This week we are writing about Carol Varsalona’s word, Believe.
I took this picture of paper whites blooming in my front yard this week. When I see flowers blooming, I believe deeper in the true magic of life. I didn’t plant these flowers, and yet, every year they pop up and show their little white star-like faces. They shine. Wake me up. Make me Believe.
I encouraged my students to create an acrostic with their words. An acrostic is when you use the letters of the word as the beginning letter for each line of the poem. Sounds easy enough, so I decided to write one with the word Believe. In my notebook I wrote about 3 half-possibilities. Each one kept sounding sappy.
But Believe is not a sappy word.
Believe is a strong word,
a word that holds on for dear life,
never letting you completely fall,
Believe buoys you up,
especially when troubles want to push you down.
Believe is a word you can count on,
holding its own weight.
Trusting in you to show up
when the sun is rising,
be ready for this new day.
Believe is a certain word,
proud yet humble,
a handkerchief that your grandmother stitched
calmly drying your tears,
then showing you the stars.
Believe believes in you.
–Margaret Simon
Reflections on the Teche 
Oh Margaret, I just adore this poem!!!
“a handkerchief that your grandmother stitched
calmly drying your tears,
then showing you the stars”
Beautiful and powerful all at once. Thank you for your poem about believe!!!
I believe in you so much. Beautiful post. This one will stick with me today.
Margaret, thank you for the gift of the flowers and the poem to celebrate my one word, believe. Seeing the magnificent lilies is a sign that life is filled with gifts of nature and that an ever abiding Hand is present always.
There is such power in these words of yours: Believe is a strong word,/a word that holds on for dear life,/never letting you completely fall. I will hold on to this quote today. Thank you.
There’s so much hope and optimism in this poem. I love the lines, “Believe buoys you up, / especially when troubles want to push you down.”
You’re right – BELIEVE is not a sappy word! It takes a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to believe! Your photo of the paper whites is beautiful – taken with your new camera, I presume. That photo and your bold poem capture the essence of BELIEVE!
Oh that handkerchief! Thank you, Margaret. So much in nature makes me a believer every single day. Plus I am so grateful to my grandma Dykes, who wasn’t a sappy word, either, but strong and buoyant. xo
“Holds on for dear life, never letting you completely fall” Wow! Thank you for showing us just how strong this one little word is.
Margaret- I love your picture and your poem, especially “Believe buoys you up,…” It’s so true. When we believe, we feel strong enough to accomplish anything! : )
You’ve done a fine job at showing how powerful and new the word “believe” can be. I was struck by Believe being “proud yet humble” – so very true.