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

“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

© August 2018 Renee Espriu

Image Taken From Public Domain Pictures & Created As Art

Love of Nature

A Waterfall of Violets

Waterfall Violets

A rolling-pin gracing
the kitchen wall
visages of her life
speckles  in the landscape
of my mind

a woman of small stature
with black hair
almond smiling eyes
a happiness laced laugh

I am embraced, a nephew’s wife
I left my shoes by the wall
inside the threshold

a home far from Kyoto
amidst the evergreen trees
I entered a coalesced union
both east and west

cultivated plants to bloom
black wrought iron shelves
a waterfall of African violets
blossoming shades of color

pink
violet
white
blue

feisty approach to business
offerings of octopus
dried salty seaweed

gastronomy not fathomed
teaching me her language
sharing plant knowledge
easier to impart

the rolling-pin still
flaunts her efforts
black char marks

remind me of a fusion
a friendship
between east and west

© November 2017 Renee Espriu

This is my fond memory of a woman from Japan named Nobu.  I met her years ago when I was married to her nephew. She was married to an American serviceman she met in World War II. She lived here for many years until her husband’s passing and then returned to Japan where she eventually passed away. It was an honor to know here.

The above photo is taken from Public Domain Pictures and digitally altered by myself.

A Magical Dance

See the youth that resides within me
mirrored dark curls framing a woman’s
face who now breathes easier

not often the case when questions curled
like a hazy halo of smokey confusion
within my days and nights

watch me convey knowledge soul filled
now a sign of experiential vibrant color
a glowing gold not in the guise
of youth’s vanity

see my spirit soar within mirrored eyes
clear as mountain spring waters
seeing deep as ocean valleys
thunderous as waterfalls

filling crystal clear rivers running swift
choreographed with a magical dance
of a sprite or fairy or two

© October 2017 Renee Espriu

This is in response to Jamie Dede’s Wednesday Prompt. Read more at her site on
https://jamiededes.com/2017/10/11/once-upon-a-time-when-they-were-old-a-poem-and-your-wednesday-writing-prompt. The image was taken from Public Domain Pictures and digitally altered by myself.

Dance of a Fairy

**I Will Be The Scent of Flowers**

When I am gone I will be
like a balm to heal
all disease of your body
wounds of your heart
will be calmed

I will be the water from
the run-off of snow
driven over waterfalls
into rivers & oceans below

I will be that silence
that cleanses your spirit
& be the peace of your soul


I will not be the arrows
in a quiver to pierce
unless with pure love
that helps you
soar

I will be the essence of love
& when you breathe in
the scents of flowers
it will be me

I will be the sweetness
of honeysuckle, lilacs, roses
& you will know I loved you

you will remember me always
each time the rain gives life
for I will be in each raindrop
I will be the warmth of sun
a blanket for the sky

I will be the sweet chocolate
you taste & hear as
you break into it with
its’ tempered snap

remember this is all I hope
for you now with a love
to embrace you forever

after I am gone I will BE

© February 2017 Renee Espriu

Image Taken From Morgue File & Digitized by Myself

i-will-be

I took a prompt from Jamie Dedes’s site about what would you be if you were able to come back in another lifetime. As Jamie says, even if you do not believe in reincarnation, the idea of coming back as something else is intriguing. Please see her post at https://jamiededes.com/2017/02/01/one-lifetime-after-the-other-a-poem-and-your-wednesday-writing-promp. This is dedicated to all of my adult children, each of which, have had many health issues during their adult lives.

*A Breath of Wind and A Dew Drop*

I am part of something greater than myself
some would call God and others Goddess
or perhaps Buddha,Allah,Jehovah or Shiva

something greater as the breath of the wind
breathing life into all that exists
as the raindrops falling, filling the oceans
becoming rivers, lakes and waterfalls

something greater as simple as a dewdrop
clinging to my skin in the early hours of morn
as it clings to the leaves and spider webs

something greater even as the universe spins
holding within it pinpoints of light
from an ominous burning star that is the sun
moonbeams full of the wonder of stardust

I am a part of that something greater even
as it exhales in anguish breathing as the wind
creating devastating storms of despair

causing the oceans to rise up flooding the
banks of land, becoming hurricanes
and I hear and feel them all because I
am part of something greater

I know the sigh of relief breathed into a breeze
a rainbow after storms the colors of hope
shining through a waterfall because I am

part of something greater

© December 2016 Renee Espriu

Photo Taken From Morgue File & Digitized by Myself

great-as-a-dewdrop

***SLEEPING GIANT***

Photo Taken From Morgue File & Digitized by Myself

sleeping-giant

thundering waterfall
bathes sleeping giant
Yellowstone Park

This is for 30doh hosted by Rick Daddario. See his site http://rickdaddario.com/blog/ for more information if you are interested to join in.

*****SPEAK TO ME OF BIRTHING WATERS*****

Speak to me of oceans deep
of harbors safely keeping me
safe within rocky shores
crashing waves reaching more
of what I yearn to be and so
speak to me of oceans deep

Speak to me of waterfalls high
emptying into pools that sigh
touching swift my plaintive soul
crying out to search and more
of what I yearn to be and so
speak to me of waterfalls high

Speak to me of birthing waters
releasing life on which I falter
a gift her soul touching on mine
my inkwell ready to pen her lines
her life connects to me and so
speak to me of birthing waters

© November 2015
Renee Espriu

Welcome To My World of Strong Women Karlynn Elize Renee

Photo © Misha Cruz AKA Karlynn’s Nana and My Daughter

Catching Particles

Catching Particles

Google Image

 

splintered wood from
a lightning struck tree
catching particles
of afternoon sun

like reflections
of another self
transformed in
Alice’s looking-glass

catching particles
of colored prisms
the waterfall dances
over time’s precipice

& the dragonfly is seen
catching particles
of each ray of sun
season of summer done

© September 2013
Renee Espriu

Thunder in the Distance

thunder storm
Google Image

thunder in the distance
a train moving
down the tracks
metal grating
against metal
creating
hieroglyphic maps
or is it storm clouds
black and angry
when life is
at our back

raising doubts
that squelch
the laughter
when everything after
can only be thunder
or the rumble
of an unrequited earth
giving birth
to yet another
mountain or is it

only a waterfall in a
distant forest
raising its’
voice in chorus
and we hear it as
thunder in the distance
creating refuge
from an
incendiary past

always keep in mind that
just beyond our
quiet solitude
whether real or an
imaginary cast
there will always be
thunder in the distance
waking us to the
reality of
life

© July 2013
Renee Espriu

http://dversepoets.com/category/atmosphere/