May Letter

2025

Welcome, May! I can’t believe you are here already.

Dear Friends,

As I was putting this letter together, some thoughts about poetry kept coming to mind. Many people try to analyze poetry and “figure out” what the poet is “saying.” I must confess that sometimes I don’t even know what my poetry means! There are times when I am struck by something, usually something I see in nature, and words just come pouring out of me. This happened to me on my way to a church tea when I saw the sun setting over the river. The sunrays were striking and the words just flowed. I had to write it down once I got to church so I wouldn’t forget. Here is the poem:

sunrays
by stephanie nygaard

the sunrays rain
on the river, turning
it into a celestial shard, calling 
me to see beyond the
early spring drear

what I need is here
in the responsible now 
of eternity, a presence
that is as warm as the Son

One thing I invite you to do as you read my poetry is to read it aloud and see what words or images stand out to you. Instead of trying to understand, just see how the poem is making you feel or what new idea you come away with.

bloom golden
by stephanie nygaard

what is light but life?

a gathered glow
shining shimmer
to my bones
where fallow winter
cold dwelt
and felt 

          so 
               barren

scatter sunshine seeds
into my marrow, heat
me from the inside until
i, too, 

          bloom 
               golden

Because we had so many sunsets in April in which the sunrays broke through the clouds, I can’t resist sharing one more poem on that topic.

Sonlit Chorus
by Stephanie Nygaard

The rays pipe
Easter, 
          sonlit flutes
of defiance against 
the clouds that dampen
the joyful chorus.

Resurrection notes
puncture the sky’s
side until 
          living music 
flows free and Jesus 
says, “Put your finger
here . . . and believe.”

I am reading The Scent of Water by Elizabeth Goudge for the third time. These words from the Prologue spoke to me this time around.

The old-fashioned room was filled with the quietness of the deep country and the light of a marvelous sunset. Mrs. Baker . . . was touched to awe by the tide of gold. It was like water, she thought, flooding into the room . . . Living water . . . This gold puts me in mind of it.”

Painting Wonder

This is the latest picture book biography that I’m enjoying. If you are a fan of Narnia or The Lord of the Rings, you would like this book!

I always look forward to May, as it’s the month when we celebrate Mother’s Day here in the U.S. Gift-giving and getting is one of my love languages, so I always enjoy choosing gifts for our mothers and seeing what my family gets for me.

What are you looking forward to in May?

Wishing you a light-filled May,

Stephanie

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16)