Just in Case You Didn’t Know

My connection to you has been
Life changing.  Mine, possibly yours.  
You know who you are.  
You and
You
And
Most certainly,
You.  

You have made me better.  
Safer.  
Stronger.  
Have I made you thus?  
If not, then, it is only a lapse in my
Knowledge of how to do so.  
For my intention is
To honor you the same as
You have honored me.  

Life changing… 
No other words for it.     


Susan Patterson
8-2012

This poem is somewhat of a love poem.  It might be directed to any one.  It could be about children, parents, lovers or famous heroes.  But I wrote it thinking of those who read and listen to my poetry.  I am awed at the connection that a few words written can create.  Thank you for paying attention.  Thank you for writing me about your thoughts and feelings of the poetry posted.  I encourage you to pass this blog site on to those who might enjoy it.  Sign up a friend and surprise him or her with a weekly poem.  We never know what good we do, unless or until we make a move.  skp

Even in this very fast paced world with a myriad of sources to get terabytes of information, many of us still enjoy getting a simple handwritten letter in the postal mail.  And yes, even though I publish an electronic greeting each week, I am one of those people who watch for the mailman each day and then rush out to see what he brings.  (Gosh, that sounds desperate, doesn't it?)

Apparently, however,  I am not alone.  Letter writing is still the best way to get an important message across.  But even if one just wanted to send a small individual, hand crafted letter without saying anything too important, it is still makes a strong statement of personal caring.  The late Sen. Edward Kennedy was a great note writer, as was Ernest Hemingway.  But I know a talented and skilled letter writer today.   Sue Williams, a friend from graduate school who lives in another state, keeps in touch by newsy, chatty letters that are created with simplicity and yet still reflect the depth of true affection and friendship.  It is a joy to receive her letters.   

Here is an article on letter writing you might find interesting  BBC - http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-26473507    The article talks about the craft of letter writing and why it is important.  There are further links to help find pen pals. 

Why not start letter writing again?  No, not a chain letter.  We all hate those.  But, maybe find reasons to "drop someone a line", as they used to say, and make that person's day.  skp

▶    Better writing what you know, than speaking what you don’t know. 
                                                                                                       Earlene Grey

Cheery-bye!  skp

The Lament of the New Butterfly


There is yellow
Coming out of
Things in the yard.   
There is a lighter
Shade of green
Out there as well.  

It must be Spring.
When did that happen?  

I was quite liking my
Brown and grey cocoon,
So safe and quiet.  
Now, I will have to unfold my wings.

I liked being wrapped up in my self.  
I liked not seeing anything else but
The inside of me.

And now with my wings unfolded,
(But, oh, my Lord, aren’t they gorgeous!)
With them ready to go,
I am expected to flit and fly
Visiting other creatures, that
I can only tolerate for a moment or two.
 
Oh, Spring, what had’st thou done to me!  


Susan Patterson
03-2013

Well, alright.  Last week I posted a very sweet, albeit honest poem about spring.  Now to balance out the universe, I am presenting a somewhat snarky, albeit honest poem about spring. 

There indeed is a significant portion of the population that doesn't enjoy flitting about.  The reluctant butterflies, let us call them.  These creatures can be well appointed and capable, but be that as it may, more often than not they still prefer to be in the cocoon.   Having said that, spring will be wonderful with the new butterflies doing whatever they do best.  Enjoy the season with all types of butterflies!  skp

James and I will soon be winging our way to the United Kingdom visiting England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales.  Whew!  We will fly out of Dallas-Fort Worth on the 21st of March.  Best of all in this trip, we will be able to visit our good friends Edmund Preston and Chris Bird.  Edmund produces Radio Kinver, the pod cast on which I have had the honor to appear since 2009.  http://www.radiokinver.co.uk  If all goes well, we will post three Causerie chapters from England in April.  Be sure to watch for them! 

À bientôt!

The Hope of Spring


Spring comes just when we need it to the most,
When there is no more waiting within us.
When one more dreary day cannot be tolerated,
Brown and gray are charmingly replaced by
Pink and yellow and green.

There is hope in the air of spring.
There is lightness and freedom, too.
So join me on my porch with a cuppa.
We will sit in freshness, smell new growth,
And smile in anticipation of
Even more that is yet to be.


Susan Patterson
                                                                           2004

The Hope of Spring  is one of my older tea poems.  It is sweet and conventional.  It is a basic poem that talks of the simpler things of life like, colors, smells and sitting on a porch.   You know, we hardly sit on porches any more.  Perhaps that is a past time we might want to resurrect.  James and I  sit on our front walk way and the neighbors call us the old fogies, but what matter.   So, even though this is an elementary poem, one can still appreciate the nuances it presents in a living style of happiness. 

I live in Oregon.  The colors in the winter here are dark green, grey and brown.  Everything is muted.  Nevertheless, the combination of those colors can be beautiful and elegant.  But when we think that another day of rain cannot be tolerated, the sun breaks out for awhile and other colors climb up out of the brown earth.  I think we appreciate that happening even more than if we had bright colors all year around. 

When spring comes to you, go outside, smell the newness and enjoy the hope it brings.  skp

Cheery-bye!  skp