Walking home I stop
in awe
I gaze at the blazing red-orange leaves, once spring green
Every year this glorious autumn display greets me
God’s way of saying, “Stop and look. This is me saying I love you to you, and all who take the time to pause…”
I smile and whisper “Thank you” in my heart and I walk on
Grateful to be so loved.
to begin again
like a blue iris blooming
is my heart’s desire.
April fools, full moon
Pink cherry blossoms, birdsongs
I still long for you.
On the first day of spring
two decades and 4 years ago
I remember…
I remember you
walking towards me
looking dashing in your beige barong
smiling and saying, “Hello, I believe
we’ve met earlier…”
Yes, I remember your voice
strong but gentle,
commanding attention,
but allowing spaces of silence
to listen with full attention —
Yes, I remember your eyes,
the color of the sea, deep green,
shining with amusement
quietly taking in my words
spoken in response to your revelation
that you were not just a minister
you were a lawyer, too.
Yes, I remember my unfiltered,
unapologetic reply –
that night at the Luce Library,
“I don’t like lawyers much!”
You just stood there gazing at me
and letting me chatter on
like a defense attorney making her case
why you should walk away now
while you can.
But you didn’t.
You stayed
and listened …
and at the end of my lengthy opening statement,
we both knew,
you had won
the most important case
in your life,
you had won
my heart.
Pause for Poetry: Haiku to Welcome March
Blue skies, sunny day
the snow has melted away
spring is coming soon!
A new year has begun
My feet wants to keep going
But my heart desires to be still.
Within me a clock is ticking
Not fast or hurried, but steady
It is saying, you can be still
And keep going.
Stillness does not mean stuckness
Stillness can be active courage
Willing to remain calm and focused
Even when so many things are screaming for my attention.
Time to be still is good
At the beginning of the new year
It is necessary.
In stillness you take a deep breath
Before you take the next step:
You notice
You pay attention
And then you go on …
until it’s time
To be still again.
By Carla A. Romarate-Knipel
January 5, 2026
Maple leaves falling,
floating, dancing to the ground
my heart flutters, awed!
Pause for Haiku: Love in a Cup ☕️💕
made with affection
sweet, bitter deliciousness
cradled in a cup.
By Carla A. Romarate-Knipel
We were all young once
we skipped, we hopped, we danced
raced and ran
climbed trees, gazed at the sky,
wishing we could fly
and touch the stars.
Then we grew up, grew older
lost most of the awe and wonder
legs no longer strong and agile
our vision clouded, unable to see
beyond the haze of mortality’s doom.
Somewhere in between
the joy and the gloom –
a voice calls out an invitation
“Follow me…”
we hear a knocking
on the door of our hearts
the Lord of all Life
the Lord of the Dance
waiting to come in.
Anyone who opens the door
skipping, hopping, running
limping, shuffling, trudging
to let this Holy Guest in
will meet the Light of Lights,
who parts the clouds of doubt
to let the glory shine –
we become children once again
now and forevermore.
You started as buds
Sleeping green petals unfurled –
into purple hope
