Editor's Note: As the pandemic drags on, we turn to nature, photography and writing for solace. The Times has decided to open up space occasionally for residents to share some of their creativity. Email photos and poems to l.howard@theday.com, and tell us something about yourself.

The beauty of nature mesmerizing us,

It is energizing us,

Those incredibly tall and bold mountains,

Looking splendid,

Huge and extraordinary,

Fearsome and breathtaking,

Making us feel victorious and glorious,

Physically and mentally empowering us,

Those colorful and beautiful flowers,

Bringing us the joy of sight,

Invigorating our senses,

The softly tweeting birds,

Bringing sound and calm

To our ears and mind,

Inclining us musically,

The gentle breeze of the wind blowing,

Against our cheeks,

Perfectly calm,

Pleasant and sweet,

Making us feel cool and refreshed,

The vibrant blue sky,

Deep and pure,

Transparent and magical,

Spreading absolute brightness,

The deep blue sea,

Perfectly calm and glassy,

Giving us a feeling of tranquility,

The fast growing Evergreen trees,

Gentle and tall,

Noble and graceful,

Forever green like forever lasting love,

The cool and fresh Air,

Brisk and pleasant,

That precious breath of air,

A gift to live life to the fullest!!!

And not to be taken for granted!!!

Pulwasha Mahmoodi of Waterford grew up in Kabul, Afghanistan, and her first language was Farsi. She came to Canada as a refugee at age 14 and attended Ottawa University before marrying a U.S. citizen. She wrote her first poem in May for Teacher’s Appreciation Day. “Pandemic definitely motivated me to start writing poetry. It made most of us realize more about the things in life we take for granted, like appeciating and respecting our loved ones, our friendship, humanity, our teachers, our health care workers and the beauty of our Nature,” she writes. Known as Paula to most, she said she was inspired by her father, Hadi, a writer, human rights advocate and doctor who died three years ago.