Spare The Air

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Spare The Air

It’s lunch hour in San Francisco on a foggy day. The sun tries to shed some light on the subject burning through the layers of car exhaust and jet streams from the nearby airport. The rush hour is in full force as drivers slowly move in lines like ants on the various freeways trying to free themselves of their cars. The local news station warns residents that it’s a Spare The Air Day.

Seated on a park bench near the bay munching on a sandwich the view is amazing. The yellow, orange and crimson streaks of color in the sky are beautiful. The sun is weaving in and out of the cloud layer making the afternoon light look magical. Without some pollution, the colors would never be quite like that. I am reminded of how a little smog can still be admired and enjoyed.

noon sun shimmers
a bayside Kodachrome moment
spare the air lunch hour

© Rebecca Sanchez 2017

Photography by +Woojin Yu follow his work on Google+.

A haibun written with my friends at dVerse~Poets Pub. In California, a Spare The Air Day is when the air is still and polluted to the point that making fires in fireplaces, burning garbage and other things that could add to the problem are prohibited until further notice. This is because we have very strict pollution laws. Although this picture looks like total pollution it’s mostly fog which we have a lot here. Despite my words, California has some of the best air in the US because most of our pollution goes down to the central valley.

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My Bicycle

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My Bicycle

Everywhere I go
it goes too
it keeps me healthy
I’m never blue.

Two rubber wheels
they take me far
there’s no pollution
unlike a car.

It feels like flying
my spirit’s free
wind in my hair
the birds chase me.

It’s good for most everyone
young or gray
practice makes perfect
today’s the day!

My bicycle
can’t be outdone
it keeps me young
while having fun.

© Rebecca Sanchez 2017

I took this selfie in a mirror window I pass by during my rides on the Bay Trail in the San Mateo, CA area. I bike 20-30 miles every other day taking photographs of nature it keeps me happy, healthy and young. If you’re interested in biking, my photos of the Bay Trail or health tips check out my website Bike With Bekkie.

Written with pleasure for my friends at Poets United. Thank you, Susan! Also linking to my friends at Imaginary Garden Of Real Toads.

For Every Flower

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For Every Flower

For every flower, let there be a bumblebee
as spring showers bring us sweet flowers
bees covered in pollen to their very knees
zigzagging back to the hive again.

For every flower, let there be a bumblebee
my garden blooms are calling
flying with wings too small for their bodies
covered in black and yellow furry stripes
producing honey for you and me.

We must stop our use of pesticides
so every flower will have a bumblebee.

© Rebecca Sanchez 2017

This is a photograph I took on a bike ride when a bumblebee landed on my sweatshirt during a bench break. It was very large and but didn’t have any pollen yet. I animated it with a sparkle effect.

This is my first time trying a Fold form with Imaginary Garden Of Real Toads.

Life Beware!

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Life Beware!

Steel mills belching smoke into the lifeless horizon
orange cotton candy clouds offering no smiles
through the evening soup, the shorebirds flew
black specs flung against the colorful stained canvas
the unfeeling glorious sunset silhouetting
a sky painted into a death grin.

Life beware!

© Rebecca Sanchez 2017

Although we’ve all had our share of bad news I took the dark artistic route. I had this animation of mine and wanted to use it. This vision is only cautionary.

Written with Poets United.

Believe

 

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Believe

Believe in a better tomorrow
believe that the air is pristine
believe that there’s nothing endangered
the future remains to be seen.

Believe in a world that is caring
believe that the oceans are clean
believe companies are recycling
the future remains to be seen.

Believe in a healthier planet
believe if together we lean
believe we can all do what’s needed
the future deserves to be green.

© Rebecca Sanchez 2016

Written for Earth Day with Imaginary Garden Of Real Toads and Poets United.

No More Honey

No More Honey

Doth the little honey bee
making life so sweet
diving into every flower
nature’s way complete.

Meets the bee from Africa
now fighting to survive
the honey bee gets overrun
no more honey in the hive.

Overuse of pesticides
spraying every bug we see
poison pollen in the fields
requiem for honey bees.

© Rebecca Sanchez 2013

Shared with earthweal open link weekend #9 on 2/29/2020.