ready for harvest
by Elouise
Ripe and ready for harvest
The meadow lies before me
Still standing yet stripped
Of all but essentials
The sum of my present life
Waits for release into new life
Seeds dropped here and there
With no guarantees
There is no cure for death
The goal toward which
Every heartbeat has driven me
The home for which I long
I feel only loneliness and sorrow
At leaving behind loved ones
And this beautiful threatened world
D took this photo on our last visit to Longwood Gardens. No more stunning meadow flowers, and not so many joyous birds and butterflies. Instead, it’s full of late term life, ready to give its well-aged beauty to anyone willing to spend time looking and listening.
It isn’t as perky as it was just a month ago. Still, it isn’t ugly, or a sign that all is lost. Rather, it’s a sign that life is brief and fragile, and that it’s important to love it while we have it. One way or another, death comes to each of us sooner or later. With or without time for last goodbyes or heartfelt conversations.
© Elouise Renich Fraser, 6 November 2017
Photo taken by DAFraser, 28 October 2017
Daily Prompt: Panacea
Telling the Truth 
A beautiful reminder of just how precious time is. The photo is very nice as well.
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Thank you. I couldn’t get Sunday’s mass killing in Texas out of my mind or heart….
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I’ve been having a hard time myself. ❤️
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Thank you again. This time of year, plus an escalating disregard for human life—including one’s own, invites self-examination. 🙏🏻💜
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Your a happy soul; aren’t you? Always worrying about turning the toes up, if not your own; one of your friends.Cheer up, it’s not all that bad 😀
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Perhaps you missed our latest news…a mass killing Sunday that took at least 25 inhabitants of a small Texas town of 400, with many more injured. It isn’t just about me. It’s about all of us and how important it is to connect with family and friends before we or they are gone from this earth.
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No we always get THAT news, the media are the same world wide. Can’t wait for tragedy and go all sanctimonious. Damned murdock hypocrites. Is it any wonder I don’t like TV very much.
I noticed too that there wer 8 members of one family.
Obviously these vicious brain dead maniac consider a church on a Sinday as an easy mark. We now have to wait for a spate of copycat killers.
And I don’t doubt that here are many of them on the loose in the US, and they have a ready supply of the wherewith all to go about their murderous business at their nearst friendly supermarket!
What a sad place America has become. Especially as they claim leadership of the free world. The can certainly lead sheep to the slaughter.
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Actually, he was after a relative who goes to that church–though she wasn’t there last Sunday. It’s a tragedy for sure–another one. Even if there were no people like this around–not just here in the USA–we still need to be ready to die, even though no one would choose, I think, to die in this manner.
The gun lobby in the USA is incredibly powerful, and unfortunately, guns are relatively easy to obtain. I heard a report on National Public Radio this afternoon. A researcher at Stanford University has done a study of gun violence since the ‘right to carry’ firearms was approved nearly some years ago. The data shows that death by firearms has increased significantly. No surprise, though the gun lobby keeps the myth alive that having ‘good’ people carrying firearms will provide protection against the ‘bad’ people. Which, of course, was discredited by this research. I’d also say that owning guns is only part of the problem. Domestic violence is high on the list of unresolved issues that lead to death by firearm or other means.
I’d say the world has become a sad place, and America is no different than other countries–even though our politicians like to talk about American exceptionalism. Still, in every neighborhood, city and town, there are lots of good people who step up and help out when things like this happen. Just like people do in other countries as well. Your own included. 🙂
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America is vastly different from other countries. No other (civilized)country allows such ease to obtaining guns. No other (civilized) country punishes wrongdoers with capital punishment, especially such a monstrously slow death, “Lethal Injection”, China, Saudi Arabia, would hardly be classified as civilized but at least they kill theirs quickly.
The last person executed in NSW where I live was around 1938, The last public execution in the USA was in 1936, a throng of many thousands witnessed the event, merry day was had by all except the executioner who was too drunk to do his job. Still the vendors did a roaring trade selling their food to the crowd; and the sheriff, a woman was called upon to execute the poor victim, she fainted so someone else stepped up. You were right about that.
It’s such a pity, The USA has so much to offer; but seems unable to grasp how. I often think they were never ready to receive the baton from England.
Why 4 or 5 million decent citizens of the silent majority (presuming that the majority of Americans are decent citizens) do not join the NRA and then with their majority vote them out of existence is beyond me. Whats to stop them?
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A beautiful picture to accompany a beautiful post. Every season has its beauty in life and in weather.
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Thanks for your beautiful comment!
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The autumn of our lives, we will all go through it, some in good ways, some going kicking and screaming that it’s not time, there never is enough time though in our eyes. But to see you there enjoying the wide open space before you, filled with possibilities and renewal. I like to think our souls go on to better places filled with those who went before and time means nothing, so to miss those still to come will go fast as a flash, we are all destined. Texas made me cry….young and old, all souls who weren’t ready….sigh….a world gone mad at times. peace and love E ❤
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Kim, your vision is wonderful. And yes, I think there are tons of possibilities for renewal right up until we depart this world. My love affair with being outside started later in life–and has been one of the most healing things I’ve ever done. Except for this…I want to be out there every day! 🙂 So I’d say writing poetry gives me that possibility in a different form. We can all weep for Texas…and for ourselves. What have we become, and what does it take to stay true to what we believe? So many tough questions. And aching hearts. Peace and love to you, as well. E.
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