Halloween Costume

This and Other Realities

Halloween Costume

My head softly pillowed,

I’m snuggled in my bed.

Curtains open to blue-black sky,

I watch the shadowed trees

sway gently in the breeze

as they slowly mesmerize…

Before my eyes, ghost clouds pass by

in vaporous, ethereal shapes

like costumed children having fun,

imaginations run wild…

A meteor streaks across the sky

to join the fun at play

by lighting up the night

too fast to cause a fright

as it adds wonder to my delight…

Between the clouds, the twinkling stars

now become more than distant lights.

They beckon me to where they are

above the glow of city lights,

above the ghostly clouds of white,

above the realm of Earthly sights…

I’ll close my eyes and leave behind

the dreams of humankind…

I’ll wear my body of bright starlight.

I’ll dance among the stars.

I’ll twirl and swirl and sway

until the break of day.

Then I’ll wake upon my pillow

still snuggled in my bed.

October 30, 2021

Shelley Wilson

Beauty

Sunlight Through Raindrops:

Beauty

Beauty is subjective thought

and feelings stirred within

with Powers to delight

our minds and hearts

then carry us to Bliss.

Beauty is God’s Kiss.

Even when Beauty seems strange,

Strange Beauty is Life’s Kiss.

Our Senses come alive-

touching, tasting, hearing, smelling, seeing,

Life’s Wonders then unfold

in Beauty we behold.

Though some may judge as ‘Ugly’

the Beauty that we see and feel,

we’re held in Beauty’s warm embrace

and there we choose to be.

October 30, 2021

Shelley Wilson

Partridge Tale

This and Other Realities:

Partridge Tale

It was Christmas. Our little town in Northeastern Ontario had been gifted with another heavy snowfall. Fresh snow sparkled through the windows of our ‘doll house’ home. The beautiful white pine and shrubs of our garden all glittered like a Christmas card sent from the Heavens.

Inside, we enjoyed the colourful sight of hand-crafted ornaments on the Christmas tree and a bounty of holiday gifts beneath it. Our young children, Alissa and Aaron, played carefree games in the living-room as my husband, Roger, and I prepared dinner in the kitchen. Music drifted through the rooms in wave after wave of carols: ‘Silent Night’, ‘The Holly and The Ivy’, ‘Deck The Halls’ and another favourite- the countdown carol ‘The Twelve Days of Christmas’ our children loved to sing along with…”and a Partridge in a pear tree”…

The children’s excitement intensified that memorable day with the priceless gift of a very special visit. A glance outside had revealed the presence of a Partridge perched on our cherished crab-apple tree beside the dining-room window. Roger and I rushed into the room to watch this unusual sight. There was our own version of a Christmas carol come to life!

The plump bird didn’t seem to mind us watching it dine on the tiny crab-apples still clinging to the dormant tree. We were all so amused to see how much its heavy weight bent the branch it sat upon.

I recall wondering how this solitary Partridge could be so stout given the frozen state of the wilderness near our home. I also remember wondering how this naturally ‘shy’ bird found its way to our street and our house and tree with such perfect timing. How we loved Nature’s wondrous presence and presents!

I am still filled with thoughts and feelings of gratitude and wonder to this very day.

(A true story retold October 29, 2021)

Thank you Mother Nature!

Shelley Wilson