nature – Page 16 – One Woman's Quest

Conscious Breathing

Inhale – chest rises –
exhale – chest falls – summon new,
expel old; repeat.

(Haiku written for Ronovan Writes Haiku challenge: rise/fall)

Mindfulness

Even as we harvest
the fruits of our endeavors,

as the leaves of summer
give over to golden dreams

and light reaches through
gathering clouds, illuminating,

celebrating; we must not forget
that we are a part of this living

miracle, that our lives, in harmony
with Nature, deserve reverence.

Small is Beautiful (Poem and Photos)

Nature’s artistry
inspires awe –
jewelled throats
and iridescent curves

Calming hues
and contrasts
that buzz with
dedicated passion

The vibrancy of wings –
intricate detailing –
orange floating
on unseen hands.

(Lens-Artists Photo Challenge is: small is beautiful)

Mother

Mother
to a child – barely
able to tie shoes

watching,
listening,
ever-present

through fields,
trees, at
water’s edge

provided shelter,
grounding –
whispered cautions

child grew,
left her side –
pursued dreams

until life
overwhelming –
an adult returns

“Mother?” she cries.

“Here,” Earth responds.

(It’s quadrille night at dVerse, and Kim is hosting with the prompt earth.)

Clouds cluster, warn of coming storms. Having been shut in for days, I am anxious to get outside. Trusty camera carefully secured around my neck, hands firm on walker’s grip, I begin my slow stroll through the neighbourhood. A gust of wind disrupts the flight of a bumblebee, and we collide: he striking my cheek. I step back, startled. No damage done.

I follow a walkway, built between the houses, leading to our community center. This route takes me past rows of flourishing gardens – a feast of vibrancy. I slow to watch the bees delightedly dancing from bloom to bloom. At the edge of my friend’s house, I hear the crickets, loud and raucous, as if they know that she is currently away. I pause to listen, surprised to hear such unabashed chirping mid-day.

Lingering, I hope to catch a glimpse of one, maybe even a photograph, but the creatures are securely tucked in the shadows of the overgrown foliage, oblivious to my presence. I capture the flight of a bee, and the elegant profile of a mourning dove, and then turn back. A white winged moth brushes my hand in passing and then stops long enough for me to take a picture. The crickets keep on singing.

Midday crickets sing –
revel in nature’s bounty,
as storm clouds gather.

(Written for dVerse, hosted tonight by Victoria.)

Moss

The past clings,
like moss, nurtured
by tears unshed,
like sap untapped,
warps minds,
sense of self,
craves perceptional
shift –
a vernal appreciation
for the grandeur
of our contours,
brilliance of wisdom
garnered through strife –
the undeniable elegance
of lush green moss.

(Photo from personal collection: rainforest on Vancouver Island.)

Bitten

Daylight softens
and my lens twitches
to follow the birds
into the brush
to a pond
where green water
ripples, exposes
the presence
of beaver,
slicing through algae.

I click. Success!
Later revel
in images,
red welts
raising on arms,
legs afire with itch.

(dVerse is back and celebrating 7 years with a quadrille, focus: itch)

Silken

How delicate
these threads
that bind us –
frail filaments,
whispery darts
of affection –

How willfully
we ignore connection,
ignore ensuing pain…
individuality usurping
love’s needs –
a harsh lesson.

(Inspired by the featured image and written for the daily prompts:
Fandango: lesson; Ragtag Community: dart; Daily Addictions: frail.)

Mirrors

(Submitted to Fandango’s Daily prompt: mirror)

Category: nature