I am your Spring
Spindly, unspoken
Mending your dreams
Faded and broken
Sweet woodland grasses
Kissed by the sun
Nurture my soul
Teach me to run
Delve in my eyes
Of nature’s unknown
I hold your heart
I am your home
We are writing “From Nature’s Point of View”.
at dVerse Poets Pub.
3 p.m. EST.
Herons? Yes, I see them often…from a distance. Familiar sights on regular hikes through marshlands and parks. They appear to me as a privilege, preening on a rock amidst the reeds or sailing overhead in glorious flight. Grey. That is common or sometimes a Great White Egret, with plumage of an angel set aglow by the sun. It is always enough to slightly dazzle me. Today I am given a gift. From the top of the bridge that arches over a murky green creek, I stand only a few feet away from him. Staring motionless at the water with one leg spindly and bent, he waits. He waits more patiently than I do. He cares not that I watch. I become a similar statue, camera in hand anticipating his next move. And there it is. Saaaa-nap! His elongated beak now holds firmly to a tiny wriggling fish along with an innocent leaf caught in the hunt. An ordinary day for him. I am a guest, if only to admire a great heron’s dinner.
leaves ride in ripples
twilight grants one last favour
over humdrum day
We are looking for the “extra” in the ordinary for Haibun Monday. Grace is our host and she has reacquainted us with the form. Hope you can join us!
You speak in gaggles of geese
But I am in flight with kettles of hawks
Tipping my wings to wisps of clouds
Watching the mischief of mice below
You take the stand of flamingos
One foot planted, uncommitted
But my heart beats in murmurations of starlings
My eyes flutter in the charm of hummingbirds
Written for dVerse where we have been inspired by De to get creative using bird group names or other animal group names.
Candy and I have been working on a project that we would like to call “Collaboration for Peace”. Here is our second creation, combining my photos with her haiku. We hope to spread peace and hope throughout this community of poets. Who is Candy? You can find her at rhymeswithbug.com We are both members of Artists4Peace.
This lovely beast had no qualms about sticking his neck out for a treat. Photo taken at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park. Enjoy some more treats at The Daily Post.
https://dailypost.wordpress.com/photo-challenges/treat/
Goslings on the pond
Droplets roll off golden fuzz
Buoyancy meets gravity
~
https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/forces-of-nature/
At a nearby conservation area in Southwestern Ontario, hundreds of geese take up residence and this time of year, it can be quite a spectacle. These two honkers couldn’t seem to move fast enough as they chased others across the pond. Click to enlarge.
Be sure to check out more of life in motion at The Daily Post.
Sunlight on whiskers
Afloat in California
A sea lion’s throne
Dreamy day for ducks
Beauty of clouds repeated
Webbed foot masterpiece
~
Three years ago today, I published my first post on Word Press. This journey of writing, sharing photographs, reading, learning and connecting with others has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
Thank you to all of you who take the time to read, comment and interact.
Moon gazing was written as I was grieving the loss of our dog. Since then, it has been difficult to look at photos of “Barley”. I avoid things that hurt. I avoid things I cannot fix.
Barley wasn’t just a pet. He was my friend. So on this blogging anniversary, I thought it would be nice to pay tribute to my first inspiration to write. One miniature wire haired wiener dog that blessed my life and made me laugh every single day for seventeen years. It is time to look into his ragamuffin face again and say hello.
Hello, my long lost little buddy. I will always miss you and love you.
At fourteen, he still had a spring in his step.
Purebred…but he preferred the Rastafarian look.
The sunlight was too bright for his weary eyes, hence the little wool cap. Still cute as a button in his golden years.
What a nut!
Precariously poised, this chubby little stinker is reaping the benefits of his autumn stash. He seems oblivious to the elements.
~
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/endurance/
Seagulls rule the beach. 
We can build our little castles in the sand, but these guys will eventually inhabit what we claim to be our own.
Poised and perched, they poke fun at our creations that simply give them new places to govern their domain.
Seagulls stay on top of things.
Not afraid to trade
Your hollowed out haven
For a spot by the sea
Salty winds ruffle your coat
Sun dappled and sleek
But you remain passive
Despite your petition for peanuts
Spirit born from these rocks
Is not wavered by the waves
For they are larger than life
Serving only as a backdrop
To your tiny hold on this world
Posted for dVerse Poet’s Pub, in response to “Poetics: Animal Symbolism or Antics”
Do not assume my serenity
Strength composed behind these royal jowls
Is easy to unleash
Majestic magnitude I will flippantly flaunt
In your curious face
My capabilities, now subdued
Could easily result in your demise
My eyes hide secrets
To what lies within this gallant heart
Softened only by the breeze
Sweeping through golden tufts
The sun kindling my soul
And the mere fact that I am not free
While visiting an organic farm, this fine friend gazed deep into my soul.
There was a lot going on behind those eyes. I could literally feel his intelligence.
Enlarge for the full effect. He will get inside your head too.
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2013/09/13/photo-challenge-inside/
This gallery contains 6 photos.
Melanie at http://wordifull.com/ inspired me to try out some poetry formats so I gave it a whirl. This one is called a “cinquain”. Quoting from her blog, a cinquain is: “A five line poem with no rhyme scheme or meter; each line has a set number of words and a specific function. No words can be repeated. […]
My husband and I decided to take advantage of a cool but sunny spring day and take a hike at a nearby conservation area. A man passed by and told us there was “some kind of animal” sleeping up in a tree not too far ahead.
Sure enough, there it was……
….all curled up in the crook of a tree about 30 feet above us.
After taking a few pictures from the trail I quickly decided to get closer.
I always want to get closer!
I was afraid the sound of crunching leaves under my feet would wake him from his nap, but he did not move a muscle as I edged closer to the tree.
He (or she) was the size of a baby bear, but we were fairly confident that there were no bears in this neck of the woods!
He was completely undisturbed by our conversation and at one point, we wondered if he was actually alive.
His creepy little “hands” reminded me of a character in a fantasy movie.
At the same time, I was captivated by him.
He looked so snuggly, covering he eyes from the daylight as he slept.
We finally left him to his slumber. He’d never know that we were ever there.
After some photo editing and debate, we decided he was an EXTREMELY large……..
racoon.
This was a moment in nature I will not forget.
mishunderstood 