Wonderland of Illusion

“What a strange world we live in ... said Alice to the Queen of Hearts” ― Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

   

The Poets and Storytellers United prompt is to "write about an obscure bit of knowledge that fascinates us". Nothing is more obscure than the nature of our existence and the endless bits of knowledge generated by thinkers and scholars seeking to unravel this greatest of all mysteries. Indeed, there are many rabbit holes to fall into when pondering such questions and I do enjoy, with bewilderment, wonder and sometimes skepticism, exploring the ideas of mind-bending thinkers. I expect one day we'll burst the time/space bubble and uncover more intuitively the cosmic scheme lurking amid our limited human senses. Meanwhile, these senses helping us to cope within the boundaries of our little understood labyrinth, bring us misery but also serenity, especially when gazing at inspiring changing skies.

And should the lamp outside my door be illusion, the "imaginary" snow blankets that fell still feel real and need shovels to clear pathways for those going out into the cold.

Explore more at Poets and Storytellers United and SKYWATCH. 

Check out my sites: Postcards from Penelope Puddle and Musings of A Puddlist In B.C.

Postscript Jan. 22nd: I dedicate this post to a much-loved fellow blogger Kay Davies who passed away this weekend. My always curious friend for decades, we entered the blogosphere together. An Unfittie's Guide to Adventurous Travel is her excellent site.

Because the state of our planet is the most pressing issue of our time, link up and learn about the  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report.

HOLD ONTO THE LIGHT

Madly Divine

New Year's Day was divine. A remarkable light crept across the mountaintops and I could almost dissolve into the gray mist as I walked along the Crescent Beach shore. It was a good start for me but not for some others. Japan had an earthquake. How cruel that rescuers were killed but also fortunate that people in the plane that struck them were mostly unscathed. Wars dragged on and although a page-turn of a calendar doesn't change much, I'm usually surprised and briefly disappointed by that fact. Sometimes what seems like a beginning is simply a continuation.

Although I like to think that one day humankind will solve its problems wisely to the benefit of all, it might not be in my lifetime. The Poets and Storytellers United prompt "beginnings" fit the conflicting nature of my mood at the start of 2024. Amid worldly trauma, there is still much beauty and, if we're lucky, life to enjoy.

I took my cues from a photographer focusing on the magic of the moment and a swimmer braving the chilly waters. No, I didn't dive in but the butterfly tattoo on her arm brought to mind a refreshed appreciation for Carl Sagan's words: "We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever."

Explore more at Poets and Storytellers United and SKYWATCH. 

Check out my sites: Postcards from Penelope Puddle and Musings of A Puddlist In B.C.

Because the state of our planet is the most pressing issue of our time, link up and learn about the  Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Report.

BUTTERFLY BY JON BATISTE

Postscript Jan. 7th: I dedicate this post to 33-year-old poet, Maksym Kryvtsov, killed in action this New Year, a soldier defending Ukraine from Russia's invasion.