yellow-green willow branch
once mangled by winter ice
now stretches over current
thrives in heavy heat
backlit by morning sun
caddisflies converge
into sunlit cloud
over warm water
a dense mass of life
briefly alive
swallows and waxwings
patrol upstream, downstream
from north bank to south bank
devouring the swarming hatch
this abundant harvest of summer
under the willow's shadow
small river joins large river
their joining
smooth as summer heat
quiet as morning light
Photo Location:
Confluence of Flat River and Grand River - Lowell, Michigan
I have to remember that somethings thrive in this summer heat. Photography stunning per usual -- your finger on the shudder captures beauty that most of our purusals probably miss. Thanks! And, oh, yes, the writing is not too shabby -- to understate things! Thanks so much Rich Tom W.
ReplyDeleteDid you photographed the moisture in the air? This is a masterpiece!
ReplyDeleteTom:
ReplyDeleteThank you Tom. I am thriving in the warm atmosphere of your gracious comments.
Time spent outdoors, with keen awareness, produces results... if I'm patient. In other words, when I'm out exploring with my camera, I enjoy a well-developed capacity for dawdling.
Rich
Santiago:
ReplyDeleteYou're looking at a dense swarm of caddis flies hovering above the river. Read the second verse.
Summer is starting to close down here this weekend.
Richard
Your words are as beautiful as nature itself!
ReplyDeleteKathleen
... and so are you my dear. Thank you (Mrs. C. ?)
ReplyDeleteGratefully,
Rich
Richard--the lighting in this photo is captivating. And the way you captured the caddisfly in verse and on the wing is stunning. Thank you :)
ReplyDeleteCarol:
ReplyDeleteThank you for your gracious remarks.
I was certainly blessed to be able to capture this photograph. I worked through several, several revisions of this poem to find the words that would be as "smooth as summer heat," and as "quiet as morning light".
Gratefully,
Richard