Almost Time

Storm Approaching Naama Yehuda

(Photo: Na’ama Yehuda)

 

The skies darkened. A distant rumble rolled.

She stared out the window and tried to suppress the nub that tugged and pulled and nibbled at her innards. The others seemed oblivious. But she knew.

It was almost time.

She’d foreseen it.

They had dismissed her premonitions. Her knowledge of things hidden. How what she willed, was.

The clouds gathered. Answering her call.

Her mind wobbled under their layered, quickened swirl. From the effort of control.

A flash of movement.

A voice.

“Come away from the window, Ms. Bentley,” Nurse Tabitha manifested at her elbow. “It is time for your medicine.”

 

 

 

For Rochelle’s Friday Fictioneers.

(And how fun that you chose to use my photo! 🙂 )

 

Elysian Fields

Elysian Fields AmitaiAsif

Photo: Amitai Asif

 

“There is no need to die,”

He stretched his long legs

And sighed,

“To experience bliss

In the here

In the now.

We need only

Allow.”

She leaned back

And exhaled

What should have long been

Expelled.

As the breeze kissed

Her cheeks,

She prepared to be

Healed,

In the Eden on Earth

Of Elysian fields.

 

 

For Sammi’s Weekend Writing Prompt: Elysian in 56 words

 

 

Six Year Anniversary

wordpress6yrs

 

So … the above just appeared in my notifications.

I stared at it a moment. Because, you see, I would’ve thought it was longer than six years. I also would’ve thought it couldn’t possibly have been six years already … Yet, there it is. Time doing the odd thing it knows to do as it spirals around.

Can’t ever hold on to time. It is a slippery thing, it is. Can hardly hold on to stats, seeing how they dance around. It is folly to try.

But I thought I would, anyhow, just for fun, post a snapshot of this moment in time. Even if it will change as soon as I post this, as soon as you see this, as soon as any one of you reacts or comments or clicks on this.

Still. Just because …

Here are a few stats:

  • 1681 posts
  • 5922 comments
  • 115,515 views
  • 72,111 visitors from practically every country in the world!
  • 23,743 likes
  • 921 followers

By the time your eyes rest on this, the numbers are already different … The values are not … Because the numbers have little meaning. Many blogs have more than this a day. Many more still have less. What does matter, to me, is you. That you read this. That you are part of this. That you matter. That you are you. You made this. With me.

I am especially moved that this little tiny sliver of a blog in the big vast space of the Internet, has had visitors from every corner of the globe. From countries large and small, from the smallest islands to the largest landmasses, from a multitude of cultures and languages and ways of life, from countries that we’re supposed to believe don’t get along, or won’t, or don’t care.

This is proof we do. Care. Because we are first and foremost humans. No matter where we were born, under what flag, to what faith or belief or upbringing, in what skin, to what family, to which doctrine. We all share this one home. We’re roommates on a blue marble hurtling through space. Equally precious. Equally worthy. We all are made of the same atoms. We breathe the same air. Drink the same water. Are tethered to the same core gravity. The same moon. Under the same sun. In the same cluster of souls riding the great vastness of Space.

So, you see, to me this little corner of the Internet — along with many others like it — is a window to our universality. To what we can be if we so choose. I’m honored. I’m humbled. I’m grateful to have the opportunity see through this window, through others’ windows, to have others look in through mine. To share light.

So, in this moment, and every moment, know that I am deeply thankful.

For you. For each and every one.

And I’m hopeful that we can, together … read more, write more, see more, share more, listen more, understand more, be more, be kind.

 

 

No Longer Cold

HolidayNYC NaamaYehuda

Photo: Na’ama Yehuda

 

It had stared

Though the window

At the clothed

Indoor tree

Wrapped in tinsel

And glory,

Gifts at its feet,

Stars on its crown.

And it shivered,

Naked,

In the cold.

All leaves long gone.

“This tree is naked,”

A child stopped,

Compared,

Bemoaned.

“It is too cold.”

Not anymore, Child,

Not anymore.

 

 

Note: I took this photo earlier today in New York City, as I walked past this brownstone’s holiday decorations. This post is dedicated to all who are outside, looking in. May you be seen. May you be clothed. May you be known. May you no longer be cold.

 

Also, for the new Monday Window challenge

And an extra tag for Frank’s Tuesday Photo Challenge of: Holidays

 

 

Tropical Trio

KoSamui Storm1 NaamaYehuda

Ko Samui Tropical Trio 1; Photo: Naama Yehuda

KoSamui Strom2 NaamaYehuda

Ko Samui Tropical Trio 2; Photo: Na’ama Yehuda

KoSamui Storm3 NaamaYehuda

Ko Samui Tropical Trio 3; Photo: Na’ama Yehuda

 

As the storm rolled in

And rain took hold,

Mountains cowered

Under fog.

 

 

Note: The above photos were taken within minutes of each other last August in Thailand, as I took an afternoon walk on the beach and a fast-moving tropical storm sped in and essentially cloaked the mountains.

For Nancy Merrill’s Photo a Week Challenge: Three of a kind

 

Gentle Giant

laundry helper karenforte

Photo: Karen Forte

 

Hello Mom

I have come

To help with

The clothes.

Can you see

Just how gentle

I am being

With those?

I did not bite a hole

Heel or toe

In the socks.

Nothing like

What I’d done

To the new

Garden hose.

 

 

For this week’s Tuesday Photo Challenge: Gentle

 

In Flight

in flight stephenforte

Photo: Stephen Forte

 

In the slight pause between

Flapping up,

Flapping down,

Live the breath

And the lift

That propel

To carry on.

 

 

For the Photo for the Week challenge: Birds