Rhythms of Nature

A lot of the poetry and prose that I write is inspired by nature. The sights, sounds, smells and beauty of the seasons, of birds and mammals. I find it awe inspiring to spend a day by the sea in the rain and to witness the power of the tide, or a day in the moors where barren land cries to the soul. I hope you enjoy some of my sharings below. Please feel free to look at my photography also.

Much love.

Lisa x

 

 

Tyto Alba  © lisa Naylor

 

She flies by dawn

Through a golden haze

Silent wings

Deadly gaze

 

Mouths to feed

Prey to seek

Graceful hunter

Exposing the weak

 

Target in sight

Taste of meat

Frightening scuttle

No heartbeat

 

Upwards she soars

Victorious

Surfing the breeze

How glorious

 

Apricot, white,

Beak and tail feather

Assassin’s claw

To strike and to sever

 

Killer beauty

Slicing blue sky

Ghostly presence

Piercing cry

 

Majestic raptor

Dance upon high

Peacefully gliding

On wing in our sky

 

 

 

Enchanted Woods © lisa naylor

Shafts of sunlight touch Carpeted green,
River runs fast over steady still rocks
Bees caress sweet lilac blooms
Lichen soften's the nest of the wren

Toadstools sprout cover for secretive fairies
Seeking shelter and solace amongst  precious buds
Drops of dew sparkle as gems of the woods
Nestled in private, displaying their love

Trees bend and bow to make dens of mystery
Away from the chaos, their leaves that conceal
Protecting embraces, carefully sheilding
Their guard of honour, the promise of freedom

Willow warbler calling, blackbird erupting
Sounds of this world so earthly and pure,
Raindrops percussive on glossy green leaves
Rustling wildly, intoxicating breeze

Looking on high, wild rugged escape
Severe weather hugs rocky facades
Zipped up, decorated with all shades of green
Those who tread here must pay a price

Lakes spread through valleys, still waters calm
The sun a reflection, bringing deep waters warmth
Rainbows appear to bring promise of hope
    And rescue the drowning to soft, sheltered banks 

A place where love can breed like wildfire
Alighting with passion isolated trees
Colours more vivid, light more blinding
A moment of magic, that lovers do seize

 

Butter-fly   © lisa naylor

Flutter-by

Kiss flowers sweet in bloom

 

Hover-by

Angel-fly

Spread you rainbow filled perfume

 

Wonder-by

Glitter-fly

Colours through your bright wing petals

 

Fairy-fly

Dancing-by

Till starlight rays do settle

 

 

Rain  © lisa naylor 

Blessings pour down
Iced white snowflakes
The cold brings relief
To hot hearts that ache

Beautiful patterns
Decorate skin
Melting through to the soul
The world seeping in

Flashes of sky
Now deep in the bones
Rays of sunshine
Soft seated thrones

Long peaceful sleep
Love from inside
Quickly infects
And warmly confides

Now resigned
In the arms of an angel
Sense of belonging
Cradled and held still

Still, as the heart beats
The pulse is still strong
Still, as our lives leap
Filled with love song

 

 

The Pine Wood  © lisa naylor

In the woods

Dreams realised

Bluebell carpet

Gentle eyes

 

Sun streams through

Between spruce trees

Succulent berries

Glistening leaves

 

Buttercups lighten

Tangled in bracken

Glow worms shine

Bright like a gemstone

 

Sweet smelling air

Caresses cold hands

Contracts and relaxes

Nothing demands

 

Dormice scurry

Amongst clumps of heather

Squirrels scuttle by

Burying treasure

 

Light floods the pine wood

With beams of fresh joy

Jays spread their colour

Magpies destroy

 

Hearts are wide open

Blood pumps bright red

Inspiration is found here

Where foxes do tread

 

In fast flowing streams

Dippers flick through their day

Protecting their young

Thieves kept at bay

 

The love in the pine woods

Is present tonight

Accompanied by birdsong

And warm evening light

 

It remains here for those

Who yearn for it’s freedom

And the rivers do flow

To refresh when they come

 

 

Evening Gratitude  © lisa naylor

Pink Sunsets,

Lamp light burns

Evening wishes

Tides that turn

 

Moonlight softens

Waters edge

Distant memories

Of warbling sedge

 

Fresh salt water

Stimulates brain

Gentle lapping

Seashore refrain

 

 

 

 

The Island  © lisa naylor

The sea is blue and shades of green

Grey rocks lie jagged with cliffs between

All around sweet beauty lies

Whilst armed assassins patrol the skies

 

Small chicks wake to find their food

Has been delivered from mouths above

Small wings are tired with fishing pressures

To keep young alive, devoids all pleasures

 

Whitethroat sing on thistle and fern

A love song to all hearts that yearn

Their song stretches out to wide open seas

Sweet notes resound through white blossom trees

 

Gulls sweep the island, their shadows below

A warning to songbirds who dare to show

Their beating chests and melodic chatter

Black back guards still on duty, cackling with laughter

 

The balance of all life so beautifully seen

Through sweet lilac orchids, and hues of green

One watches the sites with a paralysed mind

The thoughts of the rat race seems so far behind

 

At this time the heart stops beating so fast

Blocking out pain, where shadows were cast

The mind wants to stay at this pace for much longer

'till ready to emerge refreshed and much stronger 

 

And still the loneliness penetrates through the soul

To be alone is such moments, does not make one whole

Experiencing the world through a single view finder

Does not satisfy, sharing life is much kinder

 

 

Written after observing the behaviour of Manx Shearwaters

© lisa naylor

 

Silhouetted banshees drowning the sky

Wailing and moaning,

They cry,

I ask why?

 

What is the sadness

That leaves you no light?

What pray be the reason

You come only at night?

 

Your footsteps so clumsy

So weak, undecided

Do you know where you’re going?

Do you need to be guided?

 

I wish I could offer some friendly advise

But I do not feel able

To find words

That are wise

 

I feel you discomfort

I make the same cry

In the depths of the night

Also wondering why

 

The threats of the gulls

So real and so near

Angel wings in the morning

You now fly much freer

 

Will I ever find out why your cry is so loud?

Will I ever pick one of you out from the crowd?

Alas my dear friend, these are things I won’t know

Until that one day when the fear has let go

 

To feel the burn

Of desperate pain

Allows the sun to be worshipped

After the rain

 

So when joy comes along

So fresh and so strong

It is then dear friend

I will rest and belong

 

It is then I will come

And sit alongside

It is then, pretty one,

You will not need to hide

 

 

Moonshine © lisa naylor

The Moon is yours

It's light is true

Though blocked by clouds

It shines for you

 

Eagle's Wings  © lisa naylor

Just like the eagle
soaring on high
A brush of the canvas
In a painted blue sky

Turning, driving
Gliding on wing
Powering fast through clouds
Racing through wind

Gracefully dancing
Scanning the ground
Elegant hunter
Prey to be found

Silently beating
locked target below
expertly swooping
Just one fatal blow

Cradling her triumph
To family nest
She glides back through the clouds
Dark blood stained chest

This mystical wonder
Of Bird or of beast
Rests from on high
Surveying the feast

Awaiting the time
When her chicks learn to fly
More brush strokes of colour
on a painted blue sky

 

Winter's silence © lisa naylor

Winter's sights

on crispy nights

Firey dawn sky

Swans glide by

A reminder
Of days
When the sun
Stayed bright
And comets
They fell
In the depths
Of the night

When fledglings sang
In evergreen tree
A song of love
For you and me
When rain poured down
To replenish ground
And winds they blew
So the sun could shine thru

Now are the days
Post summer-haze
When leaves have fell
In autumn's spell
and lone bare trees
November does freeze
Turning white to blue
No buds shoot thru
This solid ground
As Robin's sound
Denied to grow
With winter's' blow

This barren terrain
Loves only in vein
Snow covering food
for badger's brood
White on white
Harsh but true
Sheltered dens
Where birds flock to

Unforgiving frosty morn
Supersedes
A crow-filled dawn
Cries of murder
Loudly Resound
Carcasses lie
Where fox prints are found

a cruel, cold day
A ransom to pay
Iced spears from the sky
Lone magpie flies by
Rabbits foot
Is not
A lucky charm here 
Instead warmly wishes
Are shadowed with fear

A dark heavy veil
Marks summer's betrayal
A noiseless winter
stripped and laid bear
Tragically beautiful
The cold does reveal
And silently threatens
as lives it does steal

 

King of the River © lisa naylor

Flash of blue
Against clouded grey
The kingfisher was here
Though did not stay

High pitched cry
His call a warning
He speeds down river
Summer's day dawning

Sunset orange
Iridescent blue
He scans, he hovers
As Minnows speed through

Perched by the water
In white blossom tree
Sumptuous throne
For this wise Monarch be

He surveys the scene
With an all knowing eye
Water droplets on feather
Beginning to dry

Then suddenly
He has left the tree's peak
Still water shattered
Smashed by his beak

A short moment later
To the sky, the King flies
His dinner secured
As his catch slowly dies

And again, down the river
The King takes his prize
And the banks keep the secret
of the jewelled Emperor's life

 

The Bee

Sat alone,

afraid,

no home

 

The honey she made

like memories fade

when the bear isn't there

to enjoy it

 

After the rain © lisa naylor

The smell

of fresh starts

seeps through

hearts

broken by storms

before

 

Puddles

Appear

Bright lights

Cheer

Through reflections

On

City street’s floor

 

The air

Of hope

Quickens steps

To elope

Homeward bound

To

Warm houses nearby

 

Trees stand

A new

Leaves

Sparkle with dew

As final drops

Fall

from grey sky

Burnt skies © lisa naylor

Fireball of passion

Dancing on high

Burnt orange radiates

Through blazing red sky

 

Love kept alive

By warm evening glow

Etched in the heart

Not letting go

 

Luminous sunsets

Awaken the mind

Bringing fresh promise

A new world to find

  

Morning Glory © lisa naylor

Dusky morning set alight
Autumn colours burning bright
Mist rolls over hills anew
Glistening sight of morning dew

Antlers seen through thinning fog
Jackdaws caw on dying log
Acorns fall on autumn ground
squirrels scurry at their sound

Jays delight in sunshine flurry
Finding stocks to freshly bury
Geese return, spears from sky
Angelic swans pass them by

Toadstools colour path and field
Shining red as magpies steal
Collared doves on wing together
Enjoy this perfect flying weather

 

A day in the life...© lisa naylor

Hippy heart

smell of earth

flight of moth

fledglings birth

 

Sunrise high

Mist lies long

conkers fall

Mother's song

 

Midday rest

overexpose

pen in hand

stacato prose

 

nightlight creeps

shadows fall

cloudless night

trees stand tall

 

Lake reflects

nesting coot

cold descends

Owls hoot

 

Velvet sky

stars abound

bats fly low

o'er hallowed ground

 

Songbird's Rescue © lisa naylor

The end of the world

Yet a Linnet

Sings notes that resound in your soul

He gives breath to the hope in your heart

As the pain deep inside takes it's toll

For the beauty you long since forgotten

has surged like a wave in your mind

And for a minute the end of the world

seems a place you have left far behind

 

The Finale © lisa naylor

Swansong rises

from a mist-laden lake

with the notes of a soul laid to rest

beautifully tragic

gracefully grieving

her dying song flows from her chest

 

Autumn Days © lisa naylor

Rustic Gold Splendour
Marries warm celtic green
Dappled Sunlight paints woodland
As leaves float downstream

Fallow deer gently tred
Through fauna and fern
Brooks softly babble
While morning sun burns

Kestral hovers o'er meadow
Where haybales reside
A lone barn owl quarters
Voles swiftly hide

Cries of young buzzards
Spread wildly on breeze
As hares nestle quietly
In the shade of tall trees

 

Endless Summer © lisa naylor

inspired by some the most beautiful and wonderful times of my life x

 

Slicing swifts scything through the soft air

Little owl distantly calling

creating a soundtrack for balletic trees

swaying silently in summer's breeze

 

Birds gather in their groups to roost

breathing slows

Gentleness overcomes the chaos of day

As a welcomed and warm touch

the evening kisses those that have breath

 

A pink sunset lights up the sky as far as the eye can see

and marks the end of another night

Warblers rest their voices

ready for dawn

a chorus like no other

 

time passes, dreams unfold

 

A lonely barn owl flies through the long, scented grasses,

white and quiet like a dream, she works through the sights of the evening

her wings cut through the still, soft air

whilst her calls echo around the freshly cut fields

small creatures hide from her majestic presence

 

She disappears through a slowly descending darkness

her ghostly figure only a memory

 

A golden silence ascends and harmonises with a fiery sunset

 

All is calm except for beating hearts

that watch and wonder

and yearn for a place in the freedom of these fields

 

Seasons' change © lisa naylor

Hanging in the air

along with seasonal decorations

the year that has passed

lays still and silent

waiting for refreshment

 

Memories of the sea,

Safety of large boulders,

The reassuring sight of the moon

Wild and rugged moors where hearts beat in time

 

Curlews calls that stir the soul

A Ghostly barn owl quartering

Silent, in the cool summer's breeze

Kestral hovering over lovers loving

kisses blown through the wind,

dodging oak trees

 

Sadness of the summer fading

and hope for another

the soothing soundtrack of the country

keeping hearts and minds

soothed

and in love

forever vital

forever committed

silently and beautifully

a symphony yet to be heard.

 

 

After the Rain © lisa naylor

A heartfelt cry

to you out there

please think of us

and what we were

what dreams we have

how we'll heal this pain

with a long embrace

after the rain

 

After the rain

Birds take to wing

When the rain stops

the nightingale sings

and we will stand there

just the two of us be

after the storm

the rainbow we'll see

 

Colours so vibrant,

so rich and so pure

once heavy clouds pass

our love will endure

Where the light fell  © lisa nayor July 2013

Where the light fell
Tall shelter of trees
Protected wood fairies
In soft blue bell breeze

A carpet of lilac
Where deer gently tred
Is a hiding for hares
For the woodmouse, a bed

On the bright silver birch
The treecreeper creeps
Over secretive sets
where badger cubs sleep

Bees flit and flirt
as bells gently chime
Jays ring their songs
Not a beat out of time

Song thrushes chirping
amidst cuckoo calls
Brown dippers wading
As cool water falls

Woodpecker drumming
on aged oak wood
Sunlight now stealing
Where orchids once stood

Yet only when darkness
Falls deftly tonight
will the stars brightly burn
and glow worms ignite

As the night sets alight
and hope quietly calls
and if you search with your heart
you will see the light fall

 

Reflections of Glass Pools © lisa naylor - August 2013

 

Golden sands
Mixed with unearthly silence
stretches...

away to offshore turbines
braving the day
Courgeously
turning and slicing
through salty air
that once was sweet
Twelve moons ago
as hearts did meet

Curlews trill
cross sands of time
cadenzas frame
poetic rhyme
beacons sit,
in pools of glass
while ships set sail
and boats drift pass

Clouds dance in blue
and scarlet lace
indigo tears
stain the face
for once the beach
did hold the minds
of gentle hands
and kindly times

A silent wave
now ends each day
awaiting burnt sky's
golden ray
tomorrow's tide
bringing hope once more
of sunset blessings
felt once before

 

 

 

 

Time and tide © lisa naylor

the tide for the lonely
and hearts that are broken
softening sands
when harsh words are spoken

Refreshing the mind
when memories are dying
each salty spray
a world that is crying

and leaving the beach
to unite with the whole
the power of bonding
grabs hold of the soul

 

Burnt Skies © lisa naylor

Fireball of passion

Dancing on high

Burnt orange radiates

Through blazing red sky

 

Love kept alive

By warm evening glow

Etched in the heart

Not letting go

 

Luminous sunsets

Awaken the mind

Bringing fresh promise

A new world to find

Autumns's Refrain © lisa naylor 20/10/13

Ghostly cries

In silhouette skies

as sunset breaks

the light it takes,

 

but the swans they fight

dressed in white

with golden shine

symmetrical line

 

hundreds fly

through dusty sky

wings of peace

as light does cease

 

till tomorrow's hues

doth gently fuse

and ring again

Autumn's refrain

A Birders morning © lisa naylor Nov 2013

 

The morning breathes.

 

Starlings warm their irredescent wings

ready to venture into the new dawn.

Herons command golden skies

beating their heavy wings into the misty morning

Teal and Shoveler coverse loudly

as moorhens disagree from the tops of willow trees

the mist from the pond, a backdrop for dusky drama

 

Wingbeats away

Sanderling busily preen thier pure white breasts

against a fierce backdrop of crashing waves

A prayer of Godwit fly low and revently above rough waters

The call of curlew carries on the wind

to whitewashed lighthouses

that rest in the light,

a vast expanse of blue sits on the horizon

peppered only by the moving turbines

that cut through the deep storm clouds

hanging in the sky

 

The day has begun.

 

A prelude to Spring © lisa naylor Nov 2013

Tails of ducks, a joyous sight,

Mallard chuckles in Winter’s light

Heron wades his muddy trails,

High pitched squeals of water rails

Echo in reedbeds, beside bittern’s boom

A cacophony of earthly soul’s, as darkness softly looms

Waiting for a sky show, the starlings flock in groups

Awaiting for their moment, flying silhouetted troops


Marsh Harrier is grounded, no wind is felt today

Painted bearded tits, instead on reeds can sway

Gently, sprightly hoping, with a loud jubilant ping,

Making our hearts thankful, each roll call they ring

Wren now making home amongst hard and deadened leaves

As silently and deftly the sparrowhawk she weaves

Through branches in the wood, ‘neath tall tree top masses,

Lone Barn owl taking stock, whilst the rain shower passes


And as this world is huddled, and all things come together,

Warmth is kept in roosts against fierce, icy weather

Their heartbeats and their wingbeats,

Their notes, their hoots, their songs,

Will quietly now settle, and last this cold night long

As this short day has now ended, the reedbeds let us know

And calmly now all creatures breathe, as sunsets casts it glow