Nostalgia

Collage by Margaret Bednar (click to enlarge)

 Nostalgia

Moments were fleeced today as I lingered, mid-summer, 

inhaled Mother's roses, marigolds, daffodils;

hummingbirds and bees flitting between foxgloves and tree.

Felt horses' hooves pound the earth, heads and tails held high,

galloping their way toward pasture gate,

scattering squawking blackbirds, bewildered.

Heard lawnmower grumble, overgrown weeds beheaded

beneath tree-top fort, while chickens purred and pecked 

their way upon the lawn.

Saw billowing linens carefully pinned

framing stately sweep of field bowing low at river's edge;

railroad tracks a musical staff, fading into horizon's haze.

Wild red clover swayed like nymphs cavorting

within hayfield's embrace, plucked; 

sweetly gentle upon my tongue.

Pasted behind closed eyes 

this serenade of summers past resides, 

a bit yellowed; only minutes lost, 

a season of yesteryear gained. 

by Margaret Bednar, January 21, 2023

Playing along with "Shay's Word Garden Word List - William Wordsworth" I used 8 out of 20 words: bewildered, blackbird, fleece, foxglove, hoof, overgrown, stately, and yellow.  Also playing along with "Poets and Storytellers United - Friday Writings #60" AND "Girlie On The Edge's Six Sentence Story - Paste"

 I'm off to a dinner date and will be back Sunday morning to read, visit, and comment.  FYI - I have a bit of trouble at times getting my comments through to some of you who have WordPress. Please know I read almost everyone in these challenges.  

Catastrophe

 

Collage by Margaret Bednar

(click on image to enlarge)

Catastrophe

Cerulean has softened

into a sapphire sky

as bridge between earth and moon

bows low.

Children cling with reverent hands

to ancestral spirits

while black cottonwoods' feathery catkins

tremble, their sacred roots dug deep

into riverbank's sides.

Crickets silence their song

and adults with trembling voice

question "Mortals or Gods?"

as Luna escorts her Imperial Majesties,

glass-faced and proud,

before Earth's indigenous,

crowned and uncrowned now equal,

one small step, repaid.

by Margaret Bednar, January 13, 2023

Playing along with "Shay's Word Garden - Word List - Alicia Suskin Ostriker". I used six of the 20 words: Catastrophe, Cerulean, Cottonwoods, Cricket, Feathery, Glassy (Glass)

Also linked with "Poets and Storytellers United - Friday Writings #59"

Native Americans revered the black cottonwood tree.  In some areas they are found along coastal river bottom lands.  The trees were considered symbols of the sun, the birthplace of the stars, or the bridge between earth and sky.  Its roots were used for carving kachina dolls, masks, and other ceremonial objects.    A kachina is an ancestral spirit  (there are more than 500) and they act as intermediaries between humans and the gods.  

Luna is latin for moon.

The images are of New Orleans Mardi Gras costumes!  If this is what I would see instead of a ton of drunks with bad beads and tits and ass - I would be there!  But I've heard too many horror stories.  Funny enough, my father-in-law loved it (God rest his soul).