August 25th-31st, 2014

August 25th, 2014

~

They come

under cover 

of darkness

glowing eyes

reveal their

secret location

band of bandits

nothing is safe

no stone

left unturned

ravishing 

the yard

the snails

long gone

empty shells 

sad remains

yet they 

charm us

those rascals

still wishing

they went 

elsewhere 

to ply 

their trade

August 26th, 2014
~
Early morning sunrise illuminates
Buddha's face looking inward
his peaceful countenance shines
~
Swirls of blueish incense rise
a bamboo flute sings sweetly
birds add their joyful voices
~
Sitting peacefully mind at rest
savoring this exquisite tranquility
such a perfect start to the day

August 27th, 2014
~
Diving deep
into the catnip
rolling around
her eyes crazed
she springs up
then races wildly
up the nearest tree
down again now the roof
around the garden
zero to nuts in
20 seconds flat
Ming Dragon
will crash soon
dreaming wild
drugged dreams
paws dancing
whiskers twitching
sleeping off
her natural high

August, 28th, 2014
~
Sometimes~when my eyes
fall upon exquisite beauty
they fill with tears of joy
trembling on my lashes
~
So blessed to be able to see
 beauty often overlooked
taken for granted by some
doubly blessed when shared

***

August 29th, 2014
~
Meditation does not come easy
to me~I fidget~but now and then
I find myself in that quiet place
where my racing thoughts are
like clouds~just passing through
and I am able to smile patiently
as they drift away~out of sight

August 30th, 2014
~
Night slowly settles as the sun slips away
out of sight~yet diaphanous veils remain
smudged colors a faint memory of her reign
~
Now Luna rides the night sky proudly
a cloud comet her chariot this night
all of this splendor~ on our way home

August 31st, 2014
~
7WS
~
Swimming high
above our heads
Right Whale

#2
~
Neon circles
pulsing~swirling
ribbons of pain
start unfurling
Art Nouveau
I blink in vain
Migraine settles
in my brain
early bed
for me tonight
way too tired
for this fight

August 18th-24th, 2014

August 18th, 2014

~

Minimal Monday

~

Hey you 

with the leaf

in your beak

I see you!!

***

#2
~
Betrayal  is such
an ugly word
leaving a bitter taste
~
What do you say
when the trust you had
was just a mirage?
~
When your heart and soul
your secrets and pain
are used against you?
~
You cry~that's what you do
you grieve for what's lost
everything you held dear.
~
That love~not always perfect
now sullied~how to go forward
from this painful dark place
~
Speaking now would be deadly
I'll pull in my antennae
and let my shell comfort me

August, 19th, 2014
~
You know how on some days
just like before a big storm
the air in our own lives can crackle
~
Leaving us unsettled and uneasy
strange feelings and happenings
swirling in our personal atmosphere
~
Then it hits~hard~swirling~driving
spinning us this way and that
our feelings boiling like thunderclouds
~
The storm breaks~leaving us reeling
like the heavens~tears fall heavily
flash flood~releasing tension and stress
~
Internal storms~washing over us violently
leaving us spend~yet  also thankful
we've survived~made it through intact
~
This calm after the storm~it can clear our vision
we can breathe again and savor the new day
yes they'll come~but we've weathered them before
~
May they strengthen us~encourage new growth
may their wisdom thrive in us
may we step forward with courage and grace

August 20th, 2014
~
 Floral periscope extends
surveys her world
can't help but smile back

August 21st, 2014
~
Bella Donna~Beautiful Lady
so tempting~so deadly
~
Long ago~lovely ladies used you
to enhance their own beauty
~
Your essence turning their eyes
dark and mysterious~like you
~
Your poison~aiding some
eliminating others~deadly gift
~
 It is rumored that you aided
 witches in their ability to fly
~
Bella Donna~dark beauty
able to enhance~or destroy

August 22nd, 2014
~
Eagerly opening their bright faces
greeting the brilliant sun
not knowing her passionate kiss
will be the death of them
we enjoy their velvety beauty
the glory of this morning
savoring the moment

#2
~
This owl winked once
as my husband passed by
how could he resist that
~
And how could I resist
embellishing his dear gift
with my own touch
~
Lovely Midnight Owl
now rests safely
touching my heart

August, 23rd, 2014
~
Gathered together
cheek to cheek
these mature beauties
~
Perfect imperfection
bruised and marred
yet treasured and loved
~
For beneath the surface
their hearts are tender
their sweetness sings
~
These ladies gave their all
luscious Apple Crumble
transformation complete

August, 24th, 2014
~
Paying it forward
~
So often we come across this concept
paying it forward~encouraging others
what better way then applying it right here
in this group of kindred spirits~sharing of themselves
how well I remember my first tottering steps
upon this stage~nervous~my words still halting
a bit stilted and unsure~fingers shaking ~hovering
above the button that would send it out there
for all to see~my soul laid bare to some extend
I've been around now for a while~still writing
those early days of first uncertainty behind me
yet there are new voices or sometimes even old
who will benefit from that sign of really being seen
of that like or better yet a comment~input to validate
their voices and feelings~we all know about the lack
of time~ swiftly running~not enough hours in our days
trying to do it all and still find time for us and friends
yet when I think of all those actions~encouraging me
allowing me and many others to spread their fledgling wings
how can I not take a little time each day~paying it forward?

August 11th-17th, 2014

August 11th, 2014

~

Minimal Monday

~

Even the clouds 

could not conceal

her silver beauty

#2

~

Still lingering

our morning gift

Bella Luna

#3

~

Rising sun

kisses her face

she blushes

August 12th, 2014

~

Heavenly goddess ascends

veiled in glamour

working her celestial magic

~

Turning night into day

enchanting country roads

now a silvery river

~

All night she dazzled 

spilling her magic

her pale silhouette remains

August 13th, 2014

~

Morning Meditation

~

He sits calmly in the center of chaos

weekly changing of the linens

eyes open~then closed~open again

his purr a chant of contentment

paws kneading quietly~he's at peace

this silver tabby Dalai Lama of cats

accepting change without a fuss

living in the moment~content

nothing disrupts his morning mediation

even the sudden covering of his head

bringing temporary darkness

still he sits and purrs~the embodiment

of serenity~no matter what life brings

there is a lesson to be learned in that

***

August 14th, 2014
~
Do they truly exist
in the real world
those nurturing circles
you often read about
women holding hands
inclusive of all~no cliques
tenderly supporting each other
never judging or competing
just sharing comfort and love
with their fellow sisters
or is it just fiction written by
women for women~they themselves
in search of such exquisite tenderness
I often wonder about that

August 15th, 2014

~

Tonight's forecast

mostly clear with scattered 

Maxfield Parrish clouds

August 16th, 2014

~
6WS
~
Look for joy
in every day
***

Fanciful ~I know

but that big teddy 

in the evening sky

holding out his arms

as if to embrace us all

brought a smile to my face

reminding me~there's much joy

to be found in even a cloudy day

regardless of what the daily news

would have us all believe

it's not all gloom and doom

look for joy!!

August 17th, 2014

~

Tenderly kissed by the rising sun

bright cheerful faces shine

Four o'clocks at Eight o'clock

they care not for the time

~

They open up their pretty gowns

for all the word to see

their lives are short~but do not frown

soon they'll be spilling seed

~

On and on the wheel does turn

each year they come anew

they bless us with their loveliness

I'll share this lovely view

August 1st-10th, 2014

August 1st, 2014

~

Mystical strange beast

found dry on the forest floor

a generous splash of water

some tender loving care

 behold this small miracle

~

Delicate tentacles unfold

once dry and crisp

now soft to the touch

brought home from the forest

yet reminiscent of the sea

~

Mind's eye can imagine

this creature beneath the waves

the fishy face~delicate fronds

moving with the sea currents

but no~from up high it fell

~

Picked up dry and broken

from the dark forest floor

anointed with water at home

watching it come to life

Ming sniffs the withered beast

~

Can she read their story

absorb the places they've been

will the scent take her away

to wild places~into the canopy

with a perfect bird's eye view 

August 2nd, 2014
~
Another morning spend dragging heavy hoses
attempting to keep our corner of desert green
it seems a silly task really~but oh how my heart
needs that bit of green to refresh the eye and senses
my roots~still yearning for the verdant land of my birth
~
So each morning in deep summer~many hours spend
tugging~cursing~moaning~sweat freely pouring down
then my reward~slightest cooling~refreshing
soul and senses~not only for us~but all of nature
sweet winged ones now fly in~whole flocks arrive
~
Eagerly chattering~their tiny wings nearly grazing
my cheek ~they land in the glistening wet shrubs
wings fluttering as they bathe~refreshing themselves
Bushtits by the dozens~their sweet chirps fill the air
then robins come to scratch the now moist earth
~
Red breasts glow~heads bob~finding buried treasure
the labor now well worthwhile~our oasis is teeming
seeing us through another summer~one hot day at a time
counting our blessings~fresh water~pumped from the deep
not all are this lucky~giving thanks for this bounty daily

August 3rd, 2014
~
Seven Word Sunday
~
Portly visitor
eagerly gathers sweet
bounty within

August 4th, 2014
~
Eerie arms~dripping lace
reach up into the fog
searching the silvery skies
as if to part the curtain
revealing hidden mysteries
dare we stay and wait
will it be just the hidden sun
or something ominous
sudden evening breeze animates
lace flutters~crow caws
goosebumps form~is it the breeze??

August 5th, 2014
~
Soft hiss of rain on a cold tin roof
plip plop as it drips off the edge
glistening droplets quivering on leaf's edge
~
This is the stuff California summer dreams
are made of~unexpected~most welcome
giving heartfelt thanks for our wet reprieve

#2
~
Imperfect Ten
~
Not feeling blue
pink tears of joy
honoring the rain

August 6th, 2014
~
Once upon a time~ in a Northern Kingdom
there lived a dear little princess~loved by all
And no~it's not the one currently occupying
the Firefly Throne~that's Princess Ming Dragon
~
Sadly the dear Princess of whom I speak
has long outgrown her little Firefly Throne
but once she occupied it quite often
I am speaking of  Princess Plum Blossom
~
She of the lovely red gold hair and sweet freckles
wearing the silken Crane Kimono~fanning herself
oh how she filled our heart with joy and happiness
curled up~her sweet nose in a book most everyday
~
As often happens~they do grow up up and away
she's gone now~following the path to a promising future
fairy tales savored~now replaced by serious text books
still her dear memory lingers and makes us smile today
~
We found her Firefly Throne~tucked away safely
carefully unfolded it~remembering sweet times
she's making her own happiness~Prince optional
may she find joy and live happily ever after

August 7th, 2014
~
Delicate bones rest on the sand
the illusion of flight remains
though the heart no longer beats

August 8th, 2014
~
Side by side~ they pose cheerfully
one invited~wearing indigo velvet
the other in white~crashing the party
***
August 9th, 2014
~
Inspiration took flight
roosting elsewhere today

August 10th, 2014
~
Seems eons ago we walked
this monochromatic landscape
undulating toward the sea
~
Listening to seagulls laugh
breakers rushing in with a roar
dogs barking in the distance
~
Memory must sustain us now
inland~far from the sea
longing for the song of the beach

August 10th, 2014
~
In Pursuit of Luna
~
Following the winding country roads
we drive~ searching for Luna
out there~away from our small valley
~
It's not to be~tonight clouds bar her way
she struggles~trying to break free
we wait patiently~hoping against hope
~
Still what a blessing~this lovely breeze
prairie stretching to the far horizon
technicolor sunset blazing to the West
~
Darkness falls~cricket song fills the night
lone egret stands~his small pond shimmers
two swifts dip and turn~catching dinner
~
Outlined against the evening sky
suddenly an owl appears
gliding silently across the prairie
~
What better way to spend a summer night
out here on the wide open land
feeling the gentle night air on our faces