WINDSDAY WONDERS
Compiled & Edited by Rob Chappell
(@RHCLambengolmo)
Editorial Associate: S. A. Sonnenschein
Vol. 3, No. 28: May 15, 2024
Maytime Miscellanies
Episode #2: The Merry Month of May
Editor’s Note
This week, we
celebrate the beauty of the natural world around us, especially during the
month of May, with poetical selections from our own talented writing staff! 😊
“Lessons from Nature”
By Sophie Fairgate, Staff Writer & Quotemaster
The woods teach patience and acceptance
The wind whispers advice and support
The sun shining softly
Through leaves and branches
Teaches us about grace and gratitude
The waters flow to lessons unknown
The sky spreads a gentle reminder of time
The breeze caresses our worries with comfort
And the birds, in song, speak words of love.
The flowers show us the beauty of hope and joy
The trees teach us about the cycles of life
The sun's rays bring warmth and comfort
And the moon's silver light brings peace and protection
The air's freshness cleanses our spirit
And the scent of a rainy day encourages healing
The sky's clouds carry our worries away
And the rains of summer teach us about renewal
The winds carry messages of support along with the breeze
And the earth teaches us about grounding and roots.
The plants show us the beauty of life and growth
The trees speak of wisdom, protection and shelter
The birds carry messages of hope and happiness
The flowers show us the wonders of blossoming and beauty
The bees teach us about the magic of hard work and diligence
The insects show us about the value of patience and commitment
The animals offer us their loyalty, love and devotion
The sun shines for clarity and guidance
And the ground teaches us about the beauty of stability.
There is a rhythm that unites us all
The earth and its cycles
The trees and their wisdom
The birds and their songs
The breeze and its caresses
The waters and their lessons
The sun and its beams
The moon and its silvery light
The stars and their blessings
All is connected
All is one
At the same time
Different but alike
Together we are one
In the dance of life.
There's much to see and appreciate
The beauty in a sunrise and sunset
In the rain and the snow
And everything that weaves this web of life
And as we learn to slow down
And open our hearts
And listen to the lessons
That the sacred earth so gently imparts
The love will come in
Just like the flowers bloom
And the bees busy themselves with honey
And the trees shelter us in their branches.
“The River’s Song”
By Enid Lewis, Staff Writer
From the top of the hill,
The river is calling.
It whispers my name, again & again,
In the language of running water,
"Come to me, beloved,
I am the voice of God,
Embracing you, warming you,
With the breath that creates life..."
“The Wind's Kiss”
By Enid Lewis, Staff Writer
The wind's kiss
Is a caress of freedom
Sending shivers down my spine:
The language of the soul,
Spoken in breath and blood
The wind's kiss
The gift of the breath of God
Moving me beyond sorrow:
The wind's kiss
The fire of life
“Spring Is Here”
By Stephanie Harwood, Staff Writer & Book Review
Editor
Spring is here at last.
It lingers in the air, the smell of flowers
and fresh-cut grass, the fragrance of
new growth.
It lies in the bright sky,
the blue sea, the warmth that
lifts the spirits.
Spring is here,
and hope is rising.
Athena, the ancient Greek goddess of wisdom and
warriorship, is the divine patron of Bryn Mawr College, from which Stephanie is
graduating this month. In ancient Rome, Athena was known as Minerva. (Image
Credit: Digital artwork created by the Editor.)
“The Beauty of Nature”
By Sarah Baker, Staff Writer
The beauty of nature is beyond measure
The vast expanse of skies and seas,
The endless variety of plants and flowers,
The splendor of the setting sun.
The sounds of birdsong and the soothing breeze,
The laughter of a gushing stream,
The peace and tenderness of raindrops
Dancing in the summer rain.
The mystery of forests and mountains,
The wild beauty of the desert,
The awe-inspiring majesty of snow-capped peaks,
The mysterious depths of caves and waterfalls.
The tranquility of a quiet field,
The magic of fireflies lighting up the night,
The graceful movement of butterflies dancing in the air,
The soothing rhythm of waves crashing on the shore.
The sheer spectacle of the ocean,
The power of the crashing waves,
The vastness of the ocean depths,
The mystery of sea creatures and plants.
The graceful beauty of the moonlit night sky,
The shining stars and sparkling constellations,
The twinkling of lights from distant cities,
The glorious sight of the northern lights...
The delicate colors of Springtime,
The fresh new shoots of greenery,
The sweet scent of flowers blooming,
The chirping of birds in the air.
The vibrant hues of summer,
The bright, lush foliage of trees,
The warmth of the sun on the skin,
The fragrant, juicy fruits and vegetables...:
The crisp, chilly air of fall,
The fiery hues of yellow and orange,
The crunch of leaves underfoot,
The splendor of the autumn foliage.
The icy, chilly, wintery weather,
The glistening of freshly fallen snow,
The delicate, powdery feel of snowflakes in the air,
The breathtaking beauty of winter landscapes.
Weekly Words of Wisdom
By Skyla Sonnenschein, Editorial Associate
Spring's
gentle breeze,
Carrying
sweet songs,
Singing in
the trees,
Welcomes in
her rays
The
sunshine's glow,
Warm and
bright,
Springtime's
delight,
Gifts the
flower's bloom
And the
bird's song,
In the month
of May,
Nature has
its say!
Stoic Proverb of the Week
Contributed by Amy Kendrick, Staff Writer
"It's
not what happens to us that disturbs us. It's our judgments about what
happens." – Seneca
Amy’s
Commentary:
This means
that we don't feel disturbed simply by what happens to us. We feel disturbed by
the judgments we make about it. The trick to feeling less disturbed by what we
experience in life is to change our judgments, not try to control what happens.
The ancient Greek philosopher
Heraclitus of Ephesus (ca. 535-475 BCE) is regarded as a forerunner of the
Stoic school of philosophy. His teachings on cosmology, change, the Logos, and
the unity of opposites exercised a profound influence on ancient Stoic
philosophers. (Image Credit: Thomas Stanley’s History of Philosophy,
1655 – Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons)
