after vacation

The truth as I see it

Supports a new voice,

One that is real and powerful and aware,

Closing the void.

My grown-up feet are walking on the beach.

I feel the release of others' expectations.

Once my little toes felt the same way:

Toes, free to wish, to be themselves, wriggling with joy.

Soft downy cotton clouds of rosy pink and azure blue

Evoke gentleness in counterpoint to the rigid, deep blue horizon.

How do I express my duality?

Is it an injurious contradiction?

How do I mesh the two?

Finally, the waterfall releases the energy

In this symphony I've been building

To bring grace and balance to the deep pool beneath,

Diamonds and pearls swirling to the music,

A taste of the forest from which it sprang.

the moon seen round the world

Our world community all shared the same view this week in gazing at the full corn moon, the lunar eclipse, and our bright, shining neighbor Venus. Evoking our inner artists, beautiful photos (including one of a moonflower) and dreamy poetry were created. Please visit the blogs listed below--from east to west--to see how creatively the moon's beauty has been expressed around the world. As for me, each time I followed the moon in her trajectory this week, realizing other people both near and far were experiencing the same thing, I felt a spiritual connection with everyone that energized me, made me happy. I am so grateful to all those who participated; even if you just looked at the moon, somehow we were one. Thank you!

Anasazi ruins in Arizona, NatGeo

Particpants in Operation Moon Watch from east to west

Australia

Delwyn at a hazy moon

Kaela at Kaela's Room

Shropshire Marches, UK

Friko at Friko's Musings

Louisiana, USA

Marion at Dragonfly's Poetry and Prolixity

New Jersey, USA

Margaret at margaretPANpipes

Ontario, Canada

Steven at the golden fish

Michigan, USA

Eric at This Is Eric's Blog.

Missouri, USA

Blues at BluesVox

Northern California, USA

photos by Jessica Wilson

Big Island, Hawaii, USA

photos by Hiko Ito and Jessy Wilson

August is known as the month of the corn moon.

The full moon appeared from August 4-7, 2009, according to this farmer's clock which has proven to be very accurate. This photo was taken at 1:52 pm on Thursday, August 6, 2009.

Venus, earth's planetary twin, resembles a bright evening star shining down on us, accompanying the moon. Photo taken by Margaret, New Jersey, USA.

A pale full moon rises in Northern California, USA.

Photo taken by Jessica Wlison.



Still rising ~ Northern California, USA, Photo by Jessica Wilson.

photo taken by Hiko Ito over Mauna Loa volcano, Big Island, Hawaii, USA.

And so we say, "Goodnight, moon!" :) as she languidly slips into the Pacific Ocean, our circle's furthest point west. Photo taken by Jessy Wilson, Big Island, Hawaii, USA.

Full Moon August 6, 2009

The full moon is August 6, 2009. Barring inevitable poor visibility somewhere, the entire world should be able to see it. Please take a photo of it from your part of the world and post to your blog! We will have shared with each other our mutual humanity. Good luck!

Gaze upon the moon

That I feel your reflection

On my upturned face.

haiku by Margaret, photo by Darkwing

the dying antique beauty of Italy

". . . It is that mellowest hour when the sun

His dying salutation on the towers

And, Saint Petronius, on thy temple sheds, . . .

. . . On the grey building stones and on the dark

Vermilion brick, and seems to waken there

The living soul of vanished centuries; . . .

. . . When here in the piazza used to dance

The beauteous women, and in triumph home

Returned the Consuls with their captive Kings.

Thus in her flight the Muse is laughing back

Upon the verse in which vain longing throbs

For all the antique beauty that is gone."

from In the Piazza of San Petronio

by Giosue Carducci, tr. by M.W. Arms

Welcome to 1710 Blogland Lane!

At the invitation of Marion (#7) at dragonflyspoetryandprolixity.blogspot.com and the vision of KJ (#9) @ karenjasper.blogspot.com who invites one and all to homestead on Blogland Lane, I have eagerly joined this community and moved into 1710 Blogland Lane. I realize I'm a little off the beaten path, but I fully intend to be an active member here. We all can be!

My living room is intended for reading, writing, dreaming, intimate soirees, and morning coffee tete-a-tetes. It faces the ocean at the back of my house. I love my house for its 300-year-old history (hence the address, 1710!). However, the heart of my house is in the back facing water. It has a fireplace so I have several elements to balance me, as will everyone who drops by.

The widow's walk on top provides a fine view of the ocean, but I haven't mustered up the courage to go up there yet. I do plan to walk my smooth, sandy beach in all seasons.

Please feel free to stop by any time! I'll leave a light on for you!

on the Delaware River in Pennsylvania

I am the blue horse that runs on the plain

I am a feather on the bright sky

I am the fish that rolls, shining, in the water

I am the evening light,

the lustre of meadows

You see, I am alive, I am alive

~from The Delight Song of Tsoai-talee by N. Scott Momaday

our warmhearted sun

The sun conveys its warm, luminous rays to the open, receptive flowers.

The flowers form a heart to embrace the sun.

Our golden sun slides into the blue Pacific when day is done.

Nature guides us if we listen.

The nightshade berry, not wishing to hurt, remains hidden.

Flowers tell us to relax, hope, and dream and to have fun, peace, joy, pleasure, and energy.

And be revitalized!

Woodchuck and Squirrel amiably share a piece of bread: friendship.

The white pine bows to remind us to be humble.

Song Saturday - grace a louciao

sacred earth

bright sun

the sheen of tall grass

when it bends

haiku by Jim Kacian

The stones change, move, talk

With the tall grass on this earth:

Yesterday, water.

haiku by Margaret

fade to grey

The air fresh, as it has been for days.

Upper sky lavender. Deer on the far hill.

The farm woman said they would be gone

when I got there as I started down the lane.

Jumped the stream. Went under great eucalyptus

where the ground was stamped bare by two bulls

who watched from the other side of their field.

The young deer were playing as the old ate

or guarded. Then all were gone, leaping.

Except one looking down from the top.

The ending made me glad. I turned toward

the red sky and ran back to the farm,

the man, the woman, and the young calves.

Thinking that as I grow older I will lose

my color. Will turn tan and gray like the deer.

Not one deer, but when many of them run away.

~The Color of Many Deer Running by Linda Gregg

Floating down the stream, ~ Before the deer and calves, ~ Color drifts away.