a total stranger one black day
knocked living the hell out of me–
who found forgiveness hard because
my(as it happened)self he was
-but now that fiend and i are such
immortal friends the other’s each
***
The Gardener’s Fern Book
by Joan Pond
The gardener’s fern book
was filled with clutter.
A program from a flower show
at the Mattatuck Museum,
with a special thanks from Dr. Gray.
Mom’s ‘hide and seek’ exhibit
was judged,
too sophisticated for the masses.
There was a Father’s Day card
and
A Valentine for Someone Special.
Imagine going through this book
after she was gone?
With all her belongings
falling,
as leaves
from a tree.
***
WARM TEA
I climb the hills and mountains of my heart
Where the echos of spirits sound.
On my way I search for happiness–
Happiness, solid as a stone.
Now My happiness is with you–right now–here–
There’s no power in yesterdays–tomorrows–nothing–
Their voice speaks in the wind.
So pour me your tea–
Make it warm this night–
Come close–
And old spirits won’t find me home.
Creek Painting 48″ x 36″

This creek painting was painted from a photograph of Passenger Creek in 1989. There was a tree in the photo which was not falling but certainly about to fall. It makes me think of the “tree falling in the forest” statement we all know. Maybe it was caught up in that branch. It adds an element of anticipation on the creek. Here is our earlier post of this creek painting
All paintings have a story and even maybe a byline. This one has a byline. I painted it the day my brother died. I’d cut it into a thousand pieces if I could get him back. The last strokes went on when the phone rang. I was painting it for Wayne Jackson.
Creek paintings are plentiful. F
amous creek paintings I cannot seem to reference. Maybe this should be one. Things don’t turn out that way though.
My first effort with this photo was this smaller creek painting . This painting was owned by Wayne and is now in my possession. I had just started painting and he put it on his wall and bought a light for it. This sparked my painting efforts. The creek, in particular passenger creek has always been special for me. The creek represents a small out of the way unnoticed peace and tranquility. A place of small sounds, insects and birds. I grew up on a farm on a creek. My earliest memories are walking the trails beside this little creek, fishing and swimming with my brothers.
These creek paintings were my earliest efforts and maybe my best. They were impressions of peaceful times, of good times as a child. Oil paint has a way of becoming more translucent over the years. These creek paintings were painted in 1989. A few years later I began painting on paper and painted this last painting of the creek. This one is dated 1992. It is the last of the series.
Here i
s a pic of my brother, Wayne Jackson.
Here is a link to his poems. He was, and is, my brother and friend. These paintings and my art are dedicated to him. He encouraged me. That is the greatest gift.
David Michael Jackson

Dark Fog in New York Picture
We are very struck by this photo of a dark fog settling in New York city.
Here is a straight web shot of this pic
This is a fairly high res pic. Hit Cntrl + and you can scroll around. Great pic looking down that street!
Photo by Brittaney Abbott