
Storm Clouds
Storm clouds
foster fears.
I view this world
through a veil of tears.
Loss of courage,
lack of trust.
Ashes to ashes,
Dust to dust.

Sunbeams
Bright hopes
shine anew.
I view the clouds with
sunlight breaking through.
Summoning courage,
building trust.
Living joyfully
until I’m dust.
Copyright© 2022 by Cheryl Batavia
Two very contrasting pieces, that exquisitely depict the tale of our two worlds at the moment Cheryl .. I’m running out wishes, but in hope I trust 🖤💕🌏
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Thank you, Ivor, for your lovely response. I appreciate you sharing your thoughts. The thing is, I sometimes feel both ways at once when I think of the war in Ukraine. The suffering and cruelty are horrific, but the spirit and courage ar the Ukrainian people are inspiring. Yes, we can never give up hope! ❤ Take care, Ivor!
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I understand your sentements Cheryl …
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Two sides of a coin…sadly that’s how the world is today. The contrasts brought out so well Cheryl ❤️
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Thank you so much, Radhika! I appreciate your thoughtful comment, and I am happy you like the poem! Have a great week! ❤
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Explained the goods and odds in a well manner 👏
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Thank you. So glad you like the poem. ❤ Enjoy your weekend!
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Thanks you too have a great weekend ahead. 💐💐
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You will never be dust, Cheryl, your beautiful, poignant poetry immortalize you. Thank you for the pictures, stuning.
Joanna
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What beautiful, kind thoughts, Joanna! Yours is the first comment of my day, an encouraging way to begin. ❤ Thank you so much!
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You are more than welcome!
Joanna
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A great write on perspective. I enjoyed the binary contrast.
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Thank you, Roshini, for your perceptive comment. It is deeply appreciated and means a lot to me. ❤ Have a great week!
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Thank you! I wish you a wonderful week too. Good luck, and happy blogging!
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The darkness in life is beautifully expressed, Cheryl, and the brightness in life reflects on encouragement and hope. Your contrasting poems send a clear message. Have a great week ahead! ❤️
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Thank you, Eugi, for your kind comment. ❤ It is deeply appreciated. Wishing you a glorious spring day!
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My pleasure, Cheryl! ❤️
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This is so beautifully expressed, Cheryl 🧡
I can see that bright spot in between dark clouds. Hope it bathes the world with joy and love.
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What a beautiful comment and heartfelt hopes, Ritish! I share your bright and optimistic vision. ❤ All the best!
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I love the contrast between the two poems. The juxtaposition makes the second all the more hopeful. And hope is surely what the world needs now, more than ever.🌻🌻🌻
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What a beautiful response, Chris! Where would we be without hope? ❤ Love the sunflowers!
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I appreciate your sense of making the two contrasting aspects into something so realistic. The situation may be bad, but we shouldn’t lose hope. This is really inspiring, Cheryl. Loved it.💖💐
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KK, thank you so much for your thoughtful comment. So glad you liked the poem! We must hold on to hope! ❤ All the best!
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Cheryl, I love the contrast in the images and the words they evoked. It is all a matter of perspective, isn’t it! Brilliant write. ❤️
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Thank you, Punam for sharing your thoughts. Your support is very much appreciated. Yes, I believe you are right…it is a matter of perspective. 🙂
With regard to the war in Ukraine, I find myself feeling sad for the destruction and death and, at the same time, heartened by the bravery of everyday Ukrainians defending their country. ❤
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Those are my feelings too, regarding the war in Ukraine. I do hope it ends soon. ❤️
Cheryl, I always look forward to your posts and your insights. Always a pleasure. 😊
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Thank you, Punam. That means a lot to me. ❤
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❤️❤️
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Stunning poetry Cheryl🌸💕 I love that hope shines through and prevails
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Thank you so much, Henrietta, for your lovely comment. ❤ Have a great week!
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There is always light, even in the blackest of storms. Thank you for bringing a message of hope, Cheryl! ❤️
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Ingrid, thank you for sharing your beautiful thoughts. ❤ I am thankful for light and hope! ❤
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Me too, Cheryl, me too! 💖
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Beautiful. Great contrast of imagery. 🙂
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Thank you for your wonderful comment, JoAnn. It makes me happy that you like the poem. ❤ Take care!
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A beautiful story of hope. The earth always takes us back around to the sun.
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I love what you have said, JoAnna. “The earth always takes us back around to the sun.” Thank you for your kind comment. ❤ Have a sunny day!
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❤ You, too!
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Beautifully shown a valuable transformation of mind 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🌹
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Thank you so much for your lovely response, Subbashini. ❤ It means a lot to me. All the best!
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the first is how we all feel, hope we all make it to the second one of hope … beautiful writing Cheryl 🙂 Have a fruitful week!
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Thank you, Kate, for sharing your feelings. I am feeling both at once, as I did when my husband died twenty years ago. I am grieving for the suffering and death, in awe of the courage of the Ukrainian people fighting for their country.
Whatever we are doing, whatever else is happening, the war in Ukraine is always on my mind. My Ukrainian next- door-neighbors have family members still in Ukraine, her mother and brothers. I hope they are still okay.
Take care, Kate. ❤
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even if they are physically alive Cheryl they will all bear deep psychological scars 😦 That’s what war does, fries the psyche …
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I am afraid that is true, Kate. Poland is providing counselors for child refugees. ❤
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yea, and group therapy can also help to normalise things 🙂
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“Loss of courage,lack of trust.
Ashes to ashes,Dust to dust.” These are the most beautifully penned words.❤
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Maya, thank you so much for your kind comment. It makes me happy that you enjoyed the poem. ❤
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Seems we always have storm clouds between the sunbeams!
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Dwight, nowadays, I often share that sentiment. This is an era of numerous unfortunate events not seen before in our lifetime! I hope I live to see better times. ❤ Take care, Dwight!
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Yes!
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In agreement with many of the comments above – a great example of perspectives – glass half full, half empty, yang and the um. Best bet is to put your trust in the fact the stormy clouds always end up relenting to sunlight. Great poems – nice selection on the images as well.
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Brian, thank you for sharing your thoughts, and I like that you end on a note of hope. It makes me happy that you like the poems. Have a wonderful day! ❤
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Two contrasting poems that exactly depict our current situation…
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Thank you, Michelle, for your kind and thoughtful comment. ❤ It is very much appreciated! ❤
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I always wonder on why don’t we see beauty in the storm and always encourage the bright sun light. Though I admire both and I consider balance to be of at most importance.
Its just my thought. I really love the way you connected the poetry with the war and hope. Much of distress caused by humans itself. Shaking the earth leaving no hope alive. 😦
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I wish things change sooner.
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Thank you, Kritika, for your thoughtful response. I have written a few poems showing storms in a positive light. The storm and sunshine are just familiar metaphors to use in this post. Thunderstorms are beneficial to the environment. I think they help to enrich the soil and refresh the air. As for your wish, I think we all feel that way. I am not very patient, and this situation is intolerable! All the best! ❤ ❤ ❤
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Living joyfully, untill I’m dust. What a beautiful thing to say, Cheryl ♥️🌹
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Thank you so much for your kind comment, Mousumi. ❤ It means a lot to me. ❤
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Shift can be felt in the readers heart from storm clouds to the sunbeams. 🌞
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It makes me so happy to read your response, Lokesh! Lifting spirits was the goal of this post! 🙂
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A beautiful pair. Read separately their different emotions rise. Read together the redemption possibly through hope shines.
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Thank you, Hamish, for your encouraging comment. ❤ Have a wonderful weekend!
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Great contrasts here, the second feels like the second half of a story or other writing structure.
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Thank you, Lawrence, for sharing your thoughts on the poem. Glad you enjoyed the post! ❤
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