This famous purple Bougainvillea from the ancient city of Mdina fulfills the “pastorals and pastels” quality of this weeks challenge.
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Beautiful Malta flowers for #sundaystills color challenge
nature
Haiku for #tankstuesday
Petals curl backwards
Or forwards. Does it matter
As flowers unfurl?
Malta view
Spring photo for Sundaystills photo challenge #awakens
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Shadorma Challenge #tankatuesday
The challenge this week is to write a Shadorma, which has a syllable count of 3-5-3-3-7-5. Along with this, the challenge includes random words that must be used in the text.
A smile Sticks onto my lips As the song of new spring Is made up of birds singing The flutter of wings
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And yes I’m saying smile has two syllables. I think it could be argued that it’s one, but I’m saying SMY – UL
Beauty of death and decay
Yesterday, I wrote about how a carpet of yellow pine needles helped me understand the idea of the individual within a greater unity.
I kept wanting to write about the decay aspect of the pine needles. After all, they are coating the ground because they have fallen. Though they were once growing, attached to twig branch and bole, now they lay where they fell.
I didn’t write about it because it led me to a different concept. We all are familiar with the circle of life, and we know that death and decay are part of it. But I like examples, they make me think of the deeper parts of a general idea.
Continue readingThe end of numbers
When the relevance of numbers disappears, that’s oneness.
I thought of this while walking a path bathed in yellow pine needles. With the word “bathed”, I’m trying to express the expanse of the needles. Pressed under my feet, stretching behind me and ahead. Blanketing the woods to either side. Stretching in every direction beyond my view.
I think of the process of counting each one. I try to glimpse meaning beyond the absurdity of the task. Absurd because how long would it take to even count the number in ten square feet, never mind the huge expanse in Great Pond State Forest?
When the relevance of numbers disappears, that’s oneness.
The idea is attempting to express the woven unity of this carpet of needles. A vast, interlinked skein. Yes, made of individual shafts, but the repetition speaks to me a giant tan fabric. Is not fabric made of many connected threads?
Envisioning this helps me better understand the Taoist concept of merging the truth of individuality within the connection of totality. Losing numbers in this small world of pine needles, that are losing their color and returning to the earth, connects me to the immense unity that I am apart from and a part of.
The peak of family and friendship
For this weeks #SundayStills photo challenge, the prompt is #peek-a-boo. It does give the option to use peak, so I went with this picture of our niece and her fiancé at the peak of a local hill. Also, this is a peek into the life of my wife and I, as we develop a growing friendship with this wonderful couple. We’re looking forward to another visit this weekend.
This challenge lasts all week. If you want to join, check it out here.
Birthday weekend views
Shadorma for #TankaTuesday
The prompt this week is based on this picture by Monet:
I always Had the impression That Monet Needs glasses. The blurs are not purposeful They are myopic.
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Mark Bozeman 