Reflections [Poetry Friday]

Happy Poetry Friday! (Wondering what Poetry Friday is? Click here.)

For Poetry Month, I’m sharing a brief poem daily celebrating little sources of wonder and joy in my life. Here’s today’s #wonderbreak [Want to learn more or join in?]:

Reflections

There is a LOT of bad news in the world. All the time. Some of it overseas. Some of it right on the block we live in. It can be overwhelming. I’m not advocating ignoring what is wrong in the world, but I’m also choosing to see the beauty that exists everywhere, too.

And for lots of wonderful poetry, don’t miss the Poetry Friday Roundup with the ever-positive Dori at Dori Reads.

Save

Save

31 Responses

    1. And it’s so funny that it was not actually a pretty day at all. But filters are magic, which made me think about my own personal filters–I think beauty and hope are two that we can choose.

    1. Exactly. Both reading and writing are how I love the world or escape from it (depending on the moment:>) Thanks for stopping by!

  1. Laura, I am enjoying your wonderbreak poetry. Some mornings I wish I had signed onto your site before reading the morning news. Instead of escaping reality, I see it as therapy which allows one to continue with life’s reality. April is the perfect poetry month, new birth, newness of life – brings to mind the hymn “For the Beauty of the earth ….” along with renewed promises of second chances and “this too shall pass.” Thank you!

    1. Thanks, Martha. And you’re right–escape isn’t really the right word. It equips me to face reality with peace. Poetry is my favorite therapy:>)

  2. Thanks for sharing this beautiful image and hopeful poem. Your final line is so true and so important to remember.

  3. The beauty of the world is what brings me peace. That is why I create my galleries. This image poem is full of life with its vivid colors, tranquil tone, and restful image. This one should grace my new spring gallery. I am sharing the invitation today, Laura.

  4. Finding delight outside makes me calm down and enjoy life, Laura, just as you wrote. I’ve loved all your wonder poems.

    1. Thank you, Dori–hey, I need to get back to your post tomorrow and see what you did. It looked very cool when I stopped by to add my link last night!

  5. One would with more journalists would see your view, too, Laura. There IS good news in the world. We should celebrate it, so it shines brighter than the gloomy news. A wonderful poem.

    1. Thank you! Sometimes I feel irresponsible looking for the good news, but mostly it feels essential to me:>)

  6. I’m really enjoying #wonderbreak. It’s a bit of pressure to come up with a new poem a day.…but it has happened! And, that makes my heart happy. I’m not so caught in the news that I’m feeling too overwhelmed. I am looking for the meaningful moment in my day to reflect on.
    I love your image above. It’s beautiful! And, you write such compact poems with such focus. I love them. Thanks for the inspiration and community you build.

    1. Hey, Linda, I didn’t have to approve this one! Thanks for your comment–this is exactly what I was wishing for anyone participating–looking for some meaningful moment and celebrating it. Congratulations on doing a poem every single day so far, and thank you for the kind words. This community inspires me right back. I am a little overwhelmed trying to create one every day, too, but knowing there are a few people reading them makes it worth it!

  7. “Choosing to see the beauty that exists everywhere” is one of the best ways of coping with the onslaught of bad news. Thank you for this lovely poem and important reminder, Laura.

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 2,499 other subscribers

Are You Looking For?

Poetry Friday posts

Classroom Connections posts

All my poetryactions

Go to my Poetry page for:

  • National Poetry Month projects through the years
  • Small Reads Roundups (poems grouped by topic)
  • Introductions to several favorite poetry forms
Tags
#waterpoemproject15 Words or Less Poems20for2030 Painless Classroom Poems50 State Poemsacrosticsactivity pagesactivity sheetALAA Leaf Can Be...Amy Ludwig VanDerwaterA Need to FeedanthologiesanthologyA Rock Can Be...art projectsaudiopoemsawardsbad newsBarbara Juster EsbensenBilly Collinsbiopoemsblog tourbookalikesbook festivalsBookSpeak!book spine poemsbook trailersbop poembyr a thoddaidcafepresscalendar poemsCamp Read-a-LotCan Be... bookscan be... poemsCapstoneCarol Varsalonacascade poemsCatherine FlynnCCRA.W.3CCRA.W.4CCRA.W.5centoschapter bookschoral compositionschristina rossetticinquainsCLAclassified ad poemsclassroom connectionclassroom connectionsClover Kittyconferences and conventionscrown sonnetscybilsdansaDare to DreamDavid Elliottdeeper wisdom poemdefinitosdiamantesdiversitydizaindodoitsuDot DayDouglas Floriandownloadablesdrum corpse.e. cummingsekphrastic poemsepistolary poemsequation poemsessentialethereeseventsexquisite corpseFairy Tale Garage Salefamilyfibonaccifiction picture booksfinding familyfirefightersforeign editionsfound poemsfree author zoomsfree versefrom studentsgeesegeorgia heardghazalGift Taggiveawaygolden shovelgoldilocksgratitudehaikuheart of aheart of a teacherHeidi MordhorstHelen FrostHighlightshow-to poemshow to make a rainbowI Am FromI Am poemsidiomsif you want to knit some mittensIf You Were the MoonILAimagepoemsinterviewin the middle of the nightIRAIrelandIrene LathamJ. Patrick LewisJanet WongJoyce SidmanKendraKerlanKidlit Comboslailaura's board booksLaura's booksLaura's poemsLaura's readingsLaura ShovanLee Bennett HopkinsLilian MoorelimericksLinda Booth SweeneyLion of the Skylist poemslittle free librarylive writingLullaby and Kisses Sweetlyricsmadness poetrymargaret simonMarilyn Singermary lee hahnmask poemsMeet My FamilyMelissa StewartMentors for Rentmentor textsmetaphorMichelle Myers LacknerMillbrookMinnesota Book Awardsmoonmy reading lifemy writing processN+7naaninarrative poemsNational Poetry Month 2012 (haiku a day)National Poetry Month 2014 (riddle-ku)National Poetry Month 2015National Poetry Month 2016National Poetry Month 2017 (#wonderbreak)national poetry month 2018 (haiku a day)National Poetry Month 2020National Poetry Month 2021 (#EquationPoem)national poetry month 2022 (sticky-note poems)National Poetry Month 2023 (Digging for Poems)ncteNerdy Book Clubnifty newsnifty stuffNikki Grimesnonfictionnonfiction booksNonfiction Writers Dig Deepnovelsnovels in verseodesOne Minute Till BedtimeoppositifyOskar's VoyagepadletpantoumsparodiesPatreonpeacepersonalpet poemsphotopoetryphrase acrosticspicture booksplagiarismpoempicspoemspoems for two voicespoemsketchpoetic pursuitsPoetry 7poetryactionspoetry activitiesPoetry Blastpoetry booksPoetry FridayPoetry Friday AnthologiesPoetry Princessespoetry promptspoetry sistersPoetry Tips for Teachersprogressive poempublishing processpuddle songPutridquotationsraccontinosRandy Salasread-aloudreadaloudreading poetry in the classroomRebecca Kai Dotlichrecipe poemsrefugeesresearchreviewsrevisionrhyming booksrhyming nonfictionrhyming picture booksRhyming Picture Books the Write Wayrhyming poemsRiddle-kuriddle poemsRock Can Be...Rock the Blogrondeau redoublesRudyard Kiplingsalas snippetsSCBWIschool visitsScotlandseasonssecrets of the loonSELsestinasshrinking daysskinnyskypeslice of lifesmall readssnack snooze skedaddlesnowman-coldsonnetsStampede!storm poemstorytimestorywalkstudent poemsstudent workSylvia VardellTanita Davistankatautogramteachableteacher resourcesteen/adult poemsterza rimasthankfulthank yous and referencesthe business sidethings to do iftracy nelson maurertrioletstunie munson-bensonvideosVikram MadanvillanellevillanellesWater Can Be...wealthy elementaryWe BelongWhat's InsideWhy-kuwinterwonderwonderbreakword of the yearwordplaywordsmithswork for hirewritingwriting bookswriting processwriting promptswriting the life poeticyoung authors conferencesYouTubeZap Clap Boomzenozentangle
Show More Show Less

Join Laura's monthly newsletter for eductators

Get three of Laura's favorite poetry activities when you subscribe to "Small Reads."