My Pecan Tree Poetry Blog

To share the vulnerability of the soul is to expose yourself, especially to yourself  - be “soul open”.    The following poem reflects my sentiments of what this post is about:

Curtains open…..appreciating the rain…..ears discerning…..listening to the thunder…..soul open…….soul open……soul open………embracing life………

Curtains still open….it is the early morn…..grass dazzling in her dampness ……more fertile……overcast skies…….awaiting another nurturing from the source of the sun…….piercing through natural patterns of life……soul open.

These lines were written amid a backdrop of a heavy rain, figuratively and literally.  And as is typical, I get a lot of inspiration from nature and the natural cycles of life.   This night was no exception, nor the following morning.  The rain, projected to be severe, only ended up being a hard rain – strong, but not torrential.  My mindset was reeling with the events of the day – Whitney’s funeral and how I was personally affected.  This post is not about Whitney’s funeral or any specifics about  her death.  This post is about how I was personally affected with her loss and her death placing me in a position to reflect.

During the course of the day, the evening and in the wee hours of the morning, I was reminded of a quote:

“We only have one life to live, so how do we chose to live it?”

This quote has been a part of me for years as I formed, framed, and orchestrated my life.  After life-altering circumstances reared their presence in my path, these words took on a different meaning.  So to this day, I search deep…….“soul open”.

Nature speaks to me.  It has always been a part of who I am as a person – the water, the trees, the wind, the sun, and life; all of which were inspiration for my collection of poetry, Voice From the Soul of Trees.  The collection represents a life perspective; my  perspective, and my “path”.      I was reminded of this as it rained this night.  The rain provided another opportunity to be vulnerable to me and to God – “soul open”.  Typically, rain can make one feel depressed – lack of sunshine, having a case of the blues or melancholy.   Not in this case. The rain was soothing, it was nurturing, and served to replenish my spirit.

I lay awake most of the night with the rain still pouring.  I chose to leave the curtains open all night.  I didn’t have to worry about who saw me.  Yet, as I went to sleep, I knew that I was being “exposed” in a very special way.  In my communion with God, I was being reminded of “my perspective” – “soul open“.

…”soul open” is another way to express my willingness to embrace messages from God; …ears discerning.  With that being said, I heard the inspiration for these words.    I listened.  If  there are messages for me, I embrace them.  If there are messages I feel compelled to share; I  share them either through my poetry or through avenues such as this new segment of my blog.

I received my confirmation to continue on my path.  And yet, the message gleaned from this beautiful rainy night also had a message that speaks to the overall nature of man; a universal message.

Sometimes, we position ourselves to be so closely guarded.  Sometimes we close ourselves off for fear of being vulnerable – “exposed“.  We block our hearts from enjoying the best blessing in life; that of love and that of having an open heart and soul to truly receive the blessings of life. Thus, inhibiting our capacity to love self and others.

It is easy to shut it down.  All it takes is one hurt, one trial or one broken heart.  Negative consequences rear their ugly head.  We shut ourselves off from the realities of life.  We shut ourselves off from friends.  We shut ourselves from the capacity to love others and our selves.  We shut ourselves off from life.  We miss our blessings because we chose to fix the problem ourselves, instead of “letting go, and letting God”.

The seeds of life are given to us in so many ways.  Being discerning  is the only way for them to infiltrate our being, as God intended.    To be discerning is to be aware……and this awareness leads us to our responsibility to be attuned.  Being attuned means having “discerning ears” and “soul open”.

When I first started this page on my blog, I was outreaching to new authors of various genres, especially poetry.  As I thought about what I wanted to accomplish, it entailed:

• giving new authors an opportunity to announce their work,
• giving new authors an opportunity to share excerpts of their work
• giving new authors an opportunity to have their work reviewed

Although I am a poet, I do have an appreciation for a variety of genres; so I don’t want to exclude anyone.  If you want to have your book reviewed, I will do so as long as I can keep up with the volume.

If you are interested in having your book reviewed, please follow these guidelines:

1)     Send  a copy of your book to me at the following address:

Celestine McMullen Allen

205 Aspen Circle

Dothan, AL  36303

eBook submissions can be sent as a PDF file to :  callen.mypecantree@comcast.net

Upon receipt of the book, I will make a determination of the books that will receive first priority for review.

2)  Upon completion of the review, I will submit a copy of the review to you, the author, as well as submit your review to sites that I am affiliated with, including being posted on my blog.  At this point, there are no fees involved.  In addition, I am not touting this service as a marketing tool for the success of your book, just a voice from my perspective as a reviewer.

3)  Please provide the following information when you submit your book:

a. The name of your book, your name, the date your book was published, and who the publisher is, and pertinent information like your website or blog address.

b. Provide a biography, why you chose to write this book, and a brief overview of the book.

c. Provide information where your book can be purchased.

Book Reviews by Celeste

My Pecan Tree Poetry Blog (http://blog.mypecantree.com)

No, not dawn, but on the horizon

My tree lined palette shares a brilliancy

Even in the eve of her awakening

And the dawn of her rest

The moon is not illuminating

But I still see her branches, no my branches

Those sculptured moments that only a tree can shape

Those graceful movements that only a tree can flow with

As they sway with the wind

A panorama in the light of the moon

Casting her mystical and enchanted

Capacity to mold the world

Capturing her hold on me and mankind

If only we see

If only we feel

If only we recognize

That one branch does not make a tree

For there is still the trunk

That  holds her strong

As she remembers

That to shape the world

Is not from something that cannot be broken.

Celestine McMullen Allen

Copyright 2011

New Blog Series – Under My Pecan Tree – The Total Sum

I have had my blog now for two years.  This  site, My Pecan Tree Poetry Blog was launched in conjunction with the publishing of my first book of poetry – Voice From the Soul of Trees.  The site consists of promotional posts about my book, poems, and interviews, reviews of my book and/or poetry, and informative links.  I have now begun to add more content regarding the poetic world and commentaries on life and living it, hope, and the pursuit of happiness.  I have also decided to start my first of many blogging series.

The first series is called Total Sum.  The posts will embrace all of my god-given “me” as they manifest in my life –my love for God, my love for people, my love for nature, my love for writing, my love for music, my love for dance, my love for photography, and my love for good food and the joy I feel in my heart as I prepare dishes for my family and friends.  All of these aspects combine to make the total sum of me and provide inspiration for my writing.

I have eclectic taste and interests.  This blogging series allows me to express myself comprehensively, as does my poetry.  This blogging project also allows me to bring back a long lost interest in writing essays.  My writing style may not be the most prolific, but I do aspire to that goal as I continue to hone my craft.  My writing style and my emotional connection to the various aspects of my heart-string and that which I hold near and dear will make for some interesting insights.  I am more than happy to share as we sit together under My Pecan Tree  - you know the one with hovering branches, knotty limbs, and deep roots.  My Pecan Tree and My Total Sum run parallel – for it is in both of these places that I know and understand me.

My Pecan Tree and My Total Sum run parallel – for it is in both of these places that I know and understand me.

Strong enough to walk beside you

It is there, that we are balanced.

Strong enough to follow you

For I honor your lead.

Strong enough to bear your burdens

I am there to lend my shoulder.

Strong enough to say carry me

For I may need to be cuddled for a mile.

Celestine McMullen Allen

Copyright 2010

On a beautiful morning

The veils are lifted

The rising sun glares

Through the trees

The crispness of the fall felt in the air

Commanding our attention

As the mist rises from the water

It creates its presence

Void of  waves

Only peaceful waters and the mist

Sending a message

To the on-going flow of man

And in our man, woman, and child existence

A backdrop is created for our future

There is a gentle, sunlit  rising to our approach to life

For the mist will rise of its own accord

And will evaporate as if it never existed

The sun will shine through its haze

Following a natural pattern of mornings, mist, and futures.

Celestine McMullen Allen

If I beckon to you a sunrise
It means that I feel our serenity.

If I beckon to you a sunset,
It means that I feel the comfort of
our eternities together.

If I beckon to you one star,
It shall be the brightest at its most northern point.

If I beckon to you my heart,
It will always beam of hope.

Beyond us, always perfecting our love
As us, always living our being together.
Beckoning two souls that have always been destined to be.

What keeps us from taking that first step?
How does a child know when he is ready to walk?
How does a heart know when it is ready to love?
How does a soul know when it is ready to live?

Strength in nurturing

Is there a threshold?
Is there a common foundation?
Is there a safe haven?
Is there a sense of peace?

Strength in nurturing

Of the walk, it’s about nurturing.
Of the foundation, it’s about nurturing.
Of the peace, it’s about nurturing.

Strength in being and finding our place is about the nurturing.

Celestine McMullen Allen

It rained for me last night
The emotions came as a wave, engulfing me
Bringing forth the need to overcome, move forward,
and go beyond the horizons; reaching for the setting and rising convergence.

As the tears crested, I braced the storm, only to let the tears flow like a mighty river.

I braced myself, the emotions turbulently held steadfast.
I held steadfast, the emotions quietly subsided.

Relenting, letting the flood flow
Releasing, as a breaking dam
Bringing peace.

Celestine McMullen Allen