Ghosts and goblins hide
High in the skeleton tree
Frightened birds take flight
Timing was everything in gleaning this photo. One minute a flock of birds was resting atop the old oak tree, and the next minute they were gone! Clearly, SOMETHING spooked them… but what? (Insert eerie laughter here!!)
In an early Autumn rain
golden leaves stick like glue
to the spot where they fall,
but when winds dry the dampness
from the floor of the earth,
it relieves wet leaves
of their burden.
Freed leaves grow restless!
They drift and scurry!
Some stay close to home,
but some scatter far, far away.
Leaves are like children!
Speaking of leaves, here is a haiku for Ragtag Daily Prompt: Elusive
An elusive leaf
snatched up by a gust of wind
dances on for miles
Life seemed so serene
there was tolerance and love
…it was just a dream
For Ragtag Daily Prompt: Serene
Photo taken in Glen Coe, Scotland
The scene promised nothing – gray skies, dark, murky water – yet there was peace and tranquility! I’d love to return here. It would be gorgeous under blue skies with clear, still water… and the swans, of course!
Photo taken in Strasbourg, France
On my walk this mid-summer morning, the sun was shining just right through the trees, illuminating the silver threads of an enormous spider web and revealing the intricate artistry of the spider who built it. The web was an extravaganza of activity! On the outer edges, the spider himself was working tirelessly to expand his domain, while near the center, a small moth was attempting to free himself from the clutches of the sticky strands. The frantic flapping of wings disclosed his desperation, and it tempted me to reach in and save him. I resisted the urge to interfere with nature’s balance and kept walking. On my return, I passed the web again and noticed the moth was gone. In an effort to convince myself he was not lunch for the spider, I now imagine the moth is free and on his way to my house in search of fabric to snuggle into after his ordeal! Maybe I should buy some moth balls!
For RDP/daily word prompt: Extravaganza
Image from web search and daily.jstor.org
We’ve had DAYS of rain! Some of it has been harsh, but mostly it’s been slow and steady – the kind of rain that gives birth to new Spring growth. The grass and trees are no doubt the greenest green they will be for the rest of the year.
The rain has also produced an environment conducive to snails apparently, as I have seen a prolific number of them lately. Like a gentle rain, slow and steady describes a determined snail perfectly. I noticed this particular little guy yesterday as he started his journey from one side of the trail where I walked to the other.
When he first felt my presence, he receded into his shell, wary of the danger I might pose. He eventually sensed I meant him no harm and even let me photograph his trek across the pavement. I watched him for about 20 minutes, protecting him from certain death at the hands—I mean feet—of oblivious joggers who passed him by; so distracted were they by their headsets that surely they wouldn’t notice nature, let alone enjoy it.
I am grateful to have witnessed the triumphant progress of this strange little creature who carried his house on his back and moved at… wait for it… a snail’s pace!
It isn’t easy…
balancing life and its pain
with life and its joy
Photo taken at the Titanic Museum in Belfast, Northern Ireland
