Author: v. anastasi

I am a lover of words - the way they sing together in neat or sprawling lines upon the page, conducted by the great wordsmiths of all time. The way a sudden turn of phrase or surprising combination of sounds resonates with the deep within me, causing pause: moments of reflection and appreciation that transcend the superficial babblings and paltry visions of the infantile. Here at the deepening ground, it is my intent to make time and space for the reflection, appreciation, and creative imaginings that sustain the human soul.

Forgiveness: Phase One | Dilruba Ahmed — My Pastoral Ponderings #Poem #Poetry #Forgiveness

24 Jan 2023

Once again, My Pastoral Ponderings offers a wonderful poem that I’ve never read before and that ministers life to my soul as part of his Poem of the Week series. Forgiveness of others and ourselves is such a powerful, freeing gift, and yet, one we struggle mightily to give freely. Such a rich post and … More Forgiveness: Phase One | Dilruba Ahmed — My Pastoral Ponderings #Poem #Poetry #Forgiveness

Beauty for Ashes – A Celebration of Wood Fired Pottery #Poetry #Pottery #Fire #Art #Kiln #GroveCity

22 Jan 2023

For over a month I’ve been waiting to publish this poem. (I’ve also been in a writing drought…hence my lack of posts.) Earlier in the year, my art teacher colleague at Grove City High School invited me out to his property to experience firsthand the mystery of wood fired pottery. He hoped I could capture … More Beauty for Ashes – A Celebration of Wood Fired Pottery #Poetry #Pottery #Fire #Art #Kiln #GroveCity

Another Invitation to Hope #Poem #Poetry #Hope #Metaphor #Dandelion #LiselMueller

9 Jan 2023

Today we revisited Emily Dickinson’s poem “Hope” is the thing with feathers as we explored how metaphor helps us better understand the abstract concepts of life like love, joy, anger, and hope. Dickinson’s extended metaphor comparing hope to a bird always reminds me of the following poem by Lisel Mueller, where she expands that single … More Another Invitation to Hope #Poem #Poetry #Hope #Metaphor #Dandelion #LiselMueller

In Defense of Imagination: A Sonnet from My Daughter #Poem #Poetry #Sonnet #Imagination #Fairies #Daughter

31 Dec 2022

To close the year, let me share with you one gift my daughter shared with me this Christmas as a charge for the new year. Along with a copy of Wendell Berry’s This Day: Collected and New Sabbath Poems, Ethney gave me a beautiful sonnet inspiring us to nurture our imaginations and feed the fires … More In Defense of Imagination: A Sonnet from My Daughter #Poem #Poetry #Sonnet #Imagination #Fairies #Daughter