The Haibun Monday prompt for d’Verse is hosted by Frank J. Tassone.
“Wherever you are, & however you’re inspired, savor the seasonal shift most relevant to you. Then write a haibun that alludes to seasonal shift as you see it.”
You can join in here: https://dversepoets.com/2024/08/26/haibun-monday-8-26-24-another-seasonal-shift/
Seemingly overnight, the garden exploded into spring. Flower shrapnel brightened every flowerbed, pot, and even hidden nooks and crannies. African bees, small and aggressive, hummed as they fed from dark purple irises, clivias, and jasmine. Gathering in clusters on the delicate white blossoms of the twin plum trees, so reminiscent of Anne’s ‘White Way of Delight’, the bees pollinated with loud enthusiasm.
African bees buzz
Ferocious pollinators
Fearsome but needed
Sunday Stills: Before and After
Terri’s prompt for Sunday Stills is Before and After. I am showing pictures of my spring garden with the buds transitioning into flowers. I also have a picture of Michael and my mom on the day he was born and now.
You can join in Sunday Stills here: https://secondwindleisure.com/2024/08/25/sunday-stills-been-here-before-and-after/
roberta-writes.com 
A beautiful haibun, Robbie. I am glad you shared the advent of Spring in the Southern Hemisphere.
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I love your bee painting as well!
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Thank you. Watercolours are a stretch for me because of there loose nature.
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They are really very different from Acrylics.
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Thank you, Dwight. I am not a winter person although I try and make the most of it.
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You are welcome. I go for Spring and Fall myself.
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Wonderful post, Roberta. I love the watercolor and the flower photos. The before and after photos of your mom and Michael are precious.
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A delightful post, Robbie! I love your flowers and your photos, especially Michael with your mom. They look alike in the recent photo. I think he grew a bit. 😉
I’d forgotten you were an Anne of Green Gables fan, too. 💙
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Love the bee watercolor 🙂 The “Then and Now” photos are great.
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Marvelous post, Roberta. Your words on the bees are touching and enlightening. The painting and the flower photos are beautiful. The pictures of your mom and Michael are fantastic.
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I’m so inspired by your creativity! Everything is always beautiful and on point.
Happy Tuesday, Robbie!
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Thank you, Robbie, for brightening up my day with your gorgeous watercolour and the photos of all the colourful plants, and your mum and Michael. You captured the spring explosion beautifully in your haibun, and I love the idea of ‘flower shrapnel’ – I think we should somehow send that over to Ukraine – and the loud enthusiasm of the bees.
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I am starting to feel Fall in the air up here in California, but I’m glad that means you get warmer Spring-like weather.
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Your photos are beautiful and I love the poetic description.
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Amazing flowers and poem Robbie.
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Hi Robbie, this is Terri. On my phone which wants me to log in…and can’t for some reason.
I got a bit teary-eyed seeing the before and after images of your son and mom. How beautiful!
Your watercolor of the African bee is impressive. I also love spring’s “flower schrapnel” as you called it! Brilliant! Happy Spring to you all! 🌻🐝🌸🌺
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I was able to log in after I commented. 😆
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I love the feel of this – a glorious bursts of life and energy in a garden – flower shrapnel conveys an explosion of colour – nice phrase Roberta and a wonderful write of energy.
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I love the photos of your mum and Michael.
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Thank you, Diana. Those photographs are precious.
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What a lovely spring you’re having, Robbie. I love the photo of Michael and his Nan at the end of the post. 💜
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What a beautiful watercolour, poem and photos. Love the one of Michael and your mum.
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HI Esther, thank you so much. I’m delighted you enjoyed this post.
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How lovely – everything seems so good. Gorgeous, gorgeous Robbie🐝🖼️💐and lovely to see a photo of Michael and your mom.
You might have spring now over there, but here, in the Western Cape it’s cold, wet and even gales… still!!
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HI Chris, we are having such lovely weather and the garden is a delight.
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Absolutely beautiful share Roberta.
Thank you.
We are heading into autumn, not that we had much a summer.
The flowers are so pretty 🌸🌹🌺
Loved the watercolour too!
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HI Maggie, we didn’t have much of a winter. About 2 really cold weeks and that is all. The rest has been very mild. I don’t like cold but it is unusual to have such warm weather in winter. I’m delighted you enjoyed this post.
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I think Mother Nature is confused atm .
Every part of the world is experiencing changes in seasons.
I did enjoy it .
Have a great day Roberta .
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What an enjoyable mix of your poetry, your painting, and your photos, Robbie! And it’s moving to see the “time lapse” pictures of your mother and son.
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Hi Dave, it was quite interesting for me to look at those two photographs together. How our children change over a short time. Amazing. I’m delighted you enjoyed this post.
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I find your creative evolution truly fascinating, Robbie. Your ability to blend artistic skills with poetic expression creates a compelling form of communication. It’s inspiring to witness how you enhance your words through your art. I eagerly await the new pieces you will share with us, as I believe they will be even more impactful and enriching. P.S. How amazing to see that a little baby held by your mother has grown up and could now hold her so close. Michael and your mother’s photos are precious, precious, precious!!!
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Hi Rebecca, thank you for your encouraging comment. I like to experiment and pair pictures and poems. Those photographs of mum and Michael are lovely.
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Your talent is truly incredible, Robbie, and very far-reaching. I love your watercolour of the bee. And the photo comparison of your mom with michael over the years is absolutely fantastic!
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HI Donna, thank you for your lovely comment. I am delighted you enjoyed this post.
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Your poem goes well with the lovely bee painting. I love the two photos of Michael and his grandmother! You are so creative. The flowers are beautiful. 🌸
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Hi Kay, I’m delighted you enjoyed this post. I love spring.
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The photo of your mom and Michael is precious.
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Hi Melissa, thank you. It is amazing to see the two together.
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Wonderful post, and I love the pictures, especially the last two of your mom and Michael. A magnificent example of the circle of life.
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Thank you, Edward. It’s almost astonishing 🌞
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I like the enthusiastic bees. What wonderful colors in your garden!
And great photos of the generations. (K)
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Thank you, Kerfe. I had a really good watercolour workshop on Sunday and managed two paintings in 4 hours. It’s a great picture of Michael and Mom.
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A beautiful haibun and a beautiful waterpainting and photos. It was nice to see a photo of Michael and your mother.
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Hi Thomas, I’m glad you like that picture. How they grow 😆
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Just wonderful how you have merged precious family images your poetry and art you really are a genius , Robbie…I absolutely love that painting watercolours are one of my favourite mediums xx
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Hi Carol, thank you. I must give the credit to Terri who led the way. The looseness of watercolours is difficult for me. A real challenge.
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Hi Robbie of course a teacher guides us however the student has to have talent which you undoubtedly do x
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Hugs
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❤️❤️
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What a wonderful post, Robbie. Love your watercolour and photos of your mom and Michael in the before and after.
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Hi Dale, it was fun for me to look at the Michael and mum before and after pictures. 💞🌞
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It sure lets us know how time has flown! 💞
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It’s lovely to revisit spring through your words and photos, Robbie. We’re on the edge of autumn here.
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Hi Audrey, I know you are going into autumn. I love spring.
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Everything here is lovely.
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Thank you, Kim 💗
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a delight, Robbie; I enjoyed the poem and your sketch of the African bee and that gorgeous photo of mum and Michael 🙂
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Hi John, that is great to know 💗
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Wonderful photos of your son and mom, in seeing the jump from then to now 🙂 Also, such lovely colors in your watercolor painting and the photos of your garden. I remember your poems from a few months ago that not much rain had been falling. So it’s great to see the bright colors of the spring flowers.
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I love these photos! Time marches on, but their bond is obvious. The poem, art and photography are fantastic!
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I could FEEL Spring! LOVE the photos, especially Michael and your mom!!! Of course, your paintings always brighten my day.
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HI Annette, it was so interesting to look at those two pictures together. Thank you for your warm comment.
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Another wonderful post, poetry ,prose, photos and drawings what can I say… I love the photo of your Mum and Michael… He looks like a gentle giant 💜💜💜
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HI Willow, Michael is very gentle and has been quite over protected due to his illness. He finds some of the kids at school quite mean and rough. That is life though.
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I do feel for him Robbie . I had trouble at school .but it made me stronger… And Michael will fly 💜💜💜
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Your trouble was probably because you’re so beautiful. I’m sure the girls were very jealous of you. I also had trouble in school because I was so different. Michael is like me. He will learn to appreciate his talents and be happy to run alone in due course.
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You are right about Michael and I hope he flies like the wind.
I was not beautiful at school I was a chubby child , I lost weight at about 12yrs old after being very ill…but your right even then I was not popular…. As you say we are stronger for coping. 💜💜
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Beautiful poem, as always, Robbie. 🌺 🐝 Love seeing your artwork. 🩷
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Thank you, Leslie. I can’t create as quickly and efficiently as you do, but I do enjoy art.
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When I look at Michael and your mom, I can’t help but think how fleeting time is.
One human life may live through many seasons, yet one human life is one season. (just a thought)
Your flowers are gorgeous. Your Haibun as fab as yourdrawing.
Fab post, Robbie!
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HI Resa, that is an interesting analogy to the seasons. I find it quite frightening to see how big my boys are now. They are adults. My little boys are gone and although they are both lovely young men, the ending of their time with me is in sight now.
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I’ve never seen banks roses in person. They’re a cool flower. Love the honeybee painting and the adorable pictures of your mom with Michael.
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Thank you, Priscilla. I’m pleased you enjoyed this post.
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I love your bee watercolor. Thanks for posting those wonderful photos, especially the jasmine, which I adore!
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I am delighted you enjoyed this post
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Your painting is as lovely as the big clivia flower. The photos of your mom and Michael are just wonderful!
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HI Jennie, it was quite interesting to see those two pictures of my mom and Michael together. I’m glad you liked the painting and photographs.
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😍
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I love your painting of the bee. It takes me back to a spring field of daisies & daffodils. I’m in awe, really. Thanks for writing this! Have a great week ahead! BBB
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Thank you, I’m delighted you enjoyed this post.
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Spring is busting out all over at your post! I really like your watercolor.
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I wish we’d get some rain. Its all dark clouds and thunder with no actual rain. I am working on another watercolour. It is a succulent display so a bit more challenging.
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We need rain, too. Our grass is all burnt. I look forward to seeing your new watercolor. Succulents make great subjects for paintings.
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And a poem to go with the painting – smile!
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😀
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