#WindsdayWonders: 2024/05/15 -- The Merry Month of May!

 

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

 

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 Skylar 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)