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This week’s round up is hosted all the way from Queensland, Australia, by children’s author and poet Kathryn Apel. Join us at Kats Whiskers!
What a joy to share friendships across pens (and pencils and laptops and smart phones)!
Thank you, Tabatha, for organizing our 2024 Holiday Poetry Swap.
With weather and life and all notions of things that prevent us from executing our grand calendar plans, I was gifted my holiday goody package from Carol V. last week as the new year unfolded. And how apropos – with my OLW –unfold– leading the way.
Unfold I did. Festive string-tied packages of Hope (ornament), Zen (tiny ponderings), lemon light (candle), a beaded reminder of tenderness (handmade African key chain), and oodles of poetry gleaned from personal memories crafted with care and love by Carol Varsalona.
As I hope with unfold – each gift carried with it a small hidden grace released in the unwrapping. And each gift inspires me to in turn, to share some small grace in kind.
An Unfolding Acrostic (for Carol)
unwrapped, grace spills forth in a
new year –invites receiving and releasing
forgiveness, renewal, joy–
outward signs of inward transformation
life beckons
dare to open
©2025 PJF
Patricia Franz writes picture books and poetry. She believes children, dogs, and sourdough have a lot to teach us about life, joy, and wonder. She has raised two boys, four dogs, and holds a master’s degree in Theology with a focus on children’s spirituality. Patricia, her husband, her Bernese Mountain dog, Bonny, and her sourdough starter split their time between the Arizona desert and the Sierra Nevada mountains. 
Hey there in the New Year, Patricia! I luv learning that the fascinating UNFOLD is your One. Little. Word. It captures what happens with ideas & writing, nature, children, friendships & so much. Your treasure trove from Carol is beautifully thanked in the acrostic – brava! to you both.
What a delight to get such a beautiful gift! I love how you describe the unwrapping (unfolding!) of each gift and the grace it carried as well as its inspiration in your acrostic. The last line “dare to open” is a gem.
Patricia, I wish I was close by you when you and I opened are swaps. Since that is not possible reading your thoughts to me again and again and you also offering insight to what unfolded when you opened my swap (in person and online) is a treasure this year. “Grace spills”, life beckons, dare to open are amazing thoughts. I feel you opening the door to life as you spilled your words and unfolded thoughts in your acrostic poem. I love this poem and must place it in the little notebook you sent me. Thank you, again. May our January days be filled with little moments of renewing our lives as they unfold.
What a delightful package and poem. Thank you for sharing!
Funny that there are a couple posts with acrostic poems this week! “Unfold” is such a graceful OLW, and so fitting for you. : ) And how apropos with the opening of a wonderful gift and your return poem to Carol!
It’s a sweet thing to “unfold” a package like that, Patricia, an unfolding full of lovely treasures, and then a second sweet thing, your beautifully clever response, with an ending each of us can take for ours!
Unfold is a gift that can give and give and give, as the year slowly (or swiftly!) unfolds. Poetry swaps are always a joy, and it looks like Carol delivered.
Happy New Year! What a wonderful collection of gifts. Unfold is a great word! I love it. Enjoy every moment.
Hi Patricia! What a great swap you’ve shared with us. UNFOLD is a wonderful choice for a word as it contains so many connotations for the coming year! I can’t wait to see where it leads you.
Look at all of that poetry goodness. I love “grace spills forth.” 🙂
There’s not much better than a package full of poetic goodness, except maybe an acrostic thank you note! I’m so looking forward to reading about how “unfold” informs the coming year for you.
What nice gifts, Patricia! And I like the acrostic so much, especially the way the poem starts unwrapping with the U of “unwrapped.”
I love the whole poem (and seeing that expansive, generous gift from Carol!) and particularly love the last two lines, Patricia. xo
Happy New Year, Patricia! What a beautiful poetic response to Carol’s treasure trove of inspiring gifts. Grace spilling forth is a lovely image. xo
What a great OLW!! Happy unfolding in 2025!