quiet moments in nature
Glen Affric
A spontaneous walk to the edge of the viewing platform overhanging the waterfall in the first two images gives you the view in the image above.
With love from Xenia xxx
Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.
Settings: f/4 – 1/30 s – ISO 200, f/2.8 – 1/125 s – ISO 160 and f/2.8 – 1/60 s – ISO 125.
Rag Tag Daily Prompt: Splash
Gerry’s Weekly Word Prompt: Spontaneity
here by the river, our world seems beautiful
a swan in spring feathers tidies the nest
it’s time for growth, birth and renewal
big webbed feet are beginning to shuffle
the swan feels happy the nest looks its best
here by the river, our world seems beautiful
with a breeze from the east, still fairly cool
the swan walks through grass, feet pointing west
it’s time for growth, birth and renewal
his neck stretched out, feathers unruffled
reflected in water, the swan knows his quest
here by the river, our world seems beautiful
moments like these feel deeply spiritual
he lands in the river assured, on his chest
it’s time for growth, birth and renewal
loving, devoted and dutiful
the swan and his mate are equally blessed
here by the river, our world seems beautiful
as time brings us growth, birth and renewal
This is my third contribution to the Villanelle prompt at dVerse Poets. You can read A Voice that Knows and Where Seasons Meet on our sister blog Whippet Wisdom.
A Villanelle is a French verse form consisting of five three-line stanzas and a final quatrain, with the first and third lines of the first stanza repeating alternately in the following stanzas. These two refrain lines form the final couplet in the quatrain (the Poetry Foundation)
Below is the complete version of the villanelle:
here by the river, our world seems beautiful
a swan in spring feathers tidies the nest
it’s time for growth, birth and renewal
big webbed feet are beginning to shuffle
the swan feels happy the nest looks its best
here by the river, our world seems beautiful
with a breeze from the east, still fairly cool
the swan walks through grass, feet pointing west
it’s time for growth, birth and renewal
his neck stretched out, feathers unruffled
reflected in water, the swan knows his quest
here by the river, our world seems beautiful
moments like these feel deeply spiritual
he lands in the river assured, on his chest
it’s time for growth, birth and renewal
loving, devoted and dutiful
the swan and his mate are equally blessed
here by the river, our world seems beautiful
as time brings us growth, birth and renewal
© Xenia Tran
The prompt at dVerse remains open if you want to participate and there are now more than seventy contributions for you to enjoy.
Wishing you all a very happy Monday and a wonderful new week,
with love from Xenia xxx
Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.
Settings: f/5.6 – 1/500 s – ISO 200, f/5.6 – 1/640 s – ISO 200, f/5.6 – 1/800 s – ISO 200 and f/5.6 – 1/400 s – ISO 200.
dVerse Poets Forms for All: The Villanelle
Rag Tag Daily Prompt: Wait
Your Daily Prompt: Participate
yellow flower
sunlight rising
from the earth
© Xenia Tran
Wishing you all a wonderful weekend,
with love from Xenia xxx
Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.
Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ200, Settings: f/3.5 – 1/125 s – ISO 160, f/3.2 – 1/250 s – ISO 100 and f/3.5 – 1/250 s – ISO 100.
Rag Tag Daily Prompt: April
light rain
around the buddha’s feet
a sea of diamonds
© Xenia Tran
With love from Xenia xxx
Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.
Camera: Panasonic Lumix FZ200, Settings: f/3.5 1/100 s – ISO 100, f/3.5 – 1/80 s – ISO 200 and f/3.5 – 1/50 s – ISO 200.
Nancy Merrill’s A Photo A Week Challenge: Meme-worthy Photos
Rag Tag Daily Prompt: Iridescence
We are delighted that the above haiku has been included in the Haiku Foundation’s EarthRise Rolling Haiku Collaboration 2019. Our haiku Celtic Mist and A Drop of Bliss are also included. A very big thank you to Jim Kacian and all at the Haiku Foundation who helped put this project together.
The river bank and leafless trees are heavy with snow. Mallards, swans and cygnets mingle in the shallows. The sun is higher in the sky, her glow a little warmer. For nine months, this part of the river has been the cygnets’ home, their sanctuary. First there were seven. One of them, bright and brave, flew the nest nine weeks ago. Soon the remaining six will spread their wings to begin their own adventure.
winter wind
a flock of geese
stretches the sky
© Xenia Tran
These are the last images I have from the remaining cygnets. They were chased away by their parents the following day and encouraged to make their own way in the world. It’s been a joy watching them hatch, grow and develop. We wish them all a healthy and happy long life in the Highlands.
You can read about the first cygnet leaving the nest in last year’s post Into the World.
With love from Xenia xxx
Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.
Camera: Canon Powershot SX60 HS, Settings: f/5 – 1/250 s – ISO 200, f/5.6 – 1/800 – ISO 400 and f/6.5 – 1/400 s – ISO 400.
Friendly Friday: Stay in Your Comfort Zone
Rag Tag Daily Prompt: Sanctuary
The smaller lanes still pure with snow
where lanterns cast their final glow
the moon will blink before she sleeps
the blue sky’s here to steal her show.
The gritter weaves through narrow streets
winter’s flown here now and greets
the wood smoke curling into day
through chimney pots, their smell so sweet.
The fisher folk who used to stay
in homes along the coast and bay
would know how strong the wind can blow
the way life changes, when we play.
© Xenia Tran
Frank at dVerse Poets invites us to write a Rubaiyat with a Winter theme and I’ve created an interlocking Rubaiyat following the aaba, bbcb, ccac format.
You can find an example of a ruba’i (a classical Persian quatrain with 13-syllable lines) in One More Glance on our sister blog.
Wishing you all a very happy Friday and a wonderful weekend,
with love from Xenia xxx
Photographs by Xenia Tran, edited in lr.
Camera: Canon Powershot SX60 HS, Settings: f/5 – 1/20 s – ISO 1250, f/4 – 1/40 s – ISO 640 and f/5.6 – 1/100 s – ISO 640.
dVerse Poets: Poetry Forms – The Rubaiyat
Rag Tag Daily Prompt: Fish
