The Need for Calming Seas

Color and B&W images allow me to see things in very different ways. Color's power, in this unedited Nantucket sunset (taken at Madaket Beach 10 years ago), is its ability to add emotion— peacefulness, gratitude, and awe.

Look at that... How can it be real? Truly a moment given by God. The longer we stayed, the more beautiful the colors became.

But there is something about a B&W image I love. Check out this other image taken in Nantucket. It strips away all the distractions, and somehow you can see the details more clearly.

"COLOR" as my 2026 One Little Word was the perfect choice for me. I have not been able to stop noticing the beautiful, and sometimes somber colors—both in my box of "64" and in my own world. Because I have 64 colors and 52 weeks, I will feature multiple colors in a few posts.

Lucky Us... More Poetry!!!

Here are the crayon colors #2-4. Can't wait to get started on the next batch!

#2 GRAY

This week has been tumultuous worldwide. My heart has been reflecting the somber, cold, gray New England scene out my window and the heavy news of the day. When I think of the color "Gray," my thoughts go to those old Film Noir movies—dark, shadowy, and foreboding. Here is a sample short film noir movie, if you would like a taste. "The Stranger" with Orson Welles.

#3 AQUAMARINE

For the next colors, I wanted to choose calming colors. According to the GIA gemstone website (read more here), "The word Aquamarine means 'Sea Water' in Latin. And like the sea, it represents  both euphoria and relaxing calm; it encourages letting go of feelings, purifying the mind of negative thoughts."

I was fascinated to learn that in the Viking days, if sailors were overwhelmed by a storm at sea, they would throw aquamarine gems into the ocean to appease the wrath of the Gods.

This color is truly one of my favorites!

Have you felt the feelings I share at the water's edge in this poem?

#4 SEA GREEN

A lovely compliment to Aquamarine is the calming color Sea Green (sometimes recognized as Sea Foam Green, although it is not the color of sea foam at all ;) (Read more here on Canva)

"This color has strong associations with nature and is the color of good luck, freshness, and renewal. It contains blue, the color of the ocean and sky, conveying a sense of tranquility.

In color psychology, green is thought to help balance emotions and promote a sense of calm and clarity."

My "Sea Green" poem is inspired by a pair of sea-glass earrings my husband Scott gave to me on our 35th wedding anniversary during a trip to Nantucket.

Boy, do I need me some Aquamarine & Sea Green!

Here is a brief video from our visit to Horseneck Beach, RI, a while ago.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE

Since the NESCBWI Agent Editor Day in November, I have been a submission machine, sending out over a dozen of my picture book manuscripts to agents and editors, and submitting my poetry to anthology calls and other opportunities. Every time I send one of my "babies' out there, it brings back those feelings of waving goodbye at the bus stop as my child goes off to school for the first time.

Hopefully, I will have some very good news to share soon. If you keep casting, you are bound to catch a fish... Right?

Thank you to Tabatha for hosting this week's Poetry Friday at The Opposite of Indifference.

Tabatha's selections show the intense power of words to take us back in history and also see how history is being written as we speak.

Be sure to stop by and use the links after her blog post to read all the lovely poetry. Each one will give you a different color and flavor. Poetry is a great way to start your weekend!

Now to that box of crayons... which color will be next?

FYI- I welcome any comments. Click on the title when you arrive here at the blog. Then scroll to the end of this post, past the links to my older posts, and the comments will appear. Look forward to hearing from you.