Peaceful Gratitude

Haiku: Old and New

blue gloves rest
on wheelbarrow of weeds
autumn work

colder weather
time for my favorite coat
from a thrift store

country roads
farmers prepare their fields
for winter

winter rain
snow fences
ready to unroll

Karl and I began our first site, Poems From Oostburg, Wisconsin, in December 2009. These years cover many life experiences – and now our common challenge with COVID-19. My goal remains the same: to offer hope and encouragement.

In 1987, I earned the Doctor of Education degree from Northern Illinois University. I am still in touch with professors and fellow students from those years. I worked hard. My strength was being able to integrate a lot of information – for example a large number of research studies in an area.

So I review my archives and create new posts. Recently, I realized these are the same skills in a new context. I link back to older posts. Good to share the poems readers seem to appreciate the most again, and I also think of new readers.

Sometimes I reread a poem and see more work is needed. I leave these old poems too. Hope some growth may be seen over time, perhaps encourage someone else. Thank you. Take good care.

These are two examples from Poems From Oostburg, Wisconsin.

Poems: Wood

Short Poems: Hosta

I enjoy featuring all the seasons.
Ellen Grace Olinger

May 7, 2020

May 22, 2020

May 24, 2020

Garden Journal
Oostburg, Wisconsin
Photos by Karl

Psalm 131

Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty:
neither do I exercise myself in great matters,
or in things too high for me.

Surely I have behaved and quieted myself,
as a child that is weaned of his mother:
my soul is even as a weaned child.

Psalm 131: 1 – 2

Psalm 70

Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee:
and let such as love thy salvation say continually,
Let God be magnified.

Psalm 70: 4

I am grateful for our blogs with WordPress. It is interesting, through the data provided – and other forms of feedback – to see which poems are read often. And if one poem is read by one person, that is wonderful as well. Sometimes many people may visit, and sometimes one person may visit, and view a few posts. Thank you. With all the data, there is still the wonderful mystery of creativity.

Two poems:

R est
E  ducate
A  dmire
D  ream
I   nspire
N  ew
G  oals

Acrostic poem for READING is one of the most read poems at Poems From Oostburg, Wisconsin, which we began in December 2009. “Grace” is a recent poem from the same site.

GRACE

gifts of small moments
when I read and write

in the middle of all
that happens every day

in our worlds
large and small

I am more than content
with what I have
and have achieved

goals revised
and rewritten for now

When my spirit
was overwhelmed within me,
then thou knewest my path.

Psalm 142: 3a (KJV)