Waking to Life

Being alive, feeling alive is
having been awakened
Being alive, being awake
All feel as having been
resurrected

The sun’s rays shining brightly
as the brisk morning is
late of frost diminishes,
relinquishes, is vanquished
& is gone

So life is new and all signs
of disease and suffering
begin to recede into
the distance
of my being

The future awaits brightly
as a glimmering beacon
admonishing gently
to not fear

for everything right is still here
& will be here in the blinking
of an eye, in the fluttering
of a heart beat new

in all that is a gift we can see
in each breath we take
in all the beauty of nature
if we but take time
to see

© Renee Espriu April 2020

This Photo Taken From Public Domain Pictures & Created As Art

Bits of Wisdom

Even as the common brown squirrel
senses that temperate weather
is at hand

digging in earnest for small nuts
he has hidden, his eyes
are eager with expectation
at the treasure
he will find

I now forage for bits of wisdom
left timely for my discovery
still visible in the space
of invisible footsteps
laid before me

noticing that as the sun’s rays
enhance the squirrel’s
brown coat of fur
a brilliant bright spot
against green

wisdom comes from all venues
even the most young
at heart

counseling me to heed not
others’ paths in life
for mine is my own
uniquely woven

so that I find the bits of wisdom
I seek are within, not without
but in the mirror
of my soul

the need to shine brightly
to touch every moment
that is only
within my
own grasp

© February 2019 Renee Espriu

Image Taken From Public Domain Pictures & Created As Art

Soul Reflections

Memories Dying Embers

Memory Illusive

I see you tangibly close beside me
laughter still within you
a smile on your face

do you still see me here & now
or a trace of a girl dancing

brevity of memories hinting at life
shared with children…with her

do you know she is gone traveling
with the moon & stars in heaven

I see you tangibly close beside me
laughter still within you
a smile on your face

do you know your time has shifted
as the sands within the tides

ensnaring the memories you captured
now scattered fragments of light

still your eyes embrace her once more
a cherished resemblance of me

wisps of years gone encircling you
briefly in moments & then vanishing

I see you tangibly close beside me
laughter still within you
a smile on your face

the embers are still glowing brightly
not ready to engage in dying

I know your spirit still resides within
I know there still is you smiling

© December 2017 Renee Espriu

The Happiness of Music

Visiting family always meant surprises
anticipated from my niece then a girl
who loved everything theater and song

whose tight curly hair & bright eyes
shone like a happy beacon of light

she remembers talk of a voice teacher
& the one time both niece and sister
practiced the violin

but the one memory that dances across
the pages of her mind is the visit
to a restaurant on a clear warm night

where the happiness of the girl seemed
simply to overflow & take flight

so when they walked into the night air
she believed they had left her behind
but not very far had she gone

for the landscape had small hills there
where she stood upon the top of one

hence she raised her arms spread wide
breaking into song to make us smile
‘the hills are alive…

my sister just smiling at the big voice
that filled the night and I sighed

© August 2017 Renee Espriu

This was first published in the Jamie Dede’s August Issue of the Bezine at https://thebezine.com.  The photo below was taken from the Public Domain Pictures and digitally altered.

Love of Music

Sedums Bright

sedum6_lge

Google Image

planter bowl full of
sedums bright colored
yellow green except
for lack of blooms
and chilling weather
you might forget it
is still winter

© January 2013
Renee Espriu

This is for the Small Stone Challenge January 2013. You can find them at http://www.writingourwayhome.com . This is Small Stone #20.

Spirits Remaining

heart shaped candels

Goggle Image

alive and vibrant in their spirits
one moment all smiles and the next
gone leaving us wondering why
looking for answers to bring light
for their smiles and spirits bright

wondrous creatures in their spirits
teaching life lessons in the moment
imparting words of wisdom to us
leaving us to look for the light
for their smiles and spirits bright

amazing we had them amongst us
to give all the love that they had
now angels watching ‘oer families
brilliantly shining radiant light
spirits remaining shining ever bright

© December 2012
Renee Espriu

I have thought the past few days if I should write something for these souls taken from life and from families in such tragic events for it is difficult even for so many of us who do not know, and yet we do, these people who were caught up in another’s troubled life, only to become part of it in the end.  I can relate as a mother, grandmother and one who loves to teach and see others learn.  These are but a smattering of my thoughts as my heart goes out to those in Connecticut.