Red dragon, hidden on a green stalk,
Do you enjoy the cool rain?
You must bank your fires, release your heat,
To embrace your opposite.
Imagination spirals in the red,
Peace is possible for all.
Copyright 2014 Brenda Davis Harsham
Category Archives: Poetry
Garden Bright Haibun
As my children go back to school, the last blooms of the season burst like fireworks. The heat rises, homework swells, plans churn and change. Each day brings new wonders and new opportunities.
Wandering far,
On the borders of beauty,
Seeing zinnias and dahlias,
Sprawling in full bloom,
I am in the garden bright.
Snow might be coming,
But not until another day.
The seasons change gently, day by day, beginning with red leaves interspersed with the green. Berries replace flowers, and the sun’s rays dwindle. The squirrels chatter, chase and hide acorns frantically. All around me is late summer, but the preparation for winter is nigh.
harvest tomatoes
canning sauce made with basil
winter is coming
Copyright 2014 Brenda Davis Harsham
Note: A haibun is a Japanese form of prose interspersed with poetry, often culminating in a haiku.
Blue Wildflower
So many names, how can I choose?
Wild bachelor’s buttons,
Cornflowers,
Blue daisies,
Ragged sailors,
Chicory.
Your delicate, blue petals tremble in a breeze,
Tough stems stretch toward the sun,
Blue eyes open for one day only.
You are called hendibeh in the East,
Witloof in Belgium,
Succory to the Romans.
So many names, one humble flower.
Some say you open doors, deep magic.
I try to see through your fae portal.
You open to the sky, following the sun.
Some call you a weed, some add you to salad,
Some roast your taproot to balance coffee.
I’ll call you a wildflower.
I’ll admire you on the wayside,
A flower more ancient than humankind.
Your humble eyes look beyond me,
Your roots are in the distant past.
Perhaps your soft blue eyes
Will smile on my grandchildren,
Long after I’m gone.
Copyright 2014 Brenda Davis Harsham
Note: This flower is chicory, a common wildflower all over the world, used as an herb, a coffee additive and its many names inspired this poem: blue daisy, blue dandelion, blue sailors, blue weed, bunk, coffeeweed, common chicory, cornflower, hendibeh, horseweed, ragged sailors, succory, wild bachelor’s buttons, wild endive, witloof
Sunset Charm
A magic charm,
A balm for the soul —
Just add one sunset to
The first star of the night,
Throw in a child’s laugh,
And a heart-felt wish.
Copyright 2014 Brenda Davis Harsham
Note: This sunset was in West Dennis, Massachusetts, on Cape Cod. I may not have had internet connectivity on my mini-break, but I had connections to the clouds, sunsets and stars. 🙂 I got home, and my internet connection is spotty, and loading webpages nearly impossible. I will try to visit you when we have solved this new problem. Have a wonderful week ahead, my friends.
In-Between Weekend
Salty breezes lift away cares.
Color spills across the water,
Too intense for the sky to contain.
Horseshoe crabs dance a blurry ballet,
Twisting and turning in the gentle waves.
Seabirds swim quietly, at peace.
Twilight wanes, in-between day and night.
Summer is ending; school is about to begin.
In-between holds powerful magic.
Tomorrow seems far away,
Yesterday, a pleasant, hazy memory.
The right-now is a time of beauty.
Fleeting, but all the more precious for it.
Copyright 2014 Brenda Davis Harsham
Note: Happy Labor Day Weekend! This sunset was photographed on the West Dennis Beach, Cape Cod, Massachusetts.
Full Bloom
Punch of peach,
Late summer bloom,
Labored year round,
For this shining moment
At the end of summer.
Copyright 2014 Brenda Davis Harsham
Happy Labor Day to all those in the United States!!
Note: This bloom is a daylily of a most unusual shade. It looks like a rose, doesn’t it?
Secret Folk
Deep in the wildwood,
Beneath the green leaves,
Hide a welter of wee folk.
They play tricks, keep their secrets,
Hobnob with toads and kiss dragonflies.
Tuesdays, they take tea with an elderly dragon,
Nibbling hazelnut tarts and sunshine flan.
Copyright 2014 Brenda Davis Harsham
Wild Morning Glory
Wildflower
In deepest woods,
Climbing high,
Opening wide,
To kiss the sky.
This post is dedicated to Line at the Inscrutable Paths of the Spirit, who is trying to make the world softer.
Dragons Hiding
Dragons are masters of hiding.
Sightings on the ground are rare.
Gannon would never have found one
but for the dragon toe below.
When he looked up,
The bark of the tree moved, and
A knot in the bark turned into an eye.
Fire blotted out the sky.
Gannon jumped on its back
As it spread leafy wings,
And together they flew toward the moon.
Copyright 2014 Brenda Davis Harsham
Skimmer
This new friend has a wonderful poem by Thomas Randolph matched with a dragonfly photo, and the dragonfly looks like a Common Whitetail male. What a coincidence! I just published a photo of a Common Whitetail female tonight. Life is magical, and I hope that magic comes your way! Blessings, Brenda
We the Fairies, blithe and antic,
Of dimensions not gigantic,
Though the moonshine mostly keep us,
Oft in orchards frisk and peep us.
~Thomas Randolph
Amazing Blogger: Brenda!
I don’t like to crow, I’m more of a sparrow, but I have to reblog to thank Just Patty at petitemagique for her Post about me and friendly fairy tales. Patty is a lovely poet and friend. I love what she has to say about magic and fairy tales. Thanks, Patty! Blessings everyone! Brenda
Every week I want to share an amazing blogger with you all, so you can check out their blogs and maybe make some new friends!
All of these bloggers have amazed me with their art, kind heart, friendship and skills.
You ready? Here we go!
Meet Brenda
–> https://friendlyfairytales.com/ <–
A little about Brenda
I’m Brenda Davis Harsham. I live in New England with my fantastic husband and three story-telling children, where we are surrounded by music, gardens and magic. New stories unfold around me all the time, and sometimes I’m lucky enough to write them down. The world is full of possibility and wonder. I’m inspired by nature, my kids, friends, storms, coincidences, art, magic and memories. I’ve been telling stories for as long as I can remember. I’m delighted to share my fairy tales with you here.
This site is for kids of all ages, and it’s safe…
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Uncommon Dragonfly
Uncommon mother,
Uncommon tired,
Living for 36 days,
Still, evanescent, wired.
Copyright 2014 Brenda Davis Harsham
Note: This dragonfly is a Common Whitetail mature female.
Friendly Fairy Tales 