Artist: Garmash

Nature’s Breath

Perfect Pebble

Sara reclined against the sloping shore of the beach with her palms flat on the sand behind her. She felt the cool wet softness of the sand on her skin. She casually extended her right foot forward.  A small wave washed over her leg – refreshing. She exhaled the worries of the previous days while extending her other leg.

A few moments passed … perhaps many as she drifted into quiet contemplation. With each soothing wave that washed over her legs she drifted further. Looking out at the horizon, she let her mind wander.  Yet, she felt something vying for her attention. She puzzled, what was teasing the edges of her mind? After all, she just saw clouds flowing along the surface of the water on the horizon. Yet, she felt there was something more…

She continued to concentrate on the horizon.  What was it?  There was a steady movement of clouds, a certain rhythm, almost like breaths, and another wave. Strange, the clouds seemed to move in rhythm with the waves. Was she imagining things? She felt almost lulled by the movement – in step with her breaths…

“Sara, Sara, look at this peeble.  It is perfect.” Alex squealed.

Sara snapped back to her surroundings.  She had to gather herself for a moment before asking “Peeble?”  “Oh, you mean pebble.” “That’s nice, Lexu” she floated out. “No! No! Really look, Sara” Alex pleaded. “See how smooth and flat the surface is. It’s almost perfectly round” Alex beamed. “I can get 5 skips across the water for sure. Tato said 5 skips would wake the lady of the lake.”

Her thoughts momentarily diverted, Sara inspected the pebble more thoroughly this time. She gave her younger brother an approving smile. He grinned ear to ear.

“Now watch me skip it. I bet we see the lady of the lake for sure.” Alex ran a finger around the pebble’s circular edge. He flashed Sara another satisfied grin and with the suddenness of youth, he flipped the pebble in his hand and darted further down the shore to his special pebble skipping spot.

Alex came to an abrupt stop – just out of the reach of the breaking waves on the shore – he turned and looked at Sara. Once sure he had her attention, he faced the lake and carefully took one step forward with his right foot.

He pulled his right arm back parallel to the ground – elbow bent at his waist.  He used his right foot to launch his left side forward – his arm pulled further back behind his body. Sara watched his practiced fluid forward motion with a bit of amazement. He seemed to release the pebble at the last possible moment.

Alex never took his eyes off the pebble as his fingers reluctantly released it – spinning and gliding perfectly parallel to the horizon. The first brush with the lake was ten feet out.  He could see ripples in the water as the pebble returned to flight. The pebble glided a little to the left and brushed against the water another ten feet out. The skipping movement transfixed Alex.

As the pebble continued with its third and fourth dance with the surface, the lake seemed to calm – as if waiting – anticipating. Alex kept his focus on counting the skips, but Sara began to feel that strange something surface within her again. The fifth skip was almost an embrace with the water. With a final kiss on the surface, the lake accepted her gift as the pebble slowly receded from sight.

Sara felt the breath on her skin before it happened …

Whisper

…Whoosh!

The wave caught Sara by surprised as the water rushed over her legs. Alex, wide-eyed, rushed to his sister. “Is that her Sara?” he asked. “It must be. What did you hear? What did you hear?”

Sara looked up at her little brother’s expectant expression. She knew what he wanted to hear. What would Tato say to him now?  He could weave a magical world together with the natural skill of a master storyteller. Sara swallowed his absence within her.

“I think … I think I heard her whisper your name” Sara said at last – not quite sure why she hesitated. “See, I told you!” Alex beamed.  “I’ll find us the perfect pebble and then she’ll stay longer.” With renewed belief, he was off to search for the perfect pebble…

Sara smiled at the energy of her little brother. For herself however, she decided to lie back to rest again.

…

Whoosh…

The sensation of water and foam startled her awake. How long had she drifted off? Had she fallen asleep? No, she had been awake – she was almost certain. She was just thinking of something.  What was it? She was certain it was important.  But now, the thought teased her – just out of reach…

The water seemed to permeate her skin and her sight blurred with a growing mist about her. Her breathing deepened and slowed a bit. She found herself focusing on her breaths. There was a sense of rhythm to it … another wave washed over her… this time it didn’t surprise her.

The mist around her glistened with light in all directions.  Something about it was vaguely familiar – relaxing.  She felt a moving sensation… a rhythm to it.  She slowly breathed in…

The soft whisper, “Sara” surprised her …

Michael

Artist: Vincent Van Gogh

Cafe Glance

He quickly glances up and down the old cobble stone street
Lost in thoughts of her, absently traces the lip of his glass
She will walk by the café … their café … any minute now

On such a perfect night, with full moon in play
He thinks of her impossible beauty in motion
Lost as always in her smokey brown eyes

He thinks of the rhythmic sway of her fingers
Her sensual private dance with the breeze
She invites him to join her … he feels it

He sees her skirt sway as it flirts across her knees
Each step towards him takes his breath – anticipation
She extends her hand to him … her touch – electric

She will walk by their café … any minute now
He repeats the thought as he notices the shadow
Followed by her brilliant smile as he looks up

He’s completely entranced by her
From just one café glance…

Michael

Artist: Garmash

Nature’s Breath

Sara reclined against the sloping shore of the beach with her palms flat on the sand behind her. She felt the cool wet softness of the sand on her skin. She casually extended her right foot forward. A small wave washed over her leg – refreshing. She exhaled the worries of the previous days as she extended her other leg.

A few moments passed, perhaps many as she drifted into quiet contemplation. With each soothing wave that washed over her legs she drifted further. Looking out at the horizon, she let her mind wander – yet, she felt something vying for her attention. She puzzled, what was it that teased the edges of her mind? Just clouds flowing along the surface of the water on the horizon – yet there was something…

She felt herself concentrating on the horizon – what was it? There was a steady movement of clouds, a certain rhythm, almost a breath, and another wave. Strange, the clouds seemed to move in rhythm with the waves. Was she imagining things? She felt almost lulled by the movement – in step with her breaths…

“Sara, Sara, look at this peeble. It is perfect.” Alex squealed.

Sara snapped back and had to gather herself for a moment before asking “Peeble?” “Oh, you mean pebble.” “That’s nice, Lexu” she floated out. “No! No! really look” Alex pleaded. “See how smooth and flat the surface is. It’s almost perfectly round” Alex beamed. “I can get 5 skips across the water for sure. Tati said 5 skips would wake the lady of the lake” Alex smiled.

Her thoughts momentarily diverted, Sara inspected the pebble more thoroughly this time. She gave her younger brother an approving smile. He grinned ear to ear.

“Now watch me skip it. I bet we see the lady of the lake for sure.” Alex ran a finger around the pebble’s circular edge – and with the suddenness of youth, he flipped the pebble in his hand and darted further down the shore to his special skipping spot.

Alex came to an abrupt stop – just out of the reach of the breaking waves on the shore – he turned and smiled at Sara. Once sure he had her attention, he faced the lake and carefully took one step forward with his right foot.

He pulled his right arm back parallel to the ground – elbow bent at his waist. He used his right foot to launch his left side forward – his arm pulled further back behind his body. Sara watched his practiced fluid forward motion with a bit of amazement. He seemed to release the pebble at the last possible moment.

Alex never took his eyes off the pebble as his fingers reluctantly released it – spinning and gliding perfectly parallel to the horizon. The first brush with the lake was ten feet out – he could see ripples in the water as the pebble returned to flight. The pebble glided a little to the left and brushed against the water another ten feet out. Alex was transfixed.

As the pebble continued with its third and fourth dance with the surface, the lake seemed to calm – almost as if waiting. Alex kept his focus on counting the skips, but Sara began to feel that strange something surface again. The fifth skip was almost an embrace with the water. With a final kiss on the surface, the lake accepted her gift as the pebble slowly receded from sight.

Sara recognized the breath on her skin before she saw her …

Michael

Artist: Unknown

Just Words

She looks up expectantly from her journal
‘Footsteps?’ … she thought she heard footsteps

She waits in silence … straining to hear the footsteps
Only hears the quiet whisper of the breeze against her skin

She sighs as his shadow teases the edges of her mind
She wonders – she hopes – he will come … he has to

She feels her pen move before the words form in her mind
As they appear in her journal, she wonders ‘are they just words?’

Her words weave the story – their story – together on the pages
She smiles at the flow – the connections – the possibilities

…

The chill of the breeze awakens her from writing
She reluctantly looks at her watch – so late for him to come

She waits in silence … feels the beating of her heart
Only hears the quiet whisper of the breeze against her skin

With a long sigh, her fingers caress the journal as she closes it
Almost afraid to disturb the magic – or let the words escape

Rising from the park bench, she feels the journal warm in her hand
Her other hand plays with the fringes of the red scarf he gave her

Suddenly wondering if her mind is playing tricks, she hears something
‘Footsteps?’ … yes she is sure she hears footsteps – his footsteps

Michael

Photographer: Daniel E. Johnson

Just Because

‘Just because’ …
She feels the words roll off her lips
She smiles as they escape into the crisp autumn air

She strolls absently through the park
Feels the embrace of trees all around her
Brilliant flashes of red, orange, and yellow greet her

She rounds the familiar bend in the path
She dares to slow her pace – breathless
Anticipating his smile

The bench comes into view
‘Our bench’, she sighs
Empty now, except for fallen leaves

A cool breeze brushes past her – she feels him
She plays with the fringed edges of her red scarf
A surprise gift … ‘just because’ he said

The memory makes her smile – makes her happy
She sighs, brushes the leaves aside and sits
She knows she has to write – to him

She pulls out her new writing journal
Pristine and waiting for her words
She starts ‘Just Because’ …

Michael

Artist: Lauri Blank

The Breeze Dances

as the breeze dances
his spirit teases her skin
she smiles with his touch

Michael

Artist: Garmash

Nature’s Breath

She reclines on the edge of the beach
Feels the smooth softness of the sand

She extends her right foot forward
Feels the waves wash over her leg

She extends her left foot forward
Feels nature’s soothing rhythm

She watches the clouds in the horizon
Feels mischievousness in their movement

She watches them tease the water’s surface
Feels a connection to nature’s playful moment

She smiles as memories of him surface
Feels the sensation of his breath on her skin

She wonders if he is thinking of her now
Feels his answer with each soothing wave

Michael

Artist: Garmash

Nature’s Breath

hypnotic rhythm
clouds, sky, water beat as one
she feels nature’s breath

Michael

Artist: Francois Fressinier

Little Things

in certain moments
little things spark thoughts of him
she smiles that he knows

Michael

Artist: Alexandru Darida

Escapes the Canvas

in golden relief
her impossible beauty
escapes the canvas

Michael