Bynum Cotton Mill Race

In the wake of heavy rains, floating river debris and uprooted trees wreak havoc on the historic Bynum Cotton Mill Race.

Excavated around 1872, the mill race runs about 2000 feet parallel to the Haw River. Originally a wooden dam upstream diverted river flows to power mill water wheels. In time turbines and electrical generators made use of the same mill race to provide power for the textile mill, as well as the company town of Bynum. Said boon made the hamlet one of the first areas in Chatham County to enjoy electric lights. Operations ended in 1983. 

© Ilija Lukić 2022

Eye Of The Tiger

When Nature’s minions go all out frightful,

Warm hearth fires make life most delightful;

Tasty morsels of food help allay fear

And make winter’s last dance seem less severe.

Just days ago song birds welcomed spring,

Now fluff up, huddle and seldom take wing,

Spring lambs stop prance to ask why and wherefore

Cold freight trains of north wind like lions roar.

Much as life throws challenges your way,

Tidbits of chaos poised to dismay,

Never say die, akin a roughrider 

And take life head-on with eye of the tiger

© Ilija Lukić 2022

Eye Of The Tiger

(Purrl...unapologetically unafraid)

No Holds Barred Happiness

When cold drizzle drapes quiet neighborhood

And overshadows upbeat springtide mood,

Warm thoughts boost frame of mind without delay,

For no holds barred happiness rules the day.

© Ilija Lukić 2022

Let Freedom Ring

Slings and arrows of present day

Cloud hearts and minds, take breath away;

Darken the soul and put on hold

Sacrosanct freedoms, truth be told.

“Let freedom ring” a brave man shouts,

“Darkness doesn’t rule hereabouts.”

He prays the world steps up tenfold

Their aid against vile stranglehold. 

Whether from outside or homegrown,

Yokes of tyranny cannot postpone

Pursuit of inalienable rights,

Innate bar none in human hearts.

© Ilija Lukić 2022

Let Freedom Ring

(Crocus vernus aka Spring Crocus)

Paper Wasps

Paper Wasps (vespidae wasps) make nests from fibers of dead wood and plant stems, which they mix with saliva to fashion delicate gray or brown papery cells. They have open combs with individual cells for their brood. The wasps attach the nest to branches or structures with a constricted stalk and spread an ant-repellent secretion around the stem. Wasps are pollinators. They feed on nectar and garden pests such as caterpillars, flies and beetle larvae. Some paper wasps are called umbrella wasps due to the distinctive shape of their nests.

© Ilija Lukić 2022

Piedmont Dryad

Wood nymphs are protector spirits with dominion over springs, clouds, trees, caverns, meadows and beaches. Woodland folklore describes them as tree dwellers that reveal themselves to mortals as beautiful women. Here on the eastern reaches of the Piedmont Plateau, warm sunny days make for favorable conditions to catch a glimpse of these bashful keepers of the wild.

© Ilija Lukić 2022

Pondering Reflections

Mortal existence languishes while sheltered as untroubled reflections of the world on fathomless waters between reality and illusion, until we take charge of our destiny.

© Ilija Lukić 2022

Walking On Air

Joy defines cloud nine

Mind’s eye pictures blissfulness   

Heart loves walks on air

© Ilija Lukić 2022

Hearts Away From God

Hark!  Evil rear its ugly head once more

And lives racked with fear and anguish hold sway,

As hearts away from God bring to the fore

Mankind’s dark side goodwill would hold at bay.

© Ilija Lukić 2022

Farewell To Winter

Sun grins from ear to ear.

Mind’s eye heeds tale of Cheshire Cat,

As winter fades from hearts?

© Ilija Lukić 2022

Farewell To Winter

(Haw River at Bynum NC USA)

Mare's Nest

While springtime pauses, catches forty winks,

State driven turmoil simmers in world spheres.

Aye, said mare’s nest invites mob rule, methinks,

Till chaos wanes once good sense perseveres.

© Ilija Lukić 2022

Benign Doldrums

Cold breeze nags treed slopes

Budding trees catch forty winks

Doldrums cloud good vibes

© Ilija Lukić 2022

In defiance of winter doldrums, the energy of wild lands on the cusp of spring rebirth is palpable in the riparian environs of the Haw River near Bynum, North Carolina.

Indomitable Reawakening

Veiled in the mystique of springtide, the reawakening of eye-catching amazement in Mother Nature’s winter-weary realm encourages resurgence of our indomitable human spirit—defined, hands down, by courage and perseverance in the face of life’s trials and tribulations.

© Ilija Lukić 2022

Life Through A Lens, Darkly

Inner eye guides art.

Snapshot captures strand of time—

Present becomes past.

© Ilija Lukić 2022

Photographs veil objective truth about moments in time. The image makers truth prevails in the final cut, exhorting alternative views of reality…Life Through A Lens, Darkly.

Volumes Of Silence

Mother Nature’s reserves her most magnificent poetry for hearts of people perusing pages in her eloquent volumes of silence.

© Ilija Lukić 2022

Topsy-Turvy Worldview

More often than not a topsy-turvy philosophy of life gives rise to the most accurate understanding of humanity and inspires uncomplicated notions of our relationship to the eternal and each other.

© Ilija Lukić 2022

Mindful Change

Strife churns near and far.  

Answers must leave no stone unturned—

Change starts with forethought!

© Ilija Lukić 2022

Courage Unchained

When life holds free will in tight embrace

With course of action hardly possible,

Call to mind alpine blooms in sheer rock face

And choose a life well-nigh inconceivable. 

Endeavor nature walks at crack of dawn

Into mind’s eye where reverie holds sway,

Where spirit soars while mind looks back upon

Days when dealing with hard knocks was child’s play.

By dint of angel wings, light of day takes hold.

Pinking skies lend credence to forenamed host

And rouse assurance more than hundredfold,

That all’s right with the world, first and foremost.

Sage foresight gained in vale of tears through grace

Holds key to success in life’s steeplechase.

© Ilija Lukić 2022

Life Between A Rock And Hard Place

When life holds free will in tight embrace

With course of action hardly possible,

Call to mind alpine blooms in sheer rock face

And choose a life well-nigh inconceivable. 

Endeavor nature walks at crack of dawn

Into mind’s eye where reverie holds sway,

Where heart soars, gives time to dwell upon

Gone days, when achieving dreams was child’s play.

By dint of angel wings, light of day takes hold.

Pinking skies lend credence to forenamed host

And rouse assurance more than hundredfold,

That all’s right with the world, first and foremost.

Wisdom instilled by famed rock and hard place

Holds keys to success in life’s steeplechase.

© Ilija Lukić 2022

Between A Rock And A Hard Place

By Dint Of Angel Wings

Winter's Epilogue

Sun warms frigid realm,

Still, arctic chill reigns supreme.

Spring croons mid sharp winds!

© Ilija Lukić 2022