Exciting transitions in my life. Reminders that the struggle of life, the constant fight against entropy, is a gift.
Living Water
Tag Archives: Nature Themes
Day 113 & 114: Storm in a Bottle, Good Dog’s Good Day
Another double post. Got yesterday’s poem written in my notebook but didn’t have the chance to share it. So here is that poem first, followed by today’s.
Sometimes we have an utterly irrational emotion overcome us. It’s a humbling experience because we know it’s irrational and it doesn’t change a thing. In fact, the knowing serves to exacerbate the problem by creating a feeling of helplessness. Art, poetry, writing, these are the tools of release and catharsis and they work wonders.
Storm in a Bottle
My dog has had an absolutely wonderful day today and only needs one thing to make it complete. Pretty sure he’s going to get it.
Good Dog’s Good Day
Day 187: My Bride Paints Octopuses
Fun fact, in English the plural form of octopus is octopuses, octopodes is the old Greek plural, and octopi is simply incorrect all around unless you yourself are an octopus because it’s inclusive. There’s your random bit of trivia for the day!
My bride is an artist. A pretty darn good one in my opinion. We’re both animal lovers but I’ve got a passion for weird and wonderful creatures. Octopuses have been something of a running joke with us that’s now transcended humor to become a symbol of happiness for us. Once we decided to move to an island my bride painted an octopus. It hangs on the wall of our living room. Our conversation this morning over breakfast and coffee turned to the painting and the others around it. She thinks of octopuses when she thinks of me and is painting. I’m flattered.
Her painting is the header image for this post.
My Bride Paints Octopuses
Day 186: Mountain Rising
Some days you have to climb a mountain. Sometimes the mountain is bigger than expected. Sometimes the mountain gets bigger even while you’re climbing it. It still needs to be climbed, so the best thing to do is grin and find the joy. We’re mountain climbers, after all.
Mountain Rising
Day 182 & 184: Zenith; (Not) Working
Didn’t upload on Day 182 because I got caught up with my writing, ran out of time, and by the time I remembered I was supposed to actually share my poetry it was too late.
Day 183 happened to be my birthday and I don’t feel too badly admitting I was too caught up in the good things going on to write a poem.
Day 184, we’re all caught up.
I couldn’t help noticing some carryover from the themes of Monday’s poem to this morning’s entry. I’ve been giving a lot of thought to broken things and things that aren’t broken and when we give them our attention, when do we celebrate them. We have a very odd relationship with things that work and things that don’t. People too for that matter. It is absurdly complicated and doesn’t really make sense.
And I say all of this as one of the biggest offenders. When something works, when it does good, when it is steady and consistent and amazing, we ignore it until it isn’t. Instead we focus on repairing the broken. Is either right? Is either healthy? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
Zenith
(Not) Working
Days 176 & 177: Packed; Missing Spots
Once again inspiration struck when I didn’t have my notebook on me and I had to resort to writing yesterday’s poem on scrap paper. I transcribed it into my poetry notebook this morning before writing today’s poem.
Yesterday I left my bride and my dog in Houston. Nobody’s especially thrilled about it, least of all my puppy. He’s a rescue and has severe anxiety attacks every time he sees a suitcase being packed. He knows it means a trip and that it’s not going to be a quick ride in the car. He gets both desperate and excited and it’s him that inspired yesterday’s poem. Kind of hurt to write it out. I’m missing him and my bride today.
Packed
This morning’s poem comes from my ever frenetic attempts at organization and prioritizing. There’s always more to do. And now after that. Beauty of life. When it runs out, there’s no life left. Even so, I feel like I’m sending my brain spiraling around inside my own skull sometimes.
Missing Spots
Day 174: Endless Waves
Spending some time near the beach today with my bride talking about storytelling. I found myself admiring the never ending series of waves that surge up to glide into the shore and it inspired today’s work.
Endless Waves
Day 169: The Osprey’s Identity
We have an osprey who’s territory overlaps the land next to our home. Every now and then we spot him hunting or surveying his domain from a branch or light pole. Gorgeous raptors. They have a crest of feathers on their head and dark markings around their eyes, which got me thinking about crowns and masks and identity. I doubt the osprey much cares what we think about who he is, but what paradoxes do we carry in our own identities and why?
The Osprey’s Identity
Day 166; Predation
My bride and I are attending the Houston Symphony tonight. They are performing in conjunction with footage provided by National Geographic and we are both very excited. Needless to say, today’s poem was inspired by my excitement and expectations. The idea of something so decidedly human as music juxtaposed to imagery of that which is untouched by man brings to mind thoughts of our relationship with nature and nature’s relationship with itself.
Predation
Day 143: How Do I Fly?
It’s been one crazy week. A lot of tough learning, a lot of picking back up, and a lot of being pulled in multiple directions. It’s times like these that all we can do is pick one and go for it.
How Do I Fly?
The Everyday Poet 