Fuzzy Duckies

A few years ago we visited my wife’s parents in Edmonton, Alberta. At the condo where they lived was a beautiful pond surrounded by a green grassy lawn. It was home to ducks and a Jack Rabbit who loved the fresh green grass. It was wonderful to see a mother duck with her nine little ducklings swimming in the pond.

Spring ducklings swimming

Follow mama round the pond

Jack Rabbit nibbles

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

The Age of Steam

There is something very fascinating
about steam trains huffing and puffing
when you are seven years old.
I watch it coming up the track…
First, a white light
shining through clouds of smoke;
Then a mighty black dragon of steel
rolls through Martin crossing;
Bell clanging
Whistle blowing
Piercing the evening air.
Rhythmic clacking of wheels
shines steel rails to a mirror finish.
Cars, the color of coal dust,
are piled high with chunks of black gold…
Coke from the ovens that
fuels the blast furnaces in Pittsburgh.
I count the cars …a hundred or more…
and finally, the red caboose passes by
disappearing in the distance.
The Pennsylvania Dragon chugs on;
soon to go the way of the dinosaurs…
Lost somewhere back in time.

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Train Painting: Dwight L. Roth

Tonight is open link at d’Verse. I wrote this as a submission to Old Mountain Press for the upcoming anthology, Old Times Not Forgotten.

Join us at d’verse:  https://dversepoets.com

Old Musicians

Old musicians die
But their music lives on
Beautiful tributes
To the power they harnessed
That changed the world
Challenged politics
Social Norms
And, brought about revolutions
Music that touches the soul
Reaches all the way to heaven
And Hell
Yes, old musicians die
But their music is alive and well

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Unique

Some don’t fit the norm

Expectations run deep;

Thinking all should look exactly the same

Full of petals // one upon another

But what of the ones who don’t fit that form

With petals fragile and few // spread open wide

Some mutations occur without warning

Does it make them of less value or less beauty?

No // beauty doesn’t come in just one size and shape

Uniqueness brings a beauty all its own

 

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

Memories

Memorial Day brings back memories of all those loved ones who have passed on.  Hopefully memories are good ones that can be recalled with warm feelings. My mother loved our boys and enjoyed being a part of their life. My father died at age 70, but she live on to be 93. She enjoyed watching them grow and seeing them become parents to her great grandchildren. We look back with fond memories of those days.

Memorial Day brings

memories of lost loved ones.

Always in our hearts

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Photo: Dwight L. Roth

New Perspective

Sometimes all we need

is a brand new perspective

on our humdrum life

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Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Take a second look….

Patriotic Pride

On a trip to Myrtle Beach, we saw this truck parked on a corner, in front of a motel where everyone would see. The U.S. Army flag was kept unfurled with a rod. Many returning Veterans wanted all to know that though they came back home, some of their fellow soldiers did not survive. Patriotism and Pride runs deep this Memorial Day.

Band of Brothers’ bond

runs deep, remembering those

flag covered coffins

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Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Beach Weekend

People in the United States look forward to the long Memorial Day weekend. Lovers of sun and surf fill the motels, injecting the local economies with much needed cash input! As the sun goes down the beaches gradually empty, restaurants fill with hungry beach-goers, and walkers enjoy the cool of the evening. Lights blink on as the sky turns orange.  Everyone will sleep well!

Memorial Day sun

drops below the horizon.

Ocean mirror shines

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Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Searching for Bigfoot

The interest in Bigfoot has been talked about for years. Some even go into the mountains looking for this hairy half -man giant. I guess it is sort of like trying to get a glimpse of the Loch Ness Monster! It seems we humans are always intrigued by what we can never discover!  Last Summer, I saw Big Foot at Dunroven Country Store in the Sand Hills of North Carolina. It was one of the items they had for sale, as you can see by the tag on his wrist. People are still searching!

Unattainable

Drives people to search in vain

Bigfoot’s elusive

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Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Sweet Friendship

Remember the days when just being close to a girl/guy

Made the day a little brighter and smiles a little bigger?

Fun days when carefree spirits shared the swing

Then took off to look for another adventure in the woods.

Oh for the days of youth // when life was a lightness of being;

Formative times of learning about life and love and relationships

Laying the foundation for future responsibilities

and more permanent bonds of commitment.

Photo: Dwight L. Roth