Underexposed

Underexposed

I couldn't get enough of looking at the contrast
between black leafless trees against the orange and blue horizon.

It was as if my eyes were tasting this meal for the first time.
I don’t remember ever being this captivated with trees or photography.

The other day, I even stopped my car on the side of the road,
rolled my window down and aimed my lens at the trees. 

My kids were laughing at me.  The fever caught on
as they both volleyed for my attention.

“Look here, mommy.  Take a picture of this one.”
I smiled.  They will remember being captivated.

I wanted to take home the images, paint them, write about them,
but I just couldn’t capture what the image meant to me.  Perhaps, not enough light.

It was like taking a picture of the stars.  The majesty of the night sky
shows up black on the digital camera. No stars.  Underexposed.

It was as if  the universe was trying to tell me that some things are meant to be experienced
and savored in the moment, like dark chocolate, or a child’s laughter.

SWPoet
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Below is the original version. 

Underexposed

I couldn't get enough
of looking at the contrast
between black leafless trees
against the orange
and blue horizon.

It was as if my eyes were
tasting this meal for the
first time. I don’t remember
ever being this captivated
with trees or taking pictures.

The other day, I even stopped my car
on the side of the road, my window down,
camera aimed at the trees.  My kids were laughing
as I pointed out the shapes of the trees,
but they will remember being captivated.

I wanted to take home the images,
paint them, write about them,
but I just couldn’t capture
what it meant to me.  Plus, 
the lighting wasn’t right. 

It was like taking a picture
of the stars.  The majesty of the
night sky shows up black
on the digital camera. No stars.
Underexposed.

It was as if some things
are meant to be experienced
and savored in the moment,
like dark chocolate, or
a child’s laughter.

SWPoet