Among Weeds – A Tanka Poem

Weeds can overwhelm

or so it can often seem.

But, look more closely

and you can surely find hope.

The rose . . . delicate yet strong.

by Martha L Shaw – Words and Images Copyright 4-20-2013

Weekly Photo Challenge: Up

Here are but a few examples depicting “up”

as my heart sees it:

Photography Copyright 4-18-2013 Martha L Shaw

Six Word Friday – Bloom

Click the image and join the fun!

Rain ceases – birds sing – flowers bloom!

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Words and pictures

By Martha L Shaw © 4-12-2013

Daily Prompt: Stranded

The Challenge: You’re stranded in a foreign city for a day with no money and no friends. Where do you go; what do you do?

Wow.  Here I am . . . the girl who craves intimacy of those she loves . . . here in a fabulous foreign city . . . but broke and with no friends.  Sure, we have all been broke from time to time, or thought we were.  Who among us has not, at some point, felt abandoned . . . but this time it’s the real thing, for a day anyway.  What to do?

1. Run to the library?  Can’t read the language.
2. Hang out at the mall?  Alone in a crowd and no money – worse.
3. Walk around and admire the city?  The loneliness is like a chill in the air.

What to do?  Where to go?  

Hmmmm . . . the churches, cathedrals, shrines . . . amazing sacred spaces representing the presence of the divine to so many faithful over so many hundreds of years . . . I could never be alone there.  Oh, the buildings might be empty to the eyes, those orbs of the body, but not to the soul . . . not this soul anyway.  Armed with my backpack, plenty of pens and a fresh notebook, and the remains of peanuts from the plane trip here and my last bottle of water, I set off.  How can I describe my day?  The day I dreaded wasn’t long enough for all the blessings before me . . . and I can’t wait to go back again!

Weekly Photo Challenge: Lost in the Details

Love this challenge!  Getting lost in the details means, to me, an invitation to slow down a bit and appreciate God’s creation at a deeper level than I normally would in this rush and hurry world.

Hope of Spring

Copyright 3-1-2013 – Martha L Shaw

Hope of Spring

My heart,

Still chilled from the long hard winter,

Fluttered just a bit

At the sight of

A simple, tiny flower

Poking its pretty face

Above the cold ground

By the rocks and trees

In the woods nearby.

Smiling,

I realize the coldness in my heart,

Like the snow,

Has begun to melt.

By Martha L Shaw © 3-1-2013

Pizza Bagel Tease

Since I already teased you with photographs of my first ever homemade bagels, I will now tease you with my first ever homemade pizza bagels from yesterday’s adventure:

Superbowl snacking, watching the game, writing, ah, Sunday night peace and restful fun.  Feeling blessed.

Images of Grace and Glory!

Copyright 2003-2013 Martha L Shaw