Garden

August 10, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Il faut cultiver notre jardin. – Voltaire There is self to be foundin the planting of seeds,the art of nurturing,the glory of growth. Whether we carefully lay a bed,or hang our intentions for all to see,even roadside blooms assert meaning –that beauty belongs to us all. (For Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: gardens)

Taking a Break

August 8, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Bless those who take accessibility into account when planning areas of recreation. Strategically placed benches offer slow moving vehicles like me a chance to idle away a morning or afternoon, in the company of my cherished feathers friends. (For Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: Taking a break.)

From the Back

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

Cee challenges us the week to consider our subjects, in black and white, from the back. I find the pattern of a bird’s feathers is highlighted from behind. Caught these two riders as they road past in Arizona. Can’t get enough of these two lovelies. Had to include their sweet backs.

Timing Is Everything

August 6, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Thanks goodness for camera bursts that capture movement. Pretty sure neither girl can hold these poses. For Nancy Merrill’s A Photo A Week challenge: timing is everything.

Oh, To Dream

July 27, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Imagination floats, full sailinto a dreamy mist, reality out of focusdelightful course Beauty wraps my heartin dream-filled ecstasypaints my hope with shades of love As night falls, the sunserenades my soula symphony of huescoaxing dream-like slumber. (For Lens-Artists Photo Challenge: dreamy.)

Twisted

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

A tree swallow twisting for a scratch – oh how I wish I could do that. Roadside, tree branches twist and bend to avoid traffic – that I feel like I do all the time, lol. (For Nancy Merrill’s A Photo a Week challenge: twisted)

Lost and Found

July 23, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

Fallen limbs and pathless woodsno obstacle for a wild childleft to her own devices,searching for a self. Only with age, and sproutingcurves, did I learn to be afraidof shadows, that the woodsequated with wolves and lurking And that abandoned placeshouse evil – held captive therejust this side of adolescence – lost all that innocence gifts […]

Flight Day

July 20, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

While fishing with our granddaughter down by the falls, we are joined by an osprey, also looking for a catch. None of us has any luck, and the osprey moves on. We decide to follow him back to the nest. Mom and babies are in residence when we arrive, and after a bit of observation […]

A Trip To the Beach

July 17, 2019.Reading time 1 minute.

As the temperature rises we are drawn to nearby shores, for a patio lunch overlooking the water. Merely observers now – the sun a threat to aging skin, and the sand too difficult to navigate – we are content to people watch. Impossible to capture the entirety of our view in one shot, so I […]

Shades of Pink

July 16, 2019.Reading time less than 1 minute.

Protested pink, as a child,associated, as it was, with all things weak –or so I perceived. A new generation redefinesthe contours of pink –adds edges and functiona statement of empowerment Now, I adopt the shade,insert pink in place of blue,transform expression –celebrate pink’s invention. (Inspired by Nancy Merrill’s A Photo A Week challenge: shades of […]

End the Fray

This breach –this ever-widening gapfear inducedpits usagainst themas if humanitycan be dividedsalvationa selective process. We need a balmto soothe societalwounds, a tonicto calm the angstuntil clarityquells the uproarand kindnessreplaces this sin. (Poem originally appeared June 2019. Image my own)

Why We Write (tanka)

Memo to Self

Awakened by a crash just past midnight, I quickly realized my husband was not in bed and had fallen again. It’s the second time in two weeks. He couldn’t get back up. Paramedics arrived within minutes. Three strapping men had him on his feet again in no time. He was jostled but okay. I laid […]