Thursday, May 19, 2016

Pink Clouds Over Kmart


Pink Clouds Over Kmart

Peaceful pink clouds float along
in the bright blue sky over Kmart.
Inside, frazzled shoppers toss clothes 
 from clearance racks into a cart.

Blue collar workers, struggling to make ends meet,
clutch their coupons and look for a great buy.
When they came in, they didn't even notice 
those wispy, pink clouds drifting above the store 
in that blue, blue sky.

Their faces are pinched and distracted.
As they leave, they are lost in thought.
Already they are worrying
about the money they just spent
on all the things that they bought.

They're searching for happiness 
through retail therapy, 
but they have yet to realize
that true joy isn't found in a shopping cart.
If only they knew, they might find delight
in the soft pink clouds drifting by 
in the blue, blue skies over Kmart.

*   *   *   *   *

I snapped the photo above with the camera in my phone while riding by in the car. I thought the pink clouds were pretty, and I liked the way they stood out against the blue of the sky. I took the shot below just a few seconds later. I was quite surprised to see how differently the second shot came out in comparison to the first. In reality, the sky was blue not pink, but this is how the picture came out. I did not, to my knowledge, change any settings on the phone to make the photo look this way. I also did not edit it to make it look this way. I don't know why this photo turned out like this, but I liked it, so I decided to share it with you. To me it almost has an eerie retro or lost-in-time kind of feel to it.  Maybe the imaginary shoppers in my poem above would have noticed the sky if it had been pink!





30 comments:

  1. Anonymous5/19/2016

    Beautiful sky/clouds. All our KMarts closed here in our area. I imagine most folks did not take the time to appreciate God's beautiful sky.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. A lot of the Kmarts around here have closed too, but there are still a few left.

      Delete
  2. Wow Connie, both pictures are beautiful and that pink sky one is incredibly gorgeous... I wish more people knew that retail therapy isn't the way to deal with stress... seeing those clouds and beautiful sky is exactly what we all need to see... living in the moment xox (Thanks for sharing xox)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So many people miss seeing the beauty that is right in front of them. :)

      Delete
  3. great poem to go with the clouds and I like the pink. Nature - it's gives so much. Wish more people knew it's incredible power.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Me too, Nikki. I think the world would be a better place if they did.

      Delete
  4. awesome pics and colors and angles can change. You got the cotton candy clouds at the perfect moment, and your poem captures the contrast of KMart shopping woes versus enjoy the moment. Good job

    ReplyDelete
  5. I love the contrast of the peaceful pink clouds and the frazzled shoppers inside the store. Too bad more people don't realize the futility of retail therapy. Looking up at that sky would have made more hearts happy than engaging in a frenzy of money-spending.

    However it happened, I LOVE that second picture!

    Have a super weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I love what you wrote here because I have such admiration and respect for blue collar workers...and the photo is amazing as well :)

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh Wow, love the sky and your words and I agree , so many miss the little things in life. Hope you enjoy your week.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Your poem and pictures have captured the realities. Love it!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous5/23/2016

    me again....I'm not often on facebook but I did see where Andy had his 22nd birthday! Wow! Seems like yesterday he was in high school - I know the time has flown for you.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It sure has! I can't believe he is already 22!

      Delete
  10. You made a great point in your poem. I think skies and especially rainbows are hard to photograph but your pics are beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I have a Pink Cloud story to share. My best high school friend died a few years ago. She had Breast Cancer. She told me before she died that she would be sitting up there on that pink cloud watching down on me... When I went to her funeral, there was a big window at the front of the church. During one of the hymns, a big pink cloud floated by --and I could see it from my seat... I KNEW she was looking down on us... I miss her so much --and every single time I see a pink cloud, I think of Susan.
    Hugs,
    Betsy

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's a very sweet story about your friend, Betsy. Thank you for sharing it.

      Delete
  12. The pink sky photo was quite unusual, Connie. I really enjoyed how your poem fit in perfectly with the image you snapped. The same sentiments might apply to Walmart shoppers as well...sad to say.

    ReplyDelete
  13. It takes a true artist like you to create meaningful poetry of pink clouds and Kmart. Very well done, Connie!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Neat pictures! Yes, a different angle can totally change the colors.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Your poem is so true . Your pictures illustrate it perfectly too. I like both pictures, but each one of the same subject evokes completely different feelings. Amazing that the coloring alone can do that.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Dear Connie
    I loved your poem and the photos are both wonderful.

    Many thanks for the kind words and prayers!
    My heart is so heavy these days!
    Knowing there are people that care does help!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Retail therapy - i so remember that way back in the past when I thought shopping could relieve the stress of working full time, and raising the kids. Oh ...the useless stuff I bought and then had to get rid of when I moved. Love the poem and that is really different about those two photos - ...love the pink clouds.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's easy to fall into the trap of believing that owning things will bring happiness. I learned the hard way too that that kind of happiness is very short-lived.

      Delete
  18. Wow, that pink sky does look good.

    All the best Jan

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hello,

    Lovely photos of the clouds.

    Your fabulous poem has a great message. It is absolutely true that in the modern age people are more worried about money and more interested in buying things which they don't need. They want to impress others all the time and this leads to worry, tension, jealously, envy. disappointment and frustrations.

    Nature provides so many wonderful things for us to enjoy and find inner peace. Natures wonders are absolutely free provided people take the time to look around. It could be lovely pattern and color of the clouds, a flower, a butterfly,a sunset and perhaps even the cool evening breeze, rain water on a blade of grass etc. Unfortunately people have no time to watch all this heavenly glory which has a relaxing, soothing effect and acts a panacea for tension and worry.

    Excellent poem and a fantastic message.

    Best wishes

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you, Joseph! Yes, it is sad that so many people miss out on the wonders of Nature that are free right in front of us.

      Delete
  20. Wow! I love your photos of the pretty pink clouds. I love this poem. It's filled with beautiful imagery and so very true. I'm so glad you took time to enjoy the beautiful sky, take the photos, and share them and your lovely poem with us.

    ReplyDelete
  21. LOVE your poem and I think a pink sky is very pretty......how neat your photo came out that way

    ReplyDelete
  22. Thank you very much, everyone, for your thoughtful comments. I enjoy hearing from all of you.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog and leave a comment here. I hope you come back again. There's more where that came from!