April's madness

Grace @ Everyday Amazing

i am caught- 
in the tug of war,
between winter's gray
and spring's budding steps-

this month is madness, 
twining of beginnings & endings-
red as birthday candles on a cake,    
white as a corsage on a friend's funeral-  

my hands are frayed, 
fragile like bare twigs- 
fearful of the hardening that comes
with each fallen leaf, torn limb & broken pinecone-

i pray for rain to wash away dread & shadows,
the sun to melt away the stones 
gathering in my heart- 
even if snowflakes 
drift this morning, i hope 

for spring to burst open like a river,
greening the garden, trodden down & bloodless cold-   


Posed for:   D'verse Poets Pub - Poetics of spring - We are having a little bit of snow this weekend.  
and Imaginary Garden for Real Toads - Encouragement

Encourage others

Did I encourage someone today?

Student says “I am very discouraged. What should I do?”

Master says, “Encourage others.”

In reaching out to another person who needs our help, or simply just to cheer them on, we also feel uplifted.    In giving out a warm embrace or pat in the back to others, we also feel comforted.

And then we get to see that our problems and concerns are minor, compared to others.


Zen Quote
Photo credit:   19miracles.tumblr