Last Blooms of Summer

Outside my kitchen window a sunflower keeps blooming
Not worried in the least about predicted frost.
Zinnias continue to bloom as well, overcoming mildew;
A great lesson for all… Bloom through to the end;
Frost is inevitable in our lives, but beauty can remain.

Photo: Dwight L. Roth
Kim at d’Verse asked us to write a Quadrille of 44 words using the prompt keep.
Join us at: https://dversepoets.com

 

Caterpillars to Butterflies

The Monarchs are reproducing in my zinnia garden at the side of the hose. Last week, I discovered a chrysalis attached to the siding. When my grandson came to visit, he and his grandma found some others along the bottom edge of the siding. A couple were already empty. Today I saw the caterpillar above looking for a place to attach. When I went back later I could not find it. The chrysalises we found were in different stages of development. One was emerging from the shell.  A couple had already hatched out and flown away. I am excited to find this many monarchs, even though the caterpillars stripped the leaves from my milkweed plants.

Caterpillars eat

Milkweed leaves disappearing

Fall butterflies hatch

Chrysalis shells split open

Monarchs’  migration ready

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

 

Bees & Butterflies of Summer

Butterflies and bees are back again, enjoying all my colorful zinnias. Even the humming bird could not resist. It is wonderful to see them flitting from flower to flower, not worried in the least that I am standing among them taking their photos.

Flower magnets draw

Summer bees and butterflies

Beauty on beauty

 

 

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

 

 

Our True Colors

Our true colors become evident
As the sunlight of God’s Love
shines through us;
Allowing us to be all that we can be…
Radiating unique beauty and warmth to all.
Without Love, we are like cold pieces glass
Captured beauty hidden from the world.

Today, at d’Verse Poets Pub, we were shown Chihuly’s work, The Sun, which stands outside the Museum of Fine Arts in Montreal, Canada. We were asked to write a Quadrille of exactly 44 words and use the word sun as our prompt.

Dan Chihuly’s – The Sun

We recently visited the Strasbourg Cathedral in France where we marveled at the beautiful stained windows that shown in the sunlight. It reminded me of God’s love that shines through us, bringing out our unique beauty. Amazingly on the outside there is little or no color at all.

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Stories in Stained Glass

The Cologne Cathedral in Germany is a magnificent edifice. It’s tall spires and beautiful sculptures inspire many. But the stain glass windows are a sight to see. Stories of the Christian faith are portrayed in glass. During the bombings during WWII, some of the windows were removed to prevent damage. We also visited the cathedral in Strasbourg, France. These are just a few of the beautiful windows we enjoyed seeing.

Stories in stained glass

Tell stories of the faithful

A light to the world

 

The following were from Strasbourg Cathedral in France

 

Photos: 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

Rich Impressions

Down the street at 1033
red hibiscus flowers grow;
Climbing up the mailbox post…
Putting out blooms for a day
before wilting away.
Rich red hues in morning sunshine…
show the world that one day of beauty
is enough to remember for a lifetime!

Photos: Dwight L. Roth

Today at d’Verse, Kim asked us to think about the many ways we us the word rich in our everyday life. We were to choose one of the definitions and write a Quadrille of 44 words.

Shades of White

Shades of fragile white

Purity shines from the heart

Soft petals open

********

Photo: Dwight L. Roth

 

Water in Living Color

Overnight showers

Turn rain to living color

Beauty all around

iPhone Photos: Dwight L. Roth

Linda at d’Verse asked us to write a poem showing the significance of water.  Last night’s rain showers left traces of water droplets on my beautiful volunteer flowers that came up along my front walk. I could not resist taking a few photos.

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Full Bloom

Poetry without words!

The Northeast is getting hit with another winter snowstorm today! Further south the situation is quite different. Daffodils are now in full bloom and flowering pear trees are try to open up. They will be blooming by Sunday when it is going to be 74 F in North Carolina. Here are a set of photos showing the beautiful blooms around my home. Perhaps this will give those of you locked in the winter storm hope for an early spring!

 

Photos: Dwight L. Roth