Pass through the field of pink flowers and meet me by the gate.
Morning Drive
The last of Summer passes
Gold and green and fair,
Gentle wind cool and sweet
Swirls through the damp warm air.
It carries not yet the chill of Autumn,
Though it is close at hand;
Verdant fields laden with grain just ripe,
Blanket the rural land.
Pastures where cattle graze,
Fields edged by stands of trees,
Farm houses blurred in the morning’s haze,
Stretches of clover dotted with bees.
Sunflowers and Queen Anne’s lace line the road
Waving in the breeze
Yet few of the people passing by
Stop to notice these.
Flowers along a barren highway,
Color beside a stretch of grey, blossoms beneath the arching blue sky,
Petals turned to greet the day.
-Ellabell
The author of this poem wrote about the things she sees on the way to school. Few people driving on the highway appreciate the natural beauty of the ordinary scenery that they see every day.
Field of Red and Pink
Pink and Red flowers…makes me crave an iced sugar cookie.
Golden Fields
There are always flowers for those who want to see them.
-Henri Mattise
Sunset 7:46
A Texas Sunset
Marigold, to tangerine
a hint of lavender fade.
Bright orb center scene,
For no other would I trade
Lakeshore water calming
Slowly falling behind
Feeling all my wanting,
Worry’s string unwind.
Pure, Naked, Beauty.
Right before my eyes
Like a bright red ruby
Light slowly dies.
More blue to violet in the sky
Sparkling specks come to sight
As if to replace the orb’s supply
Flickering, shining, vast glitter light
Gone once more, but not for long
Tomorrow’s day another bright song.
-Mary Alice Sallman
Earth Laughter
“Earth laughs in flowers,” wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson.
Oaken Boughs
The Oak
Live thy Life,
Young and old,
Like yon oak,
Bright in spring,
Living gold;
Summer-rich
Then; and then
Autumn-changed
Soberer-hued
Gold again.
All his leaves
Fall’n at length,
Look, he stands,
Trunk and bough
Naked strength.
Alfred Lord Tennyson
Rappelling on Enchanted Rock
“Rappel”
Thirty-plus feet
Is
a
long
way
up.
Adrenaline surges:
fingers fumble,
palms sweat,
knees shake.
Breath quickens
and heart races.
The air is hot and dusty,
and the tang of old sweat and metal
is heavy in your nose. Your helmet slips
against your brow.
But there’s a reassuring tug
against your climbing harness,
the belayer yelling encouragement,
and you smile across the platforms
to your friend the next one over.
Then you grip the gritty rope,
breathe in deep,
inch towards the edge
and
leap.
-AMMCJ
Texas Summer
I am leaving all these beautiful greens for lovely New Mexican reds. The truck is loaded: 6 bikes, camping gear for 6, several totes of art supplies, and maybe even room for a toothpick or two…it is going to be a good summer! If you are along with me on this journey…we are headed to New Mexico!
Our Baseball Sunset
It has been a lovely spring here in North Texas. The breezes have been frequent, the wildflowers abundant, and the baseball diamonds full of life. I love the sounds of an evening in the ballpark: the smack of the ball, the call of the coaches, the one liners of the baseball nuts in the stands, the roar of the crowds, and the support calls and cheers of team mates. Last night was the last game of our season, it was a good one, the season and the game. The boys played well and supported each other, the community grew smaller as people made connections and relationships through conversations in the bleachers. Siblings that didn’t know each other became friends, and learned the valuable skill of passing hours and hours while their brothers played and parents and grandparents watched the games. I am humbled by our coaches who have given our sons such a valuable gift: of their talent and time – both in abundance. They taught our boys skills, and sportsmanship, when to fight and when to let it go. “Play every play with all your heart, but just remember whatever happens on this field stays on this field.”
paintandsimple 