Forgotten Byway

I:   falling canopy

     blankets forgotten byway -

     dappled light and leaves

     
II:  falling canopy

     weaves a leafy gold blanket -

     forgotten byway

     recedes, tucked in dappled light ...

     sun and shadow bow and dance 

          
copyright ©2016 Terry Boswell

 

I took the photo above last fall at Goosepond Mountain State Park, Chester, NY. The road that you see, or what’s left of it, is Lazy Hill Road. At one time it connected Route 17m to Laroe Road, but it’s only been open to people on foot, bicycle, or horseback for many years. The shaded main trail is an easy hike spanning 2.6 miles one way, and 5.2 miles round trip;  a lovely place to ramble for a few hours or to spend some energetic time out with the dog!  🙂

This post is my response to Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Alleys, Driveways, Parking Lots, Dirt Roads, Jennifer Nichole Wells’s One Word Photo Challenge: Blanket, The Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Landscape, and my belated response to The Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Dance.

 

Thank you!

Hoping Heart

you can see right through
 
a heart so open hoping

unreserved giver

filled with transparent desire

to empty of all save love

 
Copyright ©2016 Terry Boswell

Last week I had to travel into New Jersey. After driving for a few hours, I stopped to get out of the car and stretch my legs. I was surprised and delighted to find this magnificent heart-shaped tree trunk as I wandered a bit into the Watchung Reservation. Such a find! I’m posting it, along with a tanka that I hastily wrote, in honor of Valentine’s Day.

I hope you enjoy, and thanks for stopping by!

 

 

Snowflakes And Feathers

little bird shivers
crystal falls on beak and down
feathers fluff to warm
surrounded by frosty white
weathering strong winter's storm

I took the photo above from my kitchen window on one of the few days that we had snow this year. So far it’s been a disappointing winter for scenic snowfall. What little we’ve had here in Orange County, New York has not lasted for more than a few days.

Last year was another story. We had several really gorgeous snows. There was one day in particular when the activity at my bird feeders was absolutely spectacular. Throughout the day, a variety of eight or nine different types of birds swooped around the feeders. They were joined by squirrels, chickens, and even dear, all snacking on sunflower seeds in the falling snow.

I took the photo below on that day. Visit my post,  A Day Of Memorable Moments to see the rest of the lively, colorful, flurry of activity by clicking here. Seeing those photos and remembering that delightful day still makes me smile! 🙂

Black capped chickadee. March 2015.

This post is my response to Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Things That Are Cold.

Vibrant Growth, Fragile Hope

                                           
deep destructive ash                                  d
    lava frozen thick for miles                      r
        what was, is no more                        a
           still hope, though buried, remains       w
                             Vibrant life pushes   up

copyright ©2016 Terry Boswell

A castor oil plant triumphs, vibrant with life and color, growing through volcanic ash near Pico Do Fogo, Cape Verde despite massive destruction a few months before. Photo: May 2015.

Rebuilding after Pico Do Fogo’s eruption that lasted from November 23, 2014 until February 7, 2015. Photo: May 2015.

To view another post about the volcano on the island of Fogo, Cape Verde, click here.

 

This is my response to the Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Vibrant, and Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: Pink or Magenta Flowers.

Transition

robust vibrant life,
animated, growing, strong,
one day yields to death,
withering in transition
to be faithfully reborn.

copyright ©2015 Terry Boswell

My response to The Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Transition.

Late Blooms

stem stretches upward 
trichome bristles glisten white 
soft petals quiver 
turning to bask in the sun 
surprised by fall's arrival

copyright ©2015 Terry Boswell

This is my response to Jennifer Nichole Well’s One Word Photo Challenge: Aperture.

 

Summer Day on the Wallkill River

 paddle dips serene

 rippling summer stillness, drifts

 bright lush liquid light

 clear reflecting emerald

 mirror joyful soul's delight
 ɯᴉɹɹoɹ ɾoʎɟnl sonl,s pǝlᴉƃɥʇ


copyright ©2015 Terry Boswell

This post is my response to Jennifer Nichole Well’s One Word Photo Challenge: Summer.

Equating summer with the color green, when I saw this photo challenge I immediately thought of a day my husband and I spent kayaking on the Wallkill River earlier this year in July. It wasn’t a blue-sky-sunny day, but the light was such that much of the foliage glowed an amazing green in contrast to the dark water.

Although there is a slow current, the surface of the river was often still and reflective, its mirror-like quality surreal. In certain places it seemed as if we were gliding through glass which rippled to liquid with each stroke of the paddle.

(In case you’re wondering, I used upsidedowntext.com to flip the last line of my tanka above.)