Magazine Posts

Camano Island, WA

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

Rising as the Sun set, the Moon was bright and full in planet Earth skies on May 7 and known to some as a Flower Moon. Near the horizon it does seem to take on rose pink hues of reddened sunlight in this reflective twilight scene. In fact one of the brighter Full Moons of the year, this month's full lunar phase occurred within about 32 hours of perigee. That's the closest point in the Moon's elliptical orbit. Flooded field and ruined church tower are near the municipality of Casaleggio Novara, Piedmont Region of northern Italy.

Photo by Tiziano Boldrini

Your shoulders gleam
with morning dew.
What may I ask,
did you do?
Stay out all night,
under the tree?
Were you out there
waiting for me?

The Moon; silver disk up high.
Reflecting moon beams
across a flat sky.
No clouds to obstruct our view,
enjoyment is ours when
I watch it with you.
You are my light,
you are my Sun
the Mother of all
where our life's begun.

I now pray,
once again,
for salvation
of this man
who chooses
to ignore
the fight
of those
in need.

For want of love,
I search for you,
but you are gone,
where, you only know.
You disappear as you,
most often now do,
thinking of what now,
if only I knew.

This World is a "funny" place,
filled with laughter and dread,
until the hateful rhetoric about Race,
smacks you, on the side of your head.

My mind has chosen to wander,
a distant path towards
the corner of
nooks and crannies.
Dislodging memories,
stuck in my head.
Memories of many occurrences
I thought were dead.
Capture them now, don't wait
using ink and pen,
for if not on paper;
they will end.
These sensitive thoughts you find,
not "Let's Pretend."
Pretend you are a Pirate with
a big sword
and you're at sea, aboard ship,
of your own.
When you come across, a Merchant
Ship of Trade.
You soon will board this ship
and capture the flag,
all booty and treasures
will be yours.

NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day:

Blowing in the solar wind the spectacular ion tail of Comet SWAN (C/2020 F8) extends far across this 10 degree wide telephoto field of view. Captured on May 2 its greenish coma was about 6 light-minutes from Earth. The pretty background starfield lies near the border of the constellations Cetus and Aquarius. This comet SWAN was discovered at home by Australian amateur Michael Mattiazzo by checking images from the Sun-staring SOHO spacecraft's SWAN (Solar Wind ANisotropies) camera. The comet has now become just visible to the naked-eye as it sweeps from southern to northern skies. Appearing in morning twilight near the eastern horizon, Comet SWAN will make its closest approach to planet Earth on May 12 and reach perihelion on May 27.

Photo by D. Peach

My grandmother was born in
Palouse City, Washington Territory.
Something I never knew
until later in life.
A Pioneer? Probably so.
She worked her life away,
when not bearing children,
as a Station Agent/Telegrapher,
for the Northern Pacific Railroad.
As a young boy, I spent time in
a small station, that is no longer
on the RR tracks but was moved
by my Father to his property,
a short distance away.
I recall that the train was used
as a US Mail Carrier.
The train didn't stop to deliver the
mail but would throw it off, in bags,
to the Station Platform.
Picking up the mail was accomplished
by an arm that had the mail bags,
suspended, and a hook on the Mail
car would grab the bag. Mail was
sorted in the Mail car for delivery to
the next town for distribution.
I have great memories of that
Station and of my Grandmother
operating the telegraph key.
She retired from the Norther Pacific
many years ago.

I awoke in the morning,
thank you God for that.
Arthritic hands; a dull ache.
Back is sore from bending over
to pull weeds, once more.
Reseeded lawn, starting to grow,
Dahlias planted, nothing to show.
Slugs have enjoyed the rain,
eating our Primroses, for breakfast and lunch.
Something the rabbits wont do.
Daffodils are still growing strong;
Tulips are on their last legs.
Soon we will be seeing more color,
but we need some warm weather,
starting today, the weather they say.
Thank you for the beautiful setting,
a most colorful, Spring array.