Every Step a Miracle

June 27, 2019.Reading time 3 minutes.

Angel of Death. The name had started to stick. As a volunteer, working with the dying, my job was to help patients relax, ease some of their stress. “She needs you more than me,” on old Irish doctor said as we both arrived at a patient’s home simultaneously. “I can give her medication for the […]

Drama in the Woods

June 22, 2019.Reading time 3 minutes.

A high-pitched chirp caught my attention the moment we entered the park. We’d come to Stratford for a meal out and decided to check up on the swans. Ric found a bench by the river, while I wandered in search of the source of the incessant note. It seemed to be coming from a clump […]

West Perth Wetlands

June 14, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

Spring is such a rich season for photography. Wildlife flirts, blossoms sing, and the air alternates between moist and sunny. As serene as this scene appears, birds are singing, bees are buzzing in prolific numbers, and the mosquitoes are having a feast. Still, I linger, hunting for the source of that one song that thrills […]

Morning Dose of Greens

June 8, 2019.Reading time 3 minutes.

The early morning sun rouses me from sleep. It’s just after six. I contemplate turning over and then remember that rain is called for later. I get up. Still practising intermittent fasting, I won’t eat anything till 9:00, so I decide to slip on my clothes and drive through the neighbourhood, ending up by the […]

Wild Flowers

June 7, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Amongst the roots and tangleof overgrowth and debrisflowers grow wild beauty unexpected,delicate, yet tenacious –infusion of hope. (For Lens-artists challenge: wild)

Lessons in Acceptance

May 28, 2019.Reading time 3 minutes.

When my eldest sister was diagnosed with acute leukaemia and given a month to a year to live, I had to scramble to be there for her. You see, I was deathly afraid of hospitals, and almost fainted the day she had her spinal tap. I had to find a way to conquer my phobias […]

Delicate

May 24, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Spring, you bring such hope,such delight – promised renewal… And yet I feel the vulnerability of all that is precious – how delicatelybalanced the seasons, life cyclesboth giving and subtracting –a chain of birth and death. For Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: delicate

V.J.’s Weekly Challenge #49: gadget

May 20, 2019.Reading time 2 minutes.

The first time Ric cooked dinner for me, he pulled out a tall, slender stainless steel pot with a glass lid and a basket inside. I’d never seen anything like it. “What is that?” “An asparagus pot!” I haven’t stopped teasing him about it, being the pragmatic woman that I am. I would soon discover […]

Framing Moments

May 12, 2019.Reading time 3 minutes.

“I’m going no matter what!” Two nights of no sleep has made me even more determined to live life, so I shower, fuss with my hair, and even put on makeup. Clothes are not comfortable right now, so I choose a skirt made from cotton t-shirt material and dress it up with a blouse, and […]

Avoidance Therapy

May 10, 2019.Reading time 2 minutes.

I just want to sleep. Situational, my therapist calls this type of depression. Saw my family doctor this week, and she confirmed that the skin condition could be cancer. At best, it is a rare condition that will need specialist care. It is both itchy and painful, but there can be no treatment until the […]

Where Are The Dogs?

Contemplating risk –a reunion with a former selflooking for an exit When did I become a snakerestrained?When did I become persona non grata? I slither between storiesconvince myself I can flydistraction a ruse I have big cat energyoverstepping boundariessocially adverse A faulty jeweldreaming of abundance but there’s a dragon to disarm My mother’s burden on my […]

Turning (tanka)

Mother

When I had a mothermy hair would cascadein curls of auburn perfectiona red velvet bow to accentuate the wave And I’d wear my bestnewly sewn frockwith lace at the neckand fishnet stockingsand patent Mary Janes And the girls giggling with delightwould skip hand-in-handto the school promand the boys shyly perchedagainst the back wall would wonderhow […]