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Friday, October 20, 2017

Highlights Beginnings

           Leigh Anne Eck at A Day In the Life hosts today with a wealth of wonderful advice from Naomi Shihab Nye. Thanks for those words, Leigh Anne. It is a lovely welcome home from my Highlights poetry workshop. wanting to keep that poetry wonder I experienced all week.

           Yes, I'm home after a long day traveling and will share more from this fabulous week with new and old friends, and leaders Georgia Heard and Rebecca Kai Dotlich. The suitcase is unpacked, the books and journals piled on the table, laundry started, grocery list made. Now, time to write! 



                                                                        Win-Win

Inside or outside, paths invite me-
to amble in the forest’s wild
or ramble in the world of words.
Take the words and change them
into what they tell you is a poem.
The forest quiets my heart;
the poem makes my heart beat faster.

Linda Baie ©All rights reserved

39 comments:

  1. Oh, Linda! Those last two lines make my own heart quiet and quicken. What a gift of a week this sounds like. Welcome home, to the place where you are surrounded by your own solid objects and mysterious thoughts. Happy Poetry Friday, friend. xxxx

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    1. Thanks, Amy, time to return to the regular swing of life! It was a marvelous week of inspiring surroundings, people and words!

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  2. "The forest quiets my heart," too, Linda. Thanks for sharing the week with me.

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    1. It was great spending time together, Diane. Thanks for being one of those inspirations!

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  3. Sounds like a rejuvenating, inspiring time, Linda. Enjoyed your pics on FB too. :)Lovely poem.

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    1. Thanks Jama. The days were awesome, went all too quickly!

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  4. My heart, my brain, my determination to let my words get onto the page stems from the inspiration of being with you dear Linda, Diane, and all the others. To breathe life into the world through a poem. Such joy. But to be at Highlights Foundation among kindred writers in that setting. Magical. Your poem beings me to all that. I am grateful for it all. Janet Clare F.

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    1. Thanks for being my long-time, across-the-miles friend, Janet. Finally we had some good time together!

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  5. Lovely. I so want to go back.

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    1. I hope you do, Jone, and I hope I'm there with you!

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  6. "The forest quiets my heart" yes it does. I'm glad you had another inspiring week at Highlights. I'm hoping I'll get to see you there again someday. : )

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    1. I hope so, too, Linda. The days are magical, as you and I know!

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  7. I can only imagine how full your heart must be after a week at Highlights. I love how you've given us a sweet taste in this poem. Lovely, lovely, lovely. Don't worry about the laundry....just write.

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    1. Thanks, Linda, I did take your advice. The laundry can be done another day! (Is that a poem starter?)

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  8. Linda, I am so glad that the Highlights retreat was full of inspiration, walking trails, and words floating around you. I went on a walk in an upstate NY forest today and it had magical sounds (real and unreal). Win - win for writers!

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    1. Yes indeed. I have many trees and green space surrounding me, but it is still NOT the forest. Thanks, Carol.

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  9. A whole week of retreat!? With friends?! Sounds wonderful!!

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  10. Beautiful! Sounds like you had a wonderful time!

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  11. Love the compare/contrast and the ultimate win+win!!

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  12. My heart beats faster at these words, "The forest quiets my heart;
    the poem makes my heart beat faster." Is this the beginning of a treasure full of new poems?

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    1. Thanks, Margaret, It is truth to me! And yes, I wrote a lot!

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  13. IF this poem is a glimpse, the week must have been fabulous, with time for quiet reflection and time to write words to quicken the heart. I can't wait to hear more.

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    1. It is wonderful thing to be able to go, Kay. I'll share when I can. Thanks!

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  14. I am sure you had a wonderful and enlightening week. I look forward to reading all that this week has inspired. I love the thought of "rambling in the world of words." Happy Saturday, Linda!

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    1. Thanks, Leigh Anne, just back from working the afternoon shift at the bookstore, more book love!

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  15. The forest quiets my heart, too Linda! I saw your post on twitter and was instantly drawn to the image of the woodland path and rocks. Beautiful!

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    1. I did take a lot of pictures, Kiesha. There is so much beauty in a forest! From your posts, I know you love the out of doors, too! Thanks!

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  16. What a wonderful poem, Linda. I love roam through forests and woodland areas. I love the smell, the sounds, the things I see, and those that grow there naturally. Being able to put it into words is definitely a win-win. Thank you for sharing yours. Your poems are always just lovely.

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    1. Thanks, Alex, it seems that all of us love that forest roaming. This really was a beautiful place!

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  17. "Win-win" indeed, Linda! I love your poem - I know the feeling when a poem "makes my heart beat faster". Looking forward to more from your Highlights experience. =)

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    1. Thanks, Bridget, it's nice to write and remember about this wonderful time.

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  18. Your last two lines are perfect, Linda. I'm so glad you had such a wonderful week at Highlights. I was with you in spirit!

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    1. Thanks, Catherine. While there, I remembered our time together, but am glad you're having fun with your new remodeling!

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  19. Hmm, what a choice, the forest or the words, I like them both, as you do, and one definitely Wins from both. I look forward to hearing more from your poetry trip, thanks Linda!

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