Monday, June 29, 2015

Dunno ...


This solitary stem is growing in a patch of 
black mulch near a downtown bus stop.
It has a homely character all its own: scraggly
fronds reaching skyward give it an
odd beauty, a summer version of Charlie Brown's
little Christmas tree standing proudly in
the otherwise vacant bit of earth.

Monday, June 22, 2015

A Summer Morning


In between the hot humid days that have hung in the air 
this month, we have seen quite a bit of rain. 
The storms that have flooded other parts of the country, 
such as Texas and Missouri, have wended 
their way into Indiana. As I look out my window 
to the south, the sky is bright blue above 
a curtain of gray clouds; southern Indiana is 
experiencing storms, accompanied by the real threat
of tornadoes.

I like to get up early in the morning,
sometimes leaving early to walk around downtown
to take pictures, Here, about a month ago, the sun
bounced brightly off the glass of an office building, and
cast its aura through the pale, pink blooms
on the trees outside the Federal Court Building.

These walks often make me think that we have
quite another storm brewing in our midst at street level.
Here, the beauty of the morning is sucked
away by the reality of homeless men sleeping
on the sidewalks. I am not afraid at these times.
Instead, I feel embarrassed, as though I've walked
into someone's home, unwittingly crossing 
an invisible wall, one that exists on 
the sidewalk just outside a hotel.
The number of these folk is increasing;
people caught in a void of no job, no home,
little food. Snared by some
vortex of bad luck and/or poor choices,
 they are the stormfront, warning us of future
upheavals. Every day, I tell myself,
There but for fortune go I,
and one of these days, it could just as
easily be me or any number of my friends.
The chasm is growing.


Thursday, June 18, 2015

A Certain Order


The waning ends of storm fronts that wreaked havoc
on other parts of the country, have made their presence 
known here. The river is a bit out of its banks
and the days are cloudy, promising more storms.
But out of the heat and rain, a certain order has appeared,
a blessing. I swam under gray skies tonight,
peppered by a light shower, and was happier than
I had been in weeks.
 Even though I have been unhappy with my 
progress of late, niggling aches and pains 
melted away with the harder work.
I got out of the pool, not even realizing I was
bleeding from an earlier encounter
with another swimmer's hand paddle,
(Just a little flesh wound honey! It's nothing!)
feeling both a bit tired and re-energized.

There's no accounting for the pleasure
just looking at you brings me.
Your broad shoulders and strong hands
speak of the power to protect and
of a thousand tender caresses.
You watch the younger women with
taut, firm bodies and curves,
inviting you to explore their secrets.
I am older, with secrets of my own to give,
shrouded in a body worn by the years,
and pale skin showing the map
to my heart. 
This heart, whose beat is strong and low,
quietly stoking a constant fire
 feeds a secret of its own --
I love you.

Monday, June 1, 2015

Stylin': A Gazillion Billion Million ...



Oh ... crickey (or words to that effect),
I completely forgot about the June Theme Day.
Well, no matter.
After all, nothing's more stylish than
three thousand or so bikers, all gathered 
to ride around Indy for a charitable event, 
the 22nd Annual Miracle Ride.


While this incarnation of the event began in 1994,
I remember other Miracle Ride gatherings in the 1980s.
Made up of motorcycle enthusiasts from a startling array 
of backgrounds, the volunteers raise money for
Riley Hospital for Children. The money is intended to treat
children with a wide array of illnesses and injuries.


This year, the cyclists met on Speedway's Main Street,
where the parked machines occupied over a half mile, from
16th Street down to 10th Street. Their owners attended
a party in a big tent, while others visited nearby 
restaurants and breweries.


As for the "stylin'" part, 
there definitely is a particular look:
Black leather and nylon, decorated with studs, 
zippers, and some fringe made up the
dominant theme, while sunglasses and bandanas
completed many ensembles.
There's no telling how many professional
folk have adopted this look,
but there could easily have been
at least one ex-governor among them.
(It's rumored that his little boot-clad
feet don't even touch the ground
when his 'cycle stops at intersections.)


To see how other members of 
the City Daily Photo world-wide 
community have interpreted today's theme, 
just click on the above link 
or the on CDP badge 
to the right of this post.