HELD CAPTIVE WITHIN

Among the flowers of

enchantment's breath,

of Nature's magical touch,

fragrances alluring,

butterflies in their graceful waltz,

fairies joining in their dance

and leading my heart here,

to linger for a while

amid the blooms,

my heart held captive

within imagination's garden,

beyond description,

no words quite enough

to capture Nature's gentle touch,

magical springtime elixir,

golden nectar

of daydreaming reverie.

For my heart can only

join in with their sweet melodies,

absorbing their tranquil spirit,

the lightest feather

of a breeze brushing

against my cheek

as cradled and rocked

within this peace

slumber calls my name

as the lights begin to dim;

and the glow of the moment,

that twilight window

between awake and asleep,

opens up to my soul.

And for those few moments

I join in their iridescent dance.

(c) barbara kausteklis 5-20-11

Written for Legacy Writers II "Sonnet's Sound."

Sonnets Sound Part Two 

Thanks always for your visits and comments.

~barb~

Tags: BarbaraK Poetry Sonnets

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FOUND UPON THE BEACH

It washed up
on the beach that day,
right at my feet,
in front of me;
and I couldn't help
but pick it up,
its message inside
so clear to see.
How old it was
I couldn't tell,
or how long
it had drifted
out at sea
before it came to rest
upon the beach
in front of me.

So I picked it up,
as anyone would,
that bottle at my feet;
and I pried off the cork,
still tightly sealed,
removing the contents
so clear to see,
the words still visible
even to me.

And as I unfolded
the paper inside,
all yellowed by the sun,
I read each word carefully,
one by one,
and marveled at
what they said to me:

I hope you find me
one fine day,
as I've drifted
so very long
out at sea,

the message said to me.

And I pray that
sunshine and happiness
will surely come your way.

And it went on to say,
the ink still clear,
as I read the message there:

I hope that when you find me,
you'll make three wishes there
on the beach where you just found me
at your feet while you were standing there.
And I hope that into the bottle,
you'll put this message back
and seal me up
so very tight
and toss me back,
your three wishes made,
and send me
on my way once more
to be found again
on some fine day
by another someone
just as precious as you.

(c) barbara kausteklis 5-20-11
Written 9-15-10; revised 5-20-11

For "Drips of Ink/
MS in a Bottle."

http://www.myspace.com/drips_of_ink/blog/542996433

Thanks always for your visits and comments!

~barb~

Tags: BarbaraK Poetry Photography Drips

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Tags: BarbaraK Poetry Drips

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I still smile as I read this piece again today.  I believe it may have been my very first attempt at a sonnet or any kind of "form" poetry, for that matter.  

IN FLIGHT

As I observe God's wondrous birds in flight

I marvel at the ease with which they soar.

Catching drafts of air as only they might

and sail upon them, wafting o'er and o'er.

I long to fly as they do among the clouds,

my feathered wings set cruising toward the sun

As one in ancient legend was so proud,

yet not so high that I to earth might plun(ge).

The birds I love to watch and dream so still

of soaring in the clouds as they so free

as feathered wings take me there and what a thrill.

I can only imagine how it is to be

a bird so free and soaring up so high 

and looking down at us and wondering why.

(c) barbara kausteklis 4-14-09

for "Byways (Part 2)''.

The link to our new "Byways" home:

Byways With Barbara K (Part 2)

and link to Sonnet's Sound Part 2:

Sonnets Sound Part Two

Tags: BarbaraK Poetry Photography Byways

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MOMENTS UNFORGOTTEN

Magical moments unforgotten,
each and every one,
the words, "I do,"
shared so very long ago;
the first sounds that our children made
as welcomed to this world;
the evening sun dipping gracefully
below the horizon toward night
to rise up over the mountains
and greeting me again at dawn;
the people I meet along the way,
precious family and friends
such treasures all,
warm smiles each day
and sparkling eyes.
Moments unforgotten
and held so very close
as etched within my memory
I tuck them all away
in that place reserved
for the unforgotten,
treasured moments
and precious memories,
each and every one.

(c) barbara kausteklis 5-19-11

Written for CPC "Thematic Attic/Unforgotten"

http://www.friendburst.com/blog/37422/cpc-thematic-attic-thursday-unforgotten-diane-a-rhodi/

Thanks always for your visits and precious comments.

~barb~

Tags: BarbaraK Poetry Photography

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CASCADING

As dawn meets day
under a canopy
of green and gold
the forest is alive
with morning sounds
of birds in the distance
and wildlife that have
left their tracks for me
to follow as I make my
way toward the sound
that I hear,
soothing as it is
on a morning
like this.
It grows louder,
yet strangely
soothing still
as I get closer,
eager to find
its source,
until finally,
right in front of me,
the majestic falls
I had heard so
much about
tumble down,
the water cascading
over the rocks
into the mirrored
waters below,
their morning music
etched in my memory forever.

(c) barbara kausteklis 5-17-11

For "Drips of Ink/Tuesday Nature-Waterfalls."

http://www.myspace.com/drips_of_ink/blog/542963070


Wishing you a peaceful day ahead. 
Thanks always for your visits and comments.

And just a note about "Byways" . . . . "Byways #25 -- Soaring -- has been posted in its new home "Byways With Barbara K (Part 2)" . . . . it opens immediately and is a continuation of Part 1 . . . . Please visit and join when you get a chance.  It is truly a highlight of my week and I so very much look forward to what you bring to share with us there.  

Tags: BarbaraK Poetry Photography Drips Byways

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Welcome to Byways Part II this week as we continue to marvel at the rebirth and renewal of springtime, as well as its unpredictability and power.

Those affected by recent storms and and tornadoes continue in my thoughts and prayers this week.

But with all of that I love so much of what happens in the Spring, such as the things I see soaring high above me:

Birds










and kites








of all types





Planes and gliders





And what so often soars right in front of me,

the butterflies




the hummingbirds




I would invite you to come back and share the soaring that you experience in the Spring (or in any season).

Just a few words to get us started:

“If you can remember dreams of flying and soaring like a bird, or dancing, or singing more perfectly than you ever thought possible, you know that no second -hand accounts of such events could ever give you the thrill you felt in the dream”

~Gayle Delaney~

“The desire to fly is an idea handed down to us by our ancestors who...looked enviously on the birds soaring freely through space...on the infinite highway of the air.”

~Wilbur Wright~

“Life has loveliness to sell, all beautiful and splendid things, blue waves whitened on a cliff, soaring fire that sways and sings, and children's faces looking up, holding wonder like a cup.”

~Sara Teasdale~

“A poet soaring in the high region of his fancies with his garland and singing robes about him.”

~John Milton~

“Refuse to be average. Let your heart soar as high as it will.”
A. W. Tozer

“The higher we soar, the smaller we appear to those who cannot fly.”

~Friedrich Nietzsche~

“Celebrate your success and stand strong when adversity hits, for when the storm clouds come in, the eagles soar while the small birds take cover”

“There is an eagle in me that wants to soar, and there is a hippopotamus in me that wants to wallow in the mud”

~Carl Sandburg~

“One can never consent to creep when one feels an impulse to soar.”

~Helen Keller~

“Those who can soar to the highest heights can also plunge to the deepest depths, and the natures which enjoy most keenly are those which also suffer most sharply”

~Lucy Maud Montgomery~

“As long as you keep a person down, some part of you has to be down there to hold him down, so it means you cannot soar as you otherwise might.”

~Marian Anderson~

And a bit of soaring music:




Create a MySpace Music Playlist at MixPod.com

Share your butterflies, your birds, your clouds, your kites, your rainbows, your imagination.

Let your words soar and share them with us.

Share soaring in whatever form you choose.





Whatever you share with us delights us all.

I always treasure this time with you and look forward to what you bring back to share with all of us. Please feel free to use any of the photos you find here (or to bring your own to share) and to write to any of the previous themes posted as you scroll back through the previous weeks' postings.

~barb~

P.S. Just a reminder. Please post your entire pieces as new posts in the forum and feel free to add a link to your blog along with your post. We all look forward to what you will bring back to share.

And a reminder to scroll back through the pages to find all the beautiful postings. Thanks always for commenting and participating.

And the JOIN button is at the top of the page though joining is not a pre-requisite for participating.

Thanks to everyone for being here.

~bk~  

Tags: BarbaraK Byways

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UNBRIDLED

Pencils and crayons,
every color and hue,
piles of white paper,
blank canvases await
the colors of the rainbow
that dance in his head,
flowing together
onto the pages with glee
and waltz with the words,
and bright scraps of paper
glued together with care.
Each page filled with wonders
and creations that fill
the heart with big smiles
that simply must be shared.
Words flowing,
drawings random and free,
outside the lines,
inside the lines,
no boxes for me.
Springtime breezes,
kites flying so high,
hungry caterpillars abound,
pancakes and flowers,
brown bears
and blue horses
and a trip to the zoo,
all this and more,
God's canvas limitless
through eyes seeing anew
and welcoming each day
and sharing the sights,
Eric Carle delights
the children
and each one of us
who are still children within
and see the colors of the rainbow
the way they are meant
to be seen,
to be loved
as we stop along the way
of our busy lives each day.

(c) barbara kausteklis 5-18-11

Written for "Drips of Ink/Favorite Authors Past and Present."

http://www.myspace.com/drips_of_ink/blog/542973063

A good place to start to learn more about
Eric Carle and his imagination.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eric_Carle

I've been to the Eric Carle Museum in Massachusetts
and it is indeed a treasure and wonder of imagination.
His books have always been favorites of mine.

Thanks always for your visits and precious comments.

Always more than happy to share a smile.

~barb~

Tags: BarbaraK Poetry Drips

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Tags: BarbaraK Poetry Photography Drips

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