The Drought
Clouds drift along in the blue-grey sky,
Words and phrases obscuring the sun.
Drifting in and out of my consciousness,
Not wanting to be captured on paper.
I am like the earth and sky
Seeking balance between rain and drought.
My heart knows when
It will be time to come home again.
Distracted at present-
A monarch floats into my line of sight,
While a hummingbird peeks through the window
To see only its reflection against the vast darkness.
For now I am content
To let the words drift among the clouds.
Soon enough they will meld into a storm, and
Rain down freely again, singing on the page.
©Donna Donabella 2018
__________________________________________________________
This is a poem that was started a few year’s ago, and like the poem says, it drifted in and out of my consciousness until it fully formed recently. Poetry can come easily or be a bit elusive….but I don’t obsess about it. I keep a journal of phrases, lines, ideas, and revisit them until they decide to rain down fully into a poem.
I am joining in with Poets United for their weekly poetry link up for poets who blog.
__________________________________________________________
I leave you with a few additional words about The Drought. I welcome you to download the photo and share it.
All other photos and original content is copyrighted and the sole property of Donna Donabella @ Living From Happiness, 2014-2018. Any reprints or use of other photos or content is by permission only.
So when I designed the bones of my garden, I imagined flowers and water there in a special spot…and with it the sound of water. It was clear that a pond would be the perfect spot to have water and flowers. And that pond had to have a waterfall, so I could have the healing sound of water nearby, especially since I don’t live close to the ocean.
Please make sure you visit Pam in all the amazing places she hangs out.
And even on the grayer days, there is a beauty to the snow.
I have never walked on a snow-covered beach before. I felt a bit giddy, and just like when I was a child seeing the beach spread out before me….drawing me in. Knowing I could stay here forever.
Oh the soft feel of the sand beneath the snow….such a different experience. Looking to the right, is the area where I saw the soft grassy jetty in late summer. Now it’s icy and snow-covered, but it appears someone is visiting. Let’s look closer.
The gentle waves have frozen in place close to the shore, but there is open water near the jetty. The wind has stopped and the lake is like glass. A flock of Canada geese are feeding here in the warmer open water. They will soon leave as the cold air and winter weather are finally settling in.
And if I shift my gaze a bit to the left and close up, I see the grassy shore now draped in its wintry cloak.
As I pan back, I can see more of this beautiful cove with the pristine beach. I didn’t want to walk on it. So instead I shifted back to face the water, and moved a bit forward.
And I took in the view of the lake in front of me. Snowy beach meeting frozen water’s edge. Frosty frozen water meeting ripply waves caught in winter’s icy grip, then open water, more ice and the deep blue lake beyond still not frozen.
If I stretch my gaze to the other shore, I see a foggy haze out in the middle of the lake where the warm water meets the frigid winter’s air. One of the amazing sights on this day was all the blue. The blue of the sky meeting the many shades of blue of the water.
And as I shift my gaze left again, even the snow in shadow is blue. Do you remember this bench from the last post?
It is already getting too cold, so I turn to go.
I’ve left my own path….my tracks in the snow here today.
There are no children playing on this day as there were in autumn. I couldn’t resist photographing this sign again. The thoughts of swimming here are farthest from my mind on this day.
One last look before I hurry to the waiting, warm car. Soon enough this picnic spot will be filled to capacity with people celebrating the coming of beach weather.
Before I get in the car, ahead of me I see the sun blazing off the snow, almost blinding me as it illuminates the trees far on the other side of the parking lot.
As we were driving away, I was struck by the beauty of the trees no longer colored in their magnificent yellow and orange autumn cloak. Now instead, they sparkle in their winter jewels.
Each scene more wondrous….
My soul drinking in every awe-inspiring view as we wound our way to the street, and back home. It is amazing what wonders lay just 10 minutes away, waiting for us!
And it was here, while I snapped pictures of the dried and tattered plants, that I realized I had a full and abundant life. I was lucky to be alive, to have relatively good health, a partner who gave me support and unconditional love, and family and friends who were still there for me.
I was also thinking what color this year would be. I have been working with the 
achieved…maybe writing and
“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language. And next year’s words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a beginning.” 
But this 10th year in our new house, I found a renewed energy…maybe because I was less stressed and had been retired now a year….maybe it was just time. This past February, I went through all my Christmas decorations, and saved only those I cherished and might want to use this year. And I promised myself to open those boxes, and put up some Christmas decorations. Those I did not use this year would go in the pile to give away.
