Wednesday, June 21, 2023

SUMMER SOLSTICE


 

On the first day of summer,
the sun floated like a balloon
above the Bald Mountain
and ricocheted through the forest.

The Tiger lilies lifted cups
to drink the morning light,
a chorus of birds performed
outside my bedroom window.

Warmth wrapped my body
like a blanket as the raindrops
vanished with a wave
of the summer solstice.

The promise of long days
filled my heart with delight
as the sun nourished the crops
and night gave way to light.
                  --Brenda Kay Ledford

Happy Summer to all my blogger friends!


Saturday, June 17, 2023

Father's Day

My brother, Harold Ledford, holding his baby granddaughter, Lucy Claire.  Harold was a wonderful father and loving grandfather.  He was softhearted as chocolate melting on a hot sidewalk toward children and animals.  Harold was a perfect example of fatherhood!

My father passed away on Thanksgiving Day in 1988.  My brother, Harold, also passed away two days before Thanksgiving two years ago.  Both of these men were wonderful fathers and loving grandfathers.  I'm so grateful that I had these two kind, gentlemen in my life.  

Fathers are very important.  President Barack Obama said, "Any man can father a child, but not all men are fathers."

The loving presence of fathers in the family is critical in the development of children.  Statistics state that many youth get into crime because they didn't have fathers as role models.  It's also important for little girls to have fathers who are kind to them.  It gives daughters confidence and to one day choose a husband who will love and be kind to the them.

As you can see in this photo, my brother, Harold, adored his little granddaughter, little Lucy Claire.  What a blessing to have such a warm, loving relationship.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads out there.

Thursday, June 8, 2023

Brenda Kay Ledford Gives Program for Towns County Historical Society


 Brenda Kay Ledford will also be the featured reader at "Coffee With the Poets," on Wednesday, June 14th, 2023 at the Moss Memorial Library; Hayesville, NC at 10:30 AM.

She will read poetry from her new book, Leatherwood Falls, Blue Ridge Mountain Poems, that was released by Kelsay Books this year.

The public is invited to both of these free events.  An open mic will follow Ledford's reading at "Coffee With the Poets."  This event is sponsored by North Carolina Writer's Network-West.  

Saturday, June 3, 2023

My Backyard Zoo


 My Backyard Zoo

The neighbor's lawn mower
mocks my yard popping
up with dandelions.


A bunny rabbit hops
and flips over
the clover-bud mat.

She's an acrobat
performing in time
to a mockingbird rapping.

Gracie, the groundhog,
stretches on her back paws,
then dips and  nips


the heads off buttercups.


No need to trim
this wayward wilderness,
the wildlife knows
a better way
to bright my day!

           


I hope my blogger friends are having a happy day filled with sunshine and beautiful flowers.

Love,
Brenda