Nature

Flowers Personified

lillian9 Comments

The lilac family lived on a lane
colorful and ostentatious
in a quiet sort of way.
Muted violet, creamy whites
pastel pinks and deep purples
beautiful dressers and lovers of perfume.

Nestled in a blanket of green
she peeks out with her ruffles.
A bitsy thing among her friends
demure and delicate
the sweet-scented
Miss Lily of the Valley.

She quietly lives the rules of mourning
body drooped in shadows
occasionally sees the sun
empathy personified
destined for sadness
the perennial bleeding heart.

Waves in Fury

lillian4 Comments

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Waves in Fury

Waves spew anger
again and again
batter rocks to granular bits
like cruel words
batter the vulnerable heart
crush self esteem to nothingness.

In response to The Daily Post’s weekly photo challenge: “Forces of Nature.”  Tobacco Bay, Bermuda – February 2015.  Amazing to feel the wind so strong it made us lean forward to move. Back at our rental, I licked my upper lip and could still taste the salt from these glorious and angry waves! I think I must have been a sea creature in a past life — how I love the ocean!

New Life Abounds

lillian7 Comments

Early buds of spring tempt
like sizzling popcorn kernels
suddenly burst open
to joyful oohs and ahs.

Cheerful yellow daffodils
beside candy-striped tulips
nestle in new mown grass.

Wide-eyed passersby
enjoy blue hyacinth perfume
beneath canopies of creamy
white magnolia trees.

Discarded bulky coats reveal
bright topped pregnant bellies
as young women strut
like ducklings on parade.
New life popping everywhere!

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Photos of the sculpture Make Way for Ducklings, in Boston Commons. A mysterious unknown person always puts seasonal hats on the ducklings — these are their Easter bonnets!

Come Fly With Me

lillian2 Comments

 

The large guest room hides
from baby squalls, ice cube maker
coffee grinder and garage door sounds
a three floor climb to indoor heaven.

Double bed entices with heirloom quilts.
Wall to wall, three-paned window
frames tall verdant backyard forest
invites dreams,  a portal to the mind.

Mornings are delectable. Sun filters
myriad shades of green, breeze shivers
through leaves, becomes visible in movement
dew evaporates chills to warmth.

Pure luxury to lie in bed, eyes open wide
as sun rays seep through window panes
left to right, flit from branch to branch
like reading nature’s tale revealed in glass.

Morning presents positive possibilities
light unchecked by darkness or distress.
I become the bird that spreads its wings
and flies toward the day.

Summer’s Delights

lillian1 Comment

NaPoWriMo  April 29  and  Photo Challenge to share a photograph that captures motion and tell the story behind it.  Several summers ago we were delighted to have our daughter and grandchildren join us for a weekend in Provincetown. Oh the joys and innocence of childhood!

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Summer’s Delights

Apple tree blossoms in curly hair
knocked off their branches
during the morning climb
by scraped and knobby knees.

Sidewalks with white chalk not snow
crooked squares and wiggly numbers
smudged by hop scotch jumps
and dripping lime popsicles.

Seaside escapades scented by Coppertone
childhood tag at water’s edge
joy forever captured in portraits
of red-brown freckles on sun flushed cheeks.

Woods’ Desire

lillian1 Comment

NaPoWriMo  April 24, without prompt. Spending February in Bermuda, we walked many miles on the Old Railway Trail.  So many sections were almost mystical – nature can be that way. 

 

Wood’s Desire

The forest seldom traveled
seeks company and joy
trees stand sentinel proud
light rarely allowed upon her ground.

Winds decide to grant her wish
push aside branches high and low
create slivered space amongst the leaves
open pathways for morning sun.

Leaf filtered, bright and spritely shapes
suddenly dance upon her darkened floor
awakened shadows without selves
companions until the calm.