Journey

February 9, 2019February 9, 2019

Brilliant Crystals on Wrought Iron

The stark contrast of white
made of brilliant crystals
against the shiny black
of the wrought iron fence

brings to mind the striking
dichotomy of life’s journey

parallel to my very own
stretching out farther behind
with a shorter distance
forward

being finally alone within
my own skin, my own otherness

a life of contrasting colors
of realizing differences
of trying to fit into
a smaller space
of acceptance

yet in doing so, giving away
pieces of my ‘self’
until I am left wondering
what is left

as I now turn the page
of another chapter
to come facing the mirror
reflecting my own image

do I realize I am now alone
to accept my otherness
my differences

understanding the helix
of the genetics snake
is both the same path taken
of flesh and blood

but also parallel beside
others in my diverseness

is that which makes me unique
both repelling me from
yet pulling me to others

like that of the white crystals
of stark white snow snaking
around bushes, curving ’round
branches and clinging lightly
to the black wrought iron fence

there is a twisting and turning
only barely discernible inside
the double helix of
a strand of genetic DNA

telling me to be accepting
of my otherness even in needing
to be with others

Image Taken From Public Domain Pictures & Created As Art

Stark Contrasts

August 26, 2018August 26, 2018

“Nature’s Paramour”

If each star is a point of reference
three triangular shapes
with each point lingering
a distance unknown

Where my soul rests before
each journey sought

Then nature is my paramour
from snow glacial
mountain peaks

The highest peaks
touched gently
by wispy
cloud fingers

Whose icy interludes
might be reminiscent
of tiny sugar crystals
sweet upon the tongue

Whose unexpected avalanche
transports me unaware
to the mossy green bed
in a distant
forest glen

Whereupon, I will in secret see
a thunderous waterfall
of rainbow colored hues
brilliantly lit
by sun rays

The mist of the water
touches my skin
a sheen of droplets
translucent

Smitten I become
as the sound of bird song
and the fragrance
of meadow flowers
drift to me
upon
the
wind

Image Taken From Public Domain Pictures & Created As Art

Love of Nature

June 5, 2017September 2, 2017

Is this the Winter of her discontent as with
Shakespeare the world around might seem one
that is indifferent to her sadness that age
has besieged her but no it is not so harsh
as the icy cold winds and snow harboring
a breath that will not seek to warm her skin

for it has become like the Season of Summer
where the warming rays of the sun stretches wide
to cover the new growth from Spring that offers
new bright green leaves that will be transformed
into variations of darker greens providing shade
to all of nature’s life beneath boughs of trees

who watch as life is born from tiny tadpoles
becoming frogs to the larvae of dragonflies to
a multitude of birds peering from the safety of eggs
to all beginning a journey of grand proportions
where Fall will see a quiet settling in to harvest
and rest amidst the beauty of all that has become

for stepping into the Winter of her life she now sees
her discontent not as a sadness but as one of observing
all that has come before, all that has become who she is
for it is another beginning and one of transformations
that will show her all the brilliance of her colors
enabling doors to naught hidden as opening to reveal

This is in response to Jamie Dedes’s Wednesday writing prompt. Please read more of the other poets’ replies at https://jamiededes.com/2017/05/31/in-time-displaced-a-poem-and-your-wednesday-writing-prompt. The photo below was taken from the Morgue File and digitized by myself.

Tulips in Snow

February 12, 2017September 2, 2017

I Dream of The Ocean

I dream of the ocean always and I am there
breathing in the depths of salt water
swimming above the coral reefs

I am the sea turtle and the sea turtle me

my journey is long with storms along the way
as I swim gracefully through beds of sea weed
and dine on banquets of algae

I am the sea turtle and the sea turtle me

sea anemones colored pink, green, orange, blue
every tentacle waving every imaginable hue
beauty surrounds me the power of the sea

I am the sea turtle and the sea turtle me

to be driven with determination and tenacity
to give birth thousands of time in a life
if only with you in my dreams

I am you the sea turtle and you are me

This is art I was inspired to create from my totem the sea turtle. I relate in some way to all turtles, for they live in salt water, fresh water and on land but over the course of my life I have found a special affinity to the sea turtle. I may never actually be able to touch one of these glorious creatures but I feel them just the same. Jamie Dedes offered this up as a Wednesday prompt, that of the totem. From a young child I was drawn to them but it was not until I was in mid life that a friend told me it was my totem. If you have a totem and would like to participate in this last Wednesday’s prompt please do. Read more at Jamie’s site at https://jamiededes.com/2017/02/08/under-the-mango-sky-a-poem-and-your-wednesday-writing-prompt.

turtle-ocean

November 16, 2013November 16, 2013

The Weaver of Moments

you were the weaver of moments
the mender of dreams
as you walked your journey
a man without means

you were the Bishop of Salishan

you walked among the poor
sat with the outcast
you talked with gang members
the teacher who was alas

always the Bishop of Salishan

you chose a pain filled reality
a place of spiritual grace
in the midst of hunger & murder
you transcended that space

you were the Bishop of Salishan

you left in the season of changes
leaves burnished red, gold & orange
loved ones waited patiently
your work here now done

never forgotten, the Bishop of Salishan

you are still the weaver of moments
still the mender of dreams
as you now are with the angels
a healer with means

always the Bishop of Salishan

Image Taken From Morgue File

The city where I live lost one of its’ most loved advocates for the disenfranchised. He was a Lutheran Pastor who founded a mission on our Eastside and made it his life’s call to spend every day he could among the people who came to call him friend.
Pastor Ron Vignec will never be forgotten and I was most fortunate to be one of many who called him my friend.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/11/11/2885597/rev-ron-vignec-founder-of-salishaneastside.html

September 2, 2013

Rose Petals Lie Soft

Google Image

rose petals lie soft
atop the cedar chips
casting no aspersions
on my memory of youth

they belie not their
sharp thorned hostess
as those in our lives
with empty laden promises

but they draw us near
as the insects to nectar
to plant seeds of life
as an unplanned gesture

life is never black & white
nor is my spiritual quest
like a rose in its’ guise
a journey of countless steps

Renee Espriu

March 9, 2012March 18, 2012

Part of My Heart and Soul

Why do I worry about you so
because you are part of
my heart and soul

your soft baby skin
your twinkling brown eyes
caused me to smile and
then to sigh

from the moment they laid
you in my arms I was
captivated by your charms Image by Anne Geddes

to know I was chosen to ride
with you on life’s journey
in all that you do now
a woman with children too

so why do I worry and
love you so because
you are part of my
heart and soul

February 29, 2012

Destiny Spinning

Destiny held motionless
spinning
single choice creating
journeys

January 25, 2012January 25, 2012

Satin Rainbow

We will make it
through as
navigators of days
dimly lit like
a heavy mist
ribboned fog
promising

light at the end of
a tunnel opening
wide telescoping
like the lens of
a camera
filled

dreams dipped in
a satin rainbow
tangible enough
to touch the
softness

sliding upon
skin of shoulders
warmed by sun of
a new day
dawning liquid
like fire that
never burns

quenching a thirst
with glacier waters
without ice
where our spirits
fly free above
all battles
fought

knowing victory is
but a gift a
knowledge of
the heart
life’s journey
only the
path

December 2, 2011December 2, 2011

Sweet Aphrodisiac

Clamoring to the top a
precipice unknown as
silk unfurling
a banner adrift
on treacherous currents
carried along by
fierce determination

Passion unreserved
a love unbridled to
embrace a destination
mysteriously laden
sweet as aphrodisiacs
wonderfully laced
with wine’s afterglow

Not a single fruit
tasted nor a single
glass touched
only titillating
emotions encountered
clamoring to the top
precipice unknown