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March 19, 2015

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Spring Magic

And above all, watch with glittering eyes
the whole world around you because the greatest secrets
are always hidden in the most unlikely places.
Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.

— Roald Dahl (Minpins, 1991)

Drip,
Rain
Drop
Plops,
Spring will come
With black mud, bees
And crocuses beneath trees.
Baby robins will scatter shells.
Fairies will chant vernal spells.
Birds will sing madrigals at dawn
To wood violets blooming on the lawn.
Foxglove’s speckled trumpets will play
With snowdrops and magnolias in May.

snowdrops

Ours shall be the gypsy winding
Of the path with violets blue,
Ours at last the wizard finding
Of the land where dreams come true.

— Lucy Maud Montgomery (from Spring Song)

Note: My poem, Spring Magic is a concrete poem, taking the shape of a drooping tulip or possibly a lily of the valley bell as suggested by Matt Forrest Ersenwine. Thanks, Matt! Happy Spring! This post is an ode to Spring in honor of the Vernal Equinox which is at 6:45 p.m. here on March 20, 2015. And a happy coincidence, also in honor of Poetry Friday, hosted this week by Catherine Flynn at Reading to the Core who shared a wonderful original poem for World Folk Tales and Fables Week. I hope you have time to visit her. The photographs were all taken last spring — this year the ground is covered by a knee-deep sea of receding white ice.

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Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

March 17, 2015

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Holiday, Poetry, Tales for Kids of All Ages

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Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

You’ll find no green beer here
Or stories with a jeer here
about shamrock socks
or leprechaun jocks;
The Irish won’t get a smear here.

I pass along this fantastic
idea, not sarcastic,
not as a joke
about wee folk,
But with thought enthusiastic:

Storytelling is an art
that makes the Irish a part
of words unfurled
joining the world
To one growing literary chart.

Note: The foregoing are my limericks three, to frame my respect for my Irish heritage. The shamrock is a work in progress by my daughter and I. To celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, here are few treasures by Irish authors:

While mantling on the maiden’s cheek
Young roses kindled into thought.

― Thomas Moore

The Lake Isle Of Innisfree

I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honeybee,
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet’s wings.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart’s core.

― William Butler Yeats

My body was like a harp and her words and gestures
were like fingers running upon the wires.

― James Joyce, Araby

Of the things which nourish the imagination,
humour is one of the most needful,
and it is dangerous to limit or destroy it.

― John Millington Synge

I think of the bog as a feminine goddess-ridden ground,
rather like the territory of Ireland itself.

― Seamus Heaney

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Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

February 13, 2015

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Holiday, Photography, Poetry

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Sunsets Burning

I have seen from my window
the fiesta of sunset in the distant mountain tops.

Sometimes a piece of sun
burned like a coin in my hand.

— Pablo Neruda, from Clenched Soul

Black-fingered trees
Yearn to touch the sky’s palette
Aglow with sunset

Icy winter dormancy
Kindled by sunset passion

This Tanka poem was inspired by Valentine’s Day, sunsets and Poetry Friday, this week hosted by Merely Day by Day. Happy Valentine’s Day!

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Brenda Davis Harsham

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December 31, 2014

Posted under

Holiday, Photography, Poetry

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Winter’s Golden Song

The years stack like a tower of books,
Each with its stories: lights shining,
Songs sung and music woven throughout:
“People writing songs that voices never shared,”
“Standing at the crossroads of the hill,”
“I see trees of green, red roses, too.”
“Two cats in the yard, life used to be so hard,”
“Looking for adventure in whatever comes our way,”
“I crossed the ocean for a heart of gold,”
“I’ll always remember you like a child.”
“Puff the magic dragon lived by the sea.”
“One pill makes you larger, and one makes you small.”
“Sunshine came softly through my window today,”
“Happiness runs.”

Happy and Prosperous New Year!! May you be showered with good things this coming year.

This is my 500th Post!! Woo-hoo!!

Warmly, Brenda

(Lyrics were swirling around in the gray nimbus clouds, thanks to Louis Armstrong, Steppenwolf, Simon and Garfunkel, Cat Stevens, Peter, Paul and Mary, Neil Young, Tracy Chapman, Jefferson Airplane, Donovan and Cindy Knoke, yes, Cindy!).

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Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

December 25, 2014

Posted under

Holiday, Photography, Poetry

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Christmas Wishes

May your dreams inspire you,
May you rarely feel blue,
And almost never angry red.
May all bad things remain unsaid,
May magic touch you and yours,
And love find you, opening new doors.

Note: Merry Christmas!! My family was lucky to see the Boston Ballet perform the Nutcracker a few days ago. The daughter of a friend was dancing the part of Mother Ginger’s child. We had such fun, we bought these two ornaments to commemorate such a special night. I wish you many blessings to you and yours. Warmly, Brenda

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Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

December 24, 2014

Posted under

Holiday, Photography, Poetry

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Gingerbread Joy

Snow lingers in spun-sugar drifts
On gingerbread houses: my spirits lift.
Such a colorful display of cake and candy
Makes the world seem sweet and dandy.
Even though holly bushes are snow-bare,
The winter season gives magic to share,
As children, near and far, laugh and play
Because Santa Claus can’t be far away!
Whether you feel reverence at a birth,
Or making kids happy brings you mirth,
May your days be full of surprises and joy,
Like a holly berry, saved for a fairy’s toy.

Merry Christmas!!

Note: This amazing gingerbread house was part of a display at Wilson Farms in Lexington, MA.

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

December 20, 2014

Posted under

Holiday, Photography, Poetry

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Happy Solstice!

Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale.

— Hans Christian Anderson

Bare
Trees yearn.
Setting sun
Whispers farewell.
Fall sleeps and winter stirs.
Winter Solstice parties
Shine fairy lights on all who dance
And sing.

Note: This poem is a concrete poem. The poem takes a shape related to its subject matter. The Christmas Tree tradition is a lovely way to celebrate the longest night, with lots of twinkling lights, inside and out. Historically, pagans and pre-Christians decorated at midwinter with evergreen boughs. Decorating a tree became a popular Christian tradition in Germany in the 1800’s. Queen Victoria and her German husband, Prince Albert, later made tree decorating popular throughout the world.

The Winter Solstice in my neck of the woods is Sunday, December 21, 2014, 6:03 p.m. EST. North of the arctic, you get no sun at all, and south of the Antarctic Circle, they have the Midnight Sun, or 24 hours of sunlight. Either place is too cold for me. I’ll take my 4 p.m. sunset.

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Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

December 16, 2014

Posted under

Holiday, Photography, Poetry

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59 Comments

Happy Hanukkah! (Right on Thyme)

May the light shine brightly on everyone, this dark December night, whether or not you celebrate Hanukkah. May you find time for things that bring you joy. May your dreams clarify and your wishes inch toward completion. May seasonal magic warm you and keep you safe. Be well, Brenda

Note: I have been working on braiding this thyme wreath, inspired by a post by Stacey of Down to Earth Digs. Although not finished, it has made my kitchen smell of summer. I plan to tie it with ribbon and hang it among my pottery. Thanks for the great idea, Stacey!!

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

November 26, 2014

Posted under

Holiday, Photography

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Thankful

I’m thankful for the beauty in every season and for the words that flow from it.
I’m grateful to all of you, sharing your day with me, may your days be filled with magic!

Warmly,

Brenda

Note: Tomorrow is Thanksgiving here, a time to remember our blessings, appreciate the earth that gives them to us, and embrace our family and friends. Happy Thanksgiving!

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

November 24, 2014

Posted under

Holiday, Photography, Poetry

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Giving Thanks

Once we accept our limits, we go beyond them.

— Albert Einstein

storm wind gusts
shakes leaf from its anchor
it falls, giving thanks

Note: Happy Thanksgiving to those in the United States, and Happy Fall to everyone else. This was inspired by the air spirits in the Carpe Diem #611 Haiku challenge, Sylph.

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Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

October 31, 2014

Posted under

Holiday, Photography

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25 Comments

Trick-or-Treat!

If you have time, scroll down and trick-or-treat on Friendly Fairy Tales Halloween posts.

Have a fun and safe Halloween!

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

October 31, 2014

Posted under

Holiday, Photography, Poetry

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40 Comments

Halloween Ballet

Autumn fairy ballet:
Ballerinas dip and spin,
Wings extend lightly and
Long costumes twirl.
A feast for the eyes:
Fall glows in shades of
Butternut squash and pumpkin,
With touches of berry and apple.
The wind lifts the dancers
Into allegro cabrioles, then
Holds another in a graceful arabesque.
The Fae Corps de Ballet
Performs every day.

Happy Halloween! Be spooky and be safe!