“Why I Smile at Strangers” by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

~ jama

Happy Friday! Here’s a spot of beauty just for you.

“Golden Meadow” by Molly Sims (oil on panel).
WHY I SMILE AT STRANGERS
by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer

In difficult times, carry something beautiful in your heart. ~ Blaise Pascal

And so today, I walk the streets
with vermillion maple leaves inside me,
and the deep purple of late-blooming larkspur
and the lilting praise of meadowlark.
I carry with me thin creeks with clear water
and the three-quarters moon
and the spice-warm scent of nasturtiums.
And honey in the sunlight.
And words from Neruda
and slow melodies by Erik Satie.
It is easy sometimes to believe
that everything is wrong.
That people are cruel and the world
is destroyed and the end of it all
imminent. But there is yet goodness
beyond imagining — the creamy
white flesh of ripe pears
and the velvety purr of a cat in my lap
and the white smear of milky way —
I carry these things in my heart,
more certain than ever that one way
to counteract evil is to ceaselessy honor what’s good
and share it, share it until
we break the choke hold of fear
and at least for a few linked moments,
we believe completely in beauty,
growing beauty, yes, beauty.

~ from Poetry of Presence II: More Mindfulness Poems, edited by Phyllis Cole-Dai and Ruby R. Wilson (Grayson Books, 2023).
“Nasturtiums” by Marcy Lansman (watercolor).

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What a feel-good, palate cleanser of a poem!

Did you find comfort, solace and hope in Trommer’s lovely images?

I like her references not only to nature, but to poetry and music, and to the tangible things in our everyday lives, like fruit and pets.

art by Youqing (Eugene) Wang (oil on hardboard).

The title of the poem is key. Internalized imaginings are all the more beautiful (and powerful) when shared, if only through a simple smile. A split-second connection, warm positive energy, a flash of humanity — can truly make someone’s day.

I know I’m always surprised when a stranger smiles at me because it’s such a rare occurrence (understandable in these turbulent times, when pandemics, wars, crime, violence, divisiveness and the future of democracy weigh heavily). All the more reason for each and every one of us to make the effort: a small gift of kindness and light actually benefits both giver and receiver.

Lewis Cecil Morgan (1912).

Let’s honor what’s good and share it by making our own list. What beauty(ies) are you carrying in your heart today? Tell us in the comments and I’ll add it here.

BEAUTIES:

Jama: The enduring comfort and companionship of teddy bears, Carolina wren alighting on my windowsill, the warm harmonies of Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Paul Hollywood’s steely blue eyes.

Diane Mueller: The first notes of my sweet little song sparrow that has been consistently gracing us with his presence and present ~ the sweetest song lifted as daybreak emerges. A reminder that the winter days are waning and spring is soon coming.

Irene Latham:  I carry with me our cat Maggie’s rich-delicious purr, dawn-shimmer on the lake, the cinammon-scent of breakfast bread baking. xo

Laura Purdie Salas: Some of the goodness I carry with me is the little broken circle on our pond, open water in the ice covering, where the muskrat weave named Marco lives. The ripples he leaves behind as he goes about his life, ignoring all our nonsense.

Tracey Kiff-Judson: Jama, I love the idea of carrying something beautiful inside that we can call up whenever we choose. Thinking about this, I could suddenly smell hyacinths, which I love, as if they were in this very room with me. : )

Rose Cappelli:  I carry in my heart my granddaughter’s laugh, the glimmer of the moon, and the song of my morning wren.

Linda Baie: I work at the bookstore on Thursday afternoons, and yesterday, numerous customers showed delight in the store, and we had special conversations about favorite books- a smile for us all! 

Tricia Stohr-Hunt:  I carry with me the scent of lilacs, which always reminds me of my mother, so I carry her with me too.

Tanita S. Davis: The beauty I carry is the sound of the collective inhalation our choir makes between phrases. We are working on an a cappella piece, and in between, there’s no piano, just us – breathing, alive, hearts beating in sync, still here, still here, still here.

Linda Kulp Trout: I carry with me the sound of my two sons’ voices when they call to check on me and tell me about their lives. I carry the sound of my grandchildren’s laughter and the hope they give.

Patricia Franz: What is good and beautiful: a blanket of snow in the forest on a blue-sky day; unleashed dogs barreling full-tilt, pink tongues slapping and furry ears flapping; a community of unknown friends across the country banding together in protest.

Tabatha Yeatts: My daughter Elena’s favorite thing is to be sitting on the sofa when I get back from walking the dogs. The dogs are SO EXCITED that they run over to her, jump in her lap, wiggling and giving her kisses. Even the bigger one. Just pure joy.

Denise Krebs: Some beauties I’m carrying with me today are my husband’s extravagant hospitality to others, the pair of coyotes that wandered in our yard this morning, and the strength of Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

Joanne Conte: A long walk with a good friend, a trip to the library to spend an hour learning proper Italian from our instructor Anna, eating a meal of shrimp and a small lobster tail in red sauce over spaghetti, and a lovely cup of Lady Grey tea before bed!

Linda Mitchell:  I am holding on to family I have coming home this weekend. They are already on their way…when they get here we will eat at the big kitchen table and just be in each other’s company. My heart feels complete when we are all together.

Margo Sorenson: Settling down to continue reading a heartwarming book and losing myself within its pages…Remembering Dolly Parton’s quote: “If you see someone without a smile, give them one of yours.” 

Marcie Flinchum Atkins: I’m carrying with me the promise that is sprouting from my seeds in a little warm corner of my living room.

Michelle Kogan: I like to carry with me and share with you my daughter’s jaunty dog Francine, a mid-size adorable poodle that just makes you melt and fill you with smiles! And my Azalea that’s been sitting by my bedroom windowsill and blooming all winter long.

Mary Lee Hahn: I love smiling at strangers and seeing the brief look of surprise before they smile back. And I love meadowlarks!

Karen Edmisten: One piece of beauty I’ve been loving lately is the way my husband or my daughter (it seems as if they take turns noticing) will call me to a particular window in the back of the house to see the sunset. (“Come now, this one looks gorgeous!”) It sounds trite, but I love and am fed by the way they repeatedly notice the variations and colors of a daily event.

Jan Godown Annino: Jama, I carry with me joy for our nourishing #PoetryFriday community & your sharing so much of our Light here ,with this Spirit gift of a post.

Specifically, personally, I carry my hubby’s new tasty homemade gluten-free-fore-me oatmeal cookies in my belly, & family love warm for our daughter & son-in-law’s fifth wedding anniversary in February & delight in my 1st-ever daffodil bulbs deciding to bloom two days ago. 

I am a fan of the first volume of Poems of Mindfulness & am happy to know of II.

Finally, I carry a feeling of fortune that I’m writing this, on a non-urgent, routine visit, from an amazing health care community of excellence – Mayo Clinic [Florida location.]

Kate Coombs: My mom has the most warm and wonderful smile. The 35 houseplants in my bedroom and office. Sunshine after snow. A book of poems by Cesar Vallejo from her home country that my Peruvian college student gave me a few weeks ago. Yesterday just one young deer lying in the backyard peacefully looking out over our little canyon. A tangerine popsicle. Poetry and reader friends!


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Lovely and talented Denise Krebs is hosting the Roundup at Dare to Care. Sashay on over to check out the full menu of poetic goodness being shared around the blogosphere this week. Goodbye, February!

*Copyright © 2025 Jama Rattigan of Jama’s Alphabet Soup. All rights reserved.

44 thoughts on ““Why I Smile at Strangers” by Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer”

  1. The first notes of my sweet little song sparrow that has been consistently gracing us with his presence and present ~ the sweetest song lifted as daybreak emerges. A reminder that the winter days are waning and spring is soon coming.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. So glad you mentioned your sparrow, as I’ve been noticing birdsong in the early morning lately too. A good sign, yes spring is coming!

      Like

  3. What a fabulous poem, Jama–thank you for sharing it! Some of the goodness I carry with me is the little broken circle on our pond, open water in the ice covering, where the muskrat weave named Marco lives. The ripples he leaves behind as he goes about his life, ignoring all our nonsense.

    Liked by 1 person

  4. Jama, I love the idea of carrying something beautiful inside that we can call up whenever we choose. Thinking about this, I could suddenly smell hyacinths, which I love, as if they were in this very room with me. : )

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Hyacinths, so lovely! Reminds me of Sandburg’s famous quote: “Poetry is the synthesis of hyacinths and biscuits.”

      Like

  5. I absolutely love this poem, Jama, and will print it out for my notebook. Thank you for sharing it and for the reminder that “one way to counteract evil is to ceaselessly honor what’s good and share it.” I carry in my heart my granddaughter’s laugh, the glimmer of the moon, and the song of my morning wren.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Several of us have been appreciating morning birdsong — uplifting! Nothing as heartwarming as a child’s laugh. I’m now picturing a beautiful moon glimmering over the horizon. 🙂

      Like

  6. It’s as if Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer and you, Jama, just sent us a smile, so imagine that I’m smiling right back! I work at the bookstore on Thursday afternoons, and yesterday, numerous customers showed delight in the store, and we had special conversations about favorite books- a smile for us all! Thanks for this wonderful poem, and post!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. So glad you had a good afternoon on Thursday, sharing your love of books with others who appreciated the store and its offerings. Nothing like connecting with like-minded folks! Book people are the best people, right?

      Liked by 1 person

  8. “I carry these things in my heart,
    more certain than ever that one way
    to counteract evil is to ceaselessy honor what’s good
    and share it, share it until
    we break the choke hold of fear”

    *blinks hard to clear away sudden tears* Oh, thank you, Jama-j. This is a lovely one.

    The beatuty I carry is the sound of the collective inhalation our choir makes between phrases. We are working on an a cappella piece, and in between, there’s no piano, just us – breathing, alive, hearts beating in sync, still here, still here, still here.

    Liked by 1 person

  9. This poem is just what I needed today. Thank you for sharing it, Jama. I carry with me the sound of my two sons voices when they call to check on me and tell me about their lives. I carry the sound of my grandchildren’s laughter and the hope they give.

    Have a great weekend!

    Liked by 1 person

  10. What is good and beautiful: a blanket of snow in the forest on a blue-sky day; unleashed dogs barreling full-tilt, pink tongues slapping and furry ears flapping; a community of unknown friends across the country banding together in protest

    Liked by 1 person

    1. What lovely images you’ve conjured up with your list, Patricia. Those dogs!! So important we come together to fight the tyranny plaguing our country right now. Strength in numbers!

      Like

  11. My daughter Elena’s favorite thing is to be sitting on the sofa when I get back from walking the dogs. The dogs are SO EXCITED that they run over to her, jump in her lap, wiggling and giving her kisses. Even the bigger one 🙂 Just pure joy.

    Liked by 1 person

  12. Oh, Jama, thank you so much for this. I love that I have just read the Trommer poem on Tabatha’s blog and then I came here and got another hope-filled beauty. “to counteract evil is to ceaselessly honor what’s good / and share it, share it until / we break the choke hold of fear” Amen!

    Some beauties I’m carrying with me today are my husband’s extravagant hospitality to others, the pair of coyotes that wandered in our yard this morning, and the strength of Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Your husband sounds like such a good man, Denise!! And hear, hear, to the strength of President Zelenskyy. His courage and resilience are things the orange one would never understand. What a disgraceful spectacle in the Oval Office yesterday.

      Like

  13. I am late writing this, but I will focus on yesterday. A long walk with a good friend, a trip to the library to spend an hour learning proper Italian from our instructor Anna, eating a meal of shrimp and a small lobster tail in red sauce over spaghetti, and a lovely cup of Lady Grey tea before bed! Happy Saturday.🥰

    Liked by 1 person

  14. Yes, I found sweetness and comfort and goodness. Thank you. I am holding on to family I have coming home this weekend. They are already on their way…when they get here we will eat at the big kitchen table and just be in each other’s company. My heart feels complete when we are all together.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. Gorgeous post and poem Jama, especially like the Eric Satie music, that last line, “growing beauty, yes, beauty.” And the teddy bear. I like to carry with me and share with you my daughter’s jaunty dog Francine, a mid-size adorable poodle that just makes you melt and fill you with smiles! And my Azalea that’s been sitting by my bedroom windowsill and blooming all winter long. Thanks Jama! 😊 🌸 🦋

    Liked by 1 person

  20. I’m late to the party again, but oh, Jama, I sank into the beauty of that poem feeling rest and respite. Thank you.

    One piece of beauty I’ve been loving lately is the way my husband or my daughter (it seems as if they take turns noticing) will call me to a particular window in the back of the house to see the sunset. (“Come now, this one looks gorgeous!”) It sounds trite, but I love and am fed by the way they repeatedly notice the variations and colors of a daily event.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That’s lovely — we’re often too rushed to notice such things. Glad your husband and daughter make a point of not only noticing, but of telling you about it!

      Like

  21. Jama, I carry with me joy for our nourishing #PoetryFriday community & your sharing so much of our Light here ,with this Spirit gift of a post.

    Specifically, personally, I carry my hubby’s new tasty homemade gluten-free-fore-me oatmeal cookies in my belly, & family love warm for our daughter & son-in-law’s fifth wedding anniversary in February & delight in my 1st-ever daffodil bulbs deciding to bloom two days ago.

    I am a fan of the first volume of Poems of Mindfulness & am happy to know of II.

    Finally, I carry a feeling of fortune that I’m writing this, on a non-urgent, routine visit, from an amazing health care community of excellence – Mayo Clinic [Florida location.]

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Wow! That’s a lot of goodness, Jan! Thanks for sharing all of it. You’re so right about the joy of our PF community — so glad you mentioned that. Hooray for GF oatmeal cookies and family love and warmth and daffodils!

      Like

  22. So many lovely things! Thank you, Jama.

    My mom has the most warm and wonderful smile. The 35 houseplants in my bedroom and office. Sunshine after snow. A book of poems by Cesar Vallejo from her home country that my Peruvian college student gave me a few weeks ago. Yesterday just one young deer lying in the backyard peacefully looking out over our little canyon. A tangerine popsicle. Poetry and reader friends!

    Liked by 1 person

    1. What a lovely list, Kate! 35 houseplants? I envy your green thumb — mine always die so I don’t bother having them anymore. Love picturing that deer in your back yard, and now I’m curious about tangerine popsicles!

      Like

  23. So many lovely things! Thank you, Jama.

    My mom has the most warm and wonderful smile. The 35 houseplants in my bedroom and office. Sunshine after snow. A book of poems by Cesar Vallejo from her home country that my Peruvian college student gave me a few weeks ago. Yesterday just one young deer lying in the backyard peacefully looking out over our little canyon. A tangerine popsicle. Poetry and reader friends!

    Like

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