Warmer, With Rain

Saturday, the sun appeared, muted and pastel, 

surrounded by wisps of clouds

in lavender and mauve, while contrails

darted across the sky, bursting 

streaks of pink and coral.

This morning, the clouds roll in,

blue-black ink spreading across wet paper,

pouring their color over the land.

Grasses, Shorn

The ornamental grasses, whose green strands

earlier had danced proudly in the breezes,

found themselves shorn, their grassy plumes

thrown away. Now the bare stalks

stand like a burr haircut,

catching stray leaves at its base.

The Day Before

These images, 

the last of the sycamore leaves, 

were formed by the rain 

and mud on the drive outside 

my apartment. 

Later, another rain will wash

away this last bit of fall, 

leading the way

into winter 

Powdered Holes

After the work day is over, the people who actually keep 

the city functioning begin their shifts.

Under the glare of LED lights, utility workers

enter the netherworld of Indy's buildings

to maintain the heating, electrical and

telecommunications systems that the accountants,

attorneys, and administrative workers need

to perform their jobs.

I saw these men working near the intersection 

of Pennsylvania and Ohio Streets, where

they dug through several inches of asphalt and

concrete to lift the heavy steel covers,

giving them access to the steam ducts below.

It appears that, in addition to the near-daylight 

quality of the lighting, the men are using 

saws that somehow don't allow the concrete 

dust to blow all over. Instead, it's made

a tidy pile around the perimeter of the hole. 

Colors on a Gray Day

Just over a year ago, I stood at the edge 

of the Natatorium pool, preparing for swim practice,

when I noticed the prisms of color spreading 

from the edges of the lane stripes.

They are a constant, changing with the flow of the water,

undulating and pulsing colored light.

I've taken pictures and made drawings as

I search for a way to bring their beauty to life

on canvas. This search adds movement

to the drawings of the swimmers,

although what interests me most is the

movement of the water over 

and around their bodies;

it's interesting to see the distortions

the moving water makes as an underwater 

swimmer pushes off the wall.

And so, on this gray day, as the breezes

gust through now barren trees,

I find color and comfort in the water

as I watch and swim in the "concrete box."

Overcast Color

One evening, just before the sun dipped below the skyline,

the subdued pinks and lavenders contrasted

with the gloden leaves and yellow lights in the buildings.

Winter Pattern

Friday night, I did a volunteer stint with

 the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra 

where I was privileged to hear percussionist 

Dame Evelyn Glennie perform.

The piece was the U.S. premiere of

Concerto for Aluphone by Anders Koppel.

The aluphone is an instrument invented

by marimbist Kai Stensgaard and  Michael Hansen,
an engineer who runs a design and manufacturing
business. The instrument made its debut at
the Opening Ceremonies for the 2012 London Olympic
 Games with Dame Evelyn as soloist.
The picture above made me think of a musical
staff, with the ice as bright, bell-light tones,
appropriate for the coming season.