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Nature's Flair by Eva
The Flower of the Sun by Cheryl Cowtan
Winter by Esther Wilke
The Cormorant's Prayer by Jim Dubois
Out of View by Deb Mack
The Tree, by Deb Mack
An Oddity of Nature by T.A. Jobateh
CHICKADEE-DEE by J.L. Willis
Pelican Ballet by J.L. Willis
Spring by Judith L. Willis
Lies Are Hidden With Deception by Stephen Corke
Mer Bleu February Fashion Show by Ruth M. McVeigh
Nature's Flair
Prettiness is all around
Pink and purple to be found
Meadows glowing and ablaze
Bountiful bouquets are on display
Mother nature is an artist
Painting pictures through your eyes
Of a world that's full of beauty
One's own canvas can surprise
As the paint brush swiftly swishes
So the seasons pass and change
Once again displaying beauty
Of a world that's full of change
~ Eva
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The Flower of the Sun
I observe you observing me
with your yellow orb like a second sun
shading my body
I’m tempted to dig your roots
to find the secret of your height.
Share it
with your stunted siblings.
I feel small
as you bend over me like a triffid.
Your crown of leaves like Caesar’s curls
Your rows of upside down hearts
are a spectacle
as they wave like Cleopatra’s fans
in the fall breeze.
I can see the prickle of your stem hairs,
tickled by the aphids
who hide
in your rotated arm pits
Daddy long legs
lie along your length.
Legions, feeding upon those
who feed upon you.
There is a city in there.
I could rip you from the firm earth
for the fall fair.
But a blue ribbon isn’t worth finishing you
before you face your seeds.
I’d rather stand here and be humbled.
~ Cheryl Cowtan
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Winter-
Sounds and echoes on the hills.
Every day is crisp, bright, and new.
Tide lines across the bay
Rise,
To high tide,
New snow on the beach melts.
Fog on mountains rise and disappear
Beyond our seeing eyes.
Icicles
DROP
CRASH
To tiny pieces.
Ones still hanging on trees and windowsills
Drip drops of water quietly,
Melting more as spring comes near.
Birds fly constantly around
Looking for food and shelter from
Cold winds and blizzardous snow falls.
Some will be lucky
To find a bird feeder close by.
Trees creak and groan,
Their branches hanging low-
Heavy snow.
Winter,
A small mystery,
A quiet, white thinking place.
~ Esther Wilke
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The Cormorant's Prayer
Now I stand me up to sleep,
Please drop some fish that I can keep,
My feet get cold here on this stone,
I need a herring of my own.
I tried all day to catch a fish,
But couldn't quite, so here's my wish,
I've said my prayers, I'm facing south,
Could you maybe drop one in my mouth?
~ Jim Dubois
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OUT OF VIEW
Oh, Mr. Eagle, I envy you
Soaring so high, enjoying the view
The vast beauty that you can see
Sky, lakes, prairies and trees
Please tell me what you see, that’s out of view to me
Oh, Mr. Man, don’t envy me
Open your eyes, you too will see
God’s creatures are crying in pain
“Sky, stop pouring down the acid rain”
No where to hide, when it’s raining outside
Oh, Mr. Eagle, I envy you
Soaring so high, enjoying the view
The vast beauty that you can see
Lakes, prairies and forest of trees
Please tell me what you see, that’s out of view to me
Oh, Mr. Man, don’t envy me
Open your eyes, you too will see
Fresh water for animals, and the human race
Is covered with oil spills and toxic waste
Be careful where you swim, watch what you drink
Oh, Mr. Eagle, I envy you
Soaring so high, enjoying the view
The vast beauty that you can see
Prairies and forests of trees
Please tell me what you see, that’s out of view to me
Oh, Mr. Man, don’t envy me
Open your eyes, you too will see
The farmer’s fields, have become drought dry
Could a greenhouse effect, be the reason why?
Watch out for the ultraviolet rays…ultraviolet rays
Oh, Mr. Eagle, I envy you
Soaring so high, enjoying the view
The vast beauty that you can see
Forests filled with trees
Please tell me what you see, that’s out of view to me
Oh, Mr. Man, don’t envy me
Open your eyes, you too will see
Your wilderness forest, and camping spots
Have progressed to condos, and parking lots
No where to breathe, to run wild and feel free
Oh, Mr. Eagle, I do thank-you
For your eagle eye, and mountain view
Change our ways, or this is our fate
Protect our environment, before it’s too late
You opened up my eyes to see; now it’s up to me
~ Deb Mack
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THE TREE
I wake up to the sounds of singing
The chattering and scurrying going on up above
The sun shinning its warmth on me
The wind blowing parts of me away
I shade those who wish shade
I offer beauty to those who appreciate nature
I provide protection from the elements,
and give off oxygen, so living creatures may breathe
I am home to many small animals
I am home for a child’s special hiding place
I have heard and seen many things, for I have lived a long time
And if time permits and progress does not tear me down
I will hear, see, and be enjoyed
For a long while more
~ Deb Mack
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In the park one day in early fall
as I was wandering around a poplar tree
I encountered the strangest creature of all
lingering there and watching me.
It really caught me by surprise!
I wasn't sure just what to say.
That funny nose! Those big, big eyes
staring at me just feet away.
So there with an oddity of nature I sat.
It put me in such a pleasant mood.
It didn't understand when I tried to chat
so I went on my way to gather more food.
~T.A. Jobateh
December 2001 (inspired Autumn, 1985)
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One wintry morning through the woods
I found a hidden trail.
The sun was breaking through the pines
The snowflakes seemed so frail.
Black-capped puffs of feathers flew
So close they seemed a blur;
The darkened forest came alive
And set my heart astir.
Chickadees sprang from every branch;
They’d found a friend in me
They sang and sang, with all their hearts
A nature symphony.
And on this cold brisk winters’ day
The chorus of their song
Chirped loneliness would vanish now
As they had come along.
I was alone before this path
But now a quiet smile
Has crept into my heart, my life
To stay with me awhile.
Tomorrow and days after that
This moment I’ll look for,
The one that took my emptiness
And made my spirits soar.
For it’s fate that another life
Will cross the path we choose,
And when that path is one that’s shared
We’ve now something to lose.
~J.L. Willis
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A hundred black wing tips
Float in the sky
Turning and climbing
My eyes look and sigh
They turn in circles
First black and then white
A precision dance
‘Till they’re out of sight
They have no limits
The heavens are theirs
Rising thermal winds
Are their only cares
As higher they go
With each puff of air
My life as a man
Seems truly unfair
I can’t leave the earth
At a moments whim
Or soar to the bounds
Of God’s outer rim
If only my life
Could change for a day
I’d dance the dance
Of Pelican Ballet
~J. L. Willis
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New life peeks out from the forest floor
And creeps to the tops of the trees.
The sleeping cold stillness is broken
As winter is brought to her knees.
A single raindrop begins to fall
And then a thousand drops roar down.
Nature begins its transformation
As it bursts into green from brown.
The buds on the trees are countless now
And with endless hope they await,
For the sun to shine; the rain to fall
Because these will decide their fate.
As I walk, the hope is contagious.
I feel a surge inside my soul.
It is life beginning once again
From the crumbling winter’s toll.
I’m in awe as Spring returns in hope
From the death of the months gone by.
There is courage in each breath I take;
And today I shall never die.
~Judith L. Willis
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(Inspired by the Inspired by the Pacific Northwest)
Carved through the story of time,
More character than a thousand years.
Flourishing with the cycle of life,
Untouched by the hand of greed.
Lies are hidden with deception.
More Beautiful than a sparkling diamond,
More value in a single grain.
With a power incomparable to wealth,
With a power untamed by nature.
Lies are hidden with deception.
Unrestricted by the boundaries of society,
Astounded by the endless corners.
Alive with a majestic feeling,
True in a way unknown.
Lies are hidden with deception.
It speaks with a language worth listening,
It speaks the sound of freedom.
Speaking to only a few who care.
With an ear in heaven,
Lies are hidden with deception.
Healthiest when diversity thrives,
Disorder to the common eye.
A motion that needs no fuel,
Occurrences never to be seen.
Lies are hidden with deception.
Stand back from its unforgiving force,
Hold on when you’re surrounded by its clutch.
Be ready when you make the connection,
Beware when temptation succumbs.
Lies are hidden with deception.
Why won’t its cuts stop bleeding,
Exhaustion should not be our halt.
Blame is the language of failure,
Ignorance is our demise.
Lies are hidden with deception.
How is there riches through chaos,
Idealism is not made from gold.
Abandonment will not achieve success,
Destruction is the path we’ve chosen.
Lies are hidden with deception.
Inspiration will provide a boundless purpose,
The unspeakable should be spoken,
And the spoken will finally be heard.
I have a choice and the final word…
Lies; will no longer, be hidden with deception.
~Stephen Corke
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Against the winter-blue sky
a gathering of pines
pose in forest green,
glistening ermine shawls
provide dramatic contrast.
A solitary maple stands apart,
elegantly starkin charcoal gray
accented with white crystals.
~Ruth M. McVeigh, Union Bay, B.C.
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