
I was not meant to be a stone
causing a splash,
and raining splatters
as I dropped into the pool of life.
But I am content, if, as a pebble
I cause small ripples
that gently caress the hearts
of those they touch.
There is an angry dragon named FIRE,
who is desecrating our valley,
threatening our homes, causing disruption to our everyday living.
FIRE is undisciplined, recognising no boundaries,
having no concept of mercy,
selfishly intent on fuelling and refuelling its’ own anger
by the consumption of that within its’ path.
FIRE hisses and spits at the efforts of mortals who seek to control it,
as it sneeringly flings its’ burning embers past them,
in its’ determination to dominate.
FIRE breathes out blinding smoke and fills the air with cloying ash,
roaring out its’ defiance with searing heat
as it continues to satisfy its’ voracious appetite
in consuming our valley, our homes and our way of life.
FIRE is a dragon whose slaying we work for, long for, pray for, and wait for.

Serenity
The calmness of the water, the stillness and clarity of the reflections, the blue of the reflected sky, the evidence of sunshine beyond the trees and in the foreground foliage,all give me a deep sense of serenity and peace.

DELIGHT
This waratah and how it actually looked after I photographed it gave me great delight.
DECEPTION
From a distance I thought this was a lovely bush of lilac-coloured flowers. On closer inspection I saw it as it really is: a generous bunching of seed heads.
But it still looked pretty!

Hippy-ho
And welly-do
Daffies are out
And I am too!
They all dance
And so shall I,
Till the sun’s asleep
In the evening sky!

AMUSEMENT
These two birds gave me great amusement as I watched them from the kitchen window, seemingly admiring my garden.

Pleasure
These tiny fungi delighted me in their delicate purity of colour among the leaves and mulch of my garden. The larger one has fine lines etched around its rim and the one that has fallen over shows the inside structure of their makeup.
Then there is the baby of the family so very small it could easily be overlooked.
There are many small gifts of nature, which to some people may seem merely insignificant, but they can bring great pleasure to us as we open our eyes to really see them.

Hope
When I took this photograph I was only interested in the cluster of berries.
Now when I look at it, it gives me hope: Firstly because the branch, though it has been broken is still able to go on doing what its life intended it to do, produce these lovey red berries. Secondly, the trunk, though showing its age by the moss covering its grey, still supports the branch in its achievement.
When I apply these thoughts to some of the sorrows in people’s lives, and to the age in mine, Hope is what comes to mind.
As every bloom is different;
every person is unique;
we seldom look the same
nor the same language speak.
Every seed that’s sown
falls solo to the earth;
every child that’s born
enters solo at its birth.
Flowers may look the very same,
as twins most often do;
but each comes separately,
or all nature is untrue.
Every seed that’s sown
falls solo to the earth;
every child that’s born
enters solo at its birth.