A Popcorn fantasy

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When I am longing for that
long forgotten, childhood treat,
a bowl of popcorn,

I come across some
'popcorn lookalikes'
clinging to a branch,
making me wonder...
if a mischievous someone
wanting to pull my leg,
has deliberately affixed it there.

However, being cautious,
I decide to go in for the real ones,
warm n' crispy stuff,
straight from the oven,
packed into a bowl.

Now and then,
these 'popcorn like' pieces
from Nature's gallery
keep cropping up in my mind...
Nature never ceases to amaze.



Intriguing Bytes

Water weeps...

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A tale begins... The lake drew crowds. Children played under the trees. Birds arrived Nests and fledglings  dotted the scene. The lake fed water to many a locality. Along came drought... The rains went far far away. The lake reduced in size. Filth and sewage crept in. The colour of the water puzzled many. People walked past wrinkling their noses at the smell. The lake  dried up. Trees were felled. The land was barren. Birds gave it a miss. The sand laden trucks took over. The 'premium' land was eyed... Encroachments came up. Huts, buildings, a colony, shops,... Through the windows, the echo of quacking ducks and a shimmering n' placid expanse of water, with a cool breeze blowing in, caressing the cheeks with dots of moisture, went missing. Was there ever a lake? Old-timers nod their heads. Near the window of a tenement, which rests upon a 'once  picturesque' lake bed, sits a big sparkling can of drinking water, delive...
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Hear them calling!

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Here they are, the big ones and the small ones, appearing singly or in groups, precursors to dazzling flowers, a kaleidoscopic range of fragile buds... parading their freshness, their eye-catching colours, unique designs, their varied arrangements, plus some mysterious secrets and scents. Do spend a minute to observe them closely, for their transformation may happen tomorrow or the day after.
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One minute reads-9

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Today's diary: Busy ants completing their project: the outline of a tree. Shh! Can you wait? I am not fully awake yet. The sky is a dull grey but I'm having fun peering at it, through chinks in the green canopy.
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Those terrible mornings!

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Expressing the views of those around... Humidity deserves an award for breaking previous records, with the rain yet to decide on a reappearance and the sun, embedding its forceful stamp, in every nook and cranny. Meanwhile, in the far corner, a statement is being made. What could it be? "Heat and humidity do not matter."
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Nature weaves tales-11

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"My favourite slippers are wet and muddy," grumbles a voice. "Shh! Never mind. Look down carefully. Your tiny seed has finally woken up," soothes another. A tale unfolds... The canvas above has a finished look. Darkness has filled in the gaps. The house turns silent. My eyes gaze outside, though the window mesh, trying to make sense of the blackened mosaic overhead, silent, except for occasional sounds from an almost 'pet-like' frog. Outside, the hot sand, cries, silently, for a long withheld lifeline. My eyes close and images - those bottles of hope - float, gently past, in my dream. Hours slip past... Sudden drum beats of thunder, humming the tune, 'gonna love taking the centre stage...' make tired eyebrows move. My eyes open. Softly descending raindrops, call out to darkness... 'am here to give you company.' Thunder agrees. Lightning follows suit. As dawn enters, the aroma of wet s...
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Nature adds depth

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There is leaf litter strewn all over. The crow doing its morning rounds, has dropped white patches, here and there. The heat and accompanying humidity seem to hang around, refusing to leave. A lone 'attention seeking' crow, high up on its favourite, green swaying ledge, has been repeating its chorus line, almost hitting the half century mark since the first glimpse of dawn but all these grumblings lie forgotten, as I stand and stare from afar, enraptured, at what looks like a piece of coloured, patterned fabric, framed against a green background, adding depth as a glorious morning opens its curtains.
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A pack of smiles

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Today's jottings: An overcast sky and havoc caused by micro-sized allergens. The pollen are everywhere and so are those... watery eyes, runny noses, sneezing fits but someone... who remained hidden all of last night, enjoying the soft drizzle, has just now decided, it's time for a comeback and has begun releasing a pack of smiles this morning, insisting that, you be at hand to receive some.
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Endless chatter

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The conversation went on ... The listener's eyes remained glued to the scene while her mouth moved, as the various parts were pointed out. Adult: Here are the roots. Child: Oooh! Adult: They call it 'the stem'. Child: Aah! So strong. Adult: See the branches spread out. Child:  Ha, ha!  Dancing to the wind. Adult: Touch and feel the leaves. Child: Shh! The ants are playing. Adult: See the baby buds Child: Open, open!  See me. Adult: A happy red flower. Child: Wow! May I touch it? Adult: Someone has seen it first. Child: Hey! I'm willing to share. Nature smiles... as endless tales are spun in its midst.
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Not just a tree

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The trees are whispering... we need to do something to draw attention and their strategy has worked. The 'oohs and aahs,' are spontaneous. A 'bleeeding'- traumatized tree. Once upon a time - The Dino World
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Nature weaves tales-12

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The venue: A school campus The race is about to begin. The whistle blows but where are the children? A little away... young heads are busy watching a spectacular scene. "Shh! Quiet!" whispers a voice, "I need to count." "They're having a meeting," insists an excited voice. "It's meditation," adds another. "They're... forming groups, practising the moves for putting up a show, allowing time for digestion to be complete, having an afternoon  nap." "I think there's something special in the mud," whispers a totally engrossed voice. The voices continue... Suddenly, the winged beauties flutter away but curious minds hang around, hoping they would return. A lone butterfly, on a nearby plant, a silent observer, seems to be saying... "I can fly but can you?"
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