A writer inspired by nature and human nature

Archive for the ‘Poetry’ Category

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Winter Tale (HAiKU) by Bette A. Stevens


There’s nothing quite like a twilight sky to fill the soul with awe—even at the close of a bitter winter day. Photo taken at the farmstead in central Maine in mid-winter inspired this writer to pen a winter tale. What’s inspiring you today? ~Bette A. Stevens, Maine author 

Winter Tale

Haiku by Bette A. Stevens

Periwinkle sky
Sings a winter lullaby
Twilight paints its tale

WRITING TIPS FROM BETTE

Discover more about how to write haiku and other poetry:

Find out more about author Bette A. Stevens and her books at http://viewauthor.at/BetteAStevens

[Explore Bette’s Blog]

Written

on 03/12/2018

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Writing Haiku: Winter Ensemble (Haiku) by Bette A. Stevens


Enjoying another snow day at the farmstead in Central Maine. My current WIP (work in progress) is a poetry collection that I plan to publish this year. The photo shows the east side of our barn (I love that spruce tree we planted a few years back.) here at the farmstead.  Today I’ve written Winter Ensemble and invite you to join the fun and write a haiku too. If the kids are around, you can make it a family affair—get them writing haiku with you!

Nor’easterly winds
Lead frozen boughs in tempo
Winter ensemble

~Bette A. Stevens

HAIKU

noun hai·ku \ˈhī-(ˌ)kü\

  1. :  an unrhymed verse form of Japanese origin having three lines containing usually five, seven, and five syllables respectively; also :  a poem in this form usually having a seasonal reference — compare tanka

Writing Tips from Bette

Discover more about how to write haiku and other poetry:

[EXPLORE BETTE’S BLOG]

Written

on 02/25/2018

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Writing Haiku: “Winter Interlude” (haiku) by Bette A. Stevens


Original photo from Pixabay (Display version edited by Bette A. Stevens for this haiku poster.) Writing haiku is not only easy, it’s fun. Find out all about it in this post. ~Bette A. Stevens, Maine author

Winter Interlude

Haiku by Bette A. Stevens

Lakeside interlude
Sings winter’s song—ice skaters
Hail the performance

This week, I was reminiscing about my teen years in Upstate New York. Although winters there were not at long as they are here in Maine, families and friends often took advantage of frozen lakes and ponds, gathering on weekends to light a bonfire and skate to their heart’s content. The memory of those bygone days inspired my to write Winter Interlude.

What events from the past are inspiring you this winter? 

It’s a perfect time to write a haiku of your own and share your memories with the kids and grandkids. Not only is writing haiku fun, it’s easy to do…

HAIKU

noun hai·ku \ˈhī-(ˌ)kü\

  1. :  an unrhymed verse form of Japanese origin having three lines containing usually five, seven, and five syllables respectively; also :  a poem in this form usually having a seasonal reference — compare tanka

See haiku defined for English-language learners

See haiku defined for kids

Discover more about how to write haiku and other poetry:

[Explore Bette’s Blog]

Written

on 02/11/2018

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Winter Game (haiku) by Bette A. Stevens


Winter Game

Haiku by Bette A. Stevens

Frozen window pane
Plays peekaboo with the sun
A seasonal game

It has been a long, cold winter here at the Farmstead in Central Maine. Last week’s ice and wind storm left a perfect canvas for the sun to paint its magic on the living room window, inspiring me to write “Winter Game.”

What’s inspiring you this winter?

[Explore Bette’s Blog]

Written

on 02/02/2018

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Celebrate National Puzzle Day with “The Tangram Zoo & Word Puzzles Too!” by Bette A. Stevens


Happy National Puzzle Day! This celebration is held every year on January 29th. It’s an opportunity to reflect on those puzzles, games and even challenges in life that we embrace every day but sometimes take for granted. Puzzles also offer us a great way to spend quality time interacting with family. In fact, puzzles are an awesome way to celebrate any day! ~Bette A. Stevens

Looking for some awesome fun with the kids or grandkids? Need some quality ‘together time’ on a rainy day? Visit THE TANGRAM ZOO AND WORD PUZZLES TOO! (On sale at YOUR AMAZON for only $6.99) … for hours of creative learning and hands-on fun. Solve 18 puzzles and riddles, make your own tangram puzzle pieces; then write your own riddles and add your own animals to THE ZOO! Solutions and project ideas included.

Although, this [The Tangram Zoo and Word Puzzles Too! by Bette A. Stevens] is a very clever and educational book for children, I appreciated the added bonus that an adult can sit down and enjoy it with the kids!~D.L. Finn, author

REVIEW

The Tangram Zoo and Word Puzzles Too! by Bette A. Stevens

January 2, 2018

Very Clever! 

I bought this book to give as a gift to my grandchildren. Reading through the book before giving it to them, I found it taught me a few things, too. First, I had no idea a tangram is a seven-piece puzzle with specific shapes. A pattern is provided to cut out and get started along with the history of it. There are many ways to put the pieces together, but the book supplies shapes to make– with clues or riddles as to what they are. Although, this is a very clever and educational book for children, I appreciated the added bonus that an adult can sit down and enjoy it with the kids! ~D.L. Finn, author

Ready to give Tangrams and Word Puzzles a try?

Here’s the handout the author uses with students.
Click the link or the image below.
Download, print and you’re ready to go…

[Explore Bette’s Blog]

Written

on 01/23/2018

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Have an Amazing New Year! (+poem by Bette A. Stevens)


May your New Year be Amazing
as a Monarch Butterfly

May your days be blessed and beautiful

May your nights, sweet dreams supply

May your New Year be amazing

As a monarch butterfly

Wishing all of you and our amazing monarch butterflies…
“An Amazing New Year!”

~Bette A. Stevens, Maine author

All About Monarchs

Monarch butterflies offer an amazing view into the intricate nature of the wild. Their science name, Danaus Plexippus, Greek for “Sleepy Transformation,” gets part of the story right, but not the epic whole. International conservation efforts to protect and restore monarch habitat are ongoing. These efforts may help improve the near-endangered/endangered status of the species; but we, as ordinary citizens, can easily help the monarch butterfly recovery right in our own backyards and gardens. Find out more at the links below.

[EXPLORE BETTE’S BLOG]

Written

on 12/30/2017

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Believe in Miracles—poem by Bette A. Stevens


 

Believe in Miracles

Poem by Bette A. Stevens

The whistling of the wind at play
Sunrise marking each new day
Rainfall crafting flowers to grow
Bright hues of every new rainbow

Planning skills for birds and bees
Conifer seeds becoming trees
Seas with creatures great and small
Land or sea, God made them all

Stars that mark the sky at night
Waning moon soon waxing bright
Seasons as they come and go
Wonders in each day they show

Wonder of wonders is mankind
Of every persuasion, you will find
God’s miracles are everywhere
Here to treasure, here to share

God made each one of us to show
His love and mercy as we go
About our life on earth each day
To all God’s wonders on our way

The greatest miracle you’ll find
God made the world with us in mind
He made it so that we might see
The love He has for you and me

John 1:3 (NIV) “Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.”

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Written

on 12/17/2017

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CHRISTMAS: poem by Bette A. Stevens, Maine author


Luke 2:11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. (Holy Bible: KJV)

He came as a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes.

Lived among us on earth…

God’s gifts to bestow.

∞ Christmas ∞

Poem by Bette A. Stevens

The last cookie baked, the final gift wrapped.

Christmas Eve is upon us…

It’s time to relax.

Christmas music is gently reminding us why

Lord Jesus, the Christ Child…

Came down from on high.

He came as a babe wrapped in swaddling clothes.

Lived among us on earth…

God’s gifts to bestow.

Loving God, loving others —Christ bought with his life

He epitomized love…

Not anger or strife.

God’s love is a precious gift we’re to share

With all those we know…

And with folks everywhere.

Wishing you the love, joy and peace found in Jesus—the Christ Child. ~Bette A. Stevens, Maine author

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Written

on 12/08/2017

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Respite for the Soul (Haiku & more Maine coastal photos) by Bette A. Stevens


Whenever we need a respite from the doldrums, Maine’s coast is calling…and no matter the season, Belfast, Maine is always a relaxing, scenic 45-minute drive from our 37-acre farmstead in Central Maine. The photo inspiring the haiku Respite for the Soul was taken at Moose Point State Park in Searsport, Maine. Photo collage below is from our latest visit to the nearby town of Belfast. Hope you enjoy the haiku and our visit to two of Maine’s  coastal towns too! ~Bette A. Stevens, Maine author

Ocean waves calling

Visitors from near and far

Respite for the soul

Haiku by Bette A. Stevens

A Day in Belfast, Maine

[Explore Bette’s Blog]

Written

on 11/07/2017

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“Autumn Parade: Haiku by Bette A. Stevens


Autumn Parade

Haiku by Bette A. Stevens

Medley of colors
Marching in seasonal time
An autumn parade

About the author

Inspired by nature and human nature, author Bette A. Stevens is a retired elementary and middle school teacher, a wife, mother of two and grandmother of five. Stevens lives in Central Maine with her husband on their 37-acre farmstead where she enjoys reading, writing, gardening, walking and reveling in the beauty of nature. She advocates for children and families, for childhood literacy and for the conservation of monarch butterflies—an endangered species (and for milkweed, the only plant that monarch caterpillars will eat).

Stevens is the author of AMAZING MATILDA, an award-winning picture book; The Tangram Zoo and Word Puzzles Too!, a home/school resource  incorporating hands-on math and writing; and PURE TRASH, the short story prequel to her début novel, DOG BONE SOUP—coming-of-age story and family drama set in 1950s and 60s New England.

[Explore Bette’s Blog]

 

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Written

on 10/18/2017

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