Springing…

Out of the blue, there’s a flurry of activity. Tiny birds don their spring plumage and proceed to attack their own image in windows and other such shiny objects, vying for a pretty female, but more attracted to their own as a competitor to vanquish. How true is this for humankind? Vanity, narcissism, anger, violence as if there is a brain worm becoming active in certain damaged psyche.

It has been a protracted, chilly spring and wet. Eventually, daffodils and snowdrops are replaced by bluebells, narcissus and native wild flowers, cover the fields, underfoot.

Through the storms that raged, native purple swamp hens became regular visitors to my studio and deck, boldly tapping on the window to see if a morsel of food was available… I love these curious birds but now they’re down near the ponds again raising a brood, so hopefully they’ll come for a visit with the chicks.

I walk daily when the mad winds ease. I garden, paint, write and live a very simple life that is fast becoming as self-sufficient as we can make it with a second greenhouse on the way shortly to put together like a giant mechano set.

My next book is still far from truly underway as my own mind sifts and prioritises what is most relevant to me to share in a crazy world. That said, nature continues her journey with or without us… cherries, apples, pears and plums begin to produce tiny, nubby fruits; strawberries and blueberries are fast forming now along with tomatoes, just coming into flower.

A wild ride, world wide has seen unrest, violence and a complete lack of compassion in many countries. After the pandemic one would imagine we could close the gap again having been through so much together and apart. Communication was our mainstay throughout those years, particularly through lockdown but no… it was obviously not enough for humanity to see that conflict and war are never the way to peace and already too many have died on the Russia- Ukraine front and now Israel-Gaza. Is it too much to hope that sanity can reign or alongside our endangered planet and many species of insect, bird and animal are we on the fast track to extinction?

There are theories

intrigues

that can take us away

from the

glow of dawn

failing light

at the dusk of day

We become untethered

from the natural purpose

to raise children

honour the elders

to live a simpler life

instead, we fall

simplicity forgotten

into the morass

of war and strife

It all began

with a new god rising

who teaches wealth

as the only aim

forgetting

without nature’s canopy

…we’re all out of the game

An opportunity has arisen

to slow the pace

remember the aim

respect our planet

above all else

or we

(as nature shows us)

face extinction

and then

…we’re out of the game

I can only take solace from our wild acres as birds return to nest or to forage for food in the fields and ponds…

With warm wishes and blessings,

Penny

Photography, art and words, copyright ©️ Penny Reilly all rights reserved.