Trudging Towards Spring

The remains of the robins' feast cling

 to the branches of the trees, 

as little crystals of rain hang in the balance,

sequins decorating a rainy day

on their way to Spring, to nurture 

the grass that lies below.

Looking for Pretty

After swimming practice Monday evening,

some of us were griping about the cold, dreary weather,

myself included. However, I had been downtown 

earlier than usual, and took the opportunity 

to walk around, determined to find something pretty 

to make a nice picture. I found browned 

hydrangeas, blood colored berries, 

and russet brick walls.

I am not a fan of brown, but the colors were 

rich when paired with each other.

Today, I will share the berries,

deep and shiny against the siennas

of the brick and mortar.

It's a Berry Gray Day

On Thursday, the day's colors were not much different 

at dawn than they were at dusk.

The overcast was the shade of the gray cardboard
that backs pads of notepaper.
I'd gone to McDonald's for a latte, hot and sweet,
where I watched the modest folk at nearby
tables, chatting with friends and spouses over
their McGriddles and orange juice.
Outside, I saw the red berries shining out
from the pale gold grasses that border the highway.
I left to take a few pictures, wending my
way between parked cars to get to the little
grove of trees. The scarlet dance of the berries 
was the brightest color I saw all day.

Hot Pink

The weather this first week of autumn 

seemed more like late summer.

There are tinges of orange in the trees, while roses 

bloom underneath them, one more time.

These roses glowed, vibrant hot pink in the noon sun. 

The more subdued red berries hung above,

preparing for their entrance while 

the bright flowers made a dramatic exit.

Red Dots

I love to see these berries each winter. 

Their bright orange-y red contrasted against 

the clear blue sky creates a visual dance 

for me as my gaze takes in the little orbs vibrating

in the breeze, foreground to back.

The winter birds love the berries, which provide

them with a source for food; as the winter progresses

they will gather in the trees, gorging on the tiny fruit.

As I took these pictures, I was caught up in how 

the berries' variation in size,

created by their distance from the lens 

made for a rhythmic composition, 

one that teased my eyes into following

their little shapes around the frame.

There is an artist, Yayoi Kusama, whose obsession 

with dots has resulted in a wide range of work

using polka dots as the theme. Who'da thought that

the humble dot could have such possibilities,

resulting in paintings, sculptures, and installations

the world over? In fact, the renowned French company,

Louis Vuitton, based a recent collection on 

Ms. Kusama's work, a promotional video 

for which is shown below.

After looking at the berries and Kusama's work, 

I find myself becoming more interested in the dots,

noticing them in the swarming trail of bubbles 

I swim in as I follow another swimmer in the pool

each night. Sometimes, they support me,

raising me up in the water, making it easier to swim.

Mostly though, they are a warning that I am getting 

a bit too close. Either way, they are my friends,

just as Yayoi Kusama's are hers.

Winter's Banquet

I forget that the year-round birds need to eat, too, when winter comes.

So I was startled when I turned a corner near home 

to see this tree full of berries, it's complementary colors of red 

and green glowing brightly in the sun.

Later, after the leaves have dropped away, the berries

will turn brown, providing a food source

for robins when the winter temperatures drive bugs 

and worms deeper underground.

Colors In Season

Yeah, yeah, I know the seasons are beginning to change. 

The leaves on the trees have wilted, if not actually fallen. 

They're beginning to show color and, while it can be beautiful, 

it also serves as an alarm, a warning of the colder times to come.

I try to tell myself, as I do every year, that each season 

has its own beauties, its own colors. I try to convince myself of that, 

even as the bone-chilling cold creeps ever closer. 

For now, though, I will enjoy the these berries, 

which contrast so beautifully with their leaves,

camouflaging the winter lurking just behind.