• leaves,  Mary Oliver,  moon,  Plants,  quotes

    … the real poem.

    August 30, 2023

    From the Book of Time

    I rose this morning early as usual, and went to my desk.
    But it’s spring,

    and the thrush is in the woods,
    somewhere in the twirled branches, and he is singing…

    I am touching a few leaves.

    I am noticing the way the yellow butterflies
    move together, in a twinkling cloud, over the field.

    And I am thinking: maybe just looking and listening
    is the real work.

    Maybe the world, without us,
    is the real poem.

    Mary Oliver

    I hope you were able to see the blue moon last night or this morning, one of the brightest and largest moons of 2023. I will try this evening to watch it rise and maybe get a photo. My son called last night and was in complete awe of the size and beauty of the moon. The blue moon won’t happen again until 2037. Praying for those in the path of hurricane Idalia! I am off to meet my friend Mark for the senior breakfast meal at IHOP. Have a great day!

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  • moon,  Rumi,  shadows,  street photography

    A perfect day for reading

    November 10, 2022
    Full moon at the bus stop on my way to the coffee shop

    “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”

    Rumi

    It’s been cold, windy and gusty today. The sun has peaked in and out of a cloudy blue/gray sky. And, when the sun does break through everything lights up, glowing brilliantly. I found it to be a perfect day for reading. I’ve gained enough wisdom to know I’m unable to change the world or the people in it but I’m only able to change how I interact with the world and the people in it, which is far more important. It also follows that when I change, the world is changed in some small way.

    Those who are dealing with the power of Nicole please be safe.

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  • landscape,  moon,  natural areas,  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area

    Silence…

    September 20, 2022

    Now at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area. Sun has set and the moon sits in the southern sky. Silence. This is why I come here. Full of gratitude for its gifts. Blackbirds and meadowlarks sing good night. Magpies fly above heading for the cottonwood trees along Claymore Lake to roost for the night. Such a lovely ecosystem that man made noise has a difficult time reaching. I am full of love for you and all of creation. Silence…

    ms, journal: /30/2022
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  • poems,  poetry

    To Pray

    December 12, 2021
    Predawn along Peralta Trail just east of Gold Canyon, Arizona, April 2014

    To pray you open your whole self
    To sky, to earth, to sun, to moon
    To one whole voice that is you
    And know there is more
    That you can’t see, can’t hear
    Can’t know except in moments
    Steadily growing, and in languages
    That aren’t always sound but other
    Circles of motion.
    Like eagle that Sunday morning
    Over Salt River. Circled in blue sky
    In wind, swept our hearts clean
    With sacred wings.
    We see you, see ourselves and know
    That we must take the utmost care
    And kindness in all things.
    Breathe in, knowing we are made of
    All this, and breathe, knowing
    We are truly blessed because we
    Were born, and die soon within a
    True circle of motion,
    Like eagle rounding out the morning
    Inside us.
    We pray that it will be done
    In beauty.
    In beauty.

    Joy Harjo

    If you’re interested you can listen to Joy Harjo recite the Eagle Poem here.

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  • natural areas,  Photography,  Plants,  quotes,  reflections,  trees

    My Companion

    October 25, 2021
    Morning moon over Prospect Ponds Natural Area

    The camera became my companion.

    Edward Weston

    There are times when I can be calm much like the water of this pond and at other times, well not so much. The challenges of living life can act like a fierce wind that creates internal waves. I’ve discovered tools to return to the calm and one of them is time in the silence of nature with a camera, taking deep breaths.

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  • clouds,  landscape,  natural areas,  Pineridge Natural Area,  poems,  poetry,  sunrises,  writing/reading

    Morning at the Reservoir

    June 6, 2021

    quiet morning at the reservoir
    calm water mirrors predawn sky

    as the sun nears the horizon
    the meadow begins to come alive

    song birds fill the nights silence
    crescent moon surrenders to day

    dark shadows give way to light
    cherish this gift of awe and wonder

    ms

    I brought out the blue in this image, which makes it look unreal, so we could see the crescent moon better in the upper right corner. Interesting that I didn’t even see the moon when taking the image. 😁Have a great Sunday!

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