Hope & Healing Through Photography and Poetic Expression

Posts tagged “Love

Into The Woods

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Wandering … aimlessly

Venturing
into the
heart

of
your

evergreen
wood.

~

Reaching … trustingly

Taking
firm
hold

of
your

long
fibrous
branches

~

Sinking … intently

Grounding
myself;

 Entwined
in
the
labyrinth

of
your

deep
faithful
roots

~

Hiding … cautiously

Seeking
shelter

beneath
the dense
brush

of
your

vast
eternal
strength;

~

Until

at
last

~

you
whisper

my
name

~

and
breathe
me

full

~

of

pure
pine
essence;

~

Transforming
conscious
being

and

~

Flooding
my
soul

with

~

Light.

~

©Robyn Lee


My Butterfly

With
a
Kiss

~

Goodbye

~

Away
She
Flies

~

My
Beautiful
Brilliant

~

Butterfly

~

 

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~

Dedicated to my baby daughter,
to whom I just gave a teary hug, and kiss goodbye,
as she departed  for her extended adventure in Spain.

 She will be studying at university in Seville over
the next several months.  This will be the greatest
length of time and distance we have ever been separated.

I am so proud of this child of mine, who I nicknamed
“butterfly baby” when she was small;

A remarkable young woman
who is kind, strong, sensitive, brilliant and  100%
Love!

Spread those wings
and
Fly High
my Darling

I Love You,
Mom

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Unfolding

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You
wait

~

you
watch

~

you
wonder;

~

Patiently,

nurturing

~

caring

~

saturating
me

with
love;

~

And
slowly,

~

layer
by
layer

~

moment
by
moment

~

petal
by
petal;

~

I
open

~

I
reveal
~

I
expose;

~

Unfolding
gracefully
before
you;

~

Offering

my
raw
essence

~

in

all

its
flushed

complexities;

~

Amidst
intricate
creases

and
tender
curves;

~

Unmasking
hidden
facets

~

of
my truest
nature

~

and
the
most
delicate

mysteries;

~

Releasing
sensitive
sweet

aroma;

~
Deep

red
shades

of

~

beauty,

vibrancy

and

life;

~

Until
finally

I
bloom

~

fully

~

wholly;

~

And
you,

the

witness,

~

  Find
a

  joyous
place

~

in the
softest

perfect
center

of
me;

~

Knowing
that

tomorrow

~

it
may
not

be

ours

~

to
hold.

~

©Robyn Lee


Dear Robyn …

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Dear Robyn,

Today is your birthday,
and the eve
of a new year.

~

Take pause,
reflect, and be
grateful for
all the gifts of this
year past:

All
the
growth;

the
wisdom;

and
the Love.

~

Despite
your merciless
shadow
of pain;

the saddest
news headlines;

and
the most
turbulent storms;

You found
ways

to
inhale
the pure
scent of sea

and

feel the
warm touch
of
sunshine
on your cheek;

~

You sought
comfort

in the
glow
of
moonlight,

and
joy

in
bare feet
walking
over silky
sands;

~

You shared
intimate moments
with
butterflies,

and
gazed
soulfully into
the eyes of
deer.

~

This year you
were
blessed

with
inspiration
and
faith

in

love
and
friendship;

A boundless kind
of friendship… that
defies limits
of
time and space.

~

You learned

To trust your heart
and
share your words,
and your
vision;

To open your eyes
wider than they’ve ever
dared open
before;

To look confidently
through your
healing lens

and
know
that nobody
defines the sight
you behold…
except you.

~

And the gifts you have
received this year
are far richer for
having known

and welcomed
so many wonderful
kindred spirits
into your world.

~

Connecting
with
friends
of the soul

through this
magical
medium-of-technology

which somehow,
dissolves barriers
that,
too often,
divide;

~

You have witnessed
how it fosters

oneness
and
honesty;

~

artistic expression
and
passion;

~

healing
and
peace.

~

And just think,

How fortunate
are you?

To share
your own:

beach-walks
and
sunsets;

~

fantasies
and
sorrows;

~

hopes
and
fears.

~

How wondrous
to be
able

to support
and encourage
others,

and
to be

supported,
and
encouraged;

~

To
create,

and

 to be
part
of another’s
creating.

~

So today give reverence and thanks
for all these wonderful
birthday gifts, and celebrate.

Smile from the deepest place in your heart;
Look forward to a hopeful new year…
and tell all of the world
how much

You
Love
~

Robyn Lee

clock

~
Today I celebrate not only my birthday, and the beginning of a new year,
but also the milestone of nearly twelve months since joining this
remarkable blogging community… and soul family.
I feel so very grateful, and blessed to know all of you.

May this coming year bring peace, love, health
and abundant joy to
each of you.

Thank you for enriching my life.

Happy 2013!

WITH SO MUCH LOVE

~

Robyn


Solitary Sunset

Alone
at
last

~

I’m
on my
way

~

Our
Rendezvous

~

Down
by the
bay;

~

Please
wait for
me

~

Will
be there
soon

~

Been
counting
minutes

~

All
afternoon;

~

Your
fiery
touch

~

Your
golden
soul

~

Your
love

~

that
melts

~

the
bitter
cold;

~

 Oh
Darling

~

I
Anticipate

~

That
haunting
thrill

~

Predestined
fate;

~

And
always

~

When
the
day

~

is
through,

~

there’s
nothing

~

I
want

~

more

than

~

YOU!

~

©Robyn Lee

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And in the spirit of this special season,
I share with each of you a beloved
blessing written by John O’Donohue,
from his beautiful book:
Anam Cara
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 Love and Warmest Wishes
for a wonderful holiday,
and a new year rich with
Peace, Love, Health
and Joy!
~
Robyn Lee

Sorrow

“Sorrow makes us all children again–
destroys all differences of intellect.
The wisest know nothing.”

~Ralph Waldo Emerson~

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In Memory
~Sandy Hook Elementary School Tragedy~

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Thy Wings


To
kiss
flower

~

To
fly
so free

~

Upon
thy
wings

~

I
yearn
to
be

~

©Robyn Lee

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Click this link to enjoy a beautiful poem
entitled:  Ode To A Butterfly
by Thomas Wentworth Higginson

 


When Love Heals

Every
now
and then

~

love
stops
everything:

~

the
noise

~

the
chaos

~

the
pain;

~

Every
now
and then

~

love
shines

its
wondrous
light

on

~

even
the

darkest
corners

~

through

~

the
fear

~

the
loneliness

~

 the
struggle;

~

Every
now
and then

~

love
surprises

us

~

with

something
rich

~

something
magnificent

~

something
extraordinary;

~

And

~

Every
now
and then

~

Love
shows us

~

its
astonishing
power

~

to

Heal.

~
©Robyn Lee

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 A Look
Through The Healing Lens
of this special couple

I am delighted to introduce you to a most remarkable couple, Rachel and Bill, featured in the stunning image above. I was mesmerized by this photo when I first viewed it, and asked Rachel if I might display it in a post, and share her heartwarming story with my readers and friends here.  She was honored.

Rachel and Bill met September 9, 2010 on a Facebook online support forum consisting of a group of patients coping with hip dysfunction, pain and surgical decisions. Slowly, and in spite of their respective pain and struggle, they discovered a magical connection across 800 miles. There were four months of letters before they met; And then, through the stressful rigors of surgery and a lengthy difficult rehabilitation, they became each other’s support, encouragement, motivation and hope. Their story is a beautiful testament to the fact that, every now and then, love shows up where we least expect it… and can, literally, change worlds. “He is my angel” were Rachel’s words to me this morning, after thanking me for seeing the magic, not only in this image, but in their love story. 

I will never forget when I met Rachel on this same support forum, and we first chatted about our ongoing mission to overcome the hip problems and pain…we compared rehab strategies and surgical experiences. It was then that she told me of her new blossoming romance with Bill, one that was born of both physical pain and emotional challenge. I was deeply moved and uplifted, and now, I am doubly delighted to include each of you in the celebration, and beautiful spirit of  their history.

With great joy, I dedicate this post to the beautiful union of Rachel and  Bill.
They were blissfully married on September 8, 2012 .

Their story of love, healing and inspiration
has touched many lives.

Blessings and Love to them
Always!
~

Robyn Lee

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For This Moment

Just
for
this
moment

~

our
eyes
lock

~

and
we
feel
peace;

~

We
promise
silently

~

to
be
still
together,

~

enveloped
in the
arms
of
nature;

~

 To
behold

~

the
gentle
beauty

~

that
is
you

~

that
is
me;

~

The
world
gets
quiet:

~

a
breath

~

a
gaze,

~

and
then

~

you
are
gone;

~

leaving
me

~

to
wonder

~

if
our
meeting

~

was
merely

~

a
dream.
~~~

©Robyn Lee


Spellbound

Clouds conjure a spell
Swept away in breath of wind
Suspended…in a kiss

© Robyn Lee


Joyful Thanks

Sometimes when we seek the
song of our heart,
we discover the
music of
Joy
~

RL

Happy Thanksgiving to All!

Much Love
~~~

Robyn Lee


Poetry Of Hope

“I stay in the realm of realism,
but always carry with me the fantasy,
the romance, the wish fulfillment–
the poetry of hope.”
~~~

Lynne Greenerg
The Body Broken

 

During the last 2 decades I’ve read most everything I could find to help me make sense of my unexpected plight with chronic pain, and the complex medical maze that I was suddenly thrust into as a young mother at age 30. During a particularly difficult time several years ago, I read a book entitled, The Body Broken, by Lynne Greenberg. This book had a profound impact on my outlook, and my approach to life.

Lynne’s book is a  lyrical memoir, written by a talented writer, sensitive soul and professor of literature who faced, quite similarly to me, a world that suddenly ‘changed on a dime’.  I would recommend this book to everyone. It is a literary treasure, and poetic masterpiece that speaks honestly and directly to the plight of facing adversity, and discovering courage to reinvent a joyful life in the face of challenge, and physical pain that is not easily remedied. Lynne taught me a great deal by her noble example, and for this I am grateful and honored to share her work.

I invite you to take a few moments here to view this video clip of a brief interview with Lynne (aired on ABC with Diane Sawyer). It will provide you a flavor for her wonderful book, and also introduce you to the brave, beautiful and creative spirit that she is.

click here: Living With Chronic Pain | Video – ABC News

Much Love Always
~

Robyn Lee


My Lens


 

As we stand before
the garden
so
lush

~

you
ask:

 “Which lens
will you choose
to view
the world?”

~

Without hesitation,
I reply:

“I choose the lens
that
illuminates
the sky…

so
I may sparkle
amongst the
evening
stars,

and

slide down
the golden rays of
morning
sun.”

~

Approvingly,
you nod,
and
query:

“Can you tell me more
about this lens
you
long for?”

~

I exclaim:

“I wish
for

this lens
to
enlighten,

and
show me

how to dance
with trees,

 as they
sway

to
and
fro

with
reverence

for
wind’s most
soulful
song.”

~

You gaze at me,
with a most
curious stare,
and say:

 “Ahhh, but tell me,
can you
even
find

such a
lens to call
your own?”

~

I pause,

and
wistfully
declare:

“Oh yes, Oh yes!

 I will
find
this lens;

This looking
glass

that
inspires

my fingers

~

to

touch
the delicate
silken petals

of

even the
smallest
flower,

and 

to
explore
the deepest
lines

ingrained
on
 earth’s fallen
leaves.”

~

 You sigh,
seemingly
satisfied,

“Hmm,”

you say,
in a low
contemplative
tone,

“but this wonderful
lens you

speak of…

tell me
of
the most
perfect
vision
it

will
 ultimately
reveal.

~

And then,
I smile,
slowly closing
my
hopeful eyes,
and
profess:

“I choose the lens
that
 guides me
gently…

through
the open
doors
of

my own
heart,

so that I
can

see

~

with perfect
precision
and
clarity

~

every
glorious
color

of

~

Your

Love.”

~

© Robyn Lee

 

 

 


Up In The Air

Upon Silver Wings
Ambiguous Blue Brilliance
Through Windows of Hope

©Robyn Lee


Storm Surge

Tide Surge Raising Fear
Penetrating Eye Of Storm
Hurricane, Have Heart

~
The above self-portrait was shot at
9 o’clock pm Monday night.
This was high-tide for our area, and the
the height of intensity for Hurricane Sandy.

As many of you know, following mandatory evacuation,
I fled with my puppy to a hotel location on Sunday, and
took shelter there with many other evacuees where we lost
power, heat and hot water.

Both humans and pets shared a common bond,
in the midst of the pending natural disaster.
Together at our “safe haven” hotel, people quickly
became caring friends. There were 11-year old twin girls entertaining
Rumi for me, as people offered to share flashlight batteries, and
whatever food they brought along.

Sadly, many lost their homes, and there were
numerous heartbreaking stories of
personal struggle and devastation.
What was obvious and uplifting though,
was the instant shared camaraderie and faith among
these strangers, in the face of fear.

I am very thankful that my
home has remained mostly
in tact, less some property damage,
I will finally be returning tomorrow,
as we just received word that our power,
heat and hot water have
been restored as of this evening.

 I offer continued prayers  for all of those who
have suffered loss and struggle in
the wake of this powerful storm,
and want to express my most heartfelt thanks to all
of my wonderful friends here, who have kept us in
thought and prayer for safety.

Much Love,

Robyn Lee