The crackle of the wood as flames strike the wood. The smell of greener logs emitting a film as they are tossed into the growing blaze. The light gray specks floating around randomly within the smoke and the sparks. The sights and sounds of a campfire excite little ones and provide memories and paths to new visions for adults.

No two seashells are alike, yet they group themselves in the same places. They float and they sink. They migrate and are migrated. Some are flatter than others. Some are smooth and others posses ripples and ridges. Many have various colors that allow them to sparkle in the sunlight and catch your eye as you stroll down the beach. A few others are dull in nature and blend into the glistening sand.

The swamp is a mysterious place that provides a home and shelter to many life forms. From frogs to alligators and mosquitoes to bats, each call this murky place their home. Dark waters provide shelter and nourishment to these creatures. Some have bulging eyes on the top of their heads to better see the slumping environment. Some meander aimlessly looking for the next place on which to land. The swamp provides much to a different world of wild life.

Dogs are great companions and closer to us than we would like to admit sometimes. The soft fur, the floppy or pointy ears, the panting, the growling, the cold nose. All of these connect with our canine pals. Are you thinking about the puppy you got when you were young? Are you reflecting on the neighbor’s pooch? Either way, focus on the connections he brings.

The forest or the trees…really, choose one or the other? Writing about nature is always subjective and reflective of the perspective poet. It is a smoother setting to place other objects within the forest and things in trees, but writing about the items individually can cause one to climb braches never intended to be touched. Think of the simple beauty within…

Sometimes, the sun is readily available and too bright for us to view it…other times, it is hidden behind the branches of closer being…Think about the emotions, look for the rays peaking through the tiny, but plentiful leaves…

Sometimes poetry topics hit us when we are just watching what lies around us…Color, nature and waterfalls are a big part of writing and inspiration…Be creative and look for symbols and intensity within the photo to paint you own picture in words…Post it here, or share elsewhere, but write and enjoy…

Poetry speaks to the masses…It connects us to ourselves and nature. Words that can only bring you so far in your inspiration…