"I know that life will take me away

Life demands I keep short my stay

But without doubt, that mystic draw

Leaves in a deciduous woodland

© R L Macdivitt

Dampness pervades the forest

Streams of sunlight penetrate to the floor

In the shafts of light, leaves fall

Like floating gold at the mercy of the breeze

Each leaf a season’s energy captured

A passing black cloud obscures the sun

In this moment of chill the breeze freshens

Now the leaves twist and rush

Their airbourne numbers increasing as they rush together

Some, for a while, sticking to trunks before finally falling

Others, in small flotillas, ride the airwaves

But all face the same ultimate fate

They line the forest floor where they stir and turn in the wind

Dampness, worms and countless insects speed their demise

Some dry and crumble in the clearing

Others, skeletal and veined merely disolve

The leaves from centuries past form a root-filled bed

A bed which provides a rich source of food

Food that feeds the the trees in their turn

New trees push upwards towards the sun

In their life they will provide more energy absorbers

Which in their turn will follow their predecessors

I can only stand and watch this happen

Long after my body joins these millions

They will continue to fall and die

But my soul will remember their beauty and be nourished

Thank you Lady Sarah,

I'm glad I struck a chord.

Roger

Artistic License

© Roger Macdivitt

Time changes things

Another day, another challenge

Awaking with ideas in mind

Even the initial sketch feels good,

So good!

.

Ok, so technical accuracy is not quite right

But the subject’s good

The process seems easy

The picture emerges clearly

So clearly!

.

The artist is pleased

Today is about success

Today brings new discovery

But the need for approval is strong

So strong!

.

Delighted to please

Happy to teach and learn through discussion

If only everyday could be the same

But no, it’s better this way

So much better!

.

Against all odds the artist survives the challenge

Living another day

Nobody knows what tomorrow may bring

It’s what makes tomorrow exciting

So exciting!

.

At times, a work of art lies unfinished

Yesterday’s inspiration, today’s quandry

Love and hate

Life and death , mortal

So mortal!

.

All life inspires

The artist observes and records

God supplies the licence

The result, wonderful

So wonderful!

.

Now the creative juices flow from brain to brush

The sketch, though rough, recalls the shapes

Memory fills the gaps and an image appears

A good day. Satisfying

So satisfying

.

Today the artist sits, surrounded by his tools

Ideas come and go, but don’t inspire

The need to create is powerful

The blockage, frustrating

So frustrating

.

A pencil is chosen, paper too

Surely something will find it’s way to paper?

An eye, a figure, the view?

But no, just scratchy doodles, nothing

So nothing!

.

A walk in the garden may inspire?

The light? Good today. The air? Crisp

Like food to the soul, the essence of nature

The colour, the scent, the sounds? Disappointed

So disappointed!

.

Snatched hours, sometimes enough but not today

Today needs a a day, a whole day

Time to prepare, to organise, to create

Time that the artist is lacking

So lacking

.

It’s supposed to be pleasure

Dedication, toil, but pleasure too

Why suffer this?

Why this tormenting

So tormenting

.

Another day

And God brings the sensory gifts again

Today the artist grasps them with both hands

Pen, brush, paper, brain, eyes and emotion

Chemistry, something special

So special!