TREES, YOU, AND ME

I have always felt a close relationship with trees. Oaks are my favorite because they stand tall with branches outspread like arms welcoming the wind and sun.

Learning, watching, and being more like trees can teach us about life and how to live with more peace, joy, and fulfillment.

Here is a poem that illustrates how trees and humans are similar. This poem touched me deeply and reinforced what I have believed for a very long time. My thanks to some dear friends who recnetly shared it with me.

HUMANS AND TREES
The tree that never had to fight
For sun and sky and air and light
But stood out in the open plain,
Never became a forst king
But lived and died a scrubby.

People who never had to toil
To gain and farm their patches of soil,
Who never had to win their share
Of sun and sky and light and air,
Never became sturdy in their lifespan
But lived and died as they began.

Good timber does not grow with ease,
The stronger wind, the stronger trees,
The further sky, the greater length,
The more the storm, the more the strength,
By sun and cold, by rain and snow,
In trees and people good timbers grow.

Where thickest lies the forest growth,
We find the patriarchs of both.
And they hold counsel with the stars
Whose broken bramcjes show the scars
Of many winds and much of strife.
This is the common law of life.
(Author Unknown)

In my book of short stories, When I Rise: Tales, Truths, and Symbolic Trees, I write about twelve different people and their journeys and life lessons. A particular tree is the symbol for each story.

Available on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/When-Rise-Tales-Truths-Symbolic-ebook/dp/B0818DZPBX/ As with all my books, all proceeds go to gynecologic cancer research.

Thank you for visiting my blog today. Your comments are appreciated.

“FICTION IN A FLASH CHALLLENGE” #12

Welcome to today’s blog. Once again I am sharing a short story or a flash fiction based on a photo prompt. Author, Suzanne Burke offers these challenges and everyone is welcome to participate. https://sooozburkeauthor.wordpress.com/

The photo prompt for this week is below. I was inspired by the photo to write my first Tanka poem. This type of Japanese poetry requires 31 syllables written in one flowing sentence. The syllable count form is 5/7/5/7/7.

Your comments are welcome and appreciated. What did you feel as you read the Tanka? When you gaze at the four-sided clock, what thoughts come to you?

I invite you to go to Suzanne Burke’s website at https://sooozburkeauthor.wordpress.com/. There you will learn about this talented and award-winning author, plus be alerted to any future “Fiction in a Flash Challenges.”

“FICTION IN A FLASH CHALLENGE” WEEK #6

Join in, have fun, and let the creative muse loose @pursoot. My thanks to Suzanne Burke for this week’s photo prompt challenge.

A FATHER AND SON

        I HOLD YOU WITH LOVE
MY HEART REJOICES
YOU ARE A MIRACLE.

WE SLEEP TOGETHER
IN A SILENT RHYTHM OF BREATHES
  YOU ARE A BLESSING

   GOD’S LOVE EMBRACES US
ALWAYS WITH US
   YOU ARE A GIFT

    YOUR SWEET SPIRIT
CALMS MY BEATING HEART
   YOU ARE SPECIAL

THIS TREASURED MOMENT
  IS ONE OF MANY TO COME
     YOU ARE MY SON

I welcome your feedback and comments about my poem and what this photo means to you. I encourage you to go to Suzanne Burke’s website https://sooozburkeauthor.wordpress.com/, follow her, and take the challenge with any future “Fiction in a Flash”.

      

 

ONE SMALL STEP…

In July we began celebrating the fifty years since Neil Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin were the first humans to step onto the moon. It was a small step from the Lunar Module, but a giant step for further space exploration.

The thousands of men and women who contributed to this event are to be congratulated on their devotion, expertise, and time. It was not an easy task.

Apollo 11 Image Gallery–NASA

Many small steps have been made in the last few years with ovarian cancer. Immunotherapy, PARP inhibitors, and target therapy are new advances in the treatment of this cancer that is the 5th leading cause of death in women. Immunotherapy is being studied in many clinical trials. I refer you to https://blog.dana-farber.org/insight/2017/09/immunotherapy-and-ovarian-cancer-an-update/ for updated information.

As an ovarian cancer survivor for the past eleven years, I am thrilled to see giant leaps for women with ovarian cancer. The many years of small steps are coming up with advancements that are extending or saving lives. https://www.cancer.org/cancer/ovarian-cancer/treating.html. The dedication of researchers and physicians and those who have participated in clinical trials are heroes and heroines. Thank you.

I recommend watching this video of hope Our Way Forward https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVt3TbHvEME

Another example of small steps leading to change has been the acceptance of all people no matter their race, religion, political beliefs, or sexual identities. A collection of poems by Forrest Stepnowski called Journey to Rainbow’s End brings enlightenment to a topic that has divided families and nations. I encourage you to buy it at Amazon. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CZ9GWCM/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1 The small steps by him and thousands of others is bringing us to a giant step forward.

“Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible.” –Maya Angelou

I welcome your comments. Perhaps share your memory of July 20, 1969; your experience or knowledge about cancer; and your thoughts about bias or acceptance in society. Thank you for taking the time to read this blog. Karen Ingalls