What could be better?

What better way to spend a hot summer day...

photo by Petrina Lesko



than swimming the vast blue seas of life among friends.

Arms Outstretched

Tonight is the new prompt for...

Jingle Poetry Potluck Week 41  'Our Theme of the Week is  "Saints, Monks and Meditation"!!   We (Jingle & Riika) offer you our warmest greetings to another fantastic week of Poetry Potluck. It is time to enjoy the peace surrounding us now in the form of mediation, the moment of tranquility within the prayers by the monks, and don't forget the teaching of the holy saints.'

Arms Outstretched

photo by Petrina Lesko

I sit, my soul bare to you,

Arms outstretched to touch your grace,

Beneath the warmth of skies of blue,

Far away, beneath the pathways.

My mind clears as the clouds from sky,

Solace within the crowds of life,

Asking of myself, asking why,

Busy days to this heart bring strife.

Seeking moments still in silence,

Joined with thee, in nature's way,

My heart bares it soul in pence,

Purity partakes, blessed this day.

For with my soul bare in this place,

Arms outstretched to touch your grace.

Petrina Lesko

June 2011

photo by Petrina Lesko



Side by Side

Though we have walked side by side,
Oh for so long... years its been, hasn't it?
Still we must go our parting ways now,
I, long tired of your deceitful ways.

Though we have walked side by side,
You understanding my weakness...
Always there like a true and dear one,
Still, forever tempting into darkness.

Though we have walked side by side,
A false bravado given, then left alone...
To pass the time delinquent of mind,
Truly... now... a habit, an addiction.

Though we have walked side by side,
You shall leave with a roar I am sure...
Screaming in the headache of my mind,
Doubting once more, please can we still.

Though we have walked side by side,
An eternity it seems, many a mile left...
Yet now, I no longer wish this bravado,
As time calls forth in new directions.

Though we have walked side by side,
Today we must stand apart, stand tall...
To find our own strength, to go forth,
Into the destinies of days, free with will.

Petrina Lesko
May 2011

Linking up with OSW over at One Stop Poetry to share in this and all the other fabulous poems linked there.

In Hopes...

As the day becomes night, the sun falling
beyond hills, gentle breezes grace my skin,
the leaves dancing against the dim colours.

The slight glimpse, feeling you just to my right,
I find myself turning, believing for...
just for an instant, I begin to share.

Realizing the cliche rising beyond,
wanting just this once to tell you my day,
knowing 'God needed you more than I did.'

Still, as the moments flash memories here,
I am drawn to sharing my special thought,
Just one more time, if only it could be.

The years of travelling through life's journey,
all the unanswered questions collecting,
yet the mind knows, 'It was your time to go.'

But the heart still feels, a breeze touches my cheek,
and still from the corner of my eye, I...
well up, ready to ask, to share this thought.

Yet I know this cannot happen, not now,
reason begins its climb, reaching summits,
telling me you are not here, not really...

Yet somehow, a calmness envelopes me,
my breathing slows, contentment of my heart
knows... knows that somehow you were listening.

Somehow, though I can not see your eyes tear,
still the embrace, comforts as you once did,
celebrates those special moments, in hopes...

Petrina Lesko
May 2011

A couple of weeks ago would have marked the 27th year since my mother passed on to better things... a better place.  With Mother's Day being just around the corner (and it landing on her birthday as it often did), I have found myself deeply engrossed in thoughts of her... of all the things and the time that we missed out on.  Over the years, periodically, as I'm sure most of us do when we miss someone dearly, I have wanted to share special moments in my day.  Or ask that all important question... and have found myself turning to speak to her, then reality strikes like a lightening bolt, reminding me she is gone.

This year has been a very exciting year for me.   It's been almost eleven months of a very strong, empowering experience here in blog land.  With each post, a little voice asks, 'Where would her red marks be?  What would she tell me to phrase differently?'   She was an English Major in college... smiles... I can remember as a child, her even taking red pen to our shopping lists and correcting our grammar.  At the time, I was not very impressed, but boy do I miss it now!  One of my posts, a poem from back a bit (find it here ), was actually a rewrite of a short story she had written in college for the school magazine.  (I wrote it from the child's perspective as it was a true story based on a very difficult decision she was faced with making.)  Now, being that the writer in me has been so prolific for quite a while, probably one of the most profound questions I find myself pondering... 'Would she truly like what I have written?  What would she have thought of my poetic version of her story?'  Then when moments become calm, and my heart stills for a bit, I know that since I knew her, I know already... what she would think.  But now, as an active writer, I sure do miss the Editor, always available to teach...

So hopefully you all don't mind my sharing this, but...  this one's for you Mom.  Happy Mother's Day, Happy Birthday!  I write this in hopes...  that you truly like it...

Follow this link to read other wonderful poetry posted for One Shot Wednesday over at One Stop Poetry.

Smoldering Hesitations

Over at Jingle Poetry  the theme this week for Monday's Poetry Potluck  is "Doubts, Fears, Inhibitions and Hesitations"...   These doubts and fears that have formed from our past experiences seem to smolder in the distance, always there, waiting to spark the wildfire to desimate all that is within its grasp.  I was working on my piece for this week's Potluck when I came across this fabulous prompt by Tess over at Magpie Tales.  I couldn't help but grasp it and combine for both prompts.




Smoldering Fires, Clarence Holbrook Carter, 1904-2000
Columbus Museum of Art
as shared at Magpie Tales #64



Like Whispers Upon Ears


Today... you walked a while with me,

Like old friends joined, together share,

I knew your steps as you knew mine,

Stepping along the path to see,

Hand in hand, alas we could dare.

The path familiar, took a turn,

For a moment we paused to look,

Stay on the path, follow the sign,

Eager to explore, more to learn,

In the distance, I heard the brook.

Desires to try within me burn,

Like wildfires in the distance know,

Come, let's go back, we will dine,

The water flows free 'on the turn,

Caressing the rocks just for show.

As the flow dropped, falling right there,

I longed to go forth, journey more,

Step forth, be you lost in the pine,
Darkness comes all too soon to dare,
For in the night, where is the shore.

Explorations curbed, this will be,

Moments unsure instilled my friend,

Like whispers upon ears of mine,

Words carry forth your doubts for me,

Deterring strength for journey's end.

Hand in hand, alas we could dare,
Stepping along the path to see,
I knew your steps as you knew mine,
Like old friends joined, together share,
Today... you walked a while with me.

Petrina Lesko
May 2011

Generosity of the Heart

Pondering the thought of mentors and role models.... What continues to go through my mind is "Do as I say, not as I do."  I've heard those words so many times in my life, so many times as a child, or from parents of children I know.  Yet the most profound thing that I can think of about those few people who I have considered mentors, the exact opposite is the resounding formula.  From each of those women, men, people... the greatest of their impacts was given by observation of how they lived their lives, how they treated everyone they came in contact with...

Generosity of the Heart

Generosity of the heart,
Silent words hidden beyond deeds,
Grace in life, framed by days like art,
Absent requests, fulfilling needs.

Generosity of the heart,
Nature so giving, selfless breeds,
First thoughts of others, always start,
Sharing worlds, to young ones she reads.

Generosity of the heart,
Preparing lessons, other leads,
Sharing meals, filling up the cart,
Gardens planted, sharing the seeds.

Generosity of the heart,
Absent requests, fulfilling needs.

Petrina Lesko
March 2011

Today over at Jingle Poetry it's time for Poetry Potluck and this weeks theme is Idols, Role Models and Mentors.  I've spent quite a few moments over the past week thinking about those people I would consider mentors trying to decipher why theirs held such an impact.  The above poem is what I came up with.  I hope you enjoyed it, to read others, click here.

Just popped over to the 'March Challenge' at the Cloaked Monk's Blog, tomorrow's theme is Abundance so it seems fitting to add this Haiku to connect there also.

ultimate sharing

generosity of heart

mentors' abundance

Petrina Lesko

March 8, 2011

His Cassey

His were the hands which gently placed

photo prompt for Magpie 51

Each stone with care, precision, placed

There to guide, lend direction for each

Step, leading the pathways of my

Journey.  Each stone adding the

Strength needed to seek the

Meditations of my days ahead.
The prayers written in stone,
Weathered with time...

Offering wisdom, guidance,

Peace with each interlocking

Pattern.  To seek from him

All that was within me,

I only needed to follow

This path laid before me,

Protecting me from the 

Dust of the earth, his

Mortar to endure the

Sands of time, all

Laid upon the

Foundation.

This was His

Cassay.

Petrina Lesko

February 2011



I am linking up this post, this poem with Magpie Tales for Magpie 51 (thanks Tess for another fabulous picture prompt) and with Monday's Poetry Potluck over at Jingle Poetry where the theme this week is Peace, Relaxation and Spirituality.

What if Poetry Wasn't?

What if poetry was gone forever from this wonderful world we live in?  What if poetry never existed?

What if all the great poets before us were never introduced to this spectacular world that we make so much a part of our days?  What if Sylvia Plath, Emily Dickinson, Lord Byron, T.S. Elliot, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, John Keats, William Shakespeare were never given the venue to share their words?  What if that wonderful teacher, friend, parent never knew of poetry and never shared it with you?  How different would your world today be?  How different would you be?

How many of you wrote your first poem as a child?  How many of you, given the opportunity to read poetry as a child were truly inspired with this wonderful way of expressing those thoughts, those things welling up inside of us, waiting for just the right outlet?  How many of you were lucky enough as a child to have someone share this fabulous world with you, so it would remain, and inspire you for years to come?

Last night I was browsing my comments and glancing over some of the prompts offered up for Mondays and I was touched, deeply, sadly, at finding out that our dear friend, bkmackenzie, founder of  Monday's Child: fair of face, was announcing that this would be the last week that she would offer this fabulous prompt.  She doesn't see that there is enough interest to keep offering up this prompt, this venue where we poets can create and hopefully inspire the younger generation about this fabulous world we delve to explore on a daily basis.  What if you could never read another poem?


Please, if you remember that childhood spark, that exciting and fabulous feeling of discovery when you read or wrote your first poem as a child, stop over at  Monday's Child: fair of face and extend your support and let her know what a fabulous and important prompt she has offered... We would all love to read an offering from you, for the children of the world, the future generations, the special child in your world.

Let us all continue to share this fabulous world of words, form, structures.

As always,

                 Petrina Lesko aka Reflections

Sunday Sketches - Hope




Hope by Petrina Lesko

  Earlier this week I wrote a poem about lighthouses (you can read it by clicking here).  Since my thoughts continued in the same mode following my post of that poem, I thought I would try to sketch a scene held in my mind.  I still need to work on the perspective, I think the lighthouse needs to be taller, but I found myself not wanting to cut the top off at the edge of the page.  I am filled with 'hope' that everyone will have a wonderful week. 

To view other great sketches, please check out 'Sunday Sketches' over at Blue Chair Diary which is hosted by Sophia.  Sophia offers a link to anyone wanting to share their sketch or artwork (you will discover a world of some very awesome artists there) or you can link up your own drawing, painting, etc.



And since I have obviously been inspired this week by lighthouses, I thought I would also link over at Inspiration Avenue as their topic this week was 'What inspires you?'  If you follow this link after Sunday afternoon, you will be able to see the work of many other really terrific artists, and what their response to this topic was.

A Beacon of Hope

Though the beacon has
long been dimmed, still
I watch the cliff side shores
of my journey, searching

for your light which has

guided so many before

me to their resting place.



photograph by Petrina Lesko



Brought home to lands

filled with beauty.

Home to a land waiting,

offering a life free of

the shadows of time,
shadows of souls once lost
to this journey of hope.

Still I search o'er the seas,
this vessel trying to
stay afloat amidst storms
of turbulent waters.
Like many before me
journeying to far off lands
in hope of a new life.

Your beam renders prospects,
hope shining, like the hand
outstretched, points us in the

direction of safe harbors.

Inlets wrapped in arms,

moorings that anchor us

to the bosom of the land.



Ventura, CA
photograph by Petrina Lesko



Distant cries of lost souls

thunder down, shadows

stirring the past, the distant

silhouette sailing near

the horizon's end, closer

to that everlasting place

where the sea meets sky.

Though the beacon has

long been dimmed, still

I watch the cliff side shores

of my journey, searching

for your light which has

guided so many before...

home to their safe harbors.

Petrina Lesko
January 2011

I am linking this post over at One Shot Wednesday.  Hope you all enjoyed this poem and are having a wonderful week, the beginning of our journeys into 2011.



I've just discovered Watery Wednesday and thought this post would be appropriate.  Think I will drop in, link up and check out all the other great photos of watery places.

'Til Then, New Beginnings

I've spent much time over the last couple of weeks pondering the passing of 2010 and the coming, the arrival of 2011.  Many feelings have bubbled to my surfaces, then fizzled back into the waters of my thoughts... drifting along, awaiting the dawn of new beginnings and new days.  This poem or parts of it have bubbled to the surface and drifted back away until tonight, before spilling onto the pages of my thoughts in yet this form.  I am linking them over at One Shot Wednesday.  Hope you all enjoy this one.

'Til Then, New Beginnings

Stepping forth into this space, this time,
Your outstretched hand guiding, leading,
Lending direction, journeys unexplored.

Still, in the small quiet spaces, rhyme,
Tales unfolding from the depths pleading,
Yet untold, springing forth from hearts implored.

Touching tenderly all the sublime,
Begging forth the peaceful seeding,
Of new paths, awakening within all stored.

To the end, the sour good-bye tastes lime,
Tart, sweet, all the more want of reading,
But dost the words here lie forth not be bored.

For in here lies the beginnings of mime,
Inspiration awaits, yearns are bleeding,
The red putrescine of words, words adored.

Bursting forth with new days, new time,
Waiting, exploring of words, needing,
Words lifting upward, higher they soared.

'Til then, new beginnings will be rhyme.

Petrina Lesko
January 2011