ECOLOGY VERSES: Nymphaea - Beauty in the Morning

Ecology Verses 

Nymphaea*

Beauty in the Morning

 *Nymphaea alba or ‎Nymphaea lotus, Family Nymphaeaceae. In ancient times, the Egyptian lotus was worshipped as a symbol of creation, while in Ancient Greece, it was a symbol of innocence and modesty.  

Dr Abe V Rotor

Nymphaea flower in full bloom (Photo by Jaimee Alberto and Frances Africa)

A Snail on a Flower

Obscure in the deep you've been,

Now perched on a petal to be seen,

To share the beauty of your host,

And beauty itself the cost.

 

SPUQC (Formerly St Paul College QC) Grotto

(Photo by Roselle Carlos and Imee Mateo)

Prayer

Take me from this world a moment

To be with you in this holy event.

From your seat down below I see

My friends, my enemies and me.

Bird's Nest Fern (Asplenium nidus)

(Photo by Catherine Jane Dee)

Bird's Nest Fern

Clothe your host with gown,  

Huddle her in comfort and love

With rosette of frond her crown

To catch the cloud above.

Silhouette of Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima)

(Photo by Karla Mendoza and Camille Constantino)

Silhouette

Now you have nothing to boast about,

Rise from your burden and cry out,

Open your arms and bare your heart,

Grow the buds for new life to start.

 

Light on Damascus Road by AV Rotor, SPCQ Museum

Photo by Jennifer Tan)

Paulinian

Side by side, I stand with Saul, 

This man on the road to Damascus

Saw the light of redemption

Of those who followed his cause.

Lotus flower.  (Photo by AV Rotor)

Lotus

I greeted you one morning,

As I saw your face smiling.

Let me kiss your fragrance,

That I can go into a trance

Of contented forgetfulness 

From ephemeral greatness. 

SPCQ Garden Pond (Photo by Humanities class under the author)

By the Pond 

Tell me your throes, 

Worries and Woes,

And to the fishes 

Your wistful wishes.

SPCQ Garden Pond II (Photo by Grace Cabalatugan)

Morning at the Pond

I, too, shall kiss you

After the mist and sun,

Before I say, "Adieu,"

And purity gone.

Former SPCQ Museum (Photo by Jennifer Tan)

Picture

Picture, picture,

on the wall, 

Tell her of the Garden

before the Fall.

White Flower (Photo by Humanities Class 1996)

White Flower

When the day is done,

And the last ray gone,

The night is dark, 

Save a spark.

Higad or Tussock Moth Caterpillar (Photo by Humanities class under the author)

Tussock Caterpillars

You are Medusa in the garden, 

A serpent in garb all golden, 

Sowing destruction on your way

Until Perseus put you away. ~

These verses with corresponding B&W photographs (converted from green print, as shown in the book cover) were selected and posted in this blog avrotor.blogspot.com in response to a growing number of literature enthusiasts. The book source of 80 pages was published nearly three decades ago by Giraffe Books in cooperation with then St Paul College Quezon City, now St Paul University, QC.  In all indications, literature, true to its time-honored importance remains relevant in upholding faith and hope of humanity, a kind of neo-renaissance in our time  we call Postmodernism, a term to mean "living tomorrow today." a clear indication of unprecedented and radical change our society is currently undergoing. Other articles in this book will be likewise posted in a series in this Blog. (Acknowledgement with thanks, AVRotor)  

(Foreword by Sister Lilia Tolentino SPC, College President; book cover text by Sister Sarah Manapol, SPC, Head, Instructional Media Center SPCQ)