Follow the Leader

The last couple of Photo Art Friday prompts have reminded me immediately of poems I've written. From there, I've found myself creating my photo art based on the words in my poem. For those who like poetry, I've posted it below. I took this image for Bonnie's "path" prompt at our community lake. There's a beautiful path that leads down to the water, and I was happy to be there with my camera this past week. I added an old manuscript image at Exclusion/100%, and used Bonnie's "Smokin" texture at Soft Light/100%. I also added a heart bokeh layer at Pin Light/100% and finished it off in Radlab. Have a wonderful weekend!

FOLLOW THE LEADER

I tiptoe through the woods as
If everything is sleeping
Afraid of breaking a twig
Of strewing fallen leaves
Perhaps I should stomp
Amongst these holy trees
With my dreaming feet
To awaken the life that abounds
To hear the wings and the cries
Startling everything to fly
But I continue walking softly
Head down, without a sound
Amidst trees grown so thick
I hum their murmurous wisdom

Despite the narrowing hours
I don't think I'll turn back
Things are moving in these woods
Through both my heart
And the fine-veined leaves
I'll walk deeper down the path
Leaving traces of me
Snagged on the branches
Truths and imaginings
Failings and self-questionings
Placed by feel with my fingers
Rough from the handling of them
Hung there raw and sweet-scented
Against the bark, insuring
My soul can trail me in the dark.

© Sherri Brannon 2011