MAY 2015

Another sweet May unfolds

in all of its splendor

birds are busy feeding 

their clamoring young

butterflies delicately

extract sweet nectar

bees sport yellow knickers

buzzing contently as

they probe this morning's

newly opened buds

sipping the sweet nectar

all of nature celebrates

this glorious first day of May

***

6WS

~

Owl trinity

sharing wisdom

nature's magic

Prompt: THE INNER LANDSCAPE

~

Our inner landscape, often a precious secret garden

hidden from view carefully protected by tall walls

build over a lifetime of loss pain wrong paths taken

sometimes walls build so high and unscalable as

to seem cold and unfriendly to those standing outside

appearing harsh unable to see the landscape within

for it's within our true self unfolds boldly unafraid

to own the tenderness the growth lush and succulent

tendrils creeping up the walls, sometimes reaching 

across with tendrils of blossoms as we learn to 

own our mistakes overcome them and grow into ourselves

growing wiser with age more accepting of who we are

more certain of our place in the world we cautiously 

crack open the secret door allowing those who care

enough to enter and see us for who we truly are

embracing us despite our imperfections and thorny bits

allowing us to grow further yet to bloom and thrive 

entrusting our tender inner landscape to those dear

to us their care and tenderness enriching our days

their love and concern fertilizing encouraging growth

even on days when dark memories shade the paths of our

inner world we know that the sun will return

once more illuminating the hidden landscape within

Prompt: The Inner Landscape

~

My inner landscape is filled to the brim

with valleys and hills slim paths leading

from ordinary moments to moments of magic

filled to overflowing with visions of fancy 

balancing an outside world not always whimsical

but here in the hills and dales of the 

inner landscape fantasy abounds allowing ordinary

moments in a day to be transformed into something

extraordinary filled with special magic where

warty garden toads with solemn golden eyes turn

into charming princes only waiting to be kissed 

thus breaking the wicked spell of the black witch

or revisiting tales of splendid Toad Hall

it's walls hanging with the family portraits

of aquatic ancestors gone but not forgotten

our inner landscapes filled with words and

fantasies that see us through embellishing

most any a day and connecting us to other 

kindred spirits whose inner landscapes too are

lush and full of wonder waiting to be shared

may our inner landscapes be places of wonder and 

joy filled to the brim thus blessing our days

***

Six Word Saturday Duet

~

Drops of amber

adorn

silver pagodas

Fuzzy bees

playfully tickle

fuzzy lambs

Mother's Day

~

Thriving chick

fuzzy no more

stands tall

on the rim of 

the large nest

soon untried 

wings will spread

ready to fly

testament to a

mother's tender

care nurturing

and protecting 

thus ensuring

a bright future

 ***
 First Tanka attempt
~
Torn away swiftly
familiar world left behind
too small to understand
workings of the adult mind
still remembering the fear
***
Grown up at last
having left sadness behind
nurturing myself
holding dear to my heart
only sweet memories now

Six Word Saturday Tribute to B.B. King
~
Feeling blue
Heaven's gain
our loss

Wendy's Wish
exotic transplant
settles comfortably
nourished with tender love
allowing new roots to go deeply
she's unfolding most brilliantly
aglow with the look of love vivid
proof that some dreams do come true

Prompt : RIGHT NOW!
~
Right now I wish I could sit
once again on the sand
by the silvery sea listening
to the breaking of the waves
~
Right now I wish I could hear
the calling of the gulls
inhale the sharp salty air
fog slowly giving way to sunshine
~
Right now I want to get up
walk toward town watch the otters
play listen to the sea lions
bark while laying on the docks
~
Right now I wish I were there
re-visiting my old hometown
enjoying  delectable pastries
 while sipping coffee near the sea

Prompt: RIGHT NOW
~
Right now...
Elegant trumpets turn
eager to intercept the slightest
whispers brought on the rising wind
finding it's way up the nearby canyon
in the distance first rumbles are heard
afternoon thunderstorm slowly approaches
sultry air lays heavily skies turning a bruised black
will the storm find us bringing with it precious moisture
or will it pass by once again leaving the thirsty land parched

Heart still pumping wildly
legs trembling we're back
sparkling creek rushes along
below us our wet panting dogs
racing in front of us effervescent
with joy they shed droplets of water
right now our hearts filled to the brim
with the sheer joy of being alive in this place
at this time early morning's sunny face shining on us
urging us on the message is clear CARPE DIEM..and we did

Prompt: Roots
~
My roots run deep
snaking along blindly
beneath the continent
making their way
across thousands of miles
even the sea cannot stop
them in their journey
the yearning to return again
to the land where I was born
and raised a place of early
memories both good and bad
my roots run deep and now
in aging they tug at me
not always gently urging
me to return once again
to the land where my story
began so many years ago
yet here too on this land
where I have lived the
longest ever in one place
my roots have settled
having found a place to be
even to grow and thrive
if only I could grow in
both places but in a way
really I am because each time
my journey takes me across
the sea once again my roots
sing to me all the way home
my roots run deep..........

Culinary Roots
~
This morning I woke
feeling the need
to celebrate my roots
in a culinary way
~
Delectable Pfannkuchen
childhood favorite
made with a twist
thus making them my own
~
Thin delicate layers glisten
embellished today with
berries tasty apricot jam
and tart lingonberry sauce
~
Dash of Cinnamon Sugar
added a touch of spice
dollop of Maple Syrup
added glistening delight
~
Eating on the terrace
sweet bird song trilling
my continental roots
were joyfully celebrated

Minimal Monday
~
Slightly machiavellian
shimmering jewel
such deadly patience

~
Satiny chamber
holding within
grave danger
this courtier
cloaked splendidly
in peridot silk
patiently sits
watching the world
waiting for that
one careless reveler
mindlessly humming
along please bee-ware!

This Linden tree-it's roots
tethered deeply in the California
soil yet every May it brings
with it memories of a childhood
far away as waves of sweet scent
send fragrant tendrils through
the garden standing beneath it's
heavily blooming crown alive
with the humming of hundreds of bees
it takes me swiftly back in time
sweet connection to a childhood left
long ago when we walked along under
the Linden whose branches reached
across the streets creating cool shade
scent rising high up into the sky
laden with that same sweet bounty
even now songs we sang back then
come to me rising on the scented breeze
winding their sweet melody into my
heart and soul leaving me humming
along singing my nostalgic own song

My roots on the maternal side

are cloaked in mystery but on 

the paternal side I can trace

a few stray strands back in time

gazing upon the wedding portrait

of my grandparents taken in 1902

searching Katarina's solemn face

for a sliver of recognition

is it only her love of cooking

she shared with me or maybe

her impatience at times shown

in bursts of the fiery temper she 

was known for according to dad

all that remains of her now is this

small image of her gently holding

me in her arms gazing down 

alas she was gone too soon

my memories of her faded along

with the now blurred images

yet the connection remains

reaching back into time I am 

still tethered to the past

my roots connected to those

who came before whether I know

their names or not whether

my memories are fading or not

we're still deeply connected 

our roots made of the same stuff

carrying deep within us a tiny

piece of all long gone now lost

in the mists of time yet still

a part of them lives on within us

***

Like a small golden moon

turning a pale cheek

toward the morning sun

feeling sun's warm kiss

young nectarine blushes

moving another day closer

to succulent perfection