As the World Turns

January 23, 2026

As the World Turns

songfest

(with a line and a half from brian andreas’s “#37”)

absolutely everything is a chance to give love—
the cloudless blue of a clear midafternoon sky
the hardiness to withstand ferocious winds at -5° celsius
a birdseed wreath to hang on the leafless pussywillow tree
the generosity to pick up litter blown onto the street
a back and forth conversation over coffee with anne—

start any time you’d like … we can sing our love together,
maybe form a chorale,
maybe—also—grow to give love to harder things.

—dotty seiter
=====

*The Friend Who Still Has a Leisure Suit in His Closet*
detail from a larger painting; ink and watercolor pencil on paper
*Let’s Face It With Friends* series
2025

=====

Notes about poem and art:
• “Songfest” is a poem of a tiny slice of life, external and internal.
• Previously unnoticed by me, The Friend Who Still Has a Leisure Suit was hanging out in my blind contour and neurographic drawing exploration from July 2022. Just goes to show ya, ya never know where your next friend will be found!

artist at play

Posted by:

Dotty Seiter

12 responses to “As the World Turns”

carol lee

January 23, 2026 at 5:17 am

Your friend who still has a suit gave me a chuckle! Couldn’t find him in your exploration drawing. Love the black negative spaces.

Joining your chorale, although probably a bit off tune. Love the Irish music I am listening to from Spotify on my TV. Love the quiet of Friday! Love that I can talk back and forth with a friend across ocean

LikeLike

Reply
1. Dotty Seiter
  
  January 23, 2026 at 5:47 am
  
  The black negative spaces don’t exist except in this photo. They somehow materialized as part of use of the digital ‘lasso’ tool implemented to isolate this friend.
  
  LOVE that you’ve joined the chorale! A bit off tune is perfect!! Thank you for adding to the lyrics, Carol ❤️
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply
Joyful Puttering

January 23, 2026 at 7:44 am

I’m kicking myself! When I saw your contour drawing my first thought was “I bet she found a face”….but I didn’t say that outloud! But…just for the record I called it…and it’s fabulous!

And yes yes yes….everything is the chance to give love! And may be grow to give love to harder things. We are called to to that now more than ever.

LikeLike

Reply
1. Dotty Seiter
  
  January 23, 2026 at 9:03 am
  
  Good call, MaryAnn! I found a face in my contour drawing!
  
  Thank you for your additional resounding call in your yes yes yes to everything’s being a chance to give love! The chorale is growing : )
  
  LikeLiked by 1 person
  
  Reply
roseanne333

January 23, 2026 at 5:36 pm

Absolutely everything. Absolutely everything is a chance to give love. That might become my new mantra. Thank you, Dotty. ♥️

LikeLike

Reply
Dotty Seiter

January 23, 2026 at 5:56 pm

Roseanne, absolutely everything. Thank you for your affirming, loving comment ❤️

Yes, to the idea of this as a mantra—as I suggest in my poem, I’ll need regular practice before I become fluent : )

LikeLike

Reply
lolajovan

January 23, 2026 at 6:17 pm

The man who still has a leisure suit made me smile SO BIG the moment I saw him! Brilliant!!!!!

And the poem – it calls to my heart, which knows everything is a chance to give love, even in a place and time where it feels rather like everything is a chance to get good and angry. I am going to take your words and practice, practice, practice, because you and the monks walking for peace are singing the same song. It’s a good one. xoxoxoxoxo

LikeLike

Reply
1. Dotty Seiter
  
  January 23, 2026 at 6:55 pm
  
  Lola, leisure suits do make me laugh, and there was that man!, pleased as punch to still have one and to still wear it occasionally! He’s been waiting patiently for me to take notice. And now I have hahaha!
  
  You and me both: practice, practice, practice. Here’s something that helps me practice offering love when really I feel called to get good and angry: (a) express my love aloud and (b) say, ‘even if i don’t know why.’ So, for example, Even though I don’t know why I would, I love that my computer got hacked right before Christmas and all my underlying systems were completely disrupted. Two things are then in place: First I have expressed love aloud; it’s a step. Second, I invariably find myself curious: Is there any reason I might feel love in this situation? Surprisingly, I often find a reason.
  
  THANK YOU for reminding me that the monks walking for peace are singing the same love-everything song. We’ve got ourselves one heck of a growing chorale : )
  
  xoxoxo
  
  LikeLike
  
  Reply
  1. lolajovan
    
    January 24, 2026 at 3:07 pm
    
    “Even though I don’t know why I would, I love that…” I am totally going to use that brilliant beginning! Thank you! It is much needed. xoxoxo
    
    LikeLike
    
    Reply
Dotty Seiter

January 24, 2026 at 3:30 pm

The chances to practice are beyond counting : )

LikeLike

Reply
Sheila Marie Delgado

January 28, 2026 at 2:48 am

I love this… everything is the chance to give love! And may be grow to give love to harder things.

What a declaration. If only more people could read that. Feel it. Cherish and honor the chance to give love. xoxo.

😆😆😆 Baby blue bling! I’m pretty sure that baby blue is popular again in men’s fashion. At least on the red carpet. LOL. I love how the line work really speaks to the time period as well.

Thank you, Dotty!

LikeLike

Reply
Dotty Seiter

January 28, 2026 at 5:56 am

Sheila, thanks for your thought-ful comments. For sure, honoring the chance to give love is life’s work, and work it can be!

Your observations about baby blue bling made me laugh!

LikeLike

Reply