I am a writer, poet, community volunteer, pupil of psychology, writing instructor, guest speaker, artist, lover of nature, curious traveler and author of Life Is Full of Sweet Spots, An Exploration of Joy, as well as Dreams of a Wingless Child, a book of award-winning poetry. An advocate of the power of writing as an agent of change, I enjoy speaking to community groups about the joy of making words sing and conduct creative poetry writing workshops for inmates at the State of Connecticut’s York Correctional Institution. As a writer and a painter, I enjoy living along the Connecticut shore, where I infuse everyday observations of the natural world with the sensitivity and insightfulness that tend to define my experience of life. It is these reflections that have helped me realize that one need not look far to find an element of peace, of celebration, of joy, in this inordinate world of which we are all a part.
“Don’t let the light go out! Let it shine through our hope and our tears…” — Peter, Paul and Mary collective message candles lit with hope and light drive out the darkness * * * Hope and Light ~ Hanukkah Festival of Lights calls forth hope in a dark world • Photo of Westerly, RI, … More Hope and Light
“Magical places are always beautiful and deserve to be contemplated.” — Paul Coelho transforming beauty in unexpected places markers of magic * * * Lobster Trap Tree ~ Lobster traps hung with 454 hand-painted buoys stand at the Stonington, Connecticut town dock in celebration of the town’s fishing industry heritage • Photo by Jan Logozzo … More Magic Markers
“This is, indeed, a place where magic happens…” — Amanda V. Shane season of gladness time of hospitality renewal of peace * * * Messengers ~ Nutcrackers in holiday window signal season’s meaning • Mystic Village photo by Jan Logozzo • “Messengers” haiku and blog by Mary O’Connor © 2023
“Traveling — it leaves you speechless, then turns you into a storyteller.” – Ibn Battuta favorable winds travels to uncharted ports sightings of stories * * * Storyteller Tales ~ Travel memories trapped in voyage keepsakes • “Storyteller” haiku, post and Florence Griswold Museum holiday display photo by Mary O’Connor © 2023
“Memories are hunting horns whose sound dies on the wind.” — Guillaume Apollinaire hunting horn message repeated wavering wail fox in safe haven * * * Horn of the Hunter ~ Vocabulary varies with message • Hunting horns proclaim start of joyous season at Florence Griswold Museum, Old Lyme, CT • Photo and “Hunting Horns” … More Hunting Horns
“The turkey, the sweet potatoes, the stuffing, the pumpkin pie. Is there anything else we all can agree so vehemently about?” — Nora Ephron purchase deterrence no one wants a blue turkey color camouflage * * * All in the Dressing ~ Turkeys figure way to avoid a prime place at the dinner table • … More Turkey Talk
“He looked like something that had just gotten loose from Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.” — Harpo Marx all done up, made up dressed in colorful costume downright amusing * * * Looking Good in Yellow ~ Turkey Farm residents dress up for Thanksgiving Day • Gozzi Turkey Farm, Guilford, CT, photo by Jan Logozzo • … More Holiday Dress
“Is not this a true autumn day? Just the still melancholy that I love— that makes life and nature harmonize.” — George Eliot pumpkins tell of fall signal winter’s call for warmth spiced cider brews * * * Signs of Autumn ~ Cider in the air • Old Cider Mill photo and “Autumn Brew” haiku … More Autumn Brew
“The sky broke like an egg into full sunset and the water caught fire.” — Pamela Hansford Johnson burning crevices saturated sponge of fire folded into night * * * Saturated ~ Sponge of fire washes the sky • Photo and “On Fire” haiku by Mary O’Connor © 2023
“Privacy is one of the biggest problems in this new electronic age.” — Andy Grove basic upbringing private personal matters not for public eyes * * * Privacy Lesson ~ “I told you to do that in private!” • Photo of cormorant grooming by Jan Logozzo • “Privacy” haiku and blog post by Mary O’Connor … More Privacy
Life Is Full of Sweet Spots 