Building on the Sand

Growing up in a Pastor’s family, I heard many Bible stories that told of the follies of men who put their trust in things that won’t sustain them. Proverbs talks of the fool and his folly. Jesus told parables of trusting in riches only to lose it all. He also told of the wise man who built his house on the rock while the foolish man built on the sand. Every time I go the the beach I am reminded of that story. Houses sit behind dunes, some up on stilts, and some right on the surf as this one does. It is just a matter of time before a hurricane comes and washes it all away.

Beach house on the edge

Fall hurricanes come roaring

Foolish man’s folly

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Today at d’Verse, Lisa asked us to write a poem of folly. This has so many ways it could be interpreted. I went back to my roots and my childhood stories in Sunday School for this one. Do you remember the song? How about the motions!? What fun memories!!

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com click on the Mr. Linkey box to read more…

Beware the Troll

Beware of the long-haired Old Troll who lives under the bridge, and frightens Trick or Treaters as they cross on Halloween night. Still feeling sore from Big Billy Goat’s but in the butt, he hides away picking on little children when their candy bags are full. As they trip trap across his bridge on the their way home, he rises from the shadows and snatches their candy. He does not care that they run off crying all the way home. Being an old mumble grumble troll, it will take more than candy to sweeten him up. So warn your children on Halloween night to stay away from Sleep Hollow, and the Old Trolls bridge, if they want to keep their sweets!

Hunter’s full moon shines

Ghosts and Goblins come knocking

Watch out for the Troll

Frank at d’Verse told us to write a Halloween Haibun. He said we could even write a fiction prose to go with it. So that is what I did. One for the Kiddos young and old. Enjoy!

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com Click on the Mr. Linkey box to read more…

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Fall Flowers and Butterflies

On need not travel far to see the wonders of nature. I find them all around me, as Summer comes to an end and Fall begins. Butterflies and bees are still enjoying what is left of my flowers. Wildflowers that were blooming a few days ago are now just seed heads. My Zinnias have stretched all the way over my head to over eight feet and are still putting out blooms. They like we are not giving up.

Nature’s beauty shines

All around flowers still bloom

Butterflies’ delight

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

Changing Focus

When life overwhelms

Focus on what’s important

Nature’s beauty calls

This has been great painting weather. Today I found an old painting I did back in 2013. It was a black swallowtail from my garden on a 4′ x 5′ canvas. I liked the painting but it was too big for anyone to be interested in, so I cut it down to 31″ x 48,” leaving just he butterfly, and used the top half for another painting I did last year. I had the canvas stored rolled up and it had a couple of places that were damaged, so i decided to remount what was left and touch it up. It turned into a greater restoration than I expected, but I like the end results.

Butterfly Painting – Dwight L. Roth

Beauty in the Aging

Today a lone monarch visited my flowers, sucking out the last drops of nectar. I was excited to see it, since I didn’t see any all summer. The Yellow and Black Swallowtails were here, but no Monarchs. I got my camera and snapped away, as it enjoyed what is left of my Zinnias.

Summer has finally come to an end, and a lot of my flowers grew fungus and mildew on their leaves. The leaves deteriorated and dried up starting at the bottom and going up. But, with a couple of late summer rains, and a little watering from my rain barrels, my Zinnias continue to grow. I also have been cutting off seed heads as the flowers petals fall off. This stimulates them to keep putting out new buds. Although the bottom half of the stem looks dead the top continues to bloom. Some have now reached a height of almost eight feet! I see beauty in the flowers and also in the drying stems and leaves. It reminded me of the stages of life we all go through and that beauty can always be found even as we age and come to the end of life.

In the Fall of Life

beauty is found in aging

Blooms shine above pain

Photos taken today – Dwight L. Roth

Passing Shadows

Fall Photo by Dwight l. Roth

Passing Summer light

Leaves shadows of memories

October Pumpkins

Blossoms to Beans

I am sad to see the beautiful purple hyacinth blossoms falling as the bees and humming bird suck out the last bit of nectar. Pollen has been passed around freely by all, and the cool breath of Fall is creeping in behind shortened days. In place of the blossoms purple seed pods emerge carrying on new life from season to season.

Bean blossoms preserved

Hidden within purple seeds

Fall is here once more

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

Chasing High Tide

There is nothing more beautiful than full moon light riding on ocean waves. As fall comes on, and tourists crawl back into their cocoons, the lunar cycle continues with two full moons in the month of October. The Harvest Moon comes on the first and the Blue Moon comes on the thirty-first.

Full Moon surfs high tide

crashing on glistening wet sand

Coconut Palms sway

Paintings – Dwight L. Roth

Tonight at d”Verse Frank Tassone asked us to write our Monday Haibun using the moon as our prompt. Two full moons are happening this year in the month of October. I took two of my paintings and changed them into black and white for effect.

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com Click on the Mr. Linkey box and read some of the other poet’s work as well.

Transparent Dragonfly

Cellophane wings shine

Blue bomber sways in soft breeze

Waiting for take-off

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

Raindrops

Purple hyacinths

Sharing color with raindrops

Ephemeral gems

Photos: Dwight L. Roth