I’m constantly inspired by the work of a myriad of different writers, photographers, artists, tweeters, and the folk who view and comment. This post is nothing to do with me apart from acting as curator.. Fading Beauty.
Credits:
Leaf skeleton images.. via twitter, from incidental naturalist @IncNaturalist. I was delighted to find David has an excellent WP nature blog and he assures me he has more posts on the way. ~the one post I’ve seen was enough to ensure I follow his blog.. Enchanting Red Eft
Dragonfly image.. Many of you will have seen this image already, at Mike Powell’s fabulous blog. You can read the full text of Mike’s post here: Burnished gold
The Samantha Reynolds quote.. from a comment by Grandmother Ellen or “Gem”, who’s a great source of excellent quotes. She shared it in the comments section of Mike’s dragonfly post.
I Am Not Old
I am not old, she said, I am rare.
I am the standing ovation at the end of the play.
I am the retrospective of my life as art.
I am the hours connected like dots into good sense.
I am the fullness of existing.
You think that I am waiting to die but I am waiting to be found.
I am a treasure, I am a map, these wrinkles are imprints of my journey.
Ask me anything. – Samantha Reynolds.
“mature female Needham’s Skimmer dragonfly (Libellula needhami)”
“So often our society tells us that we should equate beauty with a youthful appearance, but I would argue that beauty can be found at all ages. Beauty for me is not so much about matching up to some standard of perfection—it can be found in the midst of all of our wrinkles, scars, and blemishes. Our uniqueness as individuals in and of itself makes us beautiful if you look closely and deeply enough.”
~Mike Powell
Blog Links
incidental naturalist : the wild life
Mike Powell : My journey through photography
Posted by Liz; Exploring Colour (2021). See ‘Credits’ for content-creators.
Exploring Colour 
I like the close-up of the leaf skeleton – it makes me think of a very worn piece of textile.
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That’s an interesting thought Ann … thinking about what you said the word “threadbare” came to mind which I’d usually only associate with worn fabric.
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I am delighted that you shared this poem on your wonderful post! My quotatious nature is a well known part of me! Allow me to introduce Samantha Reynolds…wife, mother, entrepreneur and poet. She is the founder & CEO of ECHO Storytelling Agency and has been writing a daily poem since 2011. Samantha uses the pen name “bentlily”, which in itself is a sweet story, on her blog “bentlily.com” as well as on various social media. I copied this particular poem into one of my little notebooks because as a septuagenarian it spoke to me and I loved it! The day that I read Mr. Mike’s post and viewed the photo, “I Am Not Old” echoed in my mind. It seemed so fitting for this aging dragonfly and begged to be shared. Thank-YOU, Ms. Liz!
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And now it’s shared some more! Thanks for bringing it to our attention Ellen, and for the added information about Samantha Reynolds.
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I love the way, Liz, that you are able to synthesize material from a variety of sources into an integrated and moving message. Well done, again.
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Thanks heaps! ~much inspiration gained from your blog Mike.
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