Friday, March 08, 2024

POEM: International Women's Day

I wish you to be loved.
To be adored.
To be desired.
To be pampered.
To be beautiful.
To be cheerful.
To be fulfilled.
To be happy.
Not only on women’s day but on any day.
Happy International Women’s Day.

~~~~~~~~~~

From my book of poetry Sunset in Toronto, page 59.

Sunday, March 03, 2024

POEM: The Japanese Maple Tree

My neighborhood looks the prettiest in the spring.
When I go for a walk in the park,
I notice the blooming trees along the street.
I take out my phone and photograph the blooms.
There is a Japanese maple tree in front of my neighbor’s house down the street. 
It’s rather unique,
And I am fascinated by this perfect creation of Mother Nature.
I stop in front of the house and take a few pictures of the tree.
My neighbor sees me from her house, and she gets out.
She encourages me to approach the tree and take closer pictures from her driveway.
I gather she is used to the attention that her precious Japanese maple tree is getting,
It’s the only one in our neighborhood.
I thank my neighbor for her kind gesture,
And don’t hesitate to come closer to the tree.
It is indeed special.
I gently touch the delicate red leaves; they feel like velvet.
Legend has it that the Japanese maple tree brings good fortune to the household where it grows.
It can reflect and absorb the happiness and the sadness of the people who live in the house.
When the members of the household are happy,
The red leaves of the tree are full of life and velvety rich.
When the family is struck by sadness,
The tree leaves are crying in pain.
Today, when I notice the tree,
Its leaves are full and velvety rich.
The tree looks happy,
And the family who lives in this house must be happy too.
How can you not be happy when such a marvel of nature brings you joy every single time you look outside the window?
And it brings you so much contentment that you want to share it with your neighbors.
Legend has it that the Japanese maple three brings good fortune to the household where it grows,
And this good fortune goes both ways.
The tree with the velvety red leaves brings joy to the family that takes care of it,
And in return the family lets the tree absorb their happiness,
A nourishing balm for the velvety red leaves.

~~~~~~~~~~

From my book of poetry Sunset in Toronto (2021), page 154.

Friday, March 01, 2024

Martisor fericit!

Dragele mele, va doresc tuturor sa aveti parte de o primavara frumoasa, calda, splendida, plina de culoare, lumina, soare, incantare si bucurii, o primavara cum nu ati mai avut! O primavara cu flori, gingasie, zambete, iubire si fericire, o primavara fabuloasa, o primavara asa cum va doriti, si care sa va insenineze sufletele si inimile!

Martisor fericit si la multi ani!

Cu drag, Victoria West.
Photo credit: Google Images

Thursday, February 22, 2024

POEM: Half

You are my other half.
My better half.
My kinder half.
My sweeter half.
My gentler half.
My dreamy half.
My dearest half.
My beloved half.
My all-time favorite half.
My one and only half.

Wednesday, February 14, 2024

Happy Valentine's Day!

My dear friends and readers,

As we celebrate this day dedicated to love and affection, may your heart overflow with joy and warmth. Whether you're spending the day with a significant other, cherished friends, or simply reveling in self-love, may it be filled with moments that make your soul dance and your spirit soar. On this Valentine's Day, let's embrace the beauty of love in all its manifestations and spread its light wherever we go.

On today's Day of Love, I would like to share with you two of my paintings that I did in 2019 (acrylic on canvas), when I just started painting as a new hobby -- Love and Family. Both of these paintings are dedicated to those whom I love the most, my husband and my son.

In the beginning, I was painting very two-dimensional, but I hope to develop my painting techniques to create more complex works in the future, I am self-taught when it comes to painting.
Love, 2019
Family, 2019
The second painting, Family, made a cameo appearance in my book of poetry Sunset in Toronto published in 2021 -- page 35, to accompany the poem I Wish I Were an Artist from page 34.

Art (in its many forms) is also a great gift for friends and family, so I gifted many of my paintings to my friends as well, on different occasions, such as birthdays, Christmas, housewarming gifts.

Happy Valentine's Day to you and yours!

Photo credit: Victoria West

Monday, January 29, 2024

POEM: Mona Lisa

I step into the grand hall of the Louvre,
My heart pounding with anticipation.
The whispers of countless visitors fill the air,
Blitz flashes incessantly,
But my focus remains unwavering.
I weave through the crowds,
Following the signs that lead me to her.
She’s the first one I want to see.
And then, there she is,
The enigmatic smile that has captivated hearts for centuries.
Mona Lisa.

I stand in awe, studying every brushstroke, every subtle hue,
As if deciphering a secret language.
The crowded room seems to fade away,
Leaving only her and me in a timeless moment.
The protective barriers that stand between her and the admirers seem to not matter anymore.
The sheer magnitude of her presence is overwhelming,
A testament to the power of art.
As I finally tear myself away,
I carry her image within me,
Forever etched in my mind,
A souvenir of my pilgrimage to the heart of Paris.

~~~~~~~~~~

I was devastated by the news at the Louvre Museum yesterday when two vandals attacked Mona Lisa. Such a sacrilege. The way how they decided to protest is not going to resolve the issue that they want to bring awareness to. If I were there, I would have dragged those two lunatics by their hair out of the museum. These two vandals (and anyone else who attacks art the same way) deserve to be banned from all museums and galleries of the world, forever. Luckily, they got arrested yesterday. But most importantly, Mona Lisa was not damaged, protected by her bulletproof glass wall.

I traveled to Paris and visited the Louvre for the first time in 2008. Mona Lisa was the very first exhibit that I wanted to see. The energy in the room where she resides was incredible that day. As it happened, it was also a Sunday. I had to wait in line for minutes to see her. Millions of people from all over the world come to Paris every year just to see her at the Louvre.

And then there are such scumbags who think they can change the world by throwing soup at THE MOST VALUABLE PAINTING IN THE WORLD, in the entire history of humanity.

I wrote this poem last year. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to visit the Louvre and see Mona Lisa.
Paris, Louvre, October 2008. Photo credit: Victoria West

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

POEM: The White Lighthouse

Standing tall and proud on the sandy shores of Lake Ontario,
The white lighthouse is a beacon of hope for sailors navigating treacherous waters.
Its gleaming façade contrasts beautifully with the azure sky and the deep blue expanse of the lake.
For generations, the lighthouse has faithfully guided ships to safety,
Its light cutting through the darkness like a celestial sword.
It has seen storms and serenity,
Witnessed tears of parting and joyous reunions,
Became a silent witness to the ebb and flow of life on the shore of the lake.
Townspeople have come to cherish the lighthouse for the sense of security and comfort it provides to all who lay eyes upon it.
Its stoic presence is a reminder of the enduring strength that guides them through life’s tempestuous seas.

The lighthouse comes alive when the sun sets below the horizon.
Its light flickers in the dusk,
Illuminating the darkening sky and announcing its unwavering commitment to safeguarding the sailors once more.
Seagulls soar gracefully around it,
Their calls adding a symphonic touch to the tranquil scene.
Families stroll along the shore,
Their laughter blending with the gentle lapping of the waves.

The night envelops the town.
The beam of the lighthouse stands firm, sweeping across the waters like a celestial brush,
Its dance casting a guiding path for ships yet to come.
Here, on the shore of Lake Ontario,
The white lighthouse remains a symbol of hope, resilience, and a community bastion.