Smooth Curves, Sharp Thorns

These images are essentially a study in curves.
This plant is found in front of the Museum for the history of Islam on Penang Island. No photos were allowed inside.
After posting these pictures I came to realize they look better together (like Michelle and I) than they do individually. It's interesting that certain lines flow up from one image into the one above it.

Details

The flower within the flower is facinating to me.

This wild violet is growing along the Silver Comet Trail, just west of the Cedartown depot.
Matt rode his bike the entire length of the trail (122+ miles). I rode about 100 of those miles and Michelle rode about 50 yds. while I was taking these pictures.

Rome - of all places

On a hot day in July, in ancient Rome (near the Coliseum), I came across this blossom in the grass.

From a bouquet...

The background gives an interesting unexpected affect to these pictures.

Amanecer

Noche. Negra y ommipresente
Reina con fuerza; Omnipotente.

Espeso, grueso sin cesar,
Vista alguna, no quiere dar.

Pero raja pacientemente
Al lejano horizonte oriente

La ternesa del rayo solar
que piensa la noche sublevar.

Sin esperar ayuda alguna
empieza su batalla tan inoportuna

El alba: Con fe sin cesar.
La noche: Parece ganar.

Pero la luz, usando su cuna
Ilumina la noche infortuna.

Lo negro, por vida, resiste
Lo brillante, con calma insiste.

Ya, el sol suelto de cuna
Ganando fuerza, sin duda alguna.

Con verquenza, la noche desiste
Su poder y fuerza ya no existe.

Dia. Blanca y caliente,
Reina con fuerza; omnipotente.

Curtis Whetten
Cottonwood High School, 1978

Leaf-diving (pause the music first ->)

Orangeness

Sugar Hill Stake had a service project in Flowery Branch, GA. My job was to help gather trash from along the railroad tracks. Rail road tracks bring to mind creosote-soaked ties with rust-colored rails spiked to them, laying on a bed of gravel. All of this is pretty stale, so the contrast when I came across a vine with these flowers was refreshing.