Life's Contrasts

1/6/2026

Carlsbad at Christmas 2025

Dear blog friends,

I hope you welcomed the New Year with great hopes and dreams to be manifested. With the waxing moon, the night was especially magical in our part of the world (the high desert of Arizona). We celebrated quietly at home, since we had just returned from Carlsbad, CA, where we visited family.

January 1st was ice-covered, no snow, just ice. Everything from rooftops to streets glistened. Quite the contrast from our days at the beach. But, in a way, the contrast was perfect for this week's poetic challenge. I hope you'll agree when I explain the prompt.

Willow is the host this week, and she invites us to "find a quote about new beginnings for the new year or your life." She explained that the quote would bridge two parts of our poem.

After straddling two worlds (the beach and the desert), this week's Tanka Tuesday prompt opened a door for me -- to the political, religious, and socioeconomic contrasts we all live with. My poem is a simple one... I hope you like it.

Have a wonderful week, dear friends--rain or shine, warm or cold. 🌞❄️🌞

24 Comments

Dan Antion link

1/7/2026 05:35:02

This is very good, Gwen and I think timely. We've seen the political rhetoric start up yesterday in the local (CT) news. Today, there's an opinion piece in the newspaper that starts with "Your political enemy is still your neighbor." I think we need to work harder at meeting people in the middle.

Gwen M. Plano

1/7/2026 07:59:05

Thank you, Dan. Life's too short to focus on hate. My parents had a rule -- never talk about politics. They were conservative farmers, but I never heard them voice an opinion about one Party or another. Instead, Mom did a lot of praying for elected officials. 😊

shaun link

1/7/2026 21:06:46

There are no enemies in politics. Everyone is for sale!

Gwen M. Plano

1/9/2026 11:54:32

It's a sad truth. 💙 Thank you, Shaun.

Priscilla Bettis link

1/7/2026 05:55:22

I echo Dan's comment. We need to try to understand one another, talk and listen and compromise and get along. Have a wonderful 2026, Gwen!

Gwen M. Plano

1/7/2026 08:00:30

I totally agree with you, Priscilla. I hope this is an incredible year for you. ❤️

John W. Howell link

1/7/2026 06:04:52

Shoulder to shoulder would be great, Gwen. Sadly, we are faced with those who do not embrace the principles upon which this country was founded, which, if we all stayed together, would remain a minority voice. Most do not recognize the danger and, under the naive belief in freedom of expression, allow the seditious to chip away at the rest of our freedoms.

Gwen M. Plano

1/7/2026 08:09:03

Sad times for sure... Thank you, John, for your comment. Anymore, I talk to the ravens who often visit, and otherwise I listen to the wind through the trees. I rarely look at the news, because I just can't bear it. 🌞

Timothy W. Dittmer link

1/7/2026 07:09:08

Very meaningful poem, Gwen. That your home area was ice-covered is very surprising to me.

Gwen M. Plano

1/7/2026 08:11:19

Our roof is ice-covered today as well. It's starting to warm up - 35 degrees now. Who knew a desert area could be so cold. 🌞

Liz Gauffreau link

1/7/2026 10:18:27

Your poem is the perfect way to guide us into the new year. Thank you!

Gwen M. Plano

1/7/2026 10:40:52

Thanks so much, Liz. ❤️

Jan Sikes

1/7/2026 13:13:38

You said it perfectly, Gwen. Standing shoulder-to-shoulder instead of raising our voices and fists certainly is more appealing to me!

Gwen M. Plano

1/7/2026 13:42:01

Thank you, Jan. I'm grateful to be living in the country. Folks are more accepting and patient than some city folks. 😊

Thomas S Wikman link

1/7/2026 16:12:19

We celebrated quietly too, but we had some family. We were six. It is fairly warm here in Dallas, 76, and the tomatoes in our backyard are growing very well and turning red. It is a poignant poem. Divisions have grown and seems to grow, like our tomatoes.

Gwen M. Plano

1/8/2026 08:53:28

The image of your tomatoes and how divisions grow is a striking one, Thomas. I won't be able to plant until late April, but your imagery will stay with me. Thank you! 😊

willow link

1/8/2026 01:22:43

This is absolutely perfect Gwen ... Our world is on the brink of a massive war thanks to certain leaders. We all need to rise up and pull together ,to unite as one and learn to love and except eachother. Be blessed and safe.💜💜

Gwen M. Plano

1/8/2026 08:55:21

Thank you, dear Willow. We've been on an emotional roller coaster, and I think most of us just want to be together and help one another. ❤️

Ange link

1/8/2026 06:41:54

A wonderful Puente Gwen - if only people who listen to each other, walk in each others shoes, maybe they would find a way past differences ❤️

Gwen M. Plano

1/8/2026 09:55:01

Beautifully said, Ange. We all need to "walk in each other's shoes." Thank you for the insightful reminder. ❤️

Yvette M. Calleiro link

1/10/2026 20:33:35

Great poem, Gwen!

Yvette M Calleiro :-)
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com

Paul Cannon link

1/12/2026 08:02:48

I like the naming of the experience in the first and the resolve in the second, and I do love the quote - perfect.

Michael link

1/12/2026 10:35:29

That's a great question you raise in the second stanza and I have no faith that the majority of people asked would respond positively :( But never give up hope. It's interesting to read about snow and ice in Arizona because I always associate it with desert.

Colleen link

1/12/2026 13:11:58

Happy New Year, Gwen. It's good to see you this week. 💜

Life's Contrasts

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