#Poetry – #Events – #Updates

/ Marcia Meara

I’m pretty sure it’s not feeling like spring yet in much of the country, but down here in Florida, the weather is blissfully cool, without being cold, and perfect for gardening or relaxing outside. For the next few weeks, we can enjoy cool nights in the mid-40s and pleasant days in the 70 to 82 degree range. That’s cause for celebration as far as I’m concerned, so I decided to share a poem with you. This one has never made an appearance before, but I’m thinking of including it in a new poetry collection at some point. Hope you enjoy it.

POETRY

Outside or In

I may go out to the garden today,
Where the sun is bright in the watered silk sky,
And a ruby gem flits from tree to tree,
While a cardinal woos his love with burbling songs,
And goes about the business of building a nest,
Promising new life in the weeks ahead.

I may go out to the garden today.
The dog days of summer are drawing near,
Threatening to bake the roses,
Scorch the herbs, and wither the grass,
In a sweltering, impossible heat,
Which will trap me inside by the end of June.

I may go out to the garden today,
To sip icy tea from a sweating glass,
Catching my breath between the chores,
Pruning and weeding, and raking the paths,
Racing the pages of the calendar,
As they flip through the last days of spring.

I may go out to the garden today.
Or maybe I’ll laze indoors, instead,
Beside the window, in a comfy chair,
The stack of books nearby a siren call,
Luring me to open their covers,
And visit those gardens blooming inside.
                                                    ~ Marcia Meara ~

EVENTS

Also wanted to share some upcoming events with you. Just as a heads up for anyone in the Central Florida area, I’m going to be getting back to my wildlife talks at both of my venues next month. If you’re in the area, would love to see you join us. All talks are free and run from 1:00pm to 3:00pm,(tea luncheons excluded).  March schedule as follows:

March 5 from 1:00-3:00 at Enterprise Museum for a talk on the River of Lakes Heritage Corridor, and taking a look at wildlife habitats along this new Scenic Byway.

March 26 from 11:00 – 1:00 Meet the Author Spring Tea at DeBary Hall , $15 per person, reservations required by 3/18. I’ll be doing a Reading and a Question and Answer Session, and then we sip tea and dine on delicious sandwiches and desserts! Always a lovely time!

For more info on locations, etc, feel free to email me: mmeara@cfl.rr.com

UPDATES

And last, a quick update on what’s happening around here. I’m continuing to feel a bit better each day, with my energy level gradually getting closer and closer to normal. Though I’m still not ready to take another look at my Riverbend 4 novel, I have started work on my WRR spinoff novella, Cole, Cole, and Dupree. I’ve actually written real words on a Word document, and shared them on my beta blog!  (And I’m happy to report, my readers seem to have liked them, so far.) Therefore, I’m encouraged to think I might actually get this story finished and published in the not-too-distant future. (Fingers crossed!)

I am also ready to start scheduling regular guests again here on The Write Stuff, for #GuestDayTuesdays, and #TenThingsLists. If you’d like to take part in either of these,  email me to see what dates are available. (You can find more info on the header bar at the top of the page, under General Blog Rules and Various Feature Instructions.) I look forward to having some of you visit in the weeks ahead.

And there you have it, folks: Poetry, Events, and Updates! Thanks for reading and have a wonderful Tewe’s Day!

34 thoughts on “#Poetry – #Events – #Updates”

    • Thank you so much, Harmony. I’m so looking forward to something akin to a Real Life again! I hope you’ve been feeling better these days, too? And hang in there for the storms. I know the weather has been rough across parts of the U.S. too, so I expect you’re not the only one feeling envious. We’re having a spell of good luck right now, though we did have one night of freezing temps which killed off a lot of our plants and left the birdbaths full of ice. But it warmed right back up again. Temperature-wise, this is my favorite time of year. Good luck over there, my friend! 🤗💖🤗

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

    • Aww, thanks, Diana. I’m glad you enjoyed it. And yep, I love being able to open the windows and let fresh air in, since we spend most of the year with them shut tight and the a/c running a mile a minute. I’m truly enjoying this interlude! And while I don’t own a long-sleeved shirt, I AM wearing knit slacks today! (My nod to cool weather.) 😁 Thanks for stopping by! 😀 ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  3. Congratulations on getting back to your wildlife talks, Marcia. I know how much you enjoy them. I’m excited for you!

    I woke up to 15 degrees today but by Thursday we’re going to hit a high of 60. WOOHOO! I can’t wait for that taste of spring. Even if it is limited, it’s a glimpse of what’s to come. I am SO READY!

    I’m glad you’re pretty much back to normal too, and I’m looking forward to Cole, Cole and Dupree. I know it always feels great to write new words.

    Speaking of which, loved the poem. These two lines really spoke to me:
    Where the sun is bright in the watered silk sky,
    And a ruby gem flits from tree to tree,

    GORGEOUS!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Awww, thanks so much for those kind words, Mae. I’m glad you enjoyed the poem! And 15 degree nights would definitely signal winter down here, and a harsh one at that. Isn’t it interesting how everything is perspective? You are celebrating a warm-up and I’m celebrating a cool-down, yet the temps last night only dropped to 45 here. It’s all relative, isn’t it?

      Thanks also for the congratulations on me getting back to my talks. It’s not only that I love doing them, it’s that they represent at least somewhat of a return to normal. And certainly, for me, a return to better health. I just can’t wait to see folks again!

      And lastly, thanks for stopping by today. Life feels good again … or at least not nearly so grim as it’s felt for the last few weeks. Amazing what improved health will do! Speaking of which, you stay WELL too, my Penderpal! And now I’m going to head over to Rabbit’s world where “there ain’t no such-a thing” as pandemics running rampant. Have a great Tewe’s Day! 🤗💖🤗

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

        • I don’t know how I would have survived this without being able to escape to some fictional worlds, Mae. When I could stay awake long enough to read, that is. When I say the fatigue was extreme, I’m not kidding. Do NOT get this stinkin’ stuff!! 😝

          And I’m not planning to ever bring Rabbit far enough into his future to experience any of this. CC&D is set in 2015, and I think I can go a LONG way before touching on any real life drama.😊

          Liked by 2 people

          Reply

  4. Glad you are feeling a bit better and are getting some writing done. And that’s a lovely poem. Wish we had your weather here. It’s still a little cold here, but we may actually get to around 70 by the end of the week before the temps drop again.

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Thanks so much, Jeanne. It’s great to be feeling better again and I’m very happy you enjoyed the poem. I think this is the time of year when most of the country envies our weather. But trust me. When we hit triple digits in mid-summer, the shoe is on the other foot. 😉 July days of 105 or more are NO fun at all, and I’m trapped inside, kinda like the opposite of being snowbound. 😁 Enjoy your brief respite and take care when the temps drop again. Whatever you do, STAY HEALTHY!!

      Thanks for stopping by this morning and taking a moment to say hello! 😀 ❤

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

    • Thanks so much, Darlene! So glad you enjoyed the poem! And I’m being very careful and “pacing myself,” as my husband says. I don’t wait until I’m suddenly so tired I can’t stand up another minute. As soon as I feel myself slowing down, I take a break. It seems to be working pretty well.

      And thanks so much for stopping by today! Always good to have you visit! 😀 ❤

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

    • Yay! Smiling is good, Priscilla! *dusts off hands and walks away, thinking “my job here is done!”*
      😂😂😂

      Truly, I’m glad you enjoyed the poem, and I thank you for your well wishes, too. I’m doing MUCH better, happily! And thanks so much for stopping by today! 😀 ❤

      Like

      Reply

    • So glad you enjoyed it, Denise. And yep! I can escape to gardens all over the world via my books, and that’s so helpful when I can’t go out into a real one. I’ll bet you know exactly what I mean, too!

      Thanks so much for stopping by today and taking a moment to let me know your thoughts! 😀 ❤

      Like

      Reply

    • Thanks, Yvette, and I’m glad you enjoyed the poem, too.

      I love gardening almost (but not quite) as much as I love reading, Yvette, so it’s often a toss-up for me. I admit, though, we still don’t have our beautiful garden restored after the hurricane smashed it pretty much flat. So there’s a lot of labor left to be done out there, sadly. We’d been at the stage where it was just monthly maintenance, and we spent most of our time relaxing on the patio and enjoying how pretty it all looked. Now, it’s hard to work up the energy to go outside and get back to the replanting. *sigh* Oh, well. A little work never hurt anybody, and a gorgeous garden is worth the effort to me. One of these days we’ll have it back again. I hope. 😁

      Thanks for stopping by today, and if you don’t like gardening, you can always just enjoy OPGs. (Other People’s Gardens). 😂 ❤

      Liked by 2 people

      Reply

  10. I love your poem, Marcia, and I can hear that “siren” call. It’s a powerful one, for sure. I’m elated that you are feeling better, day by day, week by week. You’ve braved some long months, but through it all, you’ve kept your beautiful smile. Sending hugs…🤗 💞

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Thanks so much for you kind, warm words, Gwen. You always brighten my day, for sure. I’m glad you enjoyed the poem, too. It was written a few months ago, and I’ve just been adding to my folder for a possible new poetry book, but wasn’t sure about it yet.

      And I’m so glad to be coming out of this last go-around with the breakthrough virus. (At least I sure hope it’s the last go around.) The fatigue is even getting better, but the headache has gotten worse over the last ten days. However, from what I’ve read, it’s a VERY common symptom as long Covid wanes, so I’m not alarmed. I fully expect it to go away soon, too. It’s good folks like you and so many of my online friends who’ve kept me hanging in there, and now, the end is in sight! YAY!!!!

      Thanks hugely for stopping by today and taking a moment to say hi! I really appreciate it! 🤗💖🤗

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply

  11. I’ll glad to hear your weather is nice and you taste the fragrance of spring, Marcia. Even just thinking about gardening is uplifting. The temperature is nice enough to get you going. It starts to get warm in So CA. It was the hottest day for the Super Bowl on Sunday, 91F, I believe. I planted some milkweed on 1/27 in the peat pods. Some are sprouting. It’s pretty exciting. Take care. 😊

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Ah, a fellow gardener! Milkweed for the monarch butterflies? We have those here, too, and my milkweed even withstood our one-night freeze, though all the flowers have been eaten off. I’ll be cutting back the damaged plants soon, and I’m already seeing lots of varieties of butterflies visiting.

      And 91 degrees is just too blamed hot to be outside, but again, we get those triple digit temps in July/August most years, and that’s totally IMPOSSIBLE. I just hide in the a/c and admire the flowers, butterflies, and birds through the window.

      But today … PERFECT! It’s nice to leave the windows open and hear the bird songs from the yard. (Or the migrating grackles squawking and carrying on. 😄 )

      Thanks so much for stopping by, Miriam! Always nice to see you here! 😀 ❤

      Like

      Reply

      • The fans survived. But I just read the news about the heat and dryness on the west coast breaking the last 1,200 years records. The Santa Ana wind, wildfires, and flooding won’t get any better for years. Trees take 50 years to grow back to a good size if we could stop the wildfires. That’s one of the many reasons the Monarch butterflies reduced by 90%. There are no milkweed as host plants and no flowers to feed them. It’s sad.

        I’m glad you have a perfect weather today, Marcia! 😍💐

        Liked by 2 people

        Reply

    • Thanks, Jill. Glad you enjoyed the poem, and it’s really good to know I’m nearing the end of this blinkin’ virus! Some lingering symptoms, but I don’t think they are going to keep me home.

      I love both of the venues where I give my talks. The Enterprise Museum is a little old 1930s era schoolhouse that’s been lovingly restored, and though it’s not a huge place, we still get a nice audience there, in one of the classrooms. And DeBary Hall is gorgeous! A beautiful historic manor house with an excellent theater in one area and a full size, converted stable that’s also used for talks for larger audiences. Both places are great and staffed by lovely folks who always take good care of their speakers. They make me feel right at home.

      Truly, even though this hasn’t been a fun couple of months, I’m very lucky in so many ways! Now to get my next novella finished and “out there,” and life will REALLY be good again!

      Thanks so much for stopping by and taking a moment to say hello! 😀 ❤

      Like

      Reply

  13. I’m so glad that you’re coming out of the Covid nightmare. Once you’re out doing your talks I’m sure the positive kickback will be hugely beneficial, too. I love the poem and the four lines I particularly liked have been chosen by Mae and Denise. The weather here is a wet and bracing 37 degrees (I had to do the conversion!) but I do know that I’d hate your July/August temperatures! ♥♥

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Thanks so much, Trish. I’m glad you enjoyed the poem, and thanks for the encouraging remarks about getting past Covid, too. I’m really beyondready to be healthy again! And you’re right about the positive benefits from doing these talks. I always come home smiling from ear to ear and feeling rejuvenated and inspired. LOVE my audiences so much!

      Believe me, I hate our July and August temps, too. But right now, I’m thoroughly enjoying these cooler days. Winter in Florida is usually quite nice. YOU stay warm over there–37 makes even me shiver. (And at least you know how to make the conversion. I have no clue. Doh.)

      Thanks so much for stopping by and taking a moment to say hello! 😀 ❤

      Like

      Reply

    • Aw, thanks so much, Jan! I really appreciate that, and I’m hoping to get caught up on my blogging again, now that I’m not conked out for half of each day! Looking forward to seeing what everyone’s been up to, though I’m still behind, I’m afraid. But doing more each day! Yay!

      Thanks for stopping by and taking a moment to say hello! 😀 ❤

      Like

      Reply

Leave a reply to Marcia Cancel reply