Weekend Writers' Retreat: some nonsense

I have been ill, with a very sore throat and partial laryngitis. One of my brothers phoned and didn't recognize my voice. A friend phoned to offer me a ride and, as soon as I said "Hello," replied "Well, I guess you aren't going out anywhere, are you?"
It's been that kind of week, so it should be no surprise to find out I can't write anything much worth posting.
So, for this weekend's Writer's Retreat hosted by Grandma's Goulash, I found some photos in our archives and wrote a little rhymelet with which to accompany them, just to cheer myself up. While my husband's photos may have some artistic merit, please be warned: my poetics have none.
*
When I first moved to Alberta, I was delighted to see, distinctly, from many different prairie vantage points, the curvature of the earth.
Imagine my surprise, then, when my husband took the following two sunset photos, which definitely show the earth curving in the wrong direction, like a bowl instead of like a ball.

the earth was tilting on its axis

at the start of this new year

were the mayans right in practice

and not just in theorier?

© Photos by Richard Schear, January 2, 2012

*

Also posting for the word "old" (Mayans are very old)

and the old rules seem to be contradicted here, for our friend Gattina's

Weekend Photo Challenge

For Real Toads: Talon's beautiful photos

As a Weekend Photo Challenge for the writers' group Imaginary Garden with Real Toads, Fireblossom posted 5 photos taken by her blogging friend Talon (a fellow Canadian, nice to see you here, Talon) and introduced Talon's muse: Stripey the Cat. At least, I assume that's what he is. I'm sure Fireblossom would have mentioned if Stripey were Talon's familiar. On the other hand, Stripey seems to have done all the talking on Toads this time, so perhaps familiar is exactly what he is, that or Talon's alter ego.

ktn © 2012

Stripey looks
both sleepy
and alert
in a way
only cats can manage.

ktn © 2012

Blue heron flying
through a field
not allowing
field grasses
to impede
its large wings,
long legs,
or crooked neck.

ktn © 2012

Stripey thinks
this is a dog,
and perhaps
the horse would like
to be a dog,
allowed into the house
and onto the couch,
to cuddle
with the cat.

ktn © 2012

Talon told Stripey
candles are necessary in Canada.
Perhaps she is right:
Candles to mourn
the passing
of Maple Leaf Gardens,
now renamed, after

a constantly-bankrupt airline.

ktn © 2012

The moon
is at its perigee,
the point in its orbit
when it's closest to the earth.
We're told strange things happen
at that point of orbit.
So does the perigee
cause quakes?

(Stripey only knows he likes the moon.)

For Real Toads: Daryl's photos

I have long been a fan of Daryl Edelstein's photos of New York. I think one of the things I like most is her sense of perspective. She can give any old thing a new angle: making it shine, making it jump, making it sing.
Fireblossom has offered us not one, not two or three, but fifteen of Daryl's photos and asked us to choose one as inspiration in today's Weekend Photo Challenge at the writers' group Imaginary Garden with Real Toads.
Choosing just one of Daryl's photos is the most difficult part of the challenge, so I've chosen two.
*

© Daryl Edelstein photos

the heat from the sun
and the warmth
of the colors,
the charm of the shapes
and the smiles
of the people,
the traffic,
the bustle,
the city,
alive.
*
the photographer sees it
where others are blind.
from her eye
to her lens
to the
digital pixels,
recording,
rewording,
renewing
it all.
*
Do check out Daryl's photos, either on her own blog or on Real Toads. Both links are here and both will give you a new appreciation for Daryl's New York City.