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June 11, 2015

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Behind the Ferns

Behind the ferns,
A dragon shakes the rain
From golden scales,
Yawns, stretches and
Rises from her rest.
Human eyes are fooled,
By shadow and light,
A color camouflage:
We see only
An iris at its best.

Note: This dragon is dedicated to gardeners, landscapers, garden center owners and nature lovers everywhere. To people whose lives are dedicated to the transient, yet enduring, beauty of nature. If you’ve ever planted a single bulb or watered a houseplant, this is for you, too. And it’s already time for Poetry Friday again! How did that happen so fast? This week is hosted by Jama at Jama’s Alphabet Soup, a haven of tasty poetry.

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

June 6, 2015

Posted under

Photography

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27 Comments

Sunshine Captured

Sunshine potent,
Life-giving and pure.
Sunshine blooming
At our feet to cure
Any lingering blues
And let us endure.

Note: Thanks to those who offered solace to me! Once I healed up a bit, the shot in my shoulder has helped, and I’ve regained some range of motion. I’m blessed to again see the beauty in the small things, the free things, the things I walk by everyday. May the sun shine, even at your feet on rainy days.

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

June 3, 2015

Posted under

Photography, Poetry

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39 Comments

Purple Panoply (Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Purple)

Purple Loosestrife on the river

Butterfly bush longing for a butterfly

Awash in Asters

Two-purple Irises

Deepest Purple Iris

Note: Cee has called for purple this week. Purple Prose is writing that is unnecessarily flowery or ornate. In honor of my purple post, I will write some purple poetry:

Amethyst petals embrace the bee,
stamen and stigma anoint him
delicately
with amber pollen.
The drunken bee flies
erratically,
bringing back dusty manna of
lush lavender, iris,
loosestrife and pine tree,
into the humming hive
far up in the forest canopy.
Are his eyes still full of
wildflower fields and
purple panoply?
The drone
dances in the honeycomb,
transforming
gold dust into honey.
How does the tiny being do it?
What magic knows he
that none of us can see?

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

May 29, 2015

Posted under

Photography, Poetry

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65 Comments

Azalea Magic

Fallen forsythia sunshine lines my path.
I linger in a bower circled by giant phlox.
Lady Spring casts her spell,
A come-hither invitation to embrace
The wind, scented with lilacs and irises.
Cottonwood fluff tangles in my hair.
Inchworms pulse on invisible silk.
Grass stalks tickle my ankles.
Dandelions smile at bluejays.
Swallows skim empty soccer fields.
Dogs woof and chase squirrels.
Maple leaves dapple the forest path,
Insects munch and rabbits lunch,
But azaleas steal the show.

Note: This poem is a celebration of my morning walk and New England. If you want to join your song to mine, leave a comment here with a link to your favorite poem or join Poetry Friday, this week hosted by Reflections on the Teche. Let your imagination soar and your words fly. Have a great weekend! Warmly, Brenda

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

May 27, 2015

Posted under

Photography, Poetry

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51 Comments

A Moment to Shine

Troubles drop away,
Luck comes our way,
That’s our moment.
Everything turns out fine.
It’s our moment to shine.
Trouble may make us blue,
But that fades to dark
When we feel the spark.

Note: I’ve had bad years, with rare good moments. And good years with few bad moments. My heart holds onto the good times. I hope yours does, too. This poem was inspired by my latest rejection letter, which was not a shining moment, but another opportunity. Every door that remains shut helps us find the right door.

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

May 25, 2015

Posted under

Photography, Poetry

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29 Comments

What Peace Looks Like

Lilies of the Valley
Was the scent my grandmother wore.
Her warm hugging arms filled me with
Boundless approval.

The tiny white bells
Remind me of a baby bonnet
And wrappings my children wore
Coming home.

Each spring
The lilies bring back moments
When I was heart-full, cherished and
At peace.

Note: Artists4Peace are taking submissions for June with the theme: What Peace Looks Like. If you want to add your voice, you can find June’s submissions call with one click. Peace is a way of life!

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

May 19, 2015

Posted under

Photography

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50 Comments

Pairs (Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge)

Note: Photography is fun. If the urge takes you to participate in the Pairs challenge, click here.

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

May 7, 2015

Posted under

Photography, Poetry

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45 Comments

Duchesses

duchesses abloom
raspberry silk smiles
radiant, dancing

Note: Here’s a haiku in honor of the UK’s new Duchess of Cambridge and to celebrate May flowers. My son’s foot is healing, and he is proud that the grass seed he planted on Earth Day has sprouted already. He may be in pain, but he has a green thumb. And a mom who watered the seeds. 😉 This haiku is also another Poetry Friday offering, hosted this week by Today’s Little Ditty.

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

May 4, 2015

Posted under

Photography, Poetry

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34 Comments

Squill Overkill

Too
much Squill
is overkill.
The smallest spill —
tiny blooms of white,
lightly striped with blue starlight —
brings a taste of spring to excite.
Yet my neighbor’s grown a sapphire glade
that tempts me into yearning for cool shade.

Too much Squill or just enough?
Mother Nature struts her stuff.

Note: The first flowers are Puschkinia scilloides var. libanotica or Striped Squill. I wrote a previous poem to the blue Squill. I hope the spring is singing to you, as it’s singing to me. Have a wonderful week!

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

April 23, 2015

Posted under

Photography, Poetry

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46 Comments

Fairy King

Mantled in green and crimson,
Still stiff with winter’s ice,
Silent Fairy King is courted
By ladies in yellow and white.

Note: This poem was inspired by the burgeoning of spring, bolstered by a spring break spent in the garden rather than in DC as planned. I planted pansies, ranunculus, dahlias, elephant ears, butter lettuce, wildfire lettuce and parsley. I noticed the bunnies had nibbled some of my tulips, but they will probably prefer the lettuce. This poem is posted also in honor of Poetry Friday, thanks to No Water River, the picture book and poetry place. If you visit Renee at No Water River, she explains Poetry Friday. I hope you’ll visit her if you like kids poetry.

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

April 22, 2015

Posted under

Holiday

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52 Comments

Happy Earth Day!

Earth has everything we need. Let it be enough for us all.
May you find the magic in the earth today and every day!
Warmly, Brenda

Note: Sorry this is late, but I spent today in the garden with my kids. My son whose foot is broken managed to rake up the soil where our water access was replumbed. And then he scattered grass seed like a champ. I hope you found a good way to celebrate!

Posted by

Brenda Davis Harsham

Posted on

April 16, 2015

Posted under

Photography, Poetry

Comments

42 Comments

Yellowest Green

The yellowest green
Is the daffodil,
One day away from
Letting yellow spill.

What makes the flower
Pick that day to bloom?
The sun’s the power!
And it makes bees zoom.

Note: My van is mobile, my son’s foot is mending and my novel is submitted. Fingers crossed. Maybe my eyes, too. This poem is to celebrate Poetry Friday, and the warm breeze it’s brought into my life, perfumed with rich words. This week is hosted by Robyn Hood Black, thank you!!