Poem: Patriotism

                                   
                                      In the woods gathers a brave platoon
                                      Their uniforms, a mixture of tan and green
                                      Each face painted in dark camouflage
                                      Hard bodies firmly lean

                                      A soldier’s life is a lonely one
                                      When sent far from home
                                      War brings out the strength in him
                                      And the battle drives him on.

                                      The hills sharply rocky
                                       Rough trenches sank deep
                                      They crossed the terrain
                                      Troops with very sore feet   
                                   
                                      Deadly bullets started flying
                                      Thick brush was set on fire
                                      These soldiers all sent on a mission
                                      Save our men captured there      

                                      The rifles took aim
                                      Grenades the military threw
                                      Fighting with more courage
                                      Than any average man knew
                                     
                                      Voices could be heard screaming
                                      Bloody corpses lay slumped down
                                      The skirmish grew silent 
                                      As released Americans were sent out
                            
                                      From out in the distance
                                      A white flag was raised
                                      Defeated enemy had surrendered                                                                                                                          And honored heroes were made

                                      Unpublished Work Copyright 2016 Nancy M. Rollins 
                                       www.authornancymrollins.blogspot.com
                                                 Nancy Rollins(@NancyM.Rollins)    

A Touch of Beauty Forever Captured

 

Beginning a new category of still life photos. This beautiful flower blooms on extra large bushes in my back yard. Any guesses anyone to the type of plant?

I've never had much of a green thumb. My plants usually don't last more than one season. I tend to over water them, or forget and don't water them at all. You will find the only living plants inside my house are the ones in the fish tank. The rest are made from plastic or silk. At least the outdoor ones do have mother nature to help look out for them.

To capture a nearly perfect photograph, it may take a few tries. With a small breeze or a shake of the hand, it's easy to be thrown out of focus. How often has our photo's been ruin by shadows or overexposed streaks of light? Should you be facing the sun or stand behind it when snapping a picture? How far should someone zoom in or out on a subject they wish to shoot? Knowing these bits & pieces will effect the quality of the print.

Taking photos is mostly trial and error. I do it for enjoyment, and consider myself an amateur with still much to learn. Writing is another hobby I like to pursue. Photographs are an option to illustrations, and always make good covers for books.

Flowers bring out the best in many. Although I have not mastered their care, the world is a prettier place with them there.

Storm off the Shore

                                                       It blows in like a hurricane
                                                       A force with strong steady winds

                                                       Raising the water higher
                                                       Fierce waves tumble in

                                                       Streaks of light flashing
                                                       Moving across the sky

                                                       Heavy raindrops pouring
                                                       Schools of dolphin try to hide

                                                       A storm off the water
                                                       Splashes seaweed along the shore

                                                       Scurrying crabs and shellfish
                                                       Fight a moving tide


                                                                   unpublished work copyright 2016 Nancy M. Rollins