TWILIGHT OF THE YEAR

As 2025 progresses towards its end, we reflect on all that's been and gone. In the twilight of the year we once again wonder how all these terrible things that have happened were allowed to happen...

We all desire peace, and yet wars rage on. We all value security and serenity, yet we tolerate injustice and gross upheavals. We all look to our youth with eyes full of hope for the future, and we see violence and recklessness. We all believe in freedom of expression, freedom of religion and freedom of thought, yet we are confronted by intolerance, extremism, fanaticism and terrorism...

As 2026 will dawn, what will it bring? Is there a chance that things will improve? Have we had enough? What can we each do to bring about a change for the better?

An image below of twilight, and a lullaby of hope...

This post is part of the Skywatch Friday meme

More of my music can be found on instagram @otidorchestre

LILIES AND ROSES

We are finally having some hot Summer weather in Melbourne and the garden is full of roses and lilies.

Within the garden's peaceful scene

Appeared two lovely foes,

Aspiring to the rank of queen,

The Lily and the Rose.
                                      (William Cowper)

This post is part of the Floral Friday Fotos meme

BEE

"How doth the little busy bee
Improve each shining hour,
And gather honey all the day
From every opening flower!

How skilfully she builds her cell!
How neat she spreads the wax!
And labors hard to store it well
With the sweet food she makes..."
                                           Isaac Watts

This post is part of the Saturday Critters meme

MERRY CHRISTMAS

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

May these holy days bring us all what we most need.

As Bulat Okudzhava says in his "Prayer of François Villon":

"...Almighty, please give to all of us

The things that we do not have:

Grant a brain to the wise man,

To the coward, grant a battle horse,

To the happy, give some money,

And don't forget to give something to me...

Let those striving for power,

Wield it to their heart's content.

Give a break to the generous - 

At least for a day or two;

Pray, give Cain repentance,

and remember me, too..."

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme

KOI

The playful kitten
Gazes deep into fish pond -
Koi watch and wait

This post is part of the Weekend Reflections meme,
and also part of the Saturday Critters meme

SEASONAL

The wind that whistles

Off-key through the bare branches;

Sweet Spring songs, distant.

This post is part of the Mosaic Monday meme,
and also part of the Blue Monday meme,
and also part of the Seasons meme.

SUMMERFIELD

As Winter tightens its hold on us here in the Great South Land, as the days shorten and the nights become darker, longer, cold and wet, it's time to reminisce of happier, warmer, brighter times...

Summerfield

On a perfect Summer's day
Walking on a fresh green field,
Making memories warm and bright
For a cold and dismal Winter's night.

On a Summerfield my merry fay,
With a kiss a promise sealed:
Lips that savoured cool sweet wine, 
Now in Winter's tears taste brine.

Oh to be in Summerfield again,
'Neath blue sky on verdant grass,
Clasping hands and heart alight
How we'd love, all sense delight...

But instead in Winter's bane
I look in frozen looking glass:
Wrinkles, white hair, all decline,
And for Summerfield I long and pine.

NJV

This post is part of the My Sunday Best meme,
and also part of the Photo Sunday meme.