Sand dunes, Pelican Point, Carnarvon
Seduced, I return
time and time again
running my fingers over your pale skin
the attraction, inexplicable
our narrative is linear
you are magnetic
I, a devotee.
In response to RDP Saturday – Charisma
*Given our love for the beach, sandgroper is a nick name for West Australians.
Pebble Beach, Exmouth, Western Australia
I am ordinary
unexceptional, belong to none
lean in and see
I am the stars of the sea
at your feet, within reach,
silky smooth, warm as sun
touch me
a dawn bird
In respon to RDP – Thursday : Pebble
I love the prayer for serenity … accept what I cannot change, courage to change what I can and the wisdom to know the difference. I’ve had to live it for the past month.
A month ago life threw a curved ball. I heard the dreaded words, “that’s a lump”. The urgent appointment with the surgeon has taken a month but it has been worth it. He didn’t think it is anything sinister but ‘it’ has to come out. Surgery is a month away.
After the initial sense of dread I knew the best place for my head was work. I kept to my normal schedule. When working with another, I am fully present in the moment. It helped keep any negative thoughts away. It made me re-evaluate my life and how I live it. And, to be honest, I could not and would not change a thing. I see that as a blessing to be in this space with acceptance of all roads have led me to here.
Helms Arboretum, Esperance, Western Australia
Like any parent my first thoughts were for my children. They have been wonderful and uplifting. All is well, they reassured me. And, it is. I know it is.
In the past month I’ve travelled a lot and tried to keep to normalcy. I sat at the edge of this pond in Helms Arboretum in Esperance, filled with a sense of deep sadness. Not because I was considering my mortality but in the knowledge that so many people have yet to appreciate the value of solitude and nature.
I decided to open my blog again in the hope, in this finite moment called life, perhaps my photographs will encourage others to seek what I have found in nature … acceptance of self and complete healing.
As always
a dawn bird
In response to RDP Monday : Serene
Hi folks
I’ve been away from blogging for several weeks and returned to find news of someone ‘ghosting’ WP bloggers. I found that disconcerting.
I started blogging for my children and not for stats but found myself enjoying being part of a community. I have enjoyed your honesty, humour, pathos, poems, prose and photography and wish to continue our exchange.
If you have been a regular visitor to my blog, please feel free to send me a request as I will be putting my blog on private. If I don’t respond right away life is keeping me away but I will respond.
It’s early morning where I am, and cold. It will be colder without your company. So with the bravery of a honest heart, I have to confess, right now, that’s the only fear I have.
Hope to have you knocking at my digital door sometime soon.
Until then
As always
a dawn bird
© dawnbird (2016-). Unauthorized use and/or duplication of any material from this site (dawnbirddotnet.wordpress now dawnbird.blog) without express and written permission from this site’s author is strictly prohibited.
In response to RDP Tuesday : Fear
“Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.” Omar Khayyam
This is one of my favourite quotes. I wake to this philosophy, never more than I am doing right now.
Along the shore where my world glows, in morning light
Sunrise, Jurien Bay, Western Australia
In the forest and scrub, where wild orchids grow, to my delight
Wild orchid, Esperance, Western Australia
In a deserted street with coffee and canopy, where birds sing notes, high and low
Main street, Dongara, Western Australia
At the inlet, tidal dry, where the white heron pauses elegantly
Port Denison, Western Australia
In those moments, I know this life is just a moment, and that moment, was my life.
May you find your moments today, to live your best life.
Until next time, as always
a dawn bird
In response to RDP – Tuesday: Intent
© dawnbird (2016-). Unauthorized use and/or duplication of any material from this site (dawnbirddotnet.wordpress now dawnbird.blog) without express and written permission from this site’s author is strictly prohibited.
Somewhere
there are footprints
left by only us
Somewhere
there is silence
where talk is superfluous
Somewhere
there is a beach
elaborate, in simplicity
Somewhere
there is a forest
that breathes for you and me
Somewhere
there are wide open spaces
for a crowd of two
Somewhere
is where,
I’d like to be with you.
a dawn bird
In response to RDP – Thursday : Elaborate
Bunbury, Western Australia
Blown Away
Invisible, and strong
the pull
between us
we wrestle
against the futile whim
steadying feet
we ride white water
searching for a foothold,
to the unknown.
a dawn bird
In response to RDP – Saturday : Wind
My son has been on a mission for several months and determined to get friends on a health kick. He started a walking group for his gamer friends which has proved quite successful with the young men finding new tracks and trails in the city. My son tells me they open up and talk and just enjoy being outdoors and have started to alternate the outdoors with indoor activities in poor weather, like indoor rock climbing, balance bar work, etc. 
Lake Monger, Perth, Western Australia
Today my son was determined to get me out walking too. He is always concerned about my sedentary lifestyle, imposed on me due to my work. Despite the clouds, he insisted we go to Lake Monger, a wetland area that is only about 5 kms from downtown Perth.
I had forgotten how lovely this area is. It was teeming with birds, some I had not seen before. Because he insisted I leave my camera behind, today was for talking and walking, so we agreed to visit again, next time for photography.
I did manage to get a few pictures with my phone camera. Such a peaceful place, right in the heart of the city.
The gum flowers were coming into bloom.
The walking circuit is just under 4 kms. My son and I were surprised I wasn’t exhausted, no muscle strain, no aching feet. (I may feel differently in the morning!). For years I’ve wanted to take part in charity walks but didn’t feel I was fit enough. With camera in hand I’m often too preoccupied to walk fast enough to get my heart rate up. I made a commitment today, I would set aside time to just walk. Walking 4 kms today without effort proves I can do this.
But unfortunately I undid all the good exercise. I was thirsty and indulged in a beautiful shiraz with my lunch!
Until next time
As always
a dawn bird
In response to RDP – Tuesday: Strain
Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia
Dusk
When day’s vibrant energies
meld
into one, into all
a dawn bird
Exmouth Gulf, Western Australia
In response to RDP – Monday : Flow
I admit I’m not a cat lover but I find my son’s cat, Baelfire (known as Bae), fascinating. (This picture was taken by my son). Bae has interesting colouring. His face is split in dark and white colours of black, white and brown. I think it is magnificent!
There’s something about cats! My son had given me a book a while back to loan to parents I worked with called ‘All Cats have Asperger’s’. I’m not sure if the title of the book is accurate. People with Asperger’s have a desire to connect with others, they often struggle to work out how this is done. I feel a title like “All Cats are Royalty” would be more appropriate.
Cats can be aloof and can interact on their terms. Anyone with a cat will tell you, they rule the house. They come and go as they please. They act entitled. My friend had a cat once who went next door to live permanently because the neighbour gave the cat better quality cat food (or so my friend thought!). Whatever the reason, the cat acted like everyone should be grateful for its absence or presence. It would visit both houses, great big meow (read roar) and then step out, tail held high. Yes, royalty, king of the jungle.
As my son and his wife have three cats, I admit to enjoying their company a little bit more and probably because my son wants to share their antics with me. I see them differently and find myself smiling at them. Or maybe I’m becoming a softie.
Until next time
As always
a dawn bird
In response to RDP – Sunday: Lion
I return home after each trip expecting my front garden to be bare, but no, the roses keep on blooming. 
This rose has the most wonderful old fashioned perfume.
This is an intense pink rose, the colour, fashionable on lips these days.
I love how the white ice berg roses start off as pale pink buds.
I drove through waterfall rain in the Wheatbelt region recently and was blown away by a massive rainbow in Marchagee (between Moora and Carnamah). The picture is fuzzy because of the rain.
This was outside my plane window on the flight in this morning from Esperance. A mix of rainbow and solar halo. It was magnificent! 
Although I’m not sick of my frequent travel lifestyle, I am sick of travelling in poor weather.
Right now, home is where my heart is. It’s time to plan for a short break in the south west. Or maybe north. Ah!
Until next time
As always
a dawn bird
In response to RDP – Saturday : Sick
Our lips
savour the wine
of nights past
and taste
the discovery, of now
a dawn bird
In response to RDP – Thursday : Discovery
I was early so I waited at the designated spot to watch her arrive. When she does, our greeting is hushed. She has come from a distant shore. We are both indifferent to where that is. She is here and that’s all that matters to me, and her. 
She scatters gifts at my feet.
I walk alongside her. Her generosity knows no bounds.
Soon I’m walking on a welcome carpet.
I am alone with seagulls, and pelican. The pelican reads the tides like a book, scanning it from left to right. I enjoy a moment of stillness, watching him, watching tides.
At her side I am learning. Look for small things. They bring joy.
I bend down and start collecting the smallest shells and pebbles I can find, some the size of rice. At home I bring out a small glass jar, and despite the handfuls I collected, they barely fill an inch. The jar is hope and the void is one I will fill, one day.
Lost in thought, I find joy in symmetry.
I look for pebbles that have melded and find them, marble like. How long did this process take? I will never know. I’m loving the mystery she brings to me.
I find hearts of stone in softest sand and hold them in my hand. They beat, alive.
I’m so tempted to run my fingers through this landscape, but leave it like I found it. And, that’s the lesson I learnt that morning.
Until next time
As always
a dawn bird
In response to RDP – Tuesday : Pupil
Exmouth Gulf, Exmouth, Western Australia
Friends by side
connecting, with lines
he reels in
a dawn bird
In response to RDP – Monday : Sputter
I’m a little late for this prompt but I couldn’t think of a more appropriate word for what I’m about to share.
I’ve just return from Exmouth, some 1200 km north of Perth. It is one of my favourite places to visit and I’ve grown to love it more than I do Broome. There’s just something about the place and the people that is different and very appealing.
It is the first time I’ve seen several signs at the airport and in the national park with warnings to be careful not to feed or interact with the dingoes, an iconic Australian wild dog. The second last morning of my trip, I had to do the airport run, a long straight road of some 38 kms, flanked by scrub and in the distance, ranges. It was early morning so I was careful of wildlife, expecting emu. My eyes scanned the sides of the road constantly and I was ever hopeful, at this hour, I would see the magnificent wedge tailed eagle.
Half way to the airport, I noticed a blond tail flick through tall grass. I knew it wasn’t fox. They slink into the scrub. Was it dingo? Sure not! The tail was high, flicking slowly. This was a hunt! It had to be dingo! At 110 km/hour, it took me a few seconds to slow down and I did a U turn, parked on the side of the road and got my camera. It was my David Attenborough moment.
I have never seen a dingo in the wild. They are usually in a pack and it is best to exercise caution when they are around. This one was alone as far as I could tell and totally focused on being a dingo. I thought best not to distract it and stayed in the car.
What surprised me was the hunting style. It had obviously found a small animal that was burrowed down. The dingo pawed the ground furiously and when the animal escaped, the dingo followed it, jumping high over the grass, all four paws on pointe, cat-like arched back, and stomped on the animal. My fingers fumbled for the video button and I gave up and settled to taking pictures instead.
Animal in mouth, the dingo ate breakfast quickly, still oblivious of my presence a few feet away. 
When another movement caught the eye and a hunt was on again.
The dingo was now alongside my car, still ignoring me.
It found what it was looking for.
It then ran alongside the road, a magnificently healthy animal, with a perfect coat, the colours and shading, took my breath away. The coat was the softest shades of russet and beige, the colours of the bush one sees so often. Despite the contrast of the foliage roadside, when it went deeper into the scrub, it had disappeared from sight effortlessly.
I have seen a dingo twice before, both times in captivity. To see one unexpectedly in the natural environment was a thrill and to see it hunt with such intelligence, is a memory I won’t forget any time soon.
So if you see a dingo in the wild. Sit back and let it be. It is not a dog. The joy is watching the animal be, who and what it is, a wild creature, with amazing hunting skills.
Until next time
As always
a dawn bird
In response to RPD – Thursday – Ingenuity
A Shared Space 
You must be logged in to post a comment.