Nightingale

The full moon shines high above a lake. Its water is calm and clear in the silver light.  Across the water, on the shores of the lake, sings the nightingale. Her sweet song is like an angel singing - pure, high notes that linger in the air like golden bells ringing.

aria

the nightingale's song

at midnight

Loving To Learn

Ann was on her way to the university library when she ran into Bobby.

"Hey, baby." Bobby grinned.

Ann's stomach gurgled. She felt like she was going to barf up her breakfast of pancakes and coffee. She rolled her eyes and sighed.

"You again?" she said.

"Yeah, it's me. Was hoping to catch you."

"What for?" Ann looked at him, a slight frown on her face.

"Well, there's this big frat party at the Alpha Kappa's. I want you to come with me. It's the whole talk of the campus - loads of music, and partying, and fun - you'll love it!" He grinned again, flashing his yellow stained teeth.

Ann shook her head. "A big party on a weekday? You know it's Thursday, right?"

Bobby shrugged. "The Alpha Kappa's don't care. They party whenever they want. Say - are you comin' or what?"

" No Bobby, I need to study. Good grades are important to me. I hope you understand that."

"Aww, c'mon Ann! All you ever do is study. Don't you want a life?"

Ann's eyes flashed and she gnashed her teeth. Her shoulders shook and she stamped her foot.

"I have a life, thank you very much! And I don't need some drunken frat boy telling me what to do. Get lost!" she glared at him.

"Huh? You get all pissed just because I invite you to a party? Wow, just wow..." he walked off, muttering to himself.

Ann watched him go. She never could understand Bobby. Sure, he was good looking in a rough kind of way, but all he ever did was guzzle down beers and eat pepperoni pizza. She couldn't even remember a time he ever studied. How he got into University was a mystery to her. She sighed and entered the library.

Here was her world - books and all the knowledge she could learn from - so many things to read about and discover. It excited her. She ran up the stairs to the second floor.

And there she saw her friends: Dani, Robin, and Rick. She flashed a smile and waved at them as she ran to their table. Setting her backpack on the floor, she pulled up a chair alongside them. Here were her friends, her family. 

flies

around a light bulb

students

Stunning Simplicity

One fall day in September, Ally visited her garden. The air was cool and crisp, and the colored leaves crunched under her feet. She took a deep breath, letting the air flow freely through her lungs. Her body burned, but not from any fever. It burned with the zeal of love - her little garden was a jewel in her eyes. Here, among the plants, she was a mother tending to her carrots, cabbages, and potatoes, - her little children. Her eyes sparkled and shone as she sang to them every morning: her sweet, clear voice rung like a golden bell - the voice of an angel. Smiling, she finished her song and looked at her plants. This was her world, and it was enough.

carrots

and cabbages

little children

Wonderous Wine

One night in the summer of June, I lay in a meadow and gazed up at the stars. I felt a great stirring within me to see the heavens arrayed like a diamond necklace. Their sparkling dazzled my eyes, and my pulse quickened at their splendor. I felt lightheaded as I gazed upon such beauty. Overcome with longing, I burst into song:

O maid of my heart, bring me wine.

I burn for the sweet kiss of wine.

The sun rises from her slumber,

But my thoughts always turn to wine.

Behold the moon, her face so bright;

In night's embrace, I dream of wine.

Do you see the stars, how they shine?

All ashes when I long for wine.

And I, the Playful Poet say:

What is the world without my wine?

Sweet Song

One summer night, I sat down in a meadow. I gazed up at the stars and saw them shine like diamonds in the sky. A warm wave flooded through me as I watched their splendor. Sighing, I closed my eyes and inhaled the night air. I smelled the sweet smell of roses in bloom; their perfume flooded my nostrils and sent my mind reeling in a delirium of delight. As I sat there, at peace with myself, I heard the cricket sing her song.

a cricket

chirps in the moonlight

summer nights

the bird in my breast

flutters at your voice

The Apple Of The Eye

Gather round my friends, and hear a most extraordinary tale. I was young then, a wandering minstrel eager to fire the world with my songs of love. I dreamed in those days, great dreams of adventure that would stir the souls of my listeners. And thus one day, in my journey through the forest of Norwood, I met an old ranger who told me this tale. I now tell it to you in the hopes you will have gleaned the gold within it. Listen closely...

A golden-haired elf

sits by the shores of the sea.

In his hands he holds

a silver harp.

He plucks the strings softly,

and his sapphire eyes grow dim

as he sings a song

of apple rosed Alaine,

the fairest flower of a forgotten race,

lost in the great cycles of sun and moon.

Spring Dreams

Spring Dreams

As I sat by the shores of the sea, I gazed upon the waters. The sea shone like aquamarine, as the waves crashed upon the shore. The wind caressed my cheeks and I smiled as I looked at the fluffy clouds in the sky. As I daydreamed, a thought flashed through my mind:

clouds

over the ocean

spring dreams

my thoughts fly free

when I think of you

Under The Moon

Under The Moon

As I sit and stare at the moon, a sudden shiver dances down my spine. A flood of warmth rushes through my heart; I feel like I am flying through the air. My head is light; dreamy thoughts fill my mind like a movie.  As I watch these images, a smile creeps up my face. I burst into song:

Under the moon I dream of you;

Your eyes are stars that hold me at bay,

And your smile is like honeydew,

That turns my night into sweet day.

For when tears are turned into song,

And laughter replaces the wrong;

Then our burdens be cast aside,

To drown with the incoming tide. 

Sweet Sunshine

Sweet Sunshine

Weak and weary from a long day of toil, I paced the floor of my room. My mind was in a fog, and my thoughts chained me like a sinking ship in the sea. I saw myself in a daydream.  In my dream I was falling headfirst into the abyss,  a black pit of  unimaginable depth. Like a rock, I was hurtled down to my doom. Tears flowed down my cheeks, and my heart felt like a coffin. My breath came in short, quick gasps as sobs wracked my frame. I groaned and tugged on my hair. And then I saw you come through the door.

the night is cold

and shadows loom

before my face

hold me in your arms

my sweet sunshine

Mystic Moon

Mystic Moon

Feeling weak and weary from the day's long toils, I lay on the grass and gaze up at the sky. The moon shines like a golden coin, and the stars glimmer like glass. The heavens are painted in inky black, with shades of navy blue. It fills my heart and soul with a sense of grandeur, to behold nature's finest work painted on a canvas of creation. As I lay there on the damp grass, contemplating the wonders of the world, my mind recalls a cherished memory:

under the moon

you hold my hand

as we watch the stars

I see the fire

in your eyes for me

The Moon And Me

The Moon and Me

The moon shone high in the sky like a great silver plate. Midori sat on a stone bench in the plum garden, with the Prince's tanka in her slender, manicured hand. She shivered and hugged herself. She knew it was more than the cold that made her tremble. "The Prince had written to her!" She thought as she stared again at the tanka in her hand. After so long, he had promised to meet her in the plum garden this very night. Her heart beat like a fluttering bird in her breast, and her breath came in short, quick gasps. She pressed her cherry lips tenderly on the Prince's tanka, before she tucked it away in the sleeve pocket of her pink and white kimono. Setting her hands on her knees, she waited.

Soon, the sound of footsteps could be heard. Midori lifted her head and listened, her head tilted to one side. The Prince strode into view, a young man of twenty seasons. Midori felt a wave of heat rushing over her as she gazed on his handsome face. He looked like the Sun god himself, with that red cloak draped over his muscular shoulders. Her cheeks reddened as the Prince smiled at her.

"Midori, my dear. It is so good to see you again." He said.

Her body all tense and trembling, Midori sprang up from the stone bench and bowed to the Prince.

"Your Highness." She said in as sweet a voice as she could manage.

"Oh, please Midori. Call me Kitaro. You and I are such sweet friends. What use do we have for such silly titles, hmm?" Again he smiled and offered her his hand.

Midori's heart beat like a drum and her vision swam, as she took the Prince's hand and invited him to sit next to her on the stone bench. With a shaking hand, she brushed some of her loose bangs to the side and tucked them around her left ear. She smiled faintly, and  whispered to him:

"You...wanted to see me?" She asked, still unable to believe this was actually happening to her.

"Indeed, my dearest dove." He said as he took her right hand and pressed it to his lips. "I have missed you so much. I just had to see you again." Once more he pressed a kiss on her hand as he held it within his own.

Midori trembled and again felt her heart beat wildly within her. She could barely control her shaking hand that the Prince held. "He must not see me like this!" She thought in a wave of panic as her eyes raced back and forth between her hand and the Prince's face.

Again the Prince kissed her hand. A soft, slow kiss that hinted at something more. Midori sighed and in a stammering voice, whispered:

"And Suki? What about her?" She held her breath and strained her ears, hoping against hope as she waited for the Prince to speak.

"Ah, Suki." The Prince said with a smile. "You need not fear her, my dearest dove. She is only jealous of you--as I am of your...beauty." He again pressed his lips on her hand in a sweet caress.

Midori's mind raced at this unexpected news. "Could it be true?" She thought in her excitement. "That all this time he loved only me?" A wild surge of warmth flooded her heart and she smiled.

under the moon

you hold my hand

as we watch the stars

I see the fire

in your eyes for me

Cuckoo Call

Cuckoo Call

Midori paced the floor of her room, her tiny barefoot feet sliding over the tatami mats. She felt a deep squeezing sensation in her heart, a pain so heavy that she felt faint. She sighed. Why did Prince Kitaro favor Suki? Just the other night he had promised her his love in the plum garden. She could still see him in her mind: the two of them holding hands as they stood together and stared at the setting sun; the Prince whispering sweet words in her ear, telling  her how much he loved her; that no beauty in the Imperial Court was as wonderful as her. Midori sighed again and shook her head. Was it all a dream? But no, it could not be. There, on her desk, was a tanka written by the Prince himself, in his fine bold script. He was such a fine poet, the Prince, truly magnificent in his verse--and a fine lover as well. 

With a dull ache in her chest, Midori walked over to her desk and read the tanka. A tear streamed down her cheek as she devoured his words, looking for any clues in his message. She felt like her heart had turned to glass--the pain hurt so much. Suddenly, she broke into a fit of wild sobbing. She threw down the poem and rushed to her bed, pressing her face down on her pillow as deep sobs and moans rocked her body.

"What should I do?" She thought in a fit of despair. She could not bear to lose the man she loved so much.

As she mourned her fate and the cruelty of life, she heard a bird chirping outside. She tried to ignore the bird, but it continued its incessant chatter. A flush of resentment filled her face and her cheeks reddened. She pursed her lips and brushed her tears away as she got to her feet. She crept to the sliding door and opened it, looking out for the source of the sound. And then, she saw it. A cuckoo sitting on the branch of a cherry blossom tree. As she stared at it, a sudden flicker of life crept into her red, tear stained eyes. A faint smile lighted her face as she watched the bird. She knew then what she had to do.

Spring sunrise in the cherry blossom garden.

Soft pink petals blow in the breeze.

Old winter clings to the sakura branches,

But the cuckoo sings her song.

Lady Red

Lady Red

A great orange fireball rises over a meadow, as red-breasted robins chirp their morning song. And I walk among these sweet singers, listening as their melody weaves an enchantment over me. They sing like the finest choir girls, performing a cantata greater than Bach ever wrote. These heavenly strains fill my soul with God's grandeur, and I tremble as I press a hand over my beating heart. The singing increases, growing in power and purity as the sun rises higher into the air, filling the land with light. A warmth floods my body as I hear their song, leaving me breathless.

From the far side of the meadow, a figure wrapped in a cloak of scarlet slowly approaches. A wild thrill courses through me. Is it an angel? Biting my lip, I hold a hand over my eyes and stare as the scarlet figure closes the distance between us. The figure is silent a moment, then slender fingers pull down the hood. A smiling, grey eyed feminine face greets my eyes. A wave of recognition overtakes me. My heart feels like it will burst as I gaze upon this angelic beauty. With a cry, I leap into her waiting arms.

sunlight

on my face

Spring rain

I remember the first time

you caressed my cheek

A Date With The Duke

A Date with the Duke

Lady Allison sat on a stool next to her dressing table as her maid, Lucy, combed out the wild knots in her blonde hair. Beside her mirror, stood a tiny painted portrait of a tall handsome nobleman. Her bright blue eyes scanned the image as she watched Lucy comb her hair. She bit her lips and fidgeted in her seat. Then she sighed.

"Is something wrong milady?" Lucy asked.

"Oh, I don't know." Lady Allison finally said. "Do you think he will love me?"

"Who milady?"

"Why, the Duke of course!" She winced as Lucy tugged hard on her hair. "Are you always this stupid? Watch your combing."

"Oh, I'm sorry  milady, I....really am" Lucy stammered as her face reddened. "It won't happen again."

"It better not." Lady Allison snapped. "I won't have your stupidity ruin everything." She turned back to the mirror and smiled at her reflection, her eyes gleaming as she admired herself.

"He's such a man." She said. "A rich and handsome man. And I mean to have him." Something ugly flashed in her eyes for a second, and she fell silent. She stared at the table and closed her eyes, seeming to be lost in thought.

Suddenly, she felt a violent tug of her hair. Her eyes flung open.

"Idiot!" She screamed. "Must I do everything myself?" She snatched the hairbrush from Lucy and began to brush furiously through her hair, her face contorted into an ugly sneer. "Good for nothing peasant! I don't know why my father loves such useless help."

She continued to comb her hair. "There." She said at last. "Now my hair is perfect. I'm perfect." She stood up and walked to the door. She flung it open and stalked out, giving Lucy a dirty look before slamming the door.

Lucy stood there for a moment, her eyes wide and her body trembling as the footsteps receded down the hall. Then she crept to Lady Allison's dressing table. Her eyes gazed at the Duke's portrait. She looked long at it before slowly picking it up. One tear streamed down her face as she held the picture close to her face. Her body trembled again as she pressed her lips down on the portrait in a tender kiss.

"Oh, my love, my love..." She whispered.

a lily

blooms in the  meadow

cuckoo's song

Open Arms, Open Heart (Guest Post)

Open Arms, Open Heart

Patiently I waited. Some days were harder than others, but I kept doing just that. I waited for a sign of trust. A sign of need. Some may say it was stubbornness. I don't think so. I call it faith. The day arrived that you came to me. To your surprise, my arms were open.

a warmth in my chest
but heaviness was in yours

doubt starting to fade
you feel my arms encase you
a true test now overcome

Amy Maier wrote this post. She writes on positivity and how it can change your life. You can find her work here.

A Walk In The Woods

A Walk in the Woods

One cloudy day in March, I went for a long walk in the woods. My feet trudged down a long trail that wove its way among the trees. The cold wind pierced my back and sent shivers down my spine. I felt a great weight pressed on my shoulders, and I sat down on a rock to rest myself. As I sat there, I listened to the wind blowing through the woods. With a sigh, I closed my eyes and buried my face in my hands. Then the sun came out behind the clouds.

sunlight

scatters the clouds

a sweet smile

to brighten long years

alone in the woods

Happy Hearts

moonlight

a piano sonata

on the lake

sweet summer nights

spent in your arms

The power of love. What a sweet sensation that fills our body--a lightness of walking on air. We drift in clouds and dream of delights with our special other. The whole world seems more magical and worth living when our dearest is there with us. Somehow, things just seem to click and fall into place. We feel whole.

Cherish these memories. Love and respect the other person in your life. Learn to think in a "We" attitude. Understand yourself, so that you may better understand your love. Always think with a sense of togetherness--two people must beat with one heart. Just as there is harmony and melody in music, so must there be in a happy relationship.

Make these things a part of your life. And feel your bond with your partner grow. Love, so that you may be loved. Be a Happy Heart.