The Day is Here and Now

Dear Dolores, how lovely of you to visit one of my earlier hubs. That is so gratifying, as it is to win that award.

You are so right. I did take a chance when I joined Hubpages, so shy and reluctant even to share my poetry! I'd trusted myself for a long time, but wasn't so sure about opening up to the public! You probably remember when I joined quite well. You were among the lovely folks I met soon after I joined in March, 2010, I think it was. If several lovely folks, like you, hadn't taken me by the hand and encouraged me, I really probably would never have opened up!

So reach your right hand up, bend your elbow and pat yourself on the back! You deserve applause for your part in it!

You know, I'm so unaware of the main things going on with Hubpages, that I knew nothing about the contest or even where to locate the information when Vincent Moore told me that he was campaigning for me to win best poet! I still didn't know anything about what the contest was all about or was going on with it till about 3 days before its deadline, finally HP posted a notice on my Hubpage where my hub statistics are. I visit that page regularly to check for comments on my own hubs and for new hubs by people I follow. So I know that notice of the contest hadn't been posted there before then.

Anyway, I hurried to the contest site to vote for people for its categories; and I'm happy to say that several I voted for won in their categories. I like the contest because it's decided by our peers. It may be that if someone hadn't championed me, I wouldn't have won, but one of the HP people told me I 'won by a landslide'. (Winners are being given HP T-shirts and that person wrote to me for my size.)

Guess that says something for my friends!! And I'm so honored and pleased! I never expected it! I'm still reeling a little from it!

I guess the Day IS Here and Now! whoo-hoo!

Awww - thank you, Mike. But - who's counting? Each one is unique and 'stand-alone'! Hugs and smiles!

Ah - Ken, dear friend, I'm so very pleased to see you! Thank you for coming by!

Oh, yes -no time like the present. Actually, we are renewed with each moment that comes and then is replaced by another new one! Aging is what happens when we waste them, perhaps.

Those lines you and DRBJ favor do sum up lot about living life, don't they? They'd work even if there were something beyond reach, so long as it remains yet unreachable.

Petra, that last visit from my precious niece, is one of the miracles which came from the sad loss of my sister, Ruth. It's along the same lines as experiences which you and I have been sharing which we know resulted from the spiritual presence of our departed loved ones affecting our lives. I am truly glad that you came here today for some poetry, dear friend. Your visit always cheers me.

Harriet Ann ~ I am so pleased that you found my hub and loved it! I've had you on my mind so much since seeing you at the funeral! That was a special moment we shared which meant so much to me. I totally agree that many things happen through divine guidance. I love you, too, dear one. I missed being notified of your comment, but was notified of Petra's, which brought me here where I found yours, too. So glad I did!!

Hello kj force! I love your comment. (I managed to get it translated) I guess I do bring a unique approach to my thoughts and subjects; I dearly love sharing them. I hope it won't be the last time you visit my hubs! There is no dearth of them published. I believe there are 114 poetry hubs of my total published 169 and I'm ever prolific, so you can be sure there will be more.

Thank you for your visit and the elegant comment. I wish I were proficient at the language, but - alas - I know only a few words and phrases. I probably write English better than I speak it. It took me years to find my voice! Now you inspire me to learn French!

Faith - thank you. The Day is what we're given to "be in" - here and now. It matters how we use it. I'm pleased you keyed in to it. Hugs.

Jahvonnie, thank you for your visit and the lovely comment!

I notice you've been a hubber 4 years! wow. You were kind to notice a newbie then. I had no intentions of actually contributing anything! haha - I joined because Merlin, (from another mutual social group), had joined & invited me, from seeing I liked to write. He mentioned getting followers here and I thought maybe I could help him by becoming one. Next thing I knew - I was off and writing! Funny how this thing grabs hold, though! Thanks, Gerg.

Thank you, Gerg! It was written with feeling.

BTW - I received a comment just a bit ago on my very first-ever hub over 2 years ago (AHA Moments) and noticed that you were among those who left very good comments to a newbie - way back then! :-)

Mhatter99 - I just visited your site to see who you are when I saw you'd been by here. I liked each of your poems and am now following you, hoping you'll write more. One of the ones I just read over there is like a little jewel.

Thank you for visiting mine and leaving a comment I truly appreciate.

Dear DrBJ - Thank you, my esteemed friend. Whatever you comment, it always resonates with me and this definitely does! I mean those words you've quoted. Thank you!

Daisy - that is really good, - for them to express themselves without feeling under supervision doing it. Many good side benefits. Good for you!!

Neelesh - I'm so happy to see you, my friend! Thank you! Hugs.

Daisy - wow. I'm not sure whether I knew you taught. I'm a certified secondary teacher, too; but have taught only in my practice teaching - - WAY back when! It's surely a different challenge now!

I have to wonder when they'd have time to do hubs, though it would be exciting. You think it would benefit them? Are there some writers?

Martie, darlin'. Thank you for being here. Your visit is cherished! Such lovely praise. I blush. Hugs.

coffeegginmyrice - yes that video is lovely, isn't it? So pleased that you enjoyed it too.

Yes, each of our crystal balls is the one within us. I'm very aware of the function which I think of as "the wisdom of the body". It's not just our mind which thinks and knows, but every living cell within us has knowledge & a function. They're often revealed to our conscious minds through our dreams, and our 'intuition'. We even attract to ourselves what we desire, in a certain sense, because we're open to it. Our minds' strength is in its ability to focus - which also shuts much that is "there" out. We need both kinds of intelligence to be fully balanced and whole.

Thank you for the visit and good comments!

The fact is that one lovely gentleman with a well-tended silver goatee captivated my attention enough that I had to get up, walk over and ask him what he was reading with such animated pleasure. This was while sitting in the dining area after seeing all the displays and lunch was no longer being served. People, including Val and I, were just resting our feet and enjoying a cup of tea to prolong the outing.

Of all things, what he was reading was a quite serious historic account of some phase of German policy! He said he was an American history prof and liked to peruse other countries' histories and development. I could only imagine what an interesting, animated teacher he must be. I told him I started reading Durant but had only made it through 3 of the volumes. He graciously admitted it is daunting.

Val and I left right after that and he continued reading, I suppose. So much for my sly sleuth, though. hehehehe.

The butterflies have their work to do and of course - try to do it. They must be versatile in order to suit their given moments and to please the garden. Thank you for that lovely thought. Made my wings flutter.

Thank you for the welcome back from the borin' 20s, as it turned out. A few highlights, but mostly, both art & photos were ho-hum. Lunch was good, as was the company! People watching was prime! :=)

secondimage, hi! Welcome to Hubpages. You're very new to us, so I'm especialy pleased that you found my hub to visit with your comments. And thank you for the votes.

You're right that there are some outstanding writers among us! Some who are among the best poets here didn't really write poetry before coming here, where they plunged in and found their unique poetic 'voices'. So don't worry about matching anyone else's stuff. Just write what you have to say in your way, as you're doing. That's the only way to be authentic and it's how you'll find you own best style and course.

JF - Hello. Certainly an interesting comment. Glad you were drawn to come read and leave your thought! Doing so is generous. Thank you. It means a lot to me.

Daisy - haha - Your son would have things to say, no doubt! Love the remark about hating for the teachers to wake 'em upl haha

My poem about sleeping really has a somewhat different meaning than wanting more sleep, though. (But however it can be used is fine, especially if it helps the kids!)

Thing was, and still is, - that, much as I enjoy sleep & am good at it, even when very young I really hated to use precious time being unconscious! and out-of-it! The reference to the lantern under the sheet is factual. When I still slept in my youth bed with the high sides, I'd smuggle a little battery-powered brass lantern under the covers, along with a book - so I could read awhile after official bedtime. Back then there was no choice; - bedtime meant going to bed. No TV or other distractions, either. And ever since, I've always stayed up to do projects, including many all-nights and consecutive all-nights. I don't recommend it, really! But I do sleep extremely well when I sleep, so that helps. I think quality of sleep counts almost as much as quantity.

Sure - If you can apply some of my poems to a valuable use, good! Hugs.

Ah-h-h, Augustine -- Amaretto is nice and smooth, though I'm not too sure I'm always either nice or smooth! But 'long as you're not turned away, I'm pleased! Thank you!!

Yes, James, it is! And even more so is the moment we take living breath. We must make the most of it or it's lost forever. We've have no assurance there will be more, but it hardly matters if we squander it while we do have it.

Thank you for the lovely compliment - and the visit!

Cleaner3, thank you! I appreciate your kind comments. I see you're a poet and a scholar. Wonderful! I also see your name is Michael. :-) So - thank you, Michael.

Hubert Williams. . . Thank you. I'm especially pleased that you like 'Tomorrow is today now.'

Yes, George Winston's music is truly soothing and restful. Though 'Alone' wasn't published yet, we used to love to listen to his strains wafting over the campground beside Lake 'o the Pines. Other campers would come to ask whose music it was. He gets amazing sounds our of that piano.

Hi Friends - Thank you for visiting and being my very first visitor here. Best of health to you, too!