February 24
The Little Things
I am thankful for the little things, those things in life that we usually take for granted but which we notice more in troubled times.
I took this photo to illustrate a poem I had written more than ten years ago when I had some health issues. This began with a kidney stone and led to a couple of bladder biopsies because of suspected bladder cancer following some abnormal symptoms and tests (which thankfully has never materialized up to this point). But I get to enjoy annual cystoscopes once a year, just as a precautionary measure. However, when I was afraid for the worse, I wrote the poem below.
I wanted a photo of leaves blowing, one of the "little things" I describe in the poem. It took nearly 100 takes to get this photo (95 to be exact). I set my camera up on the tripod, put it in self timer mode, then composed the scene. I first used a leaf blower to blow leaves into the photo, however the leaves appeared to be "shot" into the scene much too quickly. Fortunately, there was a mild gusting wind that day, so I finally ended up just waiting for a gust to toss the leaves into the wind. Synchronizing the wind with the self timer and guessing when to throw the leaves into the air was the trick. Some photos had no leaves, others had too many (I've got to get myself a wireless remote shutter release!). Having the leaves look like they were moving and not just stationary in the sky was another issue. But this photo was kind of what I had in mind.
it’s the little things
it’s the little things
you cherish the most
the things you never noticed before
it’s the little things
that mean so much more
with the threat of goodbye
it’s the little things
you lose in the trivialities of life
when amidst nagging troubles of the day
details
hostility
putting out fires
sinking in the mire
road rage
and other signs of this age
these have their toll on
tranquility
have their toll on
life
you forget to see
you forget to hear
you forget to touch
you forget to be
it’s the little things
that you cherish the most
with the threat of goodbye
a bird circling around
another’s song
a warm gentle breeze
propelling the leaves in spiraling pattern
the summer days,
hot and long
a necklace of stars
adorning the moonlit sky
diverting your attention away
from the scars
the midnight blue of dusk
like a velvety indigo dress
concealing the hidden treasures
of her heavenliness
and there’s more
the whisper of the waves
as they lap upon the shore
riding amid a mattress of surf
as you bob lazily in harmony with the sea
emerald carpet leading to forest green
above which rise the rock-strewn mountains
up to the powdered blue
of the sky
pristine and clean
it’s the little things
you cherish the most
the things you never noticed before
it’s the little things
that mean so much more
with the threat of goodbye
a smile
a wink
a wave
a comforting word
someone in a moment of brave
blinking back tears of pain
a touch
a kiss
from someone you’ll miss
a hug
a caress
loving someone more than yourself
loving someone more
when they love you less
long goodbyes
and longer hellos
mean so much more
with the threat of goodbye
mean so much more
these things you never noticed before
it’s the little things
you cherish the most.
© rt tulley