Opal Reflections
Perspectives through Prose, Poetry and Photography
Night Vision
Stark dreams that come (un-asked for) in my sleep,
Disturb my psyche, cause my soul to burn,
Searing my distress, though buried deep,
Predicting days ahead, doubt’s wild return.I am alarmed, I wake, I toss and turn,
Attempt to understand the tongues they speak,
Their powers, silent, send their message stern,
And, in the end, I sense a future bleak.The howling wind above the mansard creaks,
As sound track to my nightmares, darkly gray,
Beginnings of misgivings, havoc wreaked,
Shatter solace, since I’ve feet of clay.Sleep makes space for souls and spirits tell
Angels, demons both may cast their spell.************************************************
Wordle #204: through, am, clay, burns, wild, tongues, dream, beginnings, powers, end, stolen, sleep
Maternal Instinct
Footprints trampled on the white-draped scene,
Proclaim her presence, dare we lean to catch
this image: deer who forages in-between,
For plants and leaves, mid stinging, bramble patch.
The driving wind begins anew the match,
The stakes are high, survival is the prize,
Excuse to wander far – the frozen latch,
Knead seeds away from birds much smaller-sized.
I thought my trip through time had grown me wise,
But fawn and family clubbing in the snow,
Renew my instinct to be sad. Those eyes
now turn abrupt, returning gaze, she knows.
A mother does what ever must be done
And life’s sheer string is taut, the triumph’s won.
***
Wordle #202: TRAMPLE, CLUB, IMAGES, sTING, STRING, TRIP, PLANT, BEGIN, EXCUSES, DRIVE, KNEAD, WIND
Orange Marmelade
“Orange”; often harsher than some hues,
And on the tongue, a strange, ungainly sound,
‘Mid softer shades of green and aqua blues,
Melodic, creamy, apple blossoms ‘round.
It e’en adorns that special ‘red’ we found ,
Contrasting splash for otherwise bland scene,
Our senses breathe it in without a sound,
And suddenly our grasses seem more green.
Peaceable kingdom carries well this dream,
From puppy’s perky paws to backyard swings,
And rocks and fawn in brilliant color schemes,
As lakeside dock shows touch of natural bling.
Between the pretty pinks and ruddy reds,
I laud the orange highlights, in their stead.
Leave-ing
Leash untethered, seize the moment free,
Even as I dash away I see,
At every turn, I’ll turn and she’ll be there,
Voice bemused, yet wary for my care,
Ensuring that I never lose my way,
She’s dog’s best friend, I heed her call to “Stay!”
🐾🐾 🐾🐾 🐾🐾
Photo Friday: “Leaves”
Cabin Fever
White,
Snow on snow,
Week on week,
Inches on inches,
Crystal coverlet cast
like concrete,
Everywhere.
Yellow,
Sunny-side-ups
stare back at me,
Solitary splotches
On a grey,
February
morn.
Monotone,
’til glassy reflections
shatter monotony:
Towering treetops,
Resilient creatures,
Hidden havens,
Footprints.
Color,
Vibrant reflection,
Beyond the black and white,
Beyond the bleak; brilliance,
Beyond the drab; drama ,
Beyond the mundane;
Miracles.
Adieu
The woods soft beckon on these last few days
of Autumn, on the wane as chill sets in,
Umbrella canopy is gone, it could not stay,
We face our hopeless yearnings from within.
The brook once was a rivulet, a stream
that overflowed (in spring) its river bounds,
But Fall has swallowed dry, un-wet, ungreen,
by uncut leaves, while tiny critters ’round.
They perch, then scurry at the whistling sound
of north winds drawing nigh, a scrum to hurry,
Gather bounty, hide ‘neath post, in ground,
Found acorns, dropping in a hailstorm flurry.
Delicate petals, gold against the blue,
Leaves float sure to earth, in cycle true.
*****
Written in response to Wordle #200, using the following prompted words: blue, post, hopeless, perched, petals, uncut, river, tiny, delicate, umbrella, yearning
Welcome
This morning, I submitted this photo to the National Geographic Assignment: Street Scene.
I took this photo with my iPhone (through a grimy windshield) earlier this month; as shoppers swamped a local grocery store, to stock up for a predicted blizzard. The day was gray, the air was frigid, and we did our best to avoid the crowds. During a momentary lull in foot traffic, as I waited in the car for my hubby to run in and pick up milk and eggs, I recalled many of the last 41 winters, when we had done the very same thing!
Today, it struck me that the weathered façade of the market, showed obvious signs of age, especially when flanked by carts, hastily abandoned in the rush to escape the brutal cold.
I don’t expect that a storefront facelift is planned, but I promise to take this same photo on a sunny day in the Spring, to determine if the weather affects one’s perception. I expect that it will, especially when stacked potted plants of tulips and daffodils, replace (cover) the worn-out “welcome” sign.
Agnostic Iguana
It rises from the marsh to search for food,
Gnawing while enroute on leaves and wood,
Undaunted by the steepness of his feat,
And focused on the fruit bits near my feet
Not moving, I observe him at his best,
Agnostically he resumes his quest.
Written for The Weekly Photo Challenge: Rule of thirds, this was shot at the Ritz Carlton St. Thomas, where iguana move freely, in and out of the groves and marshes. Because of their chameleon-like talents, one might pass by and never notice. Once you see one, however, you will see hundreds. They lay across tree stumps and cling as if by magic to the steep march banks and breeding spots; until the resort attendants arrive with fruit baskets at regular feeding times. Even the bird perched nearby, seems to be waiting his turn. Iguana are amazing, vibrant, resilient creatures.
https://dailypost.wordpress.com/dp_photo_challenge/rule-of-thirds/
Lighthouse in the Mist, Cape May, NJ
Bandit
Festive View from the Pub, Peddler’s Village – Lahaska, PA.
Home Sweet Home
Opal Reflections 