This woman you think you see
face hidden behind lens
she is but an illusion

Flesh camouflaging spirit –
her soul, winged
soars beside you.
(For Reena’s Exploration challenge: illusion; and Bird Weekly challenge: seagulls.)
A grackle shimmers
sun highlighting blue – my mood
queer melancholy –
absent knocks, talks, minutiae
remains discomforting din.
(Photo mine)
Anticipate salvation –
the stork master
spews cryptic babble
Is there hope to be had?
Don’t speak forked-tongue
cannot decipher the yarn
Suspect time alone holds truth
experience will betray the lies
integrity winning out in the end.
(Image mine)
It was birdsong
stopped me in my tracks
distracted as I was
by pandemics
and ceaseless worry
I looked up
I looked up
and there was glory
white blossoms
triangulated
against endless
blue sky
Blue sky
like a messenger from afar
lifting my spirits
stirring longing
It was birdsong
stopped me in my tracks
I looked up and understood.
(This poem, inspired by the photo I took on a recent walk, was written for Reena’s Exploration Challenge. I borrowed the line “messenger from afar”. Image mine)
We purchase boards
imagine roots –
dream bigger
ignore the dawning
The higher the fence,
we tell ourselves,
the better the privacy.
Work hard, earn big.
And the longing grows
it’s the heart that seeks roots
hungers for connection
love like sunshine
Would knock down walls
throw open the doors
bask in the expansiveness
of kindred moments shared.
(For Eugi’s Causerie Weekly prompt: sunshine. Image is my own – a common merganser basking in sunshine.)
Skies draw me –
the allure of wings
the inference of escape
Not afraid to dream –
imagination fully engaged
willingness set on go
Till darkness encroaches –
a black line blotting
periphery
Imperfection an ugly
critique – self flails
doubt becomes certainty
Wrench my perspective
away from the gloom
need to crop the image.
(Inspired by the promptings of Reena’s Exploration challenge:Â addiction or depression; and Bushboys: Last on card April 3.)
Robin’s melody bait
for this weary soul –
I hear promise
but nature is fickle
Winter renews onslaught
mocks any hope –
Solution to melancholy
once again delayed.
(Image from personal collection)
Cardinal sings me awake
promises a verdant day
viburnum scented breezes
and the sun’s warming light.
(Tuesdays, I borrow a poem from Twitter @Vjknutson. Image from personal collection. Linking this up with my weekly challenge, which is morning. Also linking up with Eugi’s Causerie prompt of the week: song.)
Intrusion’s clatter
peaks adrenaline – armed
I investigate
encounter winsome smile –
masked bandit, unabashed.
(For Eugi’s Causerie Weekly Prompt: winsome. Image from personal collection.)
“Let’s play!” honked the goose
to the duck, duck, duck,
“I’ll hide and you come find me.”
“Let’s dance!” sang the tree
to the icy river flow,
as sun smiled broadly.

“Come find joy! Nature whispers
bright skies parting winter blues,
white radiance leading the way.
(Poem and photos for Cee’s On The Hunt for Joy challenge and Nancy Merrill’s A Photo a Week challenge: at play.)