Sunshine Captured

Yellow Japanese Irises

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

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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.

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

Purple loosestrife and ducks on river

Purple Loosestrife on the river

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Butterfly bush longing for a butterfly

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Awash in Asters

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Two-purple Irises

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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?

Copyright 2015 Brenda Davis Harsham

Fairy Squill

Blue bulb Glory-of-the-snow bloom

Salutations small Siberian Squill,
Rising from the icy dregs of a hill.
Bowing in breezes on a fairy mound,
Its still shadow doesn’t make any sound.
After Lady Winter’s chill ermine shroud,
Its azure beauty makes me sing out loud.

Copyright 2015 Brenda Davis Harsham

Note: This drooping blue beauty is Scilla siberica, one of the earliest blooming bulbs. I apologize for not having time to comment on posts this week. My van is in the shop, my middle child is on crutches, my novel deadline is looming and I’m nowhere near done. My kids will soon be on spring break. If only I had more time, or more brains or more hands. Something. Meanwhile, at least there’s magic! Hope you have a great week! Warmly, Brenda

Wordless Song of Seasons

Oak Leaf Hydrangea in Snow Wet Red Leaf Pink Flowers IMG_7804

Copyright 2015 Brenda Davis Harsham

Remembering Leaves

Golden Maple leaves

With puddles and ice
Lining sidewalks and streets,
I remember leaves.

First, the tease of buds.

Then the unfurling of
New leaves, palest green,
Sidewalks awash in bud casings.

Leaves as backdrop to the blooming of
Dogwoods, tulip magnolias, pink cherries,
White pear and apple,
Mauve plum and citrine cassia.
Continue reading

On Ice

Dry Hydrangea on Ice

held in my petals
memories of last summer
slumber here on ice

Copyright 2015 Brenda Davis Harsham

Note: This haiku is my contribution to a long-standing meme, Poetry Friday, which is organized by Kidlitosphere Central and hosted by various bloggers, around the web. I am very excited to participate for the first time. This week you can visit A Teaching Life and see links to the poetry.  Some of my friends write kids poetry. If you do, you should check this out. They publish anthologies of the Poetry Friday offerings periodically, and I have it on good authority that they actually PAY for the use of the poem!!! LOL What a concept! (Okay, it’s not going to make me rich, but hey, a dinner out… maybe.)

Poetry Friday Badge

Butterflies Wanted

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Butterflies wanted,
Butterflies sadly missed.
Long blooms languish,
For want of their friends.
One swallowtail came, all alone.
Two cabbage butterflies danced and played,
But where have the Monarchs gone?
I remember them from my youth.
Now my youth is gone and so are the Monarchs.

Copyright 2014 Brenda Davis Harsham

Garden Bright Haibun

Zinnias and Dahlias

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.

Full Bloom

Peach Day Lily 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?

Rainy Renewal

Rain on leaves

Opposites: rain and sun,
The yin and yang of life.
Clear cooling drops
Cleanse and refresh.
Even as I welcome the rain,
I long for the sun.

Copyright 2014 Brenda Davis Harsham

Scent of Morning

Rain on Lily Leaves

rain in the night
moist scent of lilies bathing
cool summer morning

Copyright 2014 Brenda Davis Harsham

White Lilies in the morning

Note: This post is dedicated to Bastet and Blog It, two haiku friends. It was inspired by Jen at Blog It’s Ghost Writer for Carpe Diem Haiku Kai, for the scent prompt.

Pink-Gold Sun

Peonies in sunshine

Summer sunshine’s burns bright,
Rings of pink-gold blinding light.
Peonies burst forth, glossy and fragrant,
Sunshine embraces them, radiant.

Copyright 2014 Brenda Davis Harsham