It Will Always Be Too Late

to know the joy of connection, of fulfilling someone's dream of acceptance, to give of yourself when you feel you are depleted, if you wait for a 'better time', a clearer head, the 'right' moment, or different circumstances.  Death is a dream for those that leave but can be a nightmare for those left behind.

Words of the heart can be spoken across the veil, even with the breath of life between souls; but why wait?  The time is always now for sincerity, love, expression and truth.

Say it loud, say it clear. You can listen as well as you hear.

It's too late, when we die to admit we don't see eye to eye...

I love you all!!!

Never forget.

Beside Myself...

Would be more appropriate than the prompt given to us today by our wonderful host Linda Hilll.
Today’s prompt was Beside you, looking right beside you for what you will write about. Click on the link to visit her blog, read the rules, and meet other great writers too.

When I saw the prompt this morning I was up before the sun, attempting yet again to apply for unemployment assistance. I have been trying for several days, quite unsuccessfully to finalize the process. The system is, understandably, overloaded, leading to restarts, reboots, glitches and dead-ends. Big sigh....

Piles and notes and all the details I can muster cannot make the impossible happen. Supposedly they are updating the system tomorrow and I will try again..and again..and again, because we can’t give up. Our lives depend upon our resilience, our fortitude and our patience. 

We must be thankful for those tangible things we are blessed with like a home, food, family that is still healthy, the sun rising to greet us for yet another day. The prompt brought to mind a song-a song from a movie that I loved so long ago. So I decided to pull it from the case and watch it. It was remarkable how easily I found it, which tells me there are those who are no longer here in this physical life who are reminding me that I, that we, are never alone. This may seem like a nightmare but we are the dreamers and we can make the changes we need to return to a beautiful vision.  

I hope you are well, have all that you need and take time to just breathe...

What is beside you now? Who is beside you all the way? 

Tell them how thankful you are and how very much they mean to you. 

Reflection

Today I caught a glimpse of time, frozen in perfection,

it’s lightness took my breath away,

stole my sorrow-

floating

above

its 

reflection,

weeping

silently

for 

lost

moments,

waiting

for the

ticking clock

of opportunity.

We wept together

in pain

with hope

of 

gentle currents

and heady winds

of bright change.

Till then-

content

we admired 

Life’s reflection...

CKP

Words and image copyright 2020

Changes

Life-

fading

from its brilliant hue,

magenta, emerald, azure blue

draining, waning as the winds

of sorrow shake it to the core

what went before

seems like a dream

unraveling at the seams

and yet when viewed

with fresh understanding

shadow and form

become the norm 

once again.

Definition,

this rendition 

adds depth and mystery

for the hungry soul.

without the 

technicolor,

with each other

to paint the canvas 

anew. 

Inevitable

this flow

no choice but to go

forward

bravely navigating

the changes.

CKP Copyright Words and Image 

2020

Taking Cover

I'm going into 

hiding

and won't come out

until the storm

has passed

at last

the sun returns

within and

without.

Fear 

so 

powerful

drives 

dark agendas

that block

the light

of truth

and

hope

and

healing.

We cope

by believing.

Wake me

when 

it's over

please.  

Cheryl KP 

2020

One More Day

Hey Fellas! Six feet, six feet, six feeeet! Regroup!  We have to set the example for our humans...

Stay smart, stay home, stay safe, stay connected.  Be well. 😘💕

Never Give Up

This simple video, made by my grandson’s mother some time ago, is more relevant now than the first time I heard it. In spite of the grim news we hear, the unsettling changes in our day to day lives and the frightening uncertainties that loom on the horizon, we must remain focused on what we want to manifest in our world. When you remove the material aspect of what we consider valuable, what is left is our physical and mental health. It is imperative to our physical well being that we have a strong mental state. Sometimes all we have is the certainty that our souls will live on, that our will to survive is our greatest defense. Children have simple faith, based on the lack of experiences they have gone through. They carry the promise of eternity in their hearts which they share freely. 

It is time to return to that simple faith and understanding, to be diligent and wise in our choices and to share love in every moment. Love and fear are at war, not from any outside source, but from within the heart of humanity. 

In the movie The Day the Earth Stood Still, the final scenes find our hero pleading with an alien omniscient entity for mercy and to give  humankind one more chance. If only we had such a tangible force to reckon with. Instead we have an evolving, unpredictable alien virus that can neither be reasoned with or held at bay unless we put aside our own agendas and work for the good of the whole. 

Then, perhaps, Bob Marley’s words will not have been shared in vain. I think he would be proud of Noah’s rendition. 

“This is my message to you.hoo.hoo....”

Stay well, my friends. 🤗💕

Love is All Around..

I decided a long time ago that life is too short to take anything for granted.

People have had many reactions to my ‘obsession’ with photographing life’s moments. I get groans at being dragged from bed before sunrise to await that magical moment when Earth opens her sleepy eyes to greet yet another day. I ignore the pained eye rolls when I insist on hurrying out to watch that same sun make its final descent behind the horizon, giving up daylight’s reign to the mystical night. 

But...who would choose to miss this magnificent moment that has ever truly watched it in awed silence?

The truth is that I don’t take photos as a means of hoarding these memories for myself. They are emblazoned on my soul and rooted in my heart. I take them to share with and inspire others to look around, to see what life gives us with every breath we take, so much of it absolutely freely. 

No regrets,

don’t forget

to see

and be

the miracle

the world 

needs

I had another idea for today’s post but an online friend made a simple statement to me this morning and my focus shifted slightly. Love is, indeed, all around us. Accept it, give it away and it comes back to you; but keep it secreted and it withers. Be safe and well my friends. The now moment matters more than ever before. 

  

Hanging In..

Sharing another Nature moment that fits with our current situation. Recent days feel just like this for me and so many others. Our office remains open and people keep coming, keep congregating, keep laughing and throwing caution to the wind in the face of the frightening truth. I have all my fingers and toes crossed just like this guy. Be well my friends. If you care for yourself it will be helping everyone. 

Hang in there, Baby. 😉

Recollections

Delicate

fragile

amazing

vital-

I 

feel

their 

energy

in 

the 

feather

touch 

of 

their 

legs

on

my

fingertips,

the

breath

of

Earth

within

their 

soft

form-

I

carry

it 

with

me.

I have thousands of images taken over the years and will be sharing them as simple beauty posts during this difficult time for all of us.  The state of our world, our human consciousness and our unforeseeable future has muddied my creative mind.  If I take a few moments each day to revel in the things I have seen and revisit the joy I have known in all these experiences, perhaps I can find my center once more.  

Keep a good thought, be wise, research, trust your instincts and be well, my dear friends. 

Cheryl K P 

2020

Reaching

I’m still here...

Reaching..

through the pain, the doubt,

within, without

trying to ground myself

again.

The world

spinning out, darkly mad,

hearts so sad

as hope gives way to fear

and pain.

The haze

blinds my heart, my soul-

loss of control

shrinks me to infinitesimal 

smallness.

Believing..

beauty lives while we exist.

Persist! Resist

the lie that works to destroy

its face.

Gossamer..

transparent, my thought,

the words fraught

with longing, pleading for

resolve.

Reaching

for the stars, the moon

a gentle tune

to lull me into peaceful sleep

at night.

Living

the ever shifting illusion

without confusion

for my soul knows every step

we planned. 

Ain’t this life grand? 

Cheryl KP

Copyright words and images

2020

Going my way?

Going my way?

#1linerWednesday brought to you by Linda Hill

Visit her blog to meet other amazing bloggers! 

Photo taken at New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Egret fishing.

Tell It All

That is all for today folks. 

Forever Never/Dreams to Nightmares

From the pages of an unfolding tale, an excerpt from the vision of my soul...Forever Never. My good friends are already familiar with these characters. For anyone else, let me introduce you...

He cut a striking silhouette against the gray-blue dusk, silently watching, stoic in his resolve. He didn’t know she lay still as death on their blanket..still, yet wide awake. She knew she was supposed to sleep, to rest for the coming dawn of unknown horrors, but her mind couldn’t let go. It reached in every direction in spite of her weak attempts to quiet the voices. It was too still within the forest clearing. The night looked so perfect with a bright moon glowing overhead, the air nicely warm and cool at the same time. They both knew it was a grand deception, dark magic at its most loathsome. All around the camp site were other Watchers, evenly spaced and armed, ready for whatever might come. They were creatures of darkness, after all. Why wouldn’t their master have them attack at night? 

Naofa let an involuntary sigh slip through her lips, betraying her wakeful presence. The Warrior turned from his thoughts and knelt down beside her. She looked up into his face apologetically, mouthing, ‘I’m sorry’. Laoch put his finger to her lips and shook his head, stretching out to lie down beside her.  Naofa lay her head on his chest and stared up at the cloudless, starless night. Funny, she thought, so much effort put into that false environment and the fools left out the best part of a night. She was glad because it reminded her how unreal this place was and how much danger they were facing. Laoch stroked her hair and pulled her hand to his lips to kiss her fingers. 

“If we make it to dawn we will move quickly. There will be little time to speak of the things of our hearts. I want to thank you for forgiving me, for helping me to see myself as I never allowed myself to..”

Naofa swallowed the tears that wanted to flow and choked back the emotions that fought their way into her consciousness. She wanted only to bring back the Mother of Domhan so that balance could be returned to their world and the new life she had awaited for so long could at last could begin. Her heart refused to think of the children, waiting safely in Juntos..for the moment. Their quest was to make sure no danger spread beyond the Black Mountains and into their homelands. She spread her hand over his chest and felt his heartbeat. Her fingertips tingled at the warmth of him. 

“You have known the truth from the moment of your birth,” she whispered. “Your soul is perfect and nothing of this dream can change that. But you..you found me in my isolation and brought me back into the land of the living. You have made Agean the happiest child on Domhan. Oh, Agean..”

“This is for them, Naofa, for all of them. Agean, Saol, Ella, every tribe on this world. The Mother of Domhan and her child are out there and we will find them before he does. We won’t lose to him this time.”  The Warrior kissed her forehead. “Sleep now, my love.  Please, for all our sakes. We need your strength.” 

The Sorceress had no idea when she finally drifted off to sleep, but her mind was filled with dreams. She floated through a lush, fragrant garden with her friends at her side. Eagna laughed as she plucked wildflowers along the trail while M’na hummed a lullaby to the infant she cradled in her arms. The scent of fresh lavender hung all around them..so sweet.

Wait. Was it really lavender? No, no, it was not sweet at all. The smell burned her nose and was foul, rancid and bitter. It stung her eyes. Thick, hot smoke soon enveloped them so that she could no longer see the beautiful faces of her friends.  Lightening streaked across the sky, now gray with angry clouds. Thunder rolled so loudly she had to cover her ears. What kind of thunder was this? It roared in her head as the ground rumbled and quaked beneath her feet. The ground rumbled.....

Naofa sat bolt upright on the blanket, beads of sweat spotted across her exposed skin. There was no Warrior beside her. He was already on his feet, his bow raised and drawn as he turned to face the dark shadows of the forest that surrounded them. The Watchers were all poised just as Laoch was and the remaining horsemen were rousing. Noafa gasped and Laoch nodded. She jumped to her feet, reaching her sword just as the first of them broke into the clearing...

To be continued.....

Words and art copyright 2020

Fowl Moods

The best thing about photographing nature is capturing their true essence..

Fluffy

Finicky

Frumpy

Fragile

Fabulous! 

What do you find written on the face of Nature?