Nature hides then reveals its beauty
I took this photo at Myall Lakes last year of what appears to be a cicada that’s just emerged from its nymph shell. Unfortunately, the colour balance of the photo isn’t good even with a bit of doctoring but it gives an idea of the contrast between the packaging and its contents.
Cicada and nymph shell - Myall Lakes, NSW, Australia
And the poem below is about the duplicitous side of human nature – (it’s a re-post of one of my earliest on this blog).
Wicked
How witchlike a creature can I be
when the moth at a swipe digs its claws into me
and the blood in my veins cascades to the ground
and the thoughts in my head make no audible sound.
How witchlike a creature do I feel
when a table for two is a cannibals’ meal
and the eggs in the pantry go rotten inside
and the cow in the meadow eats its own hide.
How witchlike a creature do I seem
when the nightmare you chase is my sacred dream
when the pain in your heart is the pleasure in mine
when the warmth that you drink is a poisonous wine.
Everything is not what it seems
The smile on my face is the end to a means.
Special thanks to Gabrielle Bryden for guest-posting me on her blog this week 😀
beeblu blog 
I really like this photo. You’ve captured a wonderful image of a unique experience. Love the words too. 🙂
Thanks, Katie 🙂
Hi Bluebee, I shared the Versatile Blogger Award with you. Congrats!
http://ilovemandaue.wordpress.com/2011/10/29/my-versatile-blogger-award-goes-to/
Thanks for the nomination, aRVee 🙂
I think the photo is excellent. The poem is quite dark, I like it a lot.
Thanks, Cin – it’s really good to see you back 😀 xx
The photo is a simply amazing ‘capture’ bb, isn’t Nature a complex arena? and two pronged, sometimes two-facedness of human nature is described so well in your poem. xPenx
Thanks, Pen. As you say, nature is so complex, Pen – much of the beauty in the animal kingdom seems to function to attract predators, something I don’t like to dwell on too much
Cool shot . . . and poem. Thanks, BB!
Thanks, Nancy – do you get cicadas on your side of the globe?
The photo also illustrates how well nature camouflages. I need to re-read your poem to fully appreciate all the implications… Sometimes I think we humans are so cruel and ‘witchlike’ is an excellent description, Bb!
You make a good point about camouflage, Adee. Perhaps the duplicitous side of human nature is just an innate survival mechanism but it’s a rather ugly one when compared to the beauty of the butterfly ;-). Thanks
Wonderful. Darkly entrancing :-)The duplicity of a creature which has an outer shell and needs to shed it: reminds me of the boy turned into a dragon in The Voyage of The Dawn Treader(CS Lewis)..
Thanks, Kate – I haven’t read the CS Lewis book but will add it to my list. Was never really a fan of either the fantasy or sci-fi genres unti this year when I was forced to read books like ‘Stardust’ and ‘Mortal Engines’ for my studies and now I’m hooked
That’s a fabulous image
Thanks, Nursemyra. I love these little critters – the sound of summer 🙂
Great I love your poem..you’re such a nice poet..
Thank you for your kind words, John
That is an amazing photo.
Thanks, Tilly. Nature never ceases to amaze.
Found your link on Gabrielle’s site and am glad that I did. Always nice to discover someone new…to me, that is…that has such talent with the written word and the camera combined. Wonderful write and photo!
Hello Renee
Welcome to my blog. Thanks for visiting and for your lovely compliments 😀
Nothing wrong with that photo – I’d like to take more insect photos (such a huge potential for photos and all within easy reach if we look hard enough). Terrific poem – just perfect for Halloween.
Thanks, Gabe.
Is your family doing the trick-or-treat thing tonight? I must go and get a few lollies in case the neighbourhood children turn up (just hope they do otherwise I end up eating them – the lollies, that is ;-))
haha – I’m afraid I am not too keen on halloween, though I do love a scary story 😉 tend to turn the lights off and pretend no-one is home when the any beastly children turn up – and if they do any ‘tricks’ they better watch out – mhahaha!
he,he – ‘Witch Gabrielle’ has a certain ironic ring to it
A few turned up so I didn’t have to eat them (the one with the devil mask would have been particularly unpalatable 😉 )
We didn’t get anyone knocking on the door – my reputation must precede me – hahahaha
The subtlety in your verse makes my stuff look rather naive, BB!
The combination of photo and verse is startling.
Thank you
John
Thank you, John. But naive your poetry is certainly not. I thoroughly enjoy seeing the world through your considerably experienced and poetic perspective and can only learn from your insights.
What an amazing photo! The poetic contrasts grip, Bluebee — that nightmare as sacred dream resonates right now
Thanks, Monica.
I’m sorry to hear that, Monica. Am popping over to see the developments now.
such a cool picture! and like your writing as usual!
Ah, Eva – there you are 😀 I trust you won’t be deleting your new blog for a while yet 😉
As a lad I loved finding and catching cicadas, comparing the live insect with their shells, and just marveling at the beauty of nature. Your picture is awesome and goes well with your excellent poem. Witchlike or not, your poem put a spell on me. Thank you.
I understand your fascination with these amazing insects, Dan. They are so beautiful and come in such a variety of colours.
Thank you for visiting and taking the time to post this lovely comment 🙂
Oh my goodness, that’s an awesome photo!
Thank you, Fergiemoto 🙂
“the thoughts in my head make no audible sound”. No truer words have been spoken!
What are you trying to say?! 😀
Haha – yes, Brad, sometimes, it’s just as well that my thoughts remain silent 😉
I Love this little cricket the sound like music in my ear at night love it:)
It can get pretty loud, Jake when they all making a noise in the bush together and you’re in the thick of it! 🙂 There’s some places in Sydney bushland where the sound can become truly unbearable in summer