truth or...

They stood together holding tight hands
darkness surrounded them, shrouding his secrets
she extends him unchecked trust (whispering:
"Dare I offer my heart's confidence?")
a question asked under starless sky
a gentle squeeze was his reply

"I love you" he told her
more with fists than soft words
kisses left in blue black etchings
his escalating adoration confirmed in each
and she, Covergirl, hides the memories
creating in foundation perfection's greatest lie


After each nightmare, returns a gentle dream
"Never again," he whispers, breath brushing
She flinches at danger's close proximity - -
too afraid to seek her freedom,
alone she cowers in unsafe home - -
forever seems a terrible burden now
and death, a lover's last gift
But she's no use for presents
"Never again" she echoes his words:
mourning truths. She dares to leave.

** note: a work in progress... something's missing, incomplete...

Six Word Fridays: Kind (and Macro, too)

Mother Nature you've not been kind
in nurturing your beloved terrestrial family
Your attitude is unforgivingly vengeful now
And in your wake is destruction
Countless have been your violent screams
Punctuated by a stomping of feet
as your great gown sweeps excitedly
(rustling up winds in fervored dance)
You've spat at us; juvenile retaliation
twisted winds like curls of hair
shaken us from comfort, broken dreams
Yet in your tantrum - - raging fits - -
have inspired our compassion for others

This kind of parenting is not...

kind

***

I've mentioned that, of late, my 60mm Macro lens has pretty much been my go to for daily use.  When I first took it out the box (after scrimping and saving and waiting on Uncle Sam's return), I was amazed to see that its macro capability was not its only value.  I really thought the lens was exclusive to close up photography.  As it turns out, it's pretty good at portraits.





But then, I still really love how well it surprises me whenever I set out on "safari."  Take this image, for example:





I'd no idea that the bee I was following (who was so intent on gathering his pollen that he ignored my close trailing), was carrying a passenger on his wing.  I doubt he knew he was giving flights.  He was oblivious to his surroundings as he alighted each bloom, stuck out his tongue (?), and then flitted to another bloom.  I must've looked pretty weird to the other parents waiting in the car pick up line for their kids to be released.  There I was completely out of my car, camera pointing to wild flowers while I crouched low to the grass in complete concentration (and Ya ran back and forth nearest the exterior of the library keeping himself entertained while repeating, "Mommy, it's hot. So hot!"). 

Perhaps at this point I need to invest in a bumper sticker that embraces the "Weirdo Will Shoot Anything" behaviors I've adopted so readily?

Six Word Fridays: Preposition's Near

A morning poem before work...

Near the majestic evergreens, behind there

is another world not like mine

there, near the emerald crawling ivy

(and the ubiquitous weeds that tenaciously thrive),

beauty beneath the level of sight

is beckoning to me: "Pause. Look."

Most often I ignore silent pleading

living, instead, in the egotistical hustle

of an all about me world

Sometimes, though, when outside pressures crush

I sit under there, nearer to nature

and that parallel world that called:

"Look. Enjoy. Dream." It's there behind

my here and now, nearest calm 

and I find (inside) my peace

(I so very nearly missed it)

Six Words: Inviting Joy

edges of her age worn lips

lift ever so slightly upwards suddenly

eyes, having seen years of heartache - -

scrimping on fullfilling desire [always responsible]

ignoring inner yearning to follow protocol

accepting adult obligations, foresaking all whimsy

saving energy to pursue elusive success

growing older in eye blink time --

now those eyes shimmer;  excitement renewed:

little girl at play [she reminisces]

holds loosely to lace and spins

whirling once-stationary winds in circles

giddy with merriment of simple play

hair tossled, eyes closed, head skyward

dizzy'd, she staggers and drops to knees

legs akimbo, laughter echoing against buildings 

then, rising slowly, palms smooth dress

and skipping (subtly) away toward womanhood.

once she knew such carefree joy

abundant pleasure in passionate, spontaneous play

where'd that little girl skip off?

she wonders momentarily, widening her smile

eyes twinkling, head dropping back, then

twirling slowly on ancient, unsteady legs:

invites back the spirit of yesterday.

Six Words Friday: CHARMED

Simply mezmerized in your mere presence
transfixed to every flutter, every flitter

bumbling from delicate bloom to bloom
unaware are you of how charmed - -
how your precision work draws attention
a twitching of fuzzy legs pollinating

charming the flowers into creating life
you remain oblivious to entranced spectators
humbly, you finish duties and fly.



Six Words: Go!

At the start

Foot tense, firm against the block

finger tips radiating with pent-up energy

I wait, anxiety morphing into adrenaline

Muscles taut, anticipating the future frenzy

Eyes looking to the horizon ahead

Ears peaked toward the official's arm

(extended from him, gun pointed out)

My pulsing heart quickens, expecting it

electric - the crowd intensly leans, charged

and...then...the..sound...Get...Set... 



Six Word Friday: Hope

Hope.  It's a reason to live.

At daybreak, limitless possibilities for action.

Will there be a breakthrough today?

I cannot regret what once was.

I cannot undo my past today.

Hope: I can learn, renew, repair.

After the storms, clouds part ways.

Destruction may remain for the moment - -

Hope's sparked for something greater.  REBUILD.

Trouble does not creep into life.

He pounces. He startles. He holds.

Tightly, pressed down. Yet, there's hope.

Hope.  It's a reason to live.

At daybreak, limitless possibilities for action.

Will there be a breakthrough today?

Sometimes it's nothing we have caused.

Mother Nature is a fickle parent.

She's powerful. She creates. She ruins.

And God? He's always in charge.

I hope for wisdom to embrace.

And by God's grace, he will.

It's not punishment, these storms.

"There's no testimony without the test"

And so there remains hope. Always.

Hope everyday. It has restoring power.

The future promises sunshine.  I hope.

The residue of destruction fades soon.

Remember always what has been lost…

But do not hold to regret.

Treasure memories, of love, of life.

Hope.  It's a reason to live.

At daybreak, limitless possibilities for action.

Will there be a breakthrough today?

Six Words Friday: Wonder

He is wonder-full, every day discovering
Seeking out and exploring the nuances
The world? His treasure chest, replete.

I wonder what he thinks about.
I wonder what he is feeling.
I wonder what makes him wonder.

In the morning, fresh eyes open.
Look around in wonderful amazement.
Wanders and wonders and happens upon...

a bug sitting atop a leaf.
or a bird in flight above.
or big sister offering a kiss.

In wonderment, he draws a breathe
Eyes widden and fingers reach longingly.
He revels in his fresh findings.

921... 922 days: a life neophite.
When does the wonder in ordinary - -
simply subside, slip away, or... STOP?

Six Word Friday: Might

I think I might be there

At the verge of something amazing

Don't have to look any farther

The sunrise shown its colors bright

It revived my energy and my spirit

My might is at fierce levels

At first, it might amaze you

– how very determined one can be –

when awakening with a bursting goal

Might I set aside for tomorrow

those nagging duties of household chores?

[Venture out for my great discovery.]

Life is calling me mighty loud

It says, "Join in the fun!

Set aside that cleaning cloth. Come!"

Something amazing is happening now, see?

I'm putting off what can wait

And I might … just be… free.

Six Word Friday: Novel

It was a truly novel idea

Quite my seemingly dead end job

Begin on the career path now

I had dreamed I'd be walking

Dreams, in fact, that should be

no longer imagined, but becoming truth

It was a truly novel idea

Stop right now, and begin anew

Reach beyond my present reach

Be who I hoped to become

Now, not later – no more waiting

tomorrow may not be for me

Isn't it novel, this next action?

Taking the risk to make reality

trudging on a path that isn't

yet, but will be quickly laid

It is a truly novel idea

one that will not wait anymore.