Tag: pacific northwest

Life, Poetry, Writing

Echoing the Backdrop

Mark Wayne

#JustBelieve #HopeLives #LoveChangesPeople

The rain has definitely arrived here in the Pacific Northwest and just in time some might say. Looks like another wet and green Christmas but that’s okay.

I love laying in bed listening to the raindrops hitting our metal porch roof right outside the bedroom window. Which we keep open all year long.

The sound of the rain mixes with the soft melody of the wind chimes that gently lull me to sleep. Dreams and memories travel through my mind as I rest in the moments of tranquility.

These restful moments spur ideas for my writings. What moments, sounds or experiences bring you peace and inspire your creativity?

God, Poetry

The Sentinel

Mark Wayne

The Sentinel
“The Sentinel”  North Head Lighthouse Washington (Photo copyright Mark Schutter 2016)

He stands alone
Watching
Waiting
In the day and night

He is immovable
Focused
Freed
To keep his purpose

He remains unaffected
Strong
Silent
A watcher over our souls

He accepts dangers
Courageously
Cautionary
A beacon for weary hearts

He loves unconditionally
Everyone
All
Sacrificing himself for us

~Mark Schutter ©2016

(The photo was taken on a family outing to the coast in July, I love where I live!)

Photograph

Mima Mounds Natural Area – Olympia, WA

Mark Wayne

Mima Mounds - May 2016

Sunset from the tree line at the Mima Mounds Natural Area Preserve outside of Olympia, WA in the Pacific Northwest south of Seattle.

Acres and acres of mounds cover this vast prairie, all mounds surprisingly similar in shape and size.

  • What are they?
  • Why are they here?

No one really knows.

The theory’s on their origins range from prehistoric gophers, Native American burial sites, erosion, volcanic eruptions, glacial freeze and thaw cycles, even tsunamis and earthquakes. But, got now there is nothing even close to consensus on the origin of these mounds.

Although, not as majestic as Mt. Rainier, nor as intimidating as Mt. St. Helen’s or as breathtaking as the Olympic Mountains, there is an air of mystery. As you walk through the mounds, the soft breezes blowing the prairie grasses at your feet, there is a feeling of something larger at play here. It is spiritually awe-inspiring and foreboding at the same time.

Maybe sometimes, there are things that we are not supposed to know and the trick is to learn to live and be okay with the mystery. Once the mystery is solved the mystique is gone.

Photograph, Poetry

It’s Christmas Time!

Mark Wayne

image

It’s Christmas time
From rainy overcast days
To forever blue skies
And clear sunny days

It’s Christmas time
Towering evergreens stand tall
They cover the land
Where snow scarcely falls

It’s Christmas time
Upon the mountain peaks
Lying in silent repose
Their transcendence we seek

It’s Christmas time…
In the Pacific Northwest

~Mark Schutter ©2014

Adventure, Art, God, Photograph, Poetry, Writing

Rainfall Strains – Autumns Refrain

Mark Wayne

the rainfall strains of the day remains
gray cloudy skies
hide the sun
and last goodbyes
the autumns refrain of the coming pains
summer’s gone away
on the wind
songs of yesterday
the remembered chains of hope will reign

~Mark Schutter ©2013

First Day of Fall - 2013 (This picture was taken out the window of my studio, of a gray rainy day in the Pacific Northwest and lightly edited using PicMonkey. Typical especially for the first day of fall and a little reminder of things yet to come.  But let the poem and photo be a reminder to cling to hope even in the gray and ‘just believe’ for in the end ‘love wins!’~M)