“In making even horizontal and clear inspections we colour and mould according to the wants within us whatever our eyes bring in.”

- Thomas Hardy, Far from the Madding Crowd

Soundtrack : www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=8xg3vE8Ie_E

LOVE STORY – TAYLOR SWIFT

My father was a boxer

but that's not all he was at all

My mother was a nurse

but that did not define her or prevent her fall

they met under extraordinary circumstances

but they were far from ordinary

they died too soon and suddenly

my life became extraordinary

is it beyond all comprehension do you suppose

that I was once a Princess in a far-off land

and now I try to be ordinary

so that I will not stand out from the crowd; I stand

still like a wallflower yet shining bright

when my back is to the wall

my father's blood will stand and fight

watching the fading passers-by

eyes narrowed to the sun

dreaming of flying and wondering why

or how this life of mine had first begun

and now I am here in this beautiful place

Far from the Madding Crowd

Thomas Hardy book in hand

reciting passages aloud.

- AP - Copyright © remains with and is the intellectual property of the author

Copyright © protected image please do not reproduce without permission

“Yellow is synonymous with you

I cannot see anything yellow without thinking of you

and the daffodils are blooming despite the stormy weather

and the rain reminds me of you too … “ - AP

In memory of my friend …

Mon cher ami, please let me know what you see beyond the observable universe …

“Beyond the observable universe is something wonderful …

Simply é and much more … “ - Ciprian

Soundtrack : www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3TvXZtXtu8

The Bridges of Madison County – Standing in the Rain

The greatest influence on our lives

at the time is not always known

but looking back I see the truth of it

now the most beautiful of us has flown

we didn't always see eye to eye

but made our peace and recognised something more than love

so gentle and so fragile; mutually in sync

a poet and another poet flying high above

you hid your deepest secret very well

I did not guess and that was your intention

you knew my heart would break and I would fall

but don't you know you made me strong; did I forget to mention

some of all the poetry we shared

the thoughts; the impossible maths that disappeared

into the ether long ago before we reconciled

and only fragments of the fire remain to whisper in our ears

to infinity and far beyond we said ...

I look up at the newest, brightest star

and everything I feel is still remembered

will last the distance no matter how near or far

Remember, mon cher, the words I wrote to you

they are imprinted on my soul forever

you reached out and touched my life in ways I cannot still explain

you are irreplaceable; you know that I will never

forget the codes and seemingly nonsensical ways of our communication

to anyone else that saw it; must have thought

who are these two; these poets; who do they think they are

but it does not matter; all that matters was that you taught

to look beyond the ordinary everyday things of our existence

to reach for stars into infinité

I am risen up to be a better person; little é and much more

you are infinite, mon cher ami …

- AP - Copyright © remains with and is the intellectual property of the author

Copyright © protected image please do not reproduce without permission

“Nothing is more noble, nothing more venerable than fidelity. Faithfulness and truth are the most sacred excellences and endowments of the human mind.”

- Marcus Tullius Cicero

Soundtrack : www.youtube.com/watch?v=bbFu_wkflpI

HIGH FIDELITY – KIDS FROM FAME

I met a man upon a bridge

with Heaven all around

I met him squarely on the ridge

he spoke to me without a sound

I asked him did he speak in Mandarin

his twinkling eyes looked all around

he pointed to the Eastern side

and there I saw upon the ground

beneath the weeping Willow trees

I was happy to have found

two Mandarin ducks so happily

walking on the grassy mound

I thanked him as I turned away

returned his smile and then he spoke

a richly warm and satisfying

baritone like plumes of smoke

smoothed and soothed and clung to me

preserved that feeling in my memory

he had two dogs who followed me

before he called them back; a mystery

for when I turned again to see

he and the dogs were gone

I was left bereft; a feeling so bewildering

a momentary skimming like a stone across the pond

a skipping of my heart

the beating pounding in my chest

echoing all around me

before the silence fell I must confess

I wondered if he was an angel

watching over me

communication needs no words

if we are one in harmony

and now the singing of the birds

broke through my reverie

the scene was filled and teemed with life

as I searched for the Mandarin ducks: verily

I could have stayed here for the longest time

made a home beneath the Willows

at one with nature I feel complete

soft downy ducks would be my pillows

two ravens flew high over head

other ducks and coots and moorhen

little rabbits all coexist

within this haven I call Heaven.

- AP - Copyright © remains with and is the intellectual property of the author

Copyright © protected image please do not reproduce without permission

“The planet has survived everything, in its time. It will certainly survive us.”

― Michael Crichton, Jurassic Park

Soundtrack :

LE VENT NOUS PORTERA - Noir Désir

Wandering along the Jurassic Coast

where dinosaurs once roamed

watching the sea ebb and flow

bubbling forming frothy sea foam

fossil hunters out for the day

wielding the tools of their trade

claw hammers swinging loose and lithe with their arms

down on their knees where the dinosaurs played

sticky thick black mud underfoot

sliding down the cliffside

lost shoes and wellington boots amid

the ancient layers once melded now slide

dogs run in and out of the sea

unaware of what is underfoot

petrified forests mean nothing to them

ammonites encrusted with carbonised soot

one hundred and eighty five million years of history

stretching over ninety-five miles of coastline

Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous

this is our Earth's history; yours and mine

imagine the amazing Mesozoic Era

when the Earth's crust began to stretch and sink

layers of sediment; hardening rocks

baking in a desert; it makes one think

then sea levels fell and a forest grew

then it died and was buried deep beneath the lagoons

and the swamps and the rivers flowed over and above

then the earth was moving and very soon

the Eastern rocks tilted while those in the West

eroded and soon the sea rose again

sandstone and chalk were laid down in the region

burying the tilted layers of older rock and then

erosion became a most natural artist

Mother Nature is skilled and brilliant that way

so now you can see the results of it's labours

in this beautiful landscape I show to you today.

- AP - Copyright © remains with and is the intellectual property of the author

Copyright © protected image please do not reproduce without permission

“There is one thing the photograph must contain, the humanity of the moment.”

— Robert Frank

Soundtrack : www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpJ0cyXbMbI

MAKE ME SMILE – STEVE HARLEY & COCKNEY REBEL

A bono fide street photographer

took a picture of me

he couldn't wait to show the results

his smile was full of glee

I said it only fair then

to take his picture too

but I am just a point and shoot

one click and that will do

he was happy to oblige

his face was wreathed in smiles

he posed among the superheroes

he added to my golden miles

travelling is such fun and bliss

to meet all kinds of folks

life is a bowl of delicious cocktails

all stirred and mixed and sharing jokes

I never even asked his name

and he didn't ask for mine

we were both happy to be in this moment

sharing our love of photographic lines

we felt a kindred spirit and bathed

in a glowing instant friendship made

and just as suddenly as we had bonded

we parted ways and neither stayed

no backward glances

no fond farewells

but through our photographs

the memory dwells.

PERSONAL CHALLENGE : Street Photography

- AP - Copyright © remains with and is the intellectual property of the author

Copyright © protected image please do not reproduce without permission

BIG THANK YOU TO MY FRIEND Carl's Captures FOR THE TITLE!!

: 0)

“Bees do have a smell, you know, and if they don't they should, for their feet are dusted with spices from a million flowers.”

― Ray Bradbury, Dandelion Wine

Soundtrack : www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngCi6PGDiWw

SOLITAIRE – ANDY WILLIAMS

Little Tawny Mining Bee

on my Henry Moore

drying out; hoping for the sun

lots of pollen for your store

Solitary little Bee

he loves playing Solitaire

flying here and there and then

hovering in the air

back to Earth and nourish it

doing the very best you can

avoiding all the chemicals

laid down and sprayed by mortal man

in my garden you'll be safe

nowhere will you ever find

any unnatural substances

here there's only peace of mind

a haven; a little Heaven here on Earth

Garden of Eden that's for sure

stay here with me and you'll be safe

in my world; resting on my Henry Moore.

- AP - Copyright © remains with and is the intellectual property of the author

Copyright © protected image please do not reproduce without permission

PERSONAL CHALLENGE : 4. MINIMALISM

“How we need that security. How we need another soul to cling to, another body to keep us warm. To rest and trust; to give your soul in confidence: I need this. I need someone to pour myself into.”

― Sylvia Plath

Soundtrack : www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmxqAGmAttU

I NEED YOU - TIM McGRAW & FAITH HILL

Soundtrack : www.youtube.com/watch?v=afhnAvaJ2Ec&app=desktop

Μαρινέλλα - Σ' ΑΓΑΠΩ

( The 2nd precious gift today from my friend Poppy Kalant <3 )

The Sun Goes Down Again

I need you like a flower needs the rain

I belong to you and you belong to me

meeting you made my life sweeter

warm as Summer seas

I would climb the highest mountain

and fall without a qualm

knowing you would catch me

safely in your arms

I will tell you all my heart's desires

entrust my soul to you

give you all you need my darling

make your dreams come true

The moon looks at us knowingly

our names on soft winds flow

carry me across the ocean

set me down in pure white snow

You heard me softly whisper

I'm lonely in the rain

while waiting for the moon to rise

The sun goes down again.

- AP - Copyright remains with the author

'copyright image please do not reproduce without permission'

“My momma always said, “Life was like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get.”

- Forrest Gump

Soundtrack : www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tnqnXJl9qE

SWEETS FOR MY SWEET – THE SEARCHERS

A box of deliciousness given to me

I am spoiled for choice and very hungry

they are rich; they are home-made

they are filling and sweet

I ate one; I ate two

and I was replete

washed down with real coffee

a sumptuous treat

two dozen less two

twenty-two still to eat

I will try to eke them out

maybe one or two a day

how long they will last

I really cannot say

should be another eleven days at least

I carry the box; it's a moveable feast

as I pop one small morsel into my mouth

I close my eyes and enjoy

the experience is lovely

I forget all my worries

leave behind all my cares

and find renewed joy

how can something

so small yet so pretty

have such a profound and soothing effect

mmmm well I don't really know

I don't have all the answers

but for me in this moment

my life is perfect.

- AP - Copyright © remains with and is the intellectual property of the author

Copyright © protected image please do not reproduce without permission

PERSONAL CHALLENGE : 3. STILL LIFE

Though it didn't remain still for long, ha ha!!! ; 0)))))

SERENDIPITOUSLY REFLECTED ...

Not staged, but found as it was and all I did was click. Mother Nature is the Artist and I am just an observer and capturer of a precious moment in time that was short-lived, but is eternal here, in my picture, preserved.

"I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house."

- Nathaniel Hawthorne

Soundtrack : www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXBNlApwh0c

AUTUMN LEAVES – EVA CASSIDY

I fell in love with Autumn

from an early age

looking at the trembling leaves

leafing through my favourite page

a book of wisdom given to me

on a perfect Spring day on an early birthday

devouring all it had to tell

I gained knowledge through my childhood play

skipping through the rustling leaves

tousled hair tumbling in the breeze

jumping a stile to where the grass was greener

leaving behind what I found with ease

that life is the same beyond the fence

nothing much changes; I stayed the same

wide-eyed and innocent despite the bruises

I never looked for or sought to blame

and Autumn was bright and beautiful

I escaped my life in books and Fall

and when Winter shed it's icy beauty

I waited patiently for Spring and the Cuckoo's call

I remember woolly and itchy jumpers

too big for me; hand-me-downs

my sister was twice as big as me

I was the waif and stray from an unknown realm

with stick-thin legs and mittens on strings

a little puppet to Punch like Judy

with a broken arm like a broken wing

I flew in circles so dark and distant and deeply moody

but Nature taught me that life could be good

and enthralled me with it's imparted secrets

the gifts it gave me I treasure still

and especially in Autumn I never forget

to let live; let love and tomorrow will bring

the best the days have to offer

a brilliant blue sky with scudding white clouds

and Autumn fruit trees bend down and proffer

all of their bounty for it's ours for the taking

in repayment for all our good deeds

when we care for nature and thank God for our days

our pains will ease even though we still bleed

we are never given more than we can carry

I know this from experience; it is a fact

so God thinks I'm strong, so the least I can do

is repay all His kindness and make up for all I lack

for I am not perfect; I do not profess

to be anything other than I am

but God loves the most those who try their hardest

than those who take for granted and who don't give a damn

but He still loves us all; we are his children

and so he gifts us the beautiful Fall

a time of peace and quiet reflection

a change of the seasons

where we can find reasons

to improve all our chances;

to give it our all.

- AP - Copyright © remains with and is the intellectual property of the author

Copyright © protected image please do not reproduce without permission

Thanks for visiting. I am very grateful for the very kind comments and faves.

I dedicate this picture to my dear friend Poppy Kalant who was for me today the wind who chased the dark clouds away and brought me sunshine. Thank you my dear Poppy for bringing me Ithaca and Μαρινέλλα - Σ' ΑΓΑΠΩ and for making today so wonderful for me. Σ 'ευχαριστώ που είσαι φίλος μου <3 xo

Soundtrack : www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5F_9EcuVAE

MY FRIEND THE WIND - DEMIS ROUSSOS

Love and Hope

This morning I felt lost

unsure of everything

but then my dear friend Poppy

brought me promises of Spring

She was the wind

that chased dark clouds away

and brought me sunshine

to brighten up my day

She gave me Ithaca

She brought me words of love

The sweetest song I ever heard

an angel voice from skies above

It's days like this

which give me hope

friends like this

who help me cope

On Sunday I'll lay flowers

and kneel down at Mum's feet

though Mother's Day is sad for me

My memories are sweet

- AP – With thanks to my friend Poppy and in loving memory of our Mums <3 xo

copyright remains with the author

These words given to me by Poppy today are from a Greek song :

"I send you greetings with the wind that when it caresses you, you may hear me and that they may be sung to you, in the Sky, by the evening gatherings of the stars"!

'copyright image please do not reproduce without permission'

“There is one thing the photograph must contain, the humanity of the moment.”

— Robert Frank

Soundtrack : www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpJ0cyXbMbI

MAKE ME SMILE – STEVE HARLEY & COCKNEY REBEL

A bono fide street photographer

took a picture of me

he couldn't wait to show the results

his smile was full of glee

I said it only fair then

to take his picture too

but I am just a point and shoot

one click and that will do

he was happy to oblige

his face was wreathed in smiles

he posed among the superheroes

he added to my golden miles

travelling is such fun and bliss

to meet all kinds of folks

life is a bowl of delicious cocktails

all stirred and mixed and sharing jokes

I never even asked his name

and he didn't ask for mine

we were both happy to be in this moment

sharing our love of photographic lines

we felt a kindred spirit and bathed

in a glowing instant friendship made

and just as suddenly as we had bonded

we parted ways and neither stayed

no backward glances

no fond farewells

but through our photographs

the memory dwells.

PERSONAL CHALLENGE : Street Photography

- AP - Copyright © remains with and is the intellectual property of the author

Copyright © protected image please do not reproduce without permission

“I sent him out half an hour ago for worms and he's still not back!”, says Robin ; 0)))

Using a little humour to lift my mood. Writing a little poetry for catharsis.

Connections ... (between my poems and pictures, music and quotes) … sometimes they may appear tenuous and inexplicable, but within the beauty of my mind they are inextricably linked.

People … I am very sensitive. I feel things deeply. Things that others may easily to be able to dismiss, may bring me down. I feel no need to explain or apologise for something that just is. I am just as God made me, but all things have consequences ...

Friends … those people who embrace me as I am and always bring the sun to my door. Thank you! <3

“If you want to fly in the sky, you need to leave the earth. If you want to move forward, you need to let go the past that drags you down.”

- Amit Ray

Soundtrack : www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpIKqeVaghg

INJOY – SOL SEPPY

I waited all day for the rain

the clouds hung heavily in the dark grey sky

I clung dreamily to my romantic reverie

and as the rain fell I let out a wistful sigh

my patience was rewarded

I did not wait in vain

the pitter-patter; spitting; lashing

on the skylight window pane

I pushed the Velux blind right up

and viewed the strange and eerie light

watched the big fat tear-shaped droplets

give themselves up without a fight

this melancholy mood of mine

this big black dog of Hemingway

I fight it hard to no avail

the beast will have me anyway

so I relax and settle down

upon the antique inherited settle

pick at the broderie anglaise

that lifts and crinkles and tests my mettle

idly my fingers trace the carvings

created in another land

the story that my uncle told me

so that I might understand

now he is gone and I am here

sitting on green faded velvet

the wonky leg that broke when I

stood on it; hung Christmas lights and felt it

give suddenly beneath my feet

I landed awkwardly

twisted my ankle and thought I broke it

but nothing at all showed up on the x-ray

all these thoughts and feelings crowd me

surround me and increase my mood

I want to sleep; my mind needs calming

it runs at speed; perhaps some food

to comfort me; to nourish me

to fill this bottomless void inside

then perhaps I'll drift and slumber

escape reality; I need to hide

the rain is slowing; the wind is rising

the noise they make is ever-changing

I love the wind; I love the rain

I love the shadows and the shining

some say it is a gift of mine

given to me after my childhood drowning

but sometimes it feels more like a curse

I try to laugh; my head is pounding

how can a name written on a page

affect my way of thinking so

I feel the sadness without reason

the déjà vu …

ditto ...

the echo

L E T T I N G G O …

blood-letting

go

will I fade into insignificance

or into mellow yellow …

- AP - Copyright © remains with and is the intellectual property of the author

Copyright © protected image please do not reproduce without permission

“One day I was counting the cats and I absent-mindedly counted myself.”

― Bobbie Ann Mason, Shiloh and Other Stories

Soundtrack : www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKq7UqplcL8

KEDI – OFFICIAL U.S. TRAILER – OSCILLOSCOPE LABORATORIES

Little Billy; folded arms

with Autumn in his eye

watches very carefully

migrating birds as they fly by

he sees the passing of the season

as it passes into Winter

rests on his laurels in No Man's Land

reads a play by Harold Pinter

it's just not cricket I hear him say

sign language read in silence

a grand old house; a resident poet

champagne breakfasts and rocket science

discussions lead to other things

talk of life and death

the time we waste; the time between

Autumn and Winter with bated breath

something happened this Saturday

something light and beautiful

secret though; his lips are sealed

he's loyal and he's dutiful

he's smart as any other street cat

who's thankful he found a home

he watched his fellow felines in

Istanbul where they roam

he laughed with me at all their antics

smart and funny; receiving all they need

charming and enchanting people

so they get fish; no need to plead

they are loved by many humans

they fight; they play; sleep most of the day

at night they wander through the streets

they are safe but still I pray

one day I'll see them for myself

they'll follow me and make me smile

I'll photograph them for my Little Billy

he'll nod wisely then fall sleep awhile

dreaming of the days before

he found a home with me

but we both bless that day's decision

before the weather turned cold; wintry

he decided when the biggest storm

a rolling cloud; day fell to night

in a matter of minutes; it shook this house

gave all my cats and me a fright

no more Winters on the street

for Little Billy; my little darling

he's laying now in the warm sunshine

sleeping sweetly; inwardly smiling.

HAPPY SATURDAY AND EVERY DAY FOR ALL CATS AND THEIR HUMANS! <3

"A cat is for life and not just for Christmas"

- AP - Copyright © remains with and is the intellectual property of the author

Copyright © protected image please do not reproduce without permission

“There is one thing the photograph must contain, the humanity of the moment.”

— Robert Frank

Soundtrack : www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpJ0cyXbMbI

MAKE ME SMILE – STEVE HARLEY & COCKNEY REBEL

A bono fide street photographer

took a picture of me

he couldn't wait to show the results

his smile was full of glee

I said it only fair then

to take his picture too

but I am just a point and shoot

one click and that will do

he was happy to oblige

his face was wreathed in smiles

he posed among the superheroes

he added to my golden miles

travelling is such fun and bliss

to meet all kinds of folks

life is a bowl of delicious cocktails

all stirred and mixed and sharing jokes

I never even asked his name

and he didn't ask for mine

we were both happy to be in this moment

sharing our love of photographic lines

we felt a kindred spirit and bathed

in a glowing instant friendship made

and just as suddenly as we had bonded

we parted ways and neither stayed

no backward glances

no fond farewells

but through our photographs

the memory dwells.

PERSONAL CHALLENGE : Street Photography

- AP - Copyright © remains with and is the intellectual property of the author

Copyright © protected image please do not reproduce without permission

"Lovers don't finally meet somewhere. They're in each other all along"

- Rumi

Soundtrack : www.youtube.com/watch?v=0qGbtW1THC8

MICHAEL BALL & IL DIVO

The overhead storm clouds cast their shadows

washing away the pride in me

pride comes before a fall

I learned that at my father's knee

or was it that I just misremembered

perhaps it was pride comes before a fool

it matters less in this definitive moment

it may always remain a mystery

I listen hard for signs of rain

I imagine the coolness on my skin

I thought I heard a rumble of thunder

is it true that rain will wash away our sins

for surely we have taken a wrong turning

this blessed heat without humidity

the dew drops sparkle in the sunlight

a mirage mirroring my humility

rosé rosée like pink champagne

smooth like cultured pearls it seems

like the many facets of a zillion diamonds

have been erased in many sultry dreams

wish that I could stay in this moment

give up the fight for any more

be contented; savour and relish

these small things that should be adored

but in my reverie I am safe

and the waters I paddle are extremely shallow

but that's not me, I must take the plunge

swim out of my depth; the wickless tallow

melts in the hot relentless sun

emerging now beneath it's shroud

the ether smells so strong of ozone

by the sea as dissolving clouds

dissipate and my anticipation

disappears like urban myths

that once seemed honest, true and permanent

but now appear rarified as Scotch mist

I play the music it fills the air

the ivory keys invisibly stained with blood

the ebony hardened like the wounded stare

of civilisations misunderstood

when will we learn to be as one

is it so hard to find harmony

the rhythm of Mendelssohn's fragmented vision

resounds in my ears and soothing me

I pick up the notes with nimble fingers

disperse them into the universe

hoping that someone, somewhere will hear them

and heal our planet, not make it worse

transferring thoughts like transference of scores

of tiny notes that alone have only partial impact

I begin to play a different theme tune to my life

love changes everything; to me that is a fact.

- AP - Copyright © remains with and is the intellectual property of the author

Copyright © protected image please do not reproduce without permission

“Good conversation is just as stimulating as black coffee and just as hard to sleep after.”

- Anne Morrow Lindbergh

Soundtrack : www.youtube.com/watch?v=7d9rRNbOijc

BLACK COFFEE – LACY J DALTON

We couldn't get in at the restaurant we wanted

we didn't think to book

so we were re-directed across the road

and found a cosy comfy nook

this poster caught my eye and so

I pointed shot and took

a little boy from olden days

who caught a big fish on a little hook

the carvery was excellent

I met and congratulated the cook

we piled our plates as high as we could

we signed our names in the visitor's book

the place was a little dark but not shabby

it had it's own style; conversation babbled like a brook

we felt relaxed and satiated and happy

as we left for the theatre for which we DID book

an amateur production of Agatha Christie's

play called Black Coffee; well worth a look

the performers were brilliant; very professional

we couldn't second-guess who was the crook

Hercule Poirot arrived looking a bit dishevelled

in a well-worn well-creased linen jacket he forsook

to press it as well as Captain Hasting's trousers

the audience laughed; our shoulders shook

the stage was set; the lights were dimmed

until the interval came and everyone took

a break for an ice-cream, fresh air and ablutions

returned for the final half of this lesser known book

I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner and visit

to the Palace Theatre as we undertook

to applaud the wonderful players of this play

sad to say goodnight as the room fell dark as a rook.

- AP - Copyright © remains with and is the intellectual property of the author

Copyright © protected image please do not reproduce without permission

“This is not just for my country, but for all countries; for all families; for all people who have lost someone in the fight for freedom and to all those lost in peace time too … we are all born under the same sky; we look to the same moon and the same sun. We are born to be human; to be humane; to love one another as family should; to embrace the differences and imperfections in each other and always find peaceful resolutions so that no child has to grow up alone; so that every child has a chance to grow up … without fear … Forgiveness, hope, love, understanding, compassion, empathy … these are not just words to me; they are a way of life, but still I am not perfect … but I am a trier and that's all any of us can do … try … it's a step in the right direction.” - AP

“Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding.”

~ Albert Einstein

Soundtrack : www.youtube.com/watch?v=an1df8s0Brk

LOVE CAN BUILD A BRIDGE – THE JUDDS

TO THE FALLEN

Though poppies come and go and fade

in this your final resting place

memories of you; our soldiers brave

fill us with light and full of grace

thanks to you who gave your lives

so that we may live in peace

though medals given posthumously

will never bring you back; release

the raw emotions keenly felt

on each Remembrance Day

but as long as we remember you

it's like you never went away

the crosses many; bright and white

fill the cemetery

rows and rows of poignant signs

that mark this place in memory

we bow our heads and think of you

we pray and tears fall softly

you gave the ultimate sacrifice

so we can live our lives so freely

the legacy you leave behind

the children who bear your name

will carry on and make you proud

stand tall within their heritage reclaimed

each passing year the fields of poppies

bloom more and more in crimson swaves

that stain like blood the countryside

reminding us too of blood-filled waves

that swelled and swilled and dragged you under

marking out your watery graves

sacrifice so great we wonder

how on earth such terrible wars that gave

whole nations widows in such numbers

orphaned children; countless lives unsaved

how could these wars have taken you from us

left us to grieve; hearts carved out hollow

it seems a small thing we can do

to remember you all the days that follow

in the minutes of grateful silence

we salute you our kith and kin

and as the poppies fade away

we hold you to our hearts therein

you are all a part of us

we are here because of you

we are grateful for your sacrifice

we think of you in all we do

sleep peacefully all those taken too soon

we can never repay

the sacrifice; the lives you saved

we will be thankful all our days.

- AP - Copyright © remains with and is the intellectual property of the author

Copyright © protected image please do not reproduce without permission

My picture is a compilation of 3 of my artworks and one of my photographs

Soundtrack : www.youtube.com/watch?v=YxIiPLVR6NA

HEY BROTHER (Brother/Sister) - AVICII

"I want to write something so simple, so short and so silly... and I want it to be for my brother." - Maurice Sendak

But instead I wrote this : 0)

If the sky falls down

I'll shelter you

If the storm's too strong

I'll comfort you

If the road's too long

I'll carry you

When the darkness falls

I'll light your way

and if tomorrow comes

We'll face the day

Together ...

- AP - Copyright remains with the author

'copyright image please do not reproduce without permission'

Manchester Airport EGCC Runway 23L

“The real power of the Buddha was that he had so much love. He saw people trapped in their notions of small separate self, feeling guilty or proud of that self, and he offered revolutionary teachings that resounded like a lion's roar, like a great rising tide, helping people to wake up and break free from the prison of ignorance.”

- Thich Nhat Hanh

Soundtrack : www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvsQ9hYKq7c

THE LION SLEEPS TONIGHT – Oh these guys are from a French cartoon that I loved to watch … Pat et Stanley!!! Enjoy! :-D

Deep in the forest the King silently smiles

far from his homeland; thousands of miles

yet still in this forest he is undoubtedly King

as wise as he's stronger than most every thing

I linger; I long for a meeting with him

proud and majestic through thick and thin

in the quiet of the forest; I click on a whim

he does not stir from where he lays; I am nothing to him

The silence is eerie then he purrs like a kitten

his fur is so fluffy like a warm Winter mitten

but beneath his soft façade lies the heart of a lion

the King of the jungle on whom all can rely on

There are many females surrounding him aware

that eyes are upon him and they start to stare

perhaps they are jealous or perhaps inwardly laugh

at this girl with her camera craning her neck like a giraffe

I stay awhile longer and was happy to see

that the King and his harem look contented to me

in front of me I spot that someone hangs out of their car window

do they not realise these cats can strike fast and cut them like Zorro

The moment passed quickly and I breathed a sigh of relief

that the King did not roar but yawned and bared sharp teeth

the foolishness of us humans is no surprise to him at all

he knows he could maim us; though he looks tame and could maul

Even a domestic cat could rip our faces to shreds

if we tease them or rile them or forget they're not fed

so the moral of this story is to be always kind

and the King will shrug his shoulders; go to sleep and not mind

After all we're the ones who pay handsomely

whereas the King and his subjects can see us for free

so who is the wisest; us humans or the lions

well the King knows the answer if we ignore all the signs

Up ahead the Safari jeeps are heading for home

so we bid the King goodbye and leave him to roam

and tonight I will dream of Tarzan and I will be Jane

as the Lion King of the Jungle will be at home ...

shampooing his mane! ; 0))))

- AP - Copyright © remains with and is the intellectual property of the author

Copyright © protected image please do not reproduce without permission

Thanks for visiting. I am very grateful for the very kind comments and faves.

Enjoy a very happy week, dear friends <3

Manchester Airport EGCC Runway 23L

A lovely German couple sit in companionable silence within the grounds of the Summer home of Agatha Christie. The quotation is from the front of her book, Kollaps (Collapse) : How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed by Jared Diamond, who identifies five factors that contribute to collapse : climate change, hostile neighbours, collapse of essential trading partners, environmental problems, and the society's response to the foregoing four factors. It was nice to see these two reading and not on iPhone's or tablets. I found it very refreshing and gives me hope for the world … I don't know why, but it just did. They had no need to be openly demonstrative. Their love was tangible. They seemed, to me, to be the epitome of something that the world is rapidly losing and I wanted to capture the essence of that. I find that, for me, I can rarely relax and be myself except in the silence of my own company or when I am in nature. For me the world is often too big; too noisy; too crowded and overwhelming. Wish that there was none of the problems covered in this lady's book. How calm she seems while reading about such chaos. I remember my father saying to never judge a book by it's cover. Perhaps she has inner turmoil, but somehow I do not think so and actually I really hope her life is every bit as beautiful as I perceived it to be and his too.

“I met a traveler from an antique land

Who said; Two vast and trunkless legs of stone

Stand in the desert. Near them on the sand,

Half sunk, a shattered visage lies, whose frown,

And wrinkled lip and sneer of cold command,

Tell that its sculptor well those passions read,

Which yet survive, stampt on these lifeless things,

The hand that mockt them and the heart that fed;

And on the pedestal these words appear:

'My name is Ozymandias, king of kings;

Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!'

Nothing beside remains. Round the decay

Of that colossal wreck, boundless and bare

The lone and level sands stretch far away.”

- “Ozymandias”, by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1817)

Soundtrack : www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IkFiuIkcPI

À Toi - Joe Dassin "Alain Delon and Dalila"

We return to innocence

like children we play in the sun

we sit in companionable silence

our two hearts so close as if our life has still not yet begun

we read and play out in our heads

the story of our lives

the love that we will find

and the memories we will make will help us to survive

we may go our separate ways

or we may stay together no matter what

for now the sun is overhead and heady

makes us dizzy

drink some fizzy

orange or lemonade will keep us steady

I do not know if you are ready

but I am … take baby steps

walk with me along the sand

love is in us and beside us

I feel it so deeply but will you ever understand

it is written in the stars

I write it echoing in the sand

I reach out to touch your cheek

we are closer now; walking hand in hand

but for now we have reverted back

to the companionable silence of before

so comfortable in our own skins

we do not search for answers or look towards the open door

we do not see it closing

we do not know if time is short or long

we only know the rhythm rising in us

that beats so loudly; that gives rise to our eternal song

we dance to our own tune

sometimes we dance apart

but it does not matter because we are sure

of this mutual feeling that is mirrored deep within our hearts

we travelled far; we travelled wide

sometimes together; sometimes apart

none of this matters now

all that matters is what is here

this perfect moment; this is our time

the poets wrote of it long ago

they wrote in couplets; they wrote in rhyme

and here we are; we are the living proof

that nothing really matters except

to be within this loving moment

to live and love

to live

to love

to rise above all things

to give thanks to heaven above

we found each other

we lost each other

we refound what we had lost with ease

what is written will always come to be

as long as I have you

as long as you have me

as long as we have Faith

as long as we have each other

as long as we believe.

- AP - Copyright © remains with and is the intellectual property of the author

Copyright © protected image please do not reproduce without permission

Manchester Airport EGCC Runway 05R

Manchester Airport EGCC Runway 23L

Airbus A310-308

Pakistan International Airlines

AMS

“And the Universe, she's whispering so softly I can hear all ...”

- Gregory Alan Isakov, The Universe

Soundtrack : www.youtube.com/watch?v=3lKFQxdLXgs

THE UNIVERSE – GREGORY ALAN ISAKOV

Imagine what it's like

to have a photographic memory

to record the smallest details

the pain and loss of you and me

Imagine if you will

what it's like to live like me

a walking, talking history book

recorded for posterity

Imagine if you really need

to switch off all your thoughts

to seek that great elusive silence

it can be learned; be taught

Imagine though if you were me

unable to cancel out

every tiny little thing

good and bad; I want to shout

Imagine what it's like to be me

to hear; to see; to feel too much

to wander in the wilderness

without your tender touch

Imagine if you will awhile

the noisiest place on earth

a cacophony of the loudest sounds

since the time of my rebirth

Imagine waiting in the darkness

for light to shine on you

reflecting all your hopes and dreams

all the things you want to do

Imagine feeling intense pain

seeing kaleidoscopes of colour

so vivid; writhing snake-like visions

no comfort found in one and other

Imagine the intensity of loneliness

greater than you feel now

so fragile; so exquisite; so misunderstood

and then imagine how

It is possible to exist this way

it takes strength of will; resolve

I will always seek the stillness

to be alone; at peace; evolved.

- AP - Copyright © remains with and is the intellectual property of the author

Copyright © protected image please do not reproduce without permission

Có Bn* nhe mấy pé iu :x CHÙA THẬT BẨN TÍNH >:p

My house is built on hallowed ground and land that was reclaimed from the sea. It suits the essence of me and calms my spirit to walk in my garden knowing that it was left for many years, an abandoned place until the house was built and the stony and sandy ground where nothing much grew except ancient plants; wild flowers that blew in on the wind. Then someone planted trees from all four corners of the earth and plants that should not have survived began to flourish as if the roots of these trees breathed new life into the earth. There have been only a few guardians of this magical place and I am honoured to be the current guardian. At first I tried to plant what I liked; tried to enforce my will on this holy place, but in time I realised something … you cannot force a garden to grow; to bend to your will. A garden evolves slowly over time of it's own accord mostly and we, as guardians, should allow it to guide us. In this way I have found peace and happiness here and I embrace the changes of my ever-evolving garden. I seldom buy anything new to plant. I wait for the winds; I wait for the seasons; I witness the changes and I grow and evolve as a person in much the same way as my garden does. It is a joy to anticipate each new season; each new wind; and to see what appears. There is always something unexpected appearing. Life is full of surprises; of serendipitous moments. I wonder sometimes about these old trees. I think whoever planted them was guided and perhaps the garden welcomed the dappled shade on what once was a desert. Certainly I feel myself sometimes directed to introduce a new species. Perhaps I am guided also by a hand that I cannot fathom. We are not meant to understand everything. If we allow ourselves to just be, we may find, without effort, how our path unfolds with relative ease. I have found this to be the case. All those years of struggle and now I can just let go … it really is that easy to be content.

p.s. I was compelled reluctantly to remove a Laburnum tree that I thought might be harmful to my cats. I had always wanted such a tree with it's beautiful yellow flowers … but in it's place a Forsythia grew with a profusion of yellow flowers. I did not plant it! Magic? Yes, I believe so! : 0)

“I like gardening. It’s a place where I find myself when I need to lose myself. “

– Alice Sebold

Soundtrack : www.youtube.com/watch?v=xbx6aXhocew

IN ABANDONED PLACES - Raison d'Etre

Please enjoy the unique experience of this video.

Lieber Rolf, ich denke du wirst diesen Film zu schätzen wissen! : 0)

“We leave our footprints in a place to mingle with the echoes of all that went before; our heartbeats; our rhythm; the patterns of our lives.” - AP

I wander in the wilderness

my garden of delights

a jungle by the turquoise sea

a land so flat; the moon at night

shines down with silvery fingers

and touches the ground with magical spells

and come the breaking dawn of morning

all ills are banished and all is well

the dark and mysterious creatures

who loiter in the dusk

emerge in brilliant sunshine

with all-seeing eyes; an elephant tusk

protrudes and scythes the longest grasses

parts the meadow like the ancient sea

leaving behind a trail of crimson

flowers of sorrel and sweet harmony

reigns here as the King of the Jungle

seeks solace in the afternoon siesta

ignores the urban sounds outside

these walls; these trees; a back-firing Fiesta

alerts the songbirds from their idle rest

they flitter and flutter from tree to tree

and as I lie within the striped hammock

I swing and sing low to the sound of the breeze

a mist arises suddenly; springs up from the sea

settles a cloak; an air of mystery

around the shoulders of myself and the limbs

of the ancient trees as I sip my Pimms

I can barely keep my eyes from closing

the warmth of the air so cloying and deep

I find myself falling gently to the humming of bees

as I lapse now into a soundless sleep

I awake to find the blue sky black

lit by a billion diamonds or more

an infinite guide is laid out before me

the wisdom of ancient celestial stars of yore

some say when we see them

they have already died

long ago before our ancestors

what does this imply

do our eyes deceive us

or are we psychic or perhaps

we are more knowledgeable than we realise

all we need falls easily into our laps

but still we often ignore

the instincts that are given

override them; divide them

dilute them; we're driven

to only see clearly to the end of our noses

we fail to stop often to smell the scent of the roses

take stock; stand still

absorb the nature of all living things

for in this garden I discovered

nature brings happiness and happiness brings

peace of mind; plentiful bounty

the sweetest fruits of the earth

the love that will bind us

circumnavigate the world's girth

here I find every day all that I need

the flora; the fauna; all that set seed

and I've no desire to be anywhere else

as much as I desire to be here

in this garden full of Heaven

there is love; there is goodness that I hold dear

from the humblest of creatures

find the beauty in a fly

sing so loud like a blackbird

view the world through a child's eyes.

- AP - Copyright © remains with and is the intellectual property of the author

Copyright © protected image please do not reproduce without permission

My artwork is a blend of 4 of my photographs taken in my garden

LEJ 20-05-18

Longtime stranded Classic PIA A310

www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9BL59uiAz8

Visit this location at Asphyxiation Point - Urban Roleplay SIM in Second Life

“If something seems too hard, let go. It is the hardest and yet the most simplest thing to do, but in letting go we acknowledge that that certain something was never meant for us and trying to cling on just brings about more unhappiness, not only to us, but to others too. Today I find that the one who understands me most is not the one I love the most, nor is it someone who loves me the most … matters of the heart are felt not heard and though the silence is deafening I am grateful to the one who found me there and brought me back.” - AP

Soundtrack : www.youtube.com/watch?v=B65rD-B7meE

PEOPLE – SOPHIE ZELMANI

The air is blue

surrounding me instead of you

my heart stops still

the echoed beat sounds in my ear

and all I know and all I fear

comes rushing; rising through my veins

and I am me and all the pain

I ever felt leaves me alone

to stand here chilled to aching bones

frozen in this quiet moment

solitude that feels so numb

the memories that leave me wanting

you instead; to bring you home

ssh! Silence! I thought I heard a noise

someone standing close to me

breathing warm air on my neck

the tiny hairs so tenderly

rise up like flowers that reach for light

for sunshine and the stars so bright

I lit a candle but a breeze

so swiftly blew; I felt my knees

buckle under and pull me down

in darkness praying for a sign

that all was well with you and me

I peered into the space beside me

sensing there was someone there

someone who might hear my prayer

I spoke aloud and closed my eyes

hoping this feeling would subside

but still an uneasy suffocation

hands round my throat; a choking sensation

but it was just my imagination

there was nothing left to fear

surely not in this place so holy

where so many parishioners found their peace

and minds were stilled and melancholy

was taken away; replaced with grace

I felt the cold winds turn around

the sound of changes ringing

the warm stones softened underground

I heard the sounds of angels singing

it was very distant; a gentle hum

but comforting it achieved it's mission

to heal the wounds of heart and soul

my prayers were answered; I just listened

no need to beg; no need for words

all is known; our prayers are heard

and we are redeemed from all our sins

are freed from all our mortal whims

the things we ask and do not receive

perhaps they are just not meant to be

the difference between need and greed

the planting of a beautiful seed

we may want and we may ask

we may feel some is a daunting task

but simply letting go of ego

let go of self and freely go

how wonderful it feels to me

to know this simple way to be

and I will remember it all my days

when I found freedom from my ways.

- AP - Copyright © remains with and is the intellectual property of the author

Copyright © protected image please do not reproduce without permission

My artwork is a compilation of 3 of my photographs.

© 2024 by Samuel Poromaa

25.1.18.

I take down the dark icon and put up a smiling version of myself, but the weight I carry in my heart still threatens to overwhelm me. I am lightened only by the beautiful response of my friends. All those on this page, you are my true friends who walk beside me each and every day and I am very grateful ... <3

This is for you ... this is YOUR SONG

www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTa8U0Wa0q8

Copyright © protected images please do not reproduce without permission

" I can control my destiny, but not my fate. Destiny means there are opportunities to turn right or left, but fate is a one-way street. I believe we all have the choice as to whether we fulfil our destiny, but our fate is sealed" - Paulo Coelho

Soundtrack : www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxWK3qACDGk&ebc=ANyPxKr3BZYrX...

IF IT'S LOVE by TRAIN

www.youtube.com/watch?v=9puxoJ1f6YU&app=desktop

ITHACA by C. P. CAVAFY

Recitation by Sean Connery

Music by Vangelis

(A gift from my friend Poppy Kalant - thank you <3 )

There was a fork in the road I took

I thought I was travelling straight

Do I go left or do I go right?

It's a choice I have to make

Walking by the ocean

or walking down the street

there's no such thing as chance encounter

If it's written in the stars we'll meet

Last night we threw away the rules

we had to shoot the breeze

I said will you marry me

You said get off your knees! ; 0))

- AP - Copyright remains with the author

Actually what he said was ... ; 0)

'copyright image please do not reproduce without permission'