The horizon is a dismal gray
air polluted with the finest
of ashy particles
blown by the wind
many thousands of miles
from fires on the coast
announcing the arrival
of fire season
momentarily I make a note
as I sit in a friend’s garden
with paints & brushes
ready to create color
my eye is drawn to weathered
metal sculptures that eventually
might appear to fade
into such a sky as now
but when my canvas is complete
it will portray a creature
that can blend & disappear
if it chooses to engage
in such transformative
ventures
but within my brush strokes
I color him brilliant
erasing years of rust
& faded paint
he makes me smile inside & out
so I temporarily forget
the horizon before me
for the air will again clear
& I will move forward
once more
Ā© September 2020 Renee Espriu
The Art Below Is My Own
reneejustturtleflight.com 
A beautifully vibrant painting Renee, and lovely images and contrasts in the poem.
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Thank you Andrea. Be well.
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Renee, I love this poem and also your colorful artwork. You always have a way with vivid imagery.
(Hopefully this smoke cloud will disperse soon. It’s terrible here today. Take good care and stay well, my friend.)
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Love the colors and the subject of the painting, Renee! I do hope the smoky skies clear for all of you sooner than later. We had a couple of days of it before the winds came and returned us to blue skies. What times we live in. Blessings to you!
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Thank you so much for your comment. I am glad you aren’t getting as much smoke where you are now. But every year we get lots of wildfires. Just depends on how the wind blows…or doesn’t….if you get smoke from them. Not very lucky this year. The first round of smoke blew over from the Oregon coast fires and now it is simply fires not under control here in WA. Today seems to be better so I’ll cross my fingers. Be well.
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Hope you get some good air. Gosh. What a mess we have made of this beautiful planet. Love to you, Renee. š
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My daughter actually brought to my attention that a lot of the fires were arson. We believe that it was probably attached to the groups of people that have been demonstrating here in WA and OR. It is unfortunate they want attention drawn to themselves without regard to human life. Many people lost their homes. Hope all is well with you. Take care.
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Sorry to hear, Renee. We live in some crazy, unsettling times. Be well. ā¤
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Beautifully brought back to life through your colours and descriptive words Renee, thank you.
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Thank you, Ian. I was quite inspired by the garden that brought both art and writing to life. Hope you and your family are well. Take care.
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Oh, I appreciate how creative this is! From the words, to the imagery, to your painting. Really well done!
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Thank you Markus & Micah for your kind comment. I visited your site and commend you for choosing a path that is outside of the norm. I wish you well.
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What a beautiful poem weaved around the creation of your painting Renee.. Truly you brought the rusty image to life, renewing his spirit as you saw his worth of all the years given to stand guard over a precious garden..
Seeing too that all is temporary… All is transformative as the skies clear, the years turn, and we progress through our experiences…
Lovely to see you back and painting so beautifully Renee… So pleased you are once again taking your brush in hand along with your pen to create beauty…
We need such beauty to liven up our grey days…
Much love your way dear Renee…… special hugs your way dear friend ā¤ ā¤ ā¤
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Thank you so much for this information for I knew in my heart of hearts that what they were telling us was not true. I could never imagine that Covid was taking so many lives when in fact I do not know anyone who has had it or died from it. That is not to say that some did but I knew the percentage was low. I do know that last Winter my adult granddaughter, my oldest daughter, her husband and myself were very sick with a cough that hung on what seemed like forever. Now, this was before anything was announced about this virus. We do not know with certainty we did have it but if we did we all got well, just the same as with a cold or the flu. This virus has been here as I said since the 60s…since I was a girl…and that is a long time. Thank you for your research. It is much appreciated. It is good to be back painting again and for things to be getting back to the way they should be. Special hugs to you my dear friend. xoxox
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Keep painting Renee. Yes my hubby and I last December had an awful persistent cough which produced slot of mucus we had trouble moving. If it weren’t for our daughter who has a health food store with alternative medicine supplements etc, who gave us ivy-thyme complex drops from A.Vogel. and we always take Echinacea drops. The ivy-thyme cut the mucus and phloem. Helping us to breathe and stop coughing. But it took around 3 weeks before we felt well again. Say no to any vaccines Renee, I’ve researched what’s in them .. not good.
Sending love and blessings Renee. Take care love your way š.
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Nice blog
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