Tag: #Nature

#Good Morning from the Lakeside Deck, #Lake Ann, #Nature, #Winter, Joy, Loving Spirit, Ozarks

Good morning from the lakeside deck ~

shadowleavesonlakeann

Grateful for This day ~

How do I even begin to describe this morning’s soft light and cold settling air?

My morning write ~ it is . . . . . .

light filtering softly

bounded by oak & hickory trees

chasing grey haze and mist rising

carrying the mighty earth upwards

the loft of cold air smelling like

freshly cooked apples and honey jam

with underneath tones of hot butter sizzles

Now, how do I hold on to this moment? … to carry it with me throughout my day and to remind me of the mighty love I know I too carry inside me each day!

Fall

Pause

shadowleavesonlakeann

Good morning from the lakeside deck ~

As I sit out on my deck this morning, I realize I need to keep my eyes and ears open to even see what is right in front of me!

We can miss so much in the moments of living. Too easily, we pay attention to our phones, read posts from social media and listen to the news steaming over the TV that we can actually miss our morning!

Time slips away and our morning and is gone before we can even get started. Careful as I go! Focus!

My morning writing ~

a morning sanctuary sits
in front of me
I touch earth and sky
here ~ where life meets the shore
shouting out glory to this day
as grace and beauty tumbles
into my heart
I listen closely and
watch miracuously to see

how can I not
but stop and stand
in pure awe
of this ~

open wide
these shutters and doors

open wide
this earthly hearth

open wide
my kitchen table

as I gather
all I can!

Fall

Good morning from the lakeside deck ~

shadowleavesonlakeann

Then It Was Gone

A marching band came by
this morning
in stark white uniforms
~ floating by ~
even steps throughout
left to right
in the middle and centered squared
marching all the way down the cove

I saw their feathered hats
tipped back
in great salutes
to the bright blue skies above
as they passed
right by
in front of the grand
viewing stands

I heard their last
music playing
as they trailed
out of sight and sound
on their way south
to join in
just another
popup parade

#Summer

Good morning from the lakeside deck ~

shadowleavesonlakeann

Good morning!

Starting my day by Lake Ann ~ blessings for this wonderful Saturday!

I start the day out on my deck which overlooks Lake ANN ~ surrounded by hillsides all about.

Hummingbirds are already up and at it chasing each other through the high trees over to their treehouse feeder.

I touch the earth and sky here ~
My morning writing ~

grey white blue
unmasking the sky
sunshine flows

shaped by lakeside hills
living under a sky dome
I touch threads of blue

morning rise prayers
I’m held in a blue sky cup
my worries let go

#Lake Ann, #Nature, #Summer, Ozarks, Poetry

Skylight

shadowleavesonlakeann

I live underneath a tree skylight

In a wonderland of woodland trees

Where spring waters flow into beautiful lakes

With ease and peaceful mornings

I touch the sky

Quickened sounds of birds & critters

Fill every crevice down sloping hillsides

Telling of safe maneuvers through rock & tree

With hope and comfort for coming days

I touch the earth

#Summer

Sky

shadowleavesonlakeann

Step out into the sky …

Lash it around you

And hold it close

Swinging it to and fro

As you drop straight over

The White River bottom bridge …

Carrying the mighty sky with you

Listen to the meadow larks

As you watch

Giant double winged dragonflies

Fly through triple-wired fences

Strap summertime’s heavy sun

Next to you

As the wind carries you

And descends

Through tall grass rushes

Blowing along

Old Red Bird fields

Ride the Bright Blue Sky and

Fly the heavy Tossed Hot Summer winds

Traveling down country roads

Lite on sweet sunflowers & thistle blooms

As you make this

a most

glorious

high

summertime

day

Spring

Good morning from the lakeside deck ~

shadowleavesonlakeann

Poetry prompt from Tweetspeak Poetry Press using writing exercises from Mary Oliver’s book, How To Write A Poem. My poem is based on the prompt using a poem by Stevens, Snow Man.

One must be a mind of spring
To feel the rich coolness in the air
And the ground unearthed

To behold the Ozark hills adorned
Sprinkled in spring pinks and service whites
And hold their softness in your arms

To be out and about roaming
Walking boldly among the blossoms
Feeling each new petal and young green leaf

And in April still breathing in pollen storms
While braving the weather forecasts anyway
To walk through the back hollows

Go down by the creek rock springs
And watch the clear waters flow
Then hunt for morels undeneath an old elm tree

Sit in wonder at a mountain lake
To see the sunlight play
And watch the southeast winds hit water tops
Making new disappearing wind-fans

One must have a spring mind
To know what is new
And to find their roots again

#Winter

Fearless Writing Challenge

shadowleavesonlakeann

As I begin this winter season, I accept the Fearless Writing Challenge to write each day. Thank you Crescent Dragonwheel for your inspiration!

Writers Night Out
Lakepoint Restaurant on Lake Loch Lomond

Free my heart . . .
Where the mighty sky meets
Mountains strong
Rooted into dark deep earth
Facing the world

Soft gentle snowflakes
Dropping ever so slowly
Pouring out freely!

But only seen
By eyes that watch
By bodies that feel
And souls that see
Trading nothing at all
But for themselves

Falling
Softly and
Free

#Winter

Listening to Silence

shadowleavesonlakeann

Time comes to me through an open door. . .

Setting on my lakeside deck
Barefoot
Grounded by woods
Air and the lake below
I hold my love for being here

Present
Now and today
Firmly rooted in my Ozarks
Where
Sky meets treetops
Where thinly scattered clouds
Shroud the sun
Where the sun makes its way up
Moving the light over my
Arms and then my face

I say – – –
Don’t move
Be still
Just listen
Hold onto this moment
I touch scared space
Finding love

I carry hope
With me forever – – –
God touches the morning
And here
I find my home

#Winter

Glory be . . .

shadowleavesonlakeann

Staccato Notes

Writing Notes: Afternoon photo taken with my iPhone driving down Interstate 540 towards Bella Vista, AR.

Staccato fair weather clouds
Were but musical notes played
With quick and sharpened edges
Dancing over the day’s blue skies
Lines of sinuous musical notes
Framed my road’s horizon
And led me to an abrupt chorus refrain!

Glory be . . . .

#Lake Ann, #Nature, #Prayer, Fall, Joy, Ozarks, Poetry

September Gold

shadowleavesonlakeann

*{shared with @dVerse Poetics Open Link}

Once more
These late summer days
Unfold into glorious
September Gold

First Phase — SKY

Sky blues
At an all time high
Blue, blue, blue
So blue ~ I could even fly

Second Phase — EARTH

many harvest colors
scratch the landscape ~
old brown hardwoods
new roadside reds
bright orange edges and
yellow sunshine golds

just simple stubble
on these ancient hills
sticking out —
like an old man growing
a brand new beard

orchards sit
on both sides of the road
plentiful red delicious apples
ready for picking and
offering apple cider makings

Third Phase — WATER

summer droughts
have parched the lands
and stilled rivers
but now
from around the bend
over and across the cove
moving down river
Cyrstal Springs and
Sugar Creek waters
begin to flow again

Fouth Phase — PEOPLE

framed by tree bridges
campfires and paddle boats
new campsites dug in
tents and trailers
fill every nook and cranny

fairy tales
fly out of story books
stories abound —
cane pole fishing and
catching rainbow trout
for iron skillet cooking

grandpa
tapping maple trees
for their sweet sugar sap
stirring up golden brown
home made country syrup

Fifth Phase — SPIRIT

And I . . .
watch each new sunrise
listen to the morning blue heron calls
pray for peace and some measured joy
then
with one step
walk out again
along these Ozark woodland trails
now through overgrown shores
waiting to hear the call to stay!

Once more
These late summer days
Unfold into glorious
September Gold

cropped-photo8.jpg

#Nature, Fall, Grace, Joy, Loving Spirit, Ozarks

Sacred Gifts

shadowleavesonlakeann
photo (49)dairyhollowcow
Dairy Hollow House Writer’s Colony in Eureka Springs, AR – First Bed & Breakfast Inn

Once upon a hill
In the fresh Ozark mountain air
A Fall Arkansas rain lingers here
Damp on God’s sweet earth

Bowed bows encircle me
As I travel down Dairy Hollow Road
Transclucent green leaves
Make a large cathedral overhead
Forming arch after arch of perfect tree bridges

I look up to my sky and see
Only slivers of sunlight
Woodland trees and leaf shadows
Spin like stained-glass images

A raven flies solo
High above the hollow
Finding its roost along rock ledges
Clear Spring is mighty clear
No run here

Oh, dear God
You give us our day
Our sacred gifts
A treasured cove of earth and sky
All these wonders to behold

And even in my own meager wanderings
Each road I travel is framed and signed by you!

#Lake Ann, #Nature, #Summer, Poetry

Ozark High

shadowleavesonlakeann

photo (44) sky tree

I live high in the Ozark trees

Where golden pine tree warblers perch on high

And bird songs run rampant through tall tree tops

I live up close where I can meet the ancient sky trees

Adorned by white summer clouds floating by

Hallowed tree-framed windows to the top of the world

Where song birds build their nesting homes

Feed and care for their young

And newborns  learn to fly

Leaving home to find their own home

Parents don’t wait for their return

Even in old age —

Nature has truly completed its work —

I live among new beginnings!