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Tag: joy

Shadows, Light, Reflection

Published on November 9, 2022

I was in Saco, Maine this past weekend, enjoying a ‘second summer,’ with bright sunshine and temperatures in the 70s. Autumn brings very special light, instigating these incredible shadows and offering gorgeous water reflections. Here’s a slice through photos, sharing some of this extraordinary beauty. Such a gift of a visit!

whispers of trees
dwindling leaves
stretch their arms 
in hope
towards the bright blue sky
soft lapping waves
kisses from the sun
footprints in the sand
problems forgotten
as we walk
shadow bracelets
adorn the trees
gathering together at the pond
dancing a welcome
to autumn
how to describe this photo
this painting
these nature lines 
languishing
sweeping
caressing the shore
wiggles and squiggles
while a shorebird 
reflects

full moon
nestled within branches
strives to appear
reflection fun
a pair of tweezers 
a spot of bother
together playing,
playing together
farewell, sweet Saco
sparkles of sun
soft blue water
rocky edges 
glistening shadowing holding
It’s Tuesday and I’m participating in the Slice of Life.
Thank you, Two Writing Teachers,
for creating this supportive community of teacher writers.

In the Seams

Published on November 1, 2022

This past week, I had the wonderful experience of hearing Ross Gay talk about his new book, Inciting Joy: Essays. Now, I am devouring the book itself, immersing myself in his inspirational thinking. This reading led me to a bit of joyful poetry writing…

Talking About Joy 

according to Ross Gay
poet essayist thinker writer
joy is discovered through
entanglement
it is fundamentally intertwined with connection
belonging to 
something other than yourself
something bigger than yourself
something where more than you is at the core

yet, he says 
together
we will hurt one another
we will have sorrow

perhaps his point is
to open ourselves to others
means sorrow and joy
means messy

****

he reminds us to hold this truth:
people create beautiful robust lives
in the midst of
oppressive 
intolerable 
painful conditions

joy is in the seams

I love that: joy is in the seams


****

the next morning
after I heard his wisdom
we decided to go 
the ‘regular’ way
thinking our early morning start
was before the construction 
the painful development of our local ‘purple line’

(we were wrong)

our local street is now code for 
one merciless intersection after another
block by block
road closure
single lane advance
one at a time
a horrible driving experience

there was 
an anonymous apathetic impassive worker
holding a stop sign
WAIT
WAIT
WAIT
all traffic slowed in a long queue

then we saw 
on the embankment to our left
seven construction workers
in their bright yellow vests
standing together
in a circle
yes, really truly honestly 

I counted the workers

grouped in a circle
they each swayed and swirled their hips
laughing rocking moving 
in unison
then they paused
and began alternate twist toe touches
all at the same time
as if rehearsed

choreographed exercise
to start the day
typically stern faces 
nonexistent

I breathed in their delight 
smiled deeply
feeling anew

I need to 
pay more attention 
to the beauty 
of this world.