Flowers, Cacti, and Geese

4/28/2024

Hello blog friends,

The high desert of Arizona has a beauty all its own. As a newcomer, I'm often in awe of my local surroundings. Colleen Chesebro invites us to reflect on our natural environment as it changes through the seasons. In our area, those changes can be dramatic. Last Saturday it rained, then hailed, and by late afternoon, we had sunshine.

I've three tankas to share. This first poem focuses on a crabapple tree in our front yard. The second poem reflects on a cactus cluster that I walk past every day. And the third tanka is a playful take on the geese that now visit.

I hope you enjoy my wanderings.

Have a lovely week, dear friends. ❤️

30 Comments

Eugi link

4/30/2024 09:08:44

Beautifully written poems, Gwen. I especially enjoyed the second tanka and the strength it portrays.

Gwen M. Plano

4/30/2024 11:15:04

Thanks so much, Eugi. The second one is my favorite too. 😊

Colleen link

4/30/2024 12:20:02

What fabulous spring tanka poetry, Gwen. I love your photos too. The cactus tanka is my favorite. Great imagery in all these verses. ❣️

Gwen M. Plano

4/30/2024 16:38:58

Thank you, Colleen. You've opened a new world for me. ❤️

Pat Garcia link

5/1/2024 07:29:53

Hi,
I like the poems but the pictures fascinate the most. It is because of my cherry tree that blossomed so nice this year, and the geese that fly to Germany this time of the year. Our skies are rright now full of the Canadian geese that come out of Canada seeking a summer home in Germany.
Take care.
Shalom shalom

Gwen M. Plano

5/1/2024 08:28:30

How beautiful, Pat. I didn't know that Canadian geese spend their summers in Germany. We are all so interconnected, aren't we. 😊

Tim Dittmer link

5/1/2024 07:30:23

Beautiful poetry and fabulous pictures, Gwen! ❤

Gwen M. Plano

5/1/2024 08:29:59

Thank you, Tim. I don't have a camera other than my cell phone. But it's good enough for me. 😊

Jan Sikes

5/1/2024 08:31:50

All three lovely poems, Gwen. The cacti, with its protective thorns, is beautifully depicted.

Gwen M. Plano

5/1/2024 08:37:30

Thanks so much, Jan. I'm glad you liked the poems. 😊

John Howell link

5/1/2024 08:56:42

Lovely Tankas, Gwen. That crabapple tree is amazing.

Gwen M. Plano

5/1/2024 09:01:14

Thank you, John. It's a beautiful tree this time of the year. 😊

Jacqui link

5/1/2024 08:58:50

All good. I especially like the protective cactus. That's a great image.

Gwen M. Plano

5/1/2024 09:02:07

Thanks so much, Jacqui. Spring is a perfect season for poetry. 😊

Priscilla Bettis link

5/1/2024 12:47:07

Your tree (and your poems) are gorgeous. We've seen a lot of geese around our area lately too. Such magnificent birds.

Gwen M. Plano

5/1/2024 13:37:15

Thank you, Priscilla. I think they are beautiful. Today I saw two Mallards, several Roadrunners, and a rabbit. Morning walks are inspirational! 😊

Annette Rochelle Aben

5/1/2024 12:55:57

This SOO sounds like Michigan weather.

Gwen M. Plano

5/1/2024 13:38:30

Oh my, Spring is so fickle, isn't she? 😊

Teagan Riordain Geneviene link

5/1/2024 13:10:27

Each one is lovely, Gwen. Thanks for sharing them.
That prickly pear is looking beautiful. For some reason they never do well for me, which is a puzzle, since they grow here without even being planted. (I have a weird image in my head of cacti pooping pigeons...)
My other cacti do well enough, just not the prickly pear.
Hugs!

Gwen M. Plano

5/1/2024 13:41:52

LOL, Teagan. Cacti grow freely in this area, and it's wise to be alert. There are some growing in our yard, and supposedly, it's illegal to remove them??? I tried to do so once, and quickly decided to let them be. Ouch!

Liz Gauffreau link

5/1/2024 16:34:04

I love all three of these tanka! I particularly like the use of "fruitless" in the crabapple one.

Gwen M. Plano

5/2/2024 10:48:48

Thank you, Liz. Spring is a wonderful time to create poetry. Everything is blooming. 😊

JadeLi link

5/1/2024 20:30:05

Gwen I thought that was snow on the first tree. So many blossoms! Imagining them painting the earth white soon. Love the cacti in bloom! I saw a lot in bloom in the garden center greenhouse earlier this week but nothing like seeing them outside like this. The geese are gorgeous and different than the ones here (ours are Canadian geese.)

Gwen M. Plano

5/2/2024 10:53:47

Thank you so much, Jade. It does look like snow, especially when the petals fall. 😊

Lisa link

5/1/2024 21:34:38

I especially like the one with the cactus flowers. It's an interesting perspective of the cactus protecting the beautiful flowers.

Gwen M. Plano

5/2/2024 10:54:54

Thank you, Lisa. I had fun with that tanka. 😊

Smitha link

5/3/2024 22:22:15

Lovely Tanka, Gwen. I liked all three.
P.S. I read your book, 'Redemption' and enjoyed it. I've shared the review on my blog.

Gwen M. Plano

5/4/2024 19:56:20

Thank you so much, Smitha. Your book, Coming Home, is on my Kindle and I'm looking forward to reading it very much. 😊

Yvette M Calleiro link

5/4/2024 17:41:46

These are all gorgeous, Gwen!

Yvette M Calleiro :-)
http://yvettemcalleiro.blogspot.com

Gwen M. Plano

5/4/2024 19:56:46

Thanks so much, Yvette. 😊

Flowers, Cacti, and Geese

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