Rose On The Run, A PAINTING STUDIO Poem by Stephen Craig Rowe

     Wait all the winter long for spring soft winds, rains and green in the warm for the roses.

      The colors and scents seem to close a door to the world, yet open a window.  Time in the garden, small though it is tends to take one away from the trial and strife of the day to day.

     Or so it seems to me as I get into the roses and day to day see the roses run in life from cold winter roots, tiny shoots that become buds and blossom in late spring and summer.

    There free and alone all the chit chat bird song and sound is absorbed  by the images of summer as the roses are on the run.

     Roses on the run, ever a joy.  Here today and ever in memory.

     Wonder not how sweet the blessing, but take and behold the wonder of the poetry in the fold of a rose.

     Rose on the run no one can hold you forever.  For we are also poetry held in the fold of the rose.  There but for a moments grace we hold each other in the reality of a sacred image never frozen in time, for time is all time. 

     Rose on the run, petals in the sun rain on your brow smile as sweet as summer sounds spoken in silence against a screen door slapped shut in the wind.  Spring held taught then wrap the buzz of night around you.  None of the ghosts speak but rather sneak in your sheets and surround dreams tossing and turning as real as real is.  In dreams as a rose on the  run and reflections in the  wine. 

     As ever be well,  Stephen Craig Rowe     

THE GREEN WALL A Walk Of Words By Stephen Craig Rowe

The effort of the lands and hands that ever try to lay back the green are but a false hope.  A half filled sand bag thrown into raging flood waters ever rising and quenching earths deep thirst to draw man beyond the madness of holding her. 

Translating the tides to fit a neat bit for a short time only is as selfish a task as drinking the whole cold creek dry.

For a time.  And the old world had no blinds or walls or words.

When the green was the garden of all and creatures had no walls to wait for the slash and burn.

Old worn hands and faces, generations of walls, wailing streets, sad windows and fences will never hold back the green walk of words

well spent

For there are no walls to hold back the green.

As ever be well,  Stephen Craig Rowe 

Nine Roses The Garden by Stephen Craig Rowe

Several years ago I cut some roses from my little garden and arrainged them in a champaigne flute.  Then waited for just the right light with my Cannon T50 hovering on the tripod.  When the classic composition was properly framed and the early evening light seemed to shimmer just for a moment.  I held my breath and let the shutter fly.  Later that evening at World Famous Big Al's I placed the flute of roses on the stage for a favored exotic dancer.  As she thanked me for the roses and told me how beautiful they were I saw happy tears sparkle in her eyes and smiled.

Yesterday afternoon I was able to spend some time in the small garden taking on some lite tasks of weeding and cutting back stems that winter was not kind to.  Tend to cut away the brown down to the green just above a tiny sprout.  My landlord dropped by and we made some small talk.

" Did they make it through the winter "?  He asked pointing to the roses.

" Eight of the nine did.  Don't see any signs of the JFK rose ".

" We don't have much luck with roses.  How was your trip to the VA Medical Center in Danville"?

" Mostly routine.  Lab works, a follow up interview with the surgeon, another CT scan and a visit with the wound care nurse".  It had been only 32 days since my operation I thought.  Then said,

" Will know more after the CT scan in Indianapolis later this month.  The scanner there is more advanced than the one in Danville and after the scan will meet with the radiology-oncology team".

" Hope things go well in Indy".  He said and left me to my gardening.

Time spent in the garden to me is rather like taking a walk in the woods or getting into a good book when all the trouble and strife of the world fades as one's focus is on the intricate beauty of life and thoughts are kind as they wander within and without. 

I did promise my dear friend Riette from Port Edward, South Africa a photo of the front of my house.  It is early spring and this morning is grey.  The shot was taken about an hour ago and is rather stark but as summer comes so do the hanging baskets and pots of flowers to brighten the porch.  The rest of the photographs are of the young roses and some signs of life from my walk on Saturday April 4th.

This just in from http://bobdylan.com/ 

Listen to "Feel A Change Comin' On"

From Bob Dylan's new album

TOGETHER THROUGH LIFE

http://video.newsweek.com/#?t=18540585001&l=25152707

As ever be well,  Stephen Craig Rowe

On The Road Again With Apture and you

PAINTING STUDIO UPDATE:

Work has been busy and things a bit hectic as I am on the road to Danville again. I report at 11:am on February 25th at the Danville, Illinois Veterans Administration Medical Center for surgery at 1:pm on that day. The surgeon will perform a Left Colectomy. I will be in the hospital for five to eight days then at home in recovery for six to eight weeks.

I was not going to blog about this but some of you may have been wondering about where I have been and am about to go. Now you know.

My thoughts are of all of you, here there and everywhere. There is a comfort in the knowing and the space between the words that transends and extends understanding. As quiet as a brush stroke or the scratch of a pen. That bind the mind to poetry and grace. Yes, the white rose was grown in my little garden. Those are dew drops and not tears. I do have a new phone, Samsung Instinct that is like a little hand held computer. Way cool. Am sure to have time to figure out all of the features. In time. For time is all we have to be of the all. Oh yeah, United States Congressman Aaron Schock visited Jim's Steak House in Peoria last night, we talked a bit and he said that he would call when I was in the hospital.



A special thanks to Deborah Smith http://www.deborah-smith.com and  http://www.bellebooks.com/  for sending the sound trac from Tender Graces the novel by Kathryn Magendie http://kathrynmagendie.spaces.live.com/   to be released this spring by BelleBooks.

As ever be well, Stephen Craig Rowe

Tender Graces the novel by Kathryn Magendie

   More than words can tell, words spring from the mountians that sustain.  There a dear friend Kathren Magendie lives, loves and is of the mountians.  Her words are priceless, The novel, TENDER GRACES will be published this spring.  April I think is the release date.  The video is more than poetic.  Then takes one into the space between the words.  I can not wait to have a copy of this book in my hands and in my eyes.  As ever be well, with love, Stephen Craig Rowe

Painting Studio On The Wing With The Flying Monkeys And I'm So Glad

Talking about PAINTING STUDIO On The Wing With The Flying Monkeys and I'm So Glad

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PAINTING STUDIO On The Wing With The Flying Monkeys and I'm So Glad
There are times when one is taken beyond words by the kind actions of another. After work on Saturday night I arrived home a bit late and logged into the Painting Studio to read a comment from Karen AKA Red Kitten. Karen is a MSN blogger that I have known and respected for years though she seldom comments at the Painting Studio. She wrote that there was something at her space for me to read. I went there at the speed of light and read her post. ON THE WINGS OF LOVE http://abnorms.spaces.live.com
Karen, you made a grown man cry good tears. Thank you! Flying Monkeys was a dream that became a reality. An international effort and collaboration that took shape of it's own. I am so proud of the Flying Monkeys and all of the good, fine, beautiful works and words for the betterment. http://flyingmonkeyshome.spaces.live.com/
Space is only as deep as one makes it. Thank you for making my space smile.
Now we shall see what the Flying Monkeys bring to the future for the dream is a reality.
I am so glad.
As ever be well. With love. Stephen Craig Rowe



CREAM LYRICS
I'm so glad, I'm so glad I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad I'm so glad, I'm so glad I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad I don't know what to do, I don't know what to do, I don't know what to do I'm tired of weeping, I'm tired of moaning, I'm tired of crying for you I'm so glad, I'm so glad I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad I'm so glad, I'm so glad I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad I'm tired of weeping, I'm tired of moaning, I'm tired of groaning for you I don't know what to do, I don't know what to do, I don't know what to do I'm so glad, I'm so glad I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad I'm so glad, I'm so glad I'm glad, I'm glad, I'm glad (Chorus repeated 5 times)

Save Sayed Pervez Kambaksh

A university student in Afganistan has been condemed to death for downloading and distributing information about women's rights on his computer. Please take a moment to sign the Independent's petition by following this link:

http://zeynepankara-live.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!612AF29A1928F789!5453.entry

Thank you, As ever be well. Stephen Craig Rowe