Different Drummer

Peoples of the Carolinas look forward to autumn. We appreciate foggy mornings and mist-laden lakes, delight in brisk night airs and brilliantly sunny days followed by periods of soaking rains, enjoy romps through kaleidoscopes of leaf litter, love reliving childhood fantasies in corn mazes and pumpkin patches, enjoy the blessings of family Thanksgiving get-togethers inspire and relish anticipation of year end celebrations such as Hannukah, Christmas and the ringing in of the new year—all in out of the ordinary fashion this time around due to health concerns over the viral pandemic sweeping the world.

Autumn allows breathing space to reflect on life and give the dances within your heart free rein, especially if the rhythms of the music betoken homage to that fabled yet elusive different drummer.

© Ilija Lukić 2020

Different Drummer

Cardinal Braggadocio

Winds of change in woodland spell relief

From boastful chitter-chatter of songster

Flaunting red plumage in sheer disbelief

That his fine tunes may not postpone winter.

Granted he has eased his boisterous song

Until springtide sets his heart aflutter,

But he’s not ready to surrender headlong

The backwoods to Old Man Winter’s bluster.

Thus he emboldens fine feathered cohort

To escapades of mischief in the wood,

To bring about, nay blatantly exhort

Goodwill to ease bleak wintering solitude.

On reflection, his showboating prevails,

When aligned with uproar by feathered tails.

© Ilija Lukić 2020

Quiet Braggadocio
(Cardinalis cardinalis aka Northern Cardinal in woodlands neat Pittsboro NC USA)

Crimson Baldachin

Not to be outdone by bronze or gold baldachins in majestic European cathedrals, ornamental silks and gold brocades above thrones and even extravagant canopies over beds of royalty and the well-to-do, breathtakingly backlit woodland spreads of autumn foliage lift up the soul—amazing grace.

© Ilija Lukić 2020

Crimson Baldachin

Last Dance - Foliaceous Folly

Autumn’s last dance wakes primal awe and joy.

Few bare branches now quiver crimson leaves.

Where spider webs catch the light, duck old boy,

For said silk across face much dread achieves.

© Ilija Lukić 2020

Pennies From Heaven

Foliaceous Folly

Monday Morning Blues

Trees are mostly bare and the sky is gray.

I’m out for a stroll this fine autumn day;

Pause in tree cathedral and by the way

Hear symphony of winds light music play.

Vermillion carpet underfoot holds sway;

Joins bands of many colors woes to slay. 

I drop to my knees and earnestly pray

For ease of melancholy and dismay.

Woods rid heart of baggage, that’s not hearsay,

While winter’s minions ready their mainstay—

Snows and chilled winds in blustery horseplay

Made of mirth and mischief till Groundhog Day.

Walk, walk in nature when heart feels astray

And blues wrought by life ere long slip away.

© Ilija Lukić 2020

Band Of Many Colors

Vermillion Repose

Kiss Autumn Goodbye

More than three inches of rain inundate the Carolinas.Vermillion carpets of maple leaf litter lighten rain-dampened moods. In woodlands and city neighborhoods, summer  abandon cedes dominion to autumn serenity. Humble abodes of fine-feathered denizens in pine bowers are mute reminders of merriment past and gaiety come springtime.

Leaf fall carpets vale

Feathered cohorts fly the coop

Raindrops hang in trees

© Ilija Lukić 2020

Kiss Autumn Goodbye

Nebulous Euphoria

Fog-shrouded early bright on the Haw River creates dreamscapes, which rouse imagination and enduringly alter perception of our natural world.

Mystical dayspring,

Calm river heightens dreamscape—

Altered consciousness.

© Ilija Lukić 2020

Nebulous Euphoria

Soothing Interlude

Short days cue Jack Frost,

Whilst summer spends last hurrah.

Ah, soothing interlude!

© Ilija Lukić 2020

Soothing Interlude
(Haw River near the old cotton mill town of Bynum NC USA)

Perpetual Jubilation

Whispers of mist release daybreak into woods.

Round-the-clock lightheartedness fills old growth

And autumn spectacle in neighborhoods,

While heart and soul lend musing gaze to both.

© Ilija Lukić 2020

Lightheartedness Unleashed

Divine Spectacle

Hitchhiker

My horseless carriage stops briefly woodside.

By chance gives bodacious hitcher a ride.

She cares not what lies around the next bend;

Rides with total abandon—loves a godsend.

© Ilija Lukić 2020

Hitchhiker
(Carolina Anole female, brown morph)

Autumn Resplendence

Pensive at heart I brood in soundless wood,

Where mist beclouds essence of life ablaze,

Ere long sunburst revives joys of childhood

As pristine light brightens mood to lift daze.

Hushed kaleidoscope of autumn shouts joy;

Gives new life to sunlit spiels of summer days,

Which tried to persuade akin Helen of Troy

That her beauty alone sets hearts ablaze.

Lively winds permeate autumn woodland.

Uplifting breeze showers brightly-hued leaves

And hail of acorns without slight of hand

Into leaf litter to feed four-legged thieves.

Trust in sunny sides of life, heart and soul;

Let simple joys reign free of undue control.

© Ilija Lukić 2020

Autumn Resplendence
(Carolina woodlands north of Pittsboro NC USA)

Glory Days

It seems for days on end, featureless veils of fog subdue vibrant hues in tree lines and set restrained autumn moods. Weary of slogging through early autumn brume, soggy leaf liter and woodland morasses, Cooper and I look forward to and celebrate life amid glorious, sun-dappled foliage. When first shafts of sunlight pierce leaden skies and set tree canopies ablaze, the landscape extols divine majesty, lightens our footfalls and raises spirits.

© Ilija Lukić 2020

Autumn Morass
(Mr Cooper)

Resplendent Specie

Autumn Blaze

Sunburst

Betrayal

Betrayal lingers like stench in stockyard.

As lack of trust makes life insufferable,

Flesh and blood come to be gravely scarred

And dark heart makes the soul vulnerable.

© Ilija Lukić 2020

On a morning outing with Melanie and Cooper, we chance upon a splendiferous mushroom highlighted by warm daybreak light. White warts, but also battle scars from nibbles and pecks define its red countenance. While taking a closer look I overhear its whispered cries of “Et tu, Brute,” the famed line from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, in gentle rebuke of its two and four-legged brethren who betrayed its peaceful existence with selfish albeit small acts of violence.

In minds eye, then pen to paper, I find parallels in the human condition.

Et Tu, Brute
(Amanita mushroom)

Goodness Unchained

Within bitter heart lurk torment and strife,

Spurred by demons named hate and anger.

Given free rein, they breed tragedies in life;

When cowed, goodness prevails over rancor.

© Ilija Lukić 2020

Goodness Unchained
(Cleome aka Spider Flower)

Passion - Desire Set Afire

What separates well-lived from life mundane?

Rhythm of swift horse on windswept plain,

Storied days hooked on cowboy way of life,

Where brotherly ties make trail rides worthwhile.

Moonlight strolls on sandy ocean shores

By desirous lovers longing to embrace,

Awash in feelings akin breaking waves,

Yet exquisite like butterflies in meadows.

Light captured in a single pearl of dew

With velvet gloves of quietude at dawn,

Then spilled in strokes across white linen realm

As words that caress human heart and soul.

Find passion within simple things in life,

Where passion thrives as desire set afire.

Ilija Lukić 2020

Note: Written while admitted to UNC Hospital, Chapel Hill NC for heart stent procedure...reflections about my cowboy days in NM, first date with my wife and love of photography and writing.

Mutual Respect

Peace and harmony flow when hearts brim with mutual respect.

© Ilija Lukić 2020

Mutual Respect
(Arapaho Warrior painting by Ilija Lukić with clay and horsehair sculptures by Linda Person)

Mushrooms Into Eagles

Does taking a risk increase the likelihood of making a mistake? I think not. It’s a toss of the coin. Inaction in the face of social upheaval wrought by the persistent coronavirus pandemic and riotous civil unrest more often than not leads to regrets over lost opportunities and successes.

On an outing into Carolina woodlands with my canine pal Cooper, I discover a mushroom in the damp duff. Albeit beautiful, it is not an eagle in majestic flight. A flurry of thoughts race through my mind. Have we as a people become akin a mushroom…resigned to lives away from sunlight…safely tucked into our respective corners of duff…afraid to engage in societal issues.

When I ponder the last six months of life in America, every heartbeat and fiber of my being screams the adage “damn the torpedoes, full speed ahead.” Wake up America, challenge naysayers and purveyors of divisiveness, doom and gloom. Be that eagle taking bold flight into murky skies, for you know our best days are ahead.

© Ilija Lukić 2020

A Heart Content

Wallow not in despair wrought by false idols,

Who gage human essence by traits skin-deep.

Countervail spite with love not reprisals

And a heart content with life you will reap. 

© Ilija Lukić 2020

Virgin Wood
(West of Pittsboro North Carolina)

God Bless America - Independence Day 2020

In the 1980s and 90s during the darkest days of the Cold War, I served more than a decade in Belgium and Germany on the front lines in our determined stand against the scourges of Communism, Fascism and promotion of worldwide anarchy by our adversaries. These days our country faces the same darkness once more...this time from within.

While serving in distant lands ever mindful of local cultures, we gathered encouragement from standing shoulder to shoulder as Americans in heart and soul. We opened gatherings, whether formal military function or social event with a prayer, our National Anthem and often the song "God Bless The USA." Time has not erased the emotions that welled within each such assemblage, as we stood united in preserving the ideals of our founding as a Nation, side-by-side, hand-in-hand regardless of race, creed or social background.

This year illuminations from one end of our country to the other marked our Independence Day. My favorite were the fireworks over Mt Rushmore National Monument.

Authorities in many states limited or cancelled public gatherings, celebrations and fireworks. However, our indomitable American spirit of patriotism was not muted as citizens celebrated and then lighted night skies above cities, villages, even single-family farm and ranch homes with personal fireworks. I'm proud to be an American!

I enjoy traditional Fourth of July festivities and take time to listen to the song "God Bless The USA" written by Lee Greenwood in 1984. Irresistibly the lyrics inspire hopes and prayers that we as a people set the spark of unity which stirred so long ago ablaze once more. God Bless America!

© Ilija Lukić 2020

Sunshine For The Heart

Last night’s passion lingers on finger tips,

While tender whispers keep daybreak at bay.

Till hearts bid adieu with tears upon lips

That ache for new tryst with little delay

Be still, let me make sense of your heartbeat

And kiss me like there are no tomorrows.

Touch my soul earnestly, without deceit.

Let heart’s eye find us lustful in meadows.

Summon into mind sunny garden bower

Where we renew love’s essence when apart;

Because my heart, like a field sunflower,

Thrives on the sunlight that floods from your heart

Love lives not in reason, but in the heart,

And grows most deeply when hearts are apart.

© Ilija Lukić 2020