Red

Red is the name of a chicken who figured out how to make the hoot and call

of coyotes. You may not live where there are predatory animals that haunt but

Red taught Dixie a hen to howl with him imitating the meanest coyote pack.

She sings at dawn/ night before she falls to chicken coma, yes, as if she guzzled

two bottles of Merlot wine. Red is a brave color ~ now go make history

Copyright  © Caroline Gerardo 2020

Falling

FALLING

I find myself waking at night

the sound of the screen door

the smell of crushed sage leaves

the taste of quince in a mask

A dream, its not done with us

I see flashes of light in corners

there in darkness without a moon

there chickens hide from hawks

there is a stone in my rubber boots

A dream, its not done with us

I wish on marigolds scaring bugs

the fleeting tail of a mouse 

the sliver of summer sunset

the acorns ground to flour

                                                                A dream of fall

                                                                A prayer to fly

10/5/2020 Copyright Caroline Gerardo

 

Backyard Tales

 

 

About The Book

The Backyard Tales is the story of the bond shared between 17-year-old Mia Basu Roy and her beloved cat, Pippo. She seems to understand him far too well for a human. And he seems to have another life that Mia begins to suspect. She follows her cat to their backyard and down a very dangerous road which leads her to witches, talking animals, and a story that’s much bigger than what she initially suspected. 

Read this story to discover all of Mia and Pippo’s secrets, be enchanted by magic, and get the answer to a question that has haunted us for ages: does a cat truly love their owner? 

Book Purchase Link

Amazon India | Amazon USA

Book Review

Author Bio

Young Adult and Children’s novelist, Aniesha Brahma, studied Comparative Literature. She started her career has as a social media manager in a publishing house. Currently works as a senior content writer in a digital media agency. When she is not working, she is dreaming up stories, conducting sessions for her popular YouTube Series, Chai & Chill, or planning how to get even more books and bookish content to readers via BUZZ Magazine. You can read more of her work at Aniesha’s Musings and drop a line at aniesha.brahma@gmail.com

Catch Up with Aniesha Brahma on Social Media

Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Website| Email 

Black Poppy Poem

Jack Rabbit at sunset

BlackLivesMatter Poem

Trouble comes in threes I say

Covid fears rolls into protests

all the washing, spraying and

cleaning is not going away.

At my home, in the garden,

rests the spider veil of safety

booms from Camp Pendleton

have built resolve to harden.

You, don't live remote on a ranch

overlook  the ocean and a marine

base as if protected by a Sea King.

Stressed ancient oak drops branch.

Nights I awaken at four and check

the sky for stars and succulents but

fog of June gloom and nightmares

quarantine bends time into wreck.

Wind carries a song and demands

to end police unions, racism  and 

national list naming the bad cops

seeds soaked ready in our hands.

Copyright © June 4 2020 Caroline Gerardo

Black Poppy

white amaryllis 

Epi reflections

Squash blossom

garden gate

blue wild flower

Succulent planter

succulent planters from rain gutters

colors of succulents

color combo succulents purple 

Sweet Pea Salve

Sweet Pea Salve

You're a prickly pod then a seed

I am here in this time of need

A bouquet for courage my dears

Let perfume rest your fears.

How to make the salve:

Gather a bucket full of wild sweet peas

Discard the leaves and stems

In a Kerr sealing jar push the flowers down to fill half

cover in olive oil

The olive oil should not be EVOO but make sure it is fresh and not old

The ratio is about a cup of flowers to 3/4 cup oil, depends on your jar

Seal the lid and put in sun for 3 weeks.

Strain with cheesecloth discarding the now dark flowers

On a double boiler (water on bottom dry metal on top)

heat 1 tablespoon beeswax with 2 tablespoons shea butter

Don't let it burn just melt.

Add the oil.

Does it still smell like sweet peas? 

You can add one vitamin E tablet (use a pin to prick the end and squeeze in) 

If you want to enhance the smell - a couple drops of real lavender essential

oil or a flower fragrance you love

Store in a tin with a lid.

Now when you go pick the sweet pea seed pods you have hand salve to

ease that prickly burning feeling in your fingers 

Copyright  © Caroline Gerardo