Sunlight and Shadows

Finding poetry in star dust, sunbeams, and passing clouds

Category: Nature

  • Buttercup

    Sunshine gold feathers fanning delicately

    Cloud-like poofs of great pillowy down

    Vibrant eyes reflecting the green world

    Rosy comb pinnacled in a crystalized crown

    Sun breaking, hens stir on the 2×4 roosts

    Eagerly tumble out when the door starts to rise

    Chirrup over bits of corn, calling unseen chicks

    Fuss over egg laying like each was a prize

    Afternoons spent exploring the green thatchy lawn

    Dust baths in the barn dirt, bugs in the garden

    Snuggling and purring in my lap being petted

    Sneaking into the mudroom when the door is left open

    First on the roost at dusk, evening call

    Cluck and squawk and settle together for nightfall

    That was Buttercup, my dear golden hen

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  • Whimsical Weather

    Raindrops splash in purple puddles

    Wind in pointed pinwheels rattles

    Thunder speaks in rumbling riddles

    Sky is cracked where lightning whittles

    Frosty dirt and dry leaves crackle

    Windblown cattails’ seedpods tickle

    Woodpeckers on bare trees chuckle

    Burrowed critters wait the sequel

    Snowflakes craft a crystal cover

    Icicles on tree limbs shiver

    Drifts of snow pile up and over

    Blinding white goes on forever

    Butterflies on flowers flutter

    Squirrels crack nuts with a clatter

    Wings of bees and insects glitter

    Birds trill out their tunes by letter

    Every season, every day

    What a bountiful bouquet

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  • Countryside Autumn

    Vivid crimson, golden fall leaves

    Crisp and wrinkled, large and small leaves

    Fields of corn turn sun-dried saffron

    Last truck filled with harvest’s haul leaves

    Critters dig in winter burrows

    Each geese flock with farewell call leaves

    Hay in bales and grain in silos

    Sinking sun in shadows tall leaves

    Cold wind carries winter’s first snow

    Bare trees wait return of all leaves

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  • Summer Farewell

    Now the summer’s heat is fading

    The sun begins retreat

    Though the leaves, still green, be shading

    And the birds be singing sweet

    For the flowers cannot last

    And the fruit falls to the ground

    And the seeds and nuts are cast

    And the leaves get dry and browned

    Though the warm sun still needs shading

    And the green leaves cast their spell

    Yet the summer’s heat is fading

    As the birds sing farewell

  • Autumn

    I wandered through a tangled wood

    I saw dead leaves come falling down

    I heard the cries of flying geese

    I smelled the scent of autumn’s brown

    I felt the hint of winter’s chill

    I knew that summer soon would end

    I tasted snowflakes on the breeze

    I saw winter round the bend

    I turned and saw the setting sun

    I watched the last birds leave the nest

    I heard the fading summer bugs

    I smelled the roses at their best

    I felt departing heat waves’ scorch

    I knew that night was shortening day

    I tasted garden’s last fresh yield

    I saw summer slip away

    I said so long, but not farewell

    To every autumn leaf that fell

    For summer will return again

    I feel it far off in the wind

  • Paths to Keep

    The woods are dark and lone and deep

    The path so long that we must keep

    The tangled vines weave webs below

    The thorny stems and branches grow

    The thickets shut out light up high

    The ravens in the distance cry

    The darkness grows at every turn

    The vining leaves with poison burn

    The only choice is forward go

    Through woods so deep and dark and low

    The woods are not so dark and deep

    If only to the path we keep

    The vines protect the earth below

    Berries and fruits on branches grow

    Our eyes adjust to light up high

    Our ears hear ravens call not cry

    Our courage grows with every turn

    And in the distance now lights burn

    Because we chose to forward go

    Through woods so deep and dark and low

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