Blog of the Week ~ an Update with Natasa Dolenc

This week we are very happy to feature the talented young poet Natasa Dolenc, who writes at Tales of Autumn. Natasa lives in a very scenic part of the world, Ljubljana, Slovenia. She has shared some wonderful photos and poems with us, so let's pour a cup of tea and prepare to be delightfully entertained.

Sherry: Natasa, fill us in on your life since our interview in November 2013. How have you been?

Natasa: You know, it’s like everything is the same, but everything changed, if you know what I mean :) I’ve spent two interesting years since the last time we talked. Time sure puts a new perspective on things. 

The year 2014 had a few losses but also a few gains. For example, we lost our dog Dina, but I published my second poetry book. At the moment I’m trying my best to find a regular job at something that I feel is right for me. 

I’ve taken up  running, so this year I went on three organized runs of 10 km. And I try to run 3-4 times a week. The most km I ran at once was 12 km, and it was the best run so far. 

Sherry: Way to look good while running, kiddo!

Natasa: And I've been studying. I’m very curious by nature, especially if it has to do with preventive care and alternative medicine. Last time we spoke I told you that I had IBS for years, and had thought it had developed into IBD... but I'm happy to report the colon looks good, but I have some food sensitivities. That's so much easier to live with!  I’m trying my best to get to the root of the problem and cure it. I’ve seen improvement so far, and I have tears in my eyes when I think how much better I feel now. I did some travelling. Last year I went to Ireland, which was a wish of mine for years, and I’d love to return and see Scotland as well. That’s about it, in short :)

This church is in our village, Črni Vrh, I can see it from my window. It is dedicated to saint Leonard. A church at the site was first mentioned in 1526, reworked in 1758. The current structure was built in 1899 after the earthquake of 1895, which destroyed the previous structure.

                            

Sherry: You have a beautiful view out your window, kiddo. I'm happy you are making progress with your health. And that you made it to Ireland. How wonderful! I am so sorry you lost Dina. And I also know you have the most adorable and beautiful puppy. Introduce him to us, wont you? 

Natasa: Yeah, he sure is a charmer :) He’s named after the dog we lost last year, so we call him Dino. Also a karst shepherd, a stubborn Slovenian breed ;) He’s so full of energy, it’s annoying sometimes :) and I think he might have been a gardener in his previous life, ‘cause he has to nibble on every flower he finds. Also has an appetite for fruits, he can find blackberries in the forest. But when he feels lazy, only the cat can wake him up ;)

Sherry: He is adorable, and I envy you him. You are a photographer and painter, as well as a poet. Are you still painting? Is there anything you'd like to share?

Natasa: I do scribble in my notebook, but yes, I think I can find something ;) I haven’t been that productive this year.

Sherry:  Your work is beautiful, Natasa. The ship makes me want to sail away!  You have produced two books. Tell us how you felt, holding each one in your hand. 

Natasa: First one was Colours of the sea, and I was so frantically happy when I got it in my hands. You know.. first born. But when I got the second one, I felt proud, like I’ve done something really good. 

They are available on all the Amazons and other online retailers. I was also surprised when I found them on Book Depository. I always order books from there, because they have free shipping, so I will include the links to there, but as I’ve said, you can find them elsewhere as well (even in Kindle).

Colours of the sea

(Note here: it’s more expensive because it also includes coloured photographs)

Endless space between

Sherry: They are wonderful, my friend. Good for you! Would you like to pick two or three of your poems for us to enjoy, and tell us a bit about each one?

Natasa: This one was written as a prompt for The Magpie Tales. I guess autumn has always been like a new beginning for me. I do seem to think deeper thoughts than I would year round. There’s always good and bad and all shades in between. It has to do with the way we see things. And the end is pretty clear, something we should be reminded of.

Autumn in Madeira

“when autumn wind blows

and brings with it that familiar scent

I pack my bags and move to my tree house

in the shelter of tree trunks I create

a village where my soul becomes alive again

I put my thoughts on the leaves

and watch them disappear

for everything that is, perishes

I know the world to be written in tragedies

but beauty of life shines through them

in all the seconds we get

we can guess which one will be our last

which one will bring change

and in which one we will get lost

but in one second your life can pass you by

and it's up to you what you made out of it

divide your days into the things

your heart believes in

and observe it grow”

Sherry: Those closing lines could not be more true.

Natasa: Another prompt :) The beginning started as a reflection of how we end up with diseases... you have a problem, you look for a quick fix, and then you run onwards, cause we make our lives so busy... it’s really the society we live in. And for me there is nothing more comforting than finding solace in nature, especially the late summer days when there is still some warmth. And how many problems we face, because we alienate from the being we were as a child. I’m reminded of a talk Dr. Gabor Mate gave, I’ve been listening to him lately. He really has the whole perspective on health.

Late Summer

how much of your life

has been spent riding

on a wild horse, 'cause

one thing led to another

and you never stopped

to think and reflect

if it's the right way

do your lungs still breathe?

does your heart know passion?

do your feet touch the ground?

when something fails

causes you seek everywhere

but you failed yourself first

stroke the fields of grain

with your hand and feel

how the wind caresses everything

the feet yearn to feel the earth

connection to that old self they seek

and lungs to find that limit of their ability

like a child in foetus position

yearning to feel home surrounding

in the late summer you seek home

Sherry: I so love "In the late summer you seek home." As does every creature.

Natasa: And another one ;) I passed by an older man, limping, but determined to get somewhere, and he was carrying some grass flowers he picked up. It made me think who they were for, who does he still have in life, and what they have been through together. It also made me wonder who will I have in my life at his age... And what kind of attitude we have towards one another... do we put them down or do we allow them to grow and shine in who they are.

Let it grow

I was in a hurry

following the plan

not to be late

as I passed by an older man

limping, slowly walking

from his morning walk

through the meadow

for in his hands he held

a bouquet of freshly picked

wild flowers

.

it made me wonder who they were for

who in his life journey did he meet

to care, to cherish

and how many life battles

did they undertake

not to fear this war

through little battles

we write our stories

.

either bleeding from the bruises left open

either rejoicing in learning and carrying on

teaching others how to dance

you are the master of your tones

under the skin is where we hide

.

do we allow to be happy and just to be?

and do we let others grow

do we speak in a matter that allows

roses to still grow as roses?

Sherry: There is so much wisdom in this poem, my friend.

In closing, is there anything you’d like to say to Poets United?

Natasa: I haven’t visited that regularly this year, but I do enjoy visiting and seeing new faces and reading your poems. It is a wonderful and supportive community, and a lot of new ideas can be taken from it. I do hope this will carry on the years to come. And I’ll see you there ;)

Sherry: We are always happy when our old friends pop up again in Mr Linky. Keep writing your way along, Natasa. Chart your journey. We will be most happy to read your poems and walk along with you.

Another lovely visit to a talented young poet , in a beautiful location. I truly have the best job in the world! Do come back and see who we talk to next. Here is a hint: It is Someone Very Special, and there will be Very Witchy Doings. 'Nuff said.