Monday, April 28, 2014

April 28th, 2014


April 28th, 2014
~
Minimal Monday
~
Guardian of the Kingdom
Keeper of the Keys

Monday, April 21, 2014

April 21st-27th, 2014


April 21st, 2014
~
Minimal Monday
~
Nearly time to fly

***

April 22nd, 2014
~
Where did the storm go
I ask the half moon
peering down at me
~
Last night winds howled 
we went to bed
beneath threatening dark skies
~
Storm warnings announced
heavy weather headed our way
thunderstorms hail snow winds
~
But here I stand  in the peaceful dark
gazing up into deep midnight velvet
embroidered with sparkling constellations
~
In the distance a few silvered mounds
clouds illuminated by the moon
all that's left of last night's turmoil
~
Where did the storm go
I ask the half moon
peering down at me



April 23rd, 2014
~
Who says beauty 
can't be found
in women of a certain age
~
Does not this tulip 
glow and shine
though nearing her end

Slipping gracefully into old age
yet still elegant and fine
not as perfect as she once was
~
Yet her colors richly matured
like a perfectly aged wine
her days written upon her petals
~
A bit worn but full of charm
a lesson to be learned
savor each day you have
~
Not only the exterior shell
which will fade in time
 glow and shine from within



April 24th, 2014
~
Cleverly hidden from the birds
beneath the sheltering rose
our first strawberries glow
~
Gathering the tasty treasures
still warm from the sun
popping them into my mouth
~
 They yield to gentle pressure
surely their divine flavor
is the very essence of spring


April 25th, 2014
~
First fat rain drops fall~plopping loudly
hitting the Lemon Balm 
playing bright green leaves like piano keys


April 26th, 2014
~
Sudden flash of color
catches the eye
brilliant Grosbeaks feast

***

April 27th, 2014
~
Seven for Sunday
~
Last weekend home
butterflies are
doing somersaults


Monday, April 14, 2014

April 14th-20th, 2014


April 14th, 2014
~
Minimum Monday
~
Today
~
Yesterday's roller coaster of emotions
replaced today by bliss~they're home
~
Yesterday
~
The moon nearly full, coyotes will be howling
and so are we~in frustration and disbelief
that our dear girls are out there~in the dark
running~lost~hunting~lured by coyote song?
All we can do is send up prayers and pleas
to the Universe~let them come home safe!!!


April 15th, 2014
~
Standing in the cool night air
eyes on the sky
how sudden the full moon
got swallowed
no longer round and golden
a slim crescent now
~
Shivering in the breeze
head tilted
mesmerized I wait
veils of clouds
drift across her face
she's blushing
~
Her face full again
blood red
she gazes down
smiling faintly
surrounded by stars
such splendor
 




April 16th, 2014
~
Sipping my morning tea
scrolling down the page
the world comes to me
with sad news and bad news
often weighing me down
~
Yet sprinkled in between
hope, joy, beauty also rests
reminding us all that our world
still holds so much good
people who care and note
~
Seeing things wrong and unfair
who take the extra step
signing to right what's wrong
messages of hope and support
images of beauty to lift the heart
~
So each morning's offerings
seeming a dark cloud at times
also have a brilliant rainbow lining
to illuminate the darkest day
Keep on shining and caring 
~
Together we do make a difference
may the shift of consciousness
begin with all of us~holding hands
around the world~connected
speaking up~spreading the light




April 17th, 2014
~
Lush beauty lifts her skirts
exposing slender stamens
hoping to entice the bees
~
They will find sweet treasure
 diving deep into her scented heart
emerging heavily dusted in pollen

***

April 18th, 2014
~
Night time rain
droplets tremble on leaves
pale morning moon




April 19th, 2014
~
Six Word Saturday
~
Slowly unfurling
revealing a
pure heart



#2
~
Two Times Six
~
 Blood Moon afterglow
far side of the moon
hiding in my camera


April 20th, 2014
~
Easter morning
fragrantly reflecting
the rising sun

Monday, April 7, 2014

April 7th-13th, 2014


April 7th, 2014
~
Departure draws ever nearer~time is flying
heart soars~so many treats in store
visiting dear faces and places~my homeland
~
On the flip side~we leave behind parts of our heart
sad eyes follow the bringing in of suitcases
change is in the air~do they know~can they tell
~
Do they realize their new lives will be in disarray
so happy now~they've settled in~savoring each day
telling them and myself~we'll be back~we'll return
~
Sensing my unease~stress rears it's ugly head~sneering
I stomp upon it's head~away vile beast~I want you not
all will be well~BREATHE~all will be well~BREATHE


April 8th, 2014
~
Walking at dusk~heavenly fragrance curls around me
envelops like a delightful scented shawl~fragrant memories
~
Earlier ~against a brilliant blue sky~creamy buds unfolded
reaching through tree branches~heads held high~snowy white
~
But how mysterious your are now~glowing in the failing light
suspended above me~fragrant floral stars shining~night magic

***

April 9th, 2014
~
Cowboy Poetry
~
This week is Round-Up time in the North State
which entails horse trailers and lots of cowboys
cutting horses~large corrals and clouds of dust
~
As we came over the rise and saw the herds below
for just a split second I nearly captured the scene
so romantic it seemed~the Wild West still alive
~
But suddenly my hand stilled~unable to click the shutter
because close up all I could see were terrified cows
with their bellowing young calves~milling-confused
~
Tall cowboys on prancing horses keep them gathered
wearing chaps~circling the hands on the ground
holding down the protesting struggling calves
~
After weeks of peaceful grazing and playing
suddenly a dreadful kind of hell broke loose
brutal castration~branding~tagging~no mercy here
~
Once allowed up~they stagger off~howling in pain
disoriented~searching for their mothers
no doubt nursing for comfort once reunited
~
So where is the romance in all that~will they sit tonight
around the campfire~blood splattered~singing cowboy songs
composing cowboy poetry~laughing ~drinking~slapping shoulders
~
All the while in the dark~anxious mother lick their young
trying to ease their pain~reeling from today's assault
shaken they wander back out into the range~trying to forget

***

April, 10th, 2014
~
Spring Eve and Morn
~
Silvery evening sky glows
trees ~now black ink silhouettes
Robin sings himself to sleep
Tree Frog croaks harmony
Peace settles ~soothing and gentle 
Day's End, deep in the country
~
Early~first light~pale watercolor sunrise
to the East~drifting through the garden
dogs at my feet~quietly exploring
unfolding the damp cushions I settle
sitting quietly~watching the sun rise
Robin greets the morning cheerfully


April 11th, 2014
~
A kaleidoscope of Painted Ladies
drifts in silently on the warm breeze
drawn by the honeyed scent of white lilacs
flapping lazily from blossom to blossom
settling briefly~dainty tongues unfurling
siphoning sweet nectar~then flitting on
visiting each small floret~or so it seems
what joy it must be~finding this luscious bounty
 an oasis on their journey to who knows where


April 12th, 2014
~
Six Word Saturday
~
Delicate wildflowers
joyfully embrace
morning sun


***

April 13th, 2014
~
Walking in the night garden~beneath a nearly full moon
white roses glow~Blanc Double de Coubert
shining bright~ miniature moons themselves
Lady Banksia spills thickly~her floral Milky Way
smothering the gate house in a fierce embrace
white lilacs~bright torches~their scent heavy in the air
surely Titania is holding court in a secret bower nearby
tis only spring~yet it feels like a Midsummer Night's Dream

Tuesday, April 1, 2014

April 1st-6th, 2014


April 1st, 2014
~
Cold rain~fierce storms
winter returned~cleverly hidden
beneath Spring's colorful cloak
April~fooled we've been
but in the end~Spring will win
Vinca knows~head held high
savoring rain's sweet kiss
sky blue on a gray day

***
April 2nd, 2014
~
And thus begins the sixteenth month of the journey
writing my way home ~one day at a time
spending mornings~cup of tea at hand
waiting for words to tumble free
such an important part of my day now
some mornings spend walking the garden
mindfully noticing~ finding that perfect shot
sometimes composing while on the road
seeing the same surroundings~yet not
everyday trips~more of an adventure now
~
There are times the image dictates the poem
or so it seems~other days words are just there
ready to share~still how I love the interaction
between written word and image~entwined
walking hand in hand~for this is the way
my creativity seems to work~combining
love of the visual with love of the written word
not a bad marriage of two disciplines it seems
they make a nice couple~pleasing to my eyes
sitting together on the page~happily side by side


April 3rd, 2014
~
Verdant valley
yet in the mountains
winter reigns



April 4th, 2014
~
Seeing the Light
~
I am a seeker~looking for light
to illuminate each passing day
light to erase the long dark shadows cast
by unsettling news worldwide~truths and rumors
absorbed day after day~relentless~pounding
politics gone wrong~corporate greed
murder~mayhem~climate change
cruelty toward the helpless~habitat destruction
ever growing list~too long~never ending
overwhelmingly hopeless at times
~
Yet there is hope~kindred spirits
speaking up~making a difference
kindling each other's flame in support
keeping the shadows at bay
caring~sharing~casting light into the dark
standing together~worldwide~across the miles
together we seek to illuminate the dark
all is not lost~hope still shines bright
collective conscience change is what it takes
can we make it in time~standing together
~
Awash in news and time line stories
often overwhelmed by the flood
clinging on to the light which connects many
finding beauty each day~looking for tranquility
because without hope~what do we have
but darkness so deep it will swallow us whole
they say that it's the dark and mean in this world
which enables us to see~not only our own blessings
but all that is still bright and beautiful in our world
all we can do is our personal best~making a difference


April 5th, 2014
~
Six Word Saturday Duo
~
Once again
Spring returns
Nature rejoices
~
Cold storms
have passed
let's celebrate



April 6th, 2014
~
Seven Word Sunday
~
Floral sunshine
tumbles down
spilling lush beauty