spirits – Colleen Keller Breuning

Searchlight Soul (A Sonnet)

Searchlight Soul

I woke the same as any other day,
Endlessly searching for the black hole sun.
A shattered world tempered with shades of gray…
Searching for traces of light, finding none.

I walk this long and winding road of life,
Endless anxiety laced with duress.
The frigid winds blow through my bitter heart…
Searching for inner peace and happiness.

I breathe in deep to seek release from pain,
But frigid winds blow through my bitter heart.
Oh, won’t you come and wash away the rain…
Searching the universe for a new start.

My spirits will rise with a brand new day…
For I’m a searchlight soul who’s gone astray.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2022
December 17, 2022

Hi everyone! Brrrr, it’s cold out there! I hope everyone is staying warm. Winter is coming! At least in Northern Virginia it is. It has been a very cold and gloomy week, and I have not felt my best. I have been recovering from yet another sinus infection, but feeling much better than last weekend. Ever since I got COVID last November, it seems my immune system is down and I catch every little virus or sickness that passes by me.

This is a little dark piece that was inspired by perusing the different Soundgarden lyrics. I found quite a few that fit with what I wanted to write. I haven’t written a Shakespearean sonnet in a while, so that is always fun for me – like putting a puzzle together. This piece reflects a bit of a passing mood from the other day when it rained relentlessly and I felt crappy. That’s the beauty of writing – write it out, release your crap mood, and then you feel better!! It was supposed to be a snow day, but no snow fell – only some annoying ice which looked so beautiful from my view inside. As for this weekend, it will be time for getting all of my Christmas wrapping done. I am afraid my packages to Florida are going to be a little late in getting out, due to a busy time with the grandkids earlier in the month. But nobody really minds, the grandkids will certainly have plenty of gifts to open from Santa! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend filled with a warm fire and good tidings!

xoxo
Colleen

Mood: Crappy
Inspiration: “Black Hole Sun” by Soundgarden

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 24.14 Topic: Brrrr, It’s Cold Out There!!
Hard Bonus: Incorporate a lyric by Soundgarden (“I woke the same as any other day”; “black hole sun”; “won’t you come and push the rain away”; and “I’m a searchlight soul”)
Easy Bonus: Mention something money can’t buy (peace, happiness)

Blessings

Blessings

Hearth
blazing
pumpkin pies
fresh from oven
two turkeys roasting
cutting bread for stuffing
such a harvest of blessings
comfort in this labor of love
tablescape of crystal and china
my thoughts drift to holidays long ago
my spirits lifted by sweet memories
grateful for my family and friends
who have graced my life through the years
with hands and hearts intertwined
we embrace the future
by the grace of God
and share this meal
toasting health
hope and
love

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2022
November 26, 2022

Happy Thanksgiving to all! I hope you had a wonderful holiday surrounded by family and friends. Just a quick poem and blog before I immerse myself in Christmas decorating. My grandkids are coming on November 30, and I know they’ll love to see the house all decked out!

What has meant so much to me in the past year? My family – my husband Dan, my children Vince and Katie, my grandchildren Posie and Hatcher, my mother, my siblings, my in-laws, my nieces & nephews, my aunts & uncles, my cousins and anyone else I left out! I’m grateful for my friends – my best friends, my dear friends, my neighbors, my coworkers & former coworkers, my virtual friends, and all the kindred spirits I have come to know over the years. You have all shaped my life in some way, shape or form. I am so thankful to have all of you in my life!

I wish you all good tidings and many blessings as we come into this Christmas season. May you know an inner joy and spiritual warmth that fills your heart with love and gratitude! Enjoy the special moments, and remember the reason for the season at those times of insanity during your holiday preparations (it happens to us all)! Remember to take a little time for yourself to rest and re-energize. Thank you again for being here and for being part of my life! I love you all.

xoxo
Colleen

Mood: Thankful
Inspiration: “Thank You” ~ Dido

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 21.14 Topic: Thank You
Hard Bonus: Give thanks about something or someone that has meant so much to you this past year (family & friends)
Easy Bonus: Mention your favorite type of pie (pumpkin)

Feu Follet

Feu Follet

Down in the old South, deep in the bayou,
Old banyan trees rustle in the dank air.
Stars of Aquarius come into view,
Strange voices whisper their tales of despair.

From the darkness rose a small ball of light,
Magical orbs swirling before my eyes.
A feu follet glowing, fiery and white;
Paranormal renderings in the sky.

Tear up the roadmaps and follow them blind
Across the ghostly marshes where they dwell.
Just leave your hopes for redemption behind,
For they are whisking you straight into hell.

All across the swamp lands, tears will be shed
As Cajun spirits rise up from the dead.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2022
November 5, 2022

Mood: mysterious
Inspiration “Alva” by Glen Gabriel

Happy Saturday! I started writing this Shakespearean Sonnet last Sunday afternoon as we started our drive back home to Virginia. I don’t know exactly where this came from. Maybe it was inspiration from the Florida and Georgia swamps that we drove by? I started to google paranormal occurrences and somehow landed on an article about the Feu Follet. This seems to be a French twist on the “will-o’-the-wisp” that appears in fairy tales. The picture I used was entitled “The Will o’ the Wisp and the Snake” by Hermann Hendrich (1854–1931). I found it quite fascinating reading about the legends folklore of difference countries. It’s so much fun to learn new things! Here is the Wikiepedia article and another one to read a bit more:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Will-o%27-the-wisp#Americas

Feu Follet, Will-O-The-Wisps, and Jack O’Lanterns

I don’t know why this link is embedding this way – and I’m too lazy and tired to fix it!

We had a very long and nice vacation in Florida, but toward the end were feeling a little homesick and missing our cats. We had much more energy at the start of the trip. Disney was so fun with the grandkids, but it leaves you pretty tired! After that, we enjoyed chilling and fishing with Vince and Natalie. At one point we toyed with the idea of driving home straight through… but it’s a 14 hour drive from where they live. Actually we have done that a few times, but we end up getting home very late. However, this time we were too darn tired and decided to stop in Dunn, NC for the night. That was a smart move, we still got home at a decent hour early on Halloween.

Then it was back to work for me, and I ended up working very long days all week to get caught up on the client work that I missed. I swear, both of us felt like we had “car lag” or something. Our energy levels were depleted, and we just felt “off” or like we might have gotten a touch of some virus. This weekend I feel like I’m catching a cold, which I pray doesn’t turn into a sinus infection. *fingers crossed*

I do wish the weather would quit being so schizophrenic! The autumn leaves are now past their peak, many of our backyard trees are bare and right now it is 78 degrees in VA, which just seems weird. I am ready for the weather to be a little cooler, as much as most people hate to hear. I mean, it is November 5^th for crying out loud, LOL!! I just love curling up in a cozy sweater beside the fire reading a book. I guess today I’ll settle for a long sleeved shirt until the temperature drops, haha. I hope y’all have a great weekend and enjoy the autumn season wherever you are!

Xoxo Colleen

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 18.14 Topic: Paranormal Occurrence
Hard Bonus: Use the word “tear” twice – as a noun and a verb
Easy Bonus: Include a zodiac sign (Aquarius)

Rogue Specters

Rogue Specters

Upon dark clouds did hope depart,
An iceberg dagger to the heart.
Dim shadows lit by fading light…
Rogue specters in the autumn night.

Ten thousand spirits strayed, adrift,
Cast out by societal rift.
Bound by vision to make things right…
Rogue specters in the autumn night.

They mount their saddles, carry on
To promises of blooming dawn.
Sailing on sunbeams, taking flight…
Rogue specters in the autumn night.

Upon dark clouds did hope depart…
Rogue specters in the autumn night.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2022
October 7, 2022

I’m so happy to see that Blogophilia, my old blogging group, has relaunched!! YAY! This group has always been very effective in making me write poetry consistently each week. I’ve missed it, and I have really slacked lately. Their format has changed a bit, with no scoring anymore. That’s cool, I don’t really mind. Actually, I rather like the freedom of using/not using the prompts. I’ll keep on trying to use them, as it sometimes makes me go in a direction that I normally wouldn’t…like this week!

Sometimes just being in the moment or a thinking on a prompt inspires a poem. The wind started whipping up a little bit last night and kind of reminded me of Halloween coming. The line from Blake “thousand spirits stray” kept sticking with me. I envisioned some estranged spirits in the netherworld being in a kind of purgatory. I changed this up many times and ended up with a Kyrielle sonnet. I tried experimenting with a pantoum, but just couldn’t make it work.

Autumn is finally in full force, and I love the changes it has brought. The temperatures are cooling down, and we’ve had a fire in the fireplace a few nights this week, which is so comforting. This week there’s been an owl hooting out in our backyard, too! I love this, that sound is so soothing. This is my absolute favorite season of year, and living in Virginia we truly get to embrace the beauty of autumn! Some of the maples are already turning red in town, most of our own trees are young and haven’t started turning just yet. Today is a beautiful day, we are going to go to get some pumpkins for the front porch from Nall’s Farm Market. I will also pick up some squash and mums to add some color.

I’m doing much better recovering from my gallbladder surgery last week. Many thanks to everyone’s advice and kind thoughts. I have a post-op appointment next week. Food has been hit or miss, if you know what I mean. I’ve been trying to stick with a low-fat diet. This week, I cooked up some homemade chicken noodle soup and some teriyaki salmon with roast yams & asparagus last night for dinner. Both of these meals made my stomach very happy! The good news is I’ve gotten my energy levels back…can’t wait to return to my running and workout routine once I’m cleared. I hope you all have a wonderful week!

xoxo Colleen

Inspiration: “By the Roes, and by the Hinds of the Field” Johann Johannsson
Mood: Thoughtful