Posted in Poetry 2010 - present, Uncategorized, tagged Christmas, holidays, light, Love, nature, poem, Poetry, snow, spirituality, Winter Solstice on December 20, 2021| 28 Comments »
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Underneath the frost it turns,
hidden in a fog it churns —
winter snaps its coiled whip
cracks the ice but holds its grip.
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It wraps the trees in shiver beads,
chews on shadows, spits out seeds
to grace the gardens flocked in sleep
waiting for that northward leap
of the wandering,
prodigal sun.
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(c) Betty Hayes Albright 2014, 2021
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(Re-posted from 2017)
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Wishing everyone a Happy Winter’s Solstice — and may your holidays be filled with love, joy and peace!
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Posted in Uncategorized on September 18, 2021| 3 Comments »
Congratulations to Lauren Scott on the publication of her beautiful new book!
I am very excited to announce the release of my new book, More than Coffee: Memories in Verse and Prose.”
BOOK BLURB:
From the early woes of childhood and teen years, this collection of stories and poems paints a picture of young dreams and fears. But as adulthood sets in, these dreams and fears change. More than Coffee touches on love and loss, nature and endurance, marriage and parenting. In these memories, humor diffuses fear and taking risks proves to be a powerful method in boosting self-confidence. Through it all, whether in the wilderness near a sparkling lake or in the comfort of home, there’s nothing like a good cup of coffee. A poignant and reflective collection of verse and prose that is best enjoyed sipping your favorite coffee roast.
If you would like to purchase the paperback or ebook, below are the links:
US: Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/22a75vhj
UK
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Posted in Poetry 2010 - present, Uncategorized, tagged eagles, eaglets, nature, poem, Poetry, wildlife on May 20, 2021| 39 Comments »
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The tree turns into bone
while its leaves
turn into feathers
in the alabaster light
just before the sun goes down.
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Ninety feet up
a young eagle leaps
around his nest
of sticks and straw
flapping his wings
like wide miracles
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until the sun finally sets
and they fold again
hugging his wild sides –
every bone and feather
neatly back in place.
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© 2021 Betty Hayes Albright
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Inspired by watching the Redding, California eagle cam. I highly recommend! The three eaglets will fledge in 2-3 weeks.
Sorry for my absence here… hoping to eventually catch up with everyone.
Also hope you’re all well — I’ve missed you all. ❤
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Posted in Uncategorized on January 9, 2021| 16 Comments »
We miss you, Ben Naga.
THE COLLECTOR
When you talk
The air becomes filled with butterflies
And while you talk
…………………….Surreptitiously
I catch them in my hands
And put them gently in my pocket
And when I leave you
I go home
Take them gently from my pocket
And arrange them
…………………….Like this
On a piece of paper
So that when you find out what I am doing
And no longer let them loose when I am there
I can come home
…………………….And remember …
Posted in Uncategorized on January 6, 2021| 12 Comments »
Thank you, Charles, for putting my thoughts into words. It has been an unbelievable day.
I was going to do a post on writing today, but with what is happening in Washington, D.C., I have to speak about this insanity.
I will start by saying that I support peaceful protest of all kinds, because it is guaranteed in our Constitution, but I never support protest that is violent, including from those with whom I agree politically. Violent protest is never acceptable. Please do not reply by comparing today’s actions to other protests; as I stated, I disagree with all violent protests. Besides that would be like a child saying “Well, he did it, so I am too.” The logic is ridiculous.
What is happening today, though, is far worse than violent protest. By breaching the Capitol and disrupting the Constitutional work of the government, these people, who were incited by President Trump have committed many federal crimes and are committing insurrection. They are attempting to…
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Posted in Uncategorized on December 24, 2020| 12 Comments »
You might recognize some of the poets in this new international anthology — published by Four Windows Press. It’s a beautiful book and I’m honored to be included in it.
Publisher: Four Windows Press, 231 N Hudson Ave., Sturgeon Bay, WI 54235
Distributor: Ingram
Number of pages: 370
Price: 20.95 Retail
Available: Through bookstores and online venues worldwide, including https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0999007777?pf_rd_r=QNSVAP9MMMBZFHENZZEP&pf_rd_p=9d9090dd-8b99-4ac3-b4a9-90a1db2ef53b or https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/no-more-can-fit-into-the-evening-thomas-davis/1138335652?ean=9780999007778
Web site: www.fourwindowspress1.com
Four Windows Press has released a major anthology of English-speaking poets, No More Will Fit Into the Evening, A Diversity of Voices. The volume contains a healthy sampling of work from 39 poets from the United States, Great Britain, Canada, New Zealand, and the Netherlands.
In the “Introduction” to the volume, the Editors, Thomas Davis and Standing Feather, both poets, say that “an early decision was made to invite poets either they knew about” from their years participating in multiple poetic communities “to submit ‘the ten best poems they had ever written.’” From the hundreds of poems submitted over 250 poems were included in the final publication.
Among the notable poets in the volume…
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Posted in Uncategorized on November 4, 2020| 12 Comments »
A timely reminder from the mystical poet, Rumi.
Thank you for sharing it, Mariam.
“Light dawns, and any talk of proof resembles a blind man’s cane at sunrise.
Remember the passage,
We are with you wherever you are.
Come back to that.
When did we ever leave it?
No matter we’re in a prison of forgetting or enjoying the banquet of wisdom, we are always inside presence.
Drunkenly asleep, tenderly awake, clouded with grief, laughing like lightning, angry at war, quiet with gratitude, we are nothing in this many-mooded world of weather
but a single brushstroke down, speaking of presence.”
*The word Allah in Arabic begins with a strong downward mark.”
~Maulana Rumi, from Coleman Barks’ A Year with Rumi
Posted in Uncategorized on October 31, 2020| 8 Comments »
A timely message for all humanity… Thank you, Val ❤
Wisdom from Adyashanti worth repeating. Written before 2016.
“In no way can I deny the insanity of the human condition. And yet, because there’s so much insanity, so much unconsciousness, it’s possible that there’s also the other side of it.
Life is always balancing itself out.
So, while all of this is happening, there’s also this undercurrent of people all over the place who have a deep and profound interest in the ultimate nature of reality in themselves—and they are realizing it!
Not only is that now happening among a wider variety and number of human beings, it’s also happening more and more outside of hierarchical institutions.
I think there’s something within all of this, something very authentic, that’s breaking down the barriers between every person and our ideas of what a spiritual person is. It’s sort of a silent, quiet revolution that’s happening.
But even though there’s a lot…
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Posted in Uncategorized on July 19, 2020| 14 Comments »
Due to a WordPress glitch, Ben Naga’s followers were all deleted. If you love Ben’s poetry (as I do) please visit his site and re-follow him.
(And if you aren’t familiar with Ben’s wonderful poetry, I highly recommend his blog.)
My cache of ‘Followers’ has disintegrated so if you are still interested in reading/replying to fresh posts here you’ll have to refollow. Sorry.
Posted in Uncategorized on July 5, 2020| 11 Comments »
This is long, but very much worth the read.
Clematis and – Everlasting-Sweetpeas
The Woman lay looking into her heart, trying to fathom its depths. This melancholy ache of sorrow that swept into her bones, penetrating every cell of her being.
The silence once her beautiful friend, now devoured her in its void of blackness. No matter how loud she called, only the perpetual hissing of static crackled in her ears.
She wanted so desperately to escape her self-imposed prison. Each new day she gave thanks for her countless blessings, giving thanks for natures gifts. She would work with Mother Earth, tilling the soil, tending her garden, smiling at the miracles of growth as she watched the seeds she had planted grow and mature to bare fruit.
She was given the gift of words, of compassion and understanding, which she spread around like confetti, showering others with love and encouragement, that all was as it should be…
Yet where…
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Seasonings 