48 x 60 inches, 2013, oil/wax on canvas
Giclees available upon request.

New Dawn

After the age of man
chaos reigned
earth’s axis continued shifting
raging winds
torrential rains
tsunami floods
pummeled us
Concrete metal glass
toppled bent broke
like fragile weeping weeds

Humanity
a flawed lot
brilliant technology
stunning scientific discoveries
life saving medical advancements
yet painfully myopic

Desire for profit
blinded them from seeing
their doomed civilization
Some cried out in protest
not heard
a tidal wave of greed
drowned their voices

But we survived
slowly reclaiming our world
pushing prodding piercing 
man made fabrications
breaking through concrete
metal remains

Now we wait for
A new dawn
A new civilization
A new evolved man

Shelley Lowell

24 x 48 inches, oil/wax on canvas, 2013
Giclees available upon request.

Wailing Wind 

 Wind wailed
unrelenting
for hundreds of years
sweeping
lush green meadows
free of fertility
barren wasteland left
in their wake

Oceans flooded shores
crumbling
tumbling 
all in its path
monuments of civilizations
succumbed
buried beneath
muck 
rubble 
sand 
oceans

 Nothing remained
of the world 
humanity created
destroyed

Sun rose and set
our only constant
we trees survived
wailing with the wind
mourning our loss

 One evening
as sun set
wind grew quiet
cries abated
tears dried
all was silent 
serene 

Magnificent golden drops
drifted gently
floating earthbound
softly landing
on solid soil

They pulsed

Embryos of new life
renewed hope

Shelley Lowell

18 x 36 inches, oil/wax on canvas, 2013
Giclees available upon request.

It Finally Happened

Just when we thought
these humans would
spin themselves
off the face of the earth
and take us with them
they buried their guns
dismantled their missiles

Without ceremony
long winded speeches
unanimously
and unilaterally
they hugged each other
took each others’ hand
and vowed
to save the planet
live in peace
harmony with all

It was a moment
we thought we’d never see
We prayed for it
hoped for it
but we thought
the worst was upon us

These two-legged upright beings
made a 360-degree turn around
Just in time to end
global warming
global warring

Saved from extinction!

We woke up to
peace on earth
love to all

Flowers burst blossoms
out of season
Birds sang spiraling above
All animal species
from land and sea
rejoiced

It finally happened
or am I dreaming?

Shelley Lowell

24 x 48 inches, oil/wax on canvas, 2012
Giclees available upon request.

Eruption

Eruption came
No warning
Dust, ashes, debris blanketed all
Day turned night before its time
Colors drained to shades of gray
Brilliant sun turned hazy moon

My body shuttered
Cold air enveloped me
My cliff collapsed
nearly submerged 

Surrounded by sea
Alone adrift 
I searched for you

Nature destroys
But she rebirths recycles renews
Will life return as normal?
Will I see friends
family again?
I didn’t value what I had

Now I lost it

If sun returns to day
If gray reverts to rainbow hues
If reunited with you
I’ll hold precious 
All I love
All I have
Never take anything
for granted again

– Shelley Lowell