Throughout this season of Lent, I have again taken up a practice of creativity. Rethink Church offers a photo challenge for Lent (and also Advent) where they list a word for each day. The challenge is to take a photo that illustrates each word. I’ve also added a short poem to each image. I like meditating on the word each day as I look for an image to capture something about it. Here are a few from the past week. I’m still going through my photos from our trip to England as I reflect on the word for each day. Here are a few of my favorites from this week.

For this day’s word, I couldn’t resist including a picture of my daughter’s school in England: Harlaxton College, housed in the Harlaxton Manor built by Sir Gregory Gregory (yes, that is his name.) I was amazed by the sheer exuberance of the manor.

AMAZEMENT
I go before you
to prepare a room for you
in my Father’s house.

This picture goes back to the old abbey in York.

REFUGE
The Lord is
my refuge in times
of trouble

John Wesley was quite the scholar as well as priest. These are just some of the books in his library.

UNKNOWN
No matter how long
I study, the depths of your love
remain unkown

Isaac Newton loomed large in our travels. His hometown was Grantham, where Harlaxton College is located. His elementary school is still a school today. This statue, however, is outside the British Library in London. Unfortunately, no pictures were allowed inside the library.

UNDERSTAND
We may begin to
understand our universe
but mystery remains

Each Friday, I am excited to take part in Poetry Friday, where writers share their love of all things poetry. Heidi hosts the Poetry Friday Roundup today at my juicy little universe.  She jump starts this year’s Progressive Poem with an interview with Irene Latham (the instigator for the Kidlitosphere Progressive Poem) and Liz Steinglass (the writer of the all important first line for this year’s poem).  Drop by and see what poetry morsels are offered this week.

Throughout this season of Lent, I have again taken up a practice of creativity. Rethink Church offers a photo challenge for Lent (and also Advent) where they list a word for each day. The challenge is to take a photo that illustrates each word. I’ve also added a short poem to each image. I like meditating on the word each day as I look for an image to capture something about it. Here are a few from the past week. I’m still going through my photos from our trip to England as I reflect on the word for each day. Here are a few of my favorites from this week.

Of course, we had to take pictures at Platform 9 and 3/4. This one is actually at the Warner Brothers Studio Tour. We also took pictures at Kings Cross Station.

While I was disappointed to miss Poet’s Corner (Westminster Abbey was closed the day we had planned to visit), we did find this cemetery across from the Museum of Methodism and John Wesley House. Not only is it the burial site for Susannah Wesley (John’s mother), it also has graves for William Blake, Daniel Defoe, John Bunyan and Oliver Cromwell. This is a photo of Defoe’s headstone–the tallest in the cemetery!

These are the stained glass windows behind Wesley’s (formerly 3-level) pulpit in New Chapel.

When we go back to England (pretty please!), I’d like to tour the Tower of London. We just didn’t have time on this trip. I knew that the Tower of London was different from Tower Bridge, but I didn’t have a visual image of the Tower itself. Now that I’ve seen how massive this fortress/prison is, I have a new appreciation of all those stories I’ve read where people were imprisoned within its wall. Even more intimidating, back in the days of King Henry, they kept a menagerie of wild animals (think lions, tigers and bears, oh my) for visitors and prisoners to walk through.

Then for St. Patrick’s Day, I tried my hand at making Irish soda bread. I used the basic recipe of just four ingredients–flour, salt, baking soda and buttermilk. From what I read in the discussions on the recipe, there is also a fancier, “company’s coming for tea” version that is sweeter. This was a pretty hearty loaf–delicious with butter and jam.

Each Friday, I am excited to take part in Poetry Friday, where writers share their love of all things poetry. Laura hosts the Poetry Friday Roundup today at Writing the World for Kids.  She introduces us to her newest picture book, Meet My Family. I don’t know about you, but I can’t wait to read it myself! Drop by and see what poetry morsels are offered this week.

We finally made it to England to visit our daughter and back home again! It was a fabulous trip, and I have lots of pictures and notes to inspire much poetry once I catch up with myself. I’ve been trying to keep up the writing habit with a poem each day. I almost made it even through our trip to England, but missed a few days. I usually had time to catch up a day or two later while on a train or plane. That counts, doesn’t it?

Throughout this season of Lent, I have again taken up a practice of creativity. Rethink Church offers a photo challenge for Lent (and also Advent) where they list a word for each day. The challenge is to take a photo that illustrates each word. I’ve also added a short poem to each image. I like meditating on the word each day as I look for an image to capture something about it. Here are a few from the past week. They even include images from our trip to England!

This is what is left of the abbey ruins in York.

TRUE
Things of this world
will pass away with time–
My truth remains.

This stained glass window is called the Five Sisters. It’s found in the north (I think that’s the correct direction) side of the Yorkminster Cathedral in York. It is also one of the first (and for awhile the only) memorial to honor the contributions of women to World War I and later World War II.

CELEBRATE
Celebrate
in remembrance of me
through the ages.

This is the prayer bench used daily by John Wesley. It is still located just off his bedroom in the John Wesley house and Museum of Methodism in London

WORSHIP
Every day
spend time in worship
commune with God

We came across this guy performing on a sidewalk in London. Yes, he is playing music on a traffic cone. I wish I had had enough memory left on my phone to record some of it. The song he played was beautiful and haunting and unlike anything I have ever heard. Thanks to Linda Baie’ suggestion, I checked out some of the videos on YouTube. (There are quite a few of them!) This video was taken several yeas ago, and I don’t think it’s the same guy, but the song he’s playing reminds me the most of the one I heard.

SEE
What do you see–
an opportunity to make music
or an obstacle?

Each Friday, I am excited to take part in Poetry Friday, where writers share their love of all things poetry. Linda hosts the Poetry Friday Roundup today at Teacher Dance.  She offers a warm welcome for spring despite the snow that insists on falling across parts of the country. Drop by and see what poetry morsels are offered this week.

The challenge: to write a poem every day through the month of February in response to a piece of art. Voila! I’m practicing my first attempt at Ekphrastic poetry thanks to Laura Shovan, who hosts a February Poetry Project each year in honor of her birthday every year.  You can read about it’s past and present incarnation here.

I did it! Some days I was not sure I would be able to come up with one more poem, but I did. I wrote and shared every day. Some poems definitely worked better than others, but even so,  I have a treasure of drafts to dive back into and work with. I’m still trying to catch up on reading all the poems written, and that is another treasure. I have enjoyed writing and reading and sharing poetry this past month. I’m looking forward to continuing the journey through the rest of the year. Thank you to everyone who has been generous in writing and sharing and discussing this past month. I have learned much from journeying alongside each of you. Here are a few of my favorites from this past week.

I tried another triolet. I am liking this form. Ann Haman shared this lovely batik art, “Moon Song.” that was created by Lisa Kattenbraker.

DREAMS

The moon waxes and wanes
as I sail all alone.
I break free of my chains.
The moon waxes and wanes.
Only my dream remains
as my future is shown.
The moon waxes and wanes
as I sail all alone.

Vera Lisa Smetzer shared a lovely photo of her sister and dog in the 1940’s that inspired this poem:

HOW TO TAME A GIRL:

First, bow down your head
and wag your tail.
Gaze up with adoring eyes.
If she wants to play,
tug on a braided rope,
fetch a ball or stick
she throws,
or chase fireflies at dusk.
Sit quietly at her feet
during tea parties for her dolls
and tolerate a fancy bow
or two or three
she clips upon your fur.
You can even eat the peas
she drops onto the floor.
And then when day is done,
snuggle close as she strokes
your soft and silky fur.

Each Friday, I am excited to take part in Poetry Friday, where writers share their love of all things poetry. Renee hosts the Poetry Friday Roundup today at  No Water River.  She shines a spotlight on the very talented and generous Michelle Heidenrich Barnes. Drop by and see what poetry morsels are offered this week.