Poetry Friday is hosted by Carol Varsalona here at Beyond Literacy Link with a beautiful array of responses to this past pandemic summer! Thanks, Carol! After helping my two granddaughters starting only online and with my grandson at college with online, hybrid, and one in class, I am amazed at the variety of tasks teachers and administrators must do to make it all work. A nephew is beginning his first job as a principal this year. Yikes! What challenges he has faced and is facing! Best wishes to every single one of you this beginning of a year like no other.
A few weeks ago, Carol asked us to share an image poem on the topic, Summer 2020 in the Midst of Quarantine Life. My summer has been filled at home, at the grocery, with my in-town family, and at the used bookstore where I volunteer. I've worked hard to stay safe, spent long hours in at-home tasks like reading, drawing, and writing, and of course, the usual cleaning and cooking. I watch the political news, am writing postcards and letters to urge those in power to ACT, hope I can help a few campaigns as we move closer to the election. I am fine and am grateful for that. While I have embraced this summer as I am able, I know that it has not been easy for many, hoping that better times will come.
I watch other news about things like weather around the globe. love looking up, have a couple of favorite spots to see the wide view of the Rockies' front range, lucky at times to see Pikes Peak down south. I imagine I've posted more sky pics than anything else. This summer, however, I've both watched and smelled the sky. There are now five wildfires going in the Colorado Rockies, one of which recently passed the all-time record which happened in 2002 and nearly burned our cabin. This time it has burned 139,000 acres, perhaps more by the time this posts. I know the fires in California are more by far and have taken so many peoples' homes. Our fires have destroyed many fewer buildings, but the habitat of thousands of animals and some of those animals themselves are gone.
Thus, my #Summer2020intheMidstofQuarantineLife has revolved around the sky!
Linda, Great new hashtag and wonderful poem for Embraceable Summer Gallery's collection. I just tweeted it out.It is such a shame that there is so much sadness in the world. The quarantine has isolated us more than ever. Each day I turn on the news to hear stories that make my heart heavy. I hope for those better times to come.
ReplyDeleteAnd I do, too, Carol hoping that together we can make everything better. Thank you!
DeleteWould like that, too, Linda.
DeleteOh, goodness. We just can't get away from paying attention to the ills of life. In a way, this is good. We need our neighbors to prioritize good health of each other, good health of the planet. I hope we don't run out of time. I like the idea of looking up. I hope all your grands have a good school year. It's a weird one. That's for sure!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Linda. The grands are having some fun, doing some homework, even online liking to see their classmates and teachers. It's not easy, but okay!
DeleteDear Linda, you inspire with your generous gifts to loved ones and to the world during this Pandemic Summer... and I can think of no better remedy than sky. Thank you. xo
ReplyDeleteYes, even with our smoky skies, I see beauty every day, Irene. Thank you, too!
DeleteIt can feel so overwhelming with all the tremendous challenges we face, so thanks for that view of the sky, which gives me hope. The wildfires in CA and CO have been especially troubling; it makes me sad to hear about the devastation, not only of homes but of wildlife habitats. Nature really humbles us.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Jama, it is terrible to see this news & now recently have been told some of the firefighters have been infected with the virus. They work so hard & I am grateful for their tirelessness. Yes, each morning I wake & then realize "Oh yes, it's this!" Will keep plugging on for sure, however!
DeleteWhat a beautiful photo. No wonder everyone I know seems to love Colorado. I hope the fires are soon controlled. You remind us there are so many things we can do to get through this pandemic while we're home.
ReplyDeleteOur views are wonderful, I agree, Janice. It is lately they've forecasted what's really happening in the mountains, sad to say. And yes, lots keep me busy, just missing the going out more freely. Thank you!
DeleteI love your sky pictures and your constant positivism. Wildfires is something we don't have here, so I still hold a fondness for the smell of burning. The farms burn sugarcane in the fall and the air has a sweet scent to it. Your use of "their own virus" makes me realize how the meaning of that term has changed so drastically.
ReplyDeleteThis is Margaret Simon. Don't know why I am "unknown."
DeleteTech certainly gives unexpected results sometimes. I know about the sugarcane from a long ago friend. That's a nice thing. And I've long loved wood fires, just not this way. Thanks, Margaret!
DeleteI love wood fires, too, though only ones contained in a fire pit. What a summer. You are making such good use of scary times...
ReplyDeleteThank you for helping me see what the sky means to me now. For most of the pandemic it has been the place that has been unchanged and open. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, where we have had smoke in our skies for some part of the day for the last 2+ weeks, the smoke does indeed feel like another "virus."
ReplyDeleteWhat glory our sky brings us, I remember that from my year living near Aspen, Co. Wish it would scoop down and blow those fires far away, and get rid of the sky "virus." And a big sigh of pain for your brave firefighters. I think we all need places to retreat to, art, reading, poetry-good things to temporarily get lost in, thanks Linda!
ReplyDeleteThankfully our clouds aren't smoky, but they have bee stunning this summer. Your grandgirls are so lucky to have you to help them through this online learning maze we're entering. We have most kids in the building, but a handful are joining remotely. This creates its own special set of challenges! Be well, dear Linda!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Laura, Karin, Michelle, & Catherine. My life, like yours, is full of some new challenges, but connecting with this community each Friday is a boost.
ReplyDeleteThe Colorado fire destruction is awful and often overshadowed by the CA fires. Most of my family is in CA so I keep tabs often on what's happening there, but you have brought forth an important perspective, "Our fires have destroyed many fewer buildings, but the habitat of thousands of animals and some of those animals themselves are gone." - this can not be underestimated. Thank you for unique perspective, Linda, for your poem. You captured so much in so few words (you know how I love wee words ;)
ReplyDeleteIf you're not already, I recommend becoming a member of The Cloud Appreciation Society. It's such fun to learn more about the clouds I watch, try to "collect" all the cloud types, be awed by the Cloud a Day emails. A delightful diversion that keeps me looking UP!
ReplyDeleteWell done, Linda.
ReplyDeleteI love your sky pictures and think of you and others who are close to the fires. My husband used to go out with a summer crew to fight fires (not part of his new job these days). We still have much to learn about the role of fire in the forests and other ecosystems and how to live with it for the good of all. Maybe we can still learn and take action.
ReplyDeleteIt must be so difficult to see/smell the smoke and feel helpless in the face of those fires. I've always thought it ironic that the extra debris in the skies fuels brilliant sunrises and sunsets. I hope clearer skies lie ahead for all of us.
ReplyDeleteThanks to everyone. I spent today selling a few books & talking to customers about books, a very nice day, but hot! Thanks for the tip, Mary Lee. That is completely new to me!
ReplyDeleteLinda, you always inspire me to look up. Thank you. xo
ReplyDeleteYou're welcome, Karen. Thank you, too!
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