I’d like to spend a week under my favorite tree with a book of poetry and a a sketchpad — I’d begin with the leaves, use my pencil to mimic veins that run the length of the spine stretching to the outlines from the stem to tip, shade one side in contrast to the edgeContinue reading “Lesser”
Tag Archives: tree
One December Afternoon
I see skies of blue/ and clouds of white/ the bright blessed day/ the dark sacred night/ and I think to myself/ what a wonderful world… —From What a Wonderful World, George Douglas I saw myself reflected in silver steps like stones skipping across a river, winding up the evergreen, near deep pools of cobaltContinue reading “One December Afternoon”
A Welcome Surrender
I turned and saw this tree sprawled against a clouded sky, a stark contrast of autumnal browns against the vibrant blue and white — when I let myself really see the beauty in this world, each moment becomes vital and humbling, the leaves in the final stage before falling, re-turning into the soil, the sunContinue reading “A Welcome Surrender”
This Beauty
O Lord, what a variety of things you have made! In wisdom you have made them all. The earth is full of your creatures. —Psalm 104:24 There were only a few moments to wander in the little garden, that place of solace that gives me so much, my place to remember creation and the Creator. TheContinue reading “This Beauty”
Without Breath
Let the fields and their crops burst out with joy! Let the trees of the forest sing for joy… — Psalm 96:12, NLT Would you weep with me if we imagined a world with no trees? No arching branches, no swaying canopies, no stately crowns, no fruit-laden boughs no music through leaves, no root-tilled ground, Continue reading “Without Breath”
Letting Go
For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. — Romans 1:20 (NLT) Unburdening my bones, letting go the unnecessaries we hold as if life wouldContinue reading “Letting Go”
Colors We Have Wept
I stared long at the denuded branches, glanced down and lost count of the striking fire-gold leaves in piles at my feet. This tree, bare, bark-splitting, seems to have wept all of its colors away on this first day of November 2020 that stands calm with streaks of titanium-white clouds like brush marks above myContinue reading “Colors We Have Wept”
Extremes
We cleaned gutters yesterday — pulled pine and cypress needles from the long trays in anticipation of a coming north-wind storm. It was 90 degrees, but this morning is projected to bring the first drops of ice and rain, following with inches of snow during the next few days. Such fast change. I feelContinue reading “Extremes”
Autumn Dreaming
I collect these works of art in the greens and golds of autumn, a mosaic I design near the root of a favorite tree that keeps telling me the season is changing, even though today it is well over 90 degrees; I lay them together, squint my eyes and pretend the air is nipping myContinue reading “Autumn Dreaming”
A Fairy-Tale
I lost myself in an birch tree, wandering around the chalky leaves while following that smooth white tree-skin to a knot like a snout, a curved line making his wrinkled mouth, and another arching like a brow hanging low over his one good eye. I stood back to see his bark-face grin and realized heContinue reading “A Fairy-Tale”
