Magpie Tales 280: Empire of Self

Magpie Tales is a writing prompt that I participated in for several years.  Lately, however, my work schedule has taken more of my time, and I haven't been able to visit Tess Kincaid and Magpie for some time.

Now that I'm recouping from shoulder surgery, time is what I have plenty of!  This image that Tess is sharing this week is compelling.  I can't help but read political messages in this scene as our pathetic process of presidential campaigns begins to ramp-up here in the United States.  This is a perfect image for that process. Glad to offer my take on this image this week with a short poem below!

empire lost

attention span is 

the obvious flaw.

freedom is choice, 

details necessity.

want, however, 

trumps need. 

we are consumed by 

what grounds us:  

self.

Poem © 2015 Rick Burnett Baker 

Dance With Color

The sunset tonight, in Greece, NY 

was quiet and subtle.  Still, water,

shoreline, houses, and trees quietly 

danced with color five minutes 

from my house.  

Click on images to enlarge:

Photos © 2015 Rick Burnett Baker 

All Rights Reserved

A Fleeting

"I drift as a breeze

over a forest, rest as 

stones in the river. a

bird sings before 

the moment ends."

-Rick Burnett Baker 

Photo/Poem © 2015 Rick Burnett Baker 

All Rights Reserved 

Destinations

"A creek flows to its logical destination, 

our paths uncertain." 

-Rick Burnett Baker 

Photo/Text © 2015 Rick Burnett Baker 

All Rights Reserved

Midway, Pause.

"Both ends of a bridge look across to an unknown. 

What we're crossing can be wondrous or daunting.

Midway, pause and breathe."

-Rick Burnett Baker 

Photo/Text © 2015 Rick Burnett Baker 

All Rights Reserved

Three Carousels of Life

"Throughout life, 

there are times and 

places for everything. 

A time to observe; 

A time to watch life pass by; 

A time to be life's catalyst;

 Know, however, that 

the times of your life 

do not follow a 

calendar. They 

follow you." 

-Rick Burnett Baker 

Photos/Text © 2015 Rick Burnett Baker 

All Rights Reserved

Frame of Mind

"Amidst chaos, seek solitude." 

Photo/Text © 2015 Rick Burnett Baker

Birds Have Flown

Bird houses for rent.  "Fly-In" ready!

Ol'Factory Lavender Farm, 

Red Creek, New York. 

Photos © 2015 Rick Burnett Baker 

Redux: Back When

                      Click on image to view and read:

Photo/Poem © 2014, 2015 Rick Burnett Baker

Waiting

"Anticipation" 

Photo © 2015 Rick Burnett Baker 

All Rights Reserved

Dream Abandoned

                                   Click on image to enlarge:

"In a dream, 

there was a 

farm abandoned

with stories 

yet to tell." 

Photo/Text ©2015 Rick Burnett Baker 

Photo taken in Livingston County, New York

We Couldn't Have Known

                                  Click on image to enlarge:

thinking back

what is wrought 

from the prison 

of childhood and 

youth, but knowledge?  

wisdom fathoms 

that recall behind 

protective bars of 

innocence, unaware. 

Photo/Poem © 2015 Rick Burnett Baker