Friday, January 30, 2015

Twilight Splendor/Milestone Thoughts--By Karen O'Leary--United States

Twilight Splendor

Autumn’s colorful hues
    have come and gone.

Silver strands replace
    youth’s golden tresses.
Gentle strength flows
    through her wrinkled hands.
Though bones ache,
    a smile lights her face.
Her fragile body encases
    a warm, generous heart.
When she eases into a room,
    others pause in awe.

In the middle of winter,
    her faith flows on.

_________________________

January 15 marked two years of Whispers!  Two days ago, we passed the 90,000 view milestone.  This is a tribute to all the talented contributors who share their words for our online journal.  It has been such a pleasure working not only with gifted writers but with kind, caring people too.  Thank you so much for making Whispers possible.  Wishing all of you the best wherever your writing journeys lead.  Thank you, also, to our readers and those that leave comments.  I appreciate your support and encouragement.
 

Blessings,

Karen O’Leary
Whispers’ Editor

_________________________

Karen O'Leary is a freelance writer/editor from West Fargo, ND.  Her poetry, short stories, and articles have been published in a variety of venues.  She released her first book of poetry in 2011 called Whispers... published by A.P.F. Publisher.  Their second project, Snippets...an anthology of short verse, contains poetry from 73 talented writers from across the world and was released in 2012.  Karen is a member of The Writers and Poetry Alliance and the Haiku Society of America.

52 comments:

  1. Thank you Karen, for writing this beautiful poem. Thank you for sharing your gifts with the world and for all the beautiful poetry you have shared. Thank you for giving your poets such a beautiful venue. You are an inspiration to me -- and to so many!

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  2. Dear Nila,

    Thank you, soul sister, for supporting me in all that I do, all that I am. What a gift to receive these words today. You are such a light in the world and a blessing too.

    Love,
    Karen

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  3. Thank you, Lois Greene Stone, for the following--

    You painted a beautiful picture with words. I could both 'see' and 'feel' what you were depicting. Thanks for sharing. Have a good weekend. Best, Lois

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  4. Dear Lois,

    Thank you for your kind words. It is good to have you a part of Whispers. I appreciate all your encouragement and support.

    Blessings,
    Karen

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  5. Nice work and congratulations on your two years!!!

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    Replies
    1. Dear Peggy,

      Thank you. Whispers would not be possible without creative and encouraging people like you. Best wishes with Shemom and all your other writing endeavors.

      Blessings,
      Karen

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    2. Dear Karen,

      Thanks so much! Appreciate the support and kind words.

      Best,
      Peggy

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    3. Dear Peggy,

      I appreciate your support too. Thank you for being such a positive voice in the writing community.

      Best wishes,
      Karen

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  6. An excellent poem and congratulations....

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    1. Dear David,

      Thank you for these lovely words. The milestones are a tribute to you and all the other talented people that share their words for Whispers.

      Blessings,
      Karen

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  7. Hi Karen,
    I loved this poem. Congratulations for your wonderful Whispers, may it continue
    To grow and prosper.
    Love
    Yvonne

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    Replies
    1. Dear Yvonne,

      Thank you for your kind words and for being a part of Whispers. Without talented people like you my friend, our online journal would not be possible.

      Blessings,
      Karen

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  8. Beautiful Karen and so pertinent to those of us in our twilight years. Robert

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    Replies
    1. Dear Robert,

      Thank you for your kind words my friend and for being a part of Whispers. Wishing you the best!

      Blessings,
      Karen

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  9. This is such a lovely poem, Karen, and the final two lines turn cold into warmth. Congratulations for Whisper's milestone!! All the best and God bless. // paul

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    Replies
    1. Dear Paul,

      Thank you for these lovely words today, for your support and your encouragement. It's talented people like you that make Whispers a creative community. God bless you too!

      Warm regards,
      Karen

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  10. Dearest Karen, congratulations on two years of an amazing on line journal of poetry that uplifts and encourages so many. I am so thrilled to be a tiny part of it. I love your poem that has such vivid imagery. Winter of course comes and goes but Whispers will stay I my heart forever with it's warmth and sunshine.
    Love, Charlene

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    Replies
    1. Dear Charlene,

      Thank you for these heartwarming words today, my friend. You are so supportive and encouraging to me an others, a bright light in the world. Thank you for helping to make Whispers possible.

      Love,
      Karen

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  11. Thank you for this poem about the tenacity of winter, it is absolutely lovely and thank you for whispers.

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    Replies
    1. Dear Joan,

      What lovely words to read today! Thank you so much. It is a joy to have you a part of the Whispers family.

      Blessings,
      Karen

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  12. beautiful write, my friend - and big congrats for your well deserved success xxx

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    1. Dear Jack,

      Thank you for these kind words today, my friend, and for your ongoing encouragement. You have been with Whispers since the beginning. Without writers like you this online journal/poetry community would not be possible.

      Blessings,
      Karen

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  13. Thank you, Beth Winchcombe, for the following--

    WOW Karen, what a wonderful way you've expressed the winter of life....the winter of life where I now dwell. So many memories to look back upon! I feel blessed that I've lived beyond the three score years and ten. Each year is a bonus. I would be so pleased if you could enter that comment for me!

    You're such a treasure,
    Bless you,
    Beth

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  14. Dear Beth,

    What a gift to receive your words today. You are a treasure too, my friend. Thank you for being a part of the Whispers family and for your encouragement and support.

    Blessings,
    Karen

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  15. Congratulations, Karen! Beautiful poem, too. For me the metaphor of wonderful, optimistic and gently aging Earth is embedded in it too.

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  16. Dear Michael,

    Congratulations to you too! It's talented writers like you that make our online journal/poetry community possible. Thank you so much for your kind words on my poem.

    Blessings,
    Karen

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  17. I enjoyed this. I related to it, on many levels, all good.

    Thanks for sharing some of your writing here, Karen. Always a treat.

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    Replies
    1. Dear Michael,

      Thank you so much for your kind words and for the uplifting voice you are in the writing community. It's so good to have you a part of Whispers!

      Blessings,
      Karen

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  18. Very nice, Karen. And congratulations on two years of Whispers. And 90,000 hits!
    That proves that you are an inspiration to so many people. Thanks for all you do.

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    Replies
    1. Dear Pat,

      Thank you so much for your kind words. It's so good to have you back at Whispers. I appreciate all the encouragement you give me my friend.

      Blessings,
      Karen

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  19. A warm and gentle thought runs through this poem.

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    Replies
    1. Dear Ranu,

      Thank you for your kind words. Good to see you back at Whispers. Wishing you the best.

      Blessings,
      Karen

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  20. Congratulations on two years with Whispers Karen. Your poem takes the chill out of winter by warming the heart ..I enjoyed reading it! Best wishes & God bless...Love, Chris~

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  21. Dear Christine,

    Congratulations to you too, my friend! It is encouraging people like you that make milestones at Whispers possible. Thank you for your lovely words on my poem. I appreciate your ongoing support more than I can express.

    Blessings,
    Karen

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  22. Thank you, Robert Dufresne, for the following--

    KAREN ! What an extraordinarily beautiful, insightful, sensitive and powerful poem! One of my favorites. God bless you for that one! Just awesome.

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  23. Dear Robert,

    Wow! You really made my day with your lovely words. Thank you so much. It is so good to have you a part of Whispers.

    Best wishes,
    Karen

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  24. Thank you, Jean Calkins, for the following--

    Loved the poem. Great success for only 2 years!

    Jean

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  25. Dear Jean,

    Thank you for your lovely words today. The success of Whispers is due to talented people like you being a part of it.

    Blessings,
    Karen

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  26. Beautiful poem Karen, pondering thought, capture the heart and love within. Blessings sent with love, Leokadia

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  27. Dear Lee,

    Thank you for your lovely words and your ongoing encouragement. Your friendship is a gift in my life.

    Love,
    Karen

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  28. well done, Karen, as always. . .

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  29. Thank you so much for your kind words and support ayaz. Best wishes with all your writing endeavors, including bear creek haiku.

    Blessings,
    Karen

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  30. Just beautiful, Karen! Words to warm a chilly day. :) Thanks for Whispers and the opportunity to read and share our hearts with one another. God bless as you continue, with many more milestones to come!

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  31. Dear Lisa,

    What a joy to read your lovely words today. It's people like you that are talented and encouraging that make Whispers possible. Thank you so much for all you do for our online journal.

    Blessings,
    Karen

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  32. Two years! So pleased to of joined in the early days of Whispers! Thanks for your hard work and dedication to make the journal possible. A marvellous poem to round off the years, best wishes Ralph.

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    Replies
    1. Dear Ralph,

      It is so good to have you a part of Whispers! Thank you for your lovely words today. Your support and encouragement are greatly appreciated.

      Best wishes,
      Karen

      Delete
  33. Karen,

    Enjoyed reading your work honoring someone special in your life..It is a great sentimental work..

    Wonderful that the site is such a great success..It is a nice place to share wonderful poetry with others who are gifted with the guilded pen..

    Sara

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    Replies
    1. Dear Sara,

      Thank you for your lovely comments today. It is people like you that make Whispers possible. I appreciate all your support and encouragement.

      Blessings,
      Karen

      Delete
  34. Hi Karen. Thank you for the blessed poem and congratulations on Whispers' tremendous milestone, as well as the durability of seeing two great years. I appreciate you and everyone that I have met here at Whispers. I pray continued success for you and yours! -MJ

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  35. Dear Maurice,

    Thank you for your kind words my friend. It is people like you that support and encourage others that make Whispers possible. Best wishes with Creative Inspirations and all your writing endeavors in 2015.

    Blessings,
    Karen

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  36. Thank you, John Polselli, for the following--

    I love this one, Karen! Sad, yet the brightness of hope shines throughout. Very inspiring. Thank you!

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  37. Dear John,

    Thank you so much for your lovely comments. I appreciate your ongoing encouragement and support.

    Blessings,
    Karen

    ReplyDelete