Tag Archives: truth

In Vino Veritas

In Vino Veritas

We
drink in
warm sunshine
fingers of light
cascade from blue sky
reflecting off the lake
we wander through the vineyard
pausing to taste forbidden fruit
summer bursting boldly on our tongues
shades of cabernet swirl in cut crystal
as a renaissance flows within our veins
we dance in parade of emotions
bodies and souls in slow tandem
searching for unknown answers
in vino veritas
we bare our secrets
unearthing truth
for the grapes
never
lie

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2022
September 12, 2022

My husband gave me a really cool book for Christmas a few years back, “The Daily Stoic,” by Ryan Holiday. I just love this book, it is chock full of amazing quotes by the famous stoics with thoughts and annotations. I also follow Daily Stoic on Instagram, which is always entertaining and full of wisdom that makes one think. In my reading, I encountered “In Vino Veritas.” This a very interesting and meaningful quote to me, given my love of wine and general observations I’ve made throughout life.

I did a little research on the author of this quote, Pliny the Elder. There are lots of fascinating facts that I didn’t know about him. His full name was Gaius Plinius Secundus. A Roman author, lawyer and philosopher, he lived from 23 – 79 AD. He died while trying to rescue family and friends from the aftermath of the Mt. Vesuvius volcano eruption!

Pliny the Elder started out his Roman military career by serving in Germany, and he ascended to the rank of cavalry commander.  His last post was as that of a fleet commander in the Bay of Naples, where he was commissioned to supress rampant piracy of the times. He wrote the very long History of the Germanic Wars , which was comprised of twenty volumes but no longer exists.   Pliny also wrote the world’s first encyclopedia, Naturalis Historia, (Natural History). His passion was studying, investigating nature and geography, and writing about all facets of these subjects, which he compiled into 37 books as the model for encyclopediae of the future.

I decided to write a poem this week based on Pliny’s famous quote. It wasn’t the kind of topic that lends itself to a rhyme based poem or strict syllabic rhythm, so I ended up jotting down rahdom phrases that came to mind over the course of a week. When constructing and finalizing the poem last night and this morning, a double etheree ended up emerging. It’s funny how that happens! I hope you enjoy.

So here’s to Pliny the Elder… I raise my glass in a toast to truth, life, love and wine! And cheers to all for a wonderful Labor day holiday weekend!

xoxo Colleen

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Pliny-the-Elder

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pliny_the_Elder

https://www.livius.org/articles/person/pliny-the-elder/

Inspiration: Wine and Sophie Hutchings music
Mood: Happy

Hummingbird

Hummingbird

I dreamt I was a hummingbird
Pursuing melodies unheard.
Borne on the wind, so wild and free…
In search of my true destiny.

My silken wings carry me far
Beyond the moon and shining stars,
Above the weeping willow trees…
In search of my true destiny.

Cool waters beckon me to land,
Reflections cast upon the strand.
I looked, but all I saw was me…
In search of my true destiny.

I dreamt I was a hummingbird
In search of my true destiny.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2022
March 3, 2022

From a real dream that I had a few weeks ago… very vivid colors and fantasy-like! I love when I can remember those kinds of dreams. That first line was rolling around in my head this whole time and I figured I better write it down soon or I’d forget it!!

Check out my spoken word version of “Hummingbird”
Mood: Elated
Inspiration: Hans Zimmer “Cornfield Chase”

Summer Storms

Summer Storms

Summer storms are coming,
I can feel them in my heart.
Hope melting in extreme heat
as the sky is torn apart.

Thunder rolls in deep and fast,
raindrops pelt my windowpane.
Lone raven struggles in the wind
and I’m channeling his pain.

Standing in the pouring rain,
crying out, what am I doing here?
Wash my sorrows into the ground,
dissolve my sins and tears.

Rising high above the stormy din
a distant voice is calling, calling.
But I don’t need a shallow hero
to catch me when I’m falling, falling.

Tell the truth, you never wanted me,
these ugly lies will shade your soul.
Once caught in your world of deceit,
but release will make me whole.

Did you ever think about the cost,
Or realize all that you lost?
Do you care, or do you even see?
Do you know what you’ve done to me?

Standing in the pouring rain
crying out, what am I doing here?
Wash my sorrows into the ground,
dissolve my sins and tears.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2021
July 17, 2021

This is what happens on a stormy Saturday night when you’re listening to a playlist of mood music by Moby, Billie Eilish and other assorted artists and you decide to write a poem…. 😉

Masks and Lies

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Morgue File Free Photos © 2016

Masks and Lies

Blaze the spark of early fires
Velvet whispers, deep desires
Muted rapture in the dying light
You are shadows, I am the night.

Don’t listen to the weathermen
They talk about the rain again
Tap your homicidal feelings
Paint the sky upon the ceiling.

But you fall to dust and crumble
In walls of words that tumble
Knowing the liar has no truth to give
And he has to have a lie to live.

No matter where the river flows,
I must follow where my mind goes
Masked by clouds, just out of sight
You are shadows, I am the night.

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2016
January 27, 2016

Never What You See

Never What You See
Photograph by Colleen Breuning © 2015

Never What You See

Twilight comes early in November cold

the migrant geese cry and stake their claim

as I walk in my solitary world

where darkness rules and light is scarce

and loneliness adds beauty to life.

 

I have been restless for as long as I can remember

but there is change in the air

there is change in the wind

fear stirs the stagnant spirit, propels it forward

and the echo of music strikes a chord deep inside.

 

Scar tissue is stronger than regular tissue,

and broken bones eventually heal

we cross the threshold from young to old

masking the hurt, numbing the pain

but silence is not golden.

 

So don’t jump to conclusions about the sunset

its stark light refracting beneath cover of clouds

hidden bruises bleeding broken indigo ink

in beautiful streaks of mottled red and purple

and taints the sky with mixed emotions.

 

The truth is never what you see.

 

Colleen Keller Breuning © 2015

November 10, 2015

 

A Bitter Pill

Blogophilia 49.3 Topic: “In the Eyes of the Beholder”

Bonus Points:

(Hard, 2 pts): s-p-e-l-l out a word in conversation
(Easy, 1 pt): use the phrase “working together”

Final Date to post: February 8, 2011 GMT midnight

Final Date to post ALL GUESSES: February 5, 2011 GMT midnight

"A Bitter Pill" by 18CRoWNs@DeviantArt (c) 2011


A Bitter Pill

Something is brewing in discontent skies,
Brown palm fronds tremble, the air turns colder.
Out of black clouds tumble heartache and lies…
Truth is in the eyes of the beholder.

Hours pass endless, the phone doesn’t ring,
Churning anxiety, piquing my fears.
My heart being played like violin strings…
Appease me, tell me what I want to hear.

Dread and deceit erupt in a wildfire.
Working together, they engulf my mind.
Out of control, an inferno so dire…
The flames scar my soul, the smoke leaves me blind.

Rise from the ashes, believe what you will…
Reality is such a bitter pill.

Colleen M. Breuning © 2011
February 1, 2011

Hi there, Blogophiliacs and friends!  Just releasing a little dark ink this evening, no worries!  I have been reading online about the terrible storms that are ravaging most of the country and bombarding everyone with even more dreaded (dare I say it???) S-N-O-W and I-C-E! I’ve even read some fun poems about it in some of the Facebook notes.

I know it’s hard for anyone to believe, but after spending the last 23 years in the heat & humidity of South Florida, I sometimes find myself longing for a little bit of the white stuff….. but not THAT much!!!  No, I’m not trying to rub it in.  I grew up in Maryland, and I vividly remember dreading scraping the windshields and driving in the stuff. That was NOT fun.  Please stay safe and warm, everyone… and hang tight, spring will be here before you know it!!! xoxo

SECRET BONUS POINT GUESSES:

Great dames (danes), man’s/woman’s best friend, it’s a dog’s life, bathing beauties, beachcombers, beach bums, sepia, strike a pose, she’s got legs, models, golden retrievers, flapper swimsuit, summer dreams, vogue, pinups, postcards from the past.