Where Is Love?

This is a beautiful expression of how poets think and write!

Ivor.Plumber/Poet

“Behind every word

There’s a thought

Between every thought

There’s an emotion

Underneath the emotion

There’s a heartbeat

Below the heartbeat

There’s a soul

Within the soul

There lives love”

Ivor Steven (c) July 2020.

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Fireworks

As I looked out my window this evening, I saw my day lilies were aglow with light from the setting sun.  Their shape reminded me of the shower of sparks that emanates from the fireworks when they explode in the sky.

Early Fireworks show

Spectacular 4th display

Mid-summer night’s dream

***

Happy Fourth of July

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Call of the Surf

When we are young the idea of dying is far from our minds. That is for old people and those who are sick.  Now with Covid-19 running rampant around the world, it again seems it is the aged and sickly who don’t survive. After three months of being confined to our homes sheltering in place, many are ready to get out again. Laying aside social distancing protocol, they shed the masks and party hardy.  Between that and the recent protests, with little or no social distancing. new positive test and hospitalizations are on the increase. Some still think it won’t happen to them.

Covid-19 spikes

Many play a deadly game

Surf and Sun beckons

***

Celebrate Fourth of July

Invincible youth

***

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

 

Recycled Sunshine

Volunteer grows tall

near my kitchen window.

Recycled sunshine

peaks out from behind green pods;

Bright silky petals smiling…

Enjoy the summer heat.

***

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

 

 

Soaring

Wings spread wide apart

Soaring high on summer wind

Viewing the menu

***

Painting: Dwight L. Roth

 

Almost Heaven

An interesting phenomenon occurred this week, when a huge cloud of dust from the Sahara Desert in Africa was carried across the Atlantic. Some of the dust entered our atmosphere here in the US and is creating wonderful sunsets as the light reflects off the dust particles. This gorgeous photo was taken yesterday, and posted on Facebook by a friend who lives in Lost River West Virginia. It immediately reminded me of John Denver’s song Almost Heaven West Virginia. He graciously allowed me to use it in my post today.

West Virginia shines in all its glory.

Dusty copper sky glows brilliantly

in evening light above shadowed mountains…

outlining ridges with purple hues;

Dripping a spot of gold on the lake below.

                                                          *

“Almost Heaven, West Virginia…” John Denver sang,

dreaming of a place where God paints the sky.

Brushing with broad strokes across a Sahara canvas…

he once again creates beauty and grace from the dust of the earth;

Leaving us all standing in awe and adoration.

Photo: Gary Smucker (c)  – Used by Permission

Listen to his song here:

Streets of Colmar

     We visited the town of Colmar on one of our last stops on our Rhine River Cruise. The French town of Colmar goes back to Medieval times.  The old part of town has kept a lot of the old buildings and architecture with modern buildings mixed in as well. We took a tram ride through the town and got a quick but informative tour. The town square has huge shady trees that must be over a hundred years old. It was a very unique place to visit.

Colmar // ancient town

Mixing old styles with the new

`Storks nest on the roof

Photos of Colmar, France: Dwight L. Roth

Survival Skill

Survival Skill

     The past few weeks have brought the Black Lives Matter issue to a head with the deaths of black men at the hands of white Police Officers. I believe that Black Lives Matter, and I think what happened is inexcusable and should never have taken place. The TV News Media and the Press have had feeding frenzy over all that has happened, which I believe stirred up the racial tension even more.

     It seems everyone focuses on the end result of the incidents, and little attention is given to what led up to them. In many of the cases, when persons were confronted by police, the situation escalated when the victim began arguing, refusing to do what was asked of them. In some cases, the victims actually physically confronted the police officer. As a result, things ended up very badly for all involved.

If they had co-operated, I believe, most of them would be alive today.

Someone once said, “You can be right and still be wrong!” I believe this is one of those times.

Too many lives lost

Respect needed on both sides

Co-operation is a Survival Skill!

Painting: Dwight L. Roth

Strasbourg Streets

Our Cruise Ship, Viking Alruna, stopped for a morning tour of Strasbourg, France. It was the hottest week of the summer in June 2019, with temperatures well into the 90s F.  As long as we stayed in the shady areas it was very pleasant. These are some of the street shots I took while we were sightseeing!

So little time

So much to see

On a hot summer day

Photos of Strasbourg, France: Dwight L. Roth

Waiting To Be Fed

I am always amazed at how long parents keep feeding their young long after they seem to be grown. I have seen both House Finches and Cardinals feeding their immature babies that look grown.

Juvenile House Finch

Still begs parent to feed him

Plenty within reach

***

Just like some of ours who sit…

waiting // the check’s in the mail

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

Posting this on Open Link night at d’Verse.

Join us at: https://dversepoets.com

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