The Thursday Think Tank #68 - Red

What is red to you?  When you see the color or read the word what pops into your head?  Its an easy enough word to write about.  Below you will see a few interesting facts about the color red. Read through them and let it stimulate your pen.

Red is the color for beauty in many languages.  Red is the highest arc of the rainbow.  Red is the first color you lose sight of at twilight. The longest wavelength of light is red.

Bees can't see the color red, but they can see all other bright colors. Red flowers are usually pollinated by birds, butterflies, bats, and wind, rather than bees.

In Chinese culture colors corresponded with the five primary elements, the directions and the four seasons. Red was associated with summer, fire and the South.  In Japan red is the color of Shinto sanctuaries.  In Sweden, Falun red (red based on the pigment from the Falun mine) was reserved for the privelaged class.

In China red is associated with good luck and fortune.  In Greece Easter eggs are dyed red and the Greek expression "Piase kokkino" (touch red) is said when two people say the same thing at the same time. It is believed that the event is an omen that the two will have an argument in the future, which can only be broken when the two touch the closest thing that is red .  In England, red phone booths and red double decker buses , are national icons.

In India, a red mark on the forehead is said to bring good luck.  Red is the color most associated with the Soviet Union during communist reign.  Over the past decade, scientists have reported the successful use of red light as an effective in the treatment of migraine headaches and cancer.

In the United States, beginning with the 2000 presidential election, red has been recognized to represent the Republican Party, and "red states" are states that tend to favor the Republicans.

Eric the Red is the Norweign Viking credited for colonizing Greenland... he earned his nickname from his bright red hair and beard

Red carpet treatment: giving privileged treatment to an important person.  Red in the face: to become embarassed.  Seeing red: to be angered.  Red flag: a warning of danger.  Not worth a red cent: having no value.  Red letter day: a memorable, joyful day.  Red tape: excessive formalities in govermental process.  In the red: a term to describe an economic loss.  In the financial arena, red symbolizes a negative direction.

Feng shui recommends painting the front door of a home red to invite prosperity to the residents.

According to "The Language of Stained Glass" at Armstrong Browing Library at Baylor University: When

Dante spoke of the Seraphim - the first of the nine choirs of Angels - the color that "glows" was the pure orange vermilion which his fellow citizens and brothers-in-spirit (the painters, illuminators, and glassmen) knew as red. So, it may be said that pure red is the color of divine love, the Holy Spirit, courage, self-sacrifice, martyrdom, and all the warm impulses that belong to the great-hearted everywhere.

Red is the color that means "severe" in the color-coded threat system established by presidential order in March 2002. This system quickly informs law enforcement agencies when intelligence indicates a change in the terrorist threat facing the United States.

We hope all these odd facts about red have caused you to think.  We cant wait to see what you will pen today.  

Come back for Mr. Lynky around lunch

Life of a Poet - Richard Walker

by Sherry Blue Sky

Kids, I have always loved the name of Mr. Walker’s blog, Sadly Waiting for Recess, the more so as Richard is a teacher and it conjures up such cute images. He has also been sadly waiting for an interview, for a very long time, so today we are finally sitting down with him, to see how things are in the land of  poetry, and public education. Richard  has some very  astute things to say about what’s happening in our schools. Sharpen your pencils, kids, and go to your seats. Mr. Walker is about to give a class!

                                        

Poets United: Richard, nice to be talking to you at last! I so love the name of your blog. What is the story behind how you named your site?

Mr. Walker, Sadly Waiting for Recess!

Richard: I’m glad you asked that question. A number of years ago, I had a student teacher, and he wanted to try teaching our fifth-graders to write sestinas. So, I said, “Okay.” We taught the lesson and the students wrote sestinas. Then, Susan Sibbet, from California Poets in the Schools (CPITS), came in to our class to teach poetry writing, which she has done with my class for many years now. We showed her what the students had already written. One of the poems in particular impressed her, one titled “Sadly Waiting for Recess” by a boy named Matthew. At the end of our time with her, after eight sessions or so, she always puts together an anthology, with one or two poems from each student, and they all get to keep a copy. Everyone liked Matthew’s poem, so it was a natural choice for the anthology.

Midnight Snack (004)

A simple photo prompt for insomniacs, early birds and the rest of you.
You can post at anytime its just the night owls and early birds get the first crack at it.

Beauty is Happiness by anubiskitten at deviantART

   Look...                  

          Think...          

Write...       

          Post...   

The Poetry Pantry Is Now Open! - #68

If you need other things to find your muse don't forget to check out The Thursday Think Tank and our Midnight Snack we posted this week.  Both are great prompts to write for.

The Poetry Pantry

2nd Chance Poems or 1st time shares

Anything goes!! All Poems, all Poets, All Week!!

Do you have a poem you would like to share? Something that you just felt inspired to write and want others to read. Perhaps it’s a poem that didn’t get as much exposure on your blog as you would have liked. Maybe it’s a poem that you wrote a long time ago that you would like people to revisit. That’s what this section of Poets United is for.

Each Sunday we start a new post with a New Mr. Linky for you. This is so that you can post a link to anything you want us to read, anything at all related to poetry or prose found on your own poetry blogs. It will remain open all week so that you can show us your writings and thoughts. You can post links weekly should you chose to do so. What poetry you put here is up to you so don't be afraid to share with us!!

I Wish I'd Written This

Lovely description of a lovely love.

 

They Sit Together on the Porch

By Wendell Berry

They sit together on the porch, the dark

Almost fallen, the house behind them dark.

Their supper done with, they have washed and dried

The dishes–only two plates now, two glasses,

Two knives, two forks, two spoons–small work for two.

She sits with her hands folded in her lap,

At rest. He smokes his pipe. They do not speak,

And when they speak at last it is to say

What each one knows the other knows. They have

One mind between them, now, that finally

For all its knowing will not exactly know

Which one goes first through the dark doorway, bidding

Goodnight, and which sits on a while alone.

From "A Timbered Choir", by Wendell Berry.

Click on the title to go to poetryfoundation.org's posting of They Sit Together on the Porch.  Click on the poet's name to learn more about Wendell Berry.

The Thursday Think Tank #67 - Rain

"A poet is someone who stands outside in the rain hoping to be struck by lightning."

~James Dickey

Rain or the lack of rain seems to be a constant topic on the news.  Depending where you are you have either had way too much or not a single drop.  I am dealing with the latter living here in Texas.  I haven’t seen a decent rain cloud in months and boy do we need it.  With grass fires and winter headed our way we may be going without for even longer.  Every time a storm pops up it seems to skip my area.  I miss the smell of fresh rain that a gust of wind can bring minutes before the skies open up.  I miss the wet grass after a good spring storm.  I miss the feel of a thousand pin pricks of sensation on my skin as search out a puddle to jump in.  I miss the rain.

"And when it rains on your parade, look up rather than down. Without the rain, there would be no rainbow."

~Gilbert K. Chesterton

When you think of rain what comes to mind?  Are you envisioning the scene in Nicholas Sparks movie The Notebook where everyone’s latest heartthrob Ryan Goesling is professing his undying love to Rachel McAdams in a romantic rain storm?  What is your rain fantasy?  We all have one even if it is a simple as sitting at a pond watching the water ripple by small drops rain.

Rain.  

Think of the word. 

What do you envision? 

As always we are excited to read your poetry and prose and can’t wait to see what storms stir in your mind this week.  We have our umbrellas out just waiting for your words to pour in today.

I am late today so there will be no delay on Mr. Lynky today.

Life of a Poet ~ The Unknown Gnome

by Sherry Blue Sky

Kids, save this one for evening, as the light softly fades to twilight, put on some dreamy music, pour yourself a glass of wine and enjoy.....this time we are visiting The Unknown Gnome in Spain! AND it is a love story! A happy tale for those of us dreaming of love in Spain.........or  love anywhere! And the photos are a feast for the eyes. Uncork the bottle, pour a little glass, and let's see what's happening in Spain among the gnomes!

PU: TUG, wonderful to have this visit with you. Can you tell us a little about yourself, your family and your life in Spain, (so we can eat our hearts out :)?)

TUG: Well, I'm a retired Information Technology gnome, father of two grown children, my son Shawn and my daughter Shannon, and I'm married to my sweet Dulcina, aka Doña Eñe.

Dulcina and I live in the mountains of Cantabria. This is our view of Mount Porracolina.

Midnight Snack (003)

A simple photo prompt for insomniacs, early birds and the rest of you.
You can post at anytime its just the night owls and early birds get the first crack at it.

"copyright Adam Andersson"


"Textmessing Girl" by Reggaemanyo at Deviant Art

   Look...                  

          Think...          

Write...       

          Post...   

The Poetry Pantry Is Now Open! - #67

If you need other things to find your muse don't forget to check out The Thursday Think Tank and our Midnight Snack we posted this week.  Both are great prompts to write for.

The Poetry Pantry

2nd Chance Poems or 1st time shares

Anything goes!! All Poems, all Poets, All Week!!

Do you have a poem you would like to share? Something that you just felt inspired to write and want others to read. Perhaps it’s a poem that didn’t get as much exposure on your blog as you would have liked. Maybe it’s a poem that you wrote a long time ago that you would like people to revisit. That’s what this section of Poets United is for.

Each Sunday we start a new post with a New Mr. Linky for you. This is so that you can post a link to anything you want us to read, anything at all related to poetry or prose found on your own poetry blogs. It will remain open all week so that you can show us your writings and thoughts. You can post links weekly should you chose to do so. What poetry you put here is up to you so don't be afraid to share with us!!

Classic Poetry - "Your Mother and My Mother" by Shams-ud-din Muhammed aka Hafiz of Shiraz

Hafiz of Shiraz, 1320 - 1389

Fear is the cheapest room in the house

I would like to see you living

In better conditions,

for your mother and my mother

Were friends.

I know the Innkeeper

In this part of the universe.

Get some rest tonight,

Come to my verse tomorrow.

We’ll go speak to the Friend together.

I should not make any promises right now,

But I know if you

Pray

Somewhere in this world-

Something good will happen.

God wants to see

More love and playfulness in your eyes

For that is your greatest witness to Him.

Your soul and my soul

Once sat together in the Beloved’s womb

Playing footsie.

Your heart and my heart

are very, very old

Friends.

Hafiz, also known as Hafez, was born Shams-ud-din Muhammed in Shiraz, Persia, and was a contemporary of Chaucer in England. Hafiz lived most of his life in his home town, became a Sufi master and is believed to have written over 5,000 poems. Fewer than 700 are in existence today.

Fellow poet and friend, Sherry Blue Sky, wrote an informative article last year about Hafiz and another Persian poet, Rumi. Check it out here.

To read more work by Hafiz, read The Gift, translated by Daniel Ladinsky.

I Wish I'd Written This

After reading this, I believe I know every important thing about his Bess.

 

Bess

By William E. Stafford 

Ours are the streets where Bess first met her  

cancer. She went to work every day past the   

secure houses. At her job in the library

she arranged better and better flowers, and when   

students asked for books her hand went out   

to help. In the last year of her life

she had to keep her friends from knowing   

how happy they were. She listened while they

complained about food or work or the weather.   

And the great national events danced   

their grotesque, fake importance. Always

Pain moved where she moved. She walked   

ahead; it came. She hid; it found her.   

No one ever served another so truly;   

no enemy ever meant so strong a hate.   

It was almost as if there was no room   

left for her on earth. But she remembered

where joy used to live. She straightened its flowers;   

she did not weep when she passed its houses;   

and when finally she pulled into a tiny corner   

and slipped from pain, her hand opened

again, and the streets opened, and she wished all well.

from The Way It Is: New and Selected Poems.

Click on the title to go to poetryfoundation.org's posting of Bess.  Click on the poet's name to learn more about William E. Stafford.

The Thursday Think Tank #66 - Glass Houses

"People who live in glass houses should not throw stones"

This week’s prompt was inspired by Mary Kling’s Poem of the week selection “People in Glass Houses” written by wordcoaster. It really made me think and I liked where it took me so I want to see where it takes you. I know last week we did windows but what if the whole house was glass and the world could see right in? What would we see in your house or your neighbors? Would we notice that pain that people hide, abuse or boredom? Better yet maybe that annoyingly always happy person is just the same inside their house. I bet that would make some folks envious. I broke a few windows in my day as a kid I could not imagine if I had to behave living next to a glass house.

"People who live in glass houses have to answer the door"

~ Unknown

When you hear the words glass house what do you think of? Is it by the sea overlooking a cliff or is it an atrium with plants everywhere? Maybe it’s a metaphor for your fragile state of mind or anyone’s for that matter. Glass houses can be pretty or fragile it just depends what you see in them.

Think about a glass house. Imagine it there in all its beauty or busted panes.
When Mr. Lynky goes up we can’t wait to see uses their pens to cast the first stones or to see who bring along a soft cloth and glass cleaner.

"You shouldn't throw stones if you live in a glass houseand if you got a glass jaw, you should watch yo mouth: cause I'll break yo face."

~ 50 Cent

A prompt is given early on in the day and Mr. Lynky will not go up until the afternoon or evening. We want you to mull over the prompts and write for them. We want the pen to be inspired by the prompt not forced.

Life of a Poet ~ The Passionate Crone

by Sherry Blue Sky

 Kids, gather 'round, because this is going to be a very interesting visit with a most accomplished poet. I was in a bit of a pickle, this weekend, as both of the interviews I was working on needed to be postponed. It occurred to me that The Passionate Crone  might be passionate about doing an interview super-fast, so I asked her, and happily she was most gracious about granting one.   We are sitting down today with Rosemary Nissen-Wade, The Passionate Crone  of Australia, who has a most remarkable background.

Rosemary is a performance poet, an editor, a teacher of creative writing, a healer and professional psychic. Just reading her profile information was exciting, and I couldn't wait to begin our conversation.

Poets United: Rosemary, thank you for sitting down with us today, on such short notice. Can you tell us a little about yourself,  and your life Down Under? Do you share space with any fur creatures? (Hedgewitch laughed when I posted photos of her dogs before one of her in her interview. Hee hee. I’ll try to remember to put the humans first, in yours!)

[The poet from Down Under in Texas in 2006]

Midnight Snack (002)

A simple photo prompt for insomniacs, early birds and the rest of you.
You can post at anytime its just the night owls and early birds get the first crack at it.

"Water Games" by G-R-E-T-A at Deviant Art

   Look...                  

          Think...          

Write...       

          Post...   

The Poetry Pantry Is Now Open! - #66

The Poetry Pantry

2nd Chance Poems or 1st time shares

Anything goes!! All Poems, all Poets, All Week!!

Do you have a poem you would like to share? Something that you just felt inspired to write and want others to read. Perhaps it’s a poem that didn’t get as much exposure on your blog as you would have liked. Maybe it’s a poem that you wrote a long time ago that you would like people to revisit. That’s what this section of Poets United is for.

Each Sunday we start a new post with a New Mr. Linky for you. This is so that you can post a link to anything you want us to read, anything at all related to poetry or prose found on your own poetry blogs. It will remain open all week so that you can show us your writings and thoughts. You can post links weekly should you chose to do so. What poetry you put here is up to you so don't be afraid to share with us!!

Don't forget to submit your poems!

As August draws to a close we will now be opening up or mail bag and accepting submissions for our second Poetry Pantry Anthology (Poems, Prose, Photos and Art). We have decided to allow the bulk of our submissions dictate what our secondary title will eventually be. Our target release date is once again in March, just as it was this past year. The last day to submit a poem for consideration will be 15 January 2012.

We intend to include as many submissions as possible while still producing a quality book. The book itself again will be sold by Lulu (an independent print to order press) with little or no profit to Poets United. We will keep it as cheap as possible for our members.


Please read below for further information and guideline.

I Wish I'd Written This

Political/Socially Conscious poems can be difficult.  Mr. Lux makes it look easy in this amazing piece.

The People of the Other Village

By Thomas Lux 

hate the people of this village 

and would nail our hats

to our heads for refusing in their presence to remove them

or staple our hands to our foreheads   

for refusing to salute them

if we did not hurt them first: mail them packages of rats,

mix their flour at night with broken glass.

We do this, they do that.

They peel the larynx from one of our brothers’ throats.

We devein one of their sisters.

The quicksand pits they built were good.

Our amputation teams were better.

We trained some birds to steal their wheat.

They sent to us exploding ambassadors of peace.

They do this, we do that.

We canceled our sheep imports.   

They no longer bought our blankets.   

We mocked their greatest poet   

and when that had no effect   

we parodied the way they dance

which did cause pain, so they, in turn, said our God

was leprous, hairless.

We do this, they do that.

Ten thousand (10,000) years, ten thousand

(10,000) brutal, beautiful years.

“The People of the Other Village” from New and Selected Poems: 1975-1995.

Click on the title to go to poetryfoundation.org's posting of The People of the Other Village.  Click on the poet's name to learn more about Thomas Lux.

The Thursday Think Tank #65 - Windows

This week we are going to approach the Thursday Think Tank a little bit differently. We are going to return it back to its roots. The whole idea around the Think Tank was to get you to think. All too often we post the prompt here and instantly we are offered many poems. The thought aspect is being lost. So this is how we will approach today’s and future Think Tanks. We will give you a prompt early on in the day and Mr. Lynky will not go up until the afternoon or evening. We want you to mull over the prompts and write for them. We want the pen to be inspired by the prompt not forced. So without further delay here is today’s prompt.

“Our senses are indeed our doors and windows on this world, in a very real sense the key to the unlocking of meaning and the wellspring of creativity.”

~ Jean Houston

A window is often used to describe many things, an opening to your soul, a gateway to beyond, a way to let the cat out.  What do you think of when you imagine a window?  Are you on the coast staring at a sunset over the water through a window?  Or maybe you are afraid you left it unlocked and may come home to an empty house?  I don’t think this concept needs to much emphasis this week.  Sit for a few moments and decide what a window means to you.  Is it just simply something to keep the bugs out or does your heart imagine so much more?  Is your window broken, cracked or just ready for you to open the curtains and let the sunshine in?

“Friends are like windows through which you see out into the world and back into yourself... If you don't have friends you see much less than you otherwise might.”

~ Merle Shain

As always we look forward to peering into your open window with the words you write or imagine.  We can't wait to stop by and promise to not throw any rocks while we are there.

Poets United State of the Union

This week Sherry is taking a slight break from the “Life of a Poet” interview series.  She should be back next week ready with yet another entertaining and interesting conversation between her and one of our wonderful members found here at Poets United.  Remember if you would like to be part of our interview series just email us so that I can let Sherry find a spot and time for you. She is always fun to work with and she has way of making everyone shine their brightest.

Since today is a free for all of sorts I figure I would just highlight some of the wonderful things that are going on here at Poets United. As always all this amazing stuff is brought to you by wonderful group of people that deserve my absolute praise. Without them I would be floundering in a fairly incomplete site.  Please if you interact with any of these people take a moment to tell them how much they are appreciated.   Mary, Sherry Blue Sky, Amy Duda, Kim Nelson, Dan Simmons, The Tired Monk, Ella Wilson, Marian Kent and many others who help out here and there.

If you have not noticed that Poets United is a very busy and interactive place then you either have been living under a rock or just joined us.  Either way we can remedy that by sharing all the great things we have going on here.

Midnight Snack (001)

A simple photo prompt for insomniacs, early birds and the rest of you.
You can post at anytime its just the night owls and early birds get the first crack at it.

"Don't Forget Your Light" by Sudlice at Deviant Art

   Look...                  

          Think...          

Write...       

          Post...   

The Poetry Pantry Is Now Open! - #65

The Poetry Pantry

2nd Chance Poems or 1st time shares

Anything goes!! All Poems, all Poets, All Week!!

Do you have a poem you would like to share? Something that you just felt inspired to write and want others to read. Perhaps it’s a poem that didn’t get as much exposure on your blog as you would have liked. Maybe it’s a poem that you wrote a long time ago that you would like people to revisit. That’s what this section of Poets United is for.

Each Sunday we start a new post with a New Mr. Linky for you. This is so that you can post a link to anything you want us to read, anything at all related to poetry or prose found on your own poetry blogs. It will remain open all week so that you can show us your writings and thoughts. You can post links weekly should you chose to do so. What poetry you put here is up to you so don't be afraid to share with us!!

Classic Poetry - "The Tavern" by Willa Cather

Willa Cather, 1873 - 1947

The Tavern

IN the tavern of my heart

Many a one has sat before,

Drunk red wine and sung a stave,

And, departing, come no more.

When the night was cold without,

And the ravens croaked of storm,

They have sat them at my hearth,

Telling me my house was warm.

As the lute and cup went round,

They have rhymed me well in lay;--

When the hunt was on at morn,

Each, departing, went his way.

On the walls, in compliment,

Some would scrawl a verse or two,

Some have hung a willow branch,

Or a wreath of corn-flowers blue.

Ah! my friend, when thou dost go,

Leave no wreath of flowers for me;

Not pale daffodils nor rue,

Violets nor rosemary.

Spill the wine upon the lamps,

Tread the fire, and bar the door;

So despoil the wretched place,

None will come forevermore.

At age 23, Willa Cather began her career as a writer at The Home Monthly, a women's magazine similar to Ladies Home Journal. A year later, she became an editor and drama critic for the Pittsburgh Leader and began contributing poetry and short stories to The Library. She also taught Latin, algebra, and English composition, ultimately becoming the local high school's English department.

In 1906 Cather moved to New York City, joining the editorial staff of McClure's Magazine. Six years later, McClure's serialized her first novel, Alexander's Bridge, which was followed by her famous Prairie Trilogy — O Pioneers! (1913), The Song of the Lark (1915), and My Antonia (1918). All three became both popular and critical successes. Cather ultimately authored twelve novels and eight poetry and short story collections.

Through the 1910s and 1920s, Cather was firmly established as a major American writer, receiving the Pulitzer Prize in 1922 for her novel One of Ours. In the 1930s, however, critics referred to her as a "romantic, nostalgic writer who could not cope with the present, “and accused her of "failing to confront contemporary life as it is." Discouraged by the negative criticism of her work, Cather became reclusive, destroying work and correspondence and forbidding anyone from publishing her letters.

If you have a keen interest, The Willa Cather Foundation runs a comprehensive website where "you can tour her home, read her work, visit her beloved Opera House, and shop the largest collection of books by and about Cather."

Coming Soon - Midnight Snack

Coming soon to Poets United

Midnight Snack

   Look...                  

          Think...          

Write...       

          Post...   

For a while now I have been wanting to incorporate a regular photo prompt into our website. I just never really found the time to sit down and think it over until now.  I have been kicking an idea around for the past few weeks and now I am ready to put it out there.  Every Tuesday at 12:01 a.m. a simple photo prompt will be posted.  We will guide you in no direction. It is just you and the photo.  If it inspires you, then write about it, if it doesn't then go back to bed.  We hope you enjoy the photos we post as you raid the fridge in the late hours searching for milk, ice cream and inspiration.

The reason we have decided to post it regularly at 12:01 on Tuesdays is to give a chance to the late night adventurers and those who can't sleep to find their muses before the rest of the normal world wakes up.  Any one else can post at any time but it will be curious to see who is writing in the wee hours of the morning. There have been many a time where I have wandered around the house at night unable to sleep or too tipsy to pass out and find myself with a pen looking for inspiration.  I hope this is just another way to get that pen going. 

All photos will be linked to the creators that we have sought out.  We will not post anything without permission.  If you would like to show your support for these wonderful artists and photographers please be sure to click the links provided and view some of their other works and of course don't forget to comment.

                     Simple Rules

• Make sure to visit other late night scribes.
• Leave us a comment about the photo before you finally nod off.
• Please post no more than 3 poems per prompt.

See you next Tuesday Morning/Night!

I Wish I'd Written This

Seems to me that the best love poems don't come with a bouquet of flowers or a box of candy.  They come with the tightest knots of reality and are almost stingy.  I sure do wish I'd written this one.

Heart to Heart

By Rita Dove

It's neither red

nor sweet.

It doesn't melt

or turn over,

break or harden,

so it can't feel

pain,

yearning,

regret.

It doesn't have

a tip to spin on,

it isn't even

shapely—

just a thick clutch

of muscle,

lopsided,

mute. Still,

I feel it inside

its cage sounding

a dull tattoo:

I want, I want—

but I can't open it:

there's no key.

I can't wear it

on my sleeve,

or tell you from

the bottom of it

how I feel. Here,

it's all yours, now—

but you'll have

to take me,

too.

Rita Dove, “Heart to Heart” from American Smooth.

Click on the title to go to poetryfoundation.org's posting of Hear to Heart.  Click on the poet's name to learn more about Rita Dove.

The Thursday Think Tank # 64 - Sunflowers

 *When I snapped this I thought it was odd a bloom on both sides, both have the chocolate centers and double greenery between. I think this one is a twin bloom~

Turning the calendar today makes me wonder where did summer go? We now are approaching autumn. Has the weather changed in your neck of the woods?  Here in North Carolina, it seems our mornings and evenings are a bit cooler, as Indian summer makes it's debut.  For our photo prompt, I was tempted to snap a picture of a school bus, but first I had to catch one.  My daughter is fifteen; she doesn't want me at her bus stop making a fool of myself, lol. Then I thought about the end of summer in New England, how sunflowers salute the sun for a while, then nod their heads. They provide beauty oil and seeds. Soon their seeds will provide a harvest for the birds. 

Our photo prompt #64 is Sunflowers. They brighten, cheer us up, symbolize happiness, adoration and longevity.  Do they remind you of your youth, do they align your fence, do they hold any memories for you?  Have you grown some and watched the magic of  their humble beginnings?  What do you think of when you see them?  

~Ella