Category Archives: Nature

These poems have a basic “nature” theme, and give those that read these, a feeling of what the poemsmight bring to them

Winter Trek 2019-019

Posted in Contemplation, Nature by

Frigid air, coupled with blowing cold snow, brings to mind how winter weather has a way to challenge us in everyday life. It is SO, SO easy to contemplate staying at home on days or evenings like described below.  At one time I did NOT have a choice, but braved the inclement weather, but now have the luxury to decide to go or stay in my warm nest of a home and look outside and appreciate that fact.   Winter on my mind this Feb 2019

Winter Trek  2019-019

Windswept snow

forming sporadic whiteouts;

challenging dim headlights

stabbing through hazy swirls

 

Compressing, confining,

twin valleys of miniature mountains

piled high by metal monsters –stand high

 

Inside the capsule, white knuckles

furrowed brow and squinting eyes

peer at ghosts of whiteness ahead

 

Tenseness filling the air

with quickened breath;

Ice islands, snow covered,

near skids, heartbeats missed

 

Exhalation with thought;

reward of hot chocolate

blankets and a crackling fireplace

waiting beyond the chill

 

Faint light filtering ahead,

a final turn

familiar beacon shining

home again, home again

journey done;

reward to be taken.

 

Relief

 

Peace,

Den Betts   bettsden@gmail.com  Email

thebettsden.com           Blog

Winter Weather 2019-16

Posted in Nature by

As I sat inside my house, on a VERY COLD day on Jan  31,2019, I looked out my window, and even though it is -5 degrees, the sun is shining. I still remember just yesterday or so, how it was dreary, and cloudy and cold still, and wished for Spring to arrive and take me away from this winter weather……………

 

Grey Winter Skies  2019-16

Above, reflections of my mind

at times of sadness

Clouds boiling in turmoil

creating images in my mind

Dreary grayness, copying

the feelings I have at times

Dampness hanging over all,

my heart pumping in rhythm

Silhouettes of trees in relief

blackness as the thoughts inside

Ahh, for the freshness of spring

of rebirth, of hopes eternal light

Gray be gone, fly away, return some

other day, respite from despair.

Peace,

Den Betts      bettsden@gmail.com   email

thebettsden.com          Blog site

Winter is Here 2019-012

Posted in Nature by

I  checked the forecast today and cannot believe, no, do not want to believe the 4-8 inches of snow predicted for this weekend.  Plans are changed, giving into the drudge of winter weather, looking forward to spring…….

Winter is Here   2019-012

 

Cotton balls cascading

down upon brown earth

Fluffy formed drifts

blanketing the quiet dale

 

Spiraling steeple throwing

out ringing sounds

Echoing every nook with peals

of each bell

 

Street lights sending out

rays of speckled light

Dazzling diamonds formed

six sided facets- shining

 

Winters wind dancing

its way midst the wildwood

Singing songs of harmonic

flow to those that hear

Winter is here

Peace,

Den Betts        bettsden@gmail.com    Email

thebettsden.com           Blog Sight

Waterfall 2018-74

Posted in Contemplation, Nature by

I remember writing this when we visited Brandywine Falls, in Cuyahoga National Park, near Cleveland, OH, and it was written to enable someone to “see” the falls through my eyes at the time.  It was a lovely day, the walkway to the falls down below, gave a serene pleasant atmosphere to life then.  If ever, get a chance, go see and enjoy, enjoy, enjoy!!!!!!!

Waterfall  2018-74

The wandering cool stream gently sped

Moving toward the precipice close ahead

Funnels of rock squeeze the flowing water

Pushing it toward the outcrop faster

Emerald greed moss nurtured by its flow

Mingle with the ferns above and below

Molecules of wetness leap in the air

In bursting spray without a care

Once blue-brown now white, so white,

Plunging down with all its might

A constant thunder and roar make a bellow

And becomes louder as it races below

The cascading cataract frozen in flight

Smashes on the boulders with all its might

Reaching for the sky it falls, near the shore

Then continues flowing gently as ever before

Den Betts        email:  bettsden@gmail.com  blog: thebettsden.com

 

Spring 2018-30

Posted in Contemplation, Nature by

Oh, how I look forward to Spring!  A change in temps, seeing things in a different light, a promise of newness of living, so many things to experience anew.  Cold gone, and white changed to green.  Winter has it’s positives (somewhere I guess), but Spring is eternal as far as I am concerned……

Spring  2018-30

A rebirth of the dormant world

With its rekindling of growth

Smells once forgotten, now back.

Creatures gone before, now returned.

 

Puffy and white now replacing

Grey and foreboding, welcomed

Amidst the gentle rains feeding

Plants awakened, stretching upward.

 

Lively steps in tired old men

Walking up the street with a bounce.

Children playing in puddles and mud

Grins, with sparkles in the eye.

 

Spring, a time of joy, a time of

Hope, a period of the rebirth

Once again of the world, the

Promise of continued life unfolds.

 

Den Betts    bettsden@gmail.com

Walk in the Fall 2015-125

Posted in Nature, Poems by

It is almost fall and I am ready to take a walk in the fall, since I do remember how wonderful it can be. I miss that, but do not miss the precursor to winter that fall brings; SNOW. I can remember one more thing; the smell of coalsmoke in the air from burning coal in furnaces, to heat the homes so long ago…

 

Walk in the Fall   2015-125

 

I walked through the blanket of fall flowers

The smell of wood smoke in the air.

 

The pumpkins were being carved by the little ones

And cider was being sold by the road

 

Leaves were falling, turned brown from green,

The trees becoming stark and black

 

The squirrels were storing their acorn nuts,

Preparing for the long winter nights

 

A football game to be looked at later

With popcorn or pretzels and beer

Maybe a telephone call to a son far away                                                                                       To say hello, on a fall splendid day

Meanwhile, high above, geese flew south, in formation

They’re honking a rebounding sound of excitement

 

Far off, cornstalks stood as pillars in the field

Below the ominous grey and rolling clouds

 

Another change of another year, before winter

As I walked through the field of wild flowers.

 

Den Betts

Strawberry Lane 2015-108

Posted in Nature, Poems by

We lived near a county park called Strawberry Lane Metro Parks, in the Cleveland area, where we visited so many times. It, then, was a carefree time, with thoughts of nature, the good life without many cares, and just an enjoyment of life then. No TV with horror stories told, as today, and a different kind of life at that time. Summer time and the living was easy, summer time and the living was swell………..

Strawberry Lane 2015-108

A honking Canadian goose glided toward the pond,

Feet extended for a landing on a fall afternoon.

One among many mixes with assorted fowl,

Honking and quacking in a cacophony of sound.

 

Parasails of leaves flutter to the cool still water,

Landing, then floating in dizzy circles.

A mat of soggy ones clumped and ringing the shore,

Before slowly sinking to the pond bottom forevermore.

 

On the far bank, a small child stood in the mud,

Flinging pebbles, making ripples, laughing with glee,

Her father stood nearby, watching over with a smile.

Remembering a similar experience in life.

 

Down further, a man with a remote guided speedboat,

Fiddled with controls, steering it this way and that.

As a son squatted down, waiting his turn to play,

Wondering just whose gift it was last Christmas day.

 

Lovers hand in hand, walking the nearby trail,

Deep in thought of romance and exuberance of living.

Both wishing for a chosen future day to arrive,

To begin a lifetime of togetherness and caring.

 

Activity of all kinds, a blending a joining,

Man and nature sharing both time and space,

A peaceful setting, so natural and right,

Nature being used as it should be.

 

Den Betts

Leaf 2015-105

Posted in Nature, Poems by

The BettsDen.com

 

I had to search for a “summer” poem that I have written. Well, more like a “spring” one at this junction of time in July. Anyhow, I wrote this poem about a leaf, and what part it played in the life of a tree, or a least its role in the process of life for the tree. A small part of a large part, but an extremely important part of a living tree.

 

NOTE: I will stop sending blog posts to/via Facebook after this poem about a Leaf. If anyone wants to follow my blogs, please do so by going to TheBettsDen.com. I do not know how long this will occur, but it is occurring now.  

                             Leaf 2015-105

The lightest and smallest part,

Of the mighty oak,

A factory turning light to life,

Helping to create growth.

So small a part yet so big a part,

For the existence of a living tree.

All working together to produce,

In concert with an overall plan.

Nutrients for the bulk, the trunk,

The roots, stretching to grasp fluid.

Till a time of rest, then discarded,

To decompose in a furtherance of life.

Den Betts

Fog 2015-84

Posted in Nature, Poems by

From: TheBettsDen.com

I was looking out my bedroom window one morning and could not see the trees at the rear of our property because of the fog. I squinted and tried, but the fog was too dense. It was like I was in a cloud looking down at my patio and the bricks were vague forms, hard to see and make out. It was like, when I was driving on top of the Ligonier mountain of Pa. and my wife was looking out an open window to see where the line was at the side of the road. It was a scary trip for about two miles.

          Fog   2015-84

Suspended particles

of wetness

 

Clinging to all

hanging in the air

 

Breath leaving

to join the fray

 

Sight diminished

Smells enhanced

 

A cloud that comes to earth

to envelope all.

Den Betts

 

Flowers 2015-82

Posted in Nature, Poems by

From: TheBettsDen.com

Spring is still here as of the end of May 2015 and things are still sprouting and flowers are popping up to show their beauty. Ideas come to mind as to what also arrives, sometimes unwittingly (WEEDS), but also part of life in its struggle of existence.

Flowers 2015-82

Bulbs send up shoots through the soil

to burst forth and bless the sky.

Hopes and aspirations that come to pass

Linger on for awhile, before they die.

 

Bees that fly and kiss the nectar

Make honey for continued life.

Ideas and dreams that once were so true

Never make it past the trials and strife.

 

As the flower blossoms and takes its shape

And becomes all as it shall may.

So goes life, with its ups and downs

To whatever existence that happens, day to day.

 

Flower petals fall to the ground

Blown away in the wind.

Dreams and wishes borne to the mind

Disappear as if by a whim.

Den Betts