Catherine Flynn at Reading to the Core hosts this final Poetry Friday in July. The cicadas have arrived here in Denver already. Can autumn already be on its way? Catherine is prepping for autumn by sharing the new poetry book, Great Friends, by Sylvia Vardell and Janet Wong, poems for reading during morning announcements in school. And she's giving away three copies! Thanks, Catherine!
The last time I posted on Friday was when I was anticipating our family trip to Costa Rica. We have gone; we have returned. The trip was wonderful. I shared many pictures on Instagram and Facebook, but won't do a travel slideshow here, promise. I did seem to lean to water and sunset pics along with family, no surprise when the ocean is near. Here is one response after return.
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| the view from our house |
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| beautiful art on one building, color reigns |
This Place Came Home With Me
I brought the gritty sand that clings -
rough to the hand while sweeping
out the luggage -
and one olive shell tumbling ’cross the floor.
In the evening quiet,
I hear the ocean’s roar,
and the pool’s splash,
smile at being paid in sand dollars.
The squirrels in my trees
turn into monkeys,
staring, stretching for higher branches.
Inside my eyelids, colors pass,
bright, bold art -
sky and people created.
I packed the hugs, too,
top pocket of my bag,
brimful when arriving home.
Linda Baie © All Rights Reserved
I would have brought the lovely people we met, but they wanted to stay! They will star in another poem, I think.
Such a lovely sense of Costa Rica and of the bittersweetness of unpacking. I especially love that you brought the hugs home.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sally, I had to bring it all! I imagine most of us do that after a trip.
DeleteSounds like a great trip that made many lasting memories. Thanks for sharing some of those with your lovely poem.
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Kimberly, it was fun to write and capture some.
DeleteAww, the hugs in the top pocket! Glad you brought that home with you... and you are inspiring me with the colorful art walls (we have an RV shed that I'm imagining painted as a mural... but of what?? Searching...) Welcome home! xo
ReplyDeleteThanks, Irene. And oh, a mural on your shed will be awesome. I only took one pic of this building, but each part was marvelous. I did a mural with students once, first took them on a trip throughout the city to examine street art. It was a grand experience.
DeleteOh, that top pocket is just the best....even though the olive shell and the sand are there too. I got to see many of your photos on face book and I just love the love of your family and that you get to know your grandchildren so well. It is special.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Linda, it's always wonderful to have this time together. This trip was an amazing adventure.
DeleteSounds like an amazing vacation! I would love to see monkeys in trees. I get excited over such things. I saw in a bear in a tree this summer in my neighborhood and a fox near the road one evening. I was so excited. Thanks for sharing your wonderful poem and memories.
ReplyDeleteYes, me, too! I love the animals that I get to see and this time, the monkeys entertained. Perhaps we who are used to squirrels would eventually see them as usual, but not for a long time! Thanks!
DeleteYour poem is lovely, Linda! I love how you captured that dreamy sense of being in both worlds at once. Costa Rica looks gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThanks, JoAnn. It was a marvelous time there and together!
DeleteI've heard such wonderful things about Costa Rica and your poem captures a magical experience: the hugs, colors and being paid in sand dollars.
ReplyDeleteYes, it was terrific. I've been to other places there with students also, Julieanne, always wonderful. Thanks!
DeleteI'll bet you were brimming with hugs, love, and great memories, Linda. Loved all the photographs you shared - what a beautiful place you visited!
ReplyDeleteTruly gorgeous, as are so many places, right? Thanks, Tara!
DeleteWhat a great vacation and tons of great memories!
ReplyDeleteYep! It was wonderful. Thanks, Mary Lee!
DeleteThis is a lovely poem that recalls your trip with such a fondness and love. Your specificity makes it personal and yet, universal. I am heading to a weekend in Boston with my three daughters. We won't bring home sand, but I will definitely pack the love in the top pocket!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Margaret. Have a great time in Boston, and definitely bring back the love. I love that city, so am jealous.
DeleteLinda-
ReplyDeleteWelcome home! Your poem says exactly what I wanted to say. I really, really, really wanted to bring home the sounds and smells and grit of the beach sand, and especially the quiet and peace I feel when I watch the water. I love this.
Carol
Thanks, Carol, I know you had that marvelous time at the ocean, too. It is a joy, isn't it?
DeleteI love this!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ruth! It was a pleasure to write.
DeleteLinda, I love your gorgeous poem, with the hugs packed in the "top pocket of [your] bag" and "being paid in sand dollars." Thank you for sharing your vacation with us!
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Catherine. It is one that called to be written!
DeleteI love the imagery of your poem! Costa Rica is on my bucket list as there is a sloth sanctuary there that I would love to visit. We're a long way off from Autumn here in FL. I miss the season change. But I do have the beach year-round, so there's that.
ReplyDeleteYou are lucky to have the beach, which I love. Maybe someday I can spend a whole month! I and the grand-girls would have loved to have seen a sloth, which I did on another visit, but we were too far away. I did read about that sanctuary, too! Hope you get there!
DeleteThanks for these snippets from your travels Linda! I loved your “smile at being paid in sand dollars.” And “The squirrels in my trees turn into monkeys,” lovely, magical images, I look forward to hearing, seeing, and reading more, thanks!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Michelle, wonderful trip, such fun to write about it.
DeleteA lovely acknowledgement of the lingering joy of holidays. Hoping you're stilling clinging tight to the memories and holiday-feeling.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kat, yes, I certainly am.
DeleteLinda, it is hard to believe that I missed your wonderful post but here I am soaking your joyful warmth. I love your first photo and am wondering if stanzas 1. & 2 would be a fitting accompaniment for an image poem??? Your imagery in the poem allows me to relax in your vacation moments.
ReplyDeleteJust discovered this comment, Carol, that needed to be approved. Will try to work on it! Thank you!
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