An accident of photography: Where did the yellow flower in this photo come from? When I took the picture, I didn’t notice the vase of flowers on my dining table was reflected in the glass covering the picure. Serendipity?

Yes, we get the picture! And what a painful, shameful one. You have expressed it so well! We could all pause and consider what we get today in exchange for beauty and freedom and peace.

Beverley, Why indeed! Now I have to go look at the original in a way I never did! I love your idea of the wind blowing the dots away, and also your final thought!

Dianne, what fun, what creativeness! I like the format, I like that tiny marsupial of hope! I had forgotten First Dog on the Moon, from your poem last year! I bookmarked it, meaning to follow it, but somehow didn’t. Thanks for this poem and reminding me about a site I wanted to folow.

Lenore, thank you! I meant to go back and count how many synonyms I actually used, but haven’t done that yet. I love your name too! How can we ever forget “The Raven!” I can still hear my sophomore English teacher reading it!

Hi Linda, I’m a librarian, but I spent 12 years teaching. I had fun writing that story. I’m glad you liked it.

Thank you Marcena! Yes, that was my meaning for “standard.” Thank you for your kind comments!

Sue, thanks for reading and your comment!

Thank you Susanne!

Thanks Glen. Sometimes the little thistles are harder to get through than the battles.

Thanks Debbie, I almost changed that line, thinking maybe I was going too overboard. In my mind I was standing on a hill with my flag of battle.

Thank you Jyoti!

Hi Nina, I did add a chorus to it as a prayer. See in my reply to Christian. I like it better with the chorus.

Hi Dianne, I liked making the play between standard as a battle flag and standard as principles.

Jane, thank you for reading and your encouraging comment!

Thank you Joan!

Thanks Christian. I did go back and write a chorus as if it is a hymn.
Oh, Lord guide my feet today.
Keep me safely in thy way.
Guard my mouth, and guide my hands,
Watch my life, don’t let me stray.

Thank you Becky.