Jone MacCullough (MsMac) is hosting Poetry Friday today on her blog, Check It Out! Thanks very much, Jone.
I live in the former Lowry Air Force Base, released from
the government, then re-developed about 1998-2000. My school is here too. On one street where I drive often sits an old
bowling alley, long abandoned by the military, appears to be lost in the way
some buildings are. Someone owns the
property, on a street commerce-busy, but no one has wanted to do something with
it, until now. I’ve seen a HAZMAT team
enter, and lots of workers going in and out with trash bags to fill the
dumpsters. Yet nothing so far has been
done to the outside. I wonder if it’s going to be reclaimed as a factory or
something like that? It’s as large as a
box store, probably had the alleys, snack bar and the old game machines, like
pinball. I’d love to peek inside!
When I look at the building, I am reminded of the
book The World Without Us, by Alan
Weisman, imagining what happens to ‘our’ world when humans suddenly
disappear. The constant drift of nature
fascinates me when it is allowed to take back what it once lost. I stopped earlier this week to take a picture
of the one thing that holds me, wishing it would be allowed to stay so I could
see what would happen next.
Patiently
waiting,
Opportunity
knocking-
Nature’s
slickest trick.
©Linda Baie, All Rights Reserved
That is one determined tree! And your haiku is the perfect match for this photo. It's amazing how quickly nature takes over when left to its own devices.
ReplyDeleteCatherine
Thanks Catherine. I am fascinated, as you can see.
DeleteNice illustration & poem, Linda! Nature does have some pretty slick tricks. A couple of days ago I saw a recipe that uses cherry blossoms and realized I had an annual "crop" that I hadn't been taking advantage of. The more time we spend with nature, the more nuances we see!
ReplyDeleteWe had the strangest spring into summer-snow on May Day, then not much longer it was already in the nineties. Thus, few fruit blossoms this year. I hope you make something with those blossoms! My imagination wonders what it could be! Thanks Tabatha!
DeleteOh dear Linda, thank you for sharing that back story - and I am glad that it has inspired you to create such beautiful three lines. It warms the soul reading lovely poetry while at the beach. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Myra. I've loved seeing all your photos at the beach-looks gorgeous! I'm on my way to the Florida coast with family a week from today!
DeleteLinda,
ReplyDeleteThis reminds me of an abandoned house I walk by. There is resurrection fern growing in the gutters. I should photo it and write a poem. I love how poetry makes you notice things like this tree determined to grow.
I'd love to see a picture of your house, Margaret. In your climate, I imagine nature could take over things quite quickly! Hope you are inspired! Thanks!
DeleteWhat a fresh new way to look at nature-- the slick trickster. Love it!
ReplyDeleteHave you seen the picture book _House Held Up By Trees_ by Ted Kooser and illustrated by Jon Klassen? If not, you have GOT to get your hands on it. It's a gorgeous book about nature taking back what it once lost. I'm sure you'd love it.
Thanks for reminding me about the Kooser book, Michelle. Yes, I know it, and love it for that very reason that nature takes back!
DeleteYou capture the sense of suspense so perfectly in just 3 lines! Mississippi is full of buildings being overtaken by nature -- a little neglect and soon the brambles and kudzu take over!
ReplyDeleteOh, would love to see photos of that! Thank you for sharing your comment.
DeleteI recently witnessed some also very determined trees grow out of the cracks of rocks. Love it when I see things like this. It really is nature finding a way to spread itself and live.
ReplyDeleteThanks Betsy-They will do it, won't they? And sometimes, unfortunately, we don't want it to happen.
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