My summer is winding down quickly. I start back to school next Friday. But the Summer Poem Swap is in full swing. Tabatha Yeatts organized pairings of poets to exchange creativity, gifts, and poetry. My third swap was with Carol Varsalona. (Note: I still owe her my end of the bargain.) Carol is a digital master. If you visit her website, you can find pages of inspirational digital creations. She used this prowess to create for me a Google slide show. She also sent me a print form. You can view the whole slideshow here.
The poem that Molly Hogan sent me had a similar theme of peace and tranquility. Are these poets trying to tell me something? Or do they recognize something in me that I am struggling to find within myself? Poetry is a profound and powerful presence in my life. Thanks Carol for your creative and sensitive expression of love.
Reflections on the Teche 
I think we’re all searching for peace and tranquility and hope that others find it as well. How wonderful to have a whole digital slideshow from Carol as a gift! I really love how she used your poem as a mentor for one of hers. Good luck with the start to school next week!
Thanks for sharing these lovely, solace-filled treasures from Carol! I recognized your field of wildflowers Margaret, as I’d enjoy painting them sometime…
I love the idea of the dandelions’ doing volunteer work. Such a lovely thought.
What gifts! The gift of poetry!
Margaret, you share the gifts from others with a keen spirit. I also enjoyed the pairing of your poem and Carol’s poem. Dandelion lawns were a feature of my childhood, so I readily identified with that.
Yes! The summer poem swap has been a joy! You are my last one this summer! What gifts!
Even though you received the messages of peace…I’m grateful for them shared here. I’m having fun with my family and it brings a wonderful and different kind of peace. Thank goodness I’ve been able to travel. Let’s hope I can get home without a bout of the “disease that shall not be named here.”
“Sparks of joy / settle into night’s / quiet hush” is such a beautiful and peaceful thought. It’s a day well-lived when one can do that. Thanks for sharing your sweet poem gifts from Carol. Yes, they recognize that you are living ENOUGH.
It takes so much *effort* to find peace and tranquility these days, doesn’t it? We all need encouragement and mentors in this department. May they seep in deeply for you before school starts, my friend!
Margaret, I feel blessed that you shared my creations designed specifically for you. I floated into each digital inspiration created for you, full well knowing that they all originated from you. May we all find peace and tranquility. I think I am in a state of bliss at the Inn at Willow Grove. It is a rainy day but the recurrent flow of the meditation garden and the birds calling bring down the stress level. The trees stand tall and those weeping coexist in a haven of joy. Peace to you, dear friend and thanks for this blogpost.