Fiction and life . . . from the desk of Gwen M. Plano
  • Home
  • Blog Reflections
  • REDEMPTION THRILLER
  • THE CONTRACT Series
  • My Memoir
  • Poetry
  • About

Shades of Silence

1/11/2023

42 Comments

 
Hello blog friends,

If you're living in the Northern Hemisphere, I hope you're staying warm. This winter is proving to be a challenge, isn't it? Ice, snow, high winds, freezing rains. It seems we've had it all, and surely, there is more to come.

Perhaps with weather in mind, poet Colleen Chesebro offers a special photo prompt this week. She invited photographer Terri Webster Shrandt to share one of her images as inspiration. The beautiful blues stirred my imagination.

Shades of Silence -- I hope you enjoy it, maybe even relate to the sentiments.  

Have a wonderful week! 

Picture
42 Comments
ms_jade_li@hotmail.com link
1/11/2023 12:41:16

"soft shades of silence" a beautiful way to describe it, Gwen.

Reply
Liz Gauffreau link
1/12/2023 15:27:12

"Soft shades of silence" resonated strongly with me as well.

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
1/15/2023 16:04:56

Thank you so much, Ms. Jade. I'm very pleased you liked that phrase.😊

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
1/11/2023 13:11:05

Thank you so much, Ms. Jade. 😊

Reply
Mae Clair link
1/11/2023 16:59:25

That is mesmerizing, Gwen. There is something about blue shades in winter that speak to the soul, The hush... the silence... you captured it beautifully with your poem (a perfect match for that photo)!

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
1/12/2023 02:46:42

Thank you so much, Mae. I'm elated you liked my response.

Reply
Yvette M Calleiro link
1/11/2023 19:16:09

"while the sun hides its warm glow"

Love the personification, Gwen! Beautiful poetry!

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

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
1/12/2023 02:49:09

Thank you, dear Yvette. The photo lends itself to personification. 😊

Reply
Balroop Singh link
1/11/2023 19:23:43

The first line took my heart away Gwen... I could hear that silence! A perfect description! Love it.

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
1/12/2023 02:50:43

Thank you, dear Balroop. I'm so pleased you heard the silence. 😊

Reply
Karen Ingalls
1/12/2023 03:58:17

The photo and poem brought chills to my warm body. Memories of life in the winter months of Minnesota came rushing back. "Soft shades of silence" is so descriptive. Loved the poem, Gwen.

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
1/12/2023 04:05:30

Thank you so much, Karen. I thought of my years in Connecticut and shoveling mounds of snow. 😊

Reply
Jill Weatherholt link
1/12/2023 04:52:45

Your poem ignited memories of living in Virginia. So much hope in the line "while the sun hides its warm glow"...beautiful! Thank you for sharing, Gwen. xo

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
1/12/2023 04:58:05

Thank you, dear Jill. I'm so happy you liked the poem. 😊

Reply
Staci Troilo link
1/12/2023 05:09:05

I love how the end brings warmth. Lovely, Gwen.

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
1/12/2023 05:40:02

Thanks so much, Staci. I'm pleased you enjoyed the warmth. 😊

Reply
Harmony Kent link
1/12/2023 06:25:57

There’s nothing like the hush of fresh-fallen snow. An absolutely beautiful poem, Gwen. Thanks for sharing gorgeous words! 💕🙂💕

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
1/12/2023 14:25:05

Thank you so much, Harmony. I'm with you -- there's nothing quite like the hush of fresh-fallen snow. ❤️

Reply
Annette Rochelle Aben link
1/12/2023 06:52:55

Fireplaces! (deep sigh) What a great place to be, sitting by the fire and enjoying the snow!

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
1/12/2023 14:33:19

Isn't that the truth! Thank you, Annette, for adding to the warmth. 😊

Reply
Priscilla Bettis link
1/12/2023 06:57:23

This poem feels snuggly warm. iI's wonderful, Gwen!

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
1/12/2023 14:25:52

Snuggly warm -- love that! Thank you, Priscilla. 😊

Reply
Jacqui Murray link
1/12/2023 08:09:58

Terri does such beautiful work, and your poem captures the essence. Thanks for sharing it.

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
1/12/2023 14:27:41

She is a lovely photographer, and her photo is inspirational. Thank you, Jacqui. 😊

Reply
Joan Hall link
1/12/2023 08:38:20

This is beautiful, Gwen. I'm with Harmony, the silence of freshly-fallen snow is wonderful.

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
1/12/2023 14:28:30

I love snow, especially if I'm indoors. Thank you, Joan. 😊

Reply
Jan Sikes
1/12/2023 09:15:42

I can see how those shades of blue and the snow brought the sound of silence to mind. There is nothing quite as beautiful and the visualization of gathering around the fireplace made me feel warm and fuzzy inside. Great work, Gwen!

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
1/12/2023 14:29:27

Thanks so much, Jan. I'm so pleased you liked my tanka response. 😊

Reply
Colleen: Word Craft Poetry link
1/12/2023 09:19:55

Gwen, this tanka is wonderful. The blue colors spoke to me too. I love the "soft shades of silence." The peace resonates with me. 🧡

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
1/12/2023 14:30:46

Thank you, Colleen, and thank you for inviting Terri to share your beautiful photography with us. 😊

Reply
john howell link
1/12/2023 09:30:29

The fireplace is the place to be. Great interpretation of the photo, Gwen

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
1/12/2023 14:31:27

Thanks, John. 😊 I love the crackle and warmth of a fireplace.

Reply
D.L. Finn
1/12/2023 11:03:04

Love it, Gwen:) You captured a cozy moment.

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
1/12/2023 14:32:26

Thank you, Denise. The chilly weather needed a cozy moment. 😊

Reply
Liz Gauffreau link
1/12/2023 15:30:01

I love your tanka, Gwen. It left me feeling comforted.

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
1/13/2023 18:30:48

Thank you, Liz. Something simple for our busy days... 😊

Reply
Dan Antion link
1/14/2023 17:28:51

This is beautiful, Gwen. Well done.

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
1/15/2023 16:03:19

Thank you so much, Dan. 😊

Reply
Pamela link
1/17/2023 06:05:54

Soft shades of silence- be still my heart. Living in the Boston area, in the suburbs with the ice and cold and sleet and snow, I get frustrated at the weather, but you show the wonder of it, and the glory of being inside in front of the fireplace!

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
1/17/2023 08:00:35

Thank you for your kind words, Pamela. I lived in New York and Connecticut for almost 30 years. I was alternately mystified and frustrated, depending on whether I was inside or shoveling the white mound. 😊

Reply
D. Wallace Peach link
1/20/2023 06:49:09

You create such a chilly scene with your poem, Gwen, and then bring a warm smile with the last line. I love that shift. Beautiful.

Reply
Gwen M. Plano
1/20/2023 10:35:47

Thank you so much, Diana. 😊

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    For blog updates, please subscribe below. 
    * indicates required

    RSS Feed


    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    June 2019
    December 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013

Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s own way. ―Viktor E. Frankl, Man’s Search for Meaning


Plano Enterprises, LLC
Photos used under Creative Commons from Kevin M. Gill, Joel Bedford, qthomasbower, crosescribe, Juho Holmi, diana_robinson, W Presley & B Kunce Photography......WI. USA, U.S. Geological Survey, Ian Sane, florianric, NikoMC, van Van Es, Yen Chao 趙彥, MissMessie, Yuriy Kuzin, Ben Zvan, Bichuas (E. Carton), Nina Matthews Photography, hehaden, alexdecarvalho, Tim RT, Kurdistan Photo كوردستان, Candida.Performa, peddhapati (Thanks for 1M Views!!!), Jhong Dizon | Photography, Waheed Akhtar Photography, lawmurray, USFWS Pacific, JalilArfaoui, SurFeRGiRL30, Lauren Finkel Photography, maf04, SantaRosa OLD SKOOL, Dakiny, vauvau, Zanastardust, Monica's Dad, timpeartrice, marumeganechan, Rafael Acorsi, seyed mostafa zamani, Jorge Franganillo, Irene Grassi (sun sand & sea), The National Guard, D.Fletcher, nada abdalla, Ted LaBar, alison.mckellar, Infomastern, Elvert Barnes, m01229, theglobalpanorama