Strawberry Cream and Rose Petals

On a country walk

through a hillside town

I found the red roses

as I was strolling around.

At first,

I just took a photograph

as I looked at the mass

of beautiful flowers

and thought to keep going

as I’d been walking for hours.

But the rose

gestured to me,

come closer and see

the heart of my colour

is like no other

symbol of romantic love

and yet,

you see,

more in me.

What I see

when I look at you

is a glorious full bloom

with a golden centre

and that is unusual

and stepping aside

from the symbol of roses

that flows on the tide

of passion and joy

and the romance of Spring

this bright colour

may also bring

more to each day

in a universal way,

that helps us to find

a sharing of minds.

I will go further

and express even more,

the depth of brotherhood

we all could explore.

Would we share with a stranger

our soup on the stove,

would we walk one mile further

to show that we care

there are people around

who feel lonely and lost,

will we take them a rose

to help them to find

more examples that locals

may also be kind.

So as I go along

on this ‘Neighbour Day’

I have greeted three strangers

in a friendly way……

The schoolgirl with the smile

and homework to do,

the boy on the bicycle

who was exuberant too,

and the lady in sneakers

out walking her road,

she’s almost home

and is now somewhat tired,

but still, very cheerful

to see me in town

and perhaps ‘the Friday feeling’

was dancing around.

So Red Rose

will go

into a beautiful vase

and sit on my desk

as a tribute to

the smiles of strangers

the strength of ‘Hello’

the sunshine this day

and Spring flowering displays.

So I have fresh strawberries

to serve with rose petals,

having just had a coffee

in the Red Door Food Store

where I copied a recipe

from the High Tea Cookbook……

it was for Strawberry Cream

and delightful it looked,

so delighted I will be

to serve it with scones

and a cup of black tea.

So let’s enjoy

life as it is

the simple pleasures

are serendipitous gifts

to widen our smile

and surely uplift

small encounters

on little adventures

through the path of this day

and my pleasure to see

Rose’s beautiful display.

(Written with a single red rose whilst walking in Balhannah, South Australia on October 25, 2013)

Seeking Your Shelter from the Storms

I came to you

on the westerly wind

and then with this gale force,

caught I was

under the wiper blades,

and noticed by you

in the garage shade.

Not many folk

would look at me

and immediately

think there’s a verse to write,

so bring me indoors

from those gusty frights.

I have been most everywhere,

but in the quiet

I will share

something for you

to tell a few

observant ones

who may wish to

change their ways

on blustery days.

Stay indoors

as windy squalls

have a way of battering

your peace of mind and many things…..

They say, go another way,

make your choices, everyday.

If I had been in a protected place

I would not have needed

to hide my face

and blow every which-way.

I may have had a calmer day.

When you look at life

and some stormy plights,

you may wonder why it was

you,

who was ‘blown away’,

when other folk

could just stay

calmly centred

and live to tell

a happier tale

of a natural force

which pushed them on

and through divorce.

Whether it was a surprise

depending on the troughs

or hilly rise,

I think the time

to think ahead

is when you arise

first light from bed.

Pay some attention

to which way the wind is blowing,

listen to your inner knowing.

If, for example, you wonder why

storms blow often

in the camp you lie,

roll your swag

and catch the bus,

leaving town at your earliest,

flying the nest

is intuitively wise

for what is best.

Never ignore the early signs

of storms approaching,

six foot swells

or possibility of the darker wells.

So I am somewhat puzzled this evening

that a brown Eucalyptus leaf

is giving meaning

to some restrictions and stormy cycles,

or places to go not there,

choose a calm and sunny day

when deciding what is best for you,

protect yourself and trust you will,

find a kinder place to rest

choose a partner who passes the test

of patience, compassion and the temperament

to allow you peace

and a quiet corner with a garden seat.

So I have a message here from the gale

blowing through all outside

who and where,

how and what,

calling to me now safe inside……

Life may bring gusts your way,

shelter from the storm,

choose your peace and a gentle breeze

and life will foster all your needs.

Listen to your inner self,

do not stay

where you are valued least,

cross that bridge to greener grass

and find friends who cherish you

as your life matters,

indeed that’s true.

Written on October 16, 2013.

This verse surprised me, as it is different to my usual inspirations.

The leaf was calling a warning for me to share.

We all need a safe place to rest and grow, and I don’t know, but if this may resonate with you, leave soon for safety that honors you.

Cherish yourself.

Translucent Blue For You

This is The Bearded Iris that I wrote about on my previous post. I love this colour.

Simple Gifts

I love your colour

your fragrance too

that is as subtle

as your heavenly blue…

If all the world

was soft and lovely

and all of life

was calm and happy,

what a wonderful world would be

everywhere for us to see.

And every one would enjoy

the simple gifts that nature brings,

all the songs the birds do sing,

and what I feel enthuses me

so I wish we all

may have this view

of a delicate bearded Iris like you.

But if you live in lands that are

not conducive to such treasures

then appreciate

those gifts you have there

that nature brings to share.

A buttercup, a bee

or something beautiful to see.

Maybe, anywhere you look

sacred geometry fills your view

as looking closely brings you in,

to witness plants or grains of sand,

pebbles, grasses or rocks on land.

Open wide, to absorb inside

all there is gifted you

to bring awareness into your present

and gratitude for life within it.

(Written with translucent mauve-blue Bearded Iris flowers)

Butterfly Kisses

Although you have gone on

ahead of me

I am relieved

your body’s free

of pain

and blindness

and difficult cycles

and what we remember

now

is peace surrounds

and all above

is showing me

you are walking easier

and seeing again

and we will meet up

when

I pass over to the other side

there we’ll be

happily

devoted again

as loyal as true

companions we were

me and you.

Every time I see a butterfly

I know,

like when three days ago,

one landed on my fingers

you were around

‘blowing kisses’

(Written on September 8, 2013, which was five days after my dear and lovely, blind Greyhound died.)

Our Saving Grace.....A healing message, with love to the animals, from a little hound

With all this warm

and welcome sunshine

here comes a day

to move along,

this very day

has brightened us

and there is a sense

of synergy

as you admire me

and I am happy to be

blooming fresh

into Spring,

as everything at last

has passed,

and gladly now

transformation comes

so let’s move on,

and with delight

celebrate

this sunny, bright

happy day

and I hear your little hound-dog say……

“I love the chicken and the egg,

the yoghurt there to mix it up

and this past week

we have survived all storms

please let us

have gratitude for a normal way

to rest in sunshine

and please believe

I’m not dying yet

I have new spirit all around

‘Believe me Bee, we have been found.’

We nourish the souls

and come back to centre,

we bring back balance

and we rest as best

as all we do

is for me and you

and the care of animals

everywhere

if you will write

and then you share,

the saving grace of me has been

raspberry juice,

mineral Celloids

bush essences

apple and yoghurt,

and free range protein,

keeping up fluids to me

and watching carefully

to prescribe for me.

And through it all,

here we are

and here we’ll be

for some time

you’ll  see.

So let’s resume

our healing pattern

No little box

lined in satin!

I’m alive, and you see my joy

as I skip my feet,

wag my tail

and sleep soundly now

sunshine streaming in,

Spring has come,

let’s re-begin.

(Written on September 2^nd, 2013, at 1.30 pm with a fresh and beautiful solitary late-lowering Daphne. It had exquisite fragrance, soft pink frosted star-like petals and healthy foliage.

Nine hours later Poppy was in great pain with a cyst, she lay on my tummy all night long barely moving, she happily ate egg for breakfast, and then gently passed into spirit,  nineteen hours after this verse came to us)

My Lovely, Poppy, ('Little Pops') greyhound, has been consoling me in her own energetic and heartening ways, from time to time in the past 4 weeks.

I have posted a number of inspiring verses on my Come Blossom Come Fruit website/blog and hope you read them there www.comeblossomcomefruit.com