Leanne Shawler, Artist

Glittering spotlight Center stirs, Flees at my approach Diamond shards scattering In its wake Tenuous threads quake, Hold,  Keeping its dewy burden written 7/15-16/13

Memories flood: Hollowed out cinema Cavernous cool, Wood weathered grey. Inherited desire for Tarnished silver, Broken chairs,  An eye for salvageable pieces; A giant dilapidated barn, So many vanishing From the landscape. Petrified Underwood Brings back this desire To reclaim, Restore, Make new.

Ladybird, ladybird Under the brim of my hat You're so out of focus But I can tell that You're headed to my hair And not to the light. Ladybird, ladybird, Go on -- take flight!

Eyes absorbed in the holy, In layers of paint To reveal a saint. I look up-- Out-- Grey and still, Is it fake? The head twitches. Squirrel! It's a horrible photo. It was late afternoon and I used my iPhone (may take better camera this week). He looked unreal until those little ears twitched and I did a double-take. No idea what the little guy was watching, but I watched him and finally mentioned him to Helena who wanted to spray water at him 'cause he's been eating her plants. (No idea from this angle, if said squirrel is actually a he or a she...)

tiny bird sipping at the fountain flutters if it dips too deep a green silver flash (written July 30, 2013) The bird was a hummingbird, which is just about impossible to take a good photo of, especially if you've nothing to hand but an old iPhone.

Flicker Bright Yellow I stop, try to find its path Lilting up On warm currents Butterfly! Head turn.  Pause. Written July 9th, 2013. (no photo. The butterfly wasn't staying still for me.)

Hangs heavy the ungiven promise of rain   Screening the sun   Air moist and cool    Hair curling in humidity.   The clouds stretch grey across the sky   In the distance their hidden majesty is revealed,    lit by unencumbered summer sun.   The world hangs silent,    still hoping,   waiting to receive. written July 1st, 7:54am (c) Leanne Shawler