A Good Beginning

The Morning...

Good Beginning

Sunlight streaming in to rouse my muddled head

Dreams they rattle round and round I coddled while in bed

My old house is a painting with spots of marmalade that taste good

In these sunlit morns, bathing in the light that adorns the glass, the wall, the wood

Strongly angled rays like ribbons, the mountain sun-it touches

Bringing the inanimate to life--

Cupboard doors they delight me, window panes they excite me

The more shadowy places of a once tricky nature are not now misunderstood.

My thoughts they are stirring; drip drip onto paper…

A watery scene, it takes place--

With dolphins that jump to thrill me and swimming sea cows friends who lumber

Dressed in gowns of the forest and sweet-faced.

Robins arrayed in splendor swooping down in celebration

They fan my sweat beaded brow…

My painting consumes me and I hasten away

To a night filled with stars cool as ice

From my fingertips the light beams

And I draw another of borealis color swept across the midnight sky

Collecting it in a cavern, it echoes round the chamber

I see a psychedelic swirl of colors passing me by…

Alone on an island, white water-crystal, trickles down off of a ruby-red shore

Then back in my office, I hear it chiming with the rhythm of a tick and a tock

Back in my armchair, I awake from my dreaming, with thoughts like puzzle pieces strewn, lit up by the sun on the floor.

The Magnificent Magnolia Blossom

My absolute favorite blossom of all time is the
Magnolia grandiflora L.; the Southern Magnolia
blossom. This is a lush, full deep green tree heavy
with big soft vanilla colored blossoms. I captured this one
(and yesterday's photo of its inside parts) near Salisbury,
N.C. We do not have this plush variation here in the
High Country (above 4000 feet.) Ours is more
spindly looking with longer petals and not
quite as full. I was eager to photograph
this blossom last weekend!
What a beauty!

Question...

What...
is it?!
:-)

Your Favorite

Your Favorite

I am your favorite song hummed aloud on a moonlit night under the stars lined up bright like a kite string sailing

Just play me

I am the morning mist as it settles down on the thirsty slack plant leaves still hot from the sultry sun of yesterday’s heat

Drink me in

I am a fine wine cultured full with body musty luscious green grapes fat dripping off an old vine

Sip me slowly

I am water rushing to surge over the falls edge glimmering full out in the sparkling summer sun’s ray

Wash yourself clean

I am the story unraveling mysterious with hidden meaning that glints across the cave at you golden

Line your pockets

I am a thoroughly fit small child well clad skipping the rope nimble higher and higher I go

Jump for awhile

I am the mist as it curls 'C ' off the gentle mountain’s slope like the long sweet caress that it is and I am drifting up

Think with me

I am the frothy cream thick and bubbling sweet perched upon the little cup’s edge

Let me linger

I am the shade of a sea of oaks rising up straight like soldiers standing serene in the hollow's green grass

Stay awhile.

Leona

Leona

Seized by the back of my hair, I found myself being overpowered and pulled straight back and down and then down again to the cold, hard linoleum. Stunned, in a flash of time, I thought back on all of my coaxing and the seemingly careful consideration I had given to Leona and her puzzling ways. I thought I had ‘tamed’ her; subdued her sometimes reportedly savage behavior with my winning, confident way about her. I believed that she might have even seen me as ‘safe.’ But this day, I found myself being rescued by my co-workers, unharmed but with the wind temporarily taken out of my sails. Whatever ‘score’ that there was to be settled, in Leona’s eyes, it was satisfied for the time being. Or was it just her madness getting the better of her that had caused her to so plainly assault me? In any event, she had caught me totally off guard. It was me…turning for a small moment in time to get her an item that she needed, trusting implicitly in the agreement that I thought that we had, and she had taken advantage.

How is it that…even ‘professionals’ can think that we know so much about someone…when we really know so little?

It was 7:00 A.M. and I had already been unwittingly pulled right down on to the floor. I knew that maybe I was lucky. The one totally unpredictable thing that always seemed to happen in this (crazy) place that I worked at each day…had already played itself out.

But I did learn one thing that day. Never turn your back…on Leona.

Journeying Well

Mountain beyond the mountain
All places we must go.
Mountain beyond the one I'm climbing
preparing me, you know.
Mountain after mountain
each journey worth the climb
Mountain peak and mountain view
each one special, each one new...
Horizon after horizon
All calling me to push
venturing beyond what is safe
With limit after limit breached
and all upon my dusty foot...
Sunset after sunset
with color that never pales
Until I reach my resting place
Pressing, I will prevail.
Mountain after mountain peak
and singing all the way
What I see from the valley fair
is calling out to me.
Mountains, limitless mountains
all standing in a row
Like soldiers they remind me of
places I have yet to go.
Glory upon glory
and wonders all round
I stand and gaze on mountain peaks
for this is hallowed ground.
Mountain after mountain peak
and pressing all the way
With story after story to tell
I'm leaving on my way.
Fair mountain you are a friend to me
I tuck you near my heart
Calling to travelers everywhere
To up and run, to leave...depart!
Shake off the dust of yesteryear
And breath in something new
Fair mountain with one hid behind
is calling out to you...
So pack then, lightly friend
brave travelers alike
And we will feast on mountain airs
upon this, our lofty hike.
Soldier on, yes soldier on
and we will greet the day
Standing where our ancestry stood
stalwart, come what may.
Mountain fair, O mountain friend
to you we rise and sing
All gathered 'round
as children glad,
receive this, our offering.
Mountain looming, mountain next
to you we must away
And stand as the tomorrow shines
Aglow, as our yesterday.
Fair mountain on horizon, lifting
you beckon to me and call...
I will conquer and upon you stand
for you are fairest of them all!
Arise, O slumbering nations!
and enter in to rest...
Banishing strife and your warring cease
to receive our Maker's very best...
For we each, are gentle warriors
on this, our Earthly home;
each precious day a gift on display
to unwrap, to discover and to gently hold.
And treat this one time journey
just like a loving child...
Held so sweetly to your breast
never left soiled, tired...undressed
And with a lightness in your step
run free, run brave, and run wild.

A Rose by Any Other Name

Front yard rose
basking in the sun
Front yard rose
to see you is to come undone
Front yard rose
a bloom for passers-by
Front yard rose
sweet petal of silk is my
Front yard rose.