These three photos all scream “Spring” to me. From the unbridled enthusiasm of my grandson, racing to find the most hidden Easter Eggs, to the lovely simplicity of a Lily of The Valley on an outdoor cafe table, on the Champs-Élysées, and finally the exquisitely intricate Orchid on my back porch. Spring is here!
The Joy of SpringLily of The Valley, May Day in ParisOrchids in Bloom
Leaving Avignon, a sad “adieu,”
Province would, all too soon, become a dream,
Settling in ‘en train’, content; we knew
we’d long recall these fleeting scenes.
Through filmy windows, suddenly all green,
My photo lens embraced the verdant pastures,
Lime and Kelly shades, like jellybeans
whizzing past; our senses were enraptured.
To satiate, a ‘verre du vin’ we captured;
Mouton Cadet ‘en bouteille’, a prize,
We sipped, (as if a couple in brochure),
When, suddenly, reflection caught my eye.
Bucolic frames ‘top label verse, on glass,
Sips, scenes and Bordeaux memories were cast.
We took the high-speed train from Avignon to Paris, and while we were blown away by the miles of verdant, lush fields and farmland serenity, our wine offered us an even more memorable moment. There, reflected on the bottle, were passing scenes! Upon translating the label verse, we had to agree: Wine is born, is alive and enjoyed, and once tasted, lives on in man’s memory of that moment. This moment, with France’s countryside outside our window and reflected on our bottle of Mouton Cadet, is one that we will long recall with fondness.
It hangs so striking, vivid and serene
Upon my featured well-lit bedroom wall,
I know from years of staring at its theme,
Since then I understood: I was appalled.
When first I saw the nature scene, it called
to me; so pure, authentic, numbered print,
I saw a bird (not creatures dead and mauled),
But drama was unfolding, sky was hint.
Alas, it seemed “It fluttered for a moment,
magnificent in its struggle, then wilted
and lay still.” I fixed upon the rodent,
Delusions of a lovely scene were jilted.
As canny as the fox with glaring eyes,
I now see “Goshawk” shedding his disguise.
Painting by John James Audubon, celebrated artist and naturalist.
Your post must be dated April 27, 2013, or later. Submissions must be 750 words or fewer. Submissions must be fiction or poetry. You must include the following sentence ANYWHERE in your submission: “It fluttered for a moment, magnificent in its struggle, then wilted and lay still.” You must also include a reference to the media prompt.
Water surface shines a mirrored scene Enhancing hues and shadows even more than mid-day sun could ever shine, serene, As world slows down a bit upon this shore.
Cumulus dust the wispy sky azure, Setting scene for languid summer eve, As crimson echoes beat the luau lures, And dock posts lapping soft by rolling waves.
The Tiki torches soon will be ablaze And children young and old will gather round to roast a mallow, o’er the pit of flames, Anticipating boat show sights and sounds.
And time slows down, we linger with intent. It’s evening at the Poly, we’re content!
By considering this most improbable possibility, I venture into uncharted waters; terrified and titillated by the, heretofore, unacceptable reality. I suspend my disbelief, daring to acknowledge that since eleven twenty-two, I’ve been dangling helplessly in an interstitial, inescapable slice of trapped time.
Give us your answer in 42 words. You don’t need to include the question in your response, but make sure your answer stands alone. What do we mean? Write down the question. Write down your response. Now cover the question with your hand and read your answer out loud. Does it still make sense when you don’t know the question? That’s what we’re looking for. Be creative, and remember: no family allowed!
I took this photograph from the top of “Sunrise Point”, one sun-warmed morning at the Polynesian Village. I didn’t know then what this beautiful white heron may have sensed; that in the months to come, her regal outpost would be supplanted by noisy earth movers and cranes (the heavy machinery kind), making way for a new Disney Vacation Club development.
Perhaps when construction is completed, the new Polynesian-styled longhouses, will enhance the overall ambiance of our special ‘home away from home’. Perhaps, this egret will be then be content, having discovered a new lamp-post from which to oversee her marshy bogs. And perhaps, if I am fortunate, I will find her again, on a balmy morning at sunrise, as I explore the newly modified shoreline.
Though change is inevitable, this favorite morning scene, one symbolic of peace and serenity, is gone forever. And though that makes me feel sad, I am glad for what was, and grateful that I had the good fortune to stumble upon this special place and that I, through my camera lens, could appreciate and capture that unique moment in time.
This series of photographs is posted in response to the prompt “letters“.
Music in the MountainsBerkshire Choral Festival
Upon first glance, these two photos, are a welcome banner and a logo on a cap. For me, though, when I look at these photos, I am instantly transported to the mountains of Sheffield Massachusetts, where each summer I participate in joyous music making and spiritual renewal.
No Swimming Allowed
The “No Swimming Allowed!”. This photo brings me back to the Polynesian Village at Walt DisneyWorld Resort; remembering how, in decades past, we would allow our toddlers to splash and play in the warm waters of the Seven Seas Lagoon, and happily swim out to the raft located about 20 feet offshore. Sadly, for many reasons, that is no longer a viable (or healthy option). This simple sign means so much more to me than the words displayed.
Love, Daddy
The last two photos recall a time in the early eighties, when I was very sick with pneumonia and hospitalized for ten days. My father wrote a get-well poem for me, and even though I was a grown woman, mother of two, those simple words from my Father meant (and still mean) so much. I have kept that note hidden in a false book with a secret, carved-out inner compartment. Today my grandsons marvel at the secret compartment and the ‘treasures’ I keep there.
Treasured Letters
All of these photos speak more than the mere words on the sign, or the cap, or the paper on which they were written. To me they are personal and evocative of times in my life when I was happy, sad, moved to tears and otherwise emotionally engaged. Those emotions come flooding back when I look at these photos.
A stranger viewing these images would see the images, but I see and feel so much more -perhaps anecdotal proof that photography is so much more than reproducing an image through the use of light. Photography is the art of capturing moments in time; unique moments of light in a person’s life.
Your post must be dated April 27, 2013, or later. Submissions must be 750 words or fewer. Submissions must be fiction or poetry. You must include the following sentence ANYWHERE in your submission: “It fluttered for a moment, magnificent in its struggle, then wilted and lay still.” You must also include a reference to the media prompt.
This is linked to yeah write.
Opal Reflections 