The marble, ceramics and little wooden hippos from my hippo collections came alive! They started to search for water. Frantic and in a frenzy in need to quench their thirst, dunk in muddy water, and meet a mate, if they are of age. Single hippos ready to connect with opposite sex. The hallways and corridors of my apartment dominated by commanding young wooden, ceramic and marble hippos that need their immediate want addressed, feeling the urgent necessity. What was I to do? A

A winding lake snakes through bifurcated hills like lazy flowers wobbling in the breeze Stucco rust roofs are necklaces on the hills blushing in the light, pink - fog - white, dark emerald greem Parting hills are cheeks smiling on roosters crowing, dogs barking, bird chirping Water trickers awakening everything As in a grand finale of an Opera A stunning sunset is an orchestra of red - orange - gold - fuchsia Melodious curtains of light make feel like the god Mercury Born fro

Beneath a bay, just below a blue water line windblown sand ripples randomly into waves A fan-shaped shell home to a mussel washed by a vengeful sea Sculpted silken skin, outside hot sun, under warm skin nature's nectar changes an unwanted guest A spectrum of colors, cream, rose, pink, silver, blue, gold, green, ebony, Baroque beauties. by Vincent J. Tomeo *Latin, Perna, a kind of mussel, and Sphaerula, a little sphere.