Past, Present, and Pondering
Pondering
She sits on a bench by the edge of the bay
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Deep thoughts
Fill her mind with questions
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Mulling things over
She is unsettled as to what answers might come
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Contemplating
The path and perspective unknown
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Considering
The ups and downs, twists and turns
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Meditating
She quiets her mind and opens her heart
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Reflecting
Acceptance and peace enter in waves
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Praying
In gratitude and praise to the God who knows all
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©Belindabotzong2018
Multi layered,
Multi faceted
Unseen layers
Private thoughts
Personal goals
Hopes and dreams
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Hidden layers
Hurt and loss
Grief and memories
Love and hate and passions subdued
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Intricate layers
Ideas and inspirations
Fears and triumphs
Aspirations and ideals
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Outer layer
Designed and scarred
Unique and beautiful
Ingrained with the fingerprint of God the creator
Infusion of experiences and life
Inner strength and grace
Outer beauty, calm and peaceful
Protecting the inner layers like an armor
Allowing beauty and love and compassion to flow out 
Storybook cream puff clouds
Playfully glide across the blue ribbon bay
Bouncing off one another
Playing hide and seek between the bulges of the islands
Fishing trawler motors slowly into the harbor
Engine grumbling toward the dock
Tangled nets and a multitude of lines
Attracting hungry seagulls with the promise of the remains of a fresh catch
Swooping and soaring they chuckle and chortle their anxious greetings
Another glorious day at the bay
©Belindabotzong2018
First up
Early bloomer
A real show stopper
Last snowfall graces her pretty purple petals
Her name is Crocus
Hope of winter’s passing
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Next up we have
Tall and graceful with ruffled lace adorning her yellow head
She sways in chilly breezes
Often drenched in rain
Bright sunny disposition never diminished
Her name is daffodil
Delight of spring
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For our next contestant
Highly regarded and coveted around the world
Simplicity at its finest
Dressed in jeweled hues
She really knows how to draw a crowd
Her name is tulip
Promise of glorious days
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Coming up next we have a regal beauty
Timeless and treasured
Her delicate blossoms gather in heavy bunches
Dressed in various hues of white, pink, and purple accented with jade accessories
She knows how to attract an audience
Her name is rhododendron
Promise of summer days ahead
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And for our final contestant
A blushing beauty
Most delicate and desirable
Her fragrance and beauty melts the heart of everyone
Her wardrobe is vastly varied and imaginative
Her name is rose
Anticipation of beautiful futures
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It’s nearly impossible to pick a winner when so much beauty abounds. Peonies and daisies, sunflowers and nasturtiums and so many others will write the poetry of nature this spring.
We are down to our final five contestants. As they parade through the gardens announcing the arrival and departure of the season of hope, let’s take a look once more at the top five. Will it be rose in her royal finery? Will it be the more delicate daffodil? The breathtaking rhodie? The surprising crocus? Or perhaps the timeless tulip. As they make their appearances in succession over the coming months you can choose a favorite or you can love them all. Enjoy!!
There we have it folks. Let’s have these lovely ladies take a final bow as we await the judges decision -which of these will be crowned and win Spring’s Annual Beauty Pageant?
©Belindabotzong2018
Chilled breezes waft white fluffy clouds across the sky
Ecstatic gulls’ chorus line bursts forth in praise
Pink blossoms, yellow buds
Glassy harbor reflections
Welcome Spring!
©Belindabotzong2018
Spring sees the snow capped mountains distant to the sea
Spring looks like a beautiful gown of yellow buds on bright green leaves in deeply furrowed fields of daffodils
Spring smells like fresh mowed grass and salty air
Spring inhales the freshness of the breeze on her puffy clouds
Spring tastes like honey and nectar filled blooms
Spring licks her lips covered in pollen and smiles
Spring touches the imagination with a twist of longing for long lazy days ahead
Spring feels like a fever waiting to break —warmth mixed with chilly bursts and sweet relief
Spring hears giggling gulls and high pitched squeals of children
Spring listens to winter as he hangs his head in regret, sensing his remorse that it couldn’t go on longer as he marches off into the horizon.
©Belindabotzong2018
Spring blew a kiss into the sky
Winter caught it in her winds and blustered
Spring sprinkled warm sunlight everywhere
Winter tried to hide it with her puffed up clouds
Spring poured sweet perfumes of fresh cut grass and daffodil blooms across the valley
Winter inhaled and sneezed a cold breeze across her snow drenched mountain tops
Spring presses hard against winter’s intensity
Winter presses back to remind spring it’s not her time
Not quite
But soon
©Belindabotzong2018
With the sky as his canvas
He holds a palette of light and moist vapors in the crook of his right elbow
He uses his breath to pour out subtle hues on the edges of clouds formed by his left hand
He strokes the sun to ever so slowly lift its light and he calls forth the morning
He stands back and admires his handiwork and lets it slowly transform
He adds shimmering tones of violet and lavender in multiple layers then sprinkles it all with the golden light that pours from his puddle of sunshine
He swirls a finger through his masterpiece to scatter clouds across the eastern horizon
And touches the tips of the mountain range with sparkles of gold and silver
He blows a gentle breeze across the pristine blue water that pours from his artist’s enormous brush to become the rippled bay of sapphire
He fingerpaints the distant islands into the edge of the vastness of the sea
Smudged outlines far in the western sky
He tips his head back and lets a delighted laugh fill the sky with birds then turns his head to see the perfect spot for his deep pink and purple crocus to be placed among the flowerbeds waiting to be awakened at the sound of the artist’s voice
He paints with wild abandon in every shade and tone and hue
His heart pours its fullness into details unseen by anyone but him
He sets his palette aside to admire his creation
And submits another sunrise to the gallery of eternal mornings, pleased at his handiwork
He sighs and starts planning for a brand new sunset
©Belindabotzong2018
Boats, yachts, Fishing vessels and sailboats
An array of dreamy Names painted in various script
Starlight, Ocean Hunter, Desire, Yvonne and so many others on the bow or stern announcing the clever and thoughtful uniqueness of its owner or captain
Swaying chains and rolls of nets
Piles of well- used crab pots and knotted ropes in blue and yellow
Twisted amongst rusted links of anchors and chains
Wafting breezes carry salty fragrances across the rippled tide where crying gulls bounce on gentle waves then rise suddenly to soar into the gray winter sky
Chaotic and peaceful with a beautiful rhythm that calms the spirit of those on shore watching harbor life
©Belindabotzong2018
Spring marching into a warm afternoon announcing her intentions to stay awhile
Hysterical seagulls chuckling and chortling as thy swoop in with a colorful kite circling above
Giggling children squealing in high pitched voices chasing one another through the park and sliding down for the hundredth time
The warmth of the sun mixing with the coolness of a gentle breeze spreading over the placid salty bay ripples
Weightless puffs of white clouds lingering at the horizon and just over the tips of snow capped peaks giving the illusion of warmer days of springtime
Barren trees etching the blue topaz sky with hands raised high applauding a winning round for spring
Full yellow moon rising in celebration of Spring’s parade 
©Belindabotzong2018
