I will continue with Sparta Memories on Monday but today I wanted to do something a little different.
Many of you have met my sister, Ruth, through the pictures I’ve posted of her lovely house and yard in the rural countryside of western Wisconsin. Ruth’s flair for loveliness is not just limited to her decor, however: it also flows out through her writing.
Ruth is an incredibly talented poet and although she has always dabbled with words, in the past year or so her writing has truly caught fire. Multiple poems continue to pour out of her and in each one, I am awed by her gifting and her insightful heart. She sees and notices so many things around her that I would never to think to look for, or to ponder in the artful way that she does.
I am going to post some of her poems today for you to enjoy but, beyond that enjoyment, I am posting them for additional purposes:
Enjoy these writings that Ruth is so generous to share with all who love words, nature, and beauty in all forms. And remember to take a moment to leave a comment and encourage the gift that is contained within these words.
Note: The photos are mine and my brother’s.
Photo by Tim Campbell
Somehow,
The tiny buds
Have opened
Their fat, soft
Arms
And clasped the
Drowsing sun to
Their hungry mouths;
Sipping in the golden
Light,
Fusing it into
New-born leaves,
Emerging frail into
Rain-moist air
As Spring-green.
The color of hope
Color of God,
The first crayon
In His infinite
Box of earth colors.
Photo by Becky Smith
Two crows flew
into the cooling
North wind
this evening,
not aware
they were being
back-lit
by a mountainous,
storming
thunderhead
glowing with
unearthly colors and
drenched in heavenly
beauty.
Not aware,
of the rich hues
and magnificent height
and breadth of power
billowing beyond
their lazy black wings.
Not aware,
that I was aware
of this poignant
painting being
pulled out
of thin air;
the master Magician was nowhere…
(to be seen)
Photo by Tim Campbell
A glance out startles
me, the whole world
is suddenly stunning;
a yellow-green light,
pulsing clear amber
is infusing the air.
Just after sunset,
after the storm,
the drowned sun is
casting no shadows,
just filtering the wet
air in pure honey-mist.
Every green living
thing is basking in
this pollen-colored
glow, burgeoning life is
relaxing in this moment.
The rain that drenched
this summer twilight
atmosphere, took the
whole earth’s dust far
away and left a fine
veil of moistened
heavenly glory,
filling my sinking
light here.
Photo by Becky Smith
Shaped like a bullet
slim and tight
wrapped in sheer
veined scales,
it carries an air of
haughty authority
ready to expose its
regal underbelly if
a warm day comes.
Six ruffled ears
of fluttering
royal purple are
edged with trickles of
bronzed-white zebra
stripes, holding down
a viper’s forked
tongue, split three ways
spitting gold fuzz
from the hidden, hot
depths; like a lethal
being long- trapped,
an iris has emerged
as queen into the
jungle-wild June air.
Photo by Becky Smith
Does the fleeing rabbit
Ever see its own body
Reflected in the deep
Eye shadows of the
Hunt- hungry owl?
Like a long lost twin,
Shivering there in the
Dark death mirror
Seconds before the
Seeking claws cut in?
Do fear and
Triumph ever clash?
Or meld breathless,
Twitching in that
Heaving, lurid
Moment? Hanging
In the great unknown, Now piercing a
Rabbit’s scarred eye.
I wondered this as
A rabbit and I
Sat eye to eye, Huddled to the ground;
Listening to the far
Off who-who-who
Of that great King,
A woodland Barred Owl
Photo by Tim Campbell
Beautiful words and pics!! Thanks for sharing !
Thank you, Catherine
Beautiful! And I didn’t realize Tim had such a photographic eye. There’s all sorts of talent in your family!
Lorrie, thanks so much!
Wow, Aunt Ruth!! These are great writings with such vivid word pictures! I can totally see you sitting on your back porch, or next to your beautiful living room windows, penning the words to each of these as they unfold before your eyes. Thanks for sharing some of the beauty with us!
Megan, thanks so much. I do love to sit by my window and haunt the porches day and night to watch and wait for simple beauty to catch my eye. “The Lord is so beautiful…” as the old Keith Green song goes–‘Your face is all I seek, for when your eyes are on this child, your grace abounds to me.” That is what I sense so often when
looking into the realm of Nature.
Very nice job Ruth using language to capture our feelings and the beauty of nature.
Tim, thanks, I love your photos! They capture what I love so much, natural awe and mystery. You and Bec are amazing with your cameras and always on the lookout for unusual angles and lighting. Wonderful, keep doing it!
Gorgeous photography Timotheous and Rebecca.
Steve,
Thanks! It’s nice to have a brother to share my love of photography with.
Vernie (Steve’s mom) left this comment on Facebook and I wanted to share it here, too.
“Brilliant! These need to be published and shared. Love the images in each one!”
Thank you, Vernie for that wonderful encouragement.
Aunt Ruth,
You truly have artistic eyes. You see what so many would just overlook, but more than that, you see it in a different way. Pulsing Amber is my favorite!
Love, Sarah
Sarah, thanks so much! It means a lot to me to hear from you.
I know you have good insight into literary areas, and hopefully poetry will be one you explore more yourself.
Ruth’s and the photo’s capture my imagination. What a wonder she does with words! A wonderful ending to a great day today!
Cindy, thanks so much for your encouragement.
Such talent the Lord has blest her with. I hope she will get these published so no one else will claim authority over them. Thanks for sharing Becky.
Sharyn, thank you,
I do hope to publish one day.
Wow, that was incredible, what a talent…..I am in awe of her.
Dale, thanks so much.
Becky, Wow wonderful poetry & pictures. Google Alpha Writers Osage, Iowa for info. One of them attended an exhibit at Lacrosse WI. If you want I will try to get contact info for Alpha Writers. As we are not far from WI. We love riding motorcycle around WI as they have great roads, and have been through Sparta.
Karen,
Thanks for the great info for Ruth; she will be delighted! And how nice to know that you’ve actually not just heard of Sparta but have been through it? Aren’t those Wisconsin roads just the BEST?!
Bec, I get the name Kendall Dunkerberg when I type in Aplpa writer’s group from Osage Iowa, not sure how to get to the main group.
Ruth,
I asked Karen to email you with the contact info.
Bec, thanks and my e-mail is rcrehberg@yahoo.com. (Y
ou had a joint one posted for me and Arn.)
Karen, I will look that writer’s group up today, thanks for this helpful information.
Thank you Steve.
Wow! As I read her words, it is as though she begins to use them like an artist would a brush, to paint on the canvas of my mind!! Beautiful!
Terry, thank you for the nice compliment.
It is so true Ruth. While the pictures were lovely, they were not necessary. Your poetry needs no support. Keep flowing in the beautiful gift that God has given you. I’m so glad that Becky shared!
Terry, that is very encouraging to hear. Ruth
Since Ruth is my sister I may be a bit biased, but I’m pretty sure she is one of the best creative writers I have ever read. So proud of her! And of you, Beck, for so thoughtfully featuring her writing on your blog.
It’s hard to pick out a certain favorite phrase/imagery from the poems above–each one has its own beauty.
Great photography too!
Thanks Deb and yes, Bec does wonderful with her blog and a great help to me.
Great imagery, so fresh! Just magnificent!