At the Car Wash

I pass through a nondescript car wash

on my way into work each morning.

Although it functions, it's rather dilapidated

and faded. There's no accounting for

some of the things I've seen in the half dozen bays - 

one time I saw a full-sized set of

mattress and box springs. One morning,

an engine block from a small car lay

on the floor of another.

Most mornings, I find myself

fascinated by the way sunlight illuminates

the yellow walls. A few days ago,

the floor caught my eye; the seams in

the concrete angled away from 

the wood-covered pit and tiny gouges,

made by the water from the pressurized hose, 

seemed to dance in space.

Just a Sliver

Mornings are beautiful, even the gray, rainy ones.

Saturday morning, I left to go to a little

swim meet, and stepped out into a cool day,

with the sun just beginning to nudge its way over

the tree line. It was still inky black

and a sliver of moon rested its bottom

on a wisp of passing cloud, just below the

remaining stars. I stood at the bus stop and marveled

at it all. If I didn't get up early to swim

I'd never have gotten to see this wonderful,

starry morning.

Morning Light and Mini-Bulbs

Saturday morning, I left for swim practice

at my usual hour. It wasn't until I was downtown

that I realized I'd left an hour early.

Damn.

But the light was beautiful.

After nursing a chai latte at Starbucks,

I hefted my backpack onto my shoulders

to take a walk around the Circle.

I found myself caught up in the crooked-y stance

the trees make against the more strict lines

of the buildings and grids.

And the colors! The new green of the budding

leaves made a lacy aura on some trees, 

while a mossy green patina shaded others.

Then the mini-lights accented the figures of others,

shapes that at night provide twinkly beauty,

as well a sense of security to walkers.

Red, Yellow, Blue ...

I like early mornings. I feel as though 

they belong to me, quiet, crisp, and new.

Early Tuesday morning, on my way to work,

I stopped at a corner near the downtown 

area to meet my second bus.

I could have gone a bit farther, to go to

the place where I could enjoy a hot chai latte,

but I'd seen this -- a clear inky sky serving

as the backdrop for skyscrapers,

set off by a perfect sliver of Moon, dangling

in just the spot meant to balance

the yellow office lights and red logos.

Saturday @ 7 A.M.

I went downtown Saturday to meet a friend

for a ride swim practice. As I rode the bus into town,

I watched as the wind pushed a line of cloud cover across

the city's sky, delineating a clear arc between 

the morose gray that had been our partner for the

past week, and this beautiful periwinkle blue.

The yellow-y streetlights and bright reds

of the cars' tail lights gave the early morning

a spectrum of cheer that added to my

enjoyment of the morning.

Early Morning Light

It was chilly when I got downtown 

early Saturday morning. I pulled my jacket closer 

around me as I walked over to Starbucks, 

a couple blocks away.

On the way, I saw these lighted flowers,

glowing with color against the gray morning.

When I came back an hour later,

the bright, happy flowers were gone, replaced

by purple cabbages.

Even though the calendar told me fall

was just about a week away,

the nurserymen digging away in the giant pots, 

confirmed that colder weather is near.
Bugger.

Portrait of the Bus Driver: Probably About the Fourth

On this mid-August morning, at about a quarter of seven, 

the sky was full of a pink and lavender sunrise.

As the bus headed east along Tenth Street,

I loved the sight of the lights against 
the morning's curtain of clouds. 

Summer is going away, but the sunrise 

it brought was a joy. 

Morning Light: Yellow and Blue

Wednesday morning came up bright, clear, 

and utterly beautiful. I looked around to find 

this new angle showing the Federal Court Building, 

shining yellow and blue, gorgeous 

in the light of the new day.

Yellow Triangle

At the south end of the driveway near work 

is a stark little building, a car wash.

Cement block with brick facing, it's a bit down at heel, 

just like the surrounding neighborhood,

but it's earning it's keep; there frequently are two 

or three cars being washed as I pass by in the morning,

with that same amount later when I leave.

This bay was empty when I walked through,

the morning light making a yellow wedge 

that attempted to brighten the dingy walls.

Study in Faded Khaki and Black

I've been stalking these delivery bays 

for quite a while.

I'd first seen them late one morning, 

when the shadow framing the left side 

was a bit broader.

Since then, it's been too overcast, 

too bleached out and flat, or other shapes 

blocked the view. Whatever.

The other day, I figured it was time;

I'd have wished for more shadow,

but this was as decent a composition I'd seen

since that long ago first sighting.

I just love all the rectangles and right

angles stacked upon each other.

And the color -- for me, the rusty splotch

balances the subtle order of the

boarded-up door on the right.

Mauve-y Grace

In some places, these beautiful flowers inhabit 

only a small patch of a neighbor's yard.

However, other people love them as much as I do; 

the tall, slender stalks form an entire hedge row 

in some places, the delicately colored blooms 

mounting only the most spurious 

of defenses against intruders.

From Out of the Doors They Streamed

I'd just missed the 7:30 bus to work and was walking 

a few blocks to catch one on a different route

when I was joined up with children, accompanied by their parents, 

all going more or less the same direction.

Monday was the first day of school and the children were 

on their way to an elementary school about a quarter mile away.

It was a reassuring scene; the parents showing their

kids the route, the "safe path" between home

and the school building. While this dad walked with his

two boys, one mom drove her SUV alongside

her son and daughter as they rode their bicycles

on the sidewalk. I know this because I'd heard the boy

calling out to me as he approached from behind,

with mom calling to him from the car,

"Say 'excuse me,' Jacob!"

"I did, Mom!" he said, and I nodded agreement.

Another year of learning, of learning one's

way from home to a new place.

Thankfully, in these cases, mom and dad

are there to help show the way,

a natural progression repeated over

the generations.

Just About All the Colors

While the morning sun came up rather pale and listless, 

the same could not be said for these flowers.

They showed a blazing myriad of color, 

the bright flame colors like torches planted in the box, 

while the purple and green below 

complemented the fire.

Bird on a Wire

I love things like this, a few spare lines 

against the background. 

In this case, a blue and white morning sky

provides the backdrop for electric wires and

their insulators. The little dove manages

to balance the whole thing.

Then, of course, it's inevitable ... 

In All Its Glorious Hibiscus-ness

On my way to Starbucks Wednesday morning, 

I was startled by the sunlit beauty of this red hibiscus 

outside the Sheraton Hotel entrance.

Newly bloomed, it stood tall and proud to greet

the morning as it rose from behind the

downtown buildings. Just beyond, a hotel limo

and a line of African cabbies were also

prepared to begin the day's business.

Waiting for Indygo

Whether it was the pattern of the girl's backpack 

and the way the bright yellow lining 

of her hoodie shown in the morning sun -- 

or that combined with the pattern 

in the man's shirt, I don't know, 

but it sure caught my eye.

Feelin' Blue

Day lilies, pock-marked by huge 

globules of dew,

greeted the morning sun. And me. 

I was on my way to work

and just had to stop to get a picture

before the heat of the day

burned away the flowers' little prisms.

Sunlit Edges

I saw these little sunlit flowers in one of the garden plots 

at Saint Christopher Catholic Church in Speedway.

 I was captivated by the way their little furry bits 

caught the sun, accentuating the delicacy 

of their shapes and stems.

The brightness of the sunlight off these little flowers 

made me think of the way crystal prisms 

were used to bounce candlelight around a room, 

making the room seem brighter.

Pink and Blue, Touched With Gold

Dressed in pink and blue, the sunrise came,

casting its golden light on the landscape. 

The warm breezes created feathery wisps 

as they pushed the clouds aside,

to give us a beautiful day.

Tapestry

I love backlit trees and flowers. 

The sunlight adds richness to the leaves and petals,

showing their delicacy and structure. 

In this case, these gleaming red leaves come to life 

against a backdrop of purple-y stones 

and pale yellow twigs. The little buds resemble

 the silken sheen of an Oriental carpet,

where a weaver may have sought 

to capture this brief moment of Spring 

in a lustrous tapestry.