I choose greed. Why? Well I really, really want stuff right now, stuff that I can’t afford, so greed seems fitting.

Greed is not just ‘wanting’ what someone has, but, the complete ownership.

Winds battled over and around the Old Oak tree pushing,

Pushing a Squirrel out of its den of Oak leaves, sticks and tuffs of grass and chicory

Flattening his body into the deeply furrowed bark, the Squirrel weary and old,

Old hollow branches, and deep set roots, holding tight against the winds

Light slipped around the fast moving clouds, snow falling high above turns

Turns to water and ice spears rain down hitting the Tree and Squirrel carelessly

Fields stretch-out and around the Squirrel and Oak Tree, winds press the prairie flat

Flattening the tallest milkweed pinning it to an uneven ground,

Then pulling out what it can and combing over the rest

“Rest if you can!”  The winds mocked, ripping up and tossing pieces of dirt.

Seeds and human cast offs, controlled by the wind, the ground appears to be rolling

Rolling out with the same voracity that gale spun in with, the winds were moving on,

Seeds and berries were taken away from the Squirrel, the Tree lost topsoil inside the winds

“Winds can be harnessed,” muttered the Squirrel, “Use its power to spread seeds and light”

The tree laughed, “Greed won’t allow it!  Greed is for one not all! Wind power profits are for everyone”

“Everyone can survive, save and flourish with wind power. Think about it little squirrel and ask yourself …

Is it Greed when the heavy winds blow away what can be used or eaten?

Is it Greed when a tiny rodent squirrels away food for winter?

Is it Greed when I, the mighty Oak, digs deep and drinks all I need?

Or, is it Greed when the fields are cemented over in the name of economic growth and profit,

“Profit? What is profit?”  Asks the Squirrel,

“Money to line your nest.” answers the Tree,

The Squirrel’s eyes got big.

 The Oak Tree laughed “You and I are not profitable.  

The ground vibrated under the tree the squirrel looked out.

“Hold tight, old Tree, Greed just rolled in!”

I posted this poem for today’s prompt “write a snapshot poem” this afternoon I also took this video with the new camera, – it’s a Nikon.  

Link to poem a day challenge: http://blog.writersdigest.com/poeticasides/2011/04/16/2011AprilPADChallengeDay16.aspx

 I used up the Cannon after eight months and the Sony barely made it a month.  I had bought the extended warranty at Best Buy so I was able to try different cameras. So far the Nikon is the best.

Michael is beginning to think cameras don’t’ like me. I keep explaining that some electronics have gremlins in them

I thought I would have trouble with setting up a video, then I found using, Microsoft Live I could fix it and upload it to YouTube

Here’s April 16^th, 2011’s poem..

“Freeze Frame”

by Gerardine Baugh

It is snowing

Uriah runs up to me

His thick coat is covered in water droplets

Looking up, he gives me a doggy grin

Knowing what’s coming I cringe and step back

He begins to shake

That, slow movement

Only his pudgy, furry body can accomplish. 

Where he turns his head one way, and

His body fat slips in the other direction

Water is launched from the ends of his fur

Encompassing him in a shower of reflected light 

I turned my back on him and the wind  

Time stops…

My hair covers my eyes

Snow blasts past me

An invisible serpent writhing as an updraft

Bellowing out my coat it slides up the naked trees.

Gathering up dry leaves from the ground, and

Playing with them around the tree tops

In a millisecond, sound stops

Then, the winds skate back down the trees

Letting go

Raining brown leaves within the white snow

Slipping across the grass, then

Like a playful child, pulls at my legs

Snowflakes hit my face stinging cold

Uriah doesn’t seem to notice the wind, or the cold snow

Staring expectantly

He whines and nudges at my hand for a treat

Day 28 for the Haiku Challenge

Life makes a sound

Rattles, Sings, Roars and Whistles

Can you hear your life?

Rush, rush, rush!  Ease up

Life comes at you full speed,

Step off the tracks and rest

*

Walk the rail, kick the gravel

Dance forward, feel the vibration

Just don’t forget, home

*

This is the last day of The Haiku Challenge. I had fun!  I hope you enjoyed reading my Haikus and you followed the links to other poets. Maybe you wrote a few yourself, If not, try it!  

The snow is melting, sort of. Everything is covered in a very,  slippery coating of ice, right now it’s glistening in the sunlight. Such dangerous beauty!  I finally got a camera that works; now I need to set up the software and start snapping pictures.  See you outside on our walking path..:-)

Here is the link to the last day of the Haiku Challenge Blog…http://pendownmythought.blogspot.com/2011/02/haiku-challenge-28-days-28-haikus-day_8843.html

Dream of today’s fun

Angel rest, the sun is rising

Tomorrow you walk

*

Here is the link to the Haiku challenge day 2..http://pendownmythought.blogspot.com/2011/02/haiku-challenge-28-days-28-haikus-day-2.html

Water laps at my feet

Winds sing pulling my hair, and my mind

Uriah wanders off

*

Here is the link to day 1 of the Haiku challenge..http://pendownmythought.blogspot.com/2011/01/haiku-challenge-28-days-28-haikus-game.html

Logo for Haiku Challenge

Eternity’s a clock 

By day 27 the clock is nonexistent

Stop staring at the sun!

*

Grab a broom and sweep

With each step, sweep away doubt

Count your words not the days

*

Here is the link to the Haiku challenge site..http://pendownmythought.blogspot.com/2011/02/haiku-challenge-28-days-28-haikus-day_27.html

Free spirits wings draw me up

I soar and sing in my bird’s heart

I dance in this life

*

 Here is the link to the Haiku challenge ..http://pendownmythought.blogspot.com/2011/02/haiku-challenge-28-days-28-haikus-day_26.html

Pieces of graphite

Enclosed wooden cylinders

Draw in a spelling bee

Bold yellow pencil

Watch me write my way across a page

On ecofriendly hemp

 *

I wonder why we aren’t using Hemp for paper…won’t using Hemp save a lot of trees?

Here’s a thought.. save trees by growing Hemp!  You can make money, make new jobs and help  people in pain  just by making this legal in Illinois.

Am I wrong..then tell me.

*

Here is the link to Day 24 of the Haiku challenge …http://pendownmythought.blogspot.com/2011/02/haiku-challenge-28-days-28-haikus-day_24.html

In pink hazy she dances

Joyful with laughter she flutters

Butterflies whisper

 *

Here is the link to day 25 of the Haiku Challenge..http://pendownmythought.blogspot.com/2011/02/haiku-challenge-28-days-28-haikus-day_25.html

I got stuck with this one; I kept picturing the fire department, and one of those bad ‘B’ movies where a monster rises up out of the waters. You are yelling, Watch Out!   But, these two can’t hear you.

Time never stands still

Scintillating love burns on

View the safety rules

 *

Here’s the link to the Haiku challenge Blog…http://pendownmythought.blogspot.com/2011/02/haiku-challenge-28-days-28-haikus-day_23.html

Haiku challenge day 22

Destiny is given…

To those who see and accept it

What I see may not be mine

*

*

Nature folds the shadows

Light and color blissfully mix

See the spider crossing the leaf?

Here is the link to the Haiku Challenge  Blog….http://pendownmythought.blogspot.com/2011/02/haiku-challenge-28-days-28-haikus-day_21.html