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| Not the best photo, but it is MINE, because this is where I watched the supermoon and the eclipse, a nearby park! |
Over a week ago, Writer's Almanac shared a poem by Billy Collins. I don't know when he wrote it, but it made watching the eclipse last Sunday even better. I know we have many things to be grateful for, including that supermoon, and so does Billy Collins. I'm sharing it today in case you missed it.
As If To Demonstrate an Eclipse ~ Billy Collins
I pick an orange from a wicker basket
and place it on the table
to represent the sun.
Then down the other end
a blue and white marble
becomes the earth
and nearby I lay the little moon of an aspirin.
the rest can be found here.
It's always a good time to celebrate gratitude! I like his "homemade canticle." Thanks, Linda :-)
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Tabatha. It seemed just right for this week's wonder!
DeleteThanks for sharing your photo -- we couldn't see anything because of the clouds. It *is* the perfect poem to celebrate the eclipse and express gratitude for such a wonder.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jama. I was very happy to read it and make the connection.
DeleteI missed it from the clouds, too, so I'm grateful for this post! Always a treat to hear Collins...
ReplyDeleteThanks, Andi. I'm so glad you enjoyed it.
DeleteBilly Collins is always a good idea! I'm glad you got to experience the moon -- it rained here the night of the eclipse and otherwise did a good job of keeping Mark from sleeping . . . zzzzzz.
ReplyDeleteBecause of the time, we had it easy, Keri. The full eclipse was there about 8:45pm, of course later for everyone in the east. Hope you enjoyed Billy Collins' words.
DeleteBy some miracle, Seattle experienced a cloudless sky on the night of the eclipse. Though it was only visible for the last half (totally eclipsed-to-totally full) it was a joyous viewing in the Pacific Northwest. Your photo is PERFECT!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Julie, so happy that you had the view!
DeleteLove Billy Collins, and what a perfect accompaniment to your viewing of the eclipse. We didn't have the eclipse here in the southern hemisphere, but did have the glrious supermoon, which was amazing.
ReplyDeleteIt was truly beautiful, wasn't it? So glad you saw it, Sally.
DeleteWriter's Almanac is a nourishing newsletter I don't spend time with often enough, Linda. I'm so glad you were able to or I would have missed this treasure.
ReplyDeleteAnd appreciations for this artful picture. Something about the modern sculpture, like an outer space emblem, makes it feel a perfect pairing with what you captured, which I think is lovely & a mighty fine capsule, with the Billy Collins lines.
Thank you. It's a lovely park with lots of walkways, a stream and a pond, too, a very nice place to walk in the day time, and this time, for seeing that moon!
DeleteGreat photo, Linda! Take what you can get -- we were covered in clouds during the eclipse and I was so sad. Thanks for the Billy Collins poem.
ReplyDeleteI've heard from others that the clouds kept it away, so sorry, Laura. Thanks for enjoying the pic and the poem.
DeleteWe had clouds here in Columbus, so all I got was Collins' poem! You, however, got a great shot!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mary Lee, as I said to Laura, you in the east were betrayed! Sorry that you missed it.
DeleteWe couldn't see it either because of the clouds. I'm glad you got to! The poem is so great--as always. I love the idea of him getting cockeyed with gratitude.
ReplyDeleteMe, too, Liz. I appreciated that The Writer's Almanac shared it right before the big event! Sorry the clouds kept you from watching.
DeleteI am cockeyed with gratitude for The Writer's Almanac, which in previous school years I could catch just after lettiing my son out at his bus stop. Now the school system has realigned the planets and shifted everything 20 minutes later (you know, so the highschoolers can get "more sleep." I am all for more sleep, but 20 is not it). Now I miss TWA every day and I'm cockeyed with gratitude for podcasts!
ReplyDeleteAnd also for you, Linda--thank you for your kind words!
One of our high schools is now starting at 9:30. I haven't seen anyone speak of how that's going, but it's a big shift! 20 minutes doesn't seem to be enough I agree. You're welcome, Heidi, & thanks for coming by.
DeleteNo super moon eclipse is "complete" without Billy Collins. But actually, I'm sorry to say I missed it– it was totally clouded over. Perhaps life will be kind and I will be able to view the next one in 2033.
ReplyDeleteI hope so, Michelle. Glad you enjoyed the poem despite not having the real thing.
DeleteCollins' poem says it all for all that were unable to view it in person. Great selection, Linda, and great photo. We got pretty lucky with our vantage point here in Tucson, but the camera on my phone was not really up to the task of capturing it. =)
ReplyDeleteHappy that you had the 'view', Bridget. My phone didn't do so great, either, but I got one of the eclipse, just was very small. I didn't share that one! I love the Collins poem, just came to me at the right time! Thanks.
DeleteWe got to see it here in NH. If it weren't for all the car headlights, it would have been magnificent, but, I'll take it. I'm certain I won't be around for the next one in 2033.
ReplyDeleteHa! Me, either, Diane, perhaps why I was so excited. Happy to hear that you did see it, but wonder why the car lights?
DeleteIs there an occasion for which Billy Collins hasn't written the perfect poem? We saw the beginning of the eclipse walking to our car at JFK and caught the end when we got home, but still appreciated the "perfect little arrangement."
ReplyDeleteOh, love that you were in on the lovely parts, Catherine. And yes, Billy Collins seems to please in a variety of ways. Thank you.
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