Glorious Sunset Moonrise

The shoreline is quickly crowded with viewers rushing toward a dazzling sunset

Cameras snapping over and over as others sit quietly basking in the glow of red, orange, and yellow streaks across the sky

There is a holiness to the hush as the sun dips into the sea and as if on a pulley, the full harvest moon arises in sync with the sunset.

Without realizing, the crowd is being awed by the creator of all things —

light, darkness, seasons, change,

even the ability to appreciate the gift of nature’s art

All created by a living, loving, masterful artist.

He is the Lord God who has lifted the same moon over centuries.

He has pressed the same sun into the same ocean of millennia.

He has painted the same sky over and over for time infinitum.

He has turned the pages of the seasons repeatedly over generations.

And still his most beloved creation, you, me, the homeless, the wealthy, the weakest, the strongest, the worn down and the high and mighty, all stop to acknowledge the stunning beauty and majesty of a sunset. A moonrise.

Who ever said, “how boring” as the sun blazed brilliant colors across the sky?

Who ever didn’t gasp at the enormity of a harvest moon in all its glory?

Who says it’s all just a monotonous routine, the rising, the setting, the brilliance, the tides, the change of seasons, the ebb and flow of life?

The stunning beauty of it all should ignite a spirit of praise within us that leads to complete devotion to the most high God, to the most magnificent artist, to the creator of heaven and earth.

©Belindabotzong2018

Sunrise

I sit and watch the river meander

Twisting and turning down the path of least resistance

Swirling past boulders to create a churning mosaic reflecting the sky

Maples with floppy yellow leaves release helicopter seeds swirling and spinning in the gentle mountain breezes

Dew drops sparkle, clutching the edges of the long, sharp needles of the dark drooping limbs of ponderosa pine

Pine cones dropping with a plunk to the dry grassland beneath

Startling mother Quail with her youngsters hiding in the bush and blue jays squawking opinions from above

Buttermilk clouds filter the stream of morning sunlight

Last sunrise of vacation

©Belindabotzong2018

Morning in Leavenworth

Bright face of sunshine rises above

Hues of pine, spruce, and fir against

Cerulean sky backdrop

Lazy, shallow, dark currents of river caress boulders and ripple over pebbles

Meandering toward the sea in no hurry to leave this place of rich beauty

Flocks of birds call out musical notes

Trills like flutes and squawks in deep baritone

Hawks swoop and soar like a maestro

Orchestrating another beautiful day in Leavenworth

©Belindabotzong2018

Sunrise Artist

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

Morning Calls

Creation breathes life into a new morning with gentle breezes. Tree tops sway lifting arms of praise stretching toward the sky. 
A flock of ducks form various shapes in their synchronized flight toward a new day of ever changing scenes. High above the ground they fly in formation performing their perfected routine. 
Hummingbird announces his arrival at the feeder as he begins his rituals of flight and feeding.
Lone crow steaks across the sky calling all things to order in his loud cackle –
Morning calls another day with pink stretching into blue. An array of random clouds shaped and textured highlight the pale blue sky. 

Sunrise Sunset 

Darkness fades into the brightened eastern sky as sunlight returns to bring another cloudless day. First chirps break Stillness of morning and hummingbird dancers begin their warmup. Stretching and twirling in the coolness then resting again in anticipation of another day spent flitting and racing through the trees, between the houses and up over roofs in their frantic ballet. 
The edges of yellow pink sunrise fade into the deep blues of heavens canvas. 
Evening
Creamed streaks spread high and thin coating the evening sky awaiting sunlight’s final dip into the sea. 
Hummingbird clicks and chirps a final melody chasing his beloved across the sky and through branches anticipating restful nesting. Finding one last taste of lavender and roses and Hydrangeas wearing lacy blue caps and purple Pom Pom buds. 
Daisies await closing time covering their round brown faces in petals of gold. 
Sun bursts into flaming clouds streaking the sky with gray smoke-like wisps and bids another day adieu. 

Morning Life of Birds

Shadows receding over dew drenched fields. Thick coolness of the morning filled with loud chatter of sparrows. Pristine blue cloudless sky welcomes the brightness of the sunrise. Honeybees tasting lavender flavored nectar and daisies complete their grand opening for a first taste of sunshine. 
The sparrow takes leave of his elderberry tower, quickly replaced by a chirping hummingbird, wings resting from her incessant fluttering. Stillness falls over everything then suddenly she takes flight once again to investigate flowers and buds and feeders in her day long cycle of rest and flight.