sunflowers – Colleen Keller Breuning

Paradise Found

Paradise Found

In cornflower skies
amber sun plays hide and seek
with cumulus clouds

the wildlife beckons
from the depths of green forest
hooting of the owl

squirrels scurry up trees
shenanigans in the woods
with frisky chipmunks

bumblebees hover
feasting in sunflower fields
standing tall and proud

dog days of summer
July slides into August
as twilight descends

now night comes calling
as catbirds sing lullabies
crickets harmonize

in my blue heaven
stars twinkle on black velvet
my paradise found

Colleen Keller Breuning @ 2023
July 22, 2023

Happy Saturday! Just a quick write inspired by the writing challenge prompts. All I have to do is look out my window and see the beauty of nature for some inspiration! Also, check out David Darling if you are looking for some soothing and lovely cello music. “Cello Blue” is one of my favorites, as it incorporates peaceful birdsong. The video is posted below, give it a play as you read.

I feel so blessed to live out in the country in northwest Virginia, where we experience the delightful change in seasons. There is also a plethora of wildlife such as deer, birds, chipmunks, squirrels, wild turkey, beavers, owls, eagles, geese, heron and even racoons (yes, we had one here last week)! I used to put out old fruit such as apples and berries for the deer that come through nightly and graze. However, when Dan spotted Rocky Racoon grifting an entire block of suet from the feeder in broad daylight, I had to discontinue that ritual. Hopefully Rocky has moved on, we have not seen him since. Now we have confirmed the identity of the suspect who stole two of our suet feeders in the past few months….

Have a great weekend and enjoy this beautiful summer weather!

Xoxo Colleen

Mood: Serene
Inspiration: “Cello Blue” by David Darling

Ecrits Blogophilia Week 3.15 – Shenanigans!
Hard Bonus: Reference a Rick Moranis movie (The Wild Life & My Blue Heaven)
Easy Bonus: Include a childhood game (Hide and Seek)

Withered Sunflowers

Withered Sunflowers

Smoke and flames frame the horizon;
Red blood runs cold, hope forsaking.
Distant gunshots are growing closer,
And the sinister skies are breaking.

Families torn, they flee the border,
Clutching withered sunflowers in hand.
A demented monster unleashes terror,
And destruction spills across the land.

The rain beats down upon my window
On this endless and forlorn day.
I crave your touch to soothe my soul,
For you are light and I am gray.

Mortar descends along with madness
As tears blur the television screen.
Dire horrors of war are omnipresent,
Like nothing that we have ever seen.

We are sinking deep in desperation,
A flood of fear pushing all hope aside.
Fighting strong waves of desolation
Humanity swims against time and tide.

The rain beats down upon my window
On this endless and forlorn day.
I crave your touch to soothe my soul,
For you are light and I am gray.

I reach for you, my hand outstretched.
In suspended animation, it lingers.
Your warmth ignites the fires within me,
White light scattering through my fingers.

Hold me tight against the raging storm,
As withered sunflowers come undone.
Clasp your weathered hands in mine,
Together we will pray for peace to come.

The rain beats down upon my window
On this endless and forlorn day.
I crave your touch to soothe my soul,
For you are light and I am gray.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2022
March 12, 2022

I wrote this poem two weeks ago and have not looked at it since. For some reason, I did not have the energy or the impetus to publish it. My heart is absolutely shattered to watch the heartless invasion of Ukraine…. to see families torn apart, men staying behind to fight, and for what?? No provocation, just the sick, demented desires of one depraved monster to rebuild a Soviet Union that can never be again! It’s sheer insanity, and we all feel powerless to do anything but watch in horror.

Emotions rage at every turn, seeing pictures of the beautiful countryside obliterated, the bombing of a maternity hospital, slaughtered children and citizens, mass graves… it’s all so terrifying to see scenes reminiscent of the Holocaust and Nazi Germany being replayed in real time! It is hard to put into words how helpless, upsetting and grieved that we fellow Americans feel over these horrendous crimes. God help Ukraine, God help us all in this crumbling world!

Someday I will record a spoken word reading of this poem…but not now. I literally do not have the strength to do it without dissolving into tears.

xoxo Colleen

Mood: Heartbroken
Inspiration: “Primavera” by Ludovico Einaudi

Of all the musical pieces I have ever listened to, this one never fails
to touch me deeply and make me weep….