The Waltz/A Love Story

 …And she turned her face to the full moon, smiling…

“I’m ready, Grandmother,” she whispered.

and donned her finest silk, then dabbed a drop

of sweetness on her cheek~

She hummed a tune that none could hear

save the winged ones hiding near-

so softly at first just

 the strains of hello

and building just so

to a slow staccato

“Louder, my dear,” 

the old one prodded

(and as I watched I swear

 she nodded!)

Raise your song high 

and open your arms

for none can resist

your tempting charms

She quivered

then shivered,

and ruffled her gown,

 shamelessly smiling

with the moon gazing down

She giggled-

I swear it’s true!

glowing most brilliant

without any hue

 Golden treasure 

lay hidden within,

a delicate prize 

that few could win

Then I,

feeling suddenly out of place

said my farewells and brushed her face

She nodded and shyly

murmured, “Goodnight”

then tilted her chin

to the glowing light

Did her champion arrive

and waltz with her there

as the blinking eyes watched

the passion they shared?

At sunrise I longed

 to know how it went

but dashing outside 

I found her there, spent!

Unable to speak-

she seemed so weak

but for the glow 

left on her cheek.

Copyright words and images

Cheryl Pennington 2023

The epiphyllum oxypetalum most often blooms during a full moon. This night cereus plant is actually not related to the more common cactus varieties found in dessert areas of the US and Mexico but can be found naturally growing in and around other trees in shady tropical areas, like Central and South America.   When it graces you with blossoms there is magic. The blooms come on slowly, taking days to a week to fully develop. When the velvety white flesh starts peeking through its deep pink tendrils the time has arrived. That’s when I begin my night vigil, waiting for her to open her arms and put on her perfume to attract the giant moths or small bats that work their mystery of pollination. This bloom will open starting just after dark, slowly spreading its petals over the next few hours until she is fully blossomed.  But if you miss it that night you will have to wait for the next blooming for this beauty will be wilting with the sunrise. I suppose she has so much fun there is nothing left to do but sleep.  If you are ever lucky and the blossom is pollinated, a fruit similar to dragonfruit might develop. I have had a few of these beautiful plants through the years but as of yet no fruit.  The photos below are of a plant I’d had for many years.  It put on 32 blooms that Summer in Florida. 

Seems a perfect accompaniment to her performance 

‘And the Waltz Goes On’ 

Composed by Sir Anthony Hopkins

Paint It Red! #TDWC

 

“Follow the yellow brick road,

Follow the..

wait!”

she exclaimed when she saw the door,

“I have a bad feeling-

we’ve been here before!”

“C’mooon, we hafta,”

wept the one with the tail

that he twisted so tightly

he made himself wail.

“But you want to go home,

don’t you my dear?”

the stuffy one

whispered into her ear.

“You know the script

and it all ends well.

You’ll be back before supper,

and isn’t that swell?”

She scrunched up her nose,

staunchly defiant.

“I am my own person!

I won’t be reliant

on the fool who blows smoke

or

the one who determines my fate

with the stroke

of black ink..

I think 

he drinks, 

you know.”

“I’ve got it!”

the metal man shouted,

“We’ll hide!”

“You won’t get inside,”

the cackle cried.

Now just lie down like a good little girl

and follow the script that determines

your world.

“No,”

she shouted,

“The end must be routed

to my satisfaction

and 

not the distraction

of sickly bright green

the deceptions between

the familiar lines

we repeat..

again

and again.

“Well, what should we do?”

asked the man in the rags.

“Do I return to the forest?”

wailed the beast whose fur sags.

“If I only had a heart..”

bemoaned the tin can,

“Then I would be such a 

compassionate man.”

(As it is I don’t see why you complain)

She dropped the basket and the furry mix

whose fault it had been she was in such a fix.

“I’m staying right here!”

she exclaimed as she plopped.

“He can’t do this! He must be stopped!”

“Don’t you want to go home?”

they all were confused.

“Can’t you see we’ve all been abused?”

She was indignant, what folly!

“Poppies..poppies..”

the crone cooed.

“Oh stop it!”

The girl pointed,

“You’re just being rude!”

She kicked off her slippers

(They’re ruby, you know)

and laid herself down

beneath the sun’s glow.

“I like poppies,”

she sighed, as the gang settled in,

“Just feel their beauty, let it all in.”

The wizard was waiting-

He’d practiced his lines,

the monkeys were preening,

awaiting their shines.

“What’s this!?”

cried the witch,

“What kind of switch

have you played?”

“Oh hush! And take them if you must,

I’ll get by without them, you make such a fuss!”

“Take them,”

she yawned, staring into the blue,

“And be gone before someone 

drops a house on you!”

Glinda frowned.

“Well isn’t that fine!”

She thumped her crown.

“She’s stolen my line!”

She sighed and sat down.

“Poppies, Glinda, just breathe them in,”

coaxed the girl wearing

a broad dreamy grin. 

“This is our story now, all is calm,

Isn’t that right, you old bastard, Baum?”

And as an aside she turned her head

“I really think we should paint the road red!”

Cheryl Pennington Copyright words

Photo by Janis of Retirementally Challenged

This post is part of Dan Antion’s #TDWC prompt

If you’d like to join the fun, follow the link to his page for the rules 

Where Are the Words? #memories

When your heart is too full to express itself, words often don’t seem adequate. I’ve been in that place many times, more often when happy than sad. Pure joy is inexplicable to me but sorrows beg for expression as a means of purging. 

When I feel pain the words flow as tears from my heart. And sometimes the situation falls in between expression and emptiness. 

Today is my Mama’s birthday. She would have been 86. Or 87. Depending on whether you could trust her birth certificate or her mother. There was much debate over this issue in the family because one date left her a year older than my Dad which, apparently, was not what she wanted. It was funny from the outside looking in. He would have been 86 this coming August so no matter how you date it, she was still older. ❤️

To say I loved my mother was an understatement. She passed away at the young age of 45, leaving me feeling lost and fearful. She had always been my touchstone for my sense of who I was. As long as Mama was there to smile, to talk to and put her hand on my head, I knew I would be alright. Then she was gone. 

She was ill for a long time but we always prayed she would be well. She passed exactly two weeks before my oldest son was born. My advisor, confidante and comforter was no longer there. The thing that kept me going was being a mother myself. I wanted to be for them what I loved so much about my own mother and family. Or I tried. I like to think I made enhancements to what I considered a lovely childhood. Up until my teen years when she became ill.

If anyone ever questions a mother’s role as a lead in the family unit I will tell them that, while both parents are essential to a child’s well-being, it is the mother who more often than not holds it all together. She all too often moves quietly through her overwhelming responsibilities, smiling for the sake of everyone even when she feels like crying. She loves unconditionally, gives freely and seldom complains. She is there for family, friends and her husband, often to her own detriment. 

My Mama..

Had a free spirit and was fiercely independent 

My Mama..

Was Lucy to my Aunt Dee’s Vivian. 

They laughed, they cried and shared a life before she met my Dad, Dee’s brother.

My Paw Paw chose my Mama for my Dad’s brother but once they met she only had eyes for him

My Mama..

Never laughed at our whims or desires. 

Even the ridiculous high heels I wanted in the sixth grade. 

My Sunday school teacher did that for her. 

He was dreamy and smart and I definitely listened to him. 🤦‍♀️

My Mama..

Loved her family and carried no grudges over her own sad childhood. 

We spent many weekends visiting the relatives in New Orleans and sharing holidays.

My Mama..

Helped me with the only wedding attire I would ever wear. I was a flower girl in my cousin’s big wedding. I learned early on that I never wanted a big wedding. I had better things to do with my money and peace of mind. Still.. this was fun. But that perm! 😱

My Mama..

Cared for others before herself. We had good friends known to us as ‘aunt’ and ‘uncle’ that were not relations. If someone ever helped her along the way, they became her family. 

We visited these folks often. They had cattle and my Uncle Ernie always smelled of soured milk. We picked pecans on their property and my Aunt Ruth’s old house was like a strange museum. 

She made heavenly oatmeal cookies. Yeah, in that bag. Silly me thought they would all be mine! 🤣

I remember that blue coat. She had a beautiful rhinestone pin she wore on the lapel for church. I have it now.🙂

My Mama…

Loved her family history.

My great grandpa Treadway. You can see where my Irish comes from.

My Mama..

Loved her own Daddy more than anything.

Every vacation to the Ozarks to see him and his father was a treasured time for al of us. 

My Mama..

Never went to my Daddy’s softball games. She thought she would jinx him. 

I must admit the one time I attended one with her there they lost. 

I think it was really because she didn’t enjoy the ‘guy banter’ and the wives showing out in front of each other and their respective husbands.

My Mama..

Was the original ‘Birthday Faerie”, always making us feel very special on our day. 

Birthdays have always been special to me and I try to honor others on their special day.

We always got to pick our cake that she baked and got a new outfit to wear. 🥰

That cake was chocolate with blue frosting. 

On my 13th birthday she was unable to bake my cake so my Daddy bought one at the best bakery in town. It was vanilla with buttercream frosting and roses. 

I was broken hearted. 💔

My Mama..

Loved Spring time, new beginnings and all it meant. 

She loved Easter and made sure our baskets were special with all the usual treats but one unique candy that each of us liked particularly was always hidden deep in the plastic grass.

We died eggs and had a hunt but with plastic eggs. The boiled ones went into the potato salad we had with our ham. 😋

My Mama..

Taught me how to bake. My Daddy taught me how to cook. He was the gumbo/jambalaya king. 

They both encouraged my creative interests which have stuck with me. 

My Mama…

Just missed this little guy’s birth. 

I like to think they brushed past one another at Eternity’s door.

My Mama..

Would have loved all these guys! 

I still can’t believe my Mama..

Missed out on all my treasures

And theirs..

My Mama…

Meant Love and Family to me. I miss her every day. 

This is for you, Mama. Please hug Daddy for me. 🤗🤗

These are a few of her favorites..

I just recently found out a dear acquaintance passed away last October. This man was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and friend. I worked with him for several years. He had so many stories about the war and his life. He will be missed but now he joins his sweet wife.  He was devastated to lose her some years back unexpectedly. 

I made him a mixed tape back then and he chose one song that was his favorite, saying that was how he felt about his wife’s untimely parting. It happens to be one of my favorites as well. 

This one is for you, Mr Lamon..

Just… Whatever #SoCS

Todays Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt is whatever. If you’d like to join the prompt visit Linda Hill’s blog for the rules and check out some of the wonderful bloggers who participate. 

First, I must apologize to Dan over at No Facilities for missing the deadline for a Thursday Doors post. If you haven’t already, do stop by his blog and check out the really cool collection of doors he has and meet the nice folks who submit their entries weekly. On TIME. 😏

In my defense, yesterday was an amazing day to be out of doors. Hey! 🤦‍♀️I digress..

From the moment we took our morning walk till the view of the brilliant moon before I fell asleep there were wonderful gifts. No, I didn’t get a picture of that moon. I did slip outside in my nightie to take a peek, forgetting we have a motion sensor light just outside the door that is bright enough to light a small stage. 

Whatever else the day brings is icing on the cake after a morning walk like this

I tell myself every time we pass this tree that I need a photo with such an amazing creation. 

Whatever this cat was waiting for is in big trouble. We hurried past, trying to avoid eye contact. 🤭

These are Rainbow Eucalyptus trees and in the right light they are amazingly colorful. Photos just do not do them justice because standing below them is absolutely breathtaking.

The trees are also known as Mindanao Gum and are the only eucalyptus to live in the rainforest and only one of four species found outside of Australia.

Whatever you call it, I call it magnificent! 

Hello in there. Whatever are you doing? 

Bee business my sweet lady. Bee business.

And I must be off now! 

What’s a perfect morning without my own modified Peach Bellini? Pssst…

The secret is Triple Sec and Maracuya liqueuer. 

Whatever you can find folks-and it is often better than the original! 

My fuchsia ladies are outdoing themselves.

Whatever the weather they have shown up for a parade of color! 

When you crave fried chicken and you’re retired…

Yes, that is mac n cheese from a box. With extra additions of course.

Yes, I made mine into a sandwich. Whatever…

Don’t judge me. 🤷‍♀️

I chased rainbows during last evening’s bajarque and phoned one of my grandsons to share the moment.

“Whatever,” he shrugged. I got my snacks! ❤️😂

The reason I ‘chase’ them is that they move with the shifting rain and sunlight. 

Darn power lines. 

Whatever it takes to capture this most elusive of Nature’s miracles..

I know I’ve found my pot of gold here. 🥰

Thank goodness my little bario is nestled between mountains and has a circular drive around it. I can chase to my heart’s content! 

 

This? Well, when you have homemade chocolate chip cookies just sitting around and a kind neighbor who brings you ice cream, well there’s not much else you can do. 

Extra calories? 

WHATever….

Here is your moment of zen…

And she hung around for me this morning. 😀❤️❤️

I know I play this song every couple of months but it just so resonates with all I feel about this life, this earth, this wonder we know as existence…