Vivid
Blue
The winds sweep east, from ocean to crest
Across this broad valley, shaking loose dust
Street cleaning the glass steel and concrete
Strumming spring songs in the eucalyptus
New growth springs forth, in fluorescent hue
Green canopy edges pulse against vivid blue
Spring carries cautions of heat to come
The winds take vapor from everything
Crisping buds well before their bloom
Rain squalls soak, refreshing, renewing
River falcons nest in the eucalyptus
My dazzled eye traces their swift grace
Rains come back, yet I seek no shelter
I’ll pull wet light into my winterized shell
There are dark corners to be swept clear
With the spring weather, all will be well.
Michael Theroux
I write incessantly from my home office in
Northern California. My careers encompass that of a classically trained
botanist and plant ecologist with decades of field experience, including as
lead field botanist for a multi-year assessment of the riparian corridor of the
Grand Canyon. The combined careers span an even fifty years of advanced
studies, professional environmental management, global travel and a lot of deep
meditation. I have constantly documented my experiences through word smithing
of manuscripts, prose and poetry, yet to date my publications have
been ‘professional papers’ supporting these careers. I have enjoyed publication
of many of my technical and scientific works in journals including Distributed
Energy Magazine, international publications such as UNESCO’s Encyclopedia of
Life Support Systems (EOLSS), proceedings like GlobeEx / Energex, and formal
works for the National Park Service and other agencies. With my wife, we
self-published literally hundreds of my original rants and focus reports in our
on-line industry newsletter 'Teru Talk' over a six year period. Entering the
literary publication field late in life, at 72, I have for the past few months
been diligently studying this diverse venue and seeking publication of my cache
of art writings. For this, the free service ‘Authors Publish’ has been a great
help, backed by the solid editorial direction provided by Ariel Chart and
similar heart-felt Publication labors of love. At this time, my unpublished
literary efforts include two fantasy books – one complete, the other nearing
completion - and around 400 individual ready-for-publication short stories and
poems. Two small pieces have so far been accepted for future publication (!!),
by 50 Word Stories and The Academy of Heart and Mind;
there are another 70 plus pieces submitted, in circulation and out for review.
Those included herein have not previously been published, self-published, or
submitted for the consideration of publication by others.