Turtle Rainstick

The tall piece of bamboo sets in the corner
as though keeping the walls from colliding
with the aboriginal turtle in mustard yellow hues
keeping a silent vigil, a respite, as the rain
signals a force of nature outside my window

I am reminded that I am a creature of water
my molecular being silent within a human shell

the wonder of a million droplets from a cloud
forming a single raindrop is mind boggling
as they gather in rhythmic action

creating puddles, streams, rivers, waterfalls
cascading exponentially into vast oceans
a home for other water beings living
within a life-giving force

and I listen in amazement at the symphony
that brings life to the earth I live on
where brilliant colors of flowers bloom
in gardens tended and meadows flourish
on mountains

replete with nature’s abundance of creatures
beasts walking the land and flocks of birds
taking flight tenured with bird song

am I not enraptured to know my heart
still beats within its fluidic capsule embrace
of the water that holds me ensconced
in safe keeping

that when the rain thus ceases its’ melodic sounds
the bamboo stick awaits but my touch
yearning to recreate rain’s wondrous music
the timeless aboriginal turtle
warm beneath my hand

© May 2019 Renee Espriu

Background Bamboo Photo Taken From Public Domain Pictures & Overlain With My Take On Aboriginal Turtle Art

***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

© February 2017 Renee Espriu

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.

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