Like it or not, we’re meant to persevere—
By divine design blessed with endurance—
To brave challenges of human life sphere,
Humbly, with spiritual obeisance.
© Ilija Lukić 2025
From realms beyond time
Water of life spills by grace.
Rock gardens liven
Flows of said divine river
And ask mortals to commit
Both heart and soul in embrace
Of life’s journey, not fear,
With eye on eternity…downriver.
© Ilija Lukić 2025
As we navigate life in our quest of enlightenment, spiritual liberation and profound union with the divine, we must hold dear both the steadfastness of river rock gardens and flexibility of the river to move through obstacles—keeping in mind that our sojourn on Earth unfolds with interplay of human free will and divine intervention.
Mother Nature pauses in hushed richness
Her autumnal pageantry of seasons...
Lets days immersed in river of life stillness
Cleanse heart and soul of villainous legions.
© Ilija Lukić 2025
Are we by nature
A murderous lot,
Hostage to primal urges
That time forgot?
Or do heavenly embers,
Divine sparks of light,
Guide nobler instincts—
Our God-given birthright?
© Ilija Lukić 2025
With crisp breath autumn stirs wind chimes to life.
Their lively chords buoy dance of earthbound leaves,
Encourage mindful peace of mind, not strife,
Which keeps at arm’s length my soul’s den of thieves.
© Ilija Lukić 2025
I’ve long been inspired by the 19th-century impressionism art movement, characterized by paintings that capture the artist’s immediate response to a dynamic moment in time—often “en plein air” everyday, subject matter. Working outdoors artists endeavored to capture the fleeting effects of light on color with texture created by visible brush stokes, to help convey a sense of movement and atmosphere.
In a series of photographic images, I humbly pay homage to artists like Claude Monet—the quintessential landscape impressionist— by editing and processing some of my pictures to emulate his painterly style.
I seek to unfold the tapestry of my afternoon adventure on the Lower Haw River Trail through a filter dipped in impressionist nostalgia. I want to color my heart’s journey through emphasis on light, color, movement, mood and emotions…and, hopefully express what my heart experienced through sensory inputs at the moment I released that camera shutter.
As I meander along becalmed lake waters,
Wrapped in silence and lost in reverie,
An errant breeze asks ripples of water
To break gently across my path…and nudge
The tranquil confines of introspection
That hold captive my imagination,
To release mindful lines of poetry
With each breath and ev’ry beat of my heart.
© Ilija Lukić 2025
When woes beset your heart as fierce rivers of life test your immortal soul, just lean into God’s grace—sacred water of life—and embrace said struggles with renewed vigor and faith.
© Ilija Lukić 2025
Spinning world curbs heart
Autumn’s warm hues rouse dreamtime
Heart finds its true north
Often overwhelming, the fast-paced and chaotic nature of living in the digital age curbs emotional well-being and restrains true self-awareness.
Connecting with nature in autumn during her time of transition emboldens letting go of useless habits, worn out ideas and futile relationships. Furthermore, likening autumnal turning of the leaves to embracing inevitable changes and adaptations in the human condition spills mindful self-examination into dreamtime—that soul-searching journey inward to understand your essence—to become who you truly are.
© Ilija Lukić 2025
